Showing posts with label Massacre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Massacre. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Arms cache found in massacre suspect's home

12/07/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post



When the police and government soldiers were dispatched to investigate the house of Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr’s home, they found a cache of weapons. The raid was conducted after authorities found a cache of arms near the home of ARRM governor Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the main suspects in the Maguindanao Mssacre that killed at least 57 people. Hidden in shallow earth about 500 meters from the home of the governor’s mansion were ammunitions and weapons which could supply two battalions.

“In two shallow pits, soldiers of the 73rd Infantry Battalion found two anti-tank bazookas; four 60mm mortars; two 80mm mortars; a 90mm recoilless rifle; three M60 machine guns; a 57mm recoilless rifle; a Barrett sniper rifle; two Browning automatic rifles; a .50-cal. heavy machine gun; a 9mm pistol; seven .45 pistols; an Ultimax light machine gun; a Bushmaster carbine; a Heckler & Koch 11 light support machine gun; and thousands of rounds of ammunition for M16 rifles still in boxes marked “Arms Corporation of the Philippines,” with the October 2008 date of Manufacture stamped on them. “---Manila Standard (12/05/09, solmerin, F.S.; Requejo, R. E.)

Col. Leo Ferrer, of the Army’s 601st Brigade was surprised by the ammunition that was found. According to Ferrer, the Ampatuans have about 2,000 men in their private army. In comparison, the MILF have about 3,000 soldiers. (Photo Credit: flames of war) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Incredible aftermath of a massacre: 28 journalists among the dead

11/28/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


A list showing the names of the journalists who were massacred in Maguinadano Province on November 23, as compiled by GMANews.TV staff and the Center for International Law. The horrific incident, the worst ever in living memory, is shocking and disdainful. Twenty eight (28) had been confirmed to have died and one remained missing. Updated report puts the total death toll to 64. --- GMAnews.TV (11/27/09)

1. Ian Subang, Socsargen Today, General Santos City
2. Lea Dalmacio, Socsargen News, General Santos City
3. Gina De la Cruz, Saksi News, General Santos City
4. Maritess Cablitas, News Focus, General Santos City
5. Rosell Morales, News Focus, General Santos City
6. Henry Araneta, Radio DZRH, General Santos City
7. Neneng Montaño, Saksi News, General Santos City
8. Alejandro “Bong" Reblando, Manila Bulletin, General Santos City
9. Victor Nuñez, UNTV (senior correspondent), General Santos City
10. Mc Delbert “Mac-Mac" Arriola, UNTV (cameraman), General Santos City
11. Bal Cachuela, Punto News, Koronadal City
12. Ernesto “Bart" Maravilla, Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City
13. Ronie Perante, Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City
14. Joel Parcon, Prontiera News, Koronadal City
15. Jun Legarte, Prontiera News, Koronadal City
16. Rey Merisco, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
17. John Caniban, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
18. Arturo Betia, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
19. Noel Decena, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
20. Rani Razon, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
21. Jhoy Duhay, Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City
22. Andy Teodoro, Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City
23. Jimmy Cabilo, Midland Review, Tacurong City
24. (missing) Reynaldo “Bebot" Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City
25. Napoleon Salaysay, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City
26. Jun Gatchalian, Davao City
27. Lindo Lupogan, News Media Gazette, Davao City
28. Jolito Evardo, UNTV (asst. cameraman and editor), General Santos City
29. Daniel Tiamzon, UNTV (driver), General Santos City =0=

Requiescat in Pace

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PostHeaderIcon Lack of forensic science logistics in the Maguindanao massacre probe

11/27/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




It is like what happened to the sinking of the passenger ship Princess of the Sea at the height of a typhoon which drowned 800 or more people on June 22, 2008. The Maguindanao political massacre is posing the same problem for the investigators. The basic lack of facilities to store 57 dead bodies has hampered the probe.

The government has not done anything new to prepare for instances of mass deaths. With the global outrage over the barbaric bloodbath, the Philippines is under pressure by the human rights groups and the United Nations (UN) to come out with a clean and fair pursuit of justice.

Dr. Ben Molino who works in the group CenterLaw Philippines said he feels sad for government doctors who have to face the lack of logistics to deal with the investigation of a massacre with so many fatalities. The working conditions of the probers are bad, endangeriing and probably compromising the integrity of the investigation results. Such helplessness and embarassment have obviously been ignored by the Philippine authorities.

The investigators quickly dug the bodies by a land-fill excavator and by hands without employing caution to preserve as much evidence. Gloves were hard to find. They employ the crude lime to retard the decomposition of the bodies, many wrapped in banana leaves in the absence of freezers.

“Dr. Molino lamented that there were no refrigerators to store the bodies, nor even just air-conditioning. In a CenterLaw Philippines report, he said: “They could have at least used lime to slow down the process of composition but I did not see any indication that they did that."”—GMAnews.Tv (November 21,/2009)

Obviously, the morale of the medico-legal investigators is low. It is reported that their autopsies have been “completed,” but the doctors refuse to be interviewed. Their initial findings point to gunshot wounds as the cause of the victim's death. But it is unsure whether they have identified the brutalized bodies for proper disposition.

I have occasions of working with Dr. Ben Molino in the 1980's in similar difficult probe situations. I feel there is nothing much which changed to improve the state of forensic science in the Philippines. It is an area that the government must urgently look into to bring justice and avoid embarrassing the country in the world.(Photo Credits: Erik de Castro/ Reuters x 2) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "The Ferry Tragedy: Lack Of Body Bags And The Dearth Of Forensic Expertise" Posted by mesiamd at 6/27/2008; Maguindanao Massacre: death toll climbs with 22 mediamen dead Posted by mesiamd at 11/25/2009; Maguindanao bloodbath blamed on Ampatuans Posted by mesiamd at 11/24/2009
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PostHeaderIcon Maguindanao Massacre: death toll climbs with 22 mediamen dead

11/25/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post






Officials said 57 dead bodies were recovered in the site of massacre which occurred in Maguindanao, Philippines. The senseless political killings were reportedly carried out by the influential Ampatuan clan against political rival family--- the Mangudadatus. Wrapped in banana leaves, many of the bodies were not yet identified, but among the fatalities were 22 media men. Update of casualties was placed at 57 dead as of November 25, 2009.

“The journalists were accompanying several women of the powerful Mangudadatu clan to file the candidacy of one of the family for the provincial governor's post in elections next year.

No men from the family were present, since they believed that women would not be attacked by rivals.

Their convoy was stopped by about 100 armed men, who herded them to a remote hillside and attacked them with M-16 rifles and machetes. Two of their vehicles and many bodies were thrown into a freshly-dug pit and covered with earth by an excavator.”---Reuters (11/25/09, Castro, E.)

Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo declared a state of emergency in Maguindanao Province to help investigate and apprehend the gunmen and the brains of the heinous killings. Hundreds of military troops were deployed in the area to lessen the tension and prevent more violence to erupt.

The aggrieved Buluan vice-mayor Ismael Mangudadatu who lost his wife and other family members have pointed to the supporters of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and his son Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr as those behind the despicable murders, but government authorities have yet to arrest the suspects.

Joining the entire world in condemning the brutal crime, the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki- Moon expressed dismay and shock among groups like the European Union, and various diplomatic missions.

Although Pres. Arroyo, a known political ally of the Ampatuans vowed that justice will be served to avenge the dead, many are skeptical. Unsolved political killings especially in Muslim South are usually unsolved and unpunished in the Philippines. (Photo Credits: Reuters/ de Castro, E.; AP/ Marquez, B.; AP/ Favila, A.) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Maguindanao bloodbath blamed on Ampatuans

11/24/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The gruesome massacre which left at least 36 people dead after they were kidnapped in Maguindanao, Mindanao, Philippines had been blamed on political rivalries involving leaders of the powerful Ampatuan clan.

Four survivors whose identities were not disclosed alleged that they heard Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr say the killings were demanded by his father Andal Sr. and older brother Zaldy, the governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Among the victims was Genalyn T. Mangudadatu, wife of Buluan, Maguindanao vice mayor Datu Ismail “Toto” Manguddatu, the chief political rival of the powerful Ampatuans. Genalyn died with the convoy which included Toto’s two sisters, two lawyers, about a dozen journalists and supporters who did not survive the shootings perpetrated by heavily-armed men. Military authorities set up check-points to find the suspects.

At the time of the killings, the ill-fated group was about to file a certificate of candidacy (COC) for Toto Manguddatu’s run for governor at the Maguindanao Comelec Office in the provincial capital of Shariff Aquak--- a place controlled by the Ampatuan family.

The senseless bloodbath, the most vicious in memory, was condemned by local and international groups such as the Bishops-Ulama Conference, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres).(Photo Credit: wikimedia) =0=

UPDATE: The Philippine government declared a stte of emergency in the place where the massacre occured as the number of causualties mounted. This will allow curfews and searches to be done by authorities as they search for the gunmen that killed 46 people. Press freedom groups and journalists doubt if justice will be served in this ignominious murders.

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PostHeaderIcon America as a war zone: terrorism in Fort Hood bloodbath?

11/11/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post






The gunman-killer Major Nidal Malik Hasan is now recovering in a hospital talking to his lawyer after the massacre he pulled in Fort Hood Base, a huge military base serving more than 50,000 soldiers in Texas. His shooting rampage raises questions on the motive of the killer who in the fit of hate and anger killed 13 and wounded 30 of his army comrades.

Subsequent information tended to make more people to believe Hasan’s attack was more than an isolated criminal act, but an act of terrorism. Yet, only a thorough and unbiased investigation could substantiate the truth.

There had been observations which could be regarded as warning signs---a prelude to the despicable massacre ironically committed by a member of the healing profession. In hindsight, if something was done differently, the 13 people who were killed could have been saved.

Here below are parts of the jigsaw puzzle:

*Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Army investigated the communications between a Yemen-based militant Muslim prayer leader and the army major, but they thought Hasan was not a significant terrorist threat. The violent psychiatrist tried to contact the Al Qaeda and contacted the militant imam with links to some hijackers of 911.

*The gumman was openly opposed to sending Muslims to fight the war on terror. In the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, the mosque where he worshipped, he expressed his view that Muslim must not serve the US military.

*Hasan, an unmarried 39-year old was not happy about his forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan this November. He could have been under extreme stress.

*Investigators are reviewing emails of Hasan with radical spiritual leader Anwar Al Awlaki, a US citizen believed to be in Yemen. The Islamic preacher supports the Jihad war against USA. He had links with at least two of the Twin Tower suicide bombers.

*Witnesses like Pvt. Robert Foster who was injured in the attack heard Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar" --"God is great" –- an Islamic terrorist’ battle cry during shootings and suicide bombings.

*Hasan, on a presentation on a medical topic during his final year during residency at Walter Reed Medical Center lectured his audience on Islam, homicide bombing, and threats military personnel faces with people of Islamic faith--- especially those who are averse to fighting against other Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. His audience thought it was upsetting and strange that Hasan gave such lecture instead of a relevant topic in psychiatry.

* A classmate of Hasan said prior to the killing, the doctor had been mouthing justifications of homicide bombings, hostility against Americans as he tried to get contact with Al Qaeda. With these overt warnings, no one worked to kick him out the military service. Though Hasan was being watched, no significant action was pursued to prevent the shooting rampage.

*In the weekend, Sen. Joe Lieberman suggested that a congressional investigation is needed to ferret out the truth if the shooting is really terrorism committed right at the US military base and against American servicemen.”

Given the above, one strongly suspects terrorism. Whether the army psychiatrist who is now being treated in Brookr Medical Center in San Antonio acted alone or in cahoots with other Islamic militants and Al Qaeda, more details of the probe has to be analyzed. The incident however speaks of the real threat and vulnerability of Americans to the ferocity of Islamic radicals. They have no qualms of killing innocent people in the name of religion at the heartland of USA. (Telegraph.col.uk; NYT/ Spillers, L; AP/ Kileen Daily Herald/ Morris, D.) =0=

RELATED BLOGS: "Fort Hood Muslim Army MD being investigated as a terrorist" Posted by mesiamd at 11/09/2009; "Army major massacres 11 and injures 31 people in Fort Hood, Texas" Posted by mesiamd at 11/06/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Fort Hood Muslim Army MD being investigated as a terrorist

11/09/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Major Nidal Malik Hasan recuperates from the gunshot wounds inflicted to stop him form his shooting rampage at Fort Hood Military Base. The medical army officer is being investigated for terrorism. Operatives are trying to know if he has deep ties with radical groups espousing violence and mayhem in the Western world.

The 39–year old unmarried gunman took the lives of 13 fellow soldiers and injured 30 innocent victims. Relatives and friends pointed to Hasan as a benign peaceful man with no criminal records. But others saw him as a troubled medical professional with religious fanatical views who was upset of being deployed to Afghanistan. The vicious killer shouted “Allahu Akhbar” (God is Great,) a signature battlecry of militant Muslim suicide bombers.

Later inquiries suggested that Hasan was a devout Muslim who talked stridently against the war. He believed Muslims are justified to rise against aggressors like the Americans. Born and raised in Virginia, he went to in Dar-al-Hijrah mosque in Virginia, a worship house led by a radical Muslim preacher said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked the United States on Sept 11, 2001. Hasan has great respect for Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni imam accused of supporting terrorist organisations including Al-Qaeda.

These emerging clues raised the need to dig deeper into Hasan’s background. Exercising political correctness, civilian and military authorities seemed slow and hesitant to explore the terrorist angle, but this needed to change quick to protect America.

Endorsing a thorough investigation, Sen. Joe Lieberman talked of his suspicions that a terrorist link is possible given Hasan’s story. The Obama administration had been criticized for not giving enough focus on the tragedy that befell men and women in the service of the country.

For fear of a backlash among the radical Islamists, authorities preferred to think the attack was a criminal event rather than an attack of a terrorist. Those in denial had the tendency to push key questions under the rug. Part of a feeling of dread and tendency to accommodate, they were dismissive of violent people in the ranks of Muslims. They seemed unprepared to accept the truth that terrorists had entered in US soil. (Photo Credit: Telegraph.co.uk) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Army major massacres 11 and injures 31 people in Fort Hood, Texas" Posted by mesiamd at 11/06/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Army major massacres 11 and injures 31 people in Fort Hood, Texas

11/06/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




Fort Hood Texas Military Base was the site of gruesome shootings which killed 11 and injured 31 people today, Thursday, November 5, 2009. The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nidal Hasan, an Army mental healthcare professional---a psychiatrist in the medical corps who was about to be assigned to Iraq on November 28. Those who knew him said, the killer was reportedly mad over his impending deployment abroad.

The gunman, a 39 year-old Muslim by religious faith, went on a horrible shooting rampage in the Soldier Readiness Center, a facility inside the base where soldiers coming home from assignment and those who are about to be deployed are medically checked. For reasons that aren't clear at this time, he killed 11 people on the scene before he was shot.

Half of the wounded required surgical treatment. Earlier report said Hasan was dead, but later information proved he had been confined in a hospital for his injuries like his victims. Two soldiers who were arrested in relation with the attack were subsequently released.

One of the largest military facilities in the world, Fort Hood Base was put on a lock-down along with nearby schools in the area. As investigation proceeded, the incident appeared to be a random crime, rather than an act of terrorism.---angles of the crime that are being looked into. (Photo Credits; MSNBC) =0=

UPDATE: the number of dead in this shooting has risen to 13.

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PostHeaderIcon A Filipina dies in the Binghampton, NY bloodbath

4/06/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




Dolores Carbonilas Yigal, an immigrant of the United States for two years was among the 14 people who died when Jiverly Wong (aka Jiverly Voong,) 41, the Vietnamese gunman barged and opened fire in the American Civic Association building where immigrants and refugees were taking language classes and citizenship tests. Initial report indicated that Wong, also an immigrant, was despondent of being jobless with poor language skills.

“Binghamton has always been a lure for immigrants. More than 7,100 immigrants, most of them Asians, have settled in Binghamton since 2005, according to city statistics. They are a cosmopolitan mix of Kurds, Chinese, Filipinos, Africans, Iraqis—but only a fraction of the city’s predominantly white population of 43,000.’---Inquirer /AP/ AFP (04/05/09, Uy, V)

The Filipina from Cebu was studying English in the civic center in preparation to work and join the mainstream of American life. Her dream was cut short like the other migrants from 8 countries who died on Friday, April 3, 2009, mostly of multiple gun shot wounds.

Omni Yigal, the husband of Dolores said his wife dreamed of working with children. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sent a representative to assist and console the Yigal family. (Photo Credit: AP/ Matt Rourke x 2 ) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "14 dead in a shooting spree in Binghamton, New York" Posted by mesiamd at 4/04/2009

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PostHeaderIcon 14 dead in a shooting spree in Binghamton, New York

4/04/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


“Our prayers are certainly with the family members. I know it was at the American Civic Society. I have a lot of very, very close and dear friends there.” ---Sen. Thomas Libous, Binghamton-R www.pressconnects.com/article/20090403/ (04/03/09)

For reasons that were not yet known, a man of Asian descent opened fire in a civic center for immigrants and refugees in Binghamton, a quiet town in the Southern tier of New York. Thirty seven (37) people managed to scamper out of the building where citizenship classes and English language training were held. At least 13 others died in a 3 minute shooting spree on Friday morning, April 3, 2009. Armed with pistol, the mysterious gunman was found among the dead presumably by self-inflicted wounds.

There were at least 5 wounded survivors including a Chinese student were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Apartments and schools close to the place where the bloodbath occured were evacuated.

From the ID found in the crime scene, the suspected killer was Linh Phat Voong, 42, of Johnson City, New York. Police are still trying to determine if the ID truly matches the real identity of the person responsible for killings. The premeditated massacre which is still being investigated is just one among the five mass slayings that occurred in US recently. (Photo Credit: DJP7) =0=

UPDATE: April 4, 2009: Before the bloodbath, the Vietnamese gunman was distraught because of poor English skills and job loss.

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PostHeaderIcon Disgruntled "Santa Claus" goes on a massacre spree

12/27/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
Santa Claus did not come to cheer the family in Covina, California on the eve of Christmas. Instead, Bruce Pardo, a 45-year old recent divorcee with marital problems personified a costumed Santa Claus visiting with incendiary device and weapons concealed in a Christmas gift. The angry man gunned down an 8-year old girl who opened the door of his former wife’s home. The bloody shooting was intended as revenge against his ex and her parents.

The event which followed became a gruesome killing spree, causing the deaths of at least 9 people including his former wife. Some party-goers sustained injuries and were brought to the hospital. Before Pardo left, he set the house on fire leaving charred bodies on the scene.

Coming out of his red Santa Claus garb, Pardo drove away. He was later found dead with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound in his brother’s home in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, CA on Christmas day, 25 miles away from the crime scene.

Such tragedy must not be the message of Christmas, but an incident of such brutality and senselessness happens. Marital and family problems need not end in this manner. It makes us ponder of the dark soul that ails some people today. (Photo Credit: AP/ Covina Police Department; blue_fam) =0=



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