4th ID marks 37th anniversary with capture of alleged NPA GHQ in Mindanao

Cagayan de Oro City (Mike Baños/Jan 31) - The biggest military unit in Mindanao marks its 37th anniversary today, February 1st, with the capture of what could be the general headquarters of the New People's Army (NPA) in Mindanao.

In a press conference held Monday at the division headquarters in Camp Edilberto Evangelista at Bgy. Patag, this city, Maj.Gen. Jose T. Barbieto, Jr., division commander, said what they first perceived to be the NPA's biggest bomb making factory and ammunition depot in Mindanao could very well be its regional headquarters in the country's second biggest island.

"Initially, we believed Greenfields to be the NPA's regional base in Caraga Region and home base of NPA Mindanao spokesman Jorge Madlos alias Oris," Barbieto said told media. "However, our continued evaluation of the evidence found in the area increasingly indicates that we have indeed captured what could be their general headquarters in Mindanao."

Organic units of the 4th ID led by elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion and the 4th Division Reconnaissance Company captured a complex of explosive and ammunition caches hidden in two caves in Sitio Greenfields, Barangay Sta Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur after a brief firefight Wednesday morning, 24 January 2007.

"This is the first time the 4th ID has captured a camp this big with explosives as sophisticated as these," Barbieto said. Previously, the Diamond Division also captured bomb making factories in Liangga, Surigao del Sur and Zamboanguita, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon but these were on a much smaller scale than the Tagbina caves, he added.

Barbieto said the initial inventory of the captured materials have been appraised at PhP11 million, including a brand new US$5,000 ammunition reloading machine capable of reloading a wide variety of ammunition (with the price tag still attached), seven rolls of 500 meter (3.5kms total) detonating cords with a market value of P150, 000 per roll, and imported Superdyne brand liquid dynamite in 130 plastic containers (@150 pcs/container) and 18 Claymore anti-personnel mines valued at P9-million. Troops earlier also recovered an RPG launcher, a B40 anti-tank weapon, a motorcycle, and subversive documents believed to belong to Mr. Madlos after a brief firefight last January 18 southeast of Greenfields, Barbieto added.

Besides significantly degrading the NPA's bomb-making capability in Mindanao, Barbieto said the 4th ID has also reduced the number of guerrilla fighters in its area of responsibility (AOR).

"Since we started Operation Bantay Laya in 2002, we have reduced the estimated number of NPA fighters in our division AOR by 53% from 1,200 to only over 500 as of today," Barbieto said. "This is a very significant reduction compared to the national figure where the total number of NPA guerrillas was reduced 40% from 12,000 to only 7,000 today."

Captured NPA documents indicate there are 14 front committees (FCs) operating within the 4th ID AOR, nine in the North East Committee and five in the North Central Committee. Barbieto said the Philippine Army has programmed the activation of 90 Cafgu Auxiliary companies in 2007, at the rate of two CAA companies of 88 men each activated for each FC cleared by the AFP.

"We are also consolidating the CAAs in each FC so they can defend their entire municipality and carry out limited tactical operations against the NPA instead of merely defending the perimeters of their patrol bases and depending on the Army to carry out tactical operations against the insurgents," Barbieto explained.

Besides continued hot pursuit operations against Madlos and his men in the area, Barbieto said their intelligence units are now tracing the origin of the captured explosives and equipment since the evidence appears to indicate links to "other terror groups that use bombs and landmines in their terrorist activities," such as the captured rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and B40 anti-tank weapon.

"We still have no definite evidence of foreign involvement but we have received reports that the CPP-NPA-NDF in Surigao del Sur is being supported by foreigners," Barbieto said. He said one of the persons involved appears to be a female Caucasian, believed to be a British national, who has been reportedly extending medical assistance to the NPA guerrillas and their families.

Barbieto said their intelligence operatives are also investigating the NPA's possible links to big business firms, especially mining companies which use the type of explosives seized from the camp, and other businessmen who contribute protection money and "revolutionary taxes" to the insurgency.

Not the least, Barbieto said they are compiling a list of politicians identified to be "collaborating" with the NPA through the payment of "permit to campaign" fees within NPA-affected areas and submitting it to higher authorities for proper action.

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Dongkoy won’t seek Erap backing for Uy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Ben Balce/Jan. 31) - Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano yesterday denied he would be asking former President Joseph Estrada and his Partido ng Masang Pilipino to help out Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Julio Uy as an opposition bet in the province this coming May 14 poll race.

Emano said the reports are false and merely intended to create chaos among the Padayon Pilipino party’s general membership and to confuse the other candidates who would likely run as governor of Misamis Oriental. ”The truth is he (Uy) himself asked me to talk to the former president (Joseph Estrada). Naghangyo siya (Uy) na ma-endorso sa kanhi presidente,” said Emano. “Sultihan” og hindi “hangyoon” ang presidente.”

But Emano said he did not commit to Uy’s request.

Emano even denied he would be going to Manila on Friday to ask the former president but to check on what is the status of recent approval of the division of Cagayan de Oro into two districts by the Senate’s committee headed by Senator Alfredo Lim.

“It’s so inimical, if I would be talking to the former president as I was with the President Gloria Arroyo. Asking the support of Estrada for Uy is very difficult to happen,” Emano maintained.

Emano also clarified he would not be serving two masters at the same time.

Over DxIF-Bombo Radyo, Emano reiterated that he has not committed to support any politician eyeing the gubernatorial post.

"That's my decision at press time,” said Emano adding that neither the Padayon Pilipino is committed to support the likely bid of the vice governor.

Emano said that that it would be very difficult for Uy to run without party’s consent. Earlier, Emano advised Uy, a member of the Padayon Pilipino against running the governor.

"It is very difficult for him running without the approval of the party, as it would mean campaigning on his own and even without any mayors in the province supporting his candidacy,” Emano said.

In the same radio program, Emano named another Padayon Pilipino member, councilor Reynaldo Advincula is among those considered by the party for Cagayan de Oro’s mayoral post.

Aside from Advincula, Emano earlier considered Vice Mayor Mischelle Spiers, and councilors Juan Sia and Alexander Dacer.

“They are the possible and top contenders for the mayorship under the Padayon Pilipino,” Emano said but added that “There is still another possible candidate which I will name later but for sure he is qualified and also a member of the party.”

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Ateneo-La Salle team-up ramps us geomatics in Southern Philippines

MANRESA, Cagayan de Oro City (Mike Baños/January 31) – Bitter rivals in the academics and athletic hard courts, two institutions have linked up to harness the tremendous potential of the famed Ateneo – De La Salle rivalry for more constructive purposes: pushing geomatics capability building and its application in sustainable development by local government units, protecting the environment and training the future generations of academics and technicians to ensure its sustainability over the long term.

Last January 24, the Xavier University College of Agriculture (XUCA) in cooperation with the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) hosted an international public academe conference on "Geomatics Technology and its Potential Contributions to Development" at the South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (Searsolin) at the XUCA campus in Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

"We wanted to present the project's achievements to a wider audience including the academe, local government units (LGUs), civic society and the private business sector," said Dr. Robert J. Holmer, coordinator for the Geoteach –Censophil (Geomatics Technology as an Empowering Tool for Academic Institutions in Community Participatory Development and Human Resource Mobilization for Urban Agriculture and Natural Resources Management in the Central and Southern Philippines) Project.

Since January 1, 2005, five partner institutions from the Philippines, Belgium and Germany have been jointly implementing the Euro 666,225 Geoteach-Censophil project with 60% financial assistance from the European Union under its Asia IT&C Program.

"The project aimed to develop Centers of Competence in Geomatics Technology in Xavier University College of Agriculture (XUCA), Cagayan de Oro and University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod (USLS)," said Prof. Dr. Peter Freckmann, head of the geoinformation dept. at the University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe, Germany. "I can say with confidence all project objectives have been met, and the partner institutions should now address the issue of its long term sustainability."

Among the notable accomplishments of the project has been the training of two counterpart staff each from the USLS and XUCA at a special geomatics certificate course facilitated by the European project partners University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany (HsKA) and the University of Our Lady of Peace, Namur, Belgium (FUNDP) which included the successful defense of an applied research thesis by each graduate.

The theses submitted by the four Ateneo-La Salle counterpart staff were "Monitoring Land Use Change in Urban Barangays of Cagayan de Oro City Using GIS" (Mark Alexis O. Sabines, Agricultural Engineering Dept., XUCA), "Use of GIS in Mapping Open Spaces for the Identification of Potential Allotment Garden Sites in Districts 6 & 7 of Barangay Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City (Yvette B. Guanzon, Agronomist, Periurban Vegetable Project, XUCA), "Assessment of Former Open Dumpsites in Barangay Madalagan of Bacolod City using GIS" (Mary Ann T. Paandan, GIS Coordinator, USLS) and "Integrating GIS and Community Mapping for Solid Waste Management Planning System in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City," (Ericson Alarcon, GIS Specialist, USLS).

"I am quite impressed with their ability to defend their theses according to European standards," said Dr. Francoise Orban-Feraupe, head, Geography Dept. of the University Of Our Lady Of Peace (FUNDP) in Namur, Belgium. "The social concern in their works is very prominent."

Geomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering of geographic information, or spatially referenced information. It has also been defined as the measurement and survey component of the broader field of geographic information systems. It commonly includes tools and techniques used in land surveying, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and related forms of earth mapping.

The term geomatics has been adopted by the International Organization for Standardization, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and many other international authorities, although some (especially in the United States) prefer to refer to it as "geospatial technology".

Applications areas include the environment, land management and reform, urban planning, subdivision planning, infrastructure management, natural resource monitoring and development;
coastal zone management and mapping, archaeological excavation and survey for GIS applications, disaster informatics for disaster risk reduction and response

The conference also discussed the sub-themes: "Geomatics in Local Planning;" "Geomatics in the Environment" and "Ethics and Social Perspectives in Geomatics."

Estrella Sagaral, Acting Cagayan de Oro City Planning and Development Coordinator, cited how GIS technology which was initiated with assistance from the Australian government in 1997, was instrumental in facilitating the completion of the city's Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).

Arturo Belcena, administrative officer of the Bukidnon Sugar Milling Co., Inc. (Busco) said their company has been offering GIS mapping to their 13, 000 farmer planters for the last five years to assist them in monitoring their expenses in land preparation and harvesting the 60,000 hectares planted to sugar cane in southern Bukidnon.

Holmer also cited in his final report how geomatics laboratories dubbed "Geoteach Centers" equipped with GIS hardware, software and plotters have also been established at USLS and XUCA with the assistance of ESSC. Through the concerted effort of all project partners, geomatics-based training modules have been offered to faculty of both Philippine universities and other clientele.

"This Geoteach Center will eventually be turned over to the XUCA Agricultural Engineering staff for integration into the curriculum," Mr. Roel R. Ravanera, XUCA dean.

Geomatics applications have been integrated in academic and outreach curricula with special emphases on social and ethical perspectives. Besides XUCA, UP Mindanao in Davao City also has a fully equipped GIS laboratory and training center.

LGUs in Northern Mindanao which now have GIS facilities include Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Ozamiz. Similar facilities have also been deployed to their regional offices like the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), he added.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Anselmo Mercado, executive director of the Xavier Science Foundation and concurrently Searsolin director, cited how geomatics jibed perfectly with the XUCA's shift of its development paradigm from the traditional (problem-based) model to the ABCD or "Asset-Based Community Development" approach.

'The "ABCD" or Asset-Based Community Development Approach is the alternative paradigm that views people, their communities and their potentials for development very positively," Mercado explained. "This approach takes full cognizance of the communities' assets, no matter what, how big or small their resources are.

"Viewed from this perspective, the community development process, therefore, begins with a mapping of the community assets. This very crucial step provides the opportunity and the hands-on education for the people in the community to identify, discover, analyze, mobilize, learn and appreciate to build primarily on their inner strengths and resources for their own development."

"It is on this aspect that we believe the technology of Geomatics will come handily as a very useful resource that can enhance and complement the "ABCD" model," Mercado said. "From the presentations, we have seen how Geomatics can be an excellent tool for local planning. It is a great tool for studying and examining the environmental issues in our society. No doubt, Geomatics has a lot to contribute to the socio-economic development of our people and communities."

A geographic information system (GIS) or more commonly referred to as a geospatial information system is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. In layman's terms, it is a computer system capable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing, sharing, and displaying geographically-referenced information.

Thus, users can create interactive queries (user created searches), analyze the spatial information, edit data, and present the results of all these operations. Geographic information science is the science underlying the applications and systems, taught as a degree program by several universities.

Geographic information system technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, asset management, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS), urban planning, cartography, criminology, history, sales, marketing, and route planning.

For instance, GIS can help emergency planners to quickly calculate emergency response times in the event of a natural disaster, or find wetlands that need protection from pollution, or used by a company to find new potential customers similar to the ones they already have and project sales due to expanding into that market.

Many disciplines can benefit from GIS technology. An active GIS market has resulted in lower costs and continual improvements in the hardware and software components of GIS. These developments will, in turn, result in a much wider use of the technology throughout science, government, business, and industry, with applications including real estate, public health, crime mapping, national defense, sustainable development, natural resources, transportation and logistics.

A recent trend has been the integration of GIS into location-based services (LBS). LBS allows GPS enabled mobile devices to display their location in relation to fixed points (nearest restaurant, gas station, fire hydrant), mobile assets (friends, children, police car) or to relay their position back to a central server for display or other processing. These services continue to develop with the increased integration of GPS functionality with increasingly powerful mobile electronics (cell phones, PDA's, laptops).

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Soldier killed as 5 gunmen rob passenger bus

PAGADIAN City (DANNY S. MAULANA/Jan 31) - An army soldier on board a Rural Transit passenger bus was killed in a brief gunfight with 5 gunmen who staged a robbery Friday noon along the national highway in the vicinity of barangay Bogayo, Kumalarang town, Zaboanga del Sur.

The Kumalarang police identified the lone fatality as Duty Sargeant Renario Bucag of the 35th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.

A police report furnished this paper said, Bucag who was one of the passengers engaged the 5 robbers who were armed with high-powered handguns in a gunfight even as they told the driver at gun point to keep driving and move on.

Police said, the Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) passenger bus was driven by Marino Durilag with a certain Austria as the fare collector (conductor).

Police said, Bucag who sustained multiple gunshot wounds was rushed to Singidas medical clinic for medical attention, but died a few minutes after arrival.

Police said, a joint team of 53rd IB troopers led by Lt. Glynn Sametano and the local police under P/Insp Dickson K. Banes immediately mounted a pursuit operation to track down the perpetrators.

The joint army/police team recovered an L-200 Estrada pick up, the suspected get-away vehicle and arrested Rodello Estano Coja 47, residing at Prk 3, barangay Cargan, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur and Abdul Sarip Benito, 36 years old, single, a resident of 0117, Carbide, Tubod, Iligan City.

Police said, the Estrada pick-up is registered under MVRR Nr. 58638396 in the name of Yaser B. Sarip of Saduc, Marawi City.

The apprehended suspects and the Estrada pick-up are now in the custody of Kumalarang police station.

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PNP 16th Anniversary Celebration:

Globalization of terror threat, technology pose new challenges for law enforcement

Camp Alagar, Cagayan de Oro City (Mike Banos / Jan 27) - The globalization of the threat of terrorism and advanced technologies are posing new challenges that Philippine law enforcers should be in a position to adequately meet, contain and eliminate.

"The lines of distinction between domestic and international obligations have blurred," said Pacifico T. Pupos, Jr., presidential assistant for Northern Mindanao, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the PNP PRO-10 celebration of the 16th year anniversary of the Philippine National Police (PNP) held at the region 10 police headquarters in Camp Alagar, this city last Thursday, January 25, 2007.

Pupos cited what he termed as the "globalization of the terror threat" with events taking place in one part of the world also having far reaching ramifications in others.

"We can no longer contain crime to a locality, that was yesterday," Pupos said. "Today's world requires us to act locally, but think globally."

The highest executive official in the region described how "the advent of worldwide terrorism has challenged domestic and international law enforcement like nothing we have encountered before."

On top of this, Pupos also cited how advances in technology has changed the way we access, receive, interpret and use information.

"While it's true technology has provided policemen with new opportunities and new investigative techniques, unfortunately it has also helped criminals find ways to break and evade the law," he said.

In order to remain a potent and effective counter to the threats posed by the globalization of the terror threat and the threats to security posed by advances in technology, Pupos said "police must make significant modifications and work cohesively with other agencies of the government to effectively counteract these forces."

However, despite the new threats posed by these trends to the country's security, Pupos said the country has managed to move the economy forward without sacrificing the democracy of its citizens because of the valiant efforts of its law enforcers, especially the men and women of the PNP who have made the situation possible.

"With increasing investor confidence, our net portfolio investment is up 108% for the period January to September, 2006," Pupos said. "The country's credit rating has improved as have the prices of real estate and stocks. And we have more evident reasons for the booming economy of our country like double-digit growth in exports, remittances, tourism, the increasing number of call centers and the like."

"That's why we have many investors who place their money in our country because they have faith in our economy, in the administration and the people behind it," he added.

He cited how the country's economic growth is reaching levels it last reached in the 1950s and 60s when the Philippines was No. 2 in Asia after Japan.

"At the close of year 2006, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) estimates that poverty incidence, or the percentage of families living below the poverty threshold level is about 23% today, down from 27.5% in the year 2000," Pupos said. "In terms of warm bodies, that drop means some 5.5 million Filipinos rose out of poverty in the six years under the present administration."

He also cited the reduction of the budget deficit as its biggest achievement so far.

"From a deficit of P210.74 billion in 2002, it's down to P110-B last year and P63-B in 2007," Pupos said. "It is projected that by the end of 2008, the country will have zero deficit or a balanced budget."

He cited the PNP's key role in making the present situation happen by maintaining law and order needed to attract investors and bring more employment and business opportunities to the country.

"The strength of the economic situation, maintenance of the peso vis a vis the dollar despite political and energy crisis, is due to the successful campaign against terrorism and is reflective of the good performance of the PNP," he said. "The members of the PNP can dwell on the fact that they have contributed to making the Philippines "the forthcoming success story of Asia."

In ceremonies presided over by PNP PRO-10 Regional Director Chief Supt. Teodorico Capuyan and assisted by Pupos, the following awardees were recognized with Regional Director's Streamers: Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office (Best Police Provincial Office), Iligan City Police Office (Best City Police Office), 1003rd Provincial Mobile Group, Bukidnon Provincial Police Office (Best Provincial Mobile Group).

Also cited with Plaques of Excellence were Malaybalay City Police Station, Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (Best City Police Station), Claveria Municipal Police Station , Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office (Best Municipal Police Station), Police Station No. 5, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Best Women's and Children Protection Desk, Urban), Bacolod Municipal Police Station, Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (Best Women's and Children Protection Desk, Rural), Regional Communication and Electronics Office 10 (Best National Administrative Support Unit), Regional Crime Laboratory Office 10 (Best National Operational Support Unit), NUP Cecille B. dela Rosa (Outstanding Non-Uniformed Personnel).

The following received Plaques of Recognition: Hon. Jose Maria R. Zubiri, Jr., Hon. Oscar S. Moreno, Hon. Vicente Y. Emano, Msgr. Elmer Abacahin, SSJV; Mr. Eduardo Antonio R. Montalvan; Oroquieta City Council of Community Elders; Iligan City Bankers Association; Multicare Pharmaceuticals and United Valiant Group Security Services, Incorporated.

Not the least, the following were recognized with Certificates of Appreciation: Haggai Institute, Iligan City Chapter; Gideons International (Iligan City Chapter); and the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) Iligan City Chapter.

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Army expects NPA chief to give up

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – New People’s Army spokesman for Mindanao Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, who was last reported to have been trapped by elements of the 36th and 58th Infantry Battalions in his base in Barangay Santa Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, is believed ready to surrender because of his failing health.

Madlos’ group also suffered a big setback last Wednesday when the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Joel Madarang assaulted and captured two caves in Sitio Greenfields of Barangay Santa Juana which were the NPA’s biggest bomb-making and ammunition depot in Mindanao.

Maj. Samuel Sagun, 4th ID public affairs chief, said an earlier firefight with Madlos’ group last Jan. 18, also in Greenfields, led to the recovery of an RPG launcher, a B40 anti-tank weapon, a motorcycle, and subversive documents.

A report by 4th ID commanding general Jose Barbieto said troops of the 401st IB aided by helicopter gunships and assault choppers are still pressing the fight against the NPAs in Tagbina.

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Army captures NPA's biggest bomb and ammo factory in Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Baños) – The Army's 4th Infantry Division (4thID), based here claims it has captured what could be the New Peoples Army's (NPA) biggest bomb-making and ammunition factory in Mindanao, military officials said yesterday.

Recovered from one of the caves - 13mm drill machine

4ID's public affairs chief Major Samuel C. Sagun, " said elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion and the 4th Division Reconnaissance Company captured two caves in Sitio Greenfields, Barangay Sta Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur believed to be the NPA's biggest bomb-making and ammunition factory and depot in Mindanao after a brief firefight Wednesday morning, 24 January 2007.

Greenfields is believed to be the NPA's regional base in Caraga Region where regional training and CPP anniversaries are being held.

It also appears to be the home base of NPA Mindanao spokesman Jorge Madlos alias Ka Oris, who was last reported to have been trapped in by elements of the 36th and 58th Infantry Battalions of the 401st Infantry Brigade in Bgy. Sta. Juana, Tagbina, Zamboanga del Sur and expected to surrender shortly because of his failing health.

In his report to 4ID commanding general Gen. Jose Barbieto, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Madarang, 36th IB commander, said his troops recovered from one cave several bomb-making and ammunition reloading equipment including 42 plastic containers of Superdyne dynamite explosives that could produce about 250 pieces of eight-kilogram landmines, 18 Claymore mines, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, two mortar base plates, a B40 anti-tank weapon base plate, one set rifle ammunition reloading machine, one 13mm electric drill press machine, 76 rounds of M60 7.62mm machinegun ammunition, detonating wires and two pieces expanders. Madarang said they are still digging around the vicinity of the caves for another 100 plastic containers of Superdyne dynamite explosives believed buried within the vicinity.

Earlier, Sagun said troops also recovered an RPG launcher, a B40 anti-tank weapon, a motorcycle, and subversive documents believed to belong to Mr. Madlos a brief firefight last January 18 southeast of Greenfields.

According to a report filed with army headquarters by Barbieto, combat operations against the NPA are still being pressed in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur by the 401st Infantry Brigade under Colonel Jose Vizcarra, one of three organic units of the 4th ID with close-in air support from two UH-1H helicopter gunships and two MG520 assault helicopters from the Tactical Operations Group 10, Philippine Air Force under Lieutenant Colonel Raul del Rosario based in Cagayan de Oro's Lumbia Airport.

"The capture of the bomb-making factory will definitely degrade the NPA's bomb-making capability in Mindanao," said Barbieto.

" The discovery of the huge explosive depot/factory has also evidently proved that the Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army should remain to be tagged as an International Terrorist Group," Barbieto said.

Military officials are now coordinating with DSWD and local government units for the rehabilitation of Sitio Greenfields, Barangay Sta Juana and other nearby barangays.

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Lieutenant Colonel Joel Madarang, CO of 36th Infantry Battalion inspecting the recovered items.
Some of the claymore mines and superdyne explosives contained in plastic containers after the capture. Mortar bipod recovered.


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Abu leader caught with pants down

BY VICTOR REYES

ABU Solaiman, No. 2 man of the Abu Sayyaf who was killed early this month, was caught by security forces literally with his pants down.

First Lt. Almerante Mirajes and S/Sgt. Raul Suacillo yesterday related their clash with the group of Solaiman, who had a $5 million bounty on his head and had planned high-profile bombings and kidnappings.

Mijares said the clash in Mt. Dajo, Talipao town in Sulu on Jan. 16 started at 9:20 a.m.
Mijares said as they were preparing to assault the Abu Sayyaf lair, a man approached their position.

"He responded to a personal necessity. He relieved himself," he said.
Mijares said the man, with two aides about 15 meters away, got as close as four to six meters to his men’s position.

He said the man checked out the area but did not detect their presence because it was foggy and the area was thickly forested. He then went on to relieve himself.

"When he was already through, he was surprised that an M14 was already pointed at him," Mijares said.

Suacillo, the soldier who poked the rifle on Solaiman, said he asked the man to surrender.
"Instead of surrendering, he ran and shouted ‘Allahu Akbar,’" said Suacillo.
Suacillo said he then opened fire.

"Sergeant Suacillo tried to ask him not make a noise, to apprehend him so our location would not be compromised but he resisted and shouted ‘Allahu Akbar.’ So there was no choice. He (Suacillo) shot him," said Mijares.

HIT IN THE BACK

The man was hit in the back.

Mijares said Solaiman’s shouting of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) was meant to warn his men.

Mijares said he then ordered the rest of his men to unleash heavy fire at the camp. Mijares said Solaiman’s two aides escaped with their companions after three hours of fighting.

He said they were repeatedly shouting "Allahu Akbar."
"The last shout was followed by a burst of fire. They withdrew, there was no longer resistance," said Mijares.

Mijares said they took pictures of Solaiman with digital camera before burying him.

He said they turned over the cameras to "competent authorities" who identified the fatality as Solaiman.

They retrieved Solaiman’s body the following morning.

Solaiman reportedly planned a number of high-profile atrocities, including the kidnapping of three American and 17 Filipino tourists from the posh Dos Palmas resort in May 2001, and the February 2004 bombing of a passenger ship of Manila Bay, killing 200 people.

HARDER ROUTE

Brig. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, Special Forces Regiment commander, said Mijares’ group braved a "longer and harder route" in the mountains to pierce the perimeter security of the main Abu Sayyaf group.

Solaiman, along with Indonesian terrorist Dulmatin, were allegedly protected by a group led by Albader Parad.

Ortiz said they received information that Dulmatin was wounded in the operation but this was still being verified.

Mijares said Dulmatin occupied a VIP bunker which had two beddings, a comfort room, and a sofa. He said there were flowers on the pathway leading to the VIP bunker, indicating that the terrorists had been staying in the area for two to three months.

Ortiz said while they were able to account for only one body, "we suspect that many of them perished."

About a thousand of the total 7,500 troops involved in the Sulu operations are from the Special Forces Regiment.

"We really intend to finish this group. The objective of Oplan Ultimatum is to neutralize up to the last Abu Sayyaf there in Sulu… because we really recognize the threat of this group…we are hoping that we could finish this as soon as possible," Ortiz said.

A number of Abu Sayyaf leaders and members have been neutralized by government forces during the Sulu offensive. They included Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani who was killed by Marines in a Sept. 4 clash in Patikul town.

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Brighter financial prospects seen: City Dad

ILIGAN City (Nora Soriño) - Financial prospects for the city is brighter, Councelor Alfredo Busico told media early this week, in an interview.

Busico who chairs the powerful Committee on finance of the Sangguniang Panglungsod here said, their collection efforts of the city had paid off.

Industrial firms here had answered their call and they are beginning to pay, he said.
Holcim Cement company here has paid over P1 million on property taxes for the 4th quarter of 2006.

This is Iligan's share in the taxes already, since parts of its plant facilities are also located in Lugait, the fisrt town in Misamis Oriental from the city.

RCP also has written the government that it will pay, not in lump sum, but staggered amounts.
He said, we are going to listen and study their proposal of payment and if they see that it is reasonable, why not?

That is better than nothing at all and going to all the trouble, he said.
The National Steel Corporation however, was able to secure a temporary restraining order on the payment of taxes.

Platinum Group of Metals Corporation also has manifested its intention to lease the plant's premises of the MCCI or Maria Christina Chemicals Industries, Inc.

MCCI incidentally, which is located some 10 kilometers away from the city is the first and only carbide producer in the country.

Currently, it is in operation for only 4 months during the year, so for the rest of the year for 8 months, it is not in operation.

Busico said, the Platinum Group is interested in leasing its facilities for processing the nickel to be mined from Nonoc, Surigao City as soon as this will be reopened.

Busico also revealed that the Internal Revenue Allotment has also been increased by P50 million from P523 million to P573 million.

As soon as his will be received, a supplemental budget will be approved, he added.

So, with these we can surely leave something behind for the next administration to go on.

Busico, who is still be running as councilor under mayor Laurence Cruz's ticket also said, he is in favor of a "free zone" as far as the candidates for congressman of the first district of Iligan City/Lanao Norte is concerned, thereby hinting that he is not entirely for a Badelles candidate.

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