News Updates - 10 November 2009 (Tuesday)

4 cops killed in NPA ambush
By Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
Malaya – www.malaya.com.ph
Tuesday, November 10, 2009


FOUR policemen died and four others were injured when a responding police vehicle ran over a landmine planted by communist rebels in Bulan, Sorsogon yesterday morning.

The military said a New People’s Army rebel was also killed in an ensuing firefight.

Reports reaching Chief Supt. Ruben Padua, Bicol region police director, identified the fatalities as Senior Insp. Jerson de Leon, the team leader, and SPO1 Joson Gerola, PO2 Darwin Detoito, and PO1 Ryan Padruique.

Injured were Police Officers 1 Guamos, Allen Lanuza, Alvin Baldonado and George Jordan.

The casualties are members of the 509th Police Provincial Mobile Group based in Bulan town.

Padua said the incident happened at around 11:30 a.m. when the team led by De Leon responded to a call regarding an alleged robbery in Barangay Antipolo.

Upon reaching a road in Barangay Antipolo, the responding team’s vehicle ran over a landmine planted by the rebels.

The still undetermined number of rebels also fired at the responding team’s vehicle. The policemen managed to return fire.

The communist rebels scampered in different directions after they sensed the arrival of government reinforcements, police said.

Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, chief of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, said the fatalities and the wounded were recovered by responding troops from the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion.

Quoting from a report from the Army’s 903rd Brigade, Detabali said the rebels had also set up a checkpoint at the nearby Del Pilar village.

After receipt of the information, Detabali sent troops from the 49th IB who found the slain police personnel along with two other policemen injured.

Also found in the area were four M16 rifles, apparently owned by the policemen; a patrol car which Detabali said was damaged by an improvised explosive device; and four unexploded improvised bombs.

Sorsogon is a known bailiwick of the NPA which President Arroyo wants defeated before her term ends in June next year. Latest military estimates placed the NPA’s strength at more than 4,000.


Rights training for Tagum youth sector
By Mick Basa
Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

DAVAO CITY – At least 19 young representatives from the different villages of Tagum City are being trained to become members of the Children’s Rights Speakers’ Bureau (CRSB).

This was recently disclosed by city executive assistant Delia dela Cruz as the city is gearing up to organize a group composed of young individuals that are articulate of their rights and responsibilities.

“We cannot expect anybody to be effective if he or she does not know his or her roles and their responsibilities,” Dela Cruz said.

The young representatives convened last month in a seminar-workshop to gain knowledge on effective communication and leadership aside from orienting them of their rights as enshrined under the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The seminar-workshop, in preparation for the creation of the Child Rights Speakers’ Bureau, is part of the city’s aim to come up with the four gifts for children, namely, the Local Development Plan for Children, Local Investment Plan for Children, Local Code on Children, and the Local State of Children’s Report.

The team is expected to involve resolving children’s concern at the grassroots level as they were briefed on the functions of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).


Dutch solons raise Joma’s rights with ministers
By Michaela P. del Callar
The Daily Tribune – www.tribune.net.ph
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Five members of the Dutch Senate, who belong to various major parties, raised last week questions aimed at upholding the rule of law and the rights of exiled Filipino communist leader Jose Ma. Sison.

The members of the Dutch First Chamber are Ms. M. H. A. Strik (Groen Links), Ms. M. Westerveld (Partij van de Arbeid ), H. Franken (Christen Democratisch Appel), Ms. A. C. Quik-Schuijt (Socialist Party) and J. W. M. Engels (D 66).

Addressing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the State Secretary of Justice and the Minister of Social Affairs and Work Opportunity, they sought clarification on the government
policy toward Sison after a European court declared null the terrorist tag that was laid on him.

The lawmakers also inquired if higher appeal is being considered against this judgment and asked the position of the Dutch government is on the matter and whether it is planning to place Sison in the terror list again.

At the same time, they questioned the Dutch government’s decision not to grant Sison a residence permit.

“Is it just that the concerned cannot be expelled from The Netherlands and yet every assistance for basic needs for survival is denied him?” the lawmakers said.

Non-government organization International Defend Committee expressed hope that the questions raised by the lawmakers will encourage the Dutch government “to respect and give due course” to the Sept. 30, 2009 judgment of the European Court of First Instance in favor of Sison against the Council of the European Union (EU), for unjustly putting him on the union’s terrorist blacklist.

“We call on the Dutch government to desist from becoming a party to the filing of a frivolous appeal by the Council of the EU or be responsible for any other undertaking to prevent and delay the justice that Sison deserves. We urge the Dutch government to allow Prof. Sison to enjoy his fundamental rights and live a normal life in The Netherlands.

“We hope that the Dutch government will heed the just purpose of the questions from the broad nonpartisan array of senators, including members of parties in the ruling coalition as well as those in the opposition,” the group said,” the group said in a statement from The Netherlands.

The Dutch Senate plays a major role in scrutinizing the actions of the government as statements made by government ministers in debates carry weight in future lawsuits. The members of its Senate can also elicit undertakings from ministers about the implementation of a law.

Sison, who is in self-exile in Utrecht, was earlier listed by the EU, the Philippine, Canadian and US governments as a terrorist and his communist group’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), as a terrorist organization.

The leaders of the communist rebel movement insist on their removal from the EU list as a precondition to their agreeing to resume the stalled peace talks with the Philippine government.

The terrorist label has prompted the Dutch government and other EU countries to freeze Sison’s bank accounts and cut off all social benefits he enjoyed since his arrival in The Netherlands.

The NPA has been waging an armed rebellion against the Philippine government for 39 years.