MILITARY BLOTTER

May 28: Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a policeman in Jolo, Sulu. The victim was identified as a certain PO2 Nadir Abbas, who was assigned with the 1514th Police Mobile Group. A belated military report said Abbas while on marketing together with his wife was shot to death by unidentified perpetrators at Hadji Butu Street in Jolo town. Captain Jose Ritche Pabilonia, Southern Command information chief, said the suspects withdrew towards unknown direction. Motive of the incident remains unknown and under investigation.

May 28: Villagers found a cache of explosives in a complex in Misamis Oriental. Captain Pabilonia said the explosives, including seven rounds of 60MM mortar and one landmine, were recovered at Dampalan area, Malindang town. Recovered items were turned-over to the detachment commander of the Army’s 13th MO CAA Coy base at Barangay Buenavista, Bonifacio. Pabilonia said the landmine may be use for ambush plot on AFP troops and the use of landmine is prohibited under International Humanitarian Law, which was further strengthen by the OTTAWA Treaty.

May 28: Three unidentified gunmen shot and killed two persons in Parang, Maguindanao. The victims were identified as a certain Abonita Dagalangit and Maru Buri. They were killed at a public market. Captain Pabilonia said a squad of troops backed by policemen rushed to the crime scene and caught up with the suspects. One of the gunmen escaped but two of them were wounded and taken to Cotabato City Hospital.

May 28: Ten New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered and yielded firearms to the military in Malita, Davao del Sur. The communist surrenderees, all residents of Sitios Kigulay and Namunga in Barangay Danwata, surrendered to 66th Infantry Battalion. They were identified as Galsa Malon, Modesto Bago, Pepito Toceok, Danny Tago, Baldo Anyong, Kapia Macatunao, Amado Mangulayan, Bulag Lumbaran, Luis Calibay, and Pangalawan Kalibay. Firearms yielded by the NPA rebels were pieces of 12 gauge shotgun, one carbine, cal. 38 pistol, 15 rounds of shotgun ammos and 1 magazine.

May 29: Two persons were killed following an attack in a remote village in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur. Captain Pabilonia said more or less 30 fully armed men equipped with two rocket propelled grenades and assorted high powered firearms led by Camel Lao also known as Robin harassed the group of Ramsey or Maulana group at Barangay (village) Butitian. Two followers of Lao were killed identified as Muhaymen Sulayman and Jun Lesondra. One M16 rifle with attached M203 and two Improvised Explosive Device were recovered from them. Captain Pabilonia said the body of the slain victims was turned-over to their relatives with the presence of village officials in the area. One platoon of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion was deployed to the area and a gun running battle ensued where two followers of Lao were killed. Troops are still in the area conducting pursuit and combat clearing operations.

(Summary from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command Headquarters, Command Information Office’s Incident Report as of May 29, 2006)