PNoy blasts 'KSP' critics, praises PSG

MANILA - President Aquino on Tuesday again took a swipe at his critics during the 29th anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), saying he will not hesitate to go after the corrupt even as his presidency nears its end.

In his speech, Aquino described some of his critics as "kulang sa pansin" (lacking in attention) who make up fantasies against his leadership.

He said there is a saying: "Do not disturb the rice bowl", which means that one should not touch a person's means of livelihood.

However, the President said some people continue to steal from the nation's coffers and affect many.

"I will not act blind because I will make right this system. I will be disturbing a lot of rice bowls," he said.

The President praised the PSG for its professionalism and dedication, saying the presidential guard gives him peace of mind.

He said the PSG showed its dedication when it provided security for Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines last January.

Members of the PSG also risked their lives to protect him during the 1987 coup when his mother was president, Aquino said.

"Thanks to the PSG, I have peace of mind," he said.

He also likened the PSG to the PNP Special Action Force whose members participated in the Mamasapano operation to take out Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, last January 25.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PNoy took 2 hours to reply to Purisima

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Prosecutors to inspect site of Mamasapano carnage

MANILA - State prosecutors who are members of the justice department's Joint Special Investigation Team probing the bloody Mamasapano encounter last January 25th between Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) commandos and Moro rebels will conduct their ocular inspection of the clash and operation site on February 26.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters that this is the final schedule given to her by Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera, Irwin Maraya, Gino Paolo Santiago, Jocelyn Dugay, and Ethel Rea Suril after the inspection did not push through this week.

ABS-CBN News had earlier learned that the Joint Special Investigation Team, which also includes agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), had sought clearance from the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCH) of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the conduct of the ocular inspection.

Forty-four SAF commandos were killed in the clash with fighters from the MILF, its splinter group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and private armed groups (PAGs).

The SAF commandos were on a special mission to serve outstanding arrest warrants for alleged Bali bomber Marwan, whose real name is Zulkifli bin Hir, and his Filipino cohort, Abdulbasit Usman.

The PNP has reported that Marwan was killed in the operation.

De Lima created the Joint Special Investigation Team upon orders of President Aquino. The team is tasked to do a fact-finding investigation into the incident, and undertake the necessary case build-up for the fiing of appropriate charges against those found responsible for the bloody clash.

The clash took place amid a ceasefire agreement between the GPH and MILF; the ceasefire agreement is part of ongoing peace negotiations between the two parties.

Public outrage ensued following the bloody encounter after it was found that several of the fallen SAF troopers were "finished off" and shot at "close range," and their firearms, ammunition and personal belongings taken by the rebels.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

SAF survivors open up to senators

MANILA, Philippines - Superintendent Raymond Train and PO2 Christopher Lalan, two of the Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos who survived the Mamasapano firefight, yesterday narrated the fierce battle they had to endure in a bid to escape the bloody encounter with Muslim rebels that left 44 of their comrades dead in Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

Train and Lalan gave their statements before the senators who went into executive session at around 4:30 p.m. after almost seven hours of open hearing that started at 10 a.m. at the plenary hall.

Senators were all ears as Train recalled events which started when he and his team of 36 operatives began their trek to the lair of terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, at 2:30 a.m. from their drop-off point near Maharlika Highway.

Train led the SAF’s 84th Seaborne Company in the assault on Marwan’s hut, located 250 meters from the drop-off point. Only 13 of the assault team were able to cross the river because of strong currents.

In a debriefing, Train said he and 12 of his men proceeded with the plan to get Marwan since the others were having difficulty crossing the river. He added some of his men almost drowned in trying to get across.

Train and his men reached the target at 4:15 p.m. Marwan opened fire at the SAF team after he was alerted by the presence of the lawmen surrounding his hut.

After the initial exchange of gunfire, SAF commandos attacked the hut and Marwan was shot in the chest. The team quickly took pictures of Marwan and severed his index finger, which was later turned over to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for DNA test.

Train said they decided to immediately withdraw from the area, fearing the exchange of fire could have alerted villagers.

Another target, Basit Usman, was able to escape the assault. His hut was about 70 meters away from Marwan’s.

Train also responded to queries of senators about how they managed to get out of the area up to the time they were rescued by a special team at 11:30 p.m. as validated by the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry.

Lalan, meanwhile, told the senators that he hid near a river dike as many of his 35 comrades crawled in the vast cornfields, then still awaiting rescue.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kin of Fallen 44 won't get US reward: official

WASHINGTON DC - Who will get the US$5 million reward for the death of Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan?

According to the police attache at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, only civilian informants are eligible for the bounty offered by the US government.

"It is not the [Special Action Force]. As a general rule, wala pong government employee katulad ng SAF or Philippine National Police or the Philippine Army or any member of Armed Forces of the Philippines...is eligible to receive any bounty because it's part of their job to arrest a wanted person," Senior Superintendent Jose Gentiles said.

"Ang binibigyan po ng bounty are those who gave the information. It's an incentive para po ma speed up yung paglocate ng isang wanted person."

Gentiles said the identity of the informant will remain confidential.

No bounty will be given to an ineligible informant if the person turns out to be a government employee or official, he said.

A total of 44 elite police commandos from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force were killed in the January 25 operation to take out Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The operation also claimed the lives of more than a dozen MILF rebels and civilians.

SAF troopers who killed Marwan severed his right index finger and took photos of his body because they couldn't carry it amid heavy fighting.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation later said the DNA sample provided by Philippine authorities belongs to Marwan.

"Although the results of the DNA examinations do not provide absolute identification, the results do support that the biological sample provided by Philippine authorities came from Marwan. Further testing and analysis will be conducted by laboratory examiners in an effort to fully identify the subject of DNA provided to the FBI," said David Bowdich, assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A source familiar with the testing process said there is believed to be a sibling connection between the sample and DNA from bin Hir's brother, Rahmat bin Hir, who is in US custody.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said the sacrifice of the 44 police commandos was not in vain as he expressed his condolences to their family members.

The ambassador said he is also pleased that the FBI quickly confirmed the DNA samples provided by the PNP were that of the Malaysian terror suspect.

"We are thankful to the FBI that they have come back very quickly to us confirming that the DNA results show the person who was killed by the 44 by the Special Forces Commandos was Marwan himself. That should dispel any doubts that people have that it was Marwan of course we lost 44 heroes unfortunately but I think we are, of course gratified to know that this very dangerous, very much sought after terrorist has finally been eliminated

Gentiles said he coordinated the DNA testing of Marwan's sample at an FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

"So yung result nung preliminary testing indicate na yung tissues na sinubmit na kay Marwan matches yung tissues ng kapatid niya na nanduduon sa Guantanamo Cuba nakakulong. It appears that based dun sa findings nila that they are siblings, that they come from the same father. So yun po yung result na nung DNA analysis," he said.

He said the results are preliminary only and that further testing and analysis will be conducted to fully identify the subject of the DNA provided by the PNP.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US provided intel on Marwan: report

MANILA - It was the United States government who provided President Aquino intel on terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, a newspaper report said.

Citing a police general, the Manila Standard said the US used drones and satellites in gathering intelligence while suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima sent men to verify the intel.

A Palace official will neither confirm nor deny the matter.

President Aquino earlier said elements of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force attacked an isolated village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Sunday to arrest terror suspects Zulkifli bin Hir alias ''Marwan'' and Basit Usman in Tukanalipao village.

A total of 44 SAF commandos were killed in the operation.

While confirming that he talked to the SAF chief, the President said there was "very minimum compliance" on the part of the SAF in coordinating with the military before starting the operation to hunt two Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists.

He said a military battalion was only informed about the operation just when the SAF was near the jump-off point for the raid. Unfortunately, the soldiers were securing a main supply route in the area.

The President said the encounter should not derail government efforts to forge a lasting peace deal with the MILF, saying that more innocents will be affected if war breaks out in Mindanao anew.

The Manila Standard report said the President was in Zamboanga on Sunday to closely monitor the developments in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Some lawmakers are now urging the President to make public everything he knows about the Mamasapano mission.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PH mourns police killed in anti-terror bloodbath

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