Froilan Gallardo

Marines failed to notify ceasefire teams before entering MILF town in Basilan

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/2 Aug) – The Philippine Marines failed to notify the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front ceasefire coordinating teams when they blundered their way in barangay Guinanta, Al-Barkah town in Basilan, in search of the kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi. This was contained in the 14-page report made by a fact-finding team composed of government and MILF probers who submitted the documents to government and MILF chief peace negotiators Rodolfo Garcia and Mohagher Iqbal this morning. [read on]

Abu Sayyaf, not MILF, beheaded Marines, probers say

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/2 Aug) – The battleground in barangay Guinanta, Al-Barkah town last July 10 was so “chaotic” that 14 alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf managed to slip through and beheaded the fallen Philippine Marines.

The joint fact-finding team of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ceasefire coordinating teams have identified four of the suspects and have recommended the formation of a joint task force to hunt them.

“We have eyewitnesses who testified seeing the suspects entering the area when the MILF withdrew its forces,” Von Al Haq, chief of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, said. [read on]

Gonzales recommends one-day extension for Basilan probe

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/31 July) — Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said he will recommend to President Arroyo to grant the request of the Joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) for a 24-hour extension of the deadline for them to report on their findings in Basilan. “We are doing everything by the book here. I think it is wise to wait for the results of the fact-finding investigation,” Gonzales told reporters here soon as he arrived from Basilan where police officials briefed him about the attempt to arrest the suspects. [read on]

Police serving warrants in Basilan found empty houses and deserted camps

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/31 July) –  Policemen went to Al Barkah town in Basilan province today to serve the arrest warrants for 127 identified Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and Abu Sayyaf rebels believed responsible for the beheading of Philippine Marines last July 10. [read on]