'PEPENG' DEATH TOLL HITS 375 / TROOPS TO LANAO TO PURSUE KIDNAPPERS
MANILA, OCTOBER 15, 2009 (STAR) By James Mananghaya - The death toll from typhoon “Pepeng” (international codename: Parma) continues to rise, with confirmed fatalities now reaching 375, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).In an update, the NDCC said that 287 of the reported deaths came from the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) and were largely due to landslides.
There were 75 deaths in Region I, eight in Region III, one in Region IV-A and four in Region V.
There were 185 injured persons, with 131 coming from CAR, 47 in Region I, and 7 in Region II.
At press time, 48 individuals were still missing.
The NDCC said 3.2 million individuals have been affected by the typhoon, with 18,000 families staying in 179 evacuation centers.
The total damage estimate for Pepeng is now at P8.139 billion, with P1.607 billion in infrastructure and P6.532 billion in agriculture.
Road clearings and restoration of basic communication facilities and infrastructure are continuing to allow the rapid delivery of relief goods to Northern Luzon.
President Arroyo has ordered the clearing of Halsema Highway, which connects Baguio City with the Mountain Province and the rest of the provinces in the CAR, for the northern areas to be accessible by land.
Meanwhile, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations continue in Northern and Central Luzon to provide immediate relief to the affected population in different regions hit by flood and landslide.
The Air Force has recorded 112 sorties from Oct. 4 to 12 for the transport of a total of 88,777 pounds of relief goods.
Coordination among government agencies continues in order to facilitate an efficient disaster response system that will attend to the needs of the affected residents.
“The public is encouraged to support all efforts from various sectors and assist our countrymen towards recovery from this crisis,” the agency said. – Artemio Dumlao
Troops sent to Lanao to go after Irish priest's kidnappers By Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) Updated October 15, 2009 12:00 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – A division of government troops has been deployed to isolate the kidnappers of Fr. Michael Sinnott, who were spotted in a jungle area spanning the Lanao provinces in Central Mindanao.
Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said troops have been sent to prevent the kidnappers from slipping out of the area known to be controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Dolorfino said a notorious pirate leader carried out the snatch and turned over the elderly Irish priest to the MILF.
“We have identified the kidnapper of the priest as Guingona Samal, a notorious pirate leader in Zamboanga peninsula,” Dolorfino said.
He said Samal, alias Commander Inggo, was also the owner of the getaway boat that the kidnappers used.
Six armed gunmen kidnapped the 79-year-old priest from his home at the Missionary Society of Saint Columban compound in Pagadian City on Sunday night in what appeared to be a well-organized operation.
Although the MILF denied having a hand in the kidnapping of Sinnott, Dolorfino did not rule out the possibility that some rogue elements of the Muslim secessionist group participated in the snatch.
Dolorfino said the military was verifying intelligence reports that Samal may have passed Sinnott on to a local commander of the MILF in the area, a certain Latip Jamad, a commander of the MILF’s 113rd Base Command.
Sources revealed Jamad had threatened to kidnap Sinnott unless the high-powered firearms seized from them by the military during an encounter were returned.
Sources added that Jamad sent the demand by text message to Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Cerilles and Zamboanga Sur Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar.
Dolorfino said the kidnappers were sighted in the jungle area around the towns of Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Nunungan in Lanao del Norte, and in Pikong, Lanao del Sur.
He said civilian informants saw the priest and his armed captors last Oct. 12 in Barangay Payong, Sultan Naga Dimaporo.
“These areas have heavy presence of the MILF,” Dolorfino pointed out.
Following the series of sightings, troops have been sent to the area to set up roadblocks to prevent the kidnappers from slipping through.
“That is to prevent transfer to other areas, the dangerous course of action of the kidnappers is to go to Basilan or Sulu so we are trying to prevent that at sea or on land,” he said.
Western Mindanao Police director Chief Superintendent Angel Sunglao said offensive operations against the kidnappers have been put on hold.
“The military and police operations have been on hold because it might endanger the life of the victim,” Sunglao said.
He said police units have established perimeter checkpoints in the area to help government troops locate the kidnappers.
Dolorfino added they have informed the MILF, through the joint ceasefire committee, of any developments surrounding the kidnapping of Sinnott. The MILF said they would help the government locate Sinnott.
“We will help look for Fr. Sinnott. It would be good if government would officially ask us. But even if government will not ask us, still we would help for humanitarian reasons,” MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.
Kabalu stressed the MILF has an obligation to help in such crisis situation. Dolorfino said they are banking on the commitment of the MILF to help in the recovery of Sinnott.
Regional military spokesman Maj. Ramon David Hontiveros said the series of sightings indicated Sinnott is “still alive.”
“We have very good leads. The case is still under the Westmincom area of responsibility,” Hontiveros said.
“We appeal to the localities to help us in recovering the priest. He doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. The man is old and he deserves respect with his work in helping the people,” he added. –With Edith Regalado, James Mananghaya, Cecille Suerte Felipe
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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