NEWS: amnesty for the abu sayaf

[shadow]

peace talk my *ss Dick Gordon!!!! malapit na talaga election...

Amnesty eyed for Sayyaf
By Paolo Romero Updated July 15, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is reviewing a proposal to grant amnesty to Abu Sayyaf commanders who want to return to the fold of the law.
However, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who chairs the Anti-Terrorism Council, said the government is still “thinking about it.”
Lawmakers could extend a pending amnesty proclamation for communist rebels in Congress to cover “all fighters fighting the government,” he added.
Ermita said Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr., along with members of the Cabinet security cluster, will review a proposal of Sen. Richard Gordon to grant amnesty to elderly members of the Abu Sayyaf.
During a meeting with Ermita and other officials after he brought released hostage Eugenio Vagni to Malacañang, Gordon said military commanders have informed him that elderly Abu Sayyaf commanders would consider amnesty, especially if there is socio-economic assistance for them.
“Time has its way of mellowing the minds of people… and the likes of (Abu Sayyaf commander) Radullan Sahiron are becoming mellow in their activities and they’re the ones who could agree to entering into some peaceful program so that they will lay down their arms,” he said.
“We spoke with Senator Gordon and the military commanders, and they believe that indeed socio-economic developments in the area (where the Abu Sayyaf operate) should continue,” Ermita said.
Ermita said Gordon’s proposal is being carefully studied, but that there would be no let-up in the government’s anti-terror campaign.
“We would continue with our strategy of right-hand and left-hand effort of pressuring them through military operations for those who fight the government, and also opportunity for development and for the others to return peacefully,” he said.
Ermita said it would help the government silence the guns in Mindanao if elderly Abu Sayyaf commanders are allowed to return to society because they hold sway over the younger and more radical members.
“Because without the support of these elderly commanders they (young militants) cannot survive,” he said.
“They’re (commanders) the ones who control the area where they hide. They provide haven for the younger groups. And if the police and military run after them it is still elderly commanders who control the area and provide haven.”

Troops to get kidnappers

In Sulu, Gov. Abdul Sakur Tan warned yesterday of a military offensive to get the Abu Sayyaf band that snatched three international Red Cross workers last Jan. 15.
Italian Eugenio Vagni was freed last Sunday, while Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter were released last April 2 and April 18.
Speaking before an emergency meeting with Sulu mayors in Maimbung town Monday, Tan said the offensive was put on hold until after the release of Vagni last Sunday.
“It’s not just because of the white (Caucasians) kidnap victims but also of our soldiers and our police commander who died while looking for the victims,” he said.
Tan said the Abu Sayyaf killed Sulu police commander Senior Superintendent Kasim Julasirim last June, along with his brother and two policemen.
“We cannot just leave in vain the gallantry of these soldiers, specially our provincial commander Senior Superintendent Kasim who worked for our province to be peaceful. We must give them justice.”
Tan said the selective offensive will be coupled with development projects to keep the community away from the Abu Sayyaf.
Projects like schools have been inaugurated for the residents of affected towns, he added.
The development projects will continue to compliment the security operations against criminal elements, Tan said.
Sulu police commander Muhipuddin Ismail said police forces have not been withdrawn from the areas where the Abu Sayyaf, led by Albader Parad, Umbra Jumdail, and Yasser Igasan, are holed out.
“The position of our police forces remain status quo,” he said
No order has been given to pull out any of the troops, Ismail said.

Gordon denounces offensive

Senator Gordon, Philippine National Red Cross chairman, denounced yesterday government plans to mount an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao.
“I am disappointed because there are ongoing humanitarian missions and then our people are being forewarned about this military operation,” he said. “That’s very unfortunate.”
Gordon said only peace talks can help resolve the decades-old secession in Mindanao.
An intensified military operation in Mindanao would hamper the humanitarian activities being undertaken by the PNRC, he added.
Gordon said that since all three Red Cross volunteers have been freed, the government should consider resuming the peace talks.
“Be wary and careful in making statements that provoke conflict,” he said. “They (military) should give these people the opportunity to come out and consider returning to normal life.”
Gordon said he was informed some members of the Abu Sayyaf are willing to come down from the mountains and return to normal life if given the chance.
“They never requested for money during the negotiations for the release of the three hostages,” he said.
“Their main demand that time was for the military to pull out so we can talk, so we should give it them.”

Troops disgruntled

In the front, troops are disgruntled that their superiors have ordered the release of the two wives of Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad.
“Sobrang disappointed kami because nagbuwis na nga kami ng buhay (we sacrificed our lives) to let this Abu Sayyaf know there’s law,” said one of the soldiers who had been wounded in the military operation to rescue the Red Cross workers.
“We have been healed but the scars bleed again from this kind of decision.”
A junior officer said while they follow orders and the chain of command, the “swap really put in vain the lives of the soldiers who sacrificed against the Abu Sayyaf terrorism.”
Most of the battle-scarred soldiers showed their disappointment but kept quiet as part of the hazard of performing their duties, the officer added.
The two wives of Parad – Rowena Aksan and Nursima Anudden – were arrested along with four other Abu Sayyaf members in a Marine checkpoint last week in Barangay Tagbak, Indanan town.
Military interrogators tagged the two wives of Parad as part of the Abu Sayyaf logistics supplier.
At least 11 Marines, including a Special Action Force policeman and two civilian volunteers, were killed, while more than 30 others were wounded in two major encounters in March and June in the military operation to pressure the Abu Sayyaf to release the Red Cross workers.

Military to probe ‘prisoner swap’

The Armed Forces will investigate allegations of “prisoner swapping” that led to the release of Vagni last Sunday.
Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Joint Task Force Comet commander based in Jolo, Sulu, said they will look into the allegations that Vagni was released in exchange for the freedom of Parad’s two wives.
“We are open to the investigation, we will follow that order and we will conduct the investigation,” he said.
“As per order of the secretary of national defense, we will intensify our combat operations in the area so when we say intensified operations we would like to differentiate this from an all-out war.”
Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said it was “purely coincidental” that Vagni was released after Parad’s wives convinced him to free the Italian.
“In fact, our commanders on the ground are confident that even without the arrest, Vagni would be released soon,” he said.
Brawner said the military’s relentless operations had also exerted pressure on the Abu Sayyaf to release Vagni.
Troops will also intensify operations to recover the three public school teachers still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, he added.

Huge ransom for Vagni?

On top of the P50,000 “cigarette allowance,” a huge amount of cash was reportedly handed over to the Abu Sayyaf for the freedom of Vagni.
A source said millions of pesos could have changed hands but refused to give details on the supposed ransom.
“Walang pa akong alam na kidnapping sa Sulu na hindi nagkakaroon ng bayaran (I don’t know of any kidnapping in Sulu that did not involve ransom payment),” a security official said.
However, Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado told The STAR in Zamboanga City last Sunday: “Wala akong alam na (I don’t know of any) ransom.”
On the other hand, Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla attributed Vagni’s release to the active participation in the negotiations of the two wives of Abu Sayyaf commander Parad.
Leading negotiations with Parad since last week, Sahidulla capitalized on the capture of the two wives.
The women subsequently convinced their husband to release Vagni.
Brawner said that aside from the P50,000 which Sahidulla handed to Parad’s band, no other amount was given to the Abu Sayyaf.
“Wala talagang ransom payment, except for the personal P50,000 cash given by the vice governor to Parad,” he said. — With Roel Pareño, Mayen Jaymalin, James Mananghaya, Jaime Laude

[ghosthunter]

The philippine military should just wipe out the abu sayaf to the last man. The abu sayaf is not fighting for any religious or moral cause. All they want is to extort money by doing local/regional terrorism and kidnapping.

[jonski]

Dami nagpapasikat na senador. Masasabi ba nya mga yan sa harap ng sundalo?

[ans_lim168]

Just remember not to vote for Gordon, the ASG don't know how to value life, they just treat them as nothing as seen with the beheading they did in the past, they are not worthy of being given amnesty.

[chua_riwap]

Di isama na nila sa amnesty si Ka Roger. Sakitin na't matanda na rin ito.........

[CVT]

Pag nagkataon, para bang ginawa pang "retirement haven" ang ating society....

8202:sampay:

[Zeus]

Wala dapat amnesty sa mga Abu, dapat gawing testing ground na lang ng mga bagong bomba ng US ang lungga nila

[Altis6453]

Well, Mr. Senator Gordon, we're just glad that the AFP needed neither permission nor consent coming from you.

[coiter]

kung ganyan din lang, bigyan na nila ng amnesty lahat ng preso sa pilipinas! kung simpleng mandurukot lang nakukulong, itong mga mamamatay tao hindi???! lech!

[shadow]

and this guy is dreaming of running for the Presidency....?

maging red cross volunteer na lang siya then punta siya sa Mindanao para siya ang ma kidnap...