Today is still Wednesday, Janurary 14th, 2009 and it is now 5:25 AM here in the Philippines.
So, with all the players outof the way, an update on the war here...
I will just start at Jan. 6th, so it will not be 10 pages long.
1/07: In Kabacan, North Cotabato at a church compound, 2 men (could it be those "Security Guards" hahaha?) on a motorcycle threw a Fradmentation grnade into the church compound, in the 2rd such attack on that one church in 20 months. The last attack on it was 12/29. Noone killed in that melee.
The evening before, 1/06 a motorcycle with - you guessed it! 2 men on a motorcycle!- fired an M203 rifle grenade into JBMEC hardware store, a Bisaya owned business. No one killed in that one either.
Also on 1/07, a man living near me who owns a bank was kidnapped in Surigao del Sur Province (just down my road). No word on whether he is dead or alive, kidnapping is extremely prevalent here.
Again, on 1/07 a large gun running operation was taken down. I have talked, in the past about certain villages famous for manufacturing any kind of conventional weapon you might want and offering it at rock bottom prices. Also made are accessories like specialised scopes, reloaders, and my fave, silencers and/or suppressors.
The major island for the trade is Dad's island, where we also have a 2nd home, Cebu. the village involved in the police operation was Danao.
The Govt. originally tried a rather creative solution in that they recognised the talent and skill of the families there who have made guns as far back as the 1600s.When you buy your weapons you can arrange to have them delivered anywhere in SE Asia.The ring in question was caught bbringing in a small load to Comval (Compostela Province) on Mindanao.
1/09: Malaybalay City has begun forming up an SCAA paramilitary (expalined in my last post) to work under the 23rd IB (Infrantry Battalion) against the NPA. The "city" (lasrge village is all) sits on the border of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur Provinces (the latter being my Province) and as such they need a Blocking Force to run interference against the NPA between the 2 places.
The paramilitary will have 2 small companies for a total of 100 men to begin with and will be heading to Camp Osito Bahian for 45 days military training.
That same day, 1/09 in front of a shool in Zamboanga City, a rickshaw ("trike") driver abducted the a boy and was caught within 24 hours. It is belived to be an Abu Sayyaf kidnapping .
1/09: Sure to cause much more bloodshed, the Govt. erased the Province of Sharrif Kabunsuan. It had been created by the ARMM ( Automous Region of Muslim Mindanao). When Supreme Court ruled that since the Ancetral Domain Act has been deemed as Unconstitutional, any rulings using ARMM as an impetus must also be nullified.
It was the Supreme Couty Ruuling nullifiying Acenstral Doman that case the ARMM to move back into open warfare again! Surely this move will only multiply the actors in this violent protesting, if you can call Ethnic Cleansing and War to "protesting."
1/10: In another thing espeically worrying me is a press release from "UTG,"" the Urban Terror Group" which is a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group. The UTG which relegates its activities to urban settings has released a major press release calling on attacks with connectiosn to the "Israeli Geonicde in
On 1/10 the MILF simaltaneously blew up a major power generating station belonll as major pylons, the tower used to support the electrical cables, etc. This has caused major power outages all over W.Mindanao which continue thus far.
On 1/11 near Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province., chasing MILF's Kummander Bravo of Base 105 the tables were turned when from the bush arounnd them, on all sides, they were hammered for 40 minutes , wounding 2. The AFP CO was able to radio in 105 MM Howitzer strikes so that they couldsafely disengage and retreat, harried all the way.
I/11: At 8:40 AM , and also consoldoate the holdings by taking in the sore as well.the 46th Infantry reengaged Kummander Kato on the last day of a 7 day engagement which saw both sides enscnoned in a long confrontation in which 3 guerillas from Kato's Command 102nd. The firefight took place in Sito Tapatan, Barangay Kitango, Datu Audi Ampatuan in Maguindanao Province.
The 7 day battle began in a case of MILF Ethnically Cleasing the Bisaya/Ilongo village of Kalmansig, stealing a herd of more than 60 karaboa (water buffalo) and then buring every building to prevent villagers from returning.
This particular MILF Command is from that area and was acting out of revenge for having family land stolen.
The Navy was moored just off shore from the sea side village to fire on the hillsides should the MILF decide to put on a show of force and even try to retake the land.
1/11: 2 APCs (Armoured Personell Carriers) filled with Infantrymen from the 46th IB lost more than 20 soldiers when poiunded by RPG from just 10 meters away when engaged by Kumander Urstaz Wahid Tundok of the MILF. The fire fight lasted just 10 minutes.
1/11: On Bicol , another island north os us, they will be getting the pleasure we had in 2008 when Big Bro, I mean Uncle Sam comes to town to play War Gamnes with the AFP, in an Operation called locally ,"Balikatan," "Shoulder to Shoulder" more or less. The month long Operation will be preceeeded this month with 400 America civlians , MDs, nurses, and engineers on civiv projects in that non-sensical "Win Hearts and Minds" PSYOPS Programme that loves to have big budgts lavished on it as it revceives praise for pulling the teeth of 40 or 50 opoor children who will then die by age 10 anyway because of substandard hygeine andfollow-up medical care.
We had the Progrramme in 2008, and it sucked. Since I look like an American (llight skinned with bright blue eyes, and a military appearance thanks to Israel) I had to lay very low, very, very low.
I will continue...
So, with all the players outof the way, an update on the war here...
I will just start at Jan. 6th, so it will not be 10 pages long.
1/07: In Kabacan, North Cotabato at a church compound, 2 men (could it be those "Security Guards" hahaha?) on a motorcycle threw a Fradmentation grnade into the church compound, in the 2rd such attack on that one church in 20 months. The last attack on it was 12/29. Noone killed in that melee.
The evening before, 1/06 a motorcycle with - you guessed it! 2 men on a motorcycle!- fired an M203 rifle grenade into JBMEC hardware store, a Bisaya owned business. No one killed in that one either.
Also on 1/07, a man living near me who owns a bank was kidnapped in Surigao del Sur Province (just down my road). No word on whether he is dead or alive, kidnapping is extremely prevalent here.
Again, on 1/07 a large gun running operation was taken down. I have talked, in the past about certain villages famous for manufacturing any kind of conventional weapon you might want and offering it at rock bottom prices. Also made are accessories like specialised scopes, reloaders, and my fave, silencers and/or suppressors.
The major island for the trade is Dad's island, where we also have a 2nd home, Cebu. the village involved in the police operation was Danao.
The Govt. originally tried a rather creative solution in that they recognised the talent and skill of the families there who have made guns as far back as the 1600s.When you buy your weapons you can arrange to have them delivered anywhere in SE Asia.The ring in question was caught bbringing in a small load to Comval (Compostela Province) on Mindanao.
1/09: Malaybalay City has begun forming up an SCAA paramilitary (expalined in my last post) to work under the 23rd IB (Infrantry Battalion) against the NPA. The "city" (lasrge village is all) sits on the border of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur Provinces (the latter being my Province) and as such they need a Blocking Force to run interference against the NPA between the 2 places.
The paramilitary will have 2 small companies for a total of 100 men to begin with and will be heading to Camp Osito Bahian for 45 days military training.
That same day, 1/09 in front of a shool in Zamboanga City, a rickshaw ("trike") driver abducted the a boy and was caught within 24 hours. It is belived to be an Abu Sayyaf kidnapping .
1/09: Sure to cause much more bloodshed, the Govt. erased the Province of Sharrif Kabunsuan. It had been created by the ARMM ( Automous Region of Muslim Mindanao). When Supreme Court ruled that since the Ancetral Domain Act has been deemed as Unconstitutional, any rulings using ARMM as an impetus must also be nullified.
It was the Supreme Couty Ruuling nullifiying Acenstral Doman that case the ARMM to move back into open warfare again! Surely this move will only multiply the actors in this violent protesting, if you can call Ethnic Cleansing and War to "protesting."
1/10: In another thing espeically worrying me is a press release from "UTG,"" the Urban Terror Group" which is a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group. The UTG which relegates its activities to urban settings has released a major press release calling on attacks with connectiosn to the "Israeli Geonicde in
On 1/10 the MILF simaltaneously blew up a major power generating station belonll as major pylons, the tower used to support the electrical cables, etc. This has caused major power outages all over W.Mindanao which continue thus far.
On 1/11 near Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province., chasing MILF's Kummander Bravo of Base 105 the tables were turned when from the bush arounnd them, on all sides, they were hammered for 40 minutes , wounding 2. The AFP CO was able to radio in 105 MM Howitzer strikes so that they couldsafely disengage and retreat, harried all the way.
I/11: At 8:40 AM , and also consoldoate the holdings by taking in the sore as well.the 46th Infantry reengaged Kummander Kato on the last day of a 7 day engagement which saw both sides enscnoned in a long confrontation in which 3 guerillas from Kato's Command 102nd. The firefight took place in Sito Tapatan, Barangay Kitango, Datu Audi Ampatuan in Maguindanao Province.
The 7 day battle began in a case of MILF Ethnically Cleasing the Bisaya/Ilongo village of Kalmansig, stealing a herd of more than 60 karaboa (water buffalo) and then buring every building to prevent villagers from returning.
This particular MILF Command is from that area and was acting out of revenge for having family land stolen.
The Navy was moored just off shore from the sea side village to fire on the hillsides should the MILF decide to put on a show of force and even try to retake the land.
1/11: 2 APCs (Armoured Personell Carriers) filled with Infantrymen from the 46th IB lost more than 20 soldiers when poiunded by RPG from just 10 meters away when engaged by Kumander Urstaz Wahid Tundok of the MILF. The fire fight lasted just 10 minutes.
1/11: On Bicol , another island north os us, they will be getting the pleasure we had in 2008 when Big Bro, I mean Uncle Sam comes to town to play War Gamnes with the AFP, in an Operation called locally ,"Balikatan," "Shoulder to Shoulder" more or less. The month long Operation will be preceeeded this month with 400 America civlians , MDs, nurses, and engineers on civiv projects in that non-sensical "Win Hearts and Minds" PSYOPS Programme that loves to have big budgts lavished on it as it revceives praise for pulling the teeth of 40 or 50 opoor children who will then die by age 10 anyway because of substandard hygeine andfollow-up medical care.
We had the Progrramme in 2008, and it sucked. Since I look like an American (llight skinned with bright blue eyes, and a military appearance thanks to Israel) I had to lay very low, very, very low.
I will continue...