Tuesday, May 30, 2006

 

Gore: Environment scientists say “10 years left”

A report on the BBC website had a ominous ring to it about the dangers of climate change that many are chosing to ignore at their own peril about damage done to the Global Environment.

It's a picture albeit painted by former US Vice President - Al Gore - about the dangers of climate change and the continued damage wrought to our environement as well as raising fears about the growing problem.

Unfortunatly it's something being dragged into Political views - but - it is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Sadly the messenger - not the message is heard. Shame really all the politcal swings and continued plays by "big energy" to keep things as they are — an cintense lobby and funds to keep the world fosilzed fueled - and keeping the route of damaging the planet. Read more »

| news, freedom of speech, News and politics, asia, health, Democrats, philippines, Filipino, Bush, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., Global Warming, protests, republican, free speech, border security, Al Gore, filipino-american

 

Malaysia: 12 arrests announced - new terror group named - REPORT

Malaysia busts new terror group that as inked to extremists in the Southern Philippines;

The new splinter group authorities say here in the region had a higher level of education and technology skills as opposed to those in the field.

The group has been called the Asian al qaeda 'geek squad' by sources at the Malaysian counter terrorism center which works with other south east Asian governments in combating the spread of terrorism from extremist groups.

A number of high tech bomb making virtual online schools have been traced to Malaysia and the government there has been attempting to counter with mainstream Islamic schools and websites to counter the violent propaganda of the extremists sects in the region.

Authorities in the region are increasingly alarmed over increased recruiting among disgruntled and anti-western younger highly educated Asian Muslims who see the war on terror as a clash of cultures or religion..

These Arrests also marks one of the few times Malaysian authorities have publicly discussed arrests or successes versus groups seen as linked to Jemaah Islamiah and Al Qaeda.

Malaysia's Sipadan resort kidnapping marked the entry of local extremists in the southern Philippines the Abu Sayyaf on the world stage when they kidnapped 22 people from a resort on the island between Malaysia and the Philippines in the Eastern Malaysian portion of Borneo Island.

REPORT:

Malaysia Star - Terror group busted

[]… By WONG CHUN WAI and LOURDES CHARLES

KOTA KINABALU: A new terrorist group suspected of planning attacks on several neighbouring countries has been Read more »

| Uncategorized, news, News and politics, china, war on terror, Democrats, immigration, Filipino, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., protests, border security, al qaeda, abu sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiah

Sunday, May 28, 2006

 

Hunderds of Boys and teenagers kidnapped in Southern Philippines

By Mike Cohen

Manila - Philippine authorities are desperately searching the countryside in the Southern Philippine province of Sultan Kulerat for a large number of children believed to have been stolen by a cult that is allegedly abusing the children en-masse. In what is being called a massive child search and rescue operation the military and police are looking for a cave where scores of children have been brought to be members of the group; a 'shadowy cult police claim in a remote area. The Philippine Government Philippine News Agency reported "Police in Sultan Kudarat have started looking for a cave where hundreds of children were allegedly being held captive by a cult."

Authorities were alerted to the mass kidnappings after a "account by a 14-year-old boy who claimed to have escaped from the cult prompted authorities to search for the cave, possibly located in the mountains near Lutayan town" the remote hinterland province is home also to rebel groups it i unclear if the children are being kidnapped for service in the various armed bands that roam the Philippine countryside. The government run news agency reports;."The cult is believed responsible for the disappearance of children in various places, including South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City". The areas are large communities where a sudden surge of disappearances has accrued.

"The boy, whose identity and address was withheld for security reasons, was brought to the Lutayan police station by residents approached by the child after fleeing from the cult." The State run news agency report said further “Police say that there have been other similar reports of this kind of crime”. adding further the boys escape may shed light on the disappearance of hundreds of other young boys and teenaged men, “He told policemen that he was kidnapped several weeks ago by a group of men. They covered his nose with a substance-laced cloth and he lost consciousness. When he woke up, the boy found himself in a dark cave filled with children, who were also kidnapped."

In Manila at the National Police Headquarters operations center say they fear the cult may be a cover for a mass recruitment by kidnapping of insurgent groups who have done this before on Basilan Island in the Southern Philippines. Four insurgent groups operate in the Southern Philippines ranging from Communist rebels. Two factions of the Islamic separatist movement the MNLF and the MILF but most of these groups do not engage in kidnapping of children as fighters.

The fourth a Al Qaeda linked group of insurgents called the Abu Sayyaf who are allies of the Jemaah Islamiah and Al Qaeda. Are known to kidnap en-mass to “recruit and brainwash’ young men and boys often keeping them for weeks until they join raids or crime spree’s or using them as ‘cannon fodder” between them and government forces.

Authorities say the last time group had been known to kidnap young men and boys was often prior to engaging in large battles. UNESCO & UNCHR have several times in the past condemned the use of child fighters in conflicts in the Philippine insurgency by armed groups in the last few years as the Philippine economy has improved it has become harder for some armed groups to find recruits claim authorities and they have been known to abduct children in a effort in increase their numbers in the field.

May 28th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, News Of China, china, asia, war on terror, Views, war, philippines, Democrats, immigration, Filipino, freedom of speech, protests, border security, free speech, al qaeda, abu sayyaf, fil-am, filipino-american

Saturday, May 20, 2006

 

Philippine Death Squads: Government & Rebels both point fingers

It has many on the sidelines puzzled who is really behind the wave of killings hiting the Philippine countryside and cities. At present some groiups seeing the reports from UNHCR and others are pressing the US, EU, and Australia to stop military aid until the situation improves. Three years ago the first international reports came out citing the increasing levels of vioence. The report however focuses more on the plight of children and concern over the welfare of those orphaned in the growing conflict and return of a more violent insurgency.

They UNHCR in 2003 did note a "State reforms" but, " lack of appropriate measures to investigate crimes allegedly committed by state security forces and agents"

" Positive aspects "

1. The Committee appreciates the progress made by the State party to reform its domestic legal order to comply with its commitments under the Covenant. It welcomes, among other actions, the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant in August 1989. The Committee considers that the process of reform should be accelerated and strengthened.
2. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has facilitated international assistance in relation to education and training on the protection of human rights.

" Principal subjects of concern and recommendations "
" The Committee is concerned about the lack of appropriate measures to investigate crimes allegedly committed by state security forces and agents, in particular those committed against human rights defenders, journalists and leaders of indigenous peoples, and the lack of measures taken to prosecute and punish the perpetrators. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned at reports of intimidation and threats of retaliation impeding the right to an effective remedy for persons whose rights and freedoms have been violated. "

" The State party should adopt legislative and other measures to prevent such violations, in keeping with articles 2, 6 and 9 of the Covenant, and ensure effective enforcement of the legislation. "

But the recent level of violence is seen not only as a Government issue - the cycle of violence has grown to a level that is alarming.

On one side the Government points to mass graves and claims a purge versus their effective infilltraition of rebel groups has proof of rebel killings of leaders who are becoming mainstream or shying away from armed fighting.

PURGE: "Rebels are killing off their own"

" Palparan…. claimed the killings were part of another round of a bloody purge in the Communist Party of the Philippines and its allied organizations. " adding " This is Operation Missing Link Part two,” Palparan said. The first part, known then as Kampanyang Ahos, happened in the 1980s, mostly in the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions." he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

But this is something the Rebel movement denies; claiming it is only a cover story…

The National Democratic Front (NDF) deny a purge within the NPA.
“The government’s false allegation of a purge within the revolutionary movement is meant to further justify more extrajudicial killings,” Luis Jalandoni, the NDF chairman of peace negotiating panel, said in a statement. Jalandoni said the allegations of a purge are part of a propaganda campaign launched by the military.

"The preposterous claim of a purge within the revolutionary movement has long been exposed as a lie by the thinly veiled and arrogant boasts of [Maj. Gen. Jovito] Palparan,” - Manila Times

Maj. Gen. Jovito Parlpalan is the focus of the rebel leaders reactions after he revealed the new discoveries of mass graves and alleged new plot to purge rebel ranks.

Parlpalan has taken pains to secure sites recovered and brought government forensic teams as well as intenrational Human rights groups to the sites of "Mass Graves" his troops have uncovered in the Countryside. Media groups have also focused in the Philippines their attention on Gen. Parlpalan.

Someone - is killing militant leaders that is clear Bulatlat.com reports the figure is up to 97 members of organizations killed on the left of the spectrum of Philippine Politics. It also reports that 3 have been killed and others wounded in the last three days.

" … 97th victim either of killing or involuntary disappearance in Central Luzon since 2005.

Last year, 52 members or leaders of Bayan in the region were killed and seven were abducted and remained missing. Since January of this year, 26 have been killed while 13 were abducted… "

Meanwhile a press release say a "independant group" will carry out its investigation into the both the death squad reports and mass graves and killings. The commision is planning to look into various reports - but both sides the Military and the leftist groups seem so intent at pointing a finger at each other that one wonders if there will be a clear result to this.

Reports like this one however continue to puzzle me… 40 or more bodies none of whem are listed on the cause oriented groups list of people killed. Read more »

May 20th, 2006 | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, News Of China, asia, war on terror, terrorism, Views, philippines, Filipino, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., freedom of speech, protests, republican | no comments | Edit

Philippine Death Squads: International ‘think tank’ & UNESCO monitoring ‘Dangerous Islands’

The numbers of killings taking place in this country versus Political Activists and Journalists is noted on a report of the normally conservative private think tank STRATFOR For the first time I have seen at least; a indication that even conservative think tanks have been watching the activities with interest.

Philippines: Left-Wing Leader Killed
May 19, 2006 15 43 GMT

The leader of Filipino left-wing Kaisa Ka women's group and the Movement for National Democracy was killed May 19. Annaliza Abanador was shot by unidentified gunmen in the latest in a string of killings targeting political activists and journalists in the Philippines. Local human rights group Karapatan has listed nearly 600 civilians, mostly left-wing activists, killed by suspected government forces since 2001. The military, which refers to left-wing groups as fronts for communist rebels, has denied involvement in the killings.- Stratfor report

However the web site report is also not taking into account those on the right wing and military killed in similar small unit target assasinations. Nor the killings by "vigilante' groups in Davao, Cebu, and elsewhere

Overall statisitics of numbers of people killed in Insurgency related violence - a source told me if all the figures are added a marked escalation can be seen for the first six months of this year.

Even the UN education service UNESCO and also UNHCR is adding its voice to the situation:

“When violence poses a permanent threat for journalists, it poses a threat to the whole of society,” UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said in a statement. “When crimes against journalists remain unpunished, the future of a country is endangered and organized crime or corruption become the main beneficiaries of this impunity.”

Albert Orsolino was shot and killed by in his car in Calooncan City by two unknown assailants on 16 May and Mr. Matsuura reiterated his concern over the particularly violent conditions under which journalists work in the Philippines.- UNSECO STATEMENT

Meanwhile one side of the Government security services seems to be toning down a statement on allegations of a NPA and rougue Military officers plot to target highly placed officails though a uraban Assasination squad leading to some confusion.

The Armed Forces chief and Police inteligence units are looking into reports quoting the Philippines National Security advisor claiming a top level insurgent leadership plot to Assasinate both Administraition and Opposition leaders. While not dismissing a statement of the Philippines National Security advisor on the mater the Military seems to be looking into the situation intently.

May 20th, 2006 | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, pirates, News Of China, china, asia, war on terror, war, philippines, Democrats, immigration, Filipino, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., protests, republican, free speech, al qaeda, Palawan, fil-am, filipino-american, Jemaah Islamiah | no comments | Edit

The Dangerous islands: killing spree continues

Another day another set of ambushes and killings on both the left and right side of the philippine street- also yesterday. A Killing in the middle of the road- another Journalist wrote 30.

Two were gunned down in Mindanao. Two were shot and one killed in Pangasinan

The NPA meanwhile denies there is a purge on … killings are being blamed on all sides and new shadowy groups as well.

Gen. Avalino Razon has his hands full; but he is resourceful- his work is credited for the capture of the likes of Ramsey youseff and others even across borders - so am sure something will come of his investigation.

the targeted killings have been something of a daily occurance so far this year - its happening on all sides of the politcal sepctrum, media also is not spared. So we all balance our reports well… not knowing if what we write or report will put us some strange groups list.

A good sample of balanced reporting and comentary s Dan Mariano's column

I wonder how long the average New York or Los Angeles Journo would last in this environment?

May 17th, 2006 | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, war on terror, war, philippines, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., freedom of speech, republican, al qaeda, Palawan, abu sayyaf, fil-am, filipino-american, Jemaah Islamiah

Monday, May 15, 2006

The dangerous life is back...

Terror from all sides: Mass Graves reported; Purge w/in NPA ranks claims Military, Gov’t - while left claims 93 militants killed by right wing death squads.

Last Friday I put up a post after getting two calls and couple of text messages from Mindanao. Another call came from Tarlac,

Today the first media reports on 'mass grave s' having been found one containing as many as 20 murdered victims, 20 victims, nothing reported in the so called mainstream press or television; Why? good question, perhaps because so many killings are taking place 93 militants, I can't even remember how many people anymore in my profession, journalism in the last two years.

This discovery came after a couple of text messages and emails, the CDO mass grave contained a number of victims; in media we know about this occurring the late and mid 1980's BUT these graves contents I am told were New.

The grave(s) alleged the caller were victims of a left wing purge inside the leftist movement, or, so the first caller claimed - a report today in the Philippine Star - said that the Armed forces according to national security advisor Norberto Gonzales had recovered a series of small graves and that Police and the NBI were investigating;

That a NBI medico Legal teams was on site; the findings showed the contents to have been from the last few months. On the other hand I am sure there is always a possibility of some extent of truth to the Military's reports. But, with all the other killings many in broad daylight the tactics of 'right wing' militia like attacks. One wonders just how many more sites are out there awaiting discovery from too many factions within armed groups to mention.

The discovery also is coming on heels of 93 deaths of leftist group members in the country shows a pattern of a 'dark side' of insurgency is rising to the surface.

Of assassination teams on the right and left some perhaps also might group in those of the middle or Vigilante groups- adding all those numbers and bodies and you get a figure of over 600 victims in the last three years more or less.

Groups it seems are 'taking out' opponents with impunity. Add to this the specter of reports I had received last year of new "sparrow type" and 'eagle squad' units being trained by all sides and factions from rebel groups to militia units and a specter of a new wave of violence is coming to fold.

So far, the opposing death squads seem to be focusing on people within the organizations on both sides - so Military, Media, and, Police reports claim. On wonders when the squads will go after more visible targets, so far the units have been acting on localized vendettas and attacks, there is no clear pattern investigators say; But so far little of this is being pulled together.

Lets take the last week alone- a pastor and his wife were gunned down in Misamais oriental he had ties to a labor group, a 6 members of leftist 'peoples' groups killed, these new graves discovered with some fifty bodies, 5 more reports in rural areas of killings and shootings, a mayor almost hit south of manila in Laguna.

One thing is clear - there is a growth industry - in death by gunfire this month. Most of it out of public view, all of it on top of insurgency related clashes and attacks, then don't forget the other insurgency in Mindanao. The violence is growing; lets hope as is traditional the rainy season cools off the killings. Even though the rains themselves bring death from floods and landslides and ships sinking - the purges, death squads, and vigilantes show clearly that; 'The dangerous life' is back in the Philippines anew.

May 15th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, war on terror, Views, philippines, immigration, Filipino, Bush, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, abu sayyaf, filipino-american

Monday, May 15, 2006

 
The dangerous life is back...

Terror from all sides: Mass Graves reported; Purge w/in NPA ranks claims Military, Gov’t - while left claims 93 militants killed by right wing death squads.

Last Friday I put up a post after getting two calls and couple of text messages from Mindanao. Another call came from Tarlac,

Today the first media reports on 'mass grave s' having been found one containing as many as 20 murdered victims, 20 victims, nothing reported in the so called mainstream press or television; Why? good question, perhaps because so many killings are taking place 93 militants, I can't even remember how many people anymore in my profession, journalism in the last two years.

This discovery came after a couple of text messages and emails, the CDO mass grave contained a number of victims; in media we know about this occurring the late and mid 1980's BUT these graves contents I am told were New.

The grave(s) alleged the caller were victims of a left wing purge inside the leftist movement, or, so the first caller claimed - a report today in the Philippine Star - said that the Armed forces according to national security advisor Norberto Gonzales had recovered a series of small graves and that Police and the NBI were investigating;

That a NBI medico Legal teams was on site; the findings showed the contents to have been from the last few months. On the other hand I am sure there is always a possibility of some extent of truth to the Military's reports. But, with all the other killings many in broad daylight the tactics of 'right wing' militia like attacks. One wonders just how many more sites are out there awaiting discovery from too many factions within armed groups to mention.

The discovery also is coming on heels of 93 deaths of leftist group members in the country shows a pattern of a 'dark side' of insurgency is rising to the surface.

Of assassination teams on the right and left some perhaps also might group in those of the middle or Vigilante groups- adding all those numbers and bodies and you get a figure of over 600 victims in the last three years more or less.

Groups it seems are 'taking out' opponents with impunity. Add to this the specter of reports I had received last year of new "sparrow type" and 'eagle squad' units being trained by all sides and factions from rebel groups to militia units and a specter of a new wave of violence is coming to fold.

So far, the opposing death squads seem to be focusing on people within the organizations on both sides - so Military, Media, and, Police reports claim. On wonders when the squads will go after more visible targets, so far the units have been acting on localized vendettas and attacks, there is no clear pattern investigators say; But so far little of this is being pulled together.

Lets take the last week alone- a pastor and his wife were gunned down in Misamais oriental he had ties to a labor group, a 6 members of leftist 'peoples' groups killed, these new graves discovered with some fifty bodies, 5 more reports in rural areas of killings and shootings, a mayor almost hit south of manila in Laguna.

One thing is clear - there is a growth industry - in death by gunfire this month. Most of it out of public view, all of it on top of insurgency related clashes and attacks, then don't forget the other insurgency in Mindanao. The violence is growing; lets hope as is traditional the rainy season cools off the killings. Even though the rains themselves bring death from floods and landslides and ships sinking - the purges, death squads, and vigilantes show clearly that; 'The dangerous life' is back in the Philippines anew.

May 15th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, war on terror, Views, philippines, immigration, Filipino, Bush, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, abu sayyaf, filipino-american

Saturday, May 06, 2006

 

ICG say’s Noordin Top - “JI” leader running out of money, support, &, people; Yet still a threat

A recent police action in Indonesia and serious efforts have been able to cast a shadow over the Asia wing of Jemaah Islamiah so a report from the International Crisis group claims,

"behaviour following Bali II suggests he is running short of money and experienced cadres. The loss on 29 April of the men who served as both couriers and recruiters has to be a significant blow. The Wonosobo raid was a triumph for the police, and Noordin’s arrest will be an even greater one." - ICG report
How ever the report points out that there is still a lot of work needed to done to ensure networks and group ties are swayed away from the extreme towards the mainstream.

Ji remains a potent terror force in part because of extensive family and other ties that stretches across Indonesia, Malaysia, S. Thailand and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Spectacular terror attacks and Iraq like IED bombings has "turned off" most of the moderates in the movement for the high loss of life among locals and not the targets intended victims, lading to fractured group less organized and more compartmentalized but as such still deadly.The hardcore remnants seems eager to create further chaos; and destruction, but also want to see larger alliances from more mainstream and moderate groups as well.

" Terrorism in Indonesia: Noordin’s Networks,* the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines how Noordin has used personal networks, based around an inner circle of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members but gradually expanding beyond them, to build a following committed to al-Qaeda style attacks – even though many in JI disapproved. “Noordin may think of himself as JI, but since the 2003 Marriott bombing, he has been running his own show that is seen as a deviant splinter by many in the JI mainstream,” says Sidney Jones, Crisis Group’s South East Asia Project Director in Jakarta." http://www.crisisgroup.org
The website has extensive reports and research on the Jemaah Islamiah; focused more on Indonesia. But provides insight for Philippine leaders on that side of the War versus extremists in the region.


Friday, May 05, 2006

 

statement of US DOJ on aragoncillo case

Lean Aragoncillo -has entered a guilty plea to leaking information to Anti-Arroyo Destabalizers

But; Claiming he felt he was helping only … He also said he did not name those he sent information to- except for Michael Ray Aquino;

But what is new further is he did it while still in the Blair House under both Vice Presidents and later at FBI. He also admits he treid to return to OVP US Balir house staff in 2005,

The amazing thing; one get a clearp icture to entire case; with the press release below of US DOJ - I'm posting it here since I've already done my story and want others to get a glimpse of what we base our reports on.

Compare it to the wires news reports out of the U.S.

Story www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/14501358.htm

- " A former FBI intelligence analyst pleaded guilty Thursday to passing classified information to plotters allegedly trying to overthrow Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo."

Below is the full press release of US DOJ through PR News wire on the Arrangoncillo case:

Contact: Michael Drewniak of U.S. Dept. of Justice, (number deleted on request)
NEWARK, N.J., May 4 /U.S. Newswire/ — A former Marine who worked at times under two administrations in the Office of the Vice President of the United States pleaded guilty today to espionage and other charges, admitting that he took and transferred classified information, including national defense documents, to senior political and government officials of the Republic of the Philippines in an attempt to destabilize and overthrow that country's government, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie of the District of New Jersey announced today.

Leandro Aragoncillo, 47, admitted that he regularly transferred to his hilippine contacts national security documents classified as Secret, and that the information could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation. He also admitted traveling to the Philippines in January 2001 to meet his co-conspirators, including during a visit to the Malacanang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines.

Aragoncillo also admitted that some of the classified information he removed from of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) between approximately October 2000 and February 2002 included information marked "Top Secret" that related to terrorist threats to United States government interests in the Republic of the Philippines (ROP).

Aragoncillo, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in the Philippines and most recently of Woodbury, N.J., was an FBI intelligence analyst at Fort Monmouth, N.J. at the time of his arrest on Sept. 10, 2005. He admitted today that his espionage activity continued during his time as an FBI analyst.

"Aragoncillo took the most solemn of oaths as a U.S. Marine and FBI analyst to protect his country and its security," said U.S. Attorney Christie. "His betrayal is profound and a disservice to his country and all the men and women in military and security positions around the globe who take the oath and serve with honor and integrity."

Also arrested last September was Michael Ray Aquino, a former Philippines National Police official, who was among those who Aragoncillo is alleged to have passed classified information. Aragoncillo specifically identified Aquino today as a co- conspirator in the transfer of classified documents and information.

Aquino, who remains in federal custody, was indicted on Oct. 6, 2005 and charged with conspiring in the passing of classified information to current and former officials in the Philippines. No date has been scheduled for Aquino's trial due to extensive pretrial discovery.

Aragoncillo pleaded guilty to four counts of an indictment returned today by a federal grand jury. Count one charged him with conspiracy to transmit national defense information; count two charged him with transmission of national defense information. The maximum penalty for both of those crimes is death under certain circumstances — including the transfer of secrets that result in the death of an intelligence source — that are not present in the case of Aragoncillo. Consequently, the maximum statutory penalty on those counts for Aragoncillo is any term of years up to life in prison.

Count three charges Aragoncillo with unlawful retention of national defense information, and count four charges him with unlawful use of a government computer, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

In the indictment and during his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, Aragoncillo's co-conspirators were identified as Executive Branch Official No. 1, a senior member of the executive branch of the ROP from June 1998 through January 2001; Senator No. 1, who has served in the Philippine Senate since June 2001 and was formerly the head of the Philippines National Police; Representative No. 1, who served in the Philippines House of Representatives between about 1998 and 2001 and again in 2004; Representative No. 2, who served in the Philippines House of Representatives between 1992 and 2001, and again in 2004; Mayor No. 1, who is a mayor of one of the municipalities located near Metro Manila; and Aquino.

Aragoncillo admitted his contacts began on July 27, 2000, when a delegation of public officials from the Philippines — including Executive Branch Official No. 1 and Representative No. 1 — met with the President of the United States at the White House. Aragoncillo was then a staff assistant to the Vice President's Military Advisors and possessed a Top Secret security clearance.

Aragoncillo said that Representative No. 1 contacted him in or about October 2000, and requested information about the U.S. government's views about the Philippines. Aragoncillo stated that Representative No. 1 appealed to his sense of loyalty to the Philippines and its people in requesting the information. As a result of Representative No. 1's appeals, Aragoncillo agreed to begin supplying Representative No. 1 with national security- classified documents and information.

From that time forward, and continuing through his service with the OVP and the FBI, Aragoncillo admitted to gathering and providing classified documents and information to Executive Official No. 1, Senator No. 1 and the other co-conspirators.

Aragoncillo also admitted that in telephone, e-mail and text message exchanges with Senator No. 1, he advised that the information he was transferring would be useful in assisting Senator No. 1 and his associates in their attempts to destabilize and overthrow the president and government of the Philippines. In one telephone conversation, for example, Aragoncillo admitted that he told Senator No. 1 that the documents were like a "blueprint" on how to engineer a coup. In response, Aragoncillo said that Senator No. 1 told him that the document was "a good reference" and that Senator No. 1 "would print it because we are preparing something like this."

Among other specific admissions by Aragoncillo:

– That on Jan. 12, 2001, he met Executive Branch Official No. 1 at the Malacanang Palace.

– That on June 1, 2001, he gathered classified "Situation Reports" from the OVP, and transmitted them to Representative No. 1.

– That on April 17, 2001, and Jan. 29 and Feb. 6, 2002, he gathered documents classified "Top Secret" and "Secret," respectively, containing national defense information relating to terrorist threats to U.S. government interests in the ROP and exercises involving the U.S. military in the Philippines.

– That he sought positions with the FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency, to gain access to classified documents and information that would be useful to his co-conspirators.

– That beginning in September 2004, he began gathering classified documents from FBI computers located at Fort Monmouth relating to the ROP, and thereafter he transmitted classified documents and information to his co-conspirators until his arrest on September 10, 2005.

– That from approximately January to April 2005, he transmitted by e-mail approximately 30 documents classified "Secret" and "Confidential" to Senator No. 1 and Aquino, including documents containing national defense information.

– That on Feb. 28 and Aug. 4, 2005, and on other occasions, he transmitted documents to his contacts containing classified information about confidential intelligence sources of the U.S. government.

– That approximately two weeks before his arrest, on Aug. 25, 2005, he sought to return to his position as a Staff Assistant in the OVP.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr., in Newark, N.J., for their investigation of the espionage case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl H. Buch and Michael Buchanan, of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division, and Clifford I. Rones, senior trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice in Washington.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

May 5th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, News and politics, china, asia, terrorism, Views, war, philippines, immigration, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., war on teror, fil-am, filipino-american

 

USA vs. Aragoncillo & Aquino : major development reported

Prosecutors say Major Development in Fil-Am spy case....
NEWARK, N.J.
" Federal prosecutors say a major development has taken place in the ongoing case of the USA vs. Arragoncillo and Aquino

"major development" involving charges Lean Aragoncillo; FBI civilian analyst and a Michael Ray Aquino, former PNP officer " plotted to steal classified information that could be used to oust the current Philippine leader."

Officials from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office - are qouted in the break news reports coming out of Newark.



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Dagerous Ground: The spratly's name on the maps so apt

No other small chain of Islands in the South China sea is so rightly named on international nautical charts. The charts call the area off of the Palawan Passage "Dangerous Ground" and not only for the reefs hidden shoals and sandbars that suddenly pop up out of the area.

Fishermen from as far away as Japan, Cambodia, and, Thailand make the run to this far off group of islets and reefs so teeming with fish and resources that at some places the fish jump into boats on their own! That's not a fish tale! I once was out in the eastern portion of this area and saw a small school of fish; perhaps being chased by another set of fish jump into our boat in the area.

For the Philippines it is the KCI; The Kalayaan chain of islands. It is the Western portion of the Province of Palawan; Yes, province of Palawan. there is town there with a mayor, a post office, about fifty small buildings, a small runway a tiny port, even a semi school building, and a runway that can accommodate a C130 cargo plane. There is cell site now being planned I hear and a Bayantel RCPI calling station and a loyal group of fans for Dream Cable Satellite TV!

It is part of the first Congressional district, it is a huge maritime resource for the people of that province. It is also where around 25% of the Philippines ocean based food supply is from and needs a active presence for the protection of the area.

Beyond stories of Oil and Natural gas beneath the sands and rocks on the bottom, it is a vital area of Food Security in a dwindling ocean of supply and demand. Growing populations in the regions fishermen know it is a major area that needs protection and development.

I have been there, many times, I have heard the stories, I have seen the busted vessels and on occasion seen the evidence of the portions of it that are lawless and the presence of troops and marines from rival nations in the area are actually a welcome site for the victims of pirates and others who make their living in the rough seas and shoals.

In 1992, after tension rose in the area, over the sudden presence of Chinese prefabricated buildings on Mischief reef, And a incident that many people learned about when a group of fishermen from Padre Burgos, Quezon led by Daniel Alipustahin, were rounded up, detained and allegedly beaten up by chinese PLA Navy Seabee's who were screaming about something, a few had bloody ears. It seems some had been blast fishing and Alipustahin group was detained to check if they had been rap-tap-taping on the reef while the Chinese underwater team was in the water constructing footings for the small "fisheries" shelters on the reef.

Aliputahin, had made the report to a small coast guard detachment in the town of Quezon Palawan, what worried the local coast guard was where the incident had occurred, less than 90 nautical miles off -shore. The Chinese had built a set of shelters right near a reef the towns fishermen regularly made their living off of. I like many other reporters there went down the coast from Puerto Princesa and rented a boat to see for ourselves after about ten hours you could see a few ships near the reef. The ships were huge, compared to us and clearly Navy Hazy Grey. We went back to the port, went up to Puerto Princesa and filed our news reports.

I sent in a report to the people I watched the news for in Manila; Chari Villa, who was then ABS-CBN's assignments desk manager; immediately dispatched a team on the company king air plane to Palawan. And so for about two weeks the place and story became my first major coverage with ABS-CBN's special reports group correspondent Henry Omaga Diaz.

Henry's landing was perfect timing, as he flew in so did the first elements of the PAF Fifth fighter wing out of Basa Airbase, a few F-5A fighters and some other aircraft were landing.
The images were sent out to Manila, a few interviews were done, the headlines showed the Philippines had deployed it's only offensive strike aircraft to the Antonio Bautista airbase.

Poof! crisis Spratly was born and people were waiting for anything. Although no one liked our reporting at the Western Command least of all the then WESCOM commander whose high blood pressure curdling screams were a major headache for his staff.

He had been given the Command assignment so he could move up the ladder to a higher post at GHQ; but no General in the post WW2 history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned to the Western Command had ever lost a portion to Philippine territory before needless to say after the incident; he didn't really have a high spot on the promotions lists and retired.

The shelters have grown, the reports say lot more ships visit the area now and fishermen from Quezon Town do on occasion go near the area and are pretty much left alone so long as they do not approach or try to enter the reef; whose shoal provides protection against foul seas. But not for fishermen from the closest town to the shelters and the place where Chinese on the structures could escape the boredom in nearby Palawan is both unlikely and unseen. Even with the “Joint Agreement” of the regional forum of claimant nations and China.


One view I found on the islands importance is summed up below other than "vast fishing grounds:"

Another is the trade flow there.

"The Spratly islands takes in the shipping traffic, that passes the Streets of Malacca, Sunda and Lambok on and represents a very important interface between the Indian Sea and The Pacific Ocean. It is a maritime highway for the raw material and product traffic from the Asia, the Near East, Europe and Africa. The area of Spratlys is passed by:

more than a quarter of the entire shipping traffic of the world (approx. 300 big ships per day)

30 % of the world trade

48 % of the Japanese commerce as well as a high part of the merchandise of and to South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia

70 % of the Japanese crude oil imports


Next: Pirates, Smugglers, Sharks, &, Thieves:

Thursday, May 04, 2006

 
Philippines Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; has cautioned Chinese officials against assuming that the attackers were Filipinos in the Spratly incident.

He's right- other nations and groups have done this using another countries ships to scare off fishermen from an area they want to do something in.

China did this; So has Vietnam in the parcel islands in the early 80's when they went to small unit naval action in the area over a much larger group of islands north of the Spratly's.

Each side used "Q-boat" tactics to scare off the other sides fishermen.

And Indonesian Bahasa and Tagalog can sound alike to people who have not heard the Malay languages before.

But one thing is clear unless pirates or another armed group from another country are using "Basnig" vessels as described in the Chinese report - then it is highly unlikely to be" suspect" of anyone scrutiny Filipino suspects.

Why? because only the Philippines has fishing vessels that look the way a Basnig does - with huge outriggers and its low silhouette and fast speed in calm seas compared to other more traditional fishing vessels.

The reports from China are a vessel with outriggers.

BUT; Could it be another of claimants playing a deadly game to put the blame on the Philippines? Who and why? Who has complained recently about rebuilding facilities in the South China Sea Islands of the municipality of Kalayaan or freedom land.

I must admit it is a theory- but- it is one needing a look into also along with the terror plot idea.

I know all too well the undeclared "no man's zone" that exists there in certain parts of the area near Palawan.

During fishing season it is not unheard of that people get hijacked , lose a cargo of fish one good haul can be worth over $15,000 so its not unheard of for a slow heavily laden vessel to have a crew get thrown overboard and or have vessels get into fire-fights over fishing grounds.

And I'm just talking about the fishermen here; not even the others;

"Free-traders" or smugglers also use the area in bulk; one of the largest ever hauls of Heroin smuggling captured in the USA came off a tip from local customs people in Palawan who got the tip from fishermen who saw cargo being transferred from one vessel to another at sea.

You name it, small motorbikes, electronics, cigarettes, clothing, dvd's, people- also drugs, guns, and anything else; that can fit into a small ship are commonly smuggled and trans-shipped here; methamphetamine or shabu is also common and also other contraband.

When ever we would go that far out before We'd always convince a of duty maritime policemen, or even those from the Navy to tag along. M1 Garand bearing militiamen or cafgu men is not unheard of

Before the runway at Kalayaan could accommodate c130's anew - the journey to the island was done mostly by either Navy Islander or Nomad aircraft.
Or PCF naval patrol vessel or the slow way a LST or slower still a fishing boat.

Another thing comes to mind; I remember a old incident many are not aware of way back in the 1970's a group of Filipino sailors and marines were dressed up like Vietnamese and went out in the area looking for smugglers.

The group was accompanied by a then Palawan congressman who told me about it; His son is now the local representative; Anyway; the group he was with went around the area in a Vietnamese fishing boat pretending to be Vietnamese in order to check on reports of the Chinese PLA and Kuomintang China Navy harassing fishing boats in the area.

They stumbled into a war zone of sorts! When the group’s other vessel was captured he was set to make a privileged speech to congress and expose the ongoing battle zone to the world.

He never got a chance; he was called into the Speakers chambers after he had presented his draft and rushed over to Malacanyang where with a smile on his face he was told not talk about it; the men who were captured had seized the island they were held at; they were a Philippine Navy special warfare team.

The capture was ruse to gain intelligence and eventually bribe the communist countries small garrison into defecting to the west. It worked; the small reef is now part of the Kalayaan area; the man who told me the story in 1990 was the late speaker Ramon Mitra; the President he told me said not to spill the beans was Ferdinand Marcos.

He told me back then don’t think the events out there are always as they seem; the islands small rocks and reefs are almost worthless; the location, known marine wealth and rumors of oil and natural gas make it Asia’s chess board and all nations play the game 24/7 to control the area.

May 4th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, News and politics, pirates, News Of China, china, asia, terrorism, Palawan, Views, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., war on teror, abu sayyaf

 

Rice says come to USA... ok... ? really we do? Press release


Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit Summit in Washington, April 12 (©(AP Photo/World Travel & Tourism Council, Vance Jacobs)

The United States continues to welcome foreign visitors and is working hard to improve the visa process, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told participants at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit April 12 in Washington.

New U.S. visa procedures following the 2001 terrorist attacks resulted in some delays for certain applicants when originally implemented, she said, but the United States since has improved its ability to process visa applications efficiently. (See related article.)

“Since the attacks of September 11th, our nation's commitment to openness has been tested by new and unprecedented threats from global terrorism,” she said.

“When we make it harder for terrorists to travel,” she added, “we make it harder for them to attack us. And it is absolutely vital for us, all of us, to enhance the security of international travel.”

The State Department, with support from Congress, has created 515 new consular positions since September 2001. That change is helping make the visa process more transparent and efficient, Rice said.

U.S. embassies and consulates also have established special, expedited visa interviews for prospective foreign students.

“We are now approving 97 percent of our visas in just one or two days and we are radically shortening the amount of time that it takes to process the rest,” Rice said, adding that the number of visas issued in 2005 increased for the first time since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Another improvement is an upcoming electronic visa process with a fully electronic application that could make life dramatically easier for many foreign citizens who now have to travel great distances just to be interviewed by a U.S. consular officer.

“With generous help from our private partners,” Rice said, “we are taking steps to improve customer service for foreign travelers in America's airports.”

The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security are introducing a pilot model airport program that allows State Department personnel to try out new ideas, like customized video messages and friendly airport greeters who will help foreign travelers navigate the border entry process in a more respectful way.

The new Business Visa Center, established by the State Department in 2005, is making it easier for foreign employees and the foreign partners of American companies to obtain visas to do legitimate business in the United States.

Rice estimated that the new Business Visa Centers help 35,000 travelers every month.

“Improving global travel,” she concluded, “will be an ongoing challenge, stretching long into the future.”

For more information on U.S. policies, see Visas, Passports and Immigration.

The transcript of the secretary’s remarks follows:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 12, 2006 – 2006/366

REMARKS

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Global Travel and Tourism Summit Breakfast
April 12, 2006
D.C. Convention Center
Washington, D.C.

(7:30 a.m. EDT)

SECRETARY RICE: Well, thank you very much, Vince, for that really kind introduction and I am delighted to have a chance to be here with you, fellow ministers and members of the diplomatic corps and distinguished patrons of the Global Travel and Tourism Summit. I'm really honored to speak to you this morning as you begin the final day of what I know has been a fascinating conference and a really important conference. And let me just say that I am pleased, really pleased, and want to thank all of the people who made it possible that this summit is being held here in the United States. Thank you very much for coming here. (Applause.)

Now, since becoming Secretary of State last year, I've learned a few things about global travel and not enough unfortunately about tourism. Last year I spent 500 hours on an airplane and I visited 49 countries. I recently returned from a trip that began in the United States, went to Chile, went to Indonesia, then to Australia and then back to the United States, a total of nearly 31,000 miles and the circumferences of the earth is about 25,000 miles. So we didn't plan very well. And with a scheduled like that, I not only travel a lot, but I unfortunately don't have a lot of time for site seeing.

Now, when I took this job nonetheless I knew that I wanted to have an active travel agenda. Because despite the modern prevalence of mobile phones and wireless internet and video conferencing, travel is not less important for diplomacy, it's more important. When you can look a person in the eye as you have a conversation, when you can see the people and the places of foreign countries firsthand, you gain a sense of intimacy and knowledge that does not just come from a phone call or in an e-mail.

That is why last October I invited British Foreign Minister Jack Straw to spend a weekend in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and why I was eager to join him in Blackburn and Liverpool, England, just two weeks ago.

Too often we diplomats spend all of our time in capital cities which, though nice, may not be entirely representative of the whole country. In the coming years, I plan to invite a lot more foreign colleagues to travel with me to American cities that show a different side of our country and people that you may find in Washington, D.C., or in New York.

The benefits of travel, though, are not limited to the official comings and goings of diplomats. They extend especially to the global journeys of private citizens. As this audience surely knows, traveling to another country, for whatever reason, is a highly entertaining and enriching experience. It breaks down stereotypes and makes people quicker to listen and slower to judge. Travel fosters understanding and builds respect and creates a subtlety of opinion.

I think the title you have chosen for this year's summit gets right to the heart of the point that I'm making: Open Mind, Open World. To put it simply, the knowledge and experience that citizens gain through their private travels is vital for the cause of diplomacy and international understanding in the 21st century. We in America recognize this fact and we value it, especially President Bush and all of us who serve this nation's government.

Throughout our history, America has always been a welcoming nation. And today, we are more committed than ever to advancing our tradition of openness. This year, the United States expects to welcome about 52 million foreign visitors into our country -- men and women who come here to work, to study or just to stay a while and see what America is like. And of course, our citizens are just as eager to travel abroad and to see the world. Americans take 60 million foreign trips a year, touching nearly ever country on the globe.

Since the attacks of September 11th, our nation's commitment to openness has been tested by new and unprecedented threats from global terrorism. The terrorists who attacked us on that September day and who wish to hit us again depend on illicit travel practices for their operations. When we make it harder for terrorists to travel, we make it harder for them to attack us. And it is absolutely vital for us, all of us, to enhance the security of international travel. Another terrorist attack would not just be damaging to America; it would be extremely detrimental to honest travelers everywhere.

We recognize, though, that striking a balance is important. And we certainly do not want to make things more difficult for legitimate travelers. I know that some of our initial security measures after September 11th have caused delays in getting visas and even led some foreign citizens to believe that the United States is no longer welcoming to them. We've heard these legitimate concerns and we are doing everything that we can to improve our visa policy while also maintaining our security.

As we do so, we greatly appreciate your support, your advice and your constructive criticism. I would ask you, in particular, to help us better inform travelers about security requirements. When people have this important information, they can plan ahead and their travel experience is therefore smoother and more positive. With your help on this issue, travelers, the travel industry and our government can all work and benefit together.

Improving global travel is a public/private partnership and we in the State Department are working hard to do our part. With support from Congress, we have created 515 new consular positions since September 2001. This change, along with others, is helping to make the visa process more transparent, more efficient and hopefully more expeditious. Around the world today, 97 percent of approved travelers receive their visa in a day or two, and we've dramatically decreased the wait time for the rest and these actions are getting results. We've increased the number of foreign travelers in America every year since 2001 and we are now issuing more visas than at any time since September 11th.

Now, these positive trends are important but they are only the beginning and I understand that. With your help we can continue to make real improvements. In January, I joined with Mike Chertoff, my colleague, the Secretary of Homeland Security, to take the next steps to realize President Bush's vision of secure borders and open door in this information age.

I'd like to discuss a few of these positive steps with you this morning. One, an important work in progress, is the creation of travel documents for the 21st century. We are expanding the issuance of what we call e-passports. These documents contain a computer chip that safely and efficiently stores travelers' personal information, making it easier and faster for them to get where they are going. I now carry an e-passport myself. Soon our entire diplomatic corps will as well. And by the end of the year, we plan to make these new documents available to the general public.

Another improvement that we are initiating is an electronic visa process with a fully electronic application. Later this year, we will begin testing how digital video conferencing technology could facilitate the processing of visas. Of course, we must ensure that the security of the visa process remains intact, as does the private biometric information of applicants; we want to ensure safety and privacy. But if we can do this successfully, the new process could make life dramatically easier for many foreign citizens who now have to travel great distances just to be interviewed by a U.S. consular officer.

We are making entry into America faster. We are also trying to make it friendlier and still secure. With generous help from our private partners, we are taking steps to improve customer service for foreign travelers in America's airports. The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security are introducing a pilot model airport program. This project will allow us to try out new ideas, like customized video messages and friendly airport greeters that will help foreign travelers to navigate our border entry process in a more respectful way.

The companies represented here have significant expertise in customer service and you can help us develop the best approach in the airports we have selected for this year: Washington Dulles and Houston. The most promising programs from these airports will serve as models to improve ports of entry across our country.

One final change that I want to mention to you is the new Business Visa Center which the State Department established last year. This program makes it easier for both foreign employees and the foreign partners of American companies to get visas to do legitimate business in the United States. We estimate that 35,000 travelers every month are assisted directly and indirectly by our new Business Visa Centers.

Now, these improvements, along with many others that we're implementing at the same time, should make it easier for people everywhere to experience the joys of global travel and of tourism. But let me stress that this is not the end of the road nor is it as good as it gets. Improving global travel will be an ongoing challenge, stretching long into the future. We in the government cannot achieve this goal alone. After all, the government isn't exactly known for customer service. We need the help and engagement of private partners, partners like you. Let us know how we can make travel faster, more enjoyable and more compassionate and more respectful for everyone involved. Work with us to improve the travel systems that serve all of us so well.

And I would personally ask you to help us spread the word that America has heard the legitimate concerns of travelers worldwide and that we are responding with clear changes for the better. The troubles that you have heard about or may have even experienced in 2002 are no longer the case in 2006. America's doors are now more open, even as our borders are more secure, but we have much more to do. Together, let us seize the historic opportunities before us to make global travel and tourism a source of shared understanding in the 21st century. Thank you for your essential contributions to this great industry. Thank you for the work that you will do with us in the future as well as the work that you have done with us in the past, and I hope that you enjoy the rest of this important summit. Thank you very much. (Applause.)


 

EU, US, & other MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM ON ALERT

Report says tapes or video recordings of trains and train like transportation systems of note in Europe has people in the US DHS worried about a possible casing having taken place in the USA public or mass trasit system.

Richard Esposito Reports / On ABC's the blotter website...
" "private sector note" released Tuesday, May 2nd, DHS says a 17 minute hand held videotape by one foreign national detained in November in a major European city included footage of several stations, two routes and the interior of one "subway car." None of the footage was of tourist attractions. Information from a second suspicious videotaping, also in November 2005, was factored into the one page private sector note.
"Two incidents of suspicious videotaping of a European mass transit system in the last 120 days provide indications of continued terrorist interest in mass transit systems as targets, and potentially useful insight into terrorist surveillance techniques," DHS said.
The contents of the 17 minute tape that appeared suspicious included the recording of station signs from inside a moving train, shooting footage of the rail car and station platform ceilings and recording trash can and stairwell locations. This footage seems to mesh with known techniques and elements of prior casing reports of planned and executed terrorist plots including the London bombing and plots against the New York City subway system."

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

 

Malls. Parks and resort hotels on JI hitlist

A Report from the Philippine government to media today they say they have foiled a plot by a combined Abu Sayyaf - Jemaah Islamiah team and it's Al Qaeda funders to attack protests and rallies on May Day in Manila.

The bombings had been planned; using hand M67 fragmentation granades that have a injury radius of 50meters.

The grenades attacks were supposed to be carried out by a six man "strike team" of ASG-JI members who had planned to sow chaos. The plan was the hand grenades into the protest crowds; and the plan; was to blow up a second set of devices if a stampeded ensued use a series of IED's to create further mayhem.

the plan is still a threat idea - that is why the PNP wisely went out and talked behind the scenes to protest organizers; behind the scenes to warn them of the JI-ASG plot and asked their Marshall's to be "aware" of the plot. It seems to have worked- strangers were not allowed close to rally organizers and stages - people have to realize there are third and fourth wing elements who want to see violence erupt on the streets to create a shortwave to stir the mostly silent masses and middle class and provoke a more repressive response from the present Government.

Documents and communications chatter monitored indicates that the Asia wing of the Al Qaeda group is hard pressed to prove to its Middle Eastern backers; that they can open a second front in Asia and take pressure off of fighters in Iraq. Millions in support fund have been sent out; some from those backing Al Qaeda - others- from new sponsors; who are seeking more distractions for those wanting a to make the SE Asia theater a larger more violent area in this on-going "near WW3" that is happening around the globe,

The greatest concern by those in the middle east is also to derail and divert attention from successful programs "counter insurgent" of the RP, US, EU, and, Australia in the Philippine provinces of Basilan and Jolo.

The programs designed by the Philippine Government and funded and supported by the Allies vs. Al Qaeda have had a large measure of success.

The strike teams are also out in Mindanao itself; in an effort to derail or end Peaceful resolution of the Islamic separatist insurgency in the Southern Philippines through peace talks.sponsored by the USA and brokered by Malaysia with the majority of Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The raiding team led by Nelson Yabit, Sr. inspector PNP-CIDG; at a home in Marikina City last week recovered CD's computer disks and maps

Reuters in a report says more threats are feared ongoing;

"active threats" to bomb shopping malls and public parks in cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos and Zamboanga.Police believe attacks are being planned by Khaddafy Janjalani, the Abu Sayyaf leader who is believed to be hiding on the southwestern island of Jolo, and Indonesian militants Dulmatin and Umar Patek, key suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people."


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