August 2007 – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

Alivio confirms aircraft were recalled

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

Malacañang wants him restricted and gagged

by Ellen Tordesillas and Victor Reyes

The former Marine commander in Basilan yesterday confirmed that “someone” recalled the aircraft which were supposed to provide support for the Marines who clashed with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Al-Barka, Basilan last July 10.

Fourteen Marines died, with 10 of them found beheaded and mutilated the following day.

The confirmation by Col. Ramiro Alivio, who was relieved as commander of the 1st Marine Brigade Wednesday, is contained in his After Battle Report.

Revival of “Hello Garci” destabilizing:Malacañang

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

Update: Six senators in the mongrel majority join minority to push for reopening of “Hello Garci”.

by Regina Bengco

Malacañang yesterday said the revival of the investigation on the “Hello Garci” scandal that Sen. Panfilo Lacson is calling is “in aid of destabilization” and in aid of Lacson’s presidential ambition in 2010.

Apostol said he does not believe that the Senate probe is meant to improve the electoral process, saying it is “just a front so Senator Lacson could have a good publicity.”

“That’s in aid of destabilization, because he will run for president in 2010. (It is) as simple as that,” said chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol.

‘Let Trillanes Serve’ campaign launched

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

by Ashzel Hachero

Civil society groups and the opposition formally launched on Thursday morning the nationwide campaign to “pressure” the government to allow detained senator Antonio Trillanes IV to perform his duties as a lawmaker.

Together in trials and tribulations

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

To protest the “incompe-tence” of the military leadership that led to the deaths of 14 of their colleagues in Albarkha, Basilan last July 10, the Marine officers detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay shaved their heads.

A month after, it was the turn of the Philippine Army. Twenty-five killed in just one day in the fighting in Sulu, the highest casualty in the recent history of the Philippine military. Two weeks after, it was again the turn of the Marines. Last Saturday, 15 of them died in an uphill assault to take over an Abu Sayyaf camp in Ungkawa Pukan in Basilan.

Look at what happens when you wake up sleeping dogs

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

Basilan Marines commander relieved

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

The commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, Col. Ramiro Alivio, was relieved of his duties for staying in his headquarters while Marines clashed with around 80 Abu Sayyaf forces in Ungkawa Pukan town, Basilan last Aug.18.

AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Alivio’s relief was the decision of the Board of Generals.

Col. Rustico Guerrero, former chief of the Marine Corps Training Center based at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, took over Alivio’s post in simple rites at the 1st Marine Brigade headquarters in Isabela City yesterday.

Hamon kay Sarmiento

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

Tingnan nga natin kung ano ang gagawin ni Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento sa panibagong paglitaw ni Master Sergeant Vidal Doble, ang sundalo na kasama sa pag-tape ng usapan ni Gloria Arroyo at dating Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Noong nabuking siya doon sa Iligan nang nakaraang eleksyon na kinakampihan ang mga election operators ni Garcillano na gumagawa na naman ng milagro, sabi niya paimbistigahan raw niya ulit ang Hello Garci scandal para raw malinis ang Comelec.

Wala namang nangyari. Kasama pa siya doon sa pag-protekta kay Lintang Bedol, ang nagbigay kay Migz Zubiri ng pagka-senador, na prominenteng nabanggit sa Hello Garci tapes.

Ping revisits “Garci”; Isafp agent ‘sings’

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2007

by JP Lopez

A former military intelligence agent, allegedly the source of the “Hello Garci” wiretapped conversations, has resurfaced two years after the scandal rocked the country and almost toppled the Arroyo administration.

Former T/Sgt. Vidal Doble of the Intelligence Services of the AFP (Isafp) appeared in a videotape played by Sen. Panfilo Lacson during a privilege speech at the Senate yesterday.Doble first came into the scene in 2005 when Samuel Ong, former NBI deputy director for intelligence, claimed he had the “master of all tapes” of the recorded conversations between President Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano who is alleged to have spearheaded cheating in May 2004 to ensure Arroyo’s victory.

The Akbar connection

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2007

My column last Monday on the lessons the government has not learned from the 2001 Lamitan tragedy elicited a number of comments, giving more information about the connivance among the bandits, local politicians and military officials.

In last Monday’s piece, a line in the June 1, 2001 incident After Battle Report which I quoted was unintentionally deleted. It should read:

“Capt. Guinolbay also went about soliciting the help of every soldier and policemen he could find to help solve the problem by being deployed around the compound. It is worth mentioning that during the crisis, there were a lot of policemen and soldiers at the mayor’s residence that were called upon by Capt. Guinolbay but didn’t lift a finger. The governor of the province was also at the mayor’s residence at that time but neither of the executives came out to help or at least look at what was happening outside.”

Slain Marines ‘not sitting ducks’–commander

Published by Ellen on August 20, 2007

‘Troops not on test mission’

Update: General walks out of press conference; junior marine officers explain “test mission”.

By Joel Guinto

The Marine ground commander in Basilan denied observations that the 15 troops slain in a clash with Abu Sayyaf fighters on Saturday were mowed down like “sitting ducks.”

In a phone interview, Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, commander of Joint Task Force Thunder, said the fatalities, who included four young lieutenants fresh from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), “knew what they were doing” and were guided by veterans of the Basilan pursuit.

Month: August 2007