Clashes ‘won’t demoralize military’

Monday, October 24, 2011
MANILA — The government is optimistic that there will be no demoralization within the military ranks following the deaths of 19 soldiers in Basilan last Tuesday and the series of attacks in other areas in Mindanao that target troops.
Gunmen believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) killed last Tuesday 19 soldiers in a fierce encounter in Al-Barka town, Basilan. The attack was followed by a series of clashes in the same province, as well as in Zamboanga Sibugay and Lanao del Norte.
The series of violent events has complicated already-shaky peace talks between the government and the MILF, the largest of at least four insurgent groups fighting for Muslim self-rule in Mindanao.
The AFP blamed the MILF for the attacks, and some lawmakers have called for a military solution to the clashes.
Several senior military officers, however, were reportedly disappointed with President Benigno Aquino III for supposedly blaming the military for the Basilan clash during the command conference he presided over last Friday.
But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Sunday that Aquino is not blaming the AFP and the Palace continues to honor the memory of the fallen men in uniform.
“Make no mistake about it (that the morale of the military remains high). We are all sad about what happened and we honor the memory of those killed in the clash,” Valte said.
She said the Palace has not received any report of widespread demoralization in the Armed Forces.
But a former Military Ordinariate believes Aquino’s erroneous statements have further degraded the morale of the AFP.
“I think our soldiers now have low morale because they see that they don’t get the backing of their Chief Executive and they don’t feel that they are being protected by their higher ups,” said Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon Arguelles.
Earlier, Aquino said he is not keen on pursuing an all-out war against the MILF and, instead, wants the continuation of peace talks.
He also sought for a deeper probe in the clash Tuesday last week.
Sans the probe, however, Aquino already ordered the relief of Colonel Antonio Parlade Jr. as Army spokesman and Colonel Alex Macario as head of the Special Operations Task Force Basilan.
Parlade was reportedly relieved due to his statement pushing for the suspension of the ceasefire with the MILF on the heels of the deadly clash, while Macario was ordered replaced for allegedly committing “operational lapses”.
If it were him, Arguelles said he would have opted to give the soldiers a chance to defend themselves in pursuit of justice.
“Sana hindi na lang siya nagsalita ng ganun na walang all-out war. Sana ang sinabi niya is we will try to avoid war pero siyempre they have to defend themselves (He could have said that he will try to avoid an all-out war, but, of course, they have to defense themselves),” the prelate said.
“To declare it na no all-out war is parang iniiwan mo na yung mga sundalo to themselves,” Arguelles added.
But Valte said while the President remained adamant on not declaring an all out-war against the MILF, he ordered to pursue lawless elements.
“The President has already given the order to go after the lawless elements and the stern warning of the President is that for anybody helping or coddling the lawless elements, they will also be captured. You will also be considered enemies of the state,” she said.
On Sunday, armed men killed four plantation workers and a militiaman and wounded eight other civilians in an ambush in Sumisip town, Basilan, Army chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz said, adding MILF rebels were the main suspects in the attack.
Suspected Moro rebels also ambushed troops in Lanao del Norte province Sunday, killing two soldiers and wounding four others. The military earlier reported that three soldiers had died in the attack in Lanao del Norte’s Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, but later clarified that one soldier was still fighting for his life in a hospital.
In a third attack, about 80 to 120 suspected Moro rebels, apparently starving, ransacked stores and stole poultry and water buffaloes in remote Talusan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province Saturday then withdrew to an abandoned school in a mountainous outskirts of the town, said Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc.
The rebels left the school before government troops arrived in the area, Cabunoc said.
Zamboanga Sibugay police chief Ruben Carriaga said the rebels may have staged the attacks in Talusan to divert the attention of military and police forces that have surrounded a separate group of 80 Moro rebels and outlaws in the nearby town of Payao.
Police wanted to arrest seven of the gunmen in Payao for various crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, but they resisted and have been sporadically clashing with government forces in recent days, Carriaga said.
Rebel spokesman Von Al Haq said MILF men had nothing to do with the attacks in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay. He said he was trying to verify if his comrades staged the Lanao del Norte assault.
The rebel group ordered all its fighters Saturday to halt all assaults, he said.
“Our men will maintain ceasefire positions unless they are provoked,” Al Haq said Sunday.
Al Haq’s group claimed responsibility for the killing of the 19 soldiers in Basilan last Tuesday that also left six rebels dead. The rebels were also responsible for attacks that left seven policemen and soldiers in Zamboanga Sibugay province late Thursday, he said.
With the fresh attacks, the Provincial Government of nearby Zamboanga del Sur formulated Friday a contingency plan to avert similar incidents.
Governor Antonio Cerilles convened the Provincial Peace and Order Council to discuss the plan.
Zamboanga del Sur police director Jose Bayani Gucela said Sunday that the province’s territorial defense was strengthened.
Gucela said checkpoints jointly manned by policemen and soldiers, who were deployed as reinforcement to his command, were also established.
Lanao del Sur Representative Pangalian Balindong, however, called Sunday for maturity, responsibility, and reason in the aftermath of armed clashes between government troops and Moro rebels, saying the public should “remain vigilant against anyone or any group who would take advantage of the situation to sow more fear and disorder.”
Although Balindong called the Basilan clash “an outrage that should be met with unreserved condemnation,” he said pursuit operations must be “against lawless elements, but not against the MILF.”
“We must say no to total war in Mindanao. To wage ‘total’ war is by definition to take huge numbers of innocent lives — and perpetuate the cycle of senseless violence, death, and destruction,” he said.
President Aquino earlier vowed to continue efforts to arrest militants, including those from the main Moro group, who have committed crimes.
Amid reports of apparent demoralized state of the military, Aquino ordered the release of P10 billion to purchase new equipment and aircrafts for the AFP as part of their modernization program.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said his office is preparing for the special allotment release orders (Saro) that will be charged against the 2010 and 2011 appropriations amounting to P5 billion each.
Abad said the P5-billion fund for 2010 will be used to equip the Philippine Army with 14 armored personnel carrier, 272 20-man pack radios and 3,480 force protection which totals to P1.4 billion.
The Philippine Navy will also procure one strategic sealift vessel that costs P2 billion, while the Philippine Air Force targets to acquire one special mission aircraft and two light lift aircraft amounting to P1.6 billion.
The 2011 budget, meanwhile, will be used to purchase vehicles for civil military operations, health services and disaster response activities, among others, said the budget chief.
The Philippine Army will purchase 32 five-ton dump trucks and 55 special purpose vehicles, while the Philippine Air Force will purchase two search-and-rescue helicopters, 30 special purpose vehicles and 15 amphibian vehicles.
The AFP is also planning to purchase weapons and communication equipment, such as for the Philippine Army — 1,376 handheld radios, 210 AV configuration radios and 100 base radios, as well as 150 mortars (60mm); and for the Philippine Air Force — 78 units of audio-video equipment, 160 portable radio receivers, 100 sniper rifle systems and 2,000 standard weapons systems.
“Our President is committed to bring just and lasting peace for the country by bringing all armed conflict to a permanent and peaceful end. One way to achieve this is to ensure an immediate upgrade in our soldiers who are a key factor in achieving peace,” Abad said.
He said the acquisition list, to be funded by the AFP Modernization Program, was based on a review and updating of operational requirements demanded by regional security developments.
Valte said the P10-billion fund for the AFP modernization has nothing to do with the deaths of 19 soldiers.
“This is something that was already in the works,” she said.
President Aquino earlier instructed the release of a total of P5.32 billion, charged against the Malampaya Fund, to beef-up AFP’s territorial defense capabilities, including the purchase of a USS Hamilton-class cutter.
With the funds allotted to the AFP modernization program, the military has been required to submit a comprehensive report on its implementation status. (Jill Beltran/AMN/Jonathan de Santos/Bong Garcia/AP/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/10/24/clashes-wont-demoralize-military-186707

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila

Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Clark Wine Center

Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building

Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,

Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars

Manila Sales Office

3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,

Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com

Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

Looking for a restaurant in Clark for a Business meeting? Or a place to eat with friends? Yats Restaurant offers exclusive dinner venue for groups, a good place to celebrate special occasions, it can be a party venue in town. Yats Restaurant is a recommended restaurant for private dinner in Philippines, a well-recognized restaurant that serves good food and good wines for dinner.

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

www.YatsRestaurant.com
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.

www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com