Three Egyptian soldiers killed in blast claimed by Islamic State affiliate

ISMAILIA, Egypt - An Egyptian army captain and two other soldiers were killed by a
roadside bomb in Rafah, near the border with the Gaza Strip on Monday, security
and medical sources said.
A Twitter feed that describes itself as the official account for Sinai Province, the
Egyptian affiliate of the ultra-hardline militant group Islamic State, claimed
responsibility for the attack in the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza, Israel and
the Suez Canal.
North Sinai is the epicenter of an insurgency that has killed hundreds of members
of the security services since mid-2013, when Egypt's then-army chief Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi after mass protests against his
rule.
Sinai Province, which was known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis before it pledged
allegience to Islamic State, is the most active militant group in the Sinai. Reuters

PHL, Vietnam ironing out details of strategic partnership amid Chinas

reclamation work
The Philippines and Vietnam are ironing out details of a strategic partnership amid
Chinas massive efforts to stake its claim on disputed areas in the South China Sea,
Malacaang said Monday.
The details of the proposed strategic partnership are still being defined and worked
out by the two countries. That is the current status, Communications Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters.
Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks
with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in Manila early this year, where
they agreed to bolster ties between the two countries.
A strategic partnership will further strengthen ties between the two countries,
specially in the field of security.
In an interview with South China Morning Post last week, President Benigno Aquino
III revealed that it was Vietnam that reached out to the Philippines to forge the
strategic partnership amid Chinas increasing presence at the South China Sea.
Both the Philippines and Vietnam have overlapping claims with China over parts of
the South China Sea.
Vietnam seeks bilateral talks
In a separate press briefing, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant (DFA) Secretary
Luis Cruz revealed that Vietnam asked the Philippines for a bilateral meeting during
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next week.
Vietnam has already requested us, so we are processing this. It has not come to
the attention of President yet, but we will bring this to the attention of the President,
that we indeed have received this request, Cruz said.
He added that if the bilateral meeting will push through, Chinas recent actions in
the South China Sea will definitely be top agenda.
Recent satellite images showed China building an airstrip suitable for military use
on reclaimed parts of Kagitingan Reef in the disputed Spratly archipelago. Beijing is
also reportedly undertaking reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratlys.
The Philippines, which calls the disputed areas the West Philippine Sea, has
sought international arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify
Chinas massive claims over South China Sea.

China uses the nine-dash line to claim ownership of almost the entire South China
Sea, while the Philippines uses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.
Beijing earlier rejected international arbitration proceedings to settle its territorial
dispute with the Philippines, insisting instead on bilateral talks.
BBLs clause on coordination might put AFP in a bind later on, lawmaker
warns
Solons question competence of PNP execs in BBL hearing
Solons question competence of PNP execs in BBL hearing. Members of the House of
Representatives ad hoc committee led by CDO Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Monday,
April 20, continue their inquiry on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Two lawmakers cast
doubt on the competence of police officials who attended the hearing after one of
them said the proposed legislation is silent on the relationship between the
Philippine National Police chief and head of the Bangsamoro police. GMA News
The retention of a clause in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) providing for
the establishment of coordination protocols for the movement of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) in the Bangsamoro region might hamper the conduct of
military operations in the future, a lawmaker has warned.
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat on Monday expressed concern that Section
17, Article XI of the Bangsamoro bill might tie the AFPs hands down in the coming
years even as Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino assured specific military
operations need not be coordinated with the envisioned Bangsamoro government.
At the hearing of the House ad hoc committee on the BBL, Batino said the AFP has
long been coordinating with local government units nationwide on general matters,
without divulging specific information about military operations.
Lobregat, however, said problems might arise if the need for coordination for
military actions in the Bangsamoro region is legislated instead of being
implemented through executive action.
We want to make the law very clear so that there would be no misinterpretation.
The word shall appears twice in [Section 17, Article XI] of the Bangsamoro bill,
meaning its mandatory, he said.
Turning to Batino, Lobregat asked: Why would you want your hands to be tied [on
coordination]? Cant this be done through executive action? Bakit pa kailangang
taliin ang kamay ng AFP at magkakaroon pa ng protocol sa paggalaw? Kung
kailangang gumalaw ng AFP, dapat gumalaw sila, hindi na kailangang bumusina.

Section 17, Article XI of the Bangsamoro bill states that the Central Government
and the Bangsamoro Government shall establish coordination protocols, which shall
govern the movement of Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Bangsamoro.
It is one of the provisions that the House panel on the BBL plans to delete from the
measure for being unconstitutional.
Asked by panel chair Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez whether or not the DND
finds the provision on coordination constitutional, Batino said the department is of
the opinion that Section 15, Article 11 of the proposed BBL vests the responsibility
of defending and securing the Bangsamoro region on the national government.
While Batino acknowledged the committees concerns on the effects of AFPs
coordination with the Bangsamoro government in the future, he assured lawmakers
that the military exercises prudence in coordinating its moves even with LGUs.
The AFP will not agree to a mechanism that will imperil or impair the conduct of
the AFPs operations, whether it is in an LGU or the Bangsamoro region, he said.
At the House probe on the Mamasapano debacle earlier this month, government
peace panel chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer noted that the coordination process
between government forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had been
going on smoothly prior to the Jan. 25 tragedy, with the peace panel even working
in partnership with the group, AFP and the Philippine National Police in conducting
law enforcement operations after a ceasefire agreement was signed in 2012.
The MILF and the national government last year signed the comprehensive peace
agreement that was used as the basis for drafting the proposed BBL pending in
Congress.

BIFF fires grenades at SAF, Army posts in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fired grenade
launchers on Philippine National Police-Special Action Forces (SAF) and Philippine
Army posts in Shariff Aguak and Datu Hoffer Ampatuan towns, Maguindanao Sunday
night.
According to Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, the first attack came at 6:30
p.m. when two grenades were fired at the 43rd Special Action Company's office in
Shariff Aguak The office is a few meters away from the Datu Akilan Ampatuan
camp, which is the Provincial Police Office.
Police officers at the post returned fire, forcing the BIFF to disengage and withdraw.
Twenty minutes later, another six grenades were fired at the nearby 43rd Special
Action Company command post, which is near the Maguindanao provincial hospital
in Datu Hoffer town.
Police officers, who were now on alert after the first attack, immediately returned
fire and again compelled the BIFF to withdraw.
The third attack came at around 7 p.m., this time grenades were fired at the
Philippine Army's 2nd Mechanized Battalion stationed in Datu Salibo town.
There were no casualties in any of the attacks.
Later that evening, BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama claimed responsibility for
the attacks.
Security forces, meanwhile, believe the attacks were ordered by the new BIFF
commander, Commander Bungos.

60 fishermen harassed by Chinese Coast Guard still feel fear from

encounter
Fear has yet to wear off for some 60 fishermen harassed by the Chinese Coast
Guard while fishing off a disputed area of the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal)
earlier this month.
The fishermen from Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan recalled their ordeal with
the Chinese Coast Guard last April 13, GMA Dagupan's Jasmin Gabriel reported
Monday.
While the Chinese Coast Guard gave the fishermen a warning, it used a water
cannon on them before they could leave the area.
"May ebidensya po kami sa ginawa nila... Sabi po nila umalis daw kami pero
sinesenyasan din po namin sila ng malakas ang alon pero 'di sila nakikinig," said
Efren Montehermozo Jr., one of the fishermen.
According to the fishermen, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel was about 150 meters
from them.
They recalled being subjected to a water cannon for 30 minutes. One fisherman
from Zambales was injured.
They said their ordeal began in 2012, when China lay claim to the Scarborough
Shoal area.
According to them, the Philippine Coast Guard in the area was not aware of the
incident, though it monitors the area daily.
"Wala po, hanggang 80 miles lang sila. Wala silang alam po," said Rey
Montehermozo, a boat captain from Infanta.
"Ang hirap po, parang panakaw na lang ginagawa po namin," he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the
government is considering giving escorts to Filipino fishermen in disputed areas in
the West Philippine Sea to minimize harassment against them.