Soldiers, cops battle Maute terrorists in Marawi City

"I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people" doesn't sound any stronger than a mild conjecture but then I guess his critics will analyse his every word looking for a reason to damn him. Protecting the people is the prime responsibility of every government.

I was listening to some Filipino scholar type nerd on TV yesterday that said that there had never been a suicide bomber in the Philippines.. Perhaps not..But back in the day, they had these nutters instead!

"these attackers would rush groups of enemies with erect *****es and razor-sharp swords and kill as many as possible in their final, frenzied moments of life."


The Juramentados: Moro suicide attackers who forced US Army to adopt bigger guns

POSTED BY: CHARLES DEERHURST MARCH 21, 2017


Moro warriors, who tied up a full fifth of the American Army for ten years before being (partially) subdued

While it may seem that Islamic suicide attacks are a distinctly “modern” phenomenon, there is actually a long tradition of such warfare in the Philippines.

Known as the Juramentados, these attackers would rush groups of enemies with erect *****es and razor-sharp swords and kill as many as possible in their final, frenzied moments of life.

During Spanish actions against Moro fighters and in later American campaigns, these attacks were a constant threat, particularly in Sulu.

In fact, they were so effective that the concept of “stopping power” was invented, and the US Army upgraded its firearms to at least .45 calibre ammunition.

Their name comes from the Spanish ‘juramenar’ meaning ‘one who takes an oath’.

The ceremony to prepare a young man for “the path to paradise” (Parrang Sabbil) was similar to the ritual for preparing a corpse (which they would soon become anyway).

ALSO READ: "Now he kills me": Last words of German beheaded by Abu Sayyaf
First they would bathe in a river, ritually facing north, south, east and west. Then they would shave off all their hair, except for their eyebrows which, for some reason, were trimmed into the shape of “a moon two days old”.

After the cleansing, they would wrap tight cords around their ankles, knees, upper thighs, wrists, elbows and shoulders. These would act as a tourniquet and prevent them from bleeding to death too quickly.

Oddly, they also bound their ***** in cords to keep it erect. Nobody really knows why — but if you’re getting ready to meet 72 black-eyed virgins as a reward for martyrdom, you may as well be prepared.

After this long and complex ritual, the Juramentado would don a pure white gown and turban and choose their weapon.

These would most usually be the leaf-shaped Barong or the Kris – a weapon with wavy blade patterns also known as a Kalis.

ALSO READ: US Embassy warns that terror groups plan to kidnap tourists in Cebu and Bohol
All that remained then was to find a group of enemies, and rush in shouting “La ilaha il-la’l-lahu” (“There is no god but Allah”) and try to kill as many as possible.

In numerous reports, they could be peppered with bullets before going down — at least until .45 calibre guns became standard issue.

However, there were other ways to combat the Juramentados that exploited their fervent beliefs, which amounted to an early (but very effective) form of psychological warfare.

In 1983, American journalist Daniel P Mannix released an edited version of the autobiography of his father, Rear Admiral Daniel P Mannix the 3rd.

The book, called The Old Navy: The Glorious Heritage of the U.S. Navy, Recounted through the Journals of an American Patriot, included the following paragraph: “What finally stopped the Juramentados was the custom of wrapping the dead man in a pig’s skin and stuffing his mouth with pork. As the pig was an unclean animal, this was considered an unspeakable defilement.”

ALSO READ: Nine Christians bound and shot by rampaging Maute terrorists
It is believed this practice, which effectively blocked the believer’s “path to paradise” is what brought the practice to an end. The very last cases of Juramentado attacks were recorded in the early decades of the last century.

It is to be hoped that as groups like Abu Sayyaf continue to draw inspiration from the so-called Islamic State and seek new ways to spread terror, they won’t look too closely at this chapter of Moro history.

Recounted through the Journals of an American Patriot, included the following paragraph: “What finally stopped the Juramentados was the custom of wrapping the dead man in a pig’s skin and stuffing his mouth with pork. As the pig was an unclean animal, this was considered an unspeakable defilement.”

So perhaps this is the solution..
Oh bugger..Sorry..Forgot about the new Human rights rules..
Foiled again!

According to my fiancée Iligan coty and her place of Tubod are now on red alert. They have been told to be ready to get out if they want out.

i have just been looking at a Map of where your Fiancee comes from, i note that you say her family are Farmers, well guess what my Fiancee and her family come from Mindanao, and are also Farmers your girls place is West of Marawi, my Fiancees place is to the East of Marawi, and just south of the Kalatungan Mountains, worrying times mate.

Yeah it worrying times mate. They are too close for my liking.
Fingers are crossed the troubles will subside soon.

Reds willing to work with gov't against Maute, Abu Sayyaf
ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 29 2017 11:00 AM



MANILA - Communist rebels are willing to work with government against extremist groups in the south, where a week of fighting has prompted the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, a senior adviser for the leftists said Monday.

Like state forces, leftist groups also oppose the Maute and Abu Sayaf groups for attacking civilians, National Democratic Front senior adviser Luis Jalandoni said.


"In that sense, the CPP-NPA would be together with the Duterte government in opposing the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf," Jalandoni told ANC's Early Edition.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday he would treat communist and Muslim guerrillas the same as government troops if they join the fight against extremist groups.

"I will hire you as soldiers - same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas," the President said during a visit to an army base in Jolo, Sulu.

Jalandoni's pronouncement came after the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered its troops intensify offensives against government following the martial law declaration.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/29/17/reds-willing-to-work-with-govt-against-maute-abu-sayyaf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asi...hilippines&link_location=live-reporting-story

P79-M in cash, checks found in fallen Maute stronghold
Report from Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 06 2017 07:34 AM | Updated as of Jun 06 2017 07:38 AM

MANILA - State forces discovered Tuesday at least P79 million in cash and checks in a house in Marawi City after retaking a stronghold of the Maute fighters they have been battling since last month.

The Philippine Marines first found P52.2 million in cash at a house located near the extremists' machine gun nest in the Mapandi area.


7:05 AM - 6 Jun 2017

After clearing a machine gun nest of the Maute Group, Marines found P52M in cash at a nearby house in Mapandi.


The troops then found checks worth P27 million in the same area.

Also recovered by the Marines in Mapandi are cheques worth P27M pay to cash |

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 5, 2017
There were no other details about the operation.

President Duterte earlier said that Maute terrorists are being funded by foreign terror groups and illegal drug money.

Duterte placed the entire Mindanao island under martial rule last Tuesday after Maute and other other bandit groups attacked Marawi on May 23.

A presidential spokesman said 120 militants have died in the battle, along with 38 government forces. The authorities have put the civilian death toll at between 20 and 38.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/05/17/p79-m-in-cash-checks-found-in-fallen-maute-stronghold

It was probably a good 100 Million but I guess there is only so much you can fit in kit bags!!

Priest that was abducted on the first day pleads with Duterte.

BMARLANDS2905172.mp4


Video captured by AFP ..



The only language these pigs understand is fight to the death.. We,as peace lovers must oblige them.
Wake up and smell the coffee!

Sara Duterte: Maute patriarch's arrest crucial to end 'reign of terror'

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/06/...riarchs-arrest-crucial-to-end-reign-of-terror

And they will kill/capture them. Saw a documentary about Filipino special forces tracking down a navy seal they caught him, just.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippine-troops-beheaded-vietnamese-captives-south-045559249.html

The link text above appears to indicate that Philippine troops beheaded Vietnamese captives.

Worth pointing out that Philippine troops did NOT behead Vietnamese nationals, it was Abu Sayyaf who did.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/07/20/Duterte-visits-Marawi.html

Army says taking fire from women, children in Marawi battle

Philippine troops fighting Islamic State-linked rebels in a southern city have encountered armed resistance from women and children, the military said on Monday, as troops make a final push to end a conflict that has raged for more than 100 days.

Ground forces were braced for higher casualties amid fierce fighting in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, where the field of battle has shrank to a small area in a commercial heart infested with snipers, and littered with booby traps.

"We are now in the final phase of our operations and we are expecting more intense and bloody fighting. We may suffer heavier casualties as the enemy becomes more desperate," Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, who heads the military in Western Mindanao, told reporters.


He said the number of fighters was diminishing and a small number of women and children, most likely family members of the rebels, were now engaged in combat.

"Our troops in the field are seeing women and children shooting at our troops so that's why it seems they are not running out of fighters."

More than 800 people have been killed in the battle, most of them insurgents, since May 23 when the militants occupied large parts of the predominantly Muslim town.

The battle is the biggest security challenge in years for the mostly Catholic Philippines, even though it has a long history of Muslim separatist rebellion in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people that has been placed under martial law until the end of the year.

The protracted clashes and resilience of the rebels has fanned fears that Philippine groups loyal to Islamic State, and with ties to Indonesian and Malaysian militants, have formed an alliance that is well-organised, funded and armed, and serious about carving out its own territory in Mindanao.

Citing information provided by four hostages who had escaped from the rebels, Galvez said there were some 56 Christian hostages - most of them women - and about 80 male residents may have been forced to take up arms and fight the military.

The fighting was concentrated in an area around a mosque about a quarter of a square kilometre. He said soldiers were taking control of an average 35 buildings a day and at that rate, it could be three weeks before the city was under government control.

AIR STRIKES

Fighting in Marawi was intense on Monday, with heavy gunfire and explosions ringing out across the picturesque, lakeside town, the heart of which has been devastated by near-daily government air strikes.

Helicopters circled above to provide air cover for ground troops as fighting raged, with bursts of smoke rising above the skyline as bombs landed on rebel positions.

Galvez said intelligence showed the rebels' military commander, Abdullah Maute, may have been killed last month in an air strike.

Postings on Facebook and chatter over the past two days on Telegram, a messaging application used by Islamic State and its sympathisers, had carried tributes to Abdullah, referring to him by one of his pseudonyms, he said.

"There is no 100 percent confirmation until we see his cadaver but this is enough to presume he died already," he said.

The military has contradictory statements about the status of the rebel leaders over the past few months.

Abdullah Maute and brother Omarkhayam are the Middle East-educated leaders of a militant clan known as the Maute group that has gained notoriety in the past two years due to its ability to engage the army for long periods.

Under the name Dawla Islamiya, the Maute group has formed an alliance with Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of a pro-Islamic State faction of another group, Abu Sayyaf.

Galvez said the army's intelligence indicated both Omarkhayam and Hapilon, Islamic State's anointed "emir" in Southeast Asia, were still in the Marawi battle.

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel)

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/17/army-says-taking-fire-from-women-children-in-marawi-battle