Gibo: Mindanao conflict made disarming private armies difficult

Posted at 01/29/2010 7:48 PM | Updated as of 01/29/2010 9:25 PM

5th in a series on ANC's presidential youth forum at De La Salle University, Jan. 29, 2010

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MANILA, Philippines—Administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Friday the volatile peace situation in Mindanao prevented the government from disarming the private armies during his time as defense secretary.

Teodoro said in ANC's presidential youth forum at De La Salle University in Manila that during his time it was impossible to dismantle the private armies in Mindanao because of various threats to the peace and order in the region.

“During the time when I became defense secretary, there were threats from the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), a possibility that war could erupt, Christians were fighting, and kidnappings were happening all over the country, so we cannot disarm,” Teodoro said. “We couldn't sustain it (disarming) and it could have lead to more trouble.”

The issue of dismantling and disarming private armies has become controversial after the infamous Maguindanao massacre last November, allegedly masterminded by the Ampatuan clan. It led to the declaration of martial law in the province, resulting in the discovery of high-powered weapons and ammunitions near the residence of the Ampatuans clan. The armory, reports said, included some firearms owned by the government.

When Teodoro was asked how the private armies of the Ampatuan were able to have access to the government-owned weapons, he said that the Ampatuans didn't acquire those during his term at the defense department. He also said it was impossible for the Ampatuans to have built an armory as huge as that in just 2 years.

“There may be some [government owned-weapons] included in the armory, but the inventory said that 34 weapons only have corresponding serial numbers with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) [supply],” Teodoro said, adding that only 10% of the bullets confiscated were government-owned.

No case fixing

Teodoro also said, in response to a student's question, that his resignation from the defense department has nothing to do with the Maguindanao massacre. He said he was scheduled to resign much earlier to prepare for the campaign, but tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng brought massive floods. He needed to manage the rescue operations of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, which he chaired.

Asked if President Arroyo has committed any wrongdoings and if he would run after her if he gets elected, the former defense secretary said he would just let the judicial process take its proper course--he will neither initiate it nor block it.

“If I participate in running after her, one way or another, they will think I will fix the case. And if I don’t, they will say I am not doing my job. Anybody can file a case against her and I should not meddle with it. Let justice be done,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said it is hard for him to answer the question because he is a party-mate of President Arroyo.

“If I say yes, it is using something which is popular, using your emotions for a party mate and for a person I served with as Cabinet [secretary]. If I say no, then it’s depriving myself of the objectivity I would need when I become president to deal with [a past] issue,” Teodoro added.

In previous interviews, Teodoro said that running after a former president is not the main task of a successor but of the institutions mandated by the Constitution.

Local autonomy

When asked about his position on the botched deal on the Memorandum on Agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), Teodoro, however, declined to reveal his stand on the issue, invoking executive privilege and said that it is a national security matter.

The MOA-AD deal would have expanded the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The deal was criticized by local officials and was later declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Teodoro only said that he is not in favor of giving autonomy to localities that are not yet ready for it and added that he is closely watching the peace process in Mindanao.

“We should closely look in giving autonomy to those places where national government will subsidize [their operations] and there is no accountability mechanism,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro, who also served as chair of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said that there is a need to enact a disaster risk management bill that would make local and national governments more prepared in dealing with disaster preparation, adaptation, and rehabilitation.

The macroeconomic fundamentals of the country, he added, should be also good to allow the government to spend more revenues in preparing for disasters.

“We should also be strict in implementing the land use and zoning plans,” Teodoro said, adding that local governments should have the tools for prevention while national government should have the capacity to respond in case the LGUs are overwhelmed. -  (Newsbreak)
 


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25 comments

LANG BARIL ANG NATANGGAP NI GIBO MULA SA AMPATUAN...

DAPAT MALAMAN NATIN LAHAT ...ILAN BARIL DIN ANG HINDI REGISTERED NI GIBO...MALALAMAN KAYA NATIN ...SI GEN FERRER UMAMIN NA ..PERO DI PA NAKUKULONG ...SINONG ABOGADO ANG MAGPAPAKULONG SA KANYA ..WALA..DI BA..KASI GANUN TAYO ...DEVANADERA ..ANO BANG TRABAHO MO ...


DND chief

5

Dapat naggawa ng paraan ng kahit sinong DND chief, no excuses. Nalabas lang ang baho ng private armies gawa ng ,massacre. Mahirap pero pwede naman gawin lalo na kaalyado ng presidente.

www.nacionalista.org

Bangon Pilipinas!!

LAPIT MGA KAIBIGAN AT MAKINIG KAYO
AKO'Y MAY DALA DALANG BALITA GALING SA BAYAN KO
NAIS KONG IPAMAHAGI ANG MGA KWENTO
AT MGA PANGYAYARING NAGAGANAP SA LUPANG PINANGAKO.

AKO AY PILIPINO SA ISIP AT SA GAWA
NGUNIT BAKIT MGA PINUNO PURO LAMANG SALITA
ISANG GOBYERNO NA KAYANG SIKMURAIN AT MAGTAWANAN
MAY PAMILYANG KUMAKAIN NA KULANG SA DALAWANG
BESES SA ISANG ARAW MINSAN WALA PANG PANG LUGAW
BAKIT GANITO KABABAW ISANG PAGKAING NILANGAW
ANG DADAMPUTIN AT KAKAININ NG BATANG GUTOM
ALAM BA NG MGA HUSGADO AT LAHAT NG HUKOM
NA MERONG MAS MASAHOL PA SA HATOL NA KAMATAYAN
YAN AY IKA'Y MAGING MAHIRAP SA SARILI MONG BAYAN
MGA BATA NA ANG DAPAT NA GINAGAWA'Y MAGLARO
BAGKUS AY AGOS NG PAWIS AT MAGBANAT NG BUTO
UPANG KUMITA NG ILANG PIRASONG PISONG MADUNGIS
KALYO SA KAMAY AT PAA NA MANHID SA MATULIS
HINDI MANIKA ANG HAWAK NG KANYANG MUMUNTING BRASO
BAGKUS ISANG TAONG GULANG NYANG KAPATID AT MAY BASO SA HARAPAN
NA NAGBABAKASAKALING LAGYAN BARYANG PAMBILI NG TINAPAY NA PANG LAMAN SA TIYAN
MGA PINUNONG BAGO MAMATAY AT MAGKASAKIT
SA SARAP NG BUHAY SAKIN KAYO AY MAKINIG.

DUUL MGA KAIGSUUNAN UGPAMI NAW KAMO
DUNA KOY DALA NGA MGA BALITA GIKAN SA BANWA KO
GUSTO KO NGA IPAHIBALO ANG MGA ISTORYA
NA NAGA GAHITABO SA BANWA GISAAD NA TO

MGA BAKAL NA DUMUDURA NG APOY AT NG TINGGA
TANGAN TANGAN AT BALOT NAKASUOT NG PANG DIGMA
BAKIT DI MAPAG TUGMA ANG MAYAMAN AT DUKHA
SA PANANAW ANG KAPALIT AY HAPIS AT PAG LULUKSA
PARE-PAREHONG SUNDALO MUSLIM MAN O KRISTYANO
ILAN MAN ANG MASAWI DI MO ALAM SINONG PANALO
WALANG PANALO DAHIL SA HULI TAYO ANG TALO
PINOY ANG NASA LOOB NG ATAUL NA SINARADO
YAN BA TALAGA ANG SUMPA DITO SA LUPANG
PINANGAKO RESPETO'T PAGMAMAHALAN AY PILIT NA TINATAGO
LAWIN HINDI MAKA DAPO MAY PAKPAK NA LIMITADO
AT NAKA KULONG SA SELDANG MAY WALANG SUSING KANDADO
KAYLAN KAYA MATATAPOS ANG PAG AGOS NG DUGO
AT ANG KPAYAPAAY MAHAWAKAN NG BUONG BUO
YAN BA ANG KWENTO O TANONG NA PILIT NA HUMAHAWI
SA BAWAT TAONG BAHAGI NG WATAWAT NA HINAPI

DUUL MGA KAIGSUUNAN UGPAMI NAW KAMO
DUNA KOY DALA NGA MGA BALITA GIKAN SA BANWA KO
GUSTO KO NGA IPAHIBALO ANG MGA ISTORYA
NA NAGA GAHITABO SA BANWA GISAAD NA TO

LAPIT MGA KAIBIGAN AT MAKINIG KAYO..

Bangon Pilipinas!


GIBO IS VOLATILE

VOLATILE FOR INDECISIVENESS...BAR TOPNOTCHER FOR NOTHING AT ALL...JUST LIKE MARCOS...


Corruptions, the bottom line

The bottom line of all problems in our country is “CORRUPTIONS”!.

It’s not only how we need to disarming those private armies in Mindanao but also those private armies operating in Luzon and Vizayas. And no matter how we successfully do this impossible mission of disarming, peace and stability of the region will never been achieve. Because we miss to face the true enemy of the nation.

The CORRUPTIONS! Corruption in our government is the real culprit of all crimes. It is the mother of all crimes. It is the reason why Philippines still lagged behind her Asian Neighbors. This is the reason why mass poverty of Filipinos. It even reduced the principles of many Filipinos for tolerating this social evil that we have to fight at all cost if we want to move forward.

Why these clans and families maintaining private armies because they want to protect their family or clan to still hold the power they originated from their parents up to their descendants. Why they are fighting to the local leadership if no money in the local politics? Because these locals leaders have incentives of the funds like the kickbacks from the IRA, influence, and salaries from the government where they can directly take without implementing projects for their localities. Meaning, they have to grab people treasures and denied them of uplifting their livelihood through the basic services, implementation of roads and public buildings such as school buildings, and health centers. The result, no improvement to these areas as what the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, and the Lanao del Sur .

This elections issue must be centered on the issue of corruption. How we find candidate we need to vote so he can lead the change we are dreaming.

Voting a candidate who has records of corruptions (C-5) means you tolerate how these crooks politicians grabbing the national treasures when elected. Voting poodle candidate is like you tolerating the continue grabbing of a corrupt regime.

Voting for not serious candidate is wasting a vote for change. We need the candidate who has clean record who is determined not to steal or grab.


I don't believe Gibo.

He is good, good in telling you what you want to hear. But the fact of the matter is that he failed or was unwilling to do anything about this problem when he had the responsibility as the defence secretary. The fact of the matter is that because of HIS FAILURE, the Maguindanao massacre happened. Yes, he can talk but it is all bullshit talk and i guess some people like hear bullshit talk.


Para SA ating lahat:

MNLF- is accepted by the Philippine government just to give Moro nationals of their own version of Armed forces. This is approved and acknowledge but in due term and purposes that they must abide and observed the rule of law but they were not considered the enemy of the state not unlike the MILF ok? But if somebody makes any illegal moves they must to face the consequences as of what is entitled for them in a rule of law.
MILF- is another version of group by Islamic people supported by Islamic countries ok? So, this group can be considering an enemy of the state because of their bombing attacked and they are Muslim separatist group. So, their acts are outside of Muslim rules of humanity ok? They are adopting the system of international Muslim communities who support them and feed their families and any act of its members that is against to the rule of law is we are after them to prosecute but we can not easily declare an all out war against them because of human rights issues. So, by this point madali Lang po natin Makita ang overview kung bakit dumadami ang miyembro nila dahil dito kahit Hindi ka nakapag aral as long na marunong ka ng humawak ng baril ay pwede ka at maging sundalo ka at may sahod ka na pwede na ring maging hanap buhay mo para mabuhay ang pamilya mo? Ito ang sinasabing kapit sa patalim? Masakit, mahirap pero ito ang totoo? Dahil bakit dahil wala po tayong enap na livelihood program na pwedeng pagkakitaan sa mga mahirap nating kababayan na nakatira sa ibat ibang sulok ng bansa natin diba? Madali Lang po magsalita SA entablado bilang isang politico pero mahirap po ang gumawa pwera nalang Doon SA mga totoong Tao at dedicated SA pagiging Public Servants. Ngayon Sino sisihin natin? Gobyerno ba o ikaw? Sana naman po tandaan natin na tayo po mga mamayan ang makapagbago ng gobyerno natin eh kahit sino nakaupo jan kung Hindi po tayo magtatrabaho ng marangal at maging mabuti sa kapwa at patuloy na maging sakim sa kapangyarihan ay patuloy po tayong mabubuhay na palaging may tanong dahil ang lahat po dito sa mundong ginagalawan natin ay kulang wala pong kumpleto at ito ang tinatawag na consequences of life: remember our country is only a 300,000 square kilometer with more than 90 million people? So, what you think? My opinion is very clear: In our countries situation we need a healing process we need a leader that heartily have a dedication to served of his/her countrymen and not necessarily a brilliant but I think the most important is he is not a corrupt leader and can transform our system to restore Public trust and decency of good governance in transparency not of his vested interest. I truly believed that if the upcoming President is not corrupt the LGU can work properly to support every local sector in the community and our Political system will be definitely in new images and must be focus more in a social services. Create more jobs so that people not to be tempted to go to a group that can feed them even it is illegal? People can work in decent ways and lived peacefully with their own respective families. Hindi na po dadami ang mangarap na maging ofw para lang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya. Hindi na po kailangan mag away ang mga politico para maging mayor o gobernador para lang makapuwesto para maka pangurakot dahil strikto an po ang batas laban sa corruptions diba? Sa tingin ko we must to start a new one but we must focus first to stop CORRUPTIONS. Peace!

For it is Gods will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 1 PETER 2:15

@Mang Edong..................

Hehehe! Alam mo Mang Edong natatawa ako SA iyo SA totoo Lang promise?

I suggest that you better read:

1) The 1987 Philippine Constitution for Legal issues?
2) Please make research on how the Philippine People became a Christians? Who introduce Christianity in our country? And what is the story behind on Why the Christian people in Philippines right now who convert to Islam like Robin Padilla is called a Balik Islam? And who is the responsible people in Islam faith on why we have a Muslim brothers that claims that they own Mindanao? For what reasons and what is their Proof?

Follow up personal questions Lang po:

1) Are you Mang Edong came from Mindanao? Or Have you ever been there and have a personal and Geographical knowledge of that Island?
2) If you are a Christians or Muslims right now? Did you ask yourself on why? And what is the Story behind you?

Please Mang Edong read and research so that you can have a simple back up of your claim SA mga pinagsasabi mo regarding the basis of legal and cultural issue in Mindanao? Otherwise, your claim, remarks and comments of sensitive issues like Martial Law, Cultural issue is baseless and purely a result of a simple tsismis on the backyard?

To tell you:
Private armies in Mindanao were simply born due to Political Rivalry and not by the conflict of both parties not by Christians itself to protect themselves? For Maguindanao issue Ampatuan clan authorized by the government to have Private armies due to MILF because that area before is controlled by MILF and it so happen that Ampatuan Clan were not a supporter of this group so they have reasons to create private Armies but the Government failed to control of their existence because its so happen na nagging controversial sila sa pagiging cheater na favor naman ky GMA at dito nakatali ang leeg ni Pandak hanggang sa umabot sa katakot takot na massacre due to Political issues na kahit si Gibo ay hindi maka galaw2x o walang magawa dahil meron din siyang sariling adhikain na makuha ang suporta ni Pandak kaya ano sa tingin niyo sa kanya ito ba ang taong may prinsipyo at tunay na lumalaban para sa kapakanan ng madla? Eh kayo napo ang maghusga?
Pero Mang Edong, Private armies right now in Mindanao is mostly in ARMM regions and other sides of Southern Mindanao occupied by Muslim communities ok? Kaya ko sinabi sayo na dapat alam mo ang buong parte ng Mindanao dahil ako as I lived in Northern Mindanao particularly in Cagayan de Oro and am working as Sales Specialist in 8 years in whole Mindanao I know that private armies is very limited and Para sa Inyo na akala niyo magulo ang Mindanao ay Hindi po? May ibang parte Lang po particularly in rural areas lalo Na SA mga MILF territories pero Hindi po buong Mindanao ok? Kaya Mang Edong Hindi po kailangan ang Martial Law ng Mindanao? Dahil po asides sa legal matters that against our Philippine constitution it is not the ideal solutions on how to dismantle private armies and to tell you that’s not that easy but to say rather than to do ok?

For it is Gods will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 1 PETER 2:15

gibo on disarming issue

gibo is only exposing his ignorance, indecisiveness and incapability if he is not deliberate of not disarming private armies* in mindanao (as well as in other areas in the philippines). one can find his reasoning as a mere alibi, the typical washing of hands with regards to what happened in maguindanao. it only strengthen ones doubt that he is involve (knowingly or unknowingly, directly or indirectly) in arming these private armies via the corrupt officers of the afp. the boxes bearing the dnd marks excavated in the yards of the ampatuan's are already a prima facie evidence but the philippine justice system doesn't dare to see instead decided to ignore it as if the current administration is clean and innocent regardless whether a close ally or not to the ampatuans. it is reasonable and logical however, when gibo said that it is not easy for him to disarm these private armies when in fact he is part of the reason why the ampatuans where able to have access on the arsenals of dnd. he already reasoned out before that it is not in his jurisdiction when it comes to the distribution of these firearms. again, an enlightened filipino registered voter for 2010 elections can find this reasoning as a mere alibi if not to declare gibo's incapability as dnd secretary. as a secretary of the national defense at least he should have knowledge where these arms where distributed or issued and who are its recipients or beneficiaries supported with proper documentation knowing that it is his direct responsibility and accountability if case these arms can go to the hands of the criminals and are being used to commit crimes against the people whom the national defense are supposed to defend. the way gibo reasoned out about maguindanao only supports to the recent comments of one of the ampatuan lawyer on his involvement in the acquisition of dnd firearms by the ampatuans and he too must be trialed or investigated and lately, the mangudadatu's disclosure on how he was reminded and discouraged by gibo during his meeting with in a malate restaurant of not to face the ampatuan's for the gubernatorial race in his own province advising mangudadatu as if he is not a muslim and not knowing how the ampatuan's can be violent, brutal and bloody clan. the only mishap of mangudadatu is that he doesn't know or even have a tiniest idea that the ampatuan's are not truly muslims and are no longer following the teachings of the Holy Qu'ran: respecting and protecting women of high regard and standard being the light of the house especially those from the 'people of the book'. when in real sense true muslims are GOD fearing and truly family oriented people. the november '09 incident in maguindanao is an isolated case that happened in our times where a muslim men commit brutal atrocities to fellow innocent muslim women on that unfortunate day! and without the hands in the background of the dnd secretary under the current administration of a, the noted 'small but terror', who technically fed and created a voracious monster, the ampatuan's, that incident in maguindanao might be mitigated. but God has his own way of exposing corrupt politicians in the philippines as they technically work underground under the facade of a good governance where common people, the usually poor and hungry people in the philippines have no way to identify unless enlightened when they are offered few pesos in exchange for their votes every time there is an election as if selling their souls just to make their stomach full for a day if not weeks. the issue of poverty can only be solved when people starts to elect politicians with clear motivation, clean conscience and with track record of making an action not for his own welfare to amass more wealth but to help improving the lives of the filipino people through increased income and lower prices for most commodities. when common people who are usually the poor and hungry people whether based in rural or urban areas in the provincial cities or big cities in manila starts to be more distinctive reflective in their choice of politicians electing candidates not based on popularity, influence, wealth, stature, or name, or money politics then perhaps there is still hope until then there is no hope, no light (regardless of how many filipino saints are canonized, it doesn't matter) and what is going now will perpetually happen and happen again indefinitely, presidents come and go, justices, cabinet members appointed and disappointed by the infamous politically motivated ca, street rallies anywhere, everywhere. and what is sure to happen is for manny p to retire from boxing and the filipinos will admire him as a hero, a filipino icon who conquer the world to give the philippines a name in the field of boxing sports. so, the filipino registered voters for 2010 elections should be careful of choosing their candidates and try to consider alternative candidates like g & f tandem or g & r combination or else p & f combine can be a good team up to lead the philippines. your vote can be our only chance to have a golden opportunity to reverse the situation the filipinos had right now. to set the right tone and perspective; you may have the option not to sell your votes but it is better yet to purify ones motivation, a way to sacrifice yourself ones and for all for the sake of rotten country the fruit of the long past history of colonialism to initiate once and for all its glory and fame, truly the philippines!

(*note: private armies here does not refer or include the milf and the npa, the politically motivated rebels having a political cause or to advance its own ideology.)


gamorsangcopan

MARAMING SALAMAT SA COMMENT MO. TAMA KA PAPUNTA KA PALANG AY PAUWI NA AKO. ALAM KO WALA KANG KAKAYAHAN PARA TALAKAYIN MO ANG MINDANAO, FROM YESTERDAY AND FROM TODAY. MALAKI SIR ANG ANG PAGBABAGO NG CULTURA SA MINDANAO. BAKIT NAGYARI ITO NA WALA MAN NAKAKAPANSIN. ANG PROBLEMA SA MINDANAO AY NAGSIMULA NOONG DUMATING ANG MGA KRISTIANO SA PROVINCIA NG MINDANAO. NAGKAROON NG AWAY ANG MUSLIM AT KRISTIANO, KUNG PAPAANO NANGYARI MARAMING HAKA HAKA. KINAMKAM RAW NG KRISTIANO ANG LUPAIN NG MUSLIM. SIGURO MAY TUTUO MAYROON DIN HINDI. NAGKAROON NG SAMAHAN ANG KRISTIANO PARA MAPROTECTAHAN ANG KANILANG KABUHAYAN. DITO INAANAK ANG PRIVATE ARMIES. EXAMPLE AY MGA ILAGA. MAHABANG STORIA. PERO LUMALA NA LUMALA. MARAMING PRESIDENTE NAGPALIT PALIT PERO ANG PROBLEMA SA MINDANAO NANDOON PARIN. PERO SIR MAS MALALA NGAYON KAYSA NOON. NGAYON LUMAKI ANG GRUPO. NABUO ANG MNLF AT MILF. PINAYAGAN NG GOBYERNO NI CORY NAGKAMAYROON ANG MILF NG KANILANG ARMIES AT MAY SARILING CAMPO. NANDYAN DIN ANG HUKBONG SANDATAHAN NG PILIPINAS PLUS CAFGU. MARAMI NG GUMAYA LALONA SA MAYAYAMAN NEGOSYANTE AT MGA PULITICO PARA PROTECTION KAYA NAGKAROON SILA NG KANYA KANYANG PRIVATE ARMIES. PUMALIT SI FIDEL RAMOS, PINAGPATULOY PA RIN PLUS MGA TREATIES. BAKA MAY GUSTO KANG IDAGDAG. SAKA BINGYAN MO KAMI NG SOLUTION AT HINDI MGA PISSIMISM OR NEGATIVENESS. ANO BA ANG MABUTI SOLUTION NA NASA UTAK MO. HUWAG KANG MAHIYA IBIGAY MO NA. PARA NAMAN ANG UUPONG PRESIDENTE MAY PAKINABANG SA IYO.



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