Pres. Duterte shaken criminals and syndicates in just a week

By Jun Enriquez

Manila (Published at "TINGOG BALITA MINDANAW", July 8, 2016) - In the inaugural speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 30, 2016 at Malacanang Palace, Manila, after taking his oath administered by Justice Beinvenido Reyes, Duterte said he will listen to the voice of the people and supply their needs. He said that our country was bedeviled by corruption, criminality and rampant sale of illegal drugs and breakdown of law and order. A social disease denuded the fiber of Philippine society must stop by all means the laws allows. The erosion of trust and faith in the Judiciary. There are people do not approve my method of fighting illegal drugs but illegal drugs destroys individuals. Duterte appealed “Allow us to level up the governance consistent to our mandate”. Duterte said he knows the limits of the power of the President and knew what is legal and what is not. He said the rule of law is uncompromising. He addressed to the Legislative and Judiciary, and said you mind your work and I will mind mine. “Malasakit sa tunay na pagbabago”, means sincerity on meaningful change. “Tinud-anay nga kabag-ohan mao kini ang tumong sa atong goberno”, meaning genuine change is the goal of our governance. People are hungry of meaningful change. Change will start in us, love of country, help the helpless and work towards a better Philippines that needs shoulder - to - shoulder of the people. It is not to add more to those who have much but provide to those who have little. Work for the poor but not to discourage the rich. Duterte ordered all departments to reduce the processing time of all applications and refrain from changing and bending of the approved contracts during the period of project implementation.  His administration will Advocates transparency and abhor secrecy. He will honor international treaties and agreements. The Call for peace to continue the talks with the MILF and MNLF is one of his priority programs. Duterte said he was elected as President to serve the people not to serve anyone but everyone, no friends to serve and no enemies to harm. He urged everyone to embark for a better tomorrow. He said he was in Malacanang because he loves the country and people, and starts to work for the nation.

In another development, in the morning of July 1, 2016, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa sworn to office at Camp Crame, Manila. Dela Rosa said of his being a PNP chief is a destiny like President Duterte. He said words are not enough and expressed his endless and unquestionable loyalty. Dela Rosa said that they were together with President Duterte in past years as mayor in Davao City in fighting criminalities and became victorious of what is Davao City now. He said to President Duterte “dili gyod ko magpaulaw kanimo Sir” I will not make myself shameful to you Sir. Dela Rosa said to the PNP ranks, “starting today I am your father”. He said if you are with me then we will fight together, if you are not with me then you are finish! He ordered PNP officials link in drugs to surrender within 48 hours or you may go to full time drug lords or otherwise your birthday will transfer to November 2. The issue is no longer “kung magkano ang nakolekta sa kotong kundi kung magkano ang nabentang droga”. Our mission is the ending the ills of the society. He urged the people to pray for them to succeed their mission “at upang hindi maabuso ang karapatang pantao”, means not to abuse the Human Rights.

In the afternoon of July 1, 2016, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya was installed as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at camp Aguinaldo. Visaya promised the AFP under his watch will push a final step to fight against internal security threats within the mandate of the President’s thrust to refocus their mission on internal conflicts especially in fighting the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan and Jolo. Visaya said in his acceptance speech “we will focus our military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group including their terrorist cells and their allies”. Visaya said that the military will concentrate their target on the locations and sanctuaries of the Abu Sayyaf to finish them out.

PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, during his acceptance speech as PNP Chief on July 1, 2016 and gave 48 hours to Police Generals linked to illegal drug syndicate to surrender but nothing happened. During the Philippine Air Force Anniversary on July 5, 2016, President Duterte named the five generals linked to the illegal drug syndicate in the country, they are Gen. Marcelo Garbo, Gen. Vicente Loot, Gen. Bernardo Diaz, Gen. Joel Pagdilao and Gen. Edgardo Tinio. However, they were given their rights to answer accusations . In some areas locally, there were 160 individuals surrendered to police in Iligan City linked to drugs, at least 150 persons surrendered in Linamon, Lanao del Norte, there were 116 persons surrendered in Basilan and at least 150 persons surrendered in Valencia, Bukidnon. These numobers is expected to increase because there are some feelers received from the PNP in different parts of the country that there are individuals expressed themselves to surrender.

After AFP Chief Ricardo Visaya sworn in as AFP Chief, information gathered from the Civil Military Officer (CMO) of a certain Captain Reyes of 35^th Infantry Battalion , Philippine Army, said that military offensive against Abu sayyaf group (ASG) started in July 6, 2016 at Maligay, Paticul, Jolo Sulu, There were 20 ASG members engaged in armed encounter with the military resulted to the killing of one ASG member and others have survived and fled to nowhere.

On July 7, 2016, a military offensive against ASG in Tipo-tipo Basilan was going on. An estimated 100 ASG members engaged in a firefight against the military and it goes heavy exchanging of continues firing. The military used two attack helicopters and two plane bombers from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and bombed the targets to the ASG locations and followed by the artillery canons from the 18^th Infantry battalion fired continuous shelling to the ASG targets. The ASG attempted to occupy the Town hall of Tipo-tipo and to raise the ISIS flag. The police force in Basilan headed by Police Sr. Supt Oscar Nantes covered and protected the town hall of Tipo-tipo not to be occupied by the ASG.

Information gathered from Provincial Social welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) recorded the results of the heavy fighting by the government forces against the terrorist ASG and was able to displaced 1,312 families with number of dependents accounted at 7,078. There were 3 municipalities affected of the conflict to include Albarka, Tipo-tipo and Ungkaya Pukan. There were 8 Barangays affected of the continuous fighting, the Barangays of Migcawa, Bohepiang, Sitio Layohan, Bguindan, Silangkim, Tipo-tipo proper, Sungkayot, Bohesuyaki.

There are evacuation centers that can be found in Tipo-tipo Barangays of Cabangal, Manunggul, Kailih, Sitio Subah, Amaloy, Camalig, Sitio Punubato, Materling. The immediate needs for the evacuees are food items with estimated amount needed is 365,000 pesos for the initial relief to be sourced out from the funds of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).

On July 10, 2016 reports received from the military that there were 9 ASG members killed and 1 casualty from the military. Sporadic armed encounter of the military forces against the ASG still going on. On July 14, 2016 at 8:00 O’clock in the morning, there were three personnel of the Field Artillery Battalion attached to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 were shot to death by unidentified gunmen believed to be members of the ASG in Indanan, Sulu. Reports from ground units disclosed the three soldiers were procuring provisions in Barangay Manilop, Indanan when they were waylaid and shot by the suspects. The bodies of the victims were recovered and immediately transported by troops to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista. Their names are still withheld pending notification from victims’ relatives. With reports from Mike Navarro of Basilan, Mel Velez of Bukidnon & via PTV4 satellite monitor (updated July 15, 2016).