Related story in the Inquirer: From Oakwood rebel to anti-drug hero
Since last Monday, the flag at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency office has been flying at half-staff in honor of Intelligence Officer Pablo June Jala and a confidential agent known only as “Tho”, who were killed in an ambush in Maguindanao earlier that day.
Two of the victims’ companions, Intelligence Officers Brian Babang and Mark Anthony Viray were seriously wounded.
The PDEA team was on its way to serve a warrant of arrest on a certain Piad Buaya Abdula Piad in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao when they were attacked by heavily armed men.
Jala is the second PDEA officer killed in the period of two months, underscoring the intensity of the war against illegal drugs syndicates.
Last February 13, PDEA agent Edward Gautani and his 16-year old son Edward Jr., were gunned down while they were having supper with four other family members at the family resort in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
“This is a clear indicator that the war on illegal drugs has just been elevated to the next level. Our sustained efforts are creating an impact on the activities of drug syndicates, thus they are now resorting to violence in retaliation for their losses,” PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said even as he vowed, “We will make sure that their (the agents) sacrifices were not in vain.”
Jala is a member of the PDEA Academy Unang Sinag Class 2006-01, the first batch of PDEA agents who were recruited and trained by the anti-drug agency.
Babang, a member of PMA Class 2001, is one of the 18 Magdalo officers who were recruited by Santiago, who challenged the young rebels officers to “walk the talk” about their idealism and love for country after they left the military service.
Viray is a member of PDEA Academy Masidlak Class 2008..
A PDEA press release took note that ” the agents were operating in a critical area that is under the influence of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.” Santiago said “close coordination is now being undertaken with counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to determine the possible links of our targets with the MILF.”
Military and police officials have reported alarming activities in illegal drugs in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao which, in combination with illegal firearms, make for a highly volatile environment.
The twin evils of illegal drugs and firearms feed on each other. Revenues from illegal drugs account for the proliferation of illegal firearms that make the maintenance of peace and order in the area doubly difficult.
ARMM was cited by VERA Files in its report early this year about puzzling incidents where prosecutors contradict themselves, asking the courts to dismiss cases they themselves filed.
VERA Files said: “No one perhaps beats the record of Cotabato City Prosecutor Wilfred Buyco who in one year moved to withdraw or dismiss 34 drug cases in the different courts in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Since 2003, the government has clinched only four convictions out of the 674 cases filed in the ARMM. A total of 159 cases or about a fourth have been dismissed.
“The reasons oft-cited by Buyco for seeking to withdraw or dismiss a case range from procedural lapses by arresting officers and insufficient evidence, to what he deemed as the more convincing accounts of the accused than police operatives and the lack of legal basis to charge the suspects.
“Although small quantities of drugs, usually just a few grams of shabu, are involved, Buyco’s acts have become a cause for concern for PDEA, which has gone to the courts various times to oppose his motions.
“There are so many cases. If you total all these few grams, they amount to something big,” said a PDEA official, who added that the agency suspects drug trafficking profits being used to buy firearms for bandit or rebel groups.”
This is the other war in Muslim Mindanao .
PDEA is among the very few government agencies that are performing a great job…all due to the leadership of Director
Santiago and efficient officials like Maj. Marcelino. Yet, we wonder if this agency is getting all the support it needs from this administration. For one thing, what’s the status of those Alabang Boys. If Malacanang thinks people have forgotten the case, she’s dead wrong. We all remember it together with the many scams like ZTE deal.
The new AFP Chief of Staff is Gen. Ibrado from San Jose, Antique. Do Ellen and Rose know this guy?
Natakot siguro si GMA na baka magkaroon ng coup kung si Gen. Bangit ang ipapalit kay Gen. Yano. Palagi na lang kasi PMA Class 78 ang nabibiyayaan at naba-bypass yung dapat munang unahin na ma-promote.
We hate to admit that the Muslim south is one in religion and no christian government. History shows us a wide range of obtuse angles on the cleavages with them. They receive, the government give. The skillful arm of the drug world has longer arm than the law. How can the PDEA lord it over there while it is lame among us here in the christian turf.
BE: The name is not an Antique name…it might be his mother who is from Antique..is he a PMAer? I know Cimatu’s wife is married to an Antiquena and they have a house in San Jose…I hope he will not turn corrupt..I wish him the best..
He was born in San Jose, Antique. Yes, he’s a PMAer.
BE: I just checked about him…”Gen. Ibrado Phil.” and mukhang may mga kaso siya on human rights re disappearance of two activists sa Negros…mukhang hindi maganda ang write up sa kanya ng Karapatan…and besides Lt. Gen. lang pala siya at ginawa ng siyang Cheif of Staff…nalampasan pa niya ang ilang Generals…nakaduda ang prommotion niya at hindi kosher…mukhang malakas ang kapit niya sa mga Arroyo…malungkot..ang redeeming factor sa akin about him..indeed siya kilala sa Antique at mukhang hindi orig ang pangalan niya…
Ibrado was security aide to the Evil Bitch. I think he by-passed a couple of more senior officers. What do you expect from this Bitch? She never follows rules.
Off topic discussion is okay. But let’s go back to the topic at hand.
Thanks Ellen. Rose and I were just having exchanges on this new AFP Chief Ibrado. In a way, the new AFP Chief has an impact on the current situation in Mindanao.
Allow me to share a couple of latest reports:
1. 22 Filipino seamen are now held hostages by the Somalia Pirates. Will RP government send warships and Philippine Navy Seals to rescue them? Will the US also help?
2. A DA Regional Director who testified against Joc Joc Bolante was just ambushed. Mafia style.
It looks like GMA forgot that she’s the drug czar. She doesn’t care if 3 PDEA agents are killed in a span of a week. She never forgets she’s a travel czar. Most of it are useless.
mukhang dumadami ang pagkikitaan ng pera sa Mindanao…noong araw smuggling of cigarettes, and other goods from Indonesia..and then kidnapping of foreigners, held hostages for ransom, ngayon drugs…and all these bring big revenues…and there is nothing the gov’t can do it seems…
Did Arroyo go to the wake of PDEA Agents Jala and Gautani?
I haven’t seen it in newspapers and TV.
We know that her assuming the drug czar was only damage control,to save her favorite justice secretary from being unmasked further as head of the “department store of justice”.
Mindanao could be as rich as Luzon if all govt. officials are the likes of Mayor Duterte.
My cousin from Davao went to the US six years ago convincing friends and relatives to invest in real estate in Davao City. He said that Davao is now peaceful very progressive with their good Mayor Duterte. I truly felt happy learning the city was finally free from terrorists, violence and bombings.
Davao City Mayor R. Duterte’s governance together with his councilors and PDEA were able to reduce illegal drugs.
– from Sunstar Network Online
PDEA-Southern Mindanao chief Glen dela Torre earlier informed the CHR panel that cases in the city have been greatly reduced due to City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s strong campaign against illegal drugs……
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/anti-drugs-group-denies-hand-davao-killings
Buti nalang walang piracy sa Mindanao..kung hindi..magiging war zone na ang Mindanao..mas mabilis ang kumpit kaysa Navy boats,,,mas magaling lumangoy ang mga taga Mindanao…walang laban ang gobierno ni Gloria…ano kaya magkaroon ng change in our gov’t at ang maging presidente ay taga roon sa Jolo o sa area na iyan..isang Muslim..gaya ni Obama? … It could happen just like sa US..it will be history…a Muslim President in a Christian nation and in a Catholic nation…ano kaya? Baka may pagbabago sa buhay ng mga tao sa atin..ano kaya?
syria: tama ka..kung ang mga local officials ay kasama din sa laban on drugs..I am sure the country will have a minimum of problems..if not free of the problems…pero in some provinces ang mga nasa poder pa ang masimuno sa problemang ito…take the case of Antique…last February may nangyari doon…did the mayor of San Jose do anything to prosecute? did the governor and her advisers do anything? did the congressman do anything? I wonder..it is a concerted effort ng lahat..I think..oh well..it seems a hopeless case…
hindi naman na walang ginagawa ang mga local politicians sa San Jose, Antique…each one is doing something kuno..pero kanya kanya at hindi magkasama sa laban against drugs..there is no unity in their fight it seems..sana united sila..and they should minimize politics..sana…
Rose,
Re: “and besides Lt. Gen. lang pala siya at ginawa ng siyang Cheif of Staff”
LtGen position is the highest star rank in the AFP (3 stars) before the CSAFP who is the only one to sport/to wear 4 stars or the rank of full general; there’s only one full general in the AFP (as there’s only admiral, all the others are not generals (or admirals) but are “sub generals” (or “sub admirals” if you see what I mean).
Ibrado will become a full pledged General and will wear 4 stars once he assumes the top AFP post.
In theory, a Philippine president can name anyone in the AFP — from among those with rank of colonel to lieutenant general — to the most political military post which is that of CSAFP.
Let’s hope this Ibrado possesses moral courage, something that Yano lost along the way, and which many of his predecessors did not possess at all!
There are very few good senior officers in the AFP today because they don’t have that one virtue that any good officer should possess: moral courage
Gloria has corrupted and has turned most military and quasi-militaty institutions in the Philippines moral cowards. This latest ambush story shows how lawless elements in the Philippines regard this moral midget: as one of them!
AdB: Thanks for the info..I sure hope he has the moral courage but I read that he was involved in some cases re the disappearance of some activists in Negros..and the cases have not as yet been resolved… but he could be the lesser of the evils in the military…
Famous broadcaster Ted Failon’s wife is now in very critical condition at the hospital after committing suicide or shot by Ted Failon. We’re still waiting for the update. That’s a big blow to Ted’s plan to run as Senator in 2010.
Presidential Management Staff members are whispering that the reason the departure of the presidential chopper was delayed from 1 o’clock to 4:30 p.m. to go to Ifugao was due to the fact that Rep. Mikey Arroyo was using the chopper.
The creep now calling herself anti-drug czarina actually should not be allowed dipping her hand in police work. The police should be free from the meddling of these politicians, especially Gloria and her husband, as a matter of fact. It is one reason why they cannot put the criminals in the Philippine government to prison as a matter of fact.
Worse, kamag-anak pa di ba ang pinaupong Chief of Police?
I wonder if the lawmakers there are deliberately leaving out making laws to put them criminals to prison for fear that those laws may be used first on them. 😛
Rose,
You’re right. You cannot expect anything good about this new appointee of the bitch. Moral courage? Forget it.
Any appointee of the bitch is most likely put where he/she is to serve her and her minions with no benefit at all for the Filipino people, and this is not putting down the Filipinos, but the reality. Hindi puede iyong umaasa pang may mabuti sa administration ni Gloria.
I understand Ibrado is due to retire in less than a year..so why promote him…mukhang suhol so he will not turn against her if and when she leaves? hindi rin kaya ito “payback” sa services niya kay putot? He must have been prommised something to protect her “oh for the love of money” hamakin ang lahat makamtan ka lamang..
“In theory, a Philippine president can name anyone in the AFP — from among those with rank of colonel to lieutenant general — to the most political military post which is that of CSAFP.” -ADB
Is this one of the perks of Gluerilla? Even a Coronel can be appointed Chief of Staff AFP? So she literally could have appointed Martir or Corpuz to head the AFP?
To become Chairman JCS in the US, you are a Four Star and head honcho of your military outfit.
In the mid 60’s a friend -a PMAer explained to me that in the military service..a new graduate of PMA is a 2nd Lt..after 4 years he becomes a lst Lt..then after 4 years he becomes a captain…and pag captain ka na daw kumapit ka na sa malakas na politician..by malakas congressman, senator, and the most malakas is of course the President..and your promotion will be fast…I did not understand it then…but more than 40 years, after now nakikita ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin….
Anything is possible under this evil regime. She is the law. In order to put things in order is to eliminate her…NOW !
agents in PIDEA are dying in mindanao because kulang ang gamit at support ng admin. Nakakaawa ang mga byani natin na lumalaban sa mga drug dealers na wala man lang matinong gamit. Biro mo wala man lang clang bullet proof vests at matinong armas. Ayun pinaulanan ng malalakas na weapons. .. kaya para sa mga sundalong ipinaglalaban pa rin ang katwiran at integridad mabuhay kayo. kayo ang mga bagong bayani ng pilipinas.
check this out: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090419-200164/From-Oakwood-rebel-to-PDEA-antidrug-hero