Tag: Mindanao

VP Robredo leads 119th PHL Independence Day rites, as President Duterte issues statement urging preservation of PHL sovereignty

(Eagle News) — Vice-President Leni Robredo led the 119th Philippine Independence day rites at the Jose Rizal monument in Rizal Park, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, in the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacanang did not immediately say why President Duterte was not able to attend the Philippine Independence Day rites, but Cayetano said the President was not feeling well after his successive trips to various military camps in Mindanao.  Duterte also […]

President Duterte says latest info he got: ISIS leader Baghdadi ordered terrorist activities in PHL

    (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said that ISIS leader Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi himself had ordered the terrorist attacks in Marawi City and the rest of the country, which is why he said there was a need to declare martial law to destroy the ISIS-inspired terrorist activities in Marawi. In a speech when he visited the wounded in action soldiers and police officers at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday, June […]

Soldiers, civilians killed in Marawi to be given tribute on Independence Day

(Eagle News) — The brave soldiers and civilians killed in the fighting in Marawi will be honored at 12 noon, today, also the day the country commemorates its 119th independence. President Rodrigo Duterte has asked television stations and radio stations to air the salute, the nation’s way of giving tribute to those who gave their lives to protect the country, and those whose innocent lives were abruptly taken by the enemies, authorities said. As of […]

4 Maute members who were to testify vs Maute matriarch, killed in Lanao del Norte ambush

Three policemen also injured (Eagle News) — Four Maute members who were allegedly supposed to testify against the matriarch of the Maute group were killed in an ambush in Lanao del Norte on Saturday night. The fatalities were identified as Zulkifli Maute, Alan Solaiman, Salah Abbas, and Aliasgar Hadji Solaiman, who were arrested with the mother of the Maute terrorist leaders, Farhana Maute, on Thursday night. The female Maute–mother of Omarkhayam and Abdullah—was moved out […]

Hapilon in video of Islamist militants planning Marawi siege; Phl military gets hold of footage

  Islamist militants locked in an urban battle with troops in Marawi City had long planned to carve out an enclave of their own in Mindanao to fulfill a requirement for them to be recognized by the Islamic State (IS) international terror group. This was according to the military after the emergence of a video showing the Islamist militants’ leaders in a secret strategy meeting, and among them was Abu Sayyaf leader and touted as […]

Marawi evacuees face health risks, uncertain future as fighting continues

  More than 200,000 people displaced after Islamist militants — led by Maute and Abu Sayyaf fighters —  attacked Marawi City, are now uncertain about their future, since evacuating from the city that had been their home for years. As they grapple with the challenge of finding a safe place to live, they also face serious health problems, relief groups said Friday which noted that the onset of the rainy season could still worsen their situation. […]

High-powered firearms, ammo, drugs recovered from Marawi ex-mayor’s house

(Eagle News)– Combined operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recovered high-powered firearms, ammunition, and some sachets of alleged shabu at the house of former Marawi City Mayor Fajad Salic in Cagayan de Oro City. Authorities went to the former mayor’s housefollowing his arrest on Wednesday for alleged participation in the Maute group’s activities. A relative of Salic said the items recovered by authorities were just planted […]

Martial law administrator Lorenzana issues second arrest order

(Eagle News) — Authorities announced on Thursday the issuance of another warrant of arrest against individuals believed to be behind terrorist activities in Mindanao. The arrest order released by martial law administrator and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is the second to be issued after martial law was declared in the southern part of the Philippines. Gilbert Gapay, martial law spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao, said the second arrest order was six pages long. Gapay did not elaborate about the […]

Authorities arrest former Marawi mayor suspected of financing activities of Maute terrorists

(Eagle News) — Authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of former Marawi Mayor Fahad Umpar Salic who is suspected of financing the activities of the terrorist group Maute. Gilbert Gapay, martial law spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao, said Salic–who figures in the first arrest order issued by defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, martial law administrator—was apprehended at a joint Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police checkpoint on Wednesday night. His three other companions were also arrested, Gapay said. […]

President Duterte reiterates creation of P50-billion education fund for soldiers’ children

“I will be there to protect you,” the President tells the troops   (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday reiterated the creation of a P50-billion education fund for the children of soldiers, as he emphasized he was behind his men who were fighting the good fight. In a speech before the 1st Mechanized Brigade in Camp Leonon in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, Duterte said he already found P20 billion, and would only add P30 billion […]

Featured video: Displaced Marawi children draw their tragic experience in war-torn city

https://youtu.be/5-dEefh1G-M (Eagle News) — A girl weeps as she tries to draw a tragic scene that she witnessed in her well-loved home city of Marawi. She bows her head, drawing her knees close to her body, and sobs, holding a pencil and a pad paper. She doesn’t want to look up. Her once peaceful environment was shattered when Islamist terrorists — combined forces of Maute rebels, the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters […]

President Duterte makes offer for “able-bodied” NPA fighters to become gov’t soldiers

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday made the offer for New People’s Army “able-bodied” and qualified “soldiers” to fight for the government instead, noting that the communist insurgency has already gone on for around 50 years. “I am again addressing myself to the NPA…Kayong mga sundalo sa NPA, kung gusto niyo sumali sa government ko, I will take you in as soldiers of the country…Anytime. Bumaba lang kayo at magtrain..,” he said during his visit to a military camp in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, […]