Philippines War on ISIS, Abu Sayaf, Maute: News & Discussions

[Beast]

Just wish nothing happens to china but if you think everything is fine in PRC. My friend I think you are wrong

The wrong is you. China is on the correct track. Why not you look at your own country and compare to China? I guess 99% of the countries are more wrong than China including USA. Are you saying UK, France and Germany with constant terrorist attack and a declining society and economy is progressing better than China?

You are living in delusion. Facts speak for itself. Tell me which country you from Thailand or Pakistan? Are you telling me both countries now are better off than China?

 

[batmannow]

The wrong is you. China is on the correct track. Why not you look at your own country and compare to China? I guess 99% of the countries are more wrong than China including USA. Are you saying UK, France and Germany with constant terrorist attack and a declining society and economy is progressing better than China?

You are living in delusion. Facts speak for itself. Tell me which country you from Thailand or Pakistan? Are you telling me both countries now are better off than China?

I think you are just blinded by unmature patriotism , there is a problem in china , & it needs to be resolved ?
that's the bottom line , but if you think that china is the perfect country on earth sorry you are wrong , with all the ills in the western democracies still they have the highest independence of a individual personal freedom ?
Which itself not found in any part of china ?
Any kind of political problems in china are all open invitation to its rival secret agencies ?
Which can effect china,s growing power & its economy in long term ?
Russia has showen a lot of political maturness in resolving its decade chechisnian insurgency well , I guss china & philliphines both needs to check russian measures in resolving its political issues .
Well I'm a pakistani , with a thai nationality , my opinions are not bassed of any of countries relations with china instead I really admire china over western powers .

 

[Nike]

out of topic

@Shotgunner51 @ahojunk

 

[Saif al-Arab]

I know several Filipino people (most are Catholics) and KSA hosts one of the largest Filipino diasporas in the world. In recent days I have been asking my Filipino friends about what is going on in Mindanao and they basically gave this answer:

The people who have now become "ISIS" are the same people who not long ago were fighting the Filipino state. They are part of a hardcore minority who not only seek independence from the Philippines but also aim at establishing an Islamic state in their own views.

Basically this recent conflict is part of a much older and larger conflict that has been going on in the Philippines for 50 + years and even before the Spaniards arrived.

All the Muslim-majority areas in Mindanao and Southern Philippines (Philippines is a very diverse country in terms of ethnic groups) and their ethnic groups once (pre-Spaniard rule) had their own sultanates and independent states. When the Spaniards conquered Philippines and after the Spaniards (who helped unite the Philippines into a single entity - afterwards the Americans cemented this) were driven out of the Philippines mass-scale migration from the North towards the Muslim south occurred. At the same time the Muslim Southerners preferred (most of them) the old status quo (independent Muslim states) but that could not happen any longer. From that point on there has been various resistances and political groups (Islamist and non-Islamist) who have been calling for independence. There are however a Muslim autonomous region in Southern Philippines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_Rebellion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Mindanao_and_Sulu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_Region_in_Muslim_Mindanao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_conflict

This is very much a ethnic/political conflict rather than a purely religious one. It is similar to ISIS which represents the radical portion of the marginalized Iraqi Sunni Arab minority who are fighting (while using religion) against the Shia dominated Baghdad government post 2003. To add more recruits from across the world they have fooled their supporters of a "Caliphate" as they know that they would lack any foreign recruits if it was just the usual pre-ISIS Iraqi Sunni Arab/Iraqi Shia Arab dispute that predates the 2003 US invasion.

Similarly we see ISIS branches emerging in Southern Philippines with a similar motive as foreigners (Malaysians and Indonesians) have been reported as taking part in this raid.

Anyway the whole situation shows a really bad picture of the Filipino security and army and how little control they really have of large parts of the South.

Anyway the Filipino authorities should do everything in their power not to marginalize the native Muslims of the South and to prevent the occurring injustices and apologize for past mistakes otherwise real peace will never occur. The only reason why those areas are a part of the Philippines today is due to the Spaniards and Americans (foreigners). I fully understand the grievances of the average Muslim in the Philippines however aiding ISIS will not benefit anyone.

Anyway I wish all the best to the Philippines and their army. Filipinos are great people in general and peaceful coexistence should always be preferred. However such a thing does not happen out of the blue. There are underlining conflicts and reasons for this happening and the Filipinos should solve this and not ignore it or make it even worse. If now, the native Muslims of the South, will be marginalized or targeted due to this reason, it will only create more potential ISIS recruits.

 

[Banglar Bir]

Duterte offers to hire Muslim separatists, Maoists as ‘soldiers’ to fight ISIS-linked militants
30 May, 2017

© Erik de Castro / Reuters

Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte has offered Muslim separatists and Maoists to join the fight against Islamic State-linked militants attempting to gain a foothold in the country. Duterte promised to treat them as soldiers and offered them the “same privileges.”

The leader made the announcement on Saturday while visiting an army base on Jolo Island in Sulu province. Philippine troops are currently battling Abu Sayyaf jihadist militants, who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) on the island.

Read more

Gunmen take priest, churchgoers hostage in Philippines, vow to kill captives
"I will hire you as soldiers - same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas," Duterte said, addressing separatist groups, according to a video released on Sunday, Reuters and local media report.

Duterte made the offer to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which both fight for the independence of the Muslim Moro people, who constitute about 5 percent of the Philippine population.

Both groups have signed numerous deals with the Philippine government since the 1960s, but the agreements have not been fully implemented.

According to the Philippine president, the idea of separatists and troops fighting together against jihadists came from Nur Misuari, the founder and leader of the MNLF. He said that Misuari sent him a letter, saying that MNLF fighters could volunteer to join the fighting in the city of Marawi and other parts of Lanao del Sur province.

Since Tuesday, armed forces have been clashing with Maute jihadists linked to Islamic State who have taken over large parts of the city of Marawi on the island of Mindanao.

He also made a similar offer to the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Duterte asked the Maoists to abandon their guerrilla war and work with the authorities.

Read more
‘I will not listen to others’: Duterte on concerns over martial law
“If this drags on, and you want to join, take your chance with the Republic [of the Philippines],” Duterte said.

There has been no reaction from leaders of the separatist groups so far.

The fighting on Mindanao erupted following a raid on the alleged hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, a head of Abu Sayyaf. In 2014, Hapilon pledged allegiance to IS.

The majority of Marawi’s 200,000 residents have fled, but 2,000 remain trapped in areas controlled by the fighters, Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman for the provincial crisis management committee, said on Sunday, as cited by AFP.

“They want to leave. They are afraid for their safety. Some are running out of food to eat. They fear they will be hit by bullets, by airstrikes,” he said.

Deaths in Marawi have now exceeded 100, with the number including at least 27 civilians and 61 terrorists.
https://www.rt.com/news/390053-duterte-hire-separatists-soldiers/

 

[Shotgunner51]

All posters, stay on topic.

Philippines urges Islamist militants in Marawi to surrender
Published May 30, 2017, 2:17 pm SGT

A Philippine Marines truck speeds away as black smoke billows from burning houses in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on May 30, 2017.PHOTO: AFP

MARAWI, Philippines (AFP) - Philippine authorities on Tuesday (May 30) urged Islamist militants occupying parts of a southern city to surrender for the sake of trapped civilians, as attack helicopters pounded the gunmen's strongholds with rockets.

More than 100 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting, which began on Tuesday last week when gunmen waving black flags of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group rampaged through the mostly Muslim-populated city of Marawi.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across the entire southern region of Mindanao, home to roughly 20 million people, in response to the crisis as he warned that local militant groups were uniting behind ISIS and becoming a major security threat.

But the militants, initially estimated by the defence chief to number just 100, have withstood eight days of intense air assaults and street-to-street combat, prompting the government's surrender calls on Tuesday.

"We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms," military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said on DZBB radio.​

"If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed."​

Asked why the government had issued a surrender call, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said:

"To lessen the damage on the ground, definitely so the civilians will be less affected".​

Up to 2,000 residents are trapped in areas held by the militants, according to the local government, and the International Committee of the Red Cross has voiced alarm that they will be caught in the bombing raids or crossfire.

The militants also took a priest and up to 14 other people hostage at the start of the crisis, and their fate remains unknown.

Helicopters fired rockets on a pocket of the city held by the militants throughout Tuesday morning, and black smoke rose from the buildings that were apparently hit, according to an AFP reporter in Marawi.

The Philippine military has said the gunmen are being backed by foreign militant fighters, including Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans.

The violence began when dozens of gunmen went on the rampage in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant regarded as the local leader of ISIS.

Hapilon, a senior member of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom gang, is on the US government's list of most-wanted terrorists.

He was being protected in Marawi by the local Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS.

More than 100 inmates of two Marawi jails escaped at the start of the conflict. The military said some of the escapees may have joined the fighting.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-urges-islamist-militants-in-marawi-to-surrender

 

[batmannow]

All posters, stay on topic.

Philippines urges Islamist militants in Marawi to surrender
Published May 30, 2017, 2:17 pm SGT

View attachment 400170
A Philippine Marines truck speeds away as black smoke billows from burning houses in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on May 30, 2017.PHOTO: AFP

MARAWI, Philippines (AFP) - Philippine authorities on Tuesday (May 30) urged Islamist militants occupying parts of a southern city to surrender for the sake of trapped civilians, as attack helicopters pounded the gunmen's strongholds with rockets.

More than 100 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting, which began on Tuesday last week when gunmen waving black flags of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group rampaged through the mostly Muslim-populated city of Marawi.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across the entire southern region of Mindanao, home to roughly 20 million people, in response to the crisis as he warned that local militant groups were uniting behind ISIS and becoming a major security threat.

But the militants, initially estimated by the defence chief to number just 100, have withstood eight days of intense air assaults and street-to-street combat, prompting the government's surrender calls on Tuesday.

"We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms," military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said on DZBB radio.​

"If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed."​

Asked why the government had issued a surrender call, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said:

"To lessen the damage on the ground, definitely so the civilians will be less affected".​

Up to 2,000 residents are trapped in areas held by the militants, according to the local government, and the International Committee of the Red Cross has voiced alarm that they will be caught in the bombing raids or crossfire.

The militants also took a priest and up to 14 other people hostage at the start of the crisis, and their fate remains unknown.

Helicopters fired rockets on a pocket of the city held by the militants throughout Tuesday morning, and black smoke rose from the buildings that were apparently hit, according to an AFP reporter in Marawi.

The Philippine military has said the gunmen are being backed by foreign militant fighters, including Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans.

The violence began when dozens of gunmen went on the rampage in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant regarded as the local leader of ISIS.

Hapilon, a senior member of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom gang, is on the US government's list of most-wanted terrorists.

He was being protected in Marawi by the local Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS.

More than 100 inmates of two Marawi jails escaped at the start of the conflict. The military said some of the escapees may have joined the fighting.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-urges-islamist-militants-in-marawi-to-surrender

They want me to fight china it will be mascare.
President DUTURTE
He is telling what's behind all this mess , he went to russia on state visit & there comes this cia sponsored muslim millitant attack ?
Why just now ????

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The violence began when dozens of gunmen went on the rampage in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant regarded as the local leader of ISIS.

Hapilon, a senior member of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom gang, is on the US government's list of most-wanted terrorists.

He's been on our most wanted list since 2006 with a $5M reward.
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/isnilon-totoni-hapilon

 

[AndrewJin]

He is telling what's behind all this mess , he went to russia on state visit & there comes this cia sponsored muslim millitant attack ?

CIA to kill innocent people around the world, they should be sentenced in international court.

 

[TaiShang]

5 things Rodrigo Duterte can do to crush ISIS in Philippines

ADAM GARRIE

Rodrigo Duterte is in the midst of waging total war against ISIS fighters in southern Philippines. It is a war that must be won and Duterte intends to win it. Here are some things that can and should be done to help hasten the victory and keep the people of Philippines safe.

1. Naval Blockade

The presence of ISIS in Philippines is generally confined to the southern island of Mindanao. It is there that ISIS have largely conquered the city of Marawi although the Philippine army continues to make important gains.

It is crucial for the Philippine navy to instigate a naval blockade of Mindanao in order to be certain that no ISIS reinforcements can arrive from neighbouring countries. This could be done with the cooperation of Indonesia and Malaysia and possibly most importantly China.

Philippines has an advantage of fighting ISIS in an island setting rather than the desert. The arid and mostly flat topography surrounding Syria’s land borders with hostile states have made it easier for these countries and those abroad including the US, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to sneak fighters into Syria.

Syria has the bleak disadvantage of being surrounded by a powerful Turkish adversary to the north, a duplicitous pro-US Jordan to the south, an Iraq whose borders are in many cases non-existent due to ISIS control of Iraq’s frontiers with Syria, a permanently hostile Israel to the south-west and a corruptible Lebanon to the west.

Philippines does not have this problem. ISIS must be totally sealed off from the sea. A naval siege must be enacted in tandem with fighting ISIS on land.

2. China

Prior to ISIS’s official war of conquest, President Duterte had engaged in an historical rapprochement with China. He has also indicated that he will cooperate with China over disputed territories and access in the South China Sea.

China is one of the world’s only three superpowers and it is the one closest to Philippines. It is in China’s interest for the region to be both safe from terrorism and prosperous.

By cooperating with China over ISIS, both of these things could be insured.

The Chinese navy which is among the most sophisticated in history could easily help in a naval blockade of ISIS controlled territory and could also assist in patrolling the water routs where terrorists from nearby countries could and have attempted to illegal enter Philippines.

Philippines could offer China further cooperation over the South China Sea issues and even offer to mediate with other interested parties in exchange for cooperation against ISIS.

This would allow China to assert further leadership over a region where it is the most powerful state and insure collective security for all parties involved.

3. Russia

Just as China is something of a quiet supporter of Russia’s role in Syria, so too could Russia help Philippines which is clearly in China’s region of influence. No one can deny this and Duterte never has denied it. He’s admitted it with total transparency.

President Duterte held a positive meeting with Vladimir Putin before having to cut it short to deal with the ISIS onslaught.

Russia could benefit from building a further alliance in South East Asia and bot Manila and Moscow seem to look positively towards the future.

READ MORE: Russia helps Philippines fight ISIS

A combination of Chinese naval assistance with the delivery of ultra-modern Russian weapons to Philippines would represent an invaluable contribution to the necessary fight.

4. Build A Broad Coalition

Duterte took a bold move in offering former adversaries an opportunity to be part of a military coalition against ISIS, one based on co-equal pay and status.

READ MORE: Duterte invites former/current adversaries into an anti-ISIS coalition

Now he must also built a coalition of those in Philippines politics who want to do things the new way, the right way, the Duterte way.

Philippine boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has all ready offered his full backing of Duterte’s heavy weight fight against the world’s most wicked terrorist group and it is high time for others to join the political coalition.

Duterte is a man who represents the law and order of traditional conservatism, the social equality of traditional socialism and he democratic ethos of the 21st century in which old definitions of left and right rarely apply.

When the military war is over, the political war to purify Philippines politics begins. Duterte is the man to lead it but he needs allies and must cultivate them even more than he has all ready done, especially since some have been lukewarm in their support of his necessary war effort.

5. Take No Heed of Western Sentiments

The western powers have done more to destroy Syria than anyone else has. Their allies like Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia could not fully get away with their crimes against Syria if not for western assistance and approval. Philippines must use the fight against ISIS to assert the new independent foreign policy that Duterte campaigned on last year.

The US which has a significant military presence in Philippines is doing next to nothing to help a supposed ally in need.

Philippines must assert its sovereignty and develop a positive businesslike relationship with the United States, not one of servitude that gains Philippines nothing.

Donald Trump’s good personal relationship with Duterte could be a spring board for a new fairer relationship with America. If Egypt for example can rely on both Russia and be a friend of America, so too can Philippines.

If these steps are taken, Philippines can not only assert its authority over ISIS but can build a lasting coalition of respectful partners in the wider region and world.

 

[Banglar Bir]

Another Syria in the making in South-East Asia
26.05.2017

AP photo

Most recent events in the Philippines and Indonesia, where forces affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist organisation (banned in Russia) have been particularly active recently, suggest that there is a new hotbed of international terrorism emerging in South-East Asia.
Its scale and destructive potential is likely to be as large as it has been in the Middle East. Global powers, China in the first place, will need to interfere as soon as possible to counter the growing threat.

Terrorists seized a whole city on the Philippine Island of Mindanao, while two explosions rocked the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. This is very similar to the beginning of an active phase of the operation to destabilise the region. In the Philippines, the situation is getting out of control: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was forced to cut short his visit to Russia and go back to his homeland to personally supervise the anti-terrorist operation.

Apparently, Duterte's actions against terrorists will be just as ruthless as his actions against the drug mafia. One may assume that the situation in the Philippines will escalate further, and the West will make Duterte become another Bashar al-Assad.

Russian version of Pravda.Ru
- See more at: http://www.pravdareport.com/hotspots/terror/26-05-2017/137840-syria_asia-0/#sthash.aZzSERgI.dpuf

 

[Muhammed45]

 

[Muhammed45]

Good luck guys.

Clean thos scums

 

[MarveL]

 

[Shotgunner51]

AFP: Almost 90% of Marawi cleared of Maute
By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 1, 2017 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Troops have cleared almost 90 percent of Marawi City where gunmen of the Maute group have been fending off security forces, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said yesterday.

Padilla reiterated the call for the Maute group to surrender while there is still time as troops are preparing to rescue the civilians still trapped in the city.

“We call on the remaining terrorists to surrender while there is an opportunity,”
Padilla said.​

Padilla said 960 civilians have been rescued, and an estimated 1,000 residents remain trapped. The dead include 89 militants, 19 civilians and 21 government forces.

Six policemen were reported still missing since the firefight with the Maute group broke out last week, the Philippine National Police added.

Padilla said eight militants surrendered and they provided what he described as “very valuable intelligence” during questioning,

On the other hand, a video of a Catholic priest taken hostage is being assessed by experts, he added.

Padilla said the video seems authentic, but the Rev. Teresito Suganob appeared to be speaking under duress and the militants are apparently using the video for propaganda.

Suganob and 14 others were snatched while inside the St. Mary’s Church in Marawi City on May 23 in the thick of the gunbattle between government forces and Maute extremists.

In the video, Suganob said he is being held alongside 200 other captives, including children, in what appeared to be a battle-scarred part of Marawi.

“We want to live another day, we want to live another month,” Suganob said while standing in front of debris and partially burned buildings. Directing his remarks to President Duterte, Suganob said: “We want to live few years and in your generosity, Mr. President, in your heart, we know you can make something (happen).”​

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña confirmed that it was Suganob in the video.

Padilla said there have been efforts to reach out to parties who may conduct backchannel talks to help free the hostages. He assured the captives’ families that the military is doing its best to keep them safe. He did not elaborate.

“As of this time, as I’m making this report and days prior to this, there have also been efforts to reach out through the backdoor for talks with possible parties who may help,” Padilla said in a press briefing in Malacañang. – With Alexis Romero, Roel Pareño, Emmanuel Tupas, John Unson, AP​

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/06/01/1705641/afp-almost-90-marawi-cleared-maute