Enough evidence vs Leila –Sen. Ping

MANILA, Philippines – There is enough evidence for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file a case against Sen. Leila de Lima for possible violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson said he was able to go over the affidavits of the witnesses the DOJ presented yesterday at the House of Representatives, particularly those on De Lima.

“I took special notice of the narrations of (National Bureau of Investigation) agent Jovencio Ablen Jr. and his superior while detailed at the NBP (New Bilibid Prison), deputy director Rafael Ragos, not to mention those of Colangco, Magleo and the other high-profile inmates,” Lacson said, referring to convicts Herbert Colangco and Rodolfo Magleo.

“My own assessment of the evidentiary value of those affidavits, and I could fairly conclude, based on some verified and verifiable facts, that those allegations are credible enough to get past the probable cause requirement to file a criminal information in any court of law,” he added.

Last Monday, an overwhelming majority of the senators voted to remove De Lima as chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights in light of allegations that she was using the committee for political purposes, specifically to destroy the reputation of President Duterte.

De Lima initiated an inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial and summary killings of suspected drug pushers under the current administration’s war on drugs.

In the third hearing of the committee, De Lima presented a self-confessed killer, Edgar Matobato, who claimed to be a member of the so-called Davao death squad (DDS).

Matobato claimed the DDS took its orders from Duterte when he was still mayor of Davao City, as well as his son, incumbent vice mayor Paolo Duterte.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano would later deliver a privilege speech denouncing the actions of De Lima as chair of the committee.

Asked if De Lima could face expulsion as a senator if she is charged by the DOJ, Lacson said that expulsion could only be a consequence of an ethics committee action.

“But, in case she’s indicted for an unbailable offense such as what’s provided for in RA 9165, then she won’t be able to perform her duties as a senator, just like our former colleagues who are facing plunder cases with the Sandiganbayan,” Lacson said, referring to former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., who are detained in Camp Crame.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the action taken against De Lima was akin to a reprimand on the part of the Senate.

“It’s best that we have an impartial chair, specially in controversial issues,” Sotto said.

He said that the Senate should not be seen as being subservient to the administration just because of its action against De Lima.

“Independence from both subservience and antagonism is why we acted. Independence is not just confined to not being supportive of the President. It could also be antagonistic and adversarial to the President and we do not want both,” Sotto said.

“There will always be two sides of an issue and either side should respect the views, no matter how unreasonable and vicious they may be,” Lacson, for his part, said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the neutrality of De Lima, based on the way she had been conducting the hearings, was questionable. He said this was the reason why he voted for the removal of De Lima as committee chair.

He said the hearings should continue but Matobato should no longer be called to testify.

Stopping insult

Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo, for his part, said Senate majority members who removed De Lima as committee chair were merely stopping her from further besmirching the name of the President.

He criticized De Lima for her unfounded and malicious accusations against the President.

He also said the former justice secretary was using the Senate committee on justice and human rights for personal reasons.

“The ouster of Senator De Lima as chair of the committee on justice is a testament to the overwhelming majority members of the Senate’s sense of propriety that it will not countenance a member’s propensity for besmirching the reputation of President Duterte by unfounded and malicious imputations, using the committee as tool to achieve her end,” Panelo said.

Panelo unleashed a mouthful against De Lima for pushing for an inquiry into the extrajudicial killings in Davao City when the President was still mayor, and up until he became president.

Her removal as committee chair, Panelo said, “is a come uppance or a deserved rebuke from her peers in the Senate.”

He stressed Duterte does not interfere in the affairs of an equal branch of the government. “Such intrusion is anathema to his character,” Panelo added.

He also scored De Lima for blaming the President for her ouster.

“Not wanting to blame herself for creating the circumstances that led to her ouster, De Lima points to PRRD as her scapegoat for her present predicament. Getting two thirds negative vote of her own colleagues to remove her from the chair of the committee on justice is eloquent proof of her undoing and reckless abuse of her position as senator,” Panelo said.

The senator should have inhibited herself from chairing the Senate committee on justice and human rights, he added.

Panelo pointed out that De Lima had “previously positioned herself as a political adversary” of the President.

He recalled the rift between Duterte and De Lima started way back, to the time when she was chair of the Commission on Human Rights.

In a bid to illustrate De Lima’s bias against Duterte, Panelo noted her having “embarked on a biased and unsuccessful investigation of extrajudicial killings in Davao City, concluding that the then Davao City mayor Duterte was behind the death squad even before she commenced her probe.”

“Her being the subject of a House inquiry on her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drug activities in the national penitentiary during her watch as secretary of justice should have heightened her sense of delicadeza and removed herself from the justice committee instead of diminishing it and clinging like a leech to the investigating body,” Panelo said.

‘Little Las Vegas, drug trade center’

MANILA, Philippines – There were concerts featuring celebrity entertainers, beer flowed, “models” were available and business – the drug business – was conducted as money changed hands freely.

That was the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, the “center of drug operations” in the Philippines, with its maximum-security compound for notorious convicts known as “Little Las Vegas” during Sen. Leila de Lima’s time as justice secretary, two inmate-witnesses at a House hearing disclosed yesterday.

“It was the drug trade center of the Philippines during the time of then secretary De Lima, because drug trading in the entire Philippines was done in the maximum security compound,” retired police major and kidnap convict Rodolfo Magleo said in Filipino when he testified before the House committee on justice yesterday.

The committee, chaired by Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, was hearing allegations of the proliferation of illegal drugs at the NBP during De Lima’s watch. The NBP is under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Speaking from Davao City, President Duterte said he was right all along about the proliferation of illegal drugs at the NBP during De Lima’s time as DOJ chief.

“During the term of de Lima, the maximum security compound was called the Little Las Vegas. It was called Little Las Vegas because many concerts were held inside,” Magleo said.

Another witness-inmate, Herbert Colangco, confirmed Magleo’s account and bragged that he was the only VIP inmate who managed to sneak truckloads of beer in cans into the NBP and sold them for P10,000 per box.

Colangco also bragged about being able to bring in more than the allowable 300 guests for concerts within the NBP compound.

Magleo said celebrities like Freddie Aguilar, Sharon Cuneta, the Mocha Girls and Ethel Booba, among many others, had performed at the maximum-security compound.

Colangco, in his testimony, also boasted about hiring from outside the services of “models” for P25,000 each, and offering each model for P75,000 to moneyed inmates during special events at the NBP.

Both Magleo and Colangco testified De Lima’s contact inside the NBP was convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian, who had boasted to Magleo on several occasions that he could transfer inmates on a whim, citing the case of the so-called “Bilibid 19.”

Magleo said he personally saw De Lima spend two to three hours inside the kubol (hut) of Sebastian, adding that he found this “abnormal.”

While he had no proof De Lima’s affair with her driver Ronnie Dayan, Magleo said he “sensed” something was “intimate.”

“What’s striking to me was the transfer of the Bilibid 19 to the NBI headquarters. I saw how good he (Sebastian) was. He is the king of drug lords,” Magleo said in Filipino.

Magleo said he decided to come out in the open in support of President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Sebastian – to whom he had been a “confidante” – paid De Lima P10 million for her help in removing his drug lord competitors, Magleo added.

Colangco said he was surprised when they were rounded up one day in the wee hours in preparation for their transfer to the NBI. He said he sought an audience with De Lima, who assured him the transfer would only be “temporary.”

“I told her thank you very much. The temporary turned out to be eight months,” he said.

He added he had to give in to the demand of Dayan for higher “payola” so he wouldn’t be moved from Muntinlupa.

“I said Ma’am, Dayan’s instruction to Joenel, I’ll go with it. Just don’t have me transferred,” Colangco said in Filipino, referring to the regular delivery of what he called “PR payola” to help De Lima’s senatorial campaign in the May 2016 elections. Joenel was reportedly Joenel Sanchez, De Lima’s aide.

“It hurts a lot, it’s too much. It seems they’re never contented,” he added, lamenting their being kicked out of their drug business despite paying bribe money.

Colangco called Sanchez De Lima’s “bagman” who had facilitated a conversation with the then DOJ chief through Globe postpaid number 0917-8421931.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III said the number was indeed registered with the DOJ.

Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed the number was De Lima’s in her contact list.

Colangco said he has in his possession a copy of the “receipt” for the P5,000 money transfer he sent to Sanchez, from the original P20,000 the latter demanded.

He likewise implicated in the drug trade in the NBP former Justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan, who exercised administrative supervision over the NBP, as well as former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Bucayu.

A certain Susan from Baraan’s technical office reportedly received drug money for him in exchange for the inmates’ not getting transferred to the maximum-security compound.

On one occasion, Colangco said Baraan’s office asked for P500,000 to facilitate the transfer of one Chinese convict from the maximum compound to medium security. “So I told the drug lord, they’re demanding P800,000, so I can have P300,000 for payola.”

‘I told you so’

In Davao City, President Duterte said he watched a portion of the House hearing and the illegal drug trade could not have flourished at the NBP without De Lima’s knowledge.

He stressed he was not saying that De Lima was into the illegal drug trade herself.

The President shared his opinion of what transpired in the House hearing with soldiers of the 10th Infantry Division at Camp Manuel Yan, Mawab, Compostela Valley.

Later in the night – this time with local officials in attendance – the President voiced his concern over the seriousness of the drug problem.

“If you listen to the TV right now and you listen and watch the House hearing on the illegal drug trade, you will know how widespread the problem is,” the President told a gathering of local officials at the SMX convention center in SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City.

“I was the favorite whipping boy of De Lima, lumaki agad ang ulo niya (it got to her head) when former president Gloria Arroyo appointed her to the CHR (Commission on Human Rights),” he said. 

Duterte 'still angry' over Davao blast, says PNP chief

President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa had their first post-Davao blast meeting Saturday night which lasted into the early hours of Sunday.

Dela Rosa briefed Duterte on the progress of PNP's probe into the blast.

"Wala kaming ibang pinagusapan kung 'di tungkol sa bombing. Mostly sa ano pinag-usapan, nasa mga strategic policies at tsaka 'yung mga tactics rin na pinagusapan, so they are more or less classified. So sa amin nalang muna 'yun. It was all about the incident," Dela Rosa.

(We only talked about the bombing. We mostly talked of strategic policies, and the tactics we discussed are more or less classified information. The discussion was all about the incident.)

Dela Rosa also said the commander-in-chief is still angry over the incident.

"Expected natin na galit pa rin, galit sa pangyayari. Pag siya'y galit talaga pinapakita niya sa siya'y naiinis, siya'y nagagalit. Hindi ko na kailangan pang sabihin ang mga detalye," Dela Rosa said.

(He is still angry about the incident, as we expected. If he is really angry, he will show his frustration, his anger. I don't need to reveal the details.)

According to Dela Rosa, the President expected diversionary tactics amid the military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Dela Rosa earlier said they acknowledge the ASG's early claims for the attack but they are not ruling out other perpetrators as investigations and validations are still ongoing.

"Sabi niya, this is not the first time na nangyari sa Davao, kaya expected na 'yan pag nagkakaroon ng operation doon sa kabilang dako, maghahanap ng diversionary 'yung mga kalaban," Dela Rosa said.

(He says this is not the first time this happened in Davao, that's why we expect that when there is an operation, the enemy will look for diversionary tactics.)

Dela Rosa also said that the incident has taken an emotional toll for both him and the President considering that Davao is their "home base."

"It's quite draining. Emotionally draining. Isipin mo naman na bakit hahantong sa na mga innocent lives were lost dahil nga dito sa pangyayari sa ito. Sana naman hindi na madagdagan pa ng inosenteng civilian ang mawawala dahil dito," Dela Rosa said.

(It is quite draining, emotionally draining. Why did it have to reach this point, that innocent lives were lost? We hope that no more innocent civilians will be lost because of this.)

It’s final, NIA returns to Agriculture department

“Let me just make this very clear. The President has already agreed. Secretary [Leoncio] Evasco has already agreed -- that NIA should be brought back to the Department of Agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol in an interview with reporters late Tuesday.

Mr. Piñol earlier said he has submitted to the President a memorandum seeking the transfer of the NIA, the National Food Authority (NFA), the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, and the Philippine Coconut Authority for “effective operations” of the DA.

The four agencies currently fall under the Office of the President after an executive order issued in 2014 by then President Benigno S. C. Aquino III ordered a revamp at the Agriculture department which at the time faced charges of corruption and cronyism.

“Pero sinabi ko na sa kanila... sinabi ko na kay presidente [But I already told them, I already told the president], ‘Mr. President, NIA is a really a vital component of Philippine agriculture,’” Mr. Piñol said.

The Agriculture chief meanwhile said he “can live without NFA,” given what he described as the grains agency’s “failure to stabilise the price” of rice.

Mr. Piñol has hammered out a plan to attain the government’s rice self-sufficiency target, which effectively would mean the NFA will have a lesser role.

Duterte unshaken by alleged kill plot

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is unperturbed by an alleged assassination threat against him that was bared Thursday by a suspected gunrunner, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Abella said such threats are "not new" to the President and that he "eats" these for breakfast.
"He seems to be pretty much untouched by all these threats. Not worried. Concerned but not worried," the official said.

Duterte will also not lessen his provincial trips, Abella added.

A firearms smuggling suspect, who is now under police custody, claimed Thursday that one of his syndicate’s customers was planning to kill the President.


Wilford Palma said the customer, whom he did not identify, ordered “low-end” gun parts for Duterte's assassination.

An estimated P4.5 million in gun parts were seized from Palma and his boss in Bacolod City.
Duterte earlier claimed that high-profile drug lords have raised as much as P1 billion to have him killed, along with police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa and other officials.

Duterte says he will match drug lords' bounty


A group of drug lords detained at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison has since denied plotting to kill the Chief Executive.

De Lima cries harassment as ex-staff testify vs her

Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday cried harassment as two of her former staff at the Department of Justice were reportedly asked by the National Bureau of Investigation to testify against her for her alleged involvement in the drug trade.

The two DOJ staff, identified as Jong Caranto and Bogs Obuyes, have executed affidavits claiming that they were told by then secretary De Lima to deposit millions of pesos in a bank account that was not under her name, a report by the Philippine Star said.

De Lima said the action of the two DOJ staff was plain harassment.

"Parang pinapaamin sa kanila na ako nagpabukas noon para ipadaan ang mga galing sa convicts na mga drug lords. Jesus Christ," said de Lima.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tagged de Lima as a protector of drug lords.

The DOJ and the House of Representatives are conducting their respective investigations on the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison during the previous administration.

De Lima said the House probe was meant to harass her as she is a strong critic of Duterte's war on drugs, but House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez maintains the investigation is not singling out de Lima.

Meanwhile, de Lima said she might consider the request of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to not hold a Senate hearing on alleged drug-related extra-judicial killings while Duterte is on a trip to Brunei, Laos, and Indonesia this month.

She, however, set a condition.

"Sana nga, if you're asking, ang pinakatamang gawin ay mag-ceasefire sa patayan," said de Lima.

The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by De Lima is set to resume its hearing on September 7 and not September 5 as earlier announced.

She said her committee needs more time to prepare for the third hearing.

Suspect gun smuggling reveals alleged Duterte kill plot

MANILA – A firearms smuggling suspect, who is under police custody, claimed on Thursday that one of his syndicate’s customers was planning to kill President Rodrigo Duterte.

Wilford Palma said the customer, whom he did not identify, planned to order “low-end” gun parts. “Sabi niya sa akin, yun daw gagamitin sa assassination ni President Duterte [He told me it will be used in the assassination of President Duterte].”

Palma made the revelation as he was presented to the media by Director General Ronald dela Rosa, the national police chief. Palma and his boss were arrested in Bacolod City after local authorities were tipped off by US Homeland Security.

Dela Rosa said no details were immediately available on the person who was allegedly plotting to kill the President.

“Hindi pa namin talaga matumbok itong tao na ito pero most likely, hindi siguro siya yung gun for hire. Baka inutusan lang ito ng sindikato na bumili ng ganun for that purpose [We can’t positively identify this person yet but it is unlikely that he is the gun for hire. He could have been asked by a syndicate to buy the parts for that purpose],” he said.

Duterte, who is leading a bloody war against drugs, had previously acknowledged alleged threats to his life as well as to Dela Rosa, who is at the forefront of the campaign.

An estimated P4.5 million in gun parts were seized from Palma and his boss in Bacolod City, Dela Rosa said.

Bank account of ex-driver received millions from De Lima

The bank account that allegedly received millions of pesos from Senator Leila de Lima when she was still Justice Secretary belonged to her former driver, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III disclosed on Thursday, quoting a former employee of the senator.

Aguirre confirmed that an employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Jonathan “Jong” Caranto, had executed an affidavit against De Lima claiming that she had instructed him to deposit millions of pesos to the bank account of Ronnie Dayan.

Caranto was one of two employees who had allegedly executed affidavits against her. The other employee was named in some media reports as a certain Edna “Bogs” Obuyes.

Dayan, on the other hand, has been tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as De Lima’s alleged bagman who had collected drug payoffs for her.

“Binibigyan daw sya (Caranto) ng pera ni De Lima para ideposit dun sa account ni Dayan,” Aguirre told reporters after attending a Senate hearing.

(He was allegedly given money by De Lima for him to deposit to Dayan’s account.)

The DOJ chief vehemently denied De Lima’s statement that the two employees, who worked with her when she was the Justice Secretary, were forced to execute their affidavits.

“Merong affidavit, walang pumilit sa kanila, voluntary,” Aguirre said, adding that the two just wanted to clear their names.

(There are affidavits, no one forced them, it was voluntary.)

In fact, he said, the two were willing to undergo a lie detector test to prove their allegations.

Aside from saying that there was a bank account under Dayan’s name, Aguirre could not provide other details pending further investigation.

But he assured that the money in the account would not be commensurate to the salaries of the two employees.

“Hindi maliliit lang ang sweldo nila (Their salaries are not so low),” said the DOJ chief.

Asked how the account would be linked to De Lima when it was not under her name, Aguirre said, “Hindi pa nga tapos yung investigation namin so tingnan natin kung paaano mali-link, kung mali-link ba yun sa kanya o hindi.”

(Our investigation has not ended yet so we will still see how it is linked, whether it could be linked to her or not.)

He reiterated that there are other people who would come out and speak about the alleged corruption inside the National Bilibid Prison.

House Speaker plans charter 'overhaul' in 2017

ouse Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is eyeing charter change next year, and the new charter may include a bill of duties in addition to a bill of rights for citizens.

Alvarez said that aside from overhauling the constitution, he wants the new charter to have a bill of duties in addition to bill of rights for citizens.

"The Bill of Rights is there. But what I see is another chapter which the Aquino Constitution omitted in the Marcos Constitution, that is the bill of duties. Tiinanggal nila ang bill of duties. Kaya tayo ngayon nagkakaganito puro tayo rights," Alvarez said.

Speaking at a meeting of the Philippine Constitutional Association Monday night, Alvarez revealed he has submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte his proposed executive order for the creation of a constitutional commission.

The proposal includes providing expert opinion to the constituent assembly that will revise the charter.

"I forwarded the draft of the Executive Order to the Office of the President creating the Constitutional Commission. Hopefully the Executive Order will be signed this September," he said.

Alvarez said he is hoping Duterte will soon appoint commissioners so "by October the Constitutional Commission will start their work to draft the revised Charter."

"Perhaps in six-month’s time we also, if we are able to finish the 2017 national budget, we can already convene both Houses of Congress into a Constituent Assembly where the draft will be presented by the members of the Constitutional Commission for further deliberations and debate," said Alvarez.

If everything goes according to plan, Alvarez said the draft revisions can be made ready for voter ratification by the midterm election of 2019.

"So if we can make the final revised Charter by 2017, perhaps by 2018 we can already start the information drive and education up to the last barangay on what is in that draft Constitution. By midterm elections I hope that we would be able to present to the people for ratification together with the elections of the new officials of the government," he added.

Alvarez said the goal is to make Duterte's remaining three years a "transitory government."

"If it will be approved by the people (new Charter)--will be a transitory government. So, by 2022 we will be electing our new officials under the new Charter," said Alvarez.

Alvarez explained that his planned con-com is merely advisory and it is the assembly that will revise the charter.

"We will be revising the Constitution based on the second mode which is through constituent assembly, All the others---the creation of a Constitutional commission, asking the commission to draft the Constitution--is about technical assistance that will be given to the Constituent Assembly," said Alvarez.

COMPLETE OVERHAUL?

Alvarez explained that the con-ass will be overhauling the 1987 charter.

"It is a revision, babaguhin po lahat [We will change everything.] We will entirely overhaul the Constitution," Alvarez said.

He noted that he "personally suggested" the creation of the Constitutional Commission, "composed of a very small group." Members may include experts such as former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former Justice Lolong Lazaro.

"[These people] we can trust and they have enough experience kung papaano ayusin ang ating sistema. Kasi if we elect the members of the Constitutional Convention, we will not be sure if the people will be electing the right delegates. So ito pong Constitutional Commission masisiguro po natin na ang ating Presidente na kilala niya ang mga taong ilalagay sa commission," he said.

The commission is envisioned to work for 6 months.

Alvarez said they are still keen on a federal-parliamentary form of government, with a President directly elected by the people.

"We will go back to the two party system para wala na pong papalit-palit," he added.

Alvarez hopes the Senate can agree to the amendments even if it could affect their positions.

"There is always a way of navigating it. I still trust on the patriotism of the members of Congress; I think we can do it. And kung takot ang Senado na ma-abolish payag naman kami na ang House of Representatives ang ma-abolish. We just have to increase the membership (laughter), hindi po ba? Pwedeng unicameral, yung Senate ang maiiwan. But we would elect the senators by district. Kung ano yung congressional districts, yun na rin yung senador."

Don't arrest Misuari Duterte said

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he does not want the arrest warrant for fugitive Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari implemented.

Misuari is currently in hiding after a court issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with the bloody Zamboanga City siege in 2013.

Duterte said arresting Misuari would scuttle his efforts to reach a peaceful settlement with the Moro groups in Mindanao.

''Ako man ang hepe ng pulis at military. Sabihin ko, huwag niyong galawin,'' Duterte said in a news conference.

(I am the commander-in-chief of the police and the military. I will tell them not to lay a hand on Misuari.)

''There's a warrant for his arrest. All I have to do is not implement it against him because if you arrest Misuari, you place him under the custody of police and if he dies for whatever reason, kompormiso na tayo (our efforts will be compromised)."

He said any adversarial act towards Misuari would result in "conflagration" as ''he is the only known leader who has the influence and stature'' among Moro rebels.

He also assured Misuari in a phone conversation last night that he won't be arrested.

"I told him, 'Nur, I have no intention of detaining you or placing you in the custody of government. You can simply walk out there, ask any soldier and police to escort you,'" he said.

MALAYSIA MEETING

Duterte also revealed that Misuari wants to meet with him in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Duterte said he is interested in meeting Misuari in an attempt to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

''Nur and I talked last night and he said he wants to meet me in Kuala Lumpur,'' Duterte said.

''He said let's do a signing in two days so we could end this fight," he added.

Duterte said Misuari wants the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to mediate the meeting.

The OIC helped broker the MNLF's final peace agreement with the government in 1996.

ZAMBOANGA SIEGE

Misuari led the siege in 2013 to protest the decision of the government of then-President Benigno Aquino III to hold talks with MNLF's renegade group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Misuari faction of the MNLF accused the government of abrogating its agreements with the group when it held negotiations with the MILF which led to the creation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

A botched anti-terrorism operation where alleged MILF fighters killed elite cops in January 2015 scuttled the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the enabling law of the CAB.

The Duterte government is now in the process of consolidating all agreements with all Moro groups to finally achieve peace in southern Philippines.

Carpenter caught selling illegal drugs in Ilocos Norte

ILOCOS NORTE - Police arrested a 29-year-old carpenter for selling illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening in Barangay 6 in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

Jefferson Lerio was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover cop.

Police seized another sachet of suspected shabu, and one a caliber .22 handgun loaded with ammunition.

The operation was conducted by PNP members of Sarrat and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Police Chief Inspector Roldan Suitos said Lerio ranks third in the town’s drug suspects' list.

ILOCOS NORTE - Police arrested a 29-year-old carpenter for selling illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening in Barangay 6 in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

Jefferson Lerio was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover cop.

Police seized another sachet of suspected shabu, and one a caliber .22 handgun loaded with ammunition.

The operation was conducted by PNP members of Sarrat and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Police Chief Inspector Roldan Suitos said Lerio ranks third in the town’s drug suspects' list.

Police reveal Pasig 'drug matrix,' tags Boratong family

MANILA – Police on Tuesday revealed the supposed connections of drug personalities and their alleged henchmen operating in Pasig City.

In a matrix, the police identified relatives of drug convict Amin Boratong as the key players in the drug trade in the city.

Boratong was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pasig Regional Trial Court in 2009 for operating the infamous Pasig ''shabu tiangge.''

Eastern Police District Director Romulo Sapitula said Amin's brother Ama is now in charge of most of the city's illegal drug operations. Police said the group controls about 70 percent of the city's illegal drug supply.

The police also implicated several Boratongs, namely Acsaimen, Aleman, and Datumanong.

Datumanong is the father of Ama and Amin. Acsaimen, on the other hand, is the cousin of the Ama and Amin. Aleman is a nephew of Acsaimen.

Police said the Boratong Gang employs several hitmen, among them are a certain Jaime, Salamodin Tomara, and Alex Mamaki.

A certain Jimmy Amal was also identified as Acsaimen's associate. Police alleged that he is the supplier of illegal drugs in Dilang, Mangga III, and Pinagbuhatan in Pasig.

Acsaimen also allegedly employed street pushers, namely Joy Ong, Raul Alfonso, Christian Evangelista, Jeffrey Dizon, and Luisito Salazar.

The matrix shows that Ong and Alfonso sold drugs in Barangay Rosario, while Evangelista, Dizon, and Salazar sold drugs in Barangay Manggahan.

Ong is currently at large, while Alfonso is out on bail. Evangelista, Dizon, and Salazar are currently behind bars.

A certain Allan Bautista, who allegedly sold drugs in Barangays San Miguel and Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City as well as in Barangay San Juan in Taytay, Rizal, is already dead.

Other alleged street pushers who were killed were identified as Rogelio Corpuz, Fernando Alfonso, Jeffrey Jocson, and Chester Santos. All four were killed in separate incidents in July and August this year.

The police said members of the Boratong group have been charged over the killing of the four.

The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa have repeatedly stressed that kingpins are behind the killings of their own dealers, in what authorities believe as an attempt to eradicate the drug trail.

Beautician in 'buy drugs, get woman' biz nabbed

A 21-year old female was rescued in a hotel room after authorities executed an entrapment operation against a 46-year-old beautician in Bugallon, Pangasinan Monday night.

The suspect, identified as Isidro Cantor, has been under a week-long surveillance by intelligence operatives over alleged involvement in drug activities. 

It was later found that most of his customers also avail of sex service from prostitutes under his care.

Police, who acted as buyers, recovered a sachet of suspected shabu in exchange of P500 bill.

“Wala sa akin. Nakita niyo sa kwarto. Wala silang nakuha, ” Cantor argued.

However, the 21-year old victim who wished not to be named, disclosed that she was being paid P2,000 a night by customers, who are mostly tricycle drivers, and Cantor would slash P500 as commission.

Chief Inspector Joseph Imperial, Bugallon Chief of Police, disclosed that drugs were part of a package offered to customers.

“Kapag nambugaw siya kinakabit niya rito yung ibebenta niyang droga. To the extent na yung drugs ay ginagamit para magkaroon ng sexual satisfaction yung customer at yung biktima,” Imperial added.

Custody of the victim will be turned-over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. 

Meanwhile, Cantor will face charges for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act and Anti-Trafficking in persons Act.

2 men caught using 'shabu' in Koronadal City

KORONADAL CITY- Two men were arrested by Koronadal City Police on Tuesday for using illegal drugs.

Reynaldo dela Vega and Julio Balmatero, Jr. were arrested after they were caught in the act of using illegal drugs.

Police said they received information about the two suspects, prompting them to go to Dela Vega's house.

Recovered from the suspects were two sachets of suspected shabu, suspected marijuana, and various drug paraphernalia.

Dela Vega sustained bruises on his face after trying to evade arrest.

Both suspects denied they were using illegal drugs when the police arrived. Police Superintendent Barney Condes, however, said Dela Vega's neighbors started monitoring his activities after he admitted to using illegal drugs.

"Kasi maraming support group sa atin ngayon na concerned citizen na, may hotline kasi tayo eh, so, pag may information, aksyunan kaagad natin 'yan," he said.

The City Anti-Drug Abuse Council Officer, Dr. Glorio Sandig, expressed disappointment with Dela Vega for failing to resist illegal drugs after he surrendered last July.

"Dala-dala pa siya ng tatay niya, tapos eh, in-assure kami ng tatay niya na hindi na babalik. Pero 'yun pala, ito nga nagkaroon kami ng tip," he said.

Cases of violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against Dela Vega and Balmatero.

They all want to meet President Deterter during Summit in Laos

President Duterte is expected to meet with other heads of state and the international media on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit that he will attend in Laos next month, Malacañang said yesterday.

It will be Duterte’s first trip outside of the country.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Martin Andanar said other ASEAN leaders have expressed interest to hold bilateral talks with Duterte, whom he described as “the most talked about leader in ASEAN and in the world.”

“We expect him to be swarmed by international media companies who want to talk to him,” he said over state-run radio dzRB.

Duterte’s war on drugs, which has been criticized for allegedly promoting extrajudicial killings, has been featured by several international media outlets including Time magazine, BBC and CNN.

The President has denied that he was endorsing extralegal killings and has scored the United Nations, the United States and human rights advocates for supposedly meddling with his anti-drug campaign.

Duterte is scheduled to visit Brunei Darussalam on Sept. 4 before proceeding to Laos to attend the ASEAN summit from Sept. 5 to 7. He will then proceed to Indonesia for a two-day visit as part of the traditional ASEAN tour for leaders.  

 “(The President) will be on a working visit, will perform bilateral talks with ASEAN (leaders) and will be visiting OFWs (overseas Filipino workers),” Andanar said.

In a previous interview, Duterte said he would thank Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for taking care of Filipino migrant workers.

During the ASEAN meet, Duterte will witness the turnover of the ASEAN chairmanship to the Philippines, which will host the leaders’ summit and related meetings next year.

The plight of OFWs will also be in the agenda of Duterte in his two-day visit to Indonesia from Sept. 8 to 9

15 soldiers killed by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu clash

The Philippine military has lost one officer and fourteen enlisted personnel in a clash with rebel group Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, an officer said on Tuesday.

Armed Forces spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military has engaged the rebel group from Monday morning, and suffered the casualties toward the afternoon.

"We have had a short period of jubilation following some very successful skirmishes with the enemy, but unfortunately, just yesterday, we lost fifteen of our members to a very closely fought engagement period [sic] that begun early in the morning and moved on throughout the day until late in the afternoon," he said.

By afternoon, he said, members of the 21st and 35th infantry battalions were engaging the bulk of the group in Patikul, and may have compromised their position.

"Initially, we were made to believe that there was a small group, but when they entered in another area, the number kind of swelled. Apparently, that was where they were hiding to escape the pursuing troops," he said.

"Unfortunately, there was a small group of our members of the 35th IB who pursued a bigger group that was running away. And unfortunately, the mastery of the terrain was working to the advantage of the ASG who were in a higher ground," he added.

Padilla likened the encounter to an ambush, wherein no military personnel was closely shot by the enemy.

"No member of our troops were bastardized or disrespected and we were able to recover them in due time. Many of them still getting to the medical lines alive, but because of their injuries, they succumbed later on," he said.

He reported also that the most recent number of Abu Sayyaf fighters killed was 30, possibly including one sub-commander.

The Abu Sayyaf, known for kidnapping and beheading captives, has dogged successive Philippine governments, entrenching its network with vast sums of ransom money in what has become one of Asia's most lucrative kidnapping rackets.

Security experts say the Muslim rebels are motivated less by Islamist ideology and more by the tens of millions of dollars from kidnappings.

Two Canadians and a Filipino teenager were executed this year by the Abu Sayyaf. Last week, two Indonesians escaped captivity but there was speculation the Abu Sayyaf freed them after their families paid their ransoms.

Eight Indonesians, eight Filipinos, five Malaysians, a Dutch bird watcher and a Norwegian resort manager are still being held by the Abu Sayyaf. It was not known the hostages were in Patikul jungle when the assault began on Thursday.

Padilla vowed that the military will not cease its pursuit operations until they reach a "very decisive engagement with this group," and try to rescue the hostages.

"The primordial objective and concentration we are having is to closely ensure that the victims they hold will be safely rescued, but if we are not able to do that, it would be very unfortunate, but that’s what we are trying to see," he said.

As Duterte promised to dine with wounded soldiers on National Heroes Day

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier in August met soldiers wounded in action and invited them to have dinner with him in Malacañang. On National Hereos Day, he fulfilled this promise.

Straight from Camp Siongco in Maguindanao and V. Luna's Heroes Ward, 64 soldiers wounded in action enjoyed a dinner of chicken sotanghon, ensaladang talong, ginataang isda with mustasa, grilled seafood, mais con yelo, cassava cake, and durian tart at the Heroes Hall on Monday night.

But more than a good meal, they received words of wisdom from the President, a string of promises, and surprise gifts.

Duterte will take care of soldiers

As he pointed out that soldiers only fear dying because of the family they will leave behind, the President assured them that his government will not be remiss in its duty to care for the soldiers.

"My presidency will take care of you," the President said as the soldiers clapped.

Duterte once again made promises about giving soldiers' kids free education from kindergarten to college. He also reiterated his promise that their salaries will be doubled by year end.

But for now, the soldiers he broke bread with each received a Glock 30 pistol. Duterte joked that the model was chosen because it has the number "30," just like his shortened last name, Du30.

Injured soldier 2nd Lt. Jerome Jacuba and his friend, on the other hand, received a laptop each as they requested.

"Pati siguro kotse na," Duterte joked as he told his assistants to hand the two their new gadgets.

Meanwhile, Army Corporal Ralph Divino was gifted a new electric wheelchair.

"Isauli mo iyan sa doctor mo, pangit iyan," Duterte said as Divino was being transferred from his old wheelchair to his new one.

"Baka makuryentehan pa ang puwet niyan. Mas magdoble ang problema natin dito," he then blurted out as the corporal tried out his new wheels.

Duterte then hinted that he will ask National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to work out how those wounded in action will be promoted.

"You know, we know how to take our debt of gratitude. Kayong lahat actually heroes na kayo," he said.

"Pwede Delfin, diretso general na silang lahat? Huwag na nating patagalin ito," he addressed Lorenzana as the soldiers laughed.

"Well in the sight of the Filipino people, you are all generals... Malaki ang respeto ko sa inyong lahat kaya ako nagsa-salute. Hindi ginagawa ng ibang presidente iyan," the President remarked.

Not the end

To uplift the morale of the wounded especially those who could no longer go back to battle, Duterte told them that there is life amid the hopelessness they may seem to feel. 

He turned to Jacuba, the soldier he earlier met at the V. Luna General Hospital who was blinded by an IED blast during clearing operations in Maguindanao.

Earlier, Jacuba in his message said that he only greets people "good night" because he can only "see" darkness.

But Duterte encouraged Jacuba by telling him the life of blind tenor Andrea Boccelli  who studied and became a lawyer. The President suggested Jacuba can also do the same and maybe he can ask his alma mater, San Beda College, to take him in.

"Matuto ka nang magkanta parang kay Boccelli," Duterte then joked.

"I want you to travel another mile sa buhay mo. Mag-aral ka nang mabuti... Do not be too sentimental about it because there is life after being wounded. Kanya-kanyang swerte iyan. Only God can answer you. But dito kami, hindi ka namin pababayaan," he then assured Jacuba.

After the President's speech and the soldiers and other guests had a good meal, Jacuba suddenly went on stage and sang Gary Valenciano's "Warrior is a Child."

But even before the President gave his message, it seemed that Jacuba's esteem for Duterte had already been amplified during their earlier meeting in V. Luna General Hospital.

"Sabi ko nga, Sir, until the last drop of our blood, Sir, talagang makikipaglaban kami under ng iyong pamumuno, Sir. Kami ay mamatay sa aming paglilingkod sa bayan dahil talagang nakita namin ang aming Presidente ay sinsero. Isang malaking karangalan na makapagserbisyo sa ilalim ng iyong pamumuno," Jacuba told Duterte.