Rasuman scam brains nabbed; did not hide – PNP

Authorities arrested the alleged mastermind of an investment scam during an operation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Tuesday afternoon, a police official said.

Jacob “Coco” Rasuman was arrested around 2:15 p.m. at his home in Brgy. Panggao Saduc, Senior Supt. Romeo Magsalos, Lanao del Sur provincial police director, said in a phone interview.

“Hindi naman siya (Rasuman) nagtago, taga-doon naman siya talaga,” Magsalos said, belying reports that the suspect hid for fear of reprisal from his victims.

Authorities were only able to arrest Rasuman on Tuesday, when the court issued a warrant, according to Magsalos.

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 10 served the warrant with the help of policemen and members of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, he said.

“(Rasuman) has a similar scheme with Aman,” Magsalos said, referring to another investment scam that duped thousands of people in Mindanao of an estimated P12 billion. (John Roson)

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Lanao del Sur brgy. chair nabbed in Laguna drug bust

Anti-narcotics agents arrested a barangay chairman of Lanao del Sur and his two companions for selling shabu, during an entrapment operation in San Pedro, Laguna, authorities said Saturday.

Salpoden Mampao, chairman of Brgy. Mapoling, Lumba-Bayabao, was arrested inside a popular fast food chain outlet along the National Highway in Brgy. Nueva, on Monday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Arturo Cacdac said.

Also arrested were Mampao’s companions Matuan Badong, 22, and Jalal Rinanandang, 28, both residents of San Lorenzo Village, Brgy. Balibago, Sta. Rosa City.

“An undercover agent was able to hatch a drug transaction with Mampao, who agreed to rendezvous inside a restaurant,” Cacdac said in a statement.

Members of the PDEA Regional Office 4A and policemen seized Mampao and his companions after they received the marked P500 bill in exchange for two sachets with 10 grams of shabu worth P20,000, Cacdac said.

The operatives also confiscated two loaded caliber-.45 pistols, a caliber-.38 revolver, and a sports utility vehicle from the suspects.

Another companion of Mampao, identified only as a certain Nasser Afdal, was able escape.

Charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are now being prepared against the 28-year-old Mampao and his companions. (John Roson)

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Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah member killed in Marawi

An Indonesian believed to be a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) was killed during a police-military operation against members of the regional terror network inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, Thursday night.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the suspect was identified only through the aliases Ustadz Sanusi and Ishak.

The suspect, charged with arson and murder, was shot during a commotion that ensued from the operation in Barrio Salam. He was brought to the Amai Pakpak Hospital but died later, Caber said.

“Namatay siya (suspect) sa hospital, meron siyang isang tama… hindi natin malaman pa kung sino ang nakabaril kasi nagkaroon ng commotion,” the regional Army spokesman said in a phone interview.

Caber said members of the 103rd Infantry Brigade and PNP Special Action Force (SAF) were sent to the MSU compound to arrest seven alleged JI personalities, including alias Ustadz Sanusi.

The warrant of arrest for was issued by 11th Judicial Region RTC Judge Oscar Noel Jr. of Saranggani, Caber said.

A SAF member was wounded when he fell from a building during the short pursuit. Policemen recovered a hand grenade and M16 rifle from alias Ustadz Sanusi, Caber said. (John Roson)

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15 provinces under election watchlist

Authorities have placed 15 provinces placed under a watchlist for possible violence in the upcoming midterm elections, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said.

In a press briefing, Roxas identified the provinces as Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.

The provinces, which are home to intense political rivalry, history of armed violence, loose firearms, and private armed groups, are like a “powder keg,” Roxas told reporters.

“Ang mga ito ang may pinaka-high risk na magkaroon ng karahasan,” he said.

More cops on duty, jails checked

Roxas said police task forces will be sent to each of the provinces to help policemen already assigned there in securing the elections.

Police officials that have relatives or classmates who will run for posts in those provinces will be transferred to other areas.

Roxas said jails in the 15 provinces will also undergo a “judicial audit” so authorities can keep tabs of prisoners during the election period.

“Ito’y dahil madalas sinasabi na ang mga preso pinapalabas para gumawa ng karahasan tapos ipapasok lang uli,” he said.

‘The heat is on’

Meanwhile, Roxas said police have already recorded 35 election-related incidents nationwide, including the 15 watchlisted provinces.

“Ngayon pa lang nagkakainitan na,” he said.

In Maguindanao alone, six government officials have already been killed and at four private armed groups were monitored, Deputy Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima, commander of the national police’s election Task Force SAFE, said.

Eighty-five barangays in the province are affected by “threat groups,” Purisima said.

Roxas said 60 active and 47 “potential” private armed groups are being monitored nationwide.

There are 25,065 “loose firearms,” or those in the hands of criminals and rebels, while there are 552,338 firearms whose licenses have not been renewed, he said.

“Kabilang ang mga ito sa mga baril na maaring magamit sa halalan,” he said.

MILF help welcome

Meanwhile, Roxas said he is “open” to suggestions that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which just signed a “framework” peace agreement with the government, be tapped to help secure the elections.

However, Roxas said he still has to consult Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Teresita Deles and chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen on the matter.

“You have to understand that there’s also been years of mistrust, gaps, but this could be a good confidence-building measure,” he said. (John Roson)

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2 drown, 1 missing in Mindanao floods

Two people drowned while another is still missing as flash floods caused by a low-pressure area (LPA) hit several areas in Western, Central, and Southern Mindanao, authorities said.

Ruel Aling, 22, and Zosito Andamon, 28, drowned when floods hit Sta. Cruz and Digos City, Davao del Sur, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Authorities are searching for Arjay Javier, who went missing after jumping into a river in Makilala, North Cotabato, which had strong water current caused by heavy rains.

The 17-year-old Javier was reportedly drunk on Sunday afternoon when he jumped into the river and was carried away by the strong current, the NDRRMC said.

Rains brought by the LPA also hit Davao del Sur on Sunday night, causing the Sibulan River in Sta. Cruz to overflow. Waters from the river flooded Brgys. Darong, Sibulan, and Astorga.

Floods also struck 21 barangays in Sultan Kudarat and Buldon, both of Maguindanao, as well as Brgy. Poblacion in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, the NDRRMC said.

“Waist-deep floods and strong winds occurred in these areas, causing passengers to be stranded for few hours,” NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said.

The latest flooding occurred in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay, around 4 a.m. Monday.

The continuous heavy rainfall brought by the LPA and Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone caused the water level at the Sibuguey Valley River to rise, according Ramos.

Waters from the swollen river caused floods in Brgys. Poblacion, Balugo, Sta. Barbara, San Jose, La Victoria, Gandiangan, Lumpanac, and Lower Baluran, he said.

Some 250 families from Brgy. Poblacion were evacuated to higher ground and took shelter at a “bagsakan center,” while the affected residents of the other barangays opted to stay with relatives, Ramos said. (John Roson)

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Kidnapped teachers freed in Lanao del Sur

Kidnappers freed public school teachers Rene Sumagang and Serfino Sanchez of Iligan City in Kapai, Lanao del Sur, on Sunday night but no ransom was paid, a military spokesman said Monday.

Sumagang and Sanchez were turned over by their captors to Tagoloan II Mayor Mizangcad Capal at the old barangay center of Kapai around 7:20 p.m., Army 1st Infantry Division spokesman Capt. Albert Caber said.

“The two were personally handed over by Mangagao Elias alias Ayatullah, leader of the 9-man kidnap-for-ransom group,” Caber said in a text message.

“The kidnappers decided to release their captives after sensing a big number of operating troops in the area,” he said.

Sumagang and Sanchez, both teachers at the Limonsudan Bayug Falls Elementary School, were kidnapped on March 19 in Sitio Kibulag, Brgy. Rogongon, Iligan City.

Elias and his men, alleged extortionists and cattle rustlers, had demanded P4 million in exchange for the teachers’ release. They also threatened to burn down their captives’ school in Brgy. Rogongon if no payment was made.

However, Caber said no ransom was paid as Lanao del Sur Gov. Bombit Adiong Jr., along with military and police officials, “exerted pressure” on the kidnappers.

After their release, Sumagang and Sanchez underwent medical checks and debriefing before being turned over to Iligan City Mayor lawrence Cruz and their families. (John Roson)

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Lanao drug bust leads to shootout: 1 killed, 3 hurt

A drug bust in Wao, Lanao del Sur, resulted to shoot-out Monday morning, killing one suspect and wounding three others, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Tuesday.

Jose Gutierrez, PDEA chief, said the fatality was identified only as a certain Mike while those wounded were Baulo Ontawar, Tochi Cagas, and an alias Ulo.

Three other “drug personalities,” identified as Minda Ontawar alias Inang, Kadaffy Mimbalawag, and Bocari Abubakar, were arrested after the 15-minute gunbattle in Brgy. Kili-kili, Gutierrez said in a statement.

Members of PDEA’s Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Office and the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion were conducting a buy-bust operation when collaborators of the targets engaged the operatives in a firefight, he said.

The barangay is considered as an “untouchable area” in Lanao del Sur because of the existence of private armed groups there, Gutierrez said. (John Roson)

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8 dead, 11 hurt in fresh attacks; MILF denies involvement

Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members staged three attacks in Basilan, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay on Saturday and Sunday, leaving at least eight people killed and 11 others injured, but the rebel group denied having any hand on the incidents.

Rubber tappers strafed

Around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, rubber tappers of the Tumahubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc. Dev’t. Cooperative (TARBIDC) and some militiamen were ambushed at Sitio Along-Along between Brgys. Upper and Sapah Bulak in Sumisip, Basilan, Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said.

Civilians Renato Aligay, Junrel Langugon, Delord Johnson, Buenaventura Lugamay, and Fernando Tantalo, an “off-duty” Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) member, got killed in the attack, Ortiz said in a text message.

Eight others, identified as Alfredo Rojas, Danilo Tonghay, Adzar Madjakin, Abdul Mot, Julibert Dingkong, Francisco Taklindo, and CAA members Gilbert Guevara and Bonifacio Dagodog Jr., were injured, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said in a separate message.

Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc, said the Army headquarters has received information that the fatalities may have risen to six.

The attack was allegedly carried out by some 40 MILF members led by Hassan Asnawi, Ortiz and Cabangbang said.

“Nakasakay sila (rubber tappers and militiamen) sa isang TARBIDC-owned truck nang pagbabarilin nitong mga armado ‘yung sasakyan, that is clearly not a military target,” Cabunoc said.

2 soldiers killed in Lanao ambush

Meanwhile, Ortiz said two soldiers got killed while three others, including an Army captain, were injured when their convoy was ambushed by “suspected MILF” members in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, around 11 a.m.

Cabunoc said the Army headquarters has yet to recieve the names of the fatalities, but those injured included a certain Capt. Barns who is in “critical condition.”

The convoy of 5th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Bagnus Gaerlan was fired upon by about five armed men while it was passing through Brgy. Payong.

Those killed and injured were on a KM450 military truck while Gaerlan, who was unharmed, was on a civilian vehicle, Cabunoc said.

“Colonel Gaerlan was on his way to facilitate the surrender of two MILF members. It is still unknown who did the ambush, but MILF forces are frequently seen in that area,” Cabunoc said.

Armed men seize 2 schools

On Saturday, around 120 “alleged lawless elements” of the MILF stormed a village in Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and occupied two schools there after clashing with militiamen, police said.

Director Felicisimo Khu, head of the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, said the lawless elements encountered Civilian Volunteer Organization members (CVO) in Brgy. Samonte around 2:30 p.m.

The armed men occupied the elementary school in the barangay while the CVO members withdrew towards Brgy. Cawilan after seeing they were outnumbered, Khu said in a text message late Saturday.

Chief Supt. Elpidio de Asis, Zamboanga Peninsula regional police director, said policemen were sent to the area around 5 p.m. to check on the presence of “alleged MILF lawless elements led by a certain commander Said.”

The group occupied and destroyed parts of the elementary school, took two large cattle, and other properties of residents there, De Asis said in a text message Sunday, citing field reports.

The armed men later moved towards the boundary of Brgys. Moalboal and Matim and were last monitored in an abandoned elementary school in Brgy. Bolingan, he said.

MILF denies attacks

Von Al-Haq, the MILF’s spokesman for military affairs, said in a phone interview that the rebel group did not stage the ambushes in Basilan and Lanao del Norte, as well as the occupation of schools in Zamboanga Sibugay.

“Hindi mga MILF ‘yun sa Basilan na pumatay sa plantation workers at sa Sibugay sapagkat kahapon may kautusan na, na hindi magsasagawa ng
atake at ambush,” Al-Haq told reporters.

The order was issued by the chief of staff of the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces on Saturday morning, he said.

Pursuit launched

A company of Scout Rangers, or about 100 soldiers, have been sent to pursue the ambushers in Basilan while Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 104th Brigade, sent a platoon to chase the attackers in Lanao del Norte, Cabunoc said.

“A pursuit was launched because according to the GRP-MILF ceasefire agreement, there is no ‘area of temporary stay’ of the MILF in those places. We call these ambushers bandits,” Cabunoc said.

“Walang ‘area of temporary stay’ ang MILF doon (sa Sultan Naga Dimaporo), ang pinakamalapit na ATS ay nasa Butig, Lanao del Sur… Kung mapapatunayan na MILF itong mga nang-ambush, this is a clear ceasefire violation,” Cabunoc said.

Meanwhile, members of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion are now in Talusan to help policemen pursue the armed men. “Wala ring ‘area of temporary stay’ ang MILF sa lugar na yan,” Cabunoc said.

The attacks occurred just two days after members of the MILF staged ambuscades that killed five soldiers and three policemen, including two officers, in Zamboanga Sibugay mainland’s Alicia and Kabasalan towns.

The MILF owned up to those earlier attacks, saying these were in retaliation for the military and police operations against its 113rd Base Command in Payao town.

Military and police officials said the “law enforcement operations” were not aimed at the MILF, but against Waning Abdusalam, the alleged leader of a kidnap-for-ransom group.

On October 18, a total of 19 soldiers, including four Army lieutenants, died in a clash with members of the MILF’s 114th Base Command in Al Barka, Basilan. The rebel group said the soldiers “encroached” its territory and attacked its forces, a claim which the military strongly denied. (John Roson)

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3 soldiers killed, 3 hurt in Lanao ambush

see update: 8 dead, 11 hurt in fresh attacks; MILF denies involvement

Three soldiers got killed while three others, including an Army captain, were injured when thier convoy was ambushed by still unidentified armed men in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, Sunday morning, the military said.

Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said they have yet to recieve the names of the fatalities, but those injured included a certain Capt. Barnes who is in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. while the convoy of 5th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Bagnus Gaerlan was passing through Brgy Payong.

Those killed and injured were riding a KM450 military truck while Gaerlan, who was riding a civilian vehicle, is unharmed, Cabunoc said in a phone interview, citing field reports reaching the Army headquarters.

“Colonel Gaerlan was on his way to facilitate the surrender of two MILF members. It is still unknown who did the ambush, but MILF forces are frequently seen in that area,” Cabunoc said.

Colonel Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 104th Brigade, sent reinforcements to pursue the attackers.

“Walang ‘area of temporary stay’ ang MILF doon, ang pinakamalapit na ATS ay nasa Butig, Lanao del Sur… Kung mapapatunayan na MILF itong mga nang-ambush, this is a clear ceasefire violation,” Cabunoc said. (John Roson)

see update: 8 dead, 11 hurt in fresh attacks; MILF denies involvement

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