OFFBEAT MAIL

File photo shows beheaded Canadian Mr. Robert Hall (left).  The body of the late Robert Hall, the Canadian national beheaded by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits last June 13, has been dug-up and recovered in Sulu Saturday morning. Major Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson, said Hall's decaying remains were recovered by troops of Joint Task Group (JTG) Sulu around 11:35 a.m. in Upper Kamuntayan, Talipao, Sulu. "The body is currently being brought by the troops to JTG Sulu Headquarters at Barangay Busbus, Jolo , Sulu for documentation before turn over to the PNP SOCO (scene-of-the-crime operatives)," he added. Hall was beheaded by the ASG last June 13. His head was later recovered by civilians in front of the gate of the Jolo Cathedral. Hall, together with John Ridsdel, Kjartan Sikkengstad and Marites Flor, was abducted last Sept. 21 at the Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camudmud, Samal City, Davao Del Norte. Sikkengstad is the only remaining kidna...

Bodies of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) killed in action in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015. Who knows? This is the reason why the Senate’s Committee on Public Order, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, is hell bent on conducting public hearings that are set to uncover the truth behind the slaughter of 44 elite commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF) on January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines. But unable to hold his temper during a hearing, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano immediately to put the blame on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters as the culprits behind the debacle in Mamasapano. He insisted that if the MILF didn’t coddle the terrorists and its fighters stayed away from the operation made by the SAF commandos to neutralize Marwan, a Malaysian terrorist responsible for the bombing  that killed more than 200 people in Bali, Indonesia many years ago, the SAF casualties wouldn’t have been that much. ...

MILF chair Murad Ebrahim (center). This is my reaction to Mr. Amando Doronila's column "Bangsamoro framework: The inside story", which appeared at the www.inquirer.net, on Oct. 29. One of the particular paragraphs that caught my attention focused on: “The MILF wanted to have full jurisdiction [over] the judicial system, including banks, budgeting, and creation of taxes and revenues, as well as full control over policing and internal security,” the paper said. The paper being referred to above is titled “Forging a Peace Settlement for the Bangsamoro: Compromises and Challenges,” a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer. It was presented by professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer of the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines, at the recent 2012 Philippines Update Conference at Australian National University in Canberra. Ferrer is a member of the Philippine negotiating panel in the talks with the MILF. I don't want to sound like a...

The Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) is trying its best to push for an initiative that will unify the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This after MNLF chair Prof. Nur Misuari has threatened to file a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after it was left out in the negotiations where the Philippine government panel agreed in principle to form the frameworks for the creation of the Bangsamoro governent, in place of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The MNLF rose up against the government during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos until the reign of power by former President Fidel V. Ramos who successfully brought the MNLF leadership on the peace negotiating table, which led to the establishment of the ARMM. Miisuari said the abolition of the ARMM would mean violation of the Tripoli Agreement.  Prof. Nur Misuari Some political observers interpreted the government's acco...

Philippine government peace negotiators and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed in principle to lay down the frameworks for the creation of the Bangsamoro government, in place of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which will automatically be abolished once a new Muslim government is created in Mindanao.  Government forces in action Political observers said once and for all, the agreement is expected to put an end to the hostilities that already killed at least 150,000 people since the insurgency started in Mindanao many decades ago. They said that this political initiative will largely contribute in stabilizing the peace and order situation in the country. Lawmakers explained that the provisions of the law that will establish the Bangsamoro will be deliberated in Congress. Then, it will be resolved through a referendum. It is now up to the Filipino people as to whether they are sold out to the idea of allowing the MILF to run its own autono...

Baker Atyani A Jordanian journalist identified as Baker Atyani, along with two of his Filipino crew, was kidnapped in Sulu. Was it a frame up kidnapping scenario or not? Nobody knows yet as negotiations are on-going to find out if he was really kidnapped. According to reports, Atyani came to the Philippines as a tourist.  Interior and local government Secretary Jesse Robredo said Atyani did not secure a working permit from the Bureau of Immigration before he went to Mindanao. His main objective in going to Sulu was allegedly to interview ranking members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that is notorious for kidnap for ransom activities. However, there's a mystery in Atyani's visit to southern Philippines. Observations surfaced that Atyani may have other motives aside from his being a journalist why he visited Sulu. Political observers have thought that he could have been used as a courier to bring an important messag...