Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with government troops in Zamboanga Sibugay on Saturday, the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said.
Westmincom spokesperson Capt. Jo-An Petinglay said soldiers led by Brig. Gen. Rolly Bautista, encountered around 30 NPA members in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, on Saturday afternoon.
She said members of the 44th Infantry Battalion engaged in a firefight with the rebels belonging to the NPA’s “Feliciano Bravo” group at around 5 p.m. at Sitio Malagak, Brgy. Guinoman, in Diplahan. On the government side, two local civilian volunteers were wounded during the firefight. —Philip C. Tubeza
Sandiganbayan junks Acosta’s suit vs critics
The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the suit filed by the environmental adviser of President Benigno Aquino III against critics who attempted to block his appointment in 2011.
This was after former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Romeo Nereus Acosta dropped the case against the group Crusaders for Good Government, as well as Fr. Venancio Balansag Jr., Felix Vergara Jr., Commission on Audit auditor Carlo Matias, and a certain Rolly.
The respondents failed to answer the petition filed by Acosta over a full-page advertisement, published by the Philippine Star on May 11, 2011, which allegedly discussed the merits of his pending criminal cases. —Vince F. Nonato
Asean military chiefs gather in Manila
Top military leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are gathering in Manila starting today (Monday) for a series of high-level talks hosted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año said the Asean Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting would ensure that the region’s militaries would be one in addressing emerging security issues.
Issues that are expected to be discussed during the five-day gathering include maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, counterterrorism, infectious disease management and peacekeeping. —Philip C. Tubeza
Pemberton seeks reversal of conviction for homicide
The US Marine convicted of homicide in the death of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude nearly three years ago has asked the Court of Appeals to reverse its decision upholding the trial court’s verdict on grounds that he wasn’t proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
In a 35-page motion for reconsideration filed on Friday, Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton said the Special 16th Division of the appellate court “cherry-picked” evidence to sustain his Dec. 1, 2015, conviction by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court and completely ignored those that would have exonerated him. —Jerome Aning
Islamic clerics, scholars hold 3-day summit
COTABATO CITY—Some 600 Islamic clerics and scholars were meeting here from May 17-19 to discuss ways of effectively luring Muslims away from terror groups and also for spiritual renewal.
The event was an apparent follow-up, organized by government and military officials, to the Ulama Summit against terrorism, which started at the Shariff Kabungsuan Complex here on Friday.
Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the twin events hoped to bring to the Islamic fold misguided faithful, who resorted to all sorts of evil deeds.
Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the commander of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, urged “misguided Moro guerrillas” to listen to the preaching of experts of the faith and not to those misquoting the Quran to pursue their evil goals. —Charlie C. Señase