June 7-9, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 46 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages
DUTERTE ORDERS TROOPS TO ‘CRUSH’ REBELS
Father of Maute group ‘PH-US military ties remain strong’ leaders arrested in Davao DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
AFP receives new counterterrorism weapons
THE military relationship between the Philippines and the United States remains strong despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s seemingly distant approach to the U.S. government, officials from both countries affirmed. Head of U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris and Philippine Undersecretary for Defense Policy Ricardo David both made the assurance during the Southeast Asian Young Leaders’ Programme on Sunday, June 4 in Singapore. “I believe that we are in a very good place with regard to military to military activities in the Philippines,” Harris said. Backing up Harris’ statement, David added: “As far as the Philippines is concerned, I think we have good relations with the United States. The Balikatan just concluded. It will continue because this is a part of our Philippine alliance with the US. We have a Mutual Defense Treaty.” Duterte, who assumed office in June last year, had announced that the Philippines would shift closer toward China and Russia as part of his administration’s independent foreign policy.
by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
THE father of brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, the suspected leaders of the extremist Maute group, has reportedly been arrested on Tuesday, June 6 in Davao City. According to Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, Casamora Maute was nabbed by authorities around 10 a.m. in a
checkpoint manned by both the Davao City Police Office and by the Army’s 10th Infantry Division in Sirawan, Toril District. The elder Maute—who is also believed to be one of the rebel group’s top leaders—was reportedly seeking medical help in Davao City when he was arrested. Since May 23, the government has been conducting ongoing clearing operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur against the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute
extremist group. “This is a big blow to the Maute terrorist group,” Gapay said. According to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera, military spokesman on the Marawi crisis, the Maute brothers’ father “provides funding and logistical support in terms of the operations” for the group. “We also received reports that the father is part of the recruiting arm of the Maute [Group],” he told Rappler. Police officials brief President Rodrigo Duterte on the CCTV footage of
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by AJPRESS
US accuses China of ‘buying its way out’ of South China Sea issues
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NEW WEAPONS. A Philippine Marine and U.S. military officer inspect a new M4 carbine during the weapons and equipment delivery from the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) defense modernization efforts. The weapons delivery is part of the U.S. government grant program for the AFP. Aside from M4 carbines, the U.S. has also turned over rubber boats to the Philippine Marine Corps. According to a release from the US Embassy, delivery of the equipment under the US government’s Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program began in May. Photo from the U.S. Embassy in Manila
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FELIPE
MANILA - Despite the ongoing crisis in Marawi City and the attack at Resorts World Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) remains focused on its drive to curb illicit drug activities in the country. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said records show that 3,050 people were killed from July 1, 2016 to May 30 this year – a total of 336 days of the
THE lone gunman behind the Resorts World Manila attack that killed 37 last Friday, June 2 was a “heavily indebted” gambler, according to the Philippine police. In a press briefing on Sunday, June 4, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Oscar Albayalde identified the gunman as 42-year-old Jessie Carlos, who was a dismissed Department of Finance (DOF) official. According to Albayalde, Carlos racked up about P4 million-worth of debt at a certain casino he frequented, which police declined to name. The NCRPO chief later noted that the said casino was not Resorts World Manila. “He is heavily indebted due to being hooked on casino gambling, according to his immediate family,” Albayalde said. “This became the cause of misunderstanding with his wife and parents. He has a bank account with an outstanding debt of P4 million and several other non-bank related debt.” He said Carlos was forced to sell a property in Batan-
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Supreme Court sets oral arguments on martial law by ROY LUARCA Inquirer.net
MOVING swiftly, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday, June 6 that it had agreed to hear the petition of seven opposition lawmakers questioning the constitutionality of President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The court set a three-day oral argument—June 13 to 15—on the petition filed on Monday by the lawmakers, led by Albay Rep. Ed-
PNP: No letup in drug war by CECILLE
PNA photo
Police: Resorts World gunman a ‘heavily indebted’ gambler
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CHINA cannot use its economic powers to evade issues concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea row and the rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the United States said on Monday, June 5. While Washington desires to have a “productive” relationship with Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stressed that China should not “buy its way out” of diplomatic issues. “We desire productive relationships, but we cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems, whether it’s militarizing islands in the South China Sea or failing to put appropriate pressure on North Korea,” Tillerson said after a meeting with his counterpart in Sydney, Australia. He added, “They must recognize that, with a role as a growing economic and trading power comes security responsibilities as well.” China, which has been considered among the wealthiest countries around the globe in terms of economy, has been exerting sovereignty throughout almost all of the South China Sea. Despite the counterclaims of its Asian neighboring countries, China has built several artificial islands within the disputed reefs.
the Resorts World Manila incident.
Duterte administration. It also showed that 1,288,140 self-confessed drug pushers and users surrendered and 2,288 kilos of shabu were seized. Under the #RealNumbersPH Data on the Anti-Drug Campaign of the government, the PNP conducted a total of 60,395 anti-drug operations and arrested 80,415 drug suspects. Carlos stressed that the PNP has enough units to cover specific
cel Lagman, and directed the Office of the Solicitor General to file a comment on the case. Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the Armed Forces of the Philippine chief of staff, Gen. Eduardo Año. Lawyers’ petition In a related move on Tuesday, a group of lawyers petitioned the high tribunal to compel the House of Representatives and the Senate to hold a joint session to review
Mr. Duterte’s martial law proclamation and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus following the May 23 attack by Maute terrorists on Marawi City. “This is a rule of law petition. What we’re asking for is compliance with the minimum procedural fidelity with the Constitution,” former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, the counsel of the petitionGUNMAN IDENTIFIED. National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar ers, said in a news conference. Albayalde shows the picture of Resorts World Manila attacker named “The language of the Constitu- Jessie Carlos during the press briefing’ at Remington Hotel in Pasay
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City on Sunday, June 3.
PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
Supplementary complaint filed against Duterte before the ICC by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed a supplementary complaint against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, June 6. The opposition lawmakers said their 45page communication, titled “DIGONG, THE Magdalo Party-List Representative Gary C. Alejano and Senator GRAVE DIGGER: A look into the Philippine u PAGE A4 Antonio Trillanes. Photo from the Office of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV President’s War on Drugs,” supports the ear-
lier complaint filed by Filipino lawyer Jude Sabio last April 24 before the international court. In his complaint, Sabio accused Duterte of committing crimes against humanity, citing thousands of deaths and violation of human rights in the president’s war on drugs. The Duterte administration, however, has repeatedly asserted that the deaths of the drug suspects were not state-sanctioned.
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