Today is Saturday, Feb. 28th, 2009 and it is now 1:00 AM here in the Philippines.
Since I only got into ASG's latest hijinx, I will just segue directly into the latest war nonsense...
With the MILF...
On 2/23 at 130 AM in Barangay Santa Clara in Kalamansig village in Sultan Kudarat PRovince the fighting that began in October, 2008 after the killing, by Ilaga (Bisaya Para) of Datu (Chief) Makasa Mastura (Muslim chieftain) has continued with the latest blow up involving CAFGU, ILA AND Ilaga against the MILF.
That same day in Munai village in Lanao del Norte Province, the MILF's 102nd under Kumander Bravo engaged the army's 43rd infantry under Col. Uy. The 43rd has ensconced itself in its new FOB in Barangays Dalama and Matampay.
Yesterday, at daybreak in Barangays Nimao and Gavang in Datu Piang village in Maguindanao Province, Kumander Rambo (have to love those names guys!) of the combined forces of the MILF/BIAF, who themselves are now operating out of the BIAF OB at Camp Salman al Farishi in Zamboanga del Norte Province, have engaged the army in the Liguasan Marsh (hotbed for Muslim rebels). The BIAF of course is the arconym for the "Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces" which grew out of pro-MILF elements within the MNLF.
More than 100 homes have been burned since yesterday with the army blaming BIAF and the BIAF blaming, of course, the army. No count on deaths but it is said to be extremely high.
Of course the army now has its MG-520 gunships (copters) operating over the marsh, as always and are now movng 155 MM Howitzers to upgrade from their usual 105 MM pieces. More fun for the Refugees hiding in the Marsh.
Also, MILF/BIAF operating in Barangay Curnan in Gudod village in Zamboanga del Norte Province against the 18th Infantry, also since dawn yesterday, as well as against the 55th Infantry and 44th in Sirawi village also in that same province.
Also yesterday, in Barangay Tapikan in Shariff Aguak village in Maguindanao, the army engaged MILF elements in a drawn out firefight but again too soon for death reports.
Interestingly, the MILF has begun attacking via propaganda reports, the MNLF and especially its nominal leader Nur Minsuari. Minsuari, like the movie star Robin Padilla has attempted to garner Govt. goodwill by offering to act as a broker for the release of the 3 ICRC (Red Cross) captives being held by ASG (Abu Sayyaf) on Jolo.
After pointedly and quite cheekily addressing THAT brouhaha, the MILF now appears to have a very vested interest in the ASG operations on Jolo which is quite interesting given the fact that the MNLF has been operating in tandem with ASG down there (but not here on Mindanao), albeit the more radical die hards of the MNLF, the men who never accepted Govt. Asylum in the past offers.
The ASG faction holding the 3 ICRC workers, which include one Swiss man 38 years old, and one Italian who is 62 (and one 37 year old Filipina who is probablly already made a "wife" by an ASG soldier) is led by Kumander Akmad Jumdail alias Kumander Dr. Abu, who seems to have "bought" the 3 captives from the last faction holding them.
Of course that former faction has now just acquired 4 RPGs (brand news ones), as well as at least 11 mounted RR guns (machine guns),90 MM and 57 MM, and an assortment of rifles, etc. Seems to have been paid quite well for the 3 captives.
The military has decided to lay back for now after losing 2 Marines and 2 para men in their last attempt at "rescuing" the 3 on Jolo, and now seem to be content to have lain a loose perimeter around their encampment.
The Sri Lankan as I mentioned is being held by ASG on Basilan at the moment.
I might have mentioned it in my last entry but the Chinoy (Filipino-Chinese) trader, Wilson Tan who had been kidnapped with his 10 year old daughter Jennifer as they entered their home outside of Cotabato City last week, has been released (2 days ago) along with his daughter (thank G-D) after their family paid 6 Million Pesos- about 60,000 US- which is several lifetimes for several entire families here.
He had been held by Kummander Zaynudin who himself got started under Kumander Hadji Musa Ali who was killed in Cotabato City after being caught in a shootout with the army, in 1999.
Ali himself got started under Kumander Tahir Alonto, the ex-MNLF commander who was one of the first "MNLF Lost Commands," which is the generic term for rogue commanders from an military here (but first given currency under Col. Lademora, my friend whom I have talked about at length).
Alonto, of the famed Alonto Clan was himself killed by an army MG-520 gunship while ensconced in Liguasan Marsh in 9/2007.
In Barangay Matampay in Marawi City, which is consdered to be the birthplace of Moro Culture, actually Maranao since it is on Mindanao but I will not bore folks with the distinction, the Ilaga has been "salvaging" local Moro rebels and their close associates.
"Salvaging" is the English term used here for "extra-judicial killing."
In a shocking development, the poster-boy for the Ilaga, Norberto Manero, the man famed far and wide for the 4/11/1985 killing of Italian prest Tullio Favali in Tulunan in N. Cotabato Province, and then eating his organs along with his men has apparently joined forces with the MNLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the fuck? Even I can still be amazed here!
True, Manero needs protection in a huge way from both MILF AND NPA, and the Ilaga while growing stronger are nowhere near their former strength in that part of the island, but with a Muslim army???? Well, I guess he was not too crazy over his Catholic background given his past dietary habits, right?
The men here just cannot get their heads around this and to be honest either can I.
He joined a band directly under Minsurari located in Kabacan in his home province of Cotabato N, go figure!
More soon...
Since I only got into ASG's latest hijinx, I will just segue directly into the latest war nonsense...
With the MILF...
On 2/23 at 130 AM in Barangay Santa Clara in Kalamansig village in Sultan Kudarat PRovince the fighting that began in October, 2008 after the killing, by Ilaga (Bisaya Para) of Datu (Chief) Makasa Mastura (Muslim chieftain) has continued with the latest blow up involving CAFGU, ILA AND Ilaga against the MILF.
That same day in Munai village in Lanao del Norte Province, the MILF's 102nd under Kumander Bravo engaged the army's 43rd infantry under Col. Uy. The 43rd has ensconced itself in its new FOB in Barangays Dalama and Matampay.
Yesterday, at daybreak in Barangays Nimao and Gavang in Datu Piang village in Maguindanao Province, Kumander Rambo (have to love those names guys!) of the combined forces of the MILF/BIAF, who themselves are now operating out of the BIAF OB at Camp Salman al Farishi in Zamboanga del Norte Province, have engaged the army in the Liguasan Marsh (hotbed for Muslim rebels). The BIAF of course is the arconym for the "Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces" which grew out of pro-MILF elements within the MNLF.
More than 100 homes have been burned since yesterday with the army blaming BIAF and the BIAF blaming, of course, the army. No count on deaths but it is said to be extremely high.
Of course the army now has its MG-520 gunships (copters) operating over the marsh, as always and are now movng 155 MM Howitzers to upgrade from their usual 105 MM pieces. More fun for the Refugees hiding in the Marsh.
Also, MILF/BIAF operating in Barangay Curnan in Gudod village in Zamboanga del Norte Province against the 18th Infantry, also since dawn yesterday, as well as against the 55th Infantry and 44th in Sirawi village also in that same province.
Also yesterday, in Barangay Tapikan in Shariff Aguak village in Maguindanao, the army engaged MILF elements in a drawn out firefight but again too soon for death reports.
Interestingly, the MILF has begun attacking via propaganda reports, the MNLF and especially its nominal leader Nur Minsuari. Minsuari, like the movie star Robin Padilla has attempted to garner Govt. goodwill by offering to act as a broker for the release of the 3 ICRC (Red Cross) captives being held by ASG (Abu Sayyaf) on Jolo.
After pointedly and quite cheekily addressing THAT brouhaha, the MILF now appears to have a very vested interest in the ASG operations on Jolo which is quite interesting given the fact that the MNLF has been operating in tandem with ASG down there (but not here on Mindanao), albeit the more radical die hards of the MNLF, the men who never accepted Govt. Asylum in the past offers.
The ASG faction holding the 3 ICRC workers, which include one Swiss man 38 years old, and one Italian who is 62 (and one 37 year old Filipina who is probablly already made a "wife" by an ASG soldier) is led by Kumander Akmad Jumdail alias Kumander Dr. Abu, who seems to have "bought" the 3 captives from the last faction holding them.
Of course that former faction has now just acquired 4 RPGs (brand news ones), as well as at least 11 mounted RR guns (machine guns),90 MM and 57 MM, and an assortment of rifles, etc. Seems to have been paid quite well for the 3 captives.
The military has decided to lay back for now after losing 2 Marines and 2 para men in their last attempt at "rescuing" the 3 on Jolo, and now seem to be content to have lain a loose perimeter around their encampment.
The Sri Lankan as I mentioned is being held by ASG on Basilan at the moment.
I might have mentioned it in my last entry but the Chinoy (Filipino-Chinese) trader, Wilson Tan who had been kidnapped with his 10 year old daughter Jennifer as they entered their home outside of Cotabato City last week, has been released (2 days ago) along with his daughter (thank G-D) after their family paid 6 Million Pesos- about 60,000 US- which is several lifetimes for several entire families here.
He had been held by Kummander Zaynudin who himself got started under Kumander Hadji Musa Ali who was killed in Cotabato City after being caught in a shootout with the army, in 1999.
Ali himself got started under Kumander Tahir Alonto, the ex-MNLF commander who was one of the first "MNLF Lost Commands," which is the generic term for rogue commanders from an military here (but first given currency under Col. Lademora, my friend whom I have talked about at length).
Alonto, of the famed Alonto Clan was himself killed by an army MG-520 gunship while ensconced in Liguasan Marsh in 9/2007.
In Barangay Matampay in Marawi City, which is consdered to be the birthplace of Moro Culture, actually Maranao since it is on Mindanao but I will not bore folks with the distinction, the Ilaga has been "salvaging" local Moro rebels and their close associates.
"Salvaging" is the English term used here for "extra-judicial killing."
In a shocking development, the poster-boy for the Ilaga, Norberto Manero, the man famed far and wide for the 4/11/1985 killing of Italian prest Tullio Favali in Tulunan in N. Cotabato Province, and then eating his organs along with his men has apparently joined forces with the MNLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the fuck? Even I can still be amazed here!
True, Manero needs protection in a huge way from both MILF AND NPA, and the Ilaga while growing stronger are nowhere near their former strength in that part of the island, but with a Muslim army???? Well, I guess he was not too crazy over his Catholic background given his past dietary habits, right?
The men here just cannot get their heads around this and to be honest either can I.
He joined a band directly under Minsurari located in Kabacan in his home province of Cotabato N, go figure!
More soon...
