MARAWI CRISIS: 8 terrorists surrender, give valuable info

MANILA – At least 8 terrorists who were among those who attacked Marawi City have surrendered to government troops, a military official confirmed, the first time since the clashes erupted more than a week ago.

Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said Brigadier General Custodio Parcon Jr. confirmed the surrender of the 8 terrorists.

“What we did get is from the unit of General (Custodio) Parcon, there were 8 members hold up in Marawi who surrendered to his forces,” Padilla said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

According to Padilla, the terrorists “have been talked to and debriefed and have provided very, very valuable intelligence.”

The death toll in the Marawi City crisis has risen to 129, with more terrorists killed as government forces pounded on the Southern city.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, citing information from the Armed Forces, said the number of terrorists killed as of 8 p.m. of May 30 was at 89. Of these, 42 were confirmed through body count and 47 through eye witness accounts.

The number of civilian casualties remain at 19, although Padilla said there is an ongoing validation of reports of other civilian deaths.

The casualties on the government side, meanwhile, is now at 21.

Padilla also assured that no civilian died during the air strikes by the military, emphasizing that the military was only using force “commensurate” to the resistance it faces.

Padilla also issued another appeal for the remaining terrorists to surrender, saying they have no other choice if they want to live.

“They are trapped. They are contained. They are in areas that they will never come out alive unless they surrender. And that’s why we are asking them and we are appealing to these armed men to come to their senses, lay down their weapons and surrender,” Padilla said.

 “In this manner, we will be able to reduce the increasing cost of innocent lives as well as damage to property and at the same time further lessens the number of numerous crimes they have been committed,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte last week placed Mindanao under martial law after government troops clashed with the Maute group and its cohorts in Marawi City.

The clashes erupted as state forces were trying to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, considered one of the most wanted terrorists by the US. According to Padilla, Hapilon could still be in Marawi City.

Security experts say otherwise, saying that the government failed to detect terrorists' movement.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Snipers make rescue of trapped civilians, wounded soldiers difficult

MARAWI, Lanao del Sur - Snipers of the Maute group were making it difficult for government forces from rescuing wounded soldiers and trapped civilians in this southern city on Sunday, as fighting between state forces and local terrorists entered the sixth day. 

Authorities said around 17 non-combatants were reportedly stranded in a building in the downtown area after they sought shelter from the government's surgical airstrikes against the extremists.

 The building's fourth and fifth floors reportedly collapsed due to the airstrikes, trapping the civilians on the second floor.

ABS-CBN sources, meanwhile, said several wounded soldiers were also trapped in the city center.

Soldiers and elite policemen from the Special Action Forces have made several attempts to rescue their injured comrades and the civilians.

Snipers, however, have opened fire at the state troops, forcing them to retreat.

VIOLENCE MARS RAMADAN 

The military on Saturday said it will sustain the airstrikes to flush out Maute fighters. 

The offensives have damaged or destroyed at least 4 houses, including the residence of Lanao del Sur Rep. Jun Papandayan. 

The fighting has also made it difficult for Marawi residents to observe Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam, as many continued fleeing to safer ground or grappled with difficult conditions in evacuation centers. 

At least 31 suspected terrorists have been killed in clashes since Tuesday, 6 of whom may be fighters from Malaysia and Indonesia, Armed Forces spokesperson Restituto Padilla earlier said.

The government side, meanwhile, has suffered 13 deaths, 11 soldiers and two policemen. There has yet to be a confirmed count on civilian deaths, but nine people were found slain allegedly by the Maute group on Tuesday.

The pandemonium in Marawi erupted last Tuesday after a failed attempt to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the suspected leader of the Islamic State terror group in Southeast Asia. -- report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Military hopes to defeat terrorists in Marawi City in 3 days

MANILA – Government forces will step up efforts to repel terrorist groups from Marawi City and hope to prevail in three days, the military said Saturday.

This as government continued bomb runs to flush out members of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, who have been engaged in clashes with government troops since Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. said local government officials and government troops would do their part to gain peace in Marawi City.

“I assure the public that, with the help of our governor, and local government units, rest assured that the military will do their part…Mamadaliin po namin ang normalcy, [so that residents can] go back in time for Ramadan…Hopefully tingnan natin, within three days we can [clear the city],” he told reporters in a briefing in Marawi City.

Local officials said only about 10 percent of Marawi City’s more than 200,000 residents remained in the conflict-stricken area.

Most evacuated when the firefights began, and others fled when the Armed Forces initiated its strategic airstrikes.


Those who plan to remain in the city until the end of hostilities should stay away from engagement areas and lock down their houses, the government said.

Authorities are closely guarding the Marawi City Hall as it is "the locality's symbol of sovereignty," officials said.

At least 31 suspected terrorists have been killed in clashes since Tuesday, six of whom were believed to be fighters from Malaysia and Indonesia, Armed Forces spokesperson Restituto Padilla earlier said.

At least 11 soldiers and two police officers have meanwhile been killed. Government has yet to release a confirmed count on civilian deaths as of this posting, but nine hostages were known to have been slain by the Maute group on Tuesday. 

Their bodies were found in Marawi City on Saturday as the fighting entered the fifth day. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Business as usual in Davao City despite martial law

DAVAO CITY – While the declaration of martial law in Mindanao was met with much criticism, some residents of Davao City seemed not to mind the extra security in place.

A military tank and additional troops deployed downtown did not bother Davaoenos, who did not let the security measures of military and police dampen their evening's enjoyment.

Some took pictures and selfies with the tank.

Massage therapist Jason Galindo said it is normal for him to see authorities, like Task Force Davao, roaming the city day and night.

John Michael Bandala meanwhile said that seeing military and police officers made him feel safe.

It is business as usual also for vendors at the Rizal Park. Vendor Lorna Halapit, 66, told ABS-CBN News that she is happy that the military and police are friendly and approachable--far from what she experienced during the martial law in 1972.

A military personnel said they were on standby at the city hall since Tuesday, following the declaration of martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

DOE still in the dark on cause of Mindanao blackout

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) is still determining the cause of the blackout that hit parts of Mindanao Thursday morning.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said what is important at this time is that power is being restored.

Around 70% of the entire grid has been restored, as of 12 p.m.

While Petilla is not ruling out sabotage, the secretary said it is unlikely the cause.

No reported bombings or tripping of power plants were reported shortly before the blackout.

When asked why 6 hours have passed and no one can still pinpoint what happened, Petilla said Mindanao has an antiquated system that the operator cannot just determine the cause of any tripoff.

Petilla said he has already ordered DOE and the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) to investigate the cause of the problem.

He added that initial reports indicate that the blackout occurred first in the Pulangi area in Bukidnon, but it is also possible that it was just affected by an earlier trip-off in transmission or generation facilities.

Earlier this week, energy officials drew flak from President Aquino for the delay in bringing back electricity supply in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

Petilla promises to restore power in 45 days and not earlier. When asked what happens if he can't deliver on his promise, Petilla said, "Bahala na si Presidente sa akin."

While power was restored partially in several parts of Mindanao, it will certainly experience rotating power interruptions in the summer.

According to Petilla, the outlook for summer in Mindanao is a deficiency of 170 megawatts which translates to 3-hour rotating power interruptions.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Ams worry about loved ones in Bohol, Cebu

GLENDALE, California - For the past two days, it has been difficult for RD Alba to log on to Facebook, seeing landmarks from his hometown of Bohol in ruins after a powerful 7.2 earthquake hit the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

He said his mother is safe, with the family's home suffering minimal damage.

"It's just kind of unreal because my family lives there and I'm just glad that my mom is fine. It's the older structures that are really, like, broken down, like the old churches. Thankfully, our place is fine, small cracks here and there, but nothing major," said Alba.

Alba, who spent his childhood and teenage years in Bohol, felt the 1996 earthquake as a youth. But he said the '96 quake does not compare to the devastation he's seen that has left over a hundred dead.

"It's really one of the rare things that happen in Bohol because it's one of the biggest earthquakes that happened. I was there during the '96 earthquake. I was still like in 3rd high school," he said.

While Alba breathes a sigh of relief, Akima Abrahan is still holding his, as he's waiting to hear from his nephew and his family who live and work in Cebu.

"I'd like to contact them tonight. I wrote them yesterday, Facebook and they haven't responded to my message. So I don't know their condition," said Abrahan.

The magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol is the most powerful in three years.

Meanwhile, a pair of magnitude 5.1 aftershocks hit Bohol on Wednesday morning.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Despite bombing, French Baker opens biggest branch in Davao

DAVAO CITY -- Just days after blasts hit two Davao cinemas injuring several people, local restaurant chain The French Baker pushed through with the official opening of its first full-size restaurant in Mindanao at the SM Lanang Premiere mall on Thursday night as founder and CEO Johnlu Koa remained optimistic about business prospects in the troubled region.


"In spite of what happened, it's still very much the party goes on, business as usual," Koa said in his speech, referring to Tuesday's explosions at SM City Davao and Gaisano malls.

The veteran entrepreneur recalled that The French Baker initially had plans to enter the Davao market 13 years ago at SM City Ecoland in 2000 but had to back out because of the security situation in the city at the time. Koa said it was his mother who dissuaded him then from opening. "She asked me, 'Why do want to go that far to make so little?'"

"I realized that it was not yet time because there was so much competition in Metro Manila and I decided to stay there muna," he said, noting that SM was in full expansion mode during that period, which also meant more opportunities for The French Baker to open in new locations.

Koa has been very vocal about his loyalty to mall tycoon Henry Sy Sr., whom he fondly calls "Tatang."

The French Baker opened its first outlet 24 years ago at the then newly built SM City North EDSA in 1989. It was also Sy who advised Koa to expand The French Baker from a bakery selling European-style breads and pastries into a casual restaurant with dine-in food services.

The French Baker in SM Lanang is the 51st branch of the chain.

"Our coming here is due to the fact that I continue to cherish my relationship with Mr. Tatang Sy, Sr. Many years ago, he tried to convince me to go to SM City Cebu and when I said no, he said, 'Please come, ride in my jet and I will show the future of Cebu,'" Koa recalled.

So when SM opened its new SM Lanang mall in Davao, which includes the first Park Inn by Radisson hotel in the Philippines and an SMX Convention Center, Koa decided that it was time to finally enter the Mindanao market.




Last December, The French Baker opened a small bakery cafe at the mall's atrium, along with the bubble tea shop Chatime, which Koa also owns.

The atrium store, Koa admitted, is a concession he asked from SM for him to open a 380-sq.m. restaurant -- the biggest French Baker branch so far -- fronting the mall's Fountain Area, which includes other successful chains such as Bulgogi Brothers, Sumo Sam and soon Viking buffet restaurant.

"It's time to come in now; otherwise, someone will take the market share away from me," Koa explained.

He also recalled the advise Sy gave him at the time when several coup attempts were mounted against the government of then President Corazon Aquino. "He told me, 'Just do your job well, have faith in the market and all of these will pass. Look at me,'" Koa narrated.

"So I thought about that. Ngayon pa when I already have 50 stores, ngayon pa when I'm more mature, nagyon pa will I say no when I have so much knowledge about the market, about the product, about people's habits because we're already in this business for 24 years."

Koa added that it was Sy who also told him back in 1992 that tourism is the hope for the Philippines. Many years later, Koa came to realize the implications of the current boom of domestic tourism on business.

"We don't really have to go to China, to Vietnam, to whatever, to expand. Dito pa lang, we have 100 million Filipino customers," Koa said.

"And people here (in Davao) are starting to demand for more and they're getting to be sophisticated. They know what is good and what is better. So I guess by staying in Davao, we will be in the position to explore the other opportunities of Mindanao. That's the basis for my optimism" he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Another Mindanao power crisis this year?

MANILA, Philippines - The increasing demand for power in Mindanao and the lack of additional capacity to accommodate this may result in another power crisis for the region as early as this year, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies warned on Wednesday.

PIDS said a study done by its Senior Research Fellow Adoracion Navarro showed electricity demand from the region is foreseen to grow by 4.28% annually between 2010 and 2019, faster than the national rate of 3.63%.

Navarro noted that this translates to a demand of as much as 1,428 megawatts (MW) this year and 1,823 MW by 2019, but when computed with a reserve margin of at least 21% of peak demand, generation capacity in the region should be 1,728 MW in 2013 and 2,206 MW in 2019.

"However, the dependable capacity in Mindanao is now only 1,616 MW. This means that the power system could run a reserve shortfall of 112 MW for this year—a clear sign that last year’s power crisis may happen again," PIDS pointed out.

This gap between demand and capacity is foreseen to be filled only in 2015, when a new coal power plant in Sarangani supplies an additional 105 MW, the think tank said.

Navarro has recommended the rehabilitation of the Agus and Palangui hydropower plants, the interconnection of the Visayas-Mindanao grids, and the implementation of reforestation and watershed management programs in the region, among others, to support the power situation in Mindanao.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

US 'ready' to help Philippines after deadly storm

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent condolences to the Philippines Saturday after more than 600 people were feared killed in a storm, and said the United States stood "ready" to help.

Relief workers said that 440 people had died and nearly 200 left missing after tropical storm Washi (local codename Sendong) wreaked havoc in the southern Philippines, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas of the country and destroying whole neighborhoods.

"On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I want to send my deepest condolences for the devastation and loss of life caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Washi," Clinton said in a statement.

"The US government stands ready to assist Philippine authorities as they respond to this tragedy."

The top US diplomat said "our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected."

About 20,000 soldiers have been mobilized in a huge rescue and relief operation across the stricken north coast of the island of Mindanao, where the major ports of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were worst hit.

President Benigno Aquino expressed concern at the extent of the tragedy and ordered government agencies to map out areas in the country most vulnerable to future flash floods. — AFP

source:gmanetwork.com

As residents slept, flash floods entered homes, killing 180 in Mindanao

A storm slashing through the southern Philippines has triggered flash floods and landslides that have killed nearly 180 people and forced about 100,000 from their homes, government and army officials say.

"Most were already sleeping when floodwaters entered their homes," Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz said. "This is the worst flooding our city has experienced in years."

Tropical Storm Sendong, with winds gusting up to 90km/h, hit Mindanao late on Friday and swept across the island, bringing heavy rain that also grounded domestic flights and left wide areas without power.

In Iligan City, which is usually spared the disastrous consequences of passing storms, residents were apparently caught by surprise despite warnings of the approaching storm. Officials said Saturday morning that they couldn't recall the last time such a powerful flood smashed into their city.

Photos sent in by YouScoopers showed cars piled on top of each other, scenes that recalled the epic Typhoon Ondoy in Manila in 2009.



Army spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said emergency workers had recovered 97 bodies, most of them children, who drowned in floods in Cagayan de Oro City. Seventy-five people drowned in Iligan City. The national disaster agency said five miners were also buried in a landslide.

"I can't explain how these things happened, entire villages were swept to the sea by flash floods," Galon told Reuters, saying the death toll could rise as hundreds of people were unaccounted for.

"I have not seen anything like this before. This could be worse than Ondoy," he said.

Television images showed bodies covered in mud, piles of cars and wrecked bridges and homes. Helicopters and boats searched the sea for survivors and victims.

Rescue boats pulled at least 15 people from the sea, another army spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, told reporters.

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz said many people were caught by surprise when water rose one meter high in less than an hour, forcing people onto roofs.

"Most of them were already sleeping when floodwaters entered their homes," he said. "This is the worst flooding our city has experienced in years.

The national disaster agency said it could not estimate crop and property damage because emergency workers, including soldiers and police officers, were evacuating families and recovering casualties.

The social welfare department said about 100,000 people were displaced and brought to more than a dozen shelters in the two cities.

Six domestic flights of Cebu Pacific were cancelled due to the rain and near-zero visibility in the southern and central Philippines. Ferry services were also halted, stranding hundreds of people. — Reuters, HS, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com