News Roundup 08 December 2023
Dec 08, 2023 • 4 min Read
Security forces nab alleged accomplice linked to Marawi bombing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:48 p.m.) — The alleged accomplice in the bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi City was arrested by government forces on Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
Jafar Gamo Sultan, also known by his alias “Kurot” and “Jaf,” has been apprehended by the AFP-led Task Force Marawi and Marawi City Police in Barangay Dulay Proper.
“The suspect, who was apprehended in an operation in Brgy Dulay Proper in Marawi, is a companion of a certain Omar, the person identified by witnesses to have placed the improvised explosive device at the Dimaporo Gymnasium,” the AFP said in a statement.
The jihadist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the MSU bombing on December 3 at Dimaporo Gym during a Catholic mass, which resulted in four fatalities and 45 injuries.
Sultan is reportedly identified as the alleged accomplice in the incident. The AFP, however, did not specify the particular role or action attributed to him.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr., whose office is in Marawi City, said on Friday that he is thankful to officials of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade for cooperating in locating on Thursday the hideout of the now detained Sultan.
Full Story at: Security forces nab alleged accomplice linked to Marawi bombing | Philstar.com
Civilian-led Christmas convoy sails to West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Christmas convoy bound for Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea has set off from Manila and is now en route to El Nido, Palawan, the Atin Ito Coalition on Friday morning said.
Members of the coalition boarded the marine vessel Kapitan Felix Oca going to Palawan, where they will join a group of 100 fisherfolk before embarking on their journey to the West Philippine Sea.
“In a profound display of solidarity and patriotism, over 40 volunteers, comprising youth and student leaders, along with fisherfolk representatives, embarked on a ‘Christmas Convoy Civilian Supply Mission’ to the West Philippine Sea from Manila on Friday morning,” the coalition said in a statement.
From December 10 to 12, the Christmas convoy, consisting of 40 boats, will embark on a journey to the vicinity of the Ayungin Shoal, Patag, and Lawak islands to distribute donations and supplies.
The National Security Council (NSC) initially advised against the civilian convoy heading to the tense waters of Ayungin Shoal. However, approval was granted under the condition that the convoy remains within the vicinity of the disputed waters.
Full Story at: Civilian-led Christmas convoy sails to West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
AFP: 9 Dawlah Islamiyah gunmen slain in Maguindanao battle | INQUIRER.NET – CARMEN, Cotabato — Nine Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) gunmen were killed in air and ground assaults launched by the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade in Maguindanao marshland, the military in this town said on Friday.
“The operation is continuing, our ground troops are still in the area for clearing operations until today,” said Captain Dexter Ruma, civil military operations chief of the brigade.
Ruma said the nine DI fatalities belonged to its Hassan faction, adding that 10 others were believed injured.
“We listed about nine DI fatalities,” Ruma said in a radio interview on Friday, citing information from ground troops and village officials.
The artillery strikes were launched toward the boundaries of Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato provinces.
Full Story at: AFP: 9 Dawlah Islamiyah gunmen slain in Maguindanao battle | Inquirer News
Former Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog gets life for drugs | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Quezon City Court despite her claim that the police planted evidence following her family’s inclusion in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco list.”
Parojinog was meted with a penalty of life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 after she was found guilty of illegal possession of 677.6796 grams of shabu.
“There is no doubt in the mind of the Court that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of illegal possession of 677.6796 grams of shabu,” the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 said.
Parojinog was arrested on July 30, 2017, in Barangay San Roque in Ozamiz City during a raid where her father, former mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., mother Susan, her brother and sister, and 12 others were killed.
Her defense centered on her claim that the government was “impelled by an evil motive” following her family’s inclusion in Duterte’s narco list. She said the policemen planted shabu inside her cabinet drawer to justify the case against her.
But the court said: “When the case is up for trial, the judicial head is empty as to facts involved, and it is incumbent upon the litigants to establish by evidence the facts upon which they rely.”
However, the court said the claim of planting evidence was bare and “unsupported by proof.”
Full Story at: Former Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog gets life for drugs | Inquirer News
