News Roundup 24 June 2023
Jun 24, 2023 • 4 min Read
4 gov’t troopers wounded in clash with followers of Sulu politician | INQUIRER.NET – ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Three police officers and a soldier were wounded when followers of a politician in Maimbung, Sulu fired upon them as they tried to serve warrants.
The incident happened on Saturday morning in Barangay Bualo Lipid in Maimbung.
According to Major Andrew Linao, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, a combined force of police and soldiers brought search and arrest warrants against former Maimbung mayor Pando Mudjasan who had been wanted for alleged involvement in various murder cases.
“It was a joint law enforcement operation. While approaching the said vicinity, the troops were fired upon by the group of the target,” Linao said.
Full Story at: 4 gov’t troopers wounded in clash with followers of Sulu politician | Inquirer News
Naval units hold weeklong exercises in Basilan | INQUIRER.NET – ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – The Naval Forces Western Mindanao is hosting the weeklong all-Filipino military training dubbed as “Exercise Pagsisikap 2023” that kicked off on Saturday in Pilas Island, Hadji Muhtamad town, Basilan.
Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said almost 900 Navy personnel from different commands in the country are participating in the exercise.
“Exercise Pagsisikap is a yearly event in the Philippine Navy, it revolves within the Naval Forces commands to enhance our naval capability like amphibious operations, maritime interdiction, surveillance, reconnaissance and we always incorporate civil military operation in every military exercise to include medical and humanitarian missions,” Miraflor said.
Full Story at: Naval units hold weeklong exercises in Basilan | Inquirer News
DepEd insists ‘profiling’ of progressive teachers for payroll, not an anti-insurgency move | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education defended its memorandum asking for the “complete list” of public educators affiliated with the progressive group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), saying the move is being done for the purposes of consolidating users of a payroll deduction system.
DepEd earlier directed all regional and division offices to identify the teachers belonging to ACT, a progressive group which Vice President Sara Duterte — also the secretary of Education — has been accused as supporters or members of communist rebel groups.
“The allegation that the memorandum was intended to profile the members of ACT Union as part of a supposed government anti-insurgency campaign is patently absurd, distorted, and followed no logic,” the department said.
“The sole purpose of consolidating the list of APDS availees, from various organizations in the regions, is to centralize, connect, update, and improve the Department’s Human Resource Systems, including the [Automatic Payroll Deduction System].”
The department said the request was publicly available, “proving” that it did not intend to target members of the teacher’s union.
Full Story at: DepEd insists ‘profiling’ of progressive teachers for payroll, not an anti-insurgency move | Philstar.com
CHR launches probe into alleged police abuse, teenager tortured with chili on private parts | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Saturday launched an investigation into a case involving the torture of a 16-year-old teenager in Davao Occidental.
Based on initial report received by the CHR in Region IX, a 16-year-old minor went to a local police station in the municipality of Davao Occidental to report about the physical abuse he suffered from his father.
Instead of receiving assistance and protection, the teenager was subjected to acts of torture by three police officers entrusted with his safety.
It was reported that the police officers brought the teenager into a dark room and proceeded to pour a solution of vinegar and chili on his private parts. The victim was also threatened to keep silent about the incident.
The commission welcomed the filing of criminal and administrative charges by Police Regional Office XI against the three officers accused of cruel acts to the minor in Davao Occidental.
Another police abuse case
In Zamboanga City, another case of alleged police abuse was reported when a waiter lost his life while being escorted by three officers from the Zamboanga City police.
Prior to the incident, the waiter engaged in a heated argument that escalated into a fistfight with a retired police major at a local bar.
Full Story at: CHR launches probe into alleged police abuse, teenager tortured with chili on private parts | Philstar.com
