Scan this icon to view the PDF
VOL. XXXI • NO. 103 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph
BUSINESS/ C2
DEALMAKER FROM DAVAO TRIES HAND AT CASINO
AÑO SEEKS TO END CRISIS IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS By F. Pearl A. Gajunera, Maricel V. Cruz, John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne Fabunan DAVAO CITY—Martial Law’s designated implementor Gen. Eduardo Año said that they only have a simple guideline to follow for the 60 days Martial Law in the entire Island of Mindanao following the Marawi siege. Año said that the military’s guideline is to end the Marawi siege as soon as possible and to finish all the lawless groups in the island. Curfews will be implemented in selected areas only. “Basta tapusin namin yung Marawi crisis at destroy all lawless elements in Mindanao,” Año said in a text message. [We’ll just have to end Turn to A2
SPORTS / C3
'PINOY PUNISHER' SETS OUT FOR BELLATOR MMA
ON GUARD. Government troops patrol a deserted street near the position
of Islamic militants as planes and helicopters bombed militants position in Marawi on May 27, 2017. Inset shows residents with their belongings evacuate from their homes. AFP
MORE BOMBS RAIN ON MAUTE FORCES M By Lance Baconguis and John Paolo Bencito
ARAWI—Government forces dropped more bombs Saturday on Marawi City where they have been battling Islamist militants for five days, vowing no letup despite the start of Ramadan until the terrorists have been ''neutralized.'' “We have identified where they are consolidating so we are doing surgical air strikes to destroy the local terrorist group,” local military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Joar Herrera told AFP. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across Mindanao in response to the clashes, which have claimed at least 48
lives and he has said are part of a campaign by the Islamic State group to establish a local caliphate. Truckloads of marines reinforcements were also seen driving into Marawi, one of the biggest Muslim-populated cities in the mainly Catholic Philippines with about 200,000 residents. Military chief Lt. General Edu-
ardo Año said state troopers may have the upper hand but the area has proved to be difficult to penetrate. “We are in total control of the whole area but it’s not cleared due to the terrorists using urban guerilla tactics,'' he said during President Duterte’s visit to the Army’s mechanized Batallion on Friday. “We have to clear one step at a time, block to block,'' Año said. The fighting erupted on Tuesday when dozens of gunmen went on a rampage throughout Marawi in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant regarded as the local leader of IS. They planted black IS flags, took a priest and up to 14 other people hostage from a church, and set fire
to buildings. Thirteen soldiers, two policemen and 31 militants have died in the fighting, according to authorities. Two civilians were also confirmed killed inside a hospital that the gunmen had occupied on Tuesday, and the military has said it is investigating reports that nine people were murdered at a checkpoint the militants had set up. Duterte has vowed to extinguish the threat of the militants, whom he has said belong to the local Maute terrorist group but are being backed by criminals in the area. Nevertheless, Duterte also said on Friday that he was prepared to talk with the group’s leaders. Turn to A2
GOVT SCRAPS PEACE TALKS; REDS INSINCERE—PALACE By John Paolo Bencito
OPTING OUT. Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Jesus Dureza (left) announces the decision of the Philippine peace panel not to participate in the 5th rounds of talks in Noordwijk, The Netherlands until the National Democratic Front will prevail over the Communist Party of the Philippines to recall its attack order. OPAPP
twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
MALACAÑANG on Saturday questioned the sincerity of the communist rebels seeking talks with the Philippine government following the Reds’ attacks on police and military that prompted the state peace panel to scrap the fifth round of negotiations for long-term truce held in The Netherlands. “The government of the Philippines will not proceed with the scheduled 5th rounds of peace negotiations in The Netherlands,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, questioning “the sincerity of the CPP/NPA/NDFP, if they truly are in pursuit of peaceful coexistence.” ''The Duterte administration would rather pursue the path of genuine dialogue to build a nation worthy of its citizens,” he added. On the eve of peace talks, the Communist Party of the Philippines called on its armed wing New People’s Army
S
manilastandard.net
to intensify attacks against troops as a way of opposing martial law. Responding to the call, the NPA on Saturday exploded land mines in Bukidnon, wounding two Special Action Force policemen. Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said that the government panel “is now left without any other recourse but to announce... that it will not proceed to participate in the scheduled 5th rounds of peace negotiations” until there is an “enabling environment”for negotiations to continue. “The most serious development of late and which puts in great jeopardy as to whether or not se can still keep the court of peace in this peace table is the blatant publicly announced decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the political organ of our counterparts across the table who are here, ordering their forces on the ground to accelerate and intensify attacks against the government in the face of the declaration of Turn to A2
A THOUSAND TRAPPED IN 'GHOST TOWN' MARAWI City had become a ghost city, as 90 percent of its entire population have evacuated while the remaining 10 percent, or over a thousand residents, remained trapped in their houses as government forces continue to flush out the remaining members of the ISIS-inspired Maute terror group in the five-day standoff. According to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao executive secretary lawyer Laisa Alamia, over 201,700 residents in the city, more or less 90 percent ay nakalabas na [were able to get out]," she said. But Alamia said that as of Friday, May 26, some 1,333 residents remained trapped in different barangays in the city. “We’re getting all their names and whereabouts, yung exact location nila [and also their exact location]. We’re trying to arrange with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and provincial government ng Lanao del Sur... Yung pag-rescue ng mga tao na nandoon pa sa loob [we’re still trying to rescue the people who are inside the city]," she said. “So, yun yung priority natin mailabas sila. At ang second priority ay yung mga nakalabas na nandyan na sa evacuation centers ay mabigyan kaagad ng intervention. Nandoon na po ang mga trucks carrying relief goods and also the medical team [Our first priority is to get them out and our second priority is for those who were able to escape and are now in evacuation centers to be given intervention. We now have the trucks carrying relief goods and also the medical team]," she added. Alamia said those trapped have opted to stay inside their houses since members of the Maute Group still roam the barangays. Turn to A2
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com