Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte and the West

[Niall]

Backlash for Duterte's counter response to Chelsea Clinton's comments - so an order was given to hit the Philippines Capital?

I doubt the CIA cares about what he said about Chelsea. More likely it's about him standing up to imperial control and making friends with Russia and China. They like to make examples of people/countries who do that.

I fully agree with your statement, especially that Duterte is standing up to the imperial control and counts on Russia and China and even Trump, for that matter, as close allies and working partners ...... but also take into consideration - who's Foundation has been used to organize and supply the CIA's paid mercenaries? Do you really think - that a verbal and public attack on her Daughter, the one being groomed to take her place, would go unanswered?

The Clinton Foundation is not the kind of entity used to fund black ops. That's more like a political slush fund, where the Clintons can afford lavish campaigns for public office in return for ensuring that their donors' interests are 'on the agenda' once they get into office.

The Clintons are not that powerful, and they're not 'deep state'. They're public figures: they don't fund 'the CIA'; 'the CIA' funds them.

 

[Palinurus]

The Clinton Foundation is not the kind of entity used to fund black ops. That's more like a political slush fund, where the Clintons can afford lavish campaigns for public office in return for ensuring that their donors' interests are 'on the agenda' once they get into office.

The Clintons are not that powerful, and they're not 'deep state'. They're public figures: they don't fund 'the CIA'; 'the CIA' funds them.

Well, according to the latest video message of George Webb, just summarized by NormaRegula, the lines seem to blur more and more, like hand-in-glove (just two snippets):

<...>
There is so much that it will fill books for years to come. But one can imagine the crime syndicate that Hillary Clinton has put in since she was NY Senator and after. All of it is an enormous construction of PAY-TO-PLAY. Webb says the 650,000 emails on Huma/Weiner's laptop are all Pay-to-Play and that McCrud (ask txhurl who McCrud is) would go to any lengths to keep those emails from seeing the light of day.

This is hardball, real hardball.
<...>
Webb remarks that Petraeus, Hillary, Podesta (Hillary and Petraeus since 2002, Armed Services Committee Pay-To-Play) have very few cards to play now. They will try to create a war in the Philippines and push for US involvement. Webb says it doesn't make logical, rational sense but neither did the attack on Iraq make sense in the aftermath of 9-11.
<...>

 

[Beau]

Well, according to the latest video message of George Webb, just summarized by NormaRegula, the lines seem to blur more and more, like hand-in-glove (just two snippets):

<...>
There is so much that it will fill books for years to come. But one can imagine the crime syndicate that Hillary Clinton has put in since she was NY Senator and after. All of it is an enormous construction of PAY-TO-PLAY. Webb says the 650,000 emails on Huma/Weiner's laptop are all Pay-to-Play and that McCrud (ask txhurl who McCrud is) would go to any lengths to keep those emails from seeing the light of day.

This is hardball, real hardball.
<...>
Webb remarks that Petraeus, Hillary, Podesta (Hillary and Petraeus since 2002, Armed Services Committee Pay-To-Play) have very few cards to play now. They will try to create a war in the Philippines and push for US involvement. Webb says it doesn't make logical, rational sense but neither did the attack on Iraq make sense in the aftermath of 9-11.
<...>

I don't think that's indicative of "lines blurring" in relation to Clinton Foundation being behind destabilizing countries. That's strictly CIA business. Public figures like Killary, who do the bidding of the CIA and Deep State, are now squaring their sights on Duterte because he had the temerity to stand up to the CIA and the politicians now have their marching orders to initiate the black propaganda against him and his country.

 

[angelburst29]

An attack at a casino and hotel resort in the Philippines has ended with the deaths of at least 36 people. But it appears now it was a bungled robbery, rather than a terrorist attack.

Manila Attack May Have Been 'Robbery' and Not Daesh-Linked Terror Attack
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706021054239876-manila-attack-robbery-terror/

Elizabeth Gonzales, the wife of Philippine congressman Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, was among those who were killed in the attack at the resort in the capital, Manila, in the early hours of Friday morning, June 2.

Earlier it was reported at least 30 bodies had been found in the Resorts World Manila leisure complex.

Resorts World Manila confirmed on Friday that 22 guests and 13 employees had been killed. The attacker was also among the dead.

Most of those who died are believed to have been shot or died after breathing in toxic fumes after the attacker set casino tables on fire.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack, just as they did after the Manchester suicide bombing last week.

But the Philippine National Police has refused to call the incident a terrorist attack and has suggested the lone attacker was actually a bungling robber.

He reportedly stole US$226,000 worth of gambling chips from a storeroom in the resort and shot himself in the head after being surrounded by police.

The President of the Philippines Senate, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said the attack was a "criminal" act "not related to any invasion, rebellion or even terrorism."

"Remember terrorism under our laws has a technical meaning. Although we were alarmed and even terrorized by the incident, it still does not qualify as a terroristic act under our laws."

The Philippines has a long-standing problem with Islamist terrorists, especially on the largely Muslim island of Mindanao.

The largest group, Abu Sayyaf, have sworn allegiance to Daesh. Two brothers, Omar and Abdullah Maute, are leading another group of Islamists who have been involved in heavy fighting with the Philippines Army in the city of Marawi.

It is quite possible that an attacker aligned with one of these groups was sent north to Manila to cause chaos and possibly divert away military resources from Mindanao.

But it is too early to tell and some police sources in Manila seem to be suggesting the attack was just an abortive robbery.

The police released stills from a CCTV camera within the resort showing the attacker armed with what appeared to be a submachine gun.

Resorts World Manila issued a statement on Facebook in which they released the names of 29 of the victims on Friday.

Juliane de Jesus, a crime reporter with the Inquirer in Manila, said she believed the attack had been intended as a robbery.

"But I do believe that it was a successful plan to sow terror among Filipinos. So the declaration of martial law in the entire Philippines would be justified," she told Sputnik.

On Thursday, June 1, the House of Representatives in Manila voted to support the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, after receiving reassurances that martial law abuses during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s would not be repeated.

One of the security guards, Bernard Cajigas, survived a gunshot wound.

Resorts World Manila also added: "We would like to take this opportunity to refute claims circulating online that there were two assailants involved in the incident. We reiterate that there was only one gunman involved in this senseless attack.

"On behalf of the victims' families and loved ones, we request everyone to refrain from spreading hurtful speculation and false information."

But Senator Pimentel asked Resorts World Manila: "What happened to your security arrangements? One person set your gaming floor on fire? And was able to get his hands on gambling chips worth millions? What happened to your sprinkler system? Did it work?"

Security measures have been stepped up in Manila following a gunman attack.

Security Measures Boosted in Manila Following Deadly Attack on Casino Complex
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706021054244084-security-manila-attack-casino/

Security measures have been stepped up in the Philippine capital of Manila following a gunman attack and fire at the Resorts World Manila hotel and casino, claiming the lives of 36 people, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said on Friday.

"We are not discounting the possibility of even a small-scale terror attack in Manila. That's why security forces had been in high alert… Let us be calm but at same time be alert, ready to help our security forces," Esperon said, as quoted by CNN Philippines.

The administration of the complex denied any responsibility of its security guards for the incident, saying they did not resist the armed intruder in order to prevent any escalation of the situation, according to the broadcaster.

The armed attacker opened fire at the casino complex and set casino tables on fire, which led to casualties due to toxic smoke. A total of 36 people were found dead, besides the perpetrator, who committed suicide.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack, but police were considering robbery as a possible cause since the gunman "ransacked" the casino storage room and grabbed $2.6 million worth of gambling chips.

 

[angelburst29]

Reuters version of events:

A gunman killed himself after bursting into a Manila casino, firing shots and setting gaming tables alight, Philippine police said, sowing panic in a country on high alert after martial law was declared in the south.

Gunman kills himself after suspected robbery in Philippines casino: police
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-resort-idUSKBN18S63W

Police said earlier the man’s motive was likely robbery and that the incident was not terror-related.

National police chief Ronald dela Rosa told DZMM radio the lone gunman had not aimed his assault rifle at people at the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex during the hours-long drama that began shortly after midnight (1600 GMT), and may have been trying to steal casino chips.

Around dawn, the body of the suspected gunman was found in a hotel room in the complex, which is close to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and an air force base.

Police said it appeared the suspect had killed himself after firing at armed officers searching the still-smoking building.

“He burned himself inside the hotel room 510,” dela Rosa told a media conference. “He lay down on the bed, covered himself in a thick blanket and apparently doused himself in gasoline.”

One security guard at the complex died after accidentally shooting himself, he said.

Officials said at least 54 people were hurt, some seriously, as they rushed to escape what at first had been feared as a militant attack.

“Don’t panic, this is not a cause for alarm. We cannot attribute this to terrorism,” dela Rosa said.

“We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room. He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire,” he said.

Police said the gunman was tall with a pale complexion and spoke English.

Videos posted earlier on social media showed people fleeing as several loud bangs were heard.

Jeri Ann Santiago, who works in the emergency room at the San Juan de Dios hospital, said patients were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and some had injuries such as fractures. None had gunshot wounds, she said.

‘PRAY FOR THE INJURED’ - Kimberly Molitas, a spokeswoman for the capital’s police office, said 113 million Philippine pesos ($2.27 million) worth of casino chips stolen during the raid had been recovered.

“Please help pray for the injured and the loss of lives due to suffocation,” she said in a message to reporters.

Dela Rosa could not confirm if anyone had died from suffocation.

The Philippines has been on heightened alert amid a crisis in the south of the country, where troops have been battling Islamist rebels since May 23.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, last week and has warned it could become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria.

Dela Rosa said there had been no specific, credible terror threat in Manila so far.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was closely monitoring events unfolding in Manila.

The U.S. embassy in Manila told Americans there to exercise caution and to review their personal security.

Dozens of police trucks and a handful of huge Special Action Force vans and armored personnel carriers lined side streets near the hotel, casino and shopping mall complex as the drama unfolded.

Gil Yonco, 54, stood weeping in the street at around 5 a.m. His daughter had been on the second floor inside Resorts World and called her father for help because she was being suffocated by smoke.

He tried calling back but there was no answer. “I am very worried as a parent, I need to find her,” he said.

A casino worker from the third floor of the complex, named Julio, told DZMM radio he heard many gunshots and saw people running up the stairs from the second floor.

Ronald Romualdo, a maintenance worker at Resorts World, told the station he saw a woman fall from an upper floor while trying to escape. “Several people were injured,” he said.

($1 = 49.6870 Philippine pesos)

 

[angelburst29]

Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson of the Philippine Army claims Daesh’s invasion of Marawi City and the spiraling security crisis the sudden attack spawned is "not the reason" Brig. Gen. Nixon Fortes, the general tasked with combating hostile elements on the island of Mindanao, has been let go.

Commanding General Ousted As Philippines Struggles to Crush Daesh Insurgency
https://sputniknews.com/military/201706021054262550-general-ousted-philippines-daesh-insurgency/

However, an unnamed source told Reuters the decision was indeed driven by the commander’s failure to marshal troops to Mindanao island’s Marawi City despite substantial intelligence indicating the Maute criminal syndicate and foreign jihadists were assembling there.

If true, the lapse isn’t the only unforced error anti-Daesh forces in the Philippines have committed over the past few days.

The general’s ouster occurs just two day after a government bomb accidentally “missed” its Daesh target and “hit our troops," killing 11 government soldiers, the Philippine defense secretary said. Two bombs were intended for Daesh positions, "but the second one missed … there must be some mistake there,” Secretary Delfin Lorenzana explained, according to CNN Philippines.

So far, the eleven days of fighting between the insurgents and government forces in Marawi City has resulted in the deaths of 19 civilians, 120 insurgents and 39 Philippine security personnel.

"If there’s open defiance, you will die," Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has told the militants.

The president, who is from Mindanao, has admitted that some of his family members pledge loyalty to Daesh.

"I have cousins on the other side," Duterte said in an outspoken end-of-year interview. "You are you and I am me and I said, 'if we meet in one corner, so be it,'" he continued. The belligerent leader, who declared 60 days of martial law on Mindanao, has threatened to literally eat terrorists as long their remains are seasoned with salt and vinegar.

Government forces expect to miss their deadline to eradicate the uprising by the end of Friday, defense officials said. Spokesman Restituto Padilla said "I don’t think we can meet the deadline to completely free Marawi of every single armed element on every street."

Hours before the invasion began, Duterte told RT the US in general and CIA in particular sought to disrupt and destabilize his administration.

The Philippines has repeatedly said it is considering the purchase of Russian military equipment. Recently, Rodrigo Duterte visited Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked for assistance in the country's war on terror.

This is What May Stop Duterte From Buying Advanced Russian Weaponry
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706021054258791-duterte-russia-weapons-philippines/

Restrictions contained in the Philippine constitution may stop President Rodrigo Duterte from purchasing advanced and more expensive weaponry from Russia, experts told Sputnik.

Education vs Military - Following Philippine President Duterte’s official visit to Moscow last week, Russia and the Philippines signed a package of agreements, highlighted by the agreement on military cooperation. Media reports suggested that Russia may be offering the Philippines some form of soft loans in the initial stage of military equipment procurement.

Commenting on possible financial assistance from the Russian side on military hardware purchases, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the country’s financial difficulties at a press conference in Moscow.

"The Philippines, being a developing country, may not have the finances to pay for what we need now. That’s another way of saying that grants, soft loans, concessional loans are welcome," Cayetano said.

Cayetano added the Filipino president was primarily interested in modern military equipment to help the country’s armed forces fight terrorism and prevent collateral damage. He stressed that the Philippines is not establishing a military alliance with Russia.

However, experts suggested that restrictions under the constitution of the Philippines may be the real reason preventing Duterte from buying advanced weaponry such as submarines or frigates for the nation’s under-equipped navy.

"The Philippines does not have a problem paying (for more advanced equipment). But under the country’s constitution, Manila’s military spending cannot be larger than its spending on education," Richard Javad Heydarian, an assistant professor in international affairs and political science at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, said.

After an almost 18-percent jump in military expenditure from the previous year, the 2017 national defense budget for the Philippines stood at $2.76 billion. This accounts for about 4 percent of total government spending. At the same time, the Department of Education will receive $10.97 billion, or 15.2 percent of the 2017 national budget, up 25 percent from the previous year.

Despite having a larger and faster growing economy than Vietnam, it is unlikely for the Philippines to buy advanced military hardware as its western neighbor did from Russia, Heydarian said.

Official figures showed that the Philippine GDP in 2016 was about 1.5 times larger than the GDP of Vietnam in the same year. As one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, the Philippine GDP grew 6.8 percent in 2016 while Vietnam’s GDP rose 6.2 percent during the same period, according to the two countries' government figures.

But Vietnam’s defense spending topped $5 billion in 2016, about twice the military budget of the Philippines for 2017. UK-based defense research firm HIS Jane’s estimated that Vietnam’s military expenditure is expected to expand to $6.2 Billion by 2020.

Vietnam reached an agreement with Russia to buy a total of six submarines for $2.1 billion in 2009. The sixth improved Kilo-class (Project 636) Russian submarine, named HQ-187 Ba Ria-Vung Tau, arrived at the Cam Ranh port in southern Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province in late January.

The Kilo-class submarines are newly manufactured models referred to as the "black hole" by the US Navy due to their advanced stealth capabilities. With a maximum depth of 300 meters, the HQ-187 can stay at sea for 45 days without refueling and can sink or cripple larger vessels with its anti-ship weaponry.

In comparison, the latest addition to the Filipino navy was a 50-year-old Hamilton-class frigate, renamed as the BRP Andres Bonifacio, used to be in service of the US Coast Guard. US military analyst Robert Beckhusen wrote that this ancient vessel belongs in a museum.

Away From Depending on US - Duterte’s willingness to build closer military ties with Russia mostly served the purpose of moving away from the nation’s excessive dependence on the United States, experts said.

"By strengthening relations with Russia, Duterte is seeking a more independent foreign policy and break free from his nation’s dependence on the US," Fabrizio Bozzato, an associate researcher specialized in international affairs at Tamkang University in Taiwan, said.

The Philippines, a former US colony following the Spanish-American War and the subsequent Philippine-American War, became fully independent in 1946. The United States, however, continued to have a strong military presence in the Philippines including a number of military bases in the country. The two countries signed the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in 1951, which states both nations would support each other if either were to be attacked by a third party.

The Philippines and the United States signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in 2014, to advance the implementation of the MDT. The EDCA came amid rising tension in the South China Sea and the US-Philippines alliance strengthened to a new level unseen since the Cold War. The EDCA would give US troops extended access to Philippine military facilities.

After taking office in June 2016, Duterte vowed to pursue closer ties with both China and Russia, while moving away from his country’s dependence on the United States.

Unlike his predecessor Benigno Aquino, Duterte downplayed the territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, despite the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously ruling in favor of the Philippines in 2016. Facing an increasing Chinese military buildup on the islands, Duterte refrained from the hostile rhetoric seen under his predecessor. Instead, he chose to seek active dialogue with China on the dispute.

Bozzato suggested that as Duterte built stronger ties with Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States will also have to show their support for the Philippines.

"The Trump administration has to reassure Manila on the resilience of their alliance. They have to show support not only for Philippines, but also for Duterte," Bozzato said.

The researcher also noted that there is a clear distinction between Russian and Chinese strategies in Southeast Asia.

"Russia is definitely not willing to irritate China. For Russia, the logic is simple: the enemy of my enemy is my friend," said Bozzato.

Philippine foreign secretary Cayetano also stressed in Moscow that Russia does not have a military interest in Southeast Asia.

 

[angelburst29]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the bloody casino attack in the capital on Friday that killed 37 is not the work of Daesh.

Philippines' Duterte Says Daesh Not Behind Strange, Deadly Casino Attack
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706031054283856-duterte-says-daesh-not-responsible/

"That is not the work of [Daesh]," Duterte said on Saturday regarding the attack by a lone gunman at the popular Resorts World Manila casino.

"The work of the IS is more cruel and brutal," he added.

Daesh, on the other hand, publicly claimed responsibility for the attack and named who they say was the shooter, Philippine native and purported jihadist Abu al-Kheir.

On Friday a lone gunman — described as a tall, athletic Caucasian male who spoke both English and Filipino and was armed with an M4 assault rifle and cans of what is believed to have been kerosene — set fire to areas inside the casino before stuffing some $2.2 million worth of playing tokens into a knapsack.

The deaths in the attack came from asphyxiation, as people trapped inside choked on the heavy smoke that filled the facility. Some 80 were injured, also mostly due to smoke inhalation.

Following a firefight with casino security, the gunman was found dead in an upstairs room, with his body burned beyond recognition and a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to police reports.

Local law enforcement echoed Duterte's assertions. "If he is really a terrorist, he could have shot everybody there," said Manila Police Chief Oscar Albayalde. "He just burned the casino as probably a diversionary tactic for his escape."

"He's probably a foreigner," Albayalde said. "He looks Caucasian, he talks English, he's big and he's white."

As the attacker's identity has not yet been revealed, questions remain concerning his race and nationality.

"[Daesh] may claim credit but, ­according to evidence, it is not so," a spokesperson for Duterte said, cited by the South China Morning Post.

"Evidence at this stage points to the actions of an emotionally disturbed person who was apparently engaged in criminal actions," added the spokesperson.

Government officials were quick to dismiss Daesh's role. "This is a clear example of a 'lone wolf' terrorist attack targeting civilians to inflict maximum loss of life and damage to property, as what has happened in other countries," said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, cited by Deutsche Welle.

"Our authorities should get their act together and put in place the highest level of security measures to prevent this from happening again, here or elsewhere in the country," he added.

 

[angelburst29]

Intense clashes continued between ISIS and the Philippine Army in the city of Marawi.

Large Part Of Philippine City Of Marawi Remains Under ISIS Control (Photos, Video)
https://southfront.org/large-part-of-philippine-city-of-marawi-remains-under-isis-control/

June 3, 2017 - The Philippine Air Force targeted ISIS positions with several air strikes using FA-50Ph fighters, OV-10 close air support fighters and Agusta Westland AW109 and MD-500 helicopters.

According to the Philippine intelligence, the number of ISIS fighters in the city is about 400 fighters. 40 of them are foreigners who have been brought to the Philippines recently, especially from Middle Eastern countries.

More than 100,000 civilians have fled the fighting in Marawi so far. A majority of the city still under ISIS control as for now, according to local sources.

Earlier this week, 35 civilians (according to the local authorities) lost their life as a result of attack by a lone ISIS militant on the Resorts World Hotel in Manila, Philippines.

On Friday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack through its ISIS-linked news agency Amaq. The attack was carried out by Abu al-Khair al-Arkhabili, who opened fire on civilians in the hotel. ISIS claimed that at least 100 civilians were killed and wounded in the attack.

In response to violence allegedly instigated by ISIS in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, imposed military rule, and threatened to extend it nationwide to defeat the threat.

Why Is ISIS Operating In The Philippines?
https://southfront.org/isis-operating-philippines/

What’s going on? Why did ISIS begin operating in the Philippines? Weeks after taking office in mid-2016, Duterte blasted Western imperial Middle East policies, saying the Obama administration and Britain “destroyed the (region)…forc(ing) their way into Iraq and kill(ing) Saddam.”

“Look at Iraq now. Look what happened to Libya. Look what happened to Syria.”

He blasted former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for failing to act responsibly against what’s gone on for years – on the phony pretext of humanitarian intervention and democracy building.

He called Obama a “son-of-a-bitch” for his unaccountable actions – no way to make friends in Washington, especially if his geopolitical agenda conflicts with US aims.

On the day he declared martial law, he met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions on future military and economic cooperation.

He seeks improved economic and military ties with China. Ahead of visiting Beijing last October, he said

“only China…can help us,” adding:

“All that I would need to do is just to talk and get a firm handshake from the officials and say that we are Filipinos and we are ready to cooperate with you, to help us in building our economy and building our country.”

“If we can have the things you have given to other countries by the way of assistance, we’d also like to be a part of it and to be a part of the greater plans of China about the whole of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia.”

He promised to cool tensions over South China Sea disputes. There is no sense fighting over a body of water,” he said.

“We want to talk about friendship (with Beijing). We want to talk about cooperation, and most of all, we want to talk about business. War would lead us to nowhere.”

He announced no further joint military exercises with America, saying he’s open to holding them with China and Russia.

Shifting away from longstanding US ties doesn’t go down well in Washington. Are efforts by ISIS to establish a Philippines foothold part of an anti-Duterte Trump administration or CIA plot independent of his authority?

According to a June 2 Duran.com report, retired Philippine military official Abe Purugganan claims ISIS violence in Mindanao is part of an opposition Liberal Party plan to undermine Duterte and oust him from office – citing information from a party whistleblower.

Below are the comments The Duran posted, saying:

“There is a lot of noises and chatters flooding the cyberspace, you got to use your discernment to filter all these information.”

“LETS PLAY FIRE WITH FIRE,” explaining “(t)hese are the exact words stated by Loida Lewis and her fellow oligarchs on a meeting months ago with Liberal Party members abroad,” adding:

Their plan is to use ISIS or ISIS-connected terrorists to instigate violence and chaos in Mindanao, wanting Duterte’s government destabilized and ousted.

If the information reported is accurate, it explains what’s now going on, likely to worsen, perhaps spread to other parts of the country.

Last week, Duterte said:

“if I cannot confront (ISIS terrorists threatening the country), I will resign. “If I am incompetent and incapable of keeping order in this country, let me step down and give the job to somebody else.”

If US dirty hands are behind the ISIS insurgency, he’s got a long struggle ahead, trying to overcome the attack on him and perhaps Philippine sovereignty.

 

[Anthony]

Here's William Engdahl's take on the situation in Philippines:

https://geopolitics.co/2017/06/03/the-cias-cloddish-isis-attack-on-duterte-f-william-engdahl/

The CIA’s Cloddish ISIS Attack on Duterte

It comes as no surprise to anyone closely following the evolving dialogues between Duterte and the leaders of China and now, Russia that the CIA would try to destabilize Duterte at this critical time. They simply hide behind the black skirts of their psychopathic drug-running Maute and Abu Sayyaf, both now tied to the CIA and Mossad-created and Saudi-financed ISIS.

 

[angelburst29]

Philippine Police has identified the perpetrator behind the deadly attack and consequent fire.

Philippine Police Identify Perpetrator of Deadly Friday Manila Resort Attack
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706041054290444-philippine-police-identify-manila-perpetrator/

The Philippine National Police has identified the perpetrator behind the deadly attack and consequent fire at the Resorts World Manila hotel and casino, which claimed the lives of 36 people, as Jessie Carlos, and rejected his ties to the terrorists again, local media reported Sunday.

The CNN Philippines reported that Carlos, a former employee of the Department of Finance, had gambling debts and money problems, and acted on his own.

The armed attacker on Friday opened fire at the casino complex and set casino tables on fire, which led to the casualties due to toxic smoke. The attacker committed suicide.

The Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attack, but police were considering robbery as a possible cause since the gunman "ransacked" the casino storage room and grabbed $2.6 million worth of gambling chips.

 

[angelburst29]

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to buy only brand-new military equipment to fight terrorism, rather than accepting second-hand weapons from the United States.

No More US Hand-Me-Downs: Duterte Wants Brand New Weapons at Any Cost
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706051054308303-philippines-new-weapons-any-cost/

Duterte on Friday said he is interested only in brand new, state-of-the-art weaponry, according to Business Insider.

"I will no longer accept second-hand military equipment," Duterte told soldiers at an army base on the southern island of Mindanao. "I do not want those given by the Americans. During my time, I will not have second-hand ships. It has to be brand new."

Duterte said he will pursue brand new weaponry even if it is going to cost him "double the money."

If Duterte makes good on his vow to stop buying weapons from the United States, he will unavoidably turn to either Russia or China, the US' main competitors on weapons markets.

In May, the Philippines president stressed that Washington imposes too many conditions on selling arms to his country.

"Russia sells arms, it does not impose any conditions. When Russia sells arms this is the arms. You need it, I will give it to you…Can you do that with America? No. Because the president says he will give and the State Department said No. And the congress says no, he violates human rights, so we keep a distance. If that is the way, so be it… I will not ask for mercy for that alone. I can go to Russia," Duterte said.

There are constitutional restrictions that prohibit Duterte from expanding his military budget beyond the nation's spending on education. The Philippines' current military budget is estimated to be about $2.76 billion.

Duterte may try to crank military spending up to $10 billion — about the sum the Department of Education received in 2017, but that would account to more than 15 percent of government spending altogether.


ISIS In The Philippines Destroy Local Catholic Church
https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e43_1496601637#4ycxoHuMV6K40yPo.99 (1:43 min.)

June 4, 2017 - Along with ethnically cleansing the city of Marawi, ISIS has also taken to the local churches to destroy them, as seen in this footage. They can destroy the material, but they will never destroy our faith.

 

[stellar]

Maybe our Mr. Putin is influencing the people with his rationality!! Might be contagious!! (wishful thinking).

And maybe the World situation is now more easily sorting the wheat from the chaff. No room for complacency or sitting on the fence otherwise you're lunch.

 

[angelburst29]

I found this to be a really good article that goes into some detail on the assorted extremist religious terrorist groups and their form of Wahhabi. It explains how a route between Indonesia – Malaysia – Philippines – Afghanistan was utilized to spread this form of terrorism. Below, I extracted some quotes on the Philippines.

US “Jihadi Express”: Indonesia – Afghanistan – Syria – Philippines
http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-jihadi-express-indonesia-afghanistan-syria-philippines/5594042

[...] Before an encounter with an “Afghan” jihadi cadre, I traveled to the city of Bandung, where I met Iman Soleh, a professor at the Faculty of Social and Political Science (University of Padjadjaran- UNPAD). He is yet another renowned authority on ‘terrorism’. He came to my hotel, accompanied by his wife, Professor Antik Bintari, a conflict management expert who teaches at the same university.

For quite some time, professor Iman Soleh and I discussed the link between the ‘old guard’ Southeast Asian (mainly Indonesians and Malaysians) jihadi cadres, so-called ‘Afghan alumni’ and the vanguard, a ‘new wave’, that which is now trying to destabilize, even destroy both Syria and the Philippines.

While the name ‘jihad’ itself has been used habitually and ‘liberally’ all over the Western mainstream media, it was clear to all of us at the table that behind the brutal combat as well as most of the horrors unleashed in such places like Syria and Philippines, hidden are the geopolitical interests of the West in general and of the United States in particular.

Professor Soleh has explained the latest ‘dynamics’:

Since World War Two, the U.S. was afraid of so-called ‘domino effects’. Among other things that are now happening in the Philippines under president Duterte, the government is curbing activities of the multi-national mining conglomerates, and the West cannot accept that. Philippines are putting its environmental concerns above the short-term profits! For the millions of left-wing activists here in Indonesia and all over Southeast Asia, Duterte is a role model.”

Therefore, following the imperialist logic, the Philippines have to be attacked and destabilized, as has already been done to Syria. Defiance is punishable by death. And how else other than through the most effective weapons which the West has been utilizing for years and decades: extremist religious terrorist groups. What better assembly of fighters to choose for that difficult task than the jihadists from the groups that had already proven to be so effective and lethal in places such as Afghanistan?

By now, almost nobody who is at least to some extent informed on the subject has any doubts that the West is mainly interested in maintaining ‘perpetual conflict’ in several regions of the world. As Professor Soleh observes:

“I think all this is not just to ‘destabilize’ the Philippines, but also because the country has conflict areas that could be ‘nurtured’. The best example is predominantly Muslim island of Mindanao, vs. the rest of the Philippines, which is predominantly a Catholic country. As we know, the Philippines is also involved in the South China Sea dispute with the PRC, and the U.S. is trying to fully dominate the region…”

And President Duterte is committing an ‘unpardonable crime’ in the eyes of Washington and London, by trying to resolve the territorial conflict with China, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

***

But back to the “Jihadi Express…” It is important to understand the background:

The Indonesian jihadi, Salafi group Darul Islam, fought for a caliphate and against the secular and socialist state headed by President Sukarno, in the 1950’s and well into the 1960’s. “Terror is halal”, they used to say.

Professor Saleh further clarifies:

“Eventually the Indonesian state dismantled ‘Darul Islam’, but there was an off-shoot of it created soon, ‘Komando Jihad’.”

Komando Jihad later transformed into a transnational Southeast Asian group Jamaah Islamiyah (with its spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir). The group has been maintaining active links and cooperation with al-Qaeda and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines, to name just two religious guerrillas.

“Fighters from Komando Jihad then went to Afghanistan. Ideologically they were hard-core Salafis, but with the Western support. They received Western help to acquire weapons and other basics. According to my contacts in the Indonesian intelligence community, the U.S. was backing this infiltration of Afghanistan by ‘Komando Jihad’ and by others. I’m also in possession of a piece of information that the Indonesian army (TNI) commander in the 1980’s, General Moerdani, was supporting Indonesian and Afghan jihadists, by supplying them with the weapons (including the AK-47’s).”

“Again, according to my Indonesian intelligence sources, the ‘departure’ itself of the Indonesian jihadists for Afghanistan was also directly helped by the U.S., under the cover of ‘Islamic study groups’ and other ‘communities’, and the route that was utilized was: Indonesia – Malaysia – Philippines – Afghanistan”.

These are not well-publicized facts, but they should not surprise anyone familiar with Indonesian history: after the brutal 1965 U.S.-sponsored military/religious coup, Indonesia rapidly transformed itself from an anti-imperialist, internationalist and progressive country into the closest Western ally in the entire Southeast Asia. The main ‘ideology’ of the new fascist pro-Western regime of General Suharto became “anti-Communism”. For months and years, the Communists as well as alleged ‘Communists’ were slaughtered all over the archipelago, while Communist ideology was banned, as were the Chinese language and culture, including dragons and cakes. The anti-Communist propaganda became the main sample of the ‘intellectual’ diet. The fourth most populous country on Earth went through a total reset, became one of the most ‘religious’ places on Earth, and soon after collapsed both socially and intellectually.

Allegations of “atheism” against the Communists were used in Indonesia in order to stir and radicalize thousands of potential and already existing jihadi cadres. Anti-atheism, even anti-secularism, became the rallying cry of those who were ready to sacrifice their lives for the ultimate goal and dream -a caliphate.

The West in Afghanistan played the same ‘game’, during the “Soviet era”, as it did in Indonesia after 1965, and elsewhere. It is clear and obvious that the imperialist scheme designed in Washington and London has been interchangeable and successfully applicable in many different geographical locations.

In Kabul, in March 2017, a legendary Afghan intellectual, Dr. Omara Khan Masoudi, explained to me:

“The biggest mistake the Soviet Union made here was to attack religion outrightly. If they’d first stuck to equal rights, and slowly worked it up towards the contradictions of religion, it could perhaps have worked… But they began blaming religion for our backwardness, in fact for everything. Or at least this is how it was interpreted by the coalition of their enemies, and of course by the West.

Now, why is the present Western invasion so ‘successful’; why is there so little in terms of intellectual opposition? Look at the regime in Kabul… During its rule, the US convinced people that Western intervention was ‘positive’, ‘respectful of their religion and cultures’. They kept repeating ‘under this and that UN convention’, and again ‘as decided by the UN’… They used NATO, a huge group of countries, as an umbrella. There was a ‘brilliantly effective’ protocol that they developed… According to them, they never did anything unilaterally, always by ‘international consensus’ and in order to ‘help Afghan people’. On the other hand, the Soviet Union never had the slightest chance to explain itself. It was attacked immediately, and on all fronts.”

In reality, the West has always been using(and finally it has managed to divert) Islam. Some great Muslim scholars, including those that I met in Tehran,a ctually believe that Washington, London, Paris and other centers of the Western imperialism and neo-colonialism, actually succeeded, in many parts of the world,to create a totally new and (to many true and intellectual Muslims) unrecognizable religion.

***

Indonesian jihadi cadres hardened in Afghanistan and trained by the Pakistanis eventually returned to their country. There, they went to “work”, participating in such bloodlettings and killings as those in Ambon (Maluku) and Poso (Sulawesi). In Ambon the conflict continued from 1999 to 2002, and while it lasted, allegedly 8,000 people died, while thousands belonging to both sexes were involuntarily and brutally circumcised and genitally mutilated. In Ambon, I saw the jihadi cadres in action, hacking to death a young innocent boy, right in front of the eyes of a cheering crowd of onlookers. I later described the horror of this incident in my novel “Point of No Return”.

Little did I know, then, what I was really witnessing and trying to document. Only much later, in Bandung, in May 2017, a couple of professors, Iman Soleh and Antik Bintari, explained to me:

“Poso and Ambon, that’s the “Afghani Link”. During those massacres, there were still some ‘old jihadists’ from the Afghan days, participating in the actual fighting. However, there were also some ‘fresh’ fighters there, many of them undergoing exercises with the Indonesian ‘Afghans’. Poso and Ambon conflicts were in fact serving as two training grounds. After that, a new generation of combatants had risen”. (Article continues.)

 

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US special forces are helping the Philippine military retake the southern city of Marawi from IS-linked militants, the Philippine army says.

Marawi siege: US special forces aiding Philippine army (Video)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40231605

The forces are providing technical help and are not fighting, it said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier threatened to throw out US troops amid strained relations since taking office.

Militants have been under siege since rampaging through the southern city on 23 May. The latest fighting has claimed the lives of 13 Philippine marines.

Hundreds of militants, who have been flying the black flag of so-called Islamic State and are led by the self-styled IS emir of the southern Philippines, Isnilon Hapilon, and the Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah, are still holed up in the city.

The latest casualties bring the number of Philippine troops killed in the fighting to 58. At least 138 militants and 20 civilians have also been killed, the government says.

The BBC's Jonathan Head says there are several reports that the Maute brothers, who lead the Maute group, are among the dead, with intercepted communications from jihadist groups suggesting this.

In a press briefing, Lt Col Jo-ar Herrera said the army was checking the reports. He cited "strong indications" but gave no further details.

The brothers' parents, who are believed to have helped fund their armed group, have been captured.

Marawi is on the southern island of Mindanao, which has a significant Muslim population in the majority Catholic country and has seen a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency.

Col Herrera confirmed for the first time that US special forces were helping the army. "They are not fighting. They are just providing technical support," he said.

Reuters news agency earlier quoted the US embassy in Manila as verifying the presence of US forces. It would not go into operational details but said the US forces were helping at the request of the Philippine government.

The US has had a small logistical military presence in the Philippines, although a programme to advise the Philippine army on fighting the Abu Sayyaf militant group was discontinued in 2015.

Mr Duterte, a strongman who has supported the extrajudicial killing of drug users and other criminals, has been highly critical of the US since taking power last June, straining a long-time alliance.

But he had what the White House described as a "very friendly" phone call with President Donald Trump in April, and has since said his differences with the US were with President Barack Obama's administration.

Philippine army spokesman Brig Gen Restituto Padilla Jr has vowed that the national flag will be flying once again over all of Marawi by Monday - the Philippine national day.

The army has missed past deadlines to rid the city of militants amid two weeks of air and ground assaults.

Col Herrera said the militants were now restricted to three districts within the city.

"The world of terrorism inside the city is growing smaller by the day," he said.

Officials say that foreign nationals are among the militants in Marawi, with the list of countries and territories including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Yemen, India and Chechnya.


Air strike on jihadist targets in Marawi, Philippines (Video)
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-40232084/air-strike-on-jihadist-targets-in-marawi-philippines

Fighting continues after militants linked to so-called Islamic State seized parts of Marawi in the southern Philippines last month.

The Philippines army has lost 58 soldiers in the fighting, while more than 100 militants are reported dead and some 20 civilians.

U.S. forces are providing the Philippines with technical assistance to end a siege of the southern town of Marawi by militants allied to Islamic State but it has no boots on the ground, the Philippines military said on Saturday.

Philippine military confirms US forces providing support against militants allied to Islamic State
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/10/u-s-special-forces-helping-philippines-troops-in-battle-against-militants-allied-to-islamic-state.html

The seizure of Marawi by hundreds of fighters who have sworn allegiance to Islamic State, including dozens from neighboring countries and the Middle East, has fueled concern that the ultra-radical group is gaining a foothold in Southeast Asia.

Earlier a U.S. embassy spokesperson in Manila told Reuters that, at the request of the Philippines government, special operations forces were helping liberate the town, part of which has been occupied by hundreds of militants since May 23.


In Marawi, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera confirmed the U.S. assistance, telling a news conference: "They are not fighting. They are just providing technical support."

A U.S. P3 Orion surveillance plane was seen flying over the town on Friday, according to local media reports.

Until now there had been no confirmation that the Philippines had sought U.S. support in the battle for Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, which is in its third week.

The assistance comes after months of strain between the two long-time allies that was stoked by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's hostility towards Washington and his pledges to throw U.S. troops out of the country.

Washington deployed special forces soldiers to Mindanao in 2002 to train and advise Philippine units fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in a program that once involved 1,200 Americans. It was discontinued in 2015 but a small presence remained for logistics and technical support.

The United States and the Philippines have been allies for decades. Their relationship provided Washington with a strategic foothold in Asia, and offered Manila a shield against China's assertiveness in the region.

But Duterte has openly scorned the alliance, seeing it as an obstacle to a rapprochement with China, and has repeatedly lambasted Washington for treating his country as a lackey.

A US surveillance plane is seen flying over a city where dozens have died in clashes between marines and militants allied with IS.

US special forces aid fight to oust Islamic militants in the Philippines
http://news.sky.com/story/us-special-forces-aid-fight-to-oust-islamic-militants-in-the-philippines-10910676

US special forces have joined an operation to oust Islamic State-affiliated militants who have laid siege to a city in the southern Philippines.

The forces are providing technical assistance to end the conflict in Marawi, on the island of Mindanao, which has claimed dozens of lives over the last three weeks.

The US troops are not fighting, but an American surveillance plane was seen flying over the city on Friday.

Earlier, 13 Filipino marines were killed as they conducted a house-to-house search for militants allied with Islamic State.

Around 30 to 40 militants used civilians as human shields and positioned themselves in the city's mosques, army spokesman Edgard Arevalo said.

Colonel Arevalo added the "temporary setback" had "not diminished our resolve a bit".

He said: "It instead primed up our determination to continue our prudent advances to neutralise the enemy, save the innocent lives trapped in the fight, and set the conditions for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi."

Since the violence erupted on 23 May, hundreds of thousands of people have fled Marawi, parts of which have been reduced to rubble by fighting and government airstrikes.

Last month, a police chief was beheaded as around 100 heavily armed gunmen burned buildings and raised the black flag of IS

Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in an area of the city controlled by at least 200 militants.

There were "strong indications" the two brothers who formed one of the factions have been killed, a military spokesman said.

Marawi is not the only Filipino city to have come under attack this month.

Last week, 37 people suffocated to death when a gunman torched tables at a casino in Philippine capital Manila.

Police said the attacker, who was armed with an assault rifle, later set himself on fire in a hotel room. A bag of gambling chips worth around £175,000 was found in the toilet of the room. Islamic State claimed that one of its "lone wolf soldiers" carried out the attack.

 

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Marawi siege: US special forces aiding Philippine army (Video)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40231605

Philippine military confirms US forces providing support against militants allied to Islamic State
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/10/u-s-special-forces-helping-philippines-troops-in-battle-against-militants-allied-to-islamic-state.html

US special forces aid fight to oust Islamic militants in the Philippines
http://news.sky.com/story/us-special-forces-aid-fight-to-oust-islamic-militants-in-the-philippines-10910676

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has denied media reports claiming he requested US Special Forces assistance in the battle for Marawi City, saying on Sunday that he “never approached America” for help.

Duterte claims ‘never approached’ US for help in battle against Islamist militants (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/news/391843-duterte-us-special-forces-marawi/

“I am not aware of that until they arrived,” Duterte said when discussing the latest developments in Marawi City.

Duterte’s comments follow a 14-hour battle Friday that killed 13 Philippines military personnel and left 40 wounded, the heaviest losses sustained so far in operations to retake the city occupied by ISIS-affiliated militants.

Since May 23 when fighting began, 58 Philippines soldiers have died.

The mother of the mastermind brothers that founded the Islamic State-affiliated Maute group was arrested on Friday by the Philippines National Police. Ominta Romato Maute was arrested in the town of Masiu, Lanao del Sur.

Her sons, Omar Romato Maute and Abdullah Romato Maute, are suspected of conspiring with Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, in masterminding the attack on Marawi City.

During the arrest, police seized high-powered firearms and multiple improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades.

Local Philippines journalist Chiara Zambrano, who has been closely monitoring the situation on the ground near Marawi City, tweeted police claims that the convoy escorting the Maute mother was fired upon, with several casualties.

The brothers’ father, Cayamora Maute, was apprehended Tuesday morning at a military checkpoint in Sirawan, Davao City, ABS-CBN reports.