STOP MISLEADING THE PUBLIC ON RH BILL, COUPLES FOR CHRIST TOLD

NGO leaders vehemently condemn the continuous misinformation of the public by the Couples for Christ (CfC) on House Bill 5043, or the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008.

For Couples for Christ (CFC) to plea to kill RH bill is to condone more than 3500 of Filipino women dying every year due to childbirth and pregnancy complications. Killing the RH bill means ignoring the children left orphans by the mothers who died of maternal deaths. For CfC to campaign to kill HB 5043 amounts to taking part in the death of these poor mothers.

“We call on the opponents of the bill to stop propagating misinformation on the bill. Their effort to impose their moralities on others makes them blind of the realities around us. This is unfair for the 90% of Filipinos clamoring for the realization of this policy” Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), said.

San Pascual added that the CfC’s plea to “kill the RH bill” means an appeal for the government and our leaders to deny the Filipino people, most especially women, of their reproductive rights and their freedom to make informed choices.

Likewise, Ben De Leon, President of the Forum for Family Planning and Development, also criticized the CfC. "Ironically, the behavior of these anti-RH groups who are mostly from the Catholic hierarchy is very un-Catholic. They are in the forefront of a campaign to spread misinformation and lies to the Filipino public,” De Leon said.

Meanwhile, the Reproductive Health bill continues to grab more authors in the House of Representatives.

“The consistent threats and misinformation being peddled by the anti-reproductive health (RH) bill groups are actually helping the campaign for its passage,” San Pascual exclaimed. “In their effort to bully our policymakers, the anti-RH groups are actually insulting the intelligence and capacity of policymakers to decide based on facts and their conscience.”

San Pascual pointed out that since the inception of the anti RH groups’ vigorous misinformation campaign and public threats issued by certain Catholic Bishops to lawmakers, the RH bill’s authorship rose from 63 to 105.

“Their scare tactics such as the election backlash seems to turn-off some legislators,” San Pascual observed. “We call on the opponents to stop resorting to mudslinging and dirty tactics. It does not do anybody any good. It would be better to instead spend their time in working with us to improve the bill.”
House Bill 5043 is now being deliberated in the House of Representatives.

PCSUPT SERAPIO orders implementation of concerted police strate

The North Cotabato conflict that started on August 7, 2008 has ushered in new police strategies in combating criminalities and terrorism.

Ramadhan will end by the night of September 30, 2008 (Eid’l Fitr on October 1) and it is expected that renegade commanders of the MILF will resume harassment to civilian villages and guerilla attacks to AFP/PNP detachments. Basing upon intelligence and information, monitored troop movements and consolidation are probably preparatory acts in their attempt to spread the hostilities outside PALMA-P and Maguindanao areas, hence, increase in illegally displaced-persons.

Against an ever more unstable and at the same time unpredictable rogue MILF activities, clear manifestations of which have been the 21 armed skirmishes, occupation of 13 barangays in the 1St Congressional District of the province and subsequent mass evacuation of people for fear of being caught in the armed confrontations, Regional Director PCSUPT FELIZARDO M SERAPIO, Jr ordered for the implementation of a concerted police strategy in anticipation of more activities from the MILF as Ramadhan nears it end.
Concerted police strategy has been a principal concern for the regional police command under the leadership of PCSUPT SERAPIO. Quad defense, deployment and expansion were seen as effective courses of action in security preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery to combat criminalities and terrorism.City and provincial directors and group directors of PNP mobile groups were directed to establish strong point detachments, establish monitoring points, enhance checkpoints and organize rapid deployment of troops.

PNP 12 affords assistance to one flooded barangay in Sultan Kudarat

Police and military forces secured some families in Brgy. Antong, Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat affected by flood due to continuous heavy downpours which caused the over flowing of Buayan River.

Agricultural lands submerged in waters including one school building, leaving three classrooms destroyed. 270 hectares of rice field were ruined.
As of this release, no casualty has been reported. Extent of damage is yet to be determined while Sultan Kudarat police are finding means for evacuation assistance and relief operations in the area.

IED Explosion Rocked Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

The Philippine National Police, Region 12 reported that one of the two improvised explosive device exploded prematurely in front of the public market of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat about four o’clock in the morning.

Police Superintendent Norberto Batislaong, officer in charge of the regional intelligence division (RID), PNP 12 based in this city said the explosive device was placed on the cemented floor infront of Nitz and Ging Beauty Parlor owned by one Corazon Bawe
at the public market entrance gate along Talipasan St.. Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Batislaong further said it is obvious the perpetrators failed to infiltrate or bring the explosive device inside the public market because of the effective security measures
being implemented by the local government unit and the Philippine National Police.

The PNP regional official disclosed that the Isulan Police Station, PNP Sultan Kudarat, PNP Crime Laboratory-Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the 65th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, Philippine Army are jointly investigating the incident to determine the perpetrators, their motive and the type of explosives used.

In a related incident, another improvised explosive device was recovered by the elements of the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office, Tacurong City Police Station and the 65th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team around 6:45 AM today at a canal in d corner of Malvar St. and the national highway.
Recovered items are presently under the custody of the Tacurong City Police Station and the case is undergoing intensive investigation by the joint police units and army explosive ordnance disposal team.

10 MILF rebels die in Piagapo, LDS encounter

Philippine Army soldiers belonging to the 33rd Infantry Battalion of the First Infantry (Tabak) Division (IID, PA) have killed at least ten (10) elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under Commander Bravo during a 3-hour gun battle that occurred Sept. 8, 2008 in Barangay Tapucan, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

In a press briefing with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and officials of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), region 10, at the Information Command Center of the Philippine information Center in Iligan City, Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, Civil Military Operations Chief of IID, PA reported that one of the slain MILF rebel was the son of Commander Dragon.
Adriatico said the Army soldiers suffered no casualty. However, the lawless MILF group led by Commanders Dragon, Aladin and Omar Mangondara managed to escape after the firefight.

AFP- Lawless MILF Clashed Anew

An estimated of around 50 LMGs clashed with the government pursuing troops at barangays Tamparan, Munai, late of Friday, Sept 5 .

According to LTC Agane Adriatico , ACS-CMO,J-7,IID, PA, said the encounter bet. The elements of the government 10 IB Company and LMGs lasted for about one hour after which the enemy withdrew with undetermined number of casualties.

Government forces suffered one wounded in action. Recovered at the scene of battle were: 2 M16 rifles, 2 ICOMS radios, 2 rifle grenades, 1 carbine rifles, bandoleer, military uniforms, and 1 wet cell battery.
Col. Adriatico said the MLGs under commander Bravo are on the ran and spread into small groups but “wherever they go to the law would catch up with them”.

PRO 12 tightens security as 9/11 attack nears

Police Regional Office 12 Deputy Regional Director for Administration PCSUPT (Atty.) FELICISIMO V KHU, JR ordered for the tightening of security measures on places of convergences and vital installations in the whole region as the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attack in the US approaches.
He ordered all city and provincial directors to establish more checkpoints in key areas and increase police visibility.
He also ordered for deployment of added policemen to watch the bridges, shopping malls, power plants and the General Santos City International Airport.
Policemen deployed in these areas include uniformed and plainclothes personnel as covert security and bomb squads.PCSUPT KHU said police were also instructed to look out for possible sympathy attacks from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during this time

Military Operations to continue during Ramadan

Despite the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to strike on the Lawless MILF Groups (LMGs) responsible for the attacks of the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Norte.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano said that the government needs to sustain its gains and military campaign against those MILF perpetrators of un-Islamic acts in Mindanao.

However, the AFP Chief of Staff said tactical adjustments will be made by their military commanders in field to allow non-lawless MILG groups and other Muslims to peacefully observe Ramadhan.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured that appropriate assistance and support will be extended to those at the evacuation centers so that they can observe Ramadhan unhampered.

“Tactical Adjustments on Military Operations during Ramadhan" –CSAFP Yano

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Umbra Kato, men to face 110 criminal raps

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Task Force PALMA-P in North Cotabato filed at least one hundred ten (110) criminal complaints, most of them arson, attempted murder and robbery in band against Commander Ameril Umbra Kato and his supporters.
Rogue commander Kato, the 105th MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) base commander, and his men were accused of overtaking 26 barangays in five municipalities in North Cotabato province since July 1, 2008.
TF PALMA-P Legal Offensive chairman PCSUPT (Atty.) FELICISIMO V KHU, JR, Deputy Regional Director for Administration of this Office, said that of the 110 complaints against Kato and his men, 40 were arson, 28 murders (to include attempted and frustrated), 37 robbery, 2 serious illegal detention, 2 grave coercion and violation of the anti-cattle-rustling law.
Most complainants were from the villages in Aleosan, Libungan and Pigcawayan municipalities.
"This development now makes the accused Moro rebels like any ordinary criminals," PCSUPT FELIZARDO M SERAPIO, JR., Central Mindanao Police Chief said in an interview.
TF PALMA-P was tasked to secure towns of Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap, and Aleosan, including Pikit, in North Cotabato's first district, from any possible rebels' attack.

The following is the breakdown of cases filed:

Aleosan Incidents:
1. Thirty-one (31) counts of Arson against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr Wahid Tondok, Cmdr Tha ( true name: Mustapha Gundalanga), Cmdr Abdul Bayan, Cmdr Jack Abas, Cmdr. Mohammad, Cmdr Bravo, Ismael Manalasal, Cmdr. Haun Sinadato, several John Does and Peter Does.
2. Thirty (30) counts of Robbery against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr Wahid Tondok, Cmdr Tha ( true name: Mustapha Gundalanga), Cmdr Abdul Bayan, Cmdr Jack Abas, Cmdr. Mohammad, Cmdr Bravo, Ismael Manalasal, Cmdr. Haun Sinadato, several John Does and Peter Does.
3. One (1) count of Murder against Rakman Sulaik, Kusain Sulaik and Mama Guiamilon.

Pikit Incidents:
4. Four (4) counts of Arson against Cmdr Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr Usi Ampatuan, Nayag Timan, Datukan Montok, Tumalao Butuan and Several John Does and Peter Does
5. One (1) count attempted Murder against Cmdr Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr. Usi Ampatuan, Nayag Timan, Datukan Mntok, Tumalao Butuan, several John Does and Peter Does.
6. Three (3) counts of Murder against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr. Usi Ampatuan, Nayag Timan, Datukan Montok, Tumalao Butuan, several John Does and Peter Does.
7. One (1) count of Robbery in Band against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr. Usi Ampatuan, Nayag Timan, Datukan Montok, Tumalao Butuan, several John Does and Peter Does.

Midsayap Incidents:
8. One (1) count of Arso against Ameril Umbra Kato, Alias Cmdr. Talio Budz Basilan, Alias Sagya, Ganin Kamansa, Buka Guialili Alias Jabo, Smawtin basilan, Kutong Basilan, Esmael Sandaton and several John Does.
9. Two (2) counts of attempted Murder against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Cmdr. Talio, several John Does and Peter Does.

Midsayap, Barangay Upper Labas, August 10, 2008 incidents:
10. Three (3) counts of Arson against Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr. Paradise and several John Does.
11. One (1) count of Destructive Arson against Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr. Paradise and several John Does.
12. One (1) count of Attempted Murder against Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr paradise and several John Does.

Libungan Incidents:
13. Nine (9) counts of Attempted Murder against Cmdr. Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise and Several John Does.

Pigcawayan Incidents:
14. Two (2) counts of Arson against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimblang, Cmdr. VCamarodin Hadji Alias Cmdr. Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and several John Does.

15. Six (6) counts of Robbery in band against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does.

16. One (10 count Frustrated Murder against Mendin Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does.

17. One (1) count of Attempted Murder against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does.

18. Two (2) counts Grave Coercion against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nas, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does

19. One (1) count for violation of the Anti-Cattle Rustling law of 1974 against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does.

20. Two (2) counts of Serious Illegal Detention against Mending Cabilangan, Ameril Umbra Kato, Musa Alamada Alias Cmdr Paradise, Cmdr Abdulbayan Guimlang, Cmdr. Camarodin Hadji Ali Alias Cmdr Mudi, Palencia Nasa, Doctor Hadji Akbar, Guialodin and Several John Does.
"The complaints may not be enough but for sure this will make Kato and his men pay for what they did to the civilians in North Cotabato," PCSUPT KHU added.