Still Wednesday, April 28th,2010 and it is now 758 PM...
After the Maguindanao Massacare Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu was given 24 hour police protection. It was with 2 police bodyguards then that he decided to take his 3 daughters for some shopping and a night out on the town. Heading to Davao City's Gaisano Mall, the group were casually taking in the scene when they saw a familiar face.
Kamendan Tamino Kagi, a nephew of Andal Ampatuan Jr., the alleged mastermind behind the November killings, was also a known member of the Ampatuan paramilitary. He and his wife Natividad were also friendly with Esmael and his late wife Gennalyn, who had been killed in the bloodbath.
It was for this reason perhaps that Mangudadatu felt comfortable talking to Tamano ("Kagi" is an honourific denoting a Muslim who has made the Haj Pilgramage). Without warning Tamano lunged for the pistole of 1 of the bodyguards and failing to secure it made a dash through a nearby department store's housewares section. As Natividad ducked into an open stockroom shots rang out and Tamano fell to the floor, dead instantly. When the snoke cleared not only were both police bodyguards under arrest for murder, but so was Mangudadatu.
Natividad had told Davao City Prosecutors that they had aimicable words with Mangudadatu and as they turned to leave the Vice Mayor of Buluacan had instructed his bodyguards to kill the couple.
Although a week later Esmael Mangudadatu would have charges against him withdrawn, his bodyguards remain enmeshed in this Kakfaesque nightmare.
Politics is not an especially well paying gig in the Philippines but it is a foot in the door, inside of a system that revolves around unimaginable greed and corruption.
Even the country's Maoist guerilla movement, the NPA (New People's Army) gets its share of the spoils. Where as in previous elections the NPA has charged politicians for "Permits to Campaign, " or "PTCs" for short, this election saw them "sell" "Permits to Win," or "PTWs." For a price of 5,000 Pesos (130 US) for a Baragany Councilor (Neighbourhood Councilman) to 500,000 Pesos (11,000 US) for a Governorship or Legislative seat candidates are being assured a victory.
How can the NPA "guarantee" such a thing? In most of Mindanao (almost all non-Muslim areas) the group runs an effective parallel government. It exerts an amazing amount of influence even when not effectively fielding a complete parallel govt.
Those politicians who try and forgo the "permit" process find themselves on the wrong side of a gun barrel though the NPA no longer subjects them to actual violence. Instead it simply outmans their security forces and banishes them from the campaign trail. Cases in point:
Saturday, 4/12/2010, 420 PM;
Tagbina, Surigao del Sur Province :
Mayoral hopeful Jessie Callano and 2 bodyguards were en route to a campaign rally 30 NPA guerillas of Front-14, under Ka (Brother) Tata flagged down Callano's SUV. After "confiscating" two 45 pistols and one 9 MM pistol, they were told that until they came up with 50,000 Pesos (1,100 US) for a PTW there would be no more campaigning. After 30 minutes they were allowed to turn around and leave.
Saturday, 4/12/2010, 3 PM; Lupon, Davao Oriental Province:
Mayoral hopeful Arfran Larrobis Quinones and 8 others, including some Barangay(District) Leaders were at a campaign meeting when 30 NPA guerillas in military fatigues, from Front-18 under Ka Benjie took them hostage. At issue was Quinones and 1 Barangay Kagawad (Leader), Ronisito Pedro, not paying for PTWs. The 7 others were released.
Quinones and Pedro were then taken into the bush and kept as "guests" of the NPA as the Provincial Governor of Compostela Valley, aka "ComVal," worked to effect their release. Front-18 operates mostly in ComVal but also in the border area of Davao Oriental where Lupon is located.
The 2 politicians were released 5 hours later.
Saturday, 4/24/2010; Bisilig City, Surigao del Sur Province:
Mayor Alberto Tan, in a large convoy on Road #13, Bisilig en route to a campaign rally in Barangay San Roque in the same city was blocked by an impromptu checkpoint manned by 100 NPA. The NPA were quite concerned that Tan had been utilising the AFP (army) as his advance guard as he moved around the province as he tries to win the Gubneratorial Race.
Current Governor Librado Navarro, brother of NPA Regional Commander Rudy Navarro, formerly a priest who became known as the "Barefoot Priest" when he joined the Maoists. Governor Navarro is retiring.
Sunday, 4/25/2010; Barangay San Vicente, Bisilig City, Surigao del Sur:
2 City Council hopefuls, Narciso Curalde and Gertrude Cabatingan were waylaid at an NPA checkpoint manned by 200 guerillas of Front-14 under Ka Dino and held for 3 hours over failure to pay PTW fees.
Sunday, 4/25/2010; Barangay San Vicente, Hinutuan, Surigao del Sur:
Incumbent Mayor Candelario Viola was wanted for failure to pay an installment on his PTW fee. His entourage was stopped at an NPA checkpoint manned by 60 guarillas from Front-14 under Ka Juniel.
When the NPA realised the mayor was not present the entourage was allowed to proceed.
Wednesday, 4/28/2010; Barangay Mabuhay in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur:
Mayoral hopeful Alexander Pimentel and entourage were seized at an NPA checkpoint manned by 100 guerillas. All weapons were seized, and after a 30 minute talking down about the need to pay PTW fees he was released.
Though I am posting on Wednesday, April 28th, it is now Thursday the 29th in the Philippines and this next one just took place...
Thursday, 4/29/2010; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur Province:
Congressman Philip Pichay and bodyguards were stopped at an NPA checkpoint. Four M16s and four 45 pistols were taken from the entourage and Pichay was given a tongue lashing for his failure to pay PTW fees. He said he is terrified and will now pay.
More later...
After the Maguindanao Massacare Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu was given 24 hour police protection. It was with 2 police bodyguards then that he decided to take his 3 daughters for some shopping and a night out on the town. Heading to Davao City's Gaisano Mall, the group were casually taking in the scene when they saw a familiar face.
Kamendan Tamino Kagi, a nephew of Andal Ampatuan Jr., the alleged mastermind behind the November killings, was also a known member of the Ampatuan paramilitary. He and his wife Natividad were also friendly with Esmael and his late wife Gennalyn, who had been killed in the bloodbath.
It was for this reason perhaps that Mangudadatu felt comfortable talking to Tamano ("Kagi" is an honourific denoting a Muslim who has made the Haj Pilgramage). Without warning Tamano lunged for the pistole of 1 of the bodyguards and failing to secure it made a dash through a nearby department store's housewares section. As Natividad ducked into an open stockroom shots rang out and Tamano fell to the floor, dead instantly. When the snoke cleared not only were both police bodyguards under arrest for murder, but so was Mangudadatu.
Natividad had told Davao City Prosecutors that they had aimicable words with Mangudadatu and as they turned to leave the Vice Mayor of Buluacan had instructed his bodyguards to kill the couple.
Although a week later Esmael Mangudadatu would have charges against him withdrawn, his bodyguards remain enmeshed in this Kakfaesque nightmare.
Politics is not an especially well paying gig in the Philippines but it is a foot in the door, inside of a system that revolves around unimaginable greed and corruption.
Even the country's Maoist guerilla movement, the NPA (New People's Army) gets its share of the spoils. Where as in previous elections the NPA has charged politicians for "Permits to Campaign, " or "PTCs" for short, this election saw them "sell" "Permits to Win," or "PTWs." For a price of 5,000 Pesos (130 US) for a Baragany Councilor (Neighbourhood Councilman) to 500,000 Pesos (11,000 US) for a Governorship or Legislative seat candidates are being assured a victory.
How can the NPA "guarantee" such a thing? In most of Mindanao (almost all non-Muslim areas) the group runs an effective parallel government. It exerts an amazing amount of influence even when not effectively fielding a complete parallel govt.
Those politicians who try and forgo the "permit" process find themselves on the wrong side of a gun barrel though the NPA no longer subjects them to actual violence. Instead it simply outmans their security forces and banishes them from the campaign trail. Cases in point:
Saturday, 4/12/2010, 420 PM;
Tagbina, Surigao del Sur Province :
Mayoral hopeful Jessie Callano and 2 bodyguards were en route to a campaign rally 30 NPA guerillas of Front-14, under Ka (Brother) Tata flagged down Callano's SUV. After "confiscating" two 45 pistols and one 9 MM pistol, they were told that until they came up with 50,000 Pesos (1,100 US) for a PTW there would be no more campaigning. After 30 minutes they were allowed to turn around and leave.
Saturday, 4/12/2010, 3 PM; Lupon, Davao Oriental Province:
Mayoral hopeful Arfran Larrobis Quinones and 8 others, including some Barangay(District) Leaders were at a campaign meeting when 30 NPA guerillas in military fatigues, from Front-18 under Ka Benjie took them hostage. At issue was Quinones and 1 Barangay Kagawad (Leader), Ronisito Pedro, not paying for PTWs. The 7 others were released.
Quinones and Pedro were then taken into the bush and kept as "guests" of the NPA as the Provincial Governor of Compostela Valley, aka "ComVal," worked to effect their release. Front-18 operates mostly in ComVal but also in the border area of Davao Oriental where Lupon is located.
The 2 politicians were released 5 hours later.
Saturday, 4/24/2010; Bisilig City, Surigao del Sur Province:
Mayor Alberto Tan, in a large convoy on Road #13, Bisilig en route to a campaign rally in Barangay San Roque in the same city was blocked by an impromptu checkpoint manned by 100 NPA. The NPA were quite concerned that Tan had been utilising the AFP (army) as his advance guard as he moved around the province as he tries to win the Gubneratorial Race.
Current Governor Librado Navarro, brother of NPA Regional Commander Rudy Navarro, formerly a priest who became known as the "Barefoot Priest" when he joined the Maoists. Governor Navarro is retiring.
Sunday, 4/25/2010; Barangay San Vicente, Bisilig City, Surigao del Sur:
2 City Council hopefuls, Narciso Curalde and Gertrude Cabatingan were waylaid at an NPA checkpoint manned by 200 guerillas of Front-14 under Ka Dino and held for 3 hours over failure to pay PTW fees.
Sunday, 4/25/2010; Barangay San Vicente, Hinutuan, Surigao del Sur:
Incumbent Mayor Candelario Viola was wanted for failure to pay an installment on his PTW fee. His entourage was stopped at an NPA checkpoint manned by 60 guarillas from Front-14 under Ka Juniel.
When the NPA realised the mayor was not present the entourage was allowed to proceed.
Wednesday, 4/28/2010; Barangay Mabuhay in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur:
Mayoral hopeful Alexander Pimentel and entourage were seized at an NPA checkpoint manned by 100 guerillas. All weapons were seized, and after a 30 minute talking down about the need to pay PTW fees he was released.
Though I am posting on Wednesday, April 28th, it is now Thursday the 29th in the Philippines and this next one just took place...
Thursday, 4/29/2010; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur Province:
Congressman Philip Pichay and bodyguards were stopped at an NPA checkpoint. Four M16s and four 45 pistols were taken from the entourage and Pichay was given a tongue lashing for his failure to pay PTW fees. He said he is terrified and will now pay.
More later...