14 Jolo inmates bolt jail; 3 killed By Francisco Tuyay THREE inmates were killed Sunday and another was wounded after escaping from jail in Jolo, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group. The casualties were among 14 prisoners who escaped from a police station jail in the city, authorities said. Some of the inmates were linked to the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf gang, said provincial police chief Senior Supt. Mario Buyuccan. “They cut the bars of the jail and jumped from the second floor to the roof of the municipal hall building next door. Our troops responded and the inmates were killed and wounded in hot pursuit operations,” Buyuccan said. “Some inmates are associated with the Abu Sayyaf.” The injured inmate was recaptured while soldiers
VOL. XXXI • NO. 153 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Troops press for Maute end Marawi residents told: Wait ’till fighting stops By Sandy Araneta
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OVERNMENT forces continued to press their offensive Sunday against the remnants of the Maute group terrorists that overran Marawi City, clearing 60 more buildings previously used by the extremists.
ML extension up to Duterte By John Paolo Bencito DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday said he has submitted his assessment on the implementation of martial law to President Rodrigo Duterte, who will then decide military rule in Mindanao should be extended. “I have submitted my recommendation. Let us wait what the President will decide,” Lorenzana told Manila Standard in a text message. Duterte is expected to announce a decision on the extension of the martial law in Mindanao before it lapses on July 22, or two days before his second State of the Nation Address. Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City on May 23. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Sunday said that any extension of martial law must not exceed the original 60-day period as provided by the 1987 Constitution. “We cannot have an unlimited or ‘unli’martial law in Mindanao,” Drilon, a former Justice secretary, said in an Next page
The military estimated there were only 60 terrorists left in the city, after killing 405 of them since fighting broke out on May 23. As the fighting entered its ninth week, government officials warned residents not to return to their homes yet as their safety could not be guaranteed.
WINSOME POSE. Karen Ibasco flashes the winning pose that has won for her the title of Miss Philippines-Earth 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, July 15. Ibasco gets the chance to represent the Philippines in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant in November. Right panel shows the beauty contest winners (from left): Miss Philippines Fire: Nellza Bautista Villanueva of Misamis Oriental; Miss Philippines Air: Kim De Guzman, Olongapo City; Miss Philippines Earth 2017; Karen Ibasco Manila; Miss Philippines Water: Jessica Marasigan,Caloocan City and Miss Eco-Tourism: Vanessa Mae Castillo, Lobo Batangas. The coronation night was held at the Mall of Asia Arena. Revoli Cortez
THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition filed by victims of human rights violations during the Marcos administration seeking the enforcement of the final judgment of a US court awarding them $2 billion in damages. In a 19-page decision, the CA’s Twelfth Division through Associ-
ate Justice Normandie Pizarro instead upheld the decision rendered by the Makati City Regional Trial Court dismissing the complaint for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgment filed by Priscilla Mijares, Loretta Ann Rosales, Hilda Narciso Sr., Mariani Dimaranan and Joel Lamangan on behalf of the class plaintiffs in the US class action consisting of
By Rey E. Requejo
about 10,000 human rights victims during the dictator’s regime. The appellate court ruled that the final judgment rendered by the Hawaii Court on Feb. 3, 1995 awarding a total of $1.964 billion in damages to human rights victims during the Marcos administration is not binding because the US court had no jurisdiction Next page
SENATOR Richard Gordon said Sunday he will push for a reopening of the Senate inquiry into the Mamasapano massacre, after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of criminal charges against former President Benigno Aquino III. “Why is it when powerful people are involved, they hesitate to let the truth come out?” he said in Filipino. Gordon hit the Office of the Ombudsman for recommending the filing of graft and usurpation of authority charges against
Oust-Leni campaign revived
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Aquino, his former police chief Alan Purisima, and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas, saying the charges were weak. “I woud have filed graver charges, multiple homicide through reckless imprudence,” he said, in line with the complaint filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption before the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, however, cleared Aquino of the homicide charge. Gordon said he may call Aquino to testify if the Senate reopens the Mamasapano hearing. “Nobody will be exempted
from this... He has to man up and face the consequences,” he added. In a separate radio dzBB interview, Aquino’s ally in the Liberal Party, Senator Franklin Drilon, said there was no need to reopen the Mamasapano hearing. The public order committee, then headed by Senator Grace Poe, had issued a report on the Mamasapano hearings, and found Aquino “ultimately responsible” for the carnage. The Justice department on Sunday supported the Office of the Ombudsman holding Aquino criminally liable for the Mamasapano massacre in which 44 police commandos were killed. Next page
Back-on-duty policemen in mayor’s slay draw flak
By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo and even Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno might face impeachment raps in August, Rep. Jericho Nograles said Sunday. He said he knew there would be an attempt to impeach the two officials. “But if there is someone who will file [against Robredo], there is already an endorser,” Nograles said. He said his camp also knew the people behind the plan but declined to name them. Earlier, two impeachment complaints filed against Robredo
Marawi residents to wait for the fighting to stop before returning to their homes in the war-torn city. “We understand the sentiments of the residents of Marawi wanting to return home after being forced to flee from the city,” said presidential apokesman Ernesto Abella. “The government, however, is concerned with the safety and welfare of all civilians, especially women and children,” said Abella. “There is no assurance that areas outside the main battle zone are already safe to live in, as cases of stray bullet victims have been reported. In addition, the clearing of the entire city of Marawi of IEDs [improvised explosive devices]
Gordon to reopen M’sapano inquiry
Court junks $2-b rights victims’ claim By Rey E. Requejo
At least one of the Maute brothers, Abdullah, was said to be leading the remaining terrorists. As of Saturday, government casualties had reached 95, while civilians killed by the terrorists stood at 45. Armed Forces public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo sad 1,723 civilians have been rescued from the battle zone. Fighting broke out in Marawi City after government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and the Islamic State “emir” in Southeast Asia on May 23. Hapilon is still at large, and it was unclear if he was still in Marawi City. The Palace on Sunday urged
BRAVERY. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pins the wounded personnel medal to First Lieutenant Niño Paner during the Commander-in-Chief’s visit at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu on July 15, 2017. Paner was one of the soldiers wounded in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf Group on July 8, 2017. Presidential Photo
A GROUP of former government officials on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reverse the reinstatement of the policemen linked to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. The group Former Senior Government Officials said the reinstatement of Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 of his men made the government look like it was condoning summary killings. “It displays Mr. Duterte’s contempt for national and international law and warns against expectations that the thousands of deaths from the drug war will undergo any credible investigation,” the group said in a statement. Some of the former government officials who signed the statement were Jose Cusia Jr.,
Karina David, Dinky Soliman and Florin Hilbay. Former Social Welfare Secratry Soliman said the government ignored the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Senate and the political and legal processes in reinstating Marcos and his men. An official earlier confirmed that Marcos was set to head the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Soccsksargen region. Senators were outraged after Marcos and his men were reinstated even though the results of a Senate probe into the Espinosa killing showed it had been premeditated. But Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella defended Duterte, Next page