RedBlueThoughts

Atty. Homobono Adaza, counsel of Magdalo, filed another plunder case against former president Estrada. In the case he filed at the Sandiganbayan, Adaza included Erap among those to be charged for plunder. Representing an unknown prince who claims ownership of the entire Philippine archiepelago, Adaza said that Erap should be charged for allowing the construction of the Erap City at the Tala estate. The attorney says that estate was part of the property of this prince.

Bull.

Adaza should just keep silent. I don’t know what Adaza has in his mind. Clearly, this is an attempt at keeping Erap behind bars. The question really is, what will Erap do? Obviously, this administration will not allow him to escape jail.

I would like to see how Erap will react in this latest caper. Its clear that this administration is pushing the ex-leader to the wall. Maybe this administration knows something which we, ordinary mortals, do not. Will they drag this country into civil war? Will Erap use his vast financial resources to campaign against this administration?

Will Asiong Salonga vanquish his enemies? Let’s see.

Now it can be told—Bossi was released after negotiators (mostly government) agreed on a prisoner swap. Clearly, the kidnappers whom are ABU SAYYAF negotiated for a prisoner swap. They would swap Bossi with their comrades who were imprisoned in a Basilan jail.

Months ago, I was very certain that it was the ASG who kidnapped Bossi. One, the way he was kidnapped bore the signature of the terrorist group. Two, there were no demands for ransom; meaning the reason for the kidnapping was not monetary but strategic. And three, Bossi was kept in Lanao province and moved around outside Zamboanga peninsula.

The MILF supplied the government with information that it was the ASG that made the kidnapping. It was led by Abdul Salam, which is one of the spiritual cadres in the terror group. It is very clear that the ASG has evolved into a more highly sophisticated armed group. We just don’t know if money changed hands for the release of Bossi. I am, however, very certain that this one is a prisoner swap.

Clearly, this state is a very weak one. They capitulated to the demands of these terrorists. This administration needs to be replaced immediately. The Philippines is truly the weakest link in the anti-terror fight in the Asia-Pacific.

Paging the US! Help us replace this administration.

Read this news article…..Imagine, the jailbreak happened hours after Bossi was released from captivity. Why the jailbreak in Basilan, a place where the encounter between the Marines and the MILF happened?

It seems that a big war is brewing in the South…this, I think, is meant to weaken GMA for eventual ouster.

Suspects in Dos Palmas kidnapping escape Basilan jail

Four Abu Sayyaf Group members, two of whom were involved in the kidnapping of foreign tourists in Palawan six years ago, escaped with 12 other inmates from the provincial jail of Basilan island Friday morning.

Authorities identified the four bandits as Itting Askalani, Enteng Anjil, Abug Sampang and Wakil Sampang.

Reports said Abug and Wakil Sampang were arrested last January 5 at the Village Restaurant along Gov. Camins Avenue in Zamboanga City.

The two were arrested for murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the bloody hospital siege in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2001 and the kidnapping of at least 20 foreign tourists from the Dos Palmas Beach Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan the same year.

Authorities have yet to determine background information of the other two escaped bandits. The identities of the other prisoners who escaped along with the four bandits have yet to be determined by the police.

Chief Inspector Christopher Panapan said the inmates escaped by sawing through the iron bars on the window of their cell between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. The inmates then scaled a wall to escape.

Basilan Provincial Director Salik Macapantar confirmed the jailbreak, which occurred hours after suspected Moro rebels freed Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi in Lanao del Norte late Thursday.

Now it can be told—Bossi was released after negotiators (mostly government) agreed on a prisoner swap. Clearly, the kidnappers whom are ABU SAYYAF negotiated for a prisoner swap. They would swap Bossi with their comrades who were imprisoned in a Basilan jail.

Months ago, I was very certain that it was the ASG who kidnapped Bossi. One, the way he was kidnapped bore the signature of the terrorist group. Two, there were no demands for ransom; meaning the reason for the kidnapping was not monetary but strategic. And three, Bossi was kept in Lanao province and moved around outside Zamboanga peninsula.

Clearly, this state is a very weak one. They capitulated to the demands of these terrorists. This administration needs to be replaced immediately. The Philippines is truly the weakest link in the anti-terror fight in the Asia-Pacific.

Paging the US! Help us replace this administration.

Suspects in Dos Palmas kidnapping escape Basilan jail

Four Abu Sayyaf Group members, two of whom were involved in the kidnapping of foreign tourists in Palawan six years ago, escaped with 12 other inmates from the provincial jail of Basilan island Friday morning.

Authorities identified the four bandits as Itting Askalani, Enteng Anjil, Abug Sampang and Wakil Sampang.

Reports said Abug and Wakil Sampang were arrested last January 5 at the Village Restaurant along Gov. Camins Avenue in Zamboanga City.

The two were arrested for murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the bloody hospital siege in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2001 and the kidnapping of at least 20 foreign tourists from the Dos Palmas Beach Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan the same year.

Authorities have yet to determine background information of the other two escaped bandits. The identities of the other prisoners who escaped along with the four bandits have yet to be determined by the police.

Chief Inspector Christopher Panapan said the inmates escaped by sawing through the iron bars on the window of their cell between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. The inmates then scaled a wall to escape.

Basilan Provincial Director Salik Macapantar confirmed the jailbreak, which occurred hours after suspected Moro rebels freed Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi in Lanao del Norte late Thursday.

This is the reason why we need a change in the AFP leadership, and overall the government.

ON TARGET
Abu Sayyaf did not take part in ambush of Marines
By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer
Last updated 11:41pm (Mla time) 07/18/2007
The Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) joined forces in ambushing the Marines on their way home and later beheaded and mutilated some of them.

True or false?

False. There were no Abu Sayyaf bandits among the ambushers, according to my informant, a military intelligence agent.

My unimpeachable source said the attackers were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the men of former Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar whose wife is now the incumbent governor.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits, who were holding Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, were nowhere near the area as they were running away from their military pursuers.

The MILF and Akbar’s men ambushed the Marine convoy to give the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers time to escape from their pursuers.

Akbar got 800 firearms from unidentified sources before the senatorial and local elections and distributed these among his men and other groups, my source said.

Some of the firearms were allegedly used in the ambush of the Marines.

Apart from rifles, the MILF and Akbar’s men used rifle-propelled grenades and 81 mm mortars in ambushing the Marines.

According to my source, the MILF has RPGs or rifle-propelled grenades, but they don’t have 81 mm mortars. Only Akbar has.

Question: Who provided Akbar with the 800 M-16 and M-14 rifles and 81 mm mortars?

Why did the military allow Akbar’s men to have 81 mm mortars that are for the exclusive use of the military?

On the subject of air support, an OV 10 attack helicopter and two MG520 hovered over the scene of the fighting, but left without firing a shot, said my source.

The UH1H helicopter also hovered over the area, but left also without firing a shot. A gunner of one of the “Huey” choppers was hit, forcing the pilot to return to base.

It could not be determined why the reinforcement aircraft left and literally fed the ground troops to the dogs.

The only officer who could order the dispatch and withdrawal of air support to beleaguered troops was Lt. Gen. Eugene Cedo, chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

Cedo was not at the Wesmincom headquarters in Zamboanga City, but in Cagayan de Oro City reportedly attending a security summit there.

Since Cedo was not in his area of command, he would not know the situation on the ground.

The military inefficiency in Basilan, as far as air support was concerned, seems a reenactment of the military bungling in the Abu Sayyaf raid at Dos Palmas resort in Palawan.

The Western Command under a Commodore Rabago didn’t send aircraft to pursue the kidnappers who were riding on a fast seacraft. Rabago was reportedly playing golf at the time of the raid.

* * *

The owner of a firm allegedly involved in the overpricing of lampposts in Cebu City during the Asean Summit this year frequents the casinos and reportedly loses millions almost daily. The guy could be gambling with people’s money.