Sayyaf attack leaves 12 dead in southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 27, 2010) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants attacked early Saturday a small village in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, killing 12 people, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said ten villagers were also wounded in the attack which occurred at around 5:45 a.m. in the village of Tubigan in Maluso town. “The Abu Sayyaf attacked a group of government militiamen as a result one militiaman and nine civilians were killed,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a regional military spokeswoman.

But police said 11 people were killed and ten more wounded after Moro rebels opened fire on a row of houses. It blamed the attack on the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is currently negotiating peace with the government.

“MILF rebels attacked the village. Eleven people are dead and ten others were wounded,” said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, the Basilan police chief.

Mendoza said the attack was likely connected to a clan war. “The target of the rebel attack was the village chieftain,” he said, adding, the raid was connected to previous killings in the town, where rebels and militants are actively operating.

Other reports said a dozen people were killed in the raid. Mendoza said the attackers also torched several houses before retreating to the hinterlands.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said security forces were pursuing the attacks. “There is an ongoing operation in Basilan,” he said.

Authorities previously accused the MILF of conniving with the Abu Sayyaf and in many instances the rebels fought soldiers along side with militants, an accusation strongly denied by the secessionist group, which is fighting for self-determination. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine forces rescue 2 kidnapped Chinese men

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 26, 2010) – Philippine security forces rescued two kidnapped Chinese nationals late Friday in the southern province of Basilan after more than 3 months in captivity, police told the Mindanao Examiner.

Police said the duo - Zi Shun Lu, 51, alias Oscar Lu; and Bo Shung Tan, 27, alias Michael Tan, both from Guangzhou, China – were rescued at around 8:20 p.m. in the village of Binembengan in Sumisip town.

“They were brought to hospital for medical examinations,” Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, the provincial police chief, said.

He did not give details of the rescue, saying, operation is going on to capture the kidnappers.

Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped the Chinese men on November 10 from a plywood factory in Basilan’s Maluso town along with a Filipino worker, Mark Singson, who was later beheaded after his employer Hi-Tech Wood Craft Corporation failed to pay ransom.

The kidnappers headed by Puruji Indama originally demanded P15 million for the release of the hostages. The two foreigners were previously reported to be Filipino citizens, but later investigations revealed they are Chinese nationals and probably illegal workers hired by George Tan, owner of the plywood factory.

Last week, two government soldiers were killed and another was wounded in a landmine explosion while searching for the Chinese men in the village of Pamatsaken in Sumisip town.

Last year, Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped three government teachers - Noemi Mandi, Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion – in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Naga town and brought them to Basilan province where they had been later freed in exchange for ransoms.

Three other state teachers Janette de los Reyes, Freires Quizon and Rafael Mayonado, all kidnapped in Zamboanga City, were also brought to Basilan and released four months later after private negotiators ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

But a faction of the Abu Sayyaf last year also beheaded a school principal, Gabriel Canizares, in nearby Sulu province after his family failed to raise two million pesos ransom. His head was found at a petrol station in the capital town of Jolo. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine court sentences 3 Sayyaf militants to life in prison

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 26, 2010) – A Filipino court sentenced three al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants to life in prison for the killings and beheading of soldiers in the largely Muslim province of Basilan, south of the Philippines.

One militant - Aramil Sulayman - was also acquitted of the same changes on Thursday, but all four men are still at-large after escaping from a prison in Basilan province in December last year.

The court sentenced the trio - Jemar Tarang, Amil Mandicung and salim Masud - after finding them guilty of the murder charges in the killing of 14 soldiers, many of them beheaded, in a firefight in the town of Al Barka in July 2007. At least a dozen marine soldiers were also wounded in the fighting.

The military previously accused the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in the beheading of the soldiers after straying into their territories while searching for kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi.

Bossi, of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions, was kidnapped by rebels, after celebrating mass June 10, 2007 in the village of Bulawan in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Payao town. He was freed in Lanao del Norte province the next month in exchange for huge ransom. (Mindanao Examiner)

Acting Maguindanao governor replaced, reforms continue in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 26, 2010) – Muslim autonomous region Governor Ansaruddin Adiong has named a new acting provincial governor of Maguindanao and vowed to continue reforms in the troubled region, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Friday.

Ali Macabalang, the regional government spokesman, said Gani Biruar, whose wife is the current Social Welfare Secretary in the autonomous region, was appointed this week and he replaced Nariman Ambolodto.

Ambolodto served as acting governor of Maguindanao in December last year after the brutal murders of 57 people, including at least 31 journalists, in the province blamed to the powerful Ampatuan clan. Among those killed was the wife of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu and his relatives.

Ambolodto was appointed acting provincial governor after the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan and his sons were implicated in the killings. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the governor of Maguindanao; and his son Zaldy Ampatuan, the regional governor; and his brother Andal Ampatuan Jr. who is the mayor of Datu Unsay town and other clan members were implicated in the killings, which authorities said was politically motivated.

“Governor Adiong has appointed Gani Biruar as the new acting Maguindanao governor after a careful selection among those nominated for the post. This is part of the continuing reforms in the Muslim autonomous region to better serve our people,” Macabalang said.

He said Ambolodto is appointed acting vice governor of Maguindanao, a position also held by Tato Ampatuan, who was also linked to the November 23 massacres. The Ampatuan clan denied any involvement in the murders.

Ambolodto, a member of President Gloria Arroyo’s political coalition, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, was replaced days after she was accused of supporting opposition senator Benigno Aquino III who is running for the presidency, instead of former Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro.

Her loyalty to Adiong was also doubted by senior regional officials, but she denied all the allegations and said she is not seeking any elective posts and only wanted to serve her people well. (Mindanao Examiner)

A Tribute To The Murdered Journalists In Maguindanao

A New People's Army mural that serves as backdrop on the tribute to the memory of fallen media workers, particularly those who died in the Maguindanao Massacre on November 23, 2009.


Link: http://www.philippinerevolution.net

Al-Qaeda-linked militant captured in the Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 25, 2010) – A senior member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group was captured by Filipino police forces in the southern island of Sulu, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Thursday.

Regional police chief Bienvenido Latag said Mujibar Amon was arrested late Monday near his house in Ummul Quran village in Indanan town. He did not give details about the capture of the 26-year old militant, but said Amon’s arrest was the result of a long intelligence operation.

“This is another blow to the terrorist group and we will continue to pursue the terrorists no matter where,” Latag said.

Amon is one the country’s most wanted terrorists who was involved in last year’s kidnappings of three Red Cross workers and many more, including the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s Sipadan island report where 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers were abducted and brought to Sulu in 2000.

He was tagged as among those who also kidnapped US tourist Jeffrey Shilling in 2000 in Sulu, one of the five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Amon was also linked by Philippine authorities to the spate of bombings in Sulu, where Patek, Dulmatin, Mauiya and other Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are believed to be hiding.

Last week, authorities killed Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and five of his men in a clash in Sulu’s Indanan town. (Mindanao Examiner)

Marbel River in Kidapawan City

Children enjoy the cold water of the Marbel River in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines despite scorching heat of the summer, which has become a major problem in many farm areas in the southern region. The long dry spell is causing frequent blackouts in Mindanao because of low level of water at the Iligan City hydropower plant. (Geo Solmerano - Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Multi-Awarded Tausug Holds 5th Solo Art Exhibit in Zamboanga City

Multi-awarded Muslim painter Rameer Tawasil gestures as he leads guests to his 5th Solo Art Exhibit at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago in Zamboanga City, Wednesday, February 24, 2010. Dubbed as “Tawasil: In retrospect. Celebrating 20 years in Visual arts, Architecture and Design,” the exhibit also coincided with the celebration of the National Arts Month and the 3rd anniversary of the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago. Tawasil and Fr Antonio Moreno, the president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, led the opening of the exhibit. (Jung Francisco - Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2010) – Muslim Tausug painter Rameer Amilasan Tawasil opened Wednesday his 5th Solo Art Exhibit at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga.

Tawasil, who is famous for his many paintings depicting Islam and Peace, displayed his many works, some date back in the 1980s, at the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago.

Dubbed as “Tawasil: In retrospect. Celebrating 20 years in Visual arts, Architecture and Design,” the exhibit also coincided with the celebration of the National Arts Month and the 3rd anniversary of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago.

Tawasil and Fr. Antonio Moreno, the president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, led dozens of guests in the opening of the exhibit late Wednesday. It will run until March 27.

“This is an event that every must see. The works of Rameer Tawasil really will inspire us all,” Moreno said.

Tawasil for his part thanked the Ateneo de Zamboanga University for the holding of his art exhibit. “All these works are special to me and I wanted everybody to see the exhibit and I just hope that these works will inspire more people to love arts and spread peace through pieces of arts they make,” he said.

Tawasil was born in the village of Karungdung in the town of Kalinggalan Caluang in Sulu province. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the Western Mindanao State University.

According to the website muslimmindanao.ph which is maintained by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication and initially funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the multi-awarded Tawasil is best known for using bright, strong, and bold colors in his paintings.

It said the foundation of his art is "okkil” (in Tausug; “okir” in Maranao), a design form indigenous to the Muslim groups in Mindanao as seen in their woodcarvings, brassware, and textiles, among others.

His masterpieces adorn galleries in London and Kuching, Malaysia and private collections in Germany, Korea, the United States and the Philippines.

Tawasil has been involved in more than 30 art group shows in abroad and the Philippines and his local exhibitions have been held at the main gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Vargas Museum in the University of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and various private galleries, it said.

He has had three past solo exhibits since 2003 in Zamboanga City and the fourth was in Davao City which was sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency.

A recipient of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award, Tawasil also received the Zamboanga Hermosa Recognition Award, Culture and the Arts Category in 2003. In 2006 he was given the Peace Citation Award by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga for his rendition of the "peace dove" logo which has become a peace campaign symbol locally and globally and has been included in the international collection of peace doves.

Tawasil also organizes art shows and directs musical concerts on his advocacy on peace and the environment. He also conducts art workshops on recycled and environmental art.

He sits as a member of the Zamboanga City Government's Committee on Visual Arts, Council for the Culture and Arts and History. (Jung Francisco contributed to this report.)

Gunman kills Zamboanga City official

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2010) – A village official was killed in an attack Wednesday in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said Bernardo Reyes was shot in the village of Mampang where he was a member of the local council. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the increasing number of murders in Zamboanga is worrying many residents.

Police said personal grudge could be the motive for the killing as it also claimed to other victims of hired killers in Zamboanga.

At least 8 cases of gun attacks had been reported this month in Zamboanga City.

Just early this week, an unidentified gunman shot and killed a man in an attack just outside the Coca-Cola plant in Tetuan village, just two kilometers from downtown Zamboanga.

The attacker escaped after shooting Jose Tiapon, who died in hospital due to multiple wounds in the head and body.

The plant’s security guards said the victim was an employee of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Incorporated. The motive of the attack was unknown, but police said the killing was likely connected to personal grudge.

Gun attacks were not uncommon in Zamboanga City where extrajudicial killings had been reported in the past. Hired killers also freely operate in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Tawi-Tawi celebrates bountiful cassava, banana harvests

TAWI-TAWI, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2010) – The southern Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi celebrated for the first time the "Cassava and Banana Harvest Festival" that drew hundreds of farmers and residents.

Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said food flourishes in the province and the people never ran short of something to eat as amplified in the festival’s theme, “Nobody…Nobody Goes Hungry in Tawi-Tawi.”

Unknown to many, Tawi-Tawi, famed for its massive seaweeds production and rich marine resources, has been experiencing surplus production of cassava – a staple food here and the neighboring provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

The more than 19,000 hectares of land planted to cassava in the province produce close to 170,000 metric tons of harvest every year.

Sangkula Tindick, the provincial agricultural officer, puts the province’s cassava surplus at around 40 percent. Some of which end up in markets in Sabah, which is just few hours by boat from Tawi-Tawi, and even in Sulu province.

He said the province has been consistently producing excessive supply of cassava for the last 10 years now when they began advocating the farming of the root crop and fruit trees such as mango throughout Tawi-Tawi. They also offer free seedlings to local residents.

Almost all of the major islands in the province have their cultivated lands planted with cassava, banana or mango, according to Tindick, adding that these lands used to be idle.

Even the famous Turtle Island was not taken out of the picture. The provincial agriculture office launched a project few years back dubbed as the “greening” of Turtle Island, encouraging locals to plant cassava and mango trees.

Their campaign has paid off really well, said Tindick. "Now, the province’s people and economy will not just be relying on marine resource but on the similarly rich soil as well," he said. (Becky de Asis contributed to this report by the ARMM Bureau of Public Information.)

Distrust high for Philippine president Arroyo: survey

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly seven in 10 Filipinos continue to distrust President Gloria Arroyo despite her efforts at a charm offensive before she steps down this year, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The figure of 68 percent of respondents who said they distrusted Arroyo is the highest since she took over from deposed president Joseph Estrada in 2001, Pulse Asia said in releasing the results of its survey.

The results came a day after the Supreme Court cleared Arroyo to run for a seat in parliament in the May national elections, in a move many believe is aimed at trying to remain in power.

Arroyo is required by the constitution to step down as president this year.

But critics believe Arroyo intends to become a congresswoman as a step towards having the constitution rewritten to shift the nation's form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

She would then seek to become the nation's first prime minister, her critics allege.

A popular revolt backed by the military installed Arroyo as president in January 2001, replacing the graft-tainted Estrada.

She won a hotly contested second term in 2004, but her nine years in office have been marked by allegations of massive corruption and three failed military coup attempts.

Arroyo's popularity took a further beating when members of a Muslim clan she had supported in the restive south were accused of masterminding the massacre of 57 people in November to eliminate a rival's political challenge.

In recent weeks, Arroyo has embarked on a charm offensive, visiting influential media establishments and inviting foreign journalists to dinner at the presidential palace after snubbing them at official functions for three years.

She has also had advertisements placed in the press promoting her economic achievements and other legacies. (AFP)


Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZU_5PxoPBfGqMNpsOdOox49ULJA

Sun sets in Zamboanga City

The sun sets in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. The southern Filipino region is rich in natural resources and magnificent sunset. Its pristine beaches and white sands are favorite tourist destinations in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Lanao villagers get anti-measles shots; outbreak of disease prevented

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) – The Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said it has contained a possible measles outbreak on coastal town in Lanao del Sur province, according to a report by the ARMM's Bureau of Public Information.

It said health workers rushed to the town of Balabagan after the reported breakout of measles in villages.

Regional Health Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. in a report to acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong said villagers were given immunizations tom protect them from the disease.

Adiong earlier ordered health workers to intensify immunization in the province following the outbreak of measles in Balabagan.

“Please do everything possible to address the reported outbreak,” Adiong told Sinolinding.

Sinolinding said he immediately sent health workers to investigate the report and conduct immunization against measles especially on children to avoid epidemic.

Sinolinding said seven adults and a one-year old child had been infected with measles, but there had been no reported deaths in the town.

Measles is an airborne disease and is contagious, Sinolinding said, prodding the public especially the parents to have their children immunized in health clinics across the region.

In 2004, the Health department launched the Ligtas Tigdas Campaign which aimed to vaccinate door-to-door some 18 million children between 9 months to 8 years old in the country. It resulted to decreased measles cases in the by 96 percent and death from measles by about 99 percent.

Prior to Ligtas Tigdas campaign, an estimated 6,000 children, mostly from poor families, died from measles.

“DOH-ARMM will continue to deliver the basic health services due our people in the region as concrete manifestation of the seriousness of regional governor Adiong to address the health requirement of his people,” Sinolinding said.

He said the symptoms of measles include fever, general weakness and occasionally red eyes. But these symptoms usually come before skin rash confirming the onset of the disease. It is transmitted through droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected person. (Becky de Asis contributed to this report.)

Sayyaf man killed in fresh clashes in South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) – Security forces killed an Abu Sayyaf militant in a firefight that broke out Tuesday in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said troops recovered the body of the slain militant in the hinterland village of Bungkaong in Patikul town.

“This is still part of the pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf following the encounter at Karawan (complex) in Indanan town,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Cacho was referring to the fighting Sunday in Sulu that killed a wanted Abu Sayyaf leader, Albader Parad, and five other militants.

She said there were no reports of military casualties in the latest fighting, but troops were pursuing a band of Abu Sayyaf under sub-leader Basarun Ahaduk.

Last week’s fighting killed a government soldier and wounded three more after a platoon of marine special unit and reconnaissance soldiers assaulted an Abu Sayyaf camp in Karawan, a mountain complex straddling several towns and a known lair of the militants.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military commander, said among those killed was Albader Parad, tagged as behind the kidnappings last year of three international Red Cross workers in Sulu province.

Dolorfino said troops fought Abu Sayyaf forces under Albader Parad and Abu Jumdail, also known as Doctor Abu because of his alleged ability to cure wounded militants.

Both leaders are wanted by Philippine authorities for their involvements in the kidnappings of American citizens and the killing of two US Special Forces soldiers in Sulu in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)

GAA "punitive" provision imperils ARMM operations

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) - The new officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are calling for an urgent veto of what they lamented as "grossly punitive" provision in this year's General Appropriations Act governing fund releases to the ARMM governance.

Unless saved by a Presidential veto this week, the ARMM operations are in peril of being paralyzed, officials led by acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong disclosed in vehemence.

"I humbly implore for an audience anytime this week to bring out personally our grave concern before said flaw becomes irreversible," Adiong stressed in his letter to the President Gloria Arroyo on Monday - five days before the mandate of GAA provisions take effect on February 27.

Adiong was referring to Special Provision No. 2 on the ARMM budget on Page 881 of GAA 2010, which states that "no subsequent release shall be made unless previous funds released to the ARMM were audited by a special audit team based in Manila and designated for the purpose."

The same provision slates that "any disbursement that not been liquidated, audited and/or disallowed by the special audit team shall be deducted from subsequent releases for the ARMM from this year's GAA."

The 24-member Regional Legislative Assembly of the ARMM and the five provincial governments under the Muslim autonomous region - Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur - have prepared separate manifestations protesting the GAA provision, which they described as an affront to the wisdom of installing the Adiong regime purportedly to reform the regional governance.

The Arroyo administration has detained and indicted ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan in connection with the November 23, 2009 massacre of 57 people, including 31 journalists, in Maguindanao province. It also ordered a special audit of the fund disbursements of the suspended leadership on suspicion of alleged graft.

"At a time when ARMM needs to rebuild its image from accusations of graft, inefficiency and violence, the budget restriction will severely affect our efforts to implement strategic regional infrastructures and basic social services that, aside from improving the lot of our people, would prove that ARMM remains as a relevant, functional and beneficial politico-administrative unit," a draft of an RLA resolution said.

The draft resolution said the RLA members are collectively opposed to such provision and earnestly appealing to President Arroyo to veto it.

This year's GAA earmarks P9.2-billion budget for ARMM. The amount covers some 70 percent share for personnel services, 25 percent maintenance and operating expense funds and P850-million capital outlay.

"The ARMM's 2010 budget constitutes less than 1% of the national budget, but the new regional leadership has vowed to utilize it to the optimum benefit of its constituents under the principles on transparent, consultative and moral governance," ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo said.

The provincial governments of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are equally alarmed of the stringent budget provision because they stand to share P150-million each for vital infra projects while the regional government would share only P100-million for similar projects, records said.

Unless timely vetoed, the budgetary "law" would do a "collective punishment" against all the workforces and constituents of the regional governance, said Sinarimbo, who is a noted lawyer.

He said the budget provision is unwarranted because there is no certainty in the length of period the audit on the Ampatuan administration's expenditures would be completed.

"While all well-meaning people of ARMM support the comprehensive audit on past fund releases and the prosecution of officials culpable of misdemeanors, we should not be held hostage to its proceedings and outcome," he said.

Analyst Raymundo Pelaez berated as illogical the interpolation of the stiff provision into the GAA because while it "appeared serious to sanction people suspected of wrong doings, it squeezes the necks of new leaders the national government installed to institute reforms."

"In ARMM, more often than not, investigations or comprehensive fund audits are synonymous to infinity. Therefore, holding the new ARMM regime solely dependent on the result of the audit of fund disbursements they have nothing to do with, is a virtual act of sabotage," Pelaez said. (Ali Macabalang)

2 Moro rebels arrested for ex-soldier's kidnapping in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) – Police authorities captured two alleged Moro rebels tagged as involved in the kidnapping of a former government solider in Zamboanga City, officials said.

Officials said the two men Abraham Ibno and Ansar Yusop were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s Muslim rebel group which is fighting for self-determination in the restive southern region.

The rebels were arrested after they released Benjamin Almonte late Friday near the town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Almonte was abducted by gunmen February 6 while fishing off the coast of the village of Manicahan in Zamboanga City.

“We captured the two in a continuing operation,” said Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, head of the anti-terror Task Force Trillium, and commander of the naval forces in Western Mindanao.

Almonte said his captors freed him for a still unknown reason. “The leader of the kidnappers, whom they called Commander, said he is releasing me because he pities me,” he said.

He said his two escorts ran away after they saw a group of men who turned out to be government intelligence agents. “I also ran away and ended up on the side of the government people, and one of them grabbed me and told me that I am safe and that they are from the government side,” Almonte said.

Almonte’s family did not say whether ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

No group claimed responsibility for Almonte’s kidnapping or the motive behind this and police said it still investigating the case. But other sources said members of the so-called MILF’s special operation group under Waning Abdusalam were behind the kidnapping.

Abdusalam was also linked to the kidnapping last year of Irish Catholic priest Michael Sinnott in Zamboanga del Sur province. Sinnott, 80, was taken by six gunmen on October 11 from his missionary house in Pagadian City and brought to Lanao province and freed in Zamboanga City after a month in captivity.

Abu Sayyaf militants had also kidnapped many people, including foreigners, in Zamboanga City in previous attacks and brought them to nearby Basilan and other areas in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)

Coke employee shot in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 22, 2010) – Unidentified gunman shot and seriously wounded a man in an attack Monday just outside the Coca-Cola plant in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga, police said.

Police said the man was shot in the head at around 5:00 p.m. as he was smoking outisde the plant in the village of Tetuan. The gunmen escaped after the shooting.

Reports identified the victim as Jose Tiapon Jr.

The plant’s security guards said the victim was an employee of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Incorporated. The motive of the attack was unknown, but police said it is still investigating the shooting.

Gun attacks were not uncommon in Zamboanga City where extrajudicial killings had been reported in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police orders probe of detained Malaysian trawlers in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 22, 2010) – Filipino authorities ordered an investigation into reports that police had detained 14 Malaysian trawlers and released the boats in exchange for money in the southern Philippines.

Police allegedly released a dozen Malaysian trawlers after its owners paid thousands of dollars in exchange for the boats. But two other trawlers are still being held in the southern island of Taganak near the Sabah border, Malaysian media reported on Monday.

It said the trawlers were seized by the police after allegedly straying into Philippine waters on February 14 and 15 and its crew of about 50 people had been detained.

Police released the 12 trawlers after its owners paid fines of up to RM40,000, it said.

“Philippines border officials based in Taganak Island under the Tawi-Tawi province released the trawlers after the owners paid “fines” ranging from RM13,000 to RM40,000 for allegedly encroaching into Phi¬lippines waters,” the Star Online reported.

But the Philippine Navy said it did not receive any reports about the apprehension of any Malaysian fishing boats in Taganak, an island town of Tawi-Tawi province. “We have no reports about it,” said Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, who heads the naval forces in the southern Philippines.

Reports said owners of the two remaining Malaysian trawlers were working for the release of the boats. It said Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sa¬hali assured that he would try to secure an early release for the remaining Malaysian trawlers. He said he would discuss with the Philippine Navy and the police to resolve the problem quickly.

“The owners are in the process of getting the trawlers released in the next few days,” the Star said.

But Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, chief of the regional police force, said he already relieved the police chief of Taganak Island after receiving reports about the trawlers.

“I have relieved the chief of police of Taganak Island after receiving this disturbing report that Malaysian trawlers were apprehended and released in exchange for money. He is being investigated. We will not tolerate this kind of malpractice and even the governor of Tawi-Tawi, Sadikul Sahali, was angry with this incident because it is so embarrassing,” Latag told the Mindanao Examiner.

“We are trying to reform the police forces into a professional organization and we will not allow this kind of incident to ruin the clean image of the Philippine National Police,” he said.

Latag, a decorated officer, assumed last year as the new police chief of the Muslim autonomous region who has jurisdiction over the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao.

Malaysian fishermen previously detained in southern Philippines for poaching had accused authorities of extortion. The southern Philippines is a favorite fishing grounds, but is also considered dangerous because pirates and Abu Sayyaf militants are actively operating in the area. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf leader, 5 others killed in Sulu clash

A photo of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad in this video grab from ABS-CBN television and a wanted government poster of the slain militant. And soldiers put tag on the body of Parad and other militants killed in the fighting. (Nickee Butlangan - Mindanao Examiner).

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 21, 2010) – Philippine soldiers killed at least 6 Abu Sayyaf militants, including their leader, who is wanted by the United States for terrorism, in fierce clashes Sunday in the southern province of Sulu, official told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said three soldiers were also slightly wounded in the fighting that erupted in hinterland village of Karawan near Indanan town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings in the restive region.

“We have killed at least six militants and recovered their weapons. Three of my soldiers are slightly wounded in the fighting,” said Marine Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero, commander of military forces in Sulu, who is leading the offensive against the militant group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

He said a platoon of marine special unit and reconnaissance soldiers assaulted an Abu Sayyaf camp in Karawan, a mountain complex straddling several towns and a known lair of the militants.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military commander, said among those killed was Albader Parad, tagged as behind the kidnappings last year of three international Red Cross workers in Sulu province.

“Parad is dead. He was killed in the military operation in Sulu,” he said.
He also identified the other slain militants as Simal Abtong, Abdulhan Jumdail, Omar Umbah, Hamilton Sadjael and Udin Serail.

Dolorfino said troops fought Abu Sayyaf forces under Albader Parad and Abu Jumdail, also known as Doctor Abu because of his alleged ability to cure wounded militants.

Both leaders are wanted by the Philippine and US authorities for their involvements in the kidnappings of American citizens and the killing of two US Special Forces soldiers in Sulu in the past.

Other reports in Sulu province said the fighting began as early as 4:00 a.m. and that Moro National Liberation Front gummen under former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari also fought soldiers side by side with the Abu Sayyaf.

The MNLF signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but many of the rebels were disgruntled with the accord and accused the government of failing to comply with the provisions of the deal.

The accord promised the rebels a massive livelihood aid and housing programs, including a mini-martial plan in areas where there are large Muslim communities to help them uplift their standard of living. But many disgruntled MNLF members have either joined the Abu Sayyaf or engaged in kidnappings-for-ransom. (Mindanao Examiner)

6 Sayyaf killed in Sulu clashes

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 21, 2010) – Philippine soldiers killed at least 6 Abu Sayyaf militants in fierce clashes Sunday in the southern province of Sulu, official told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said three soldiers were also slightly wounded in the fighting that erupted in hinterland village of Karawan near Indanan town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings in the restive region.

“We have killed at least six militants and recovered their weapons. Three of my soldiers are slightly wounded in the fighting,” said Marine Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero, commander of military forces in Sulu, who is leading the offensive against the militant group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

He said a platoon of marine special unit and reconnaissance soldiers assaulted an Abu Sayyaf camp in Karawan, a mountain complex straddling several towns and a known lair of the militants.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military commander, said there were reports that a senior Abu Sayyaf leader wanted by the US government was among those killed in the clashes.

“We have reports that Albader Parad or Doctor Abu was among those killed and we are trying to verify this information,” he said.

Dolorfino said troops were fighting Abu Sayyaf forces under Albader Parad and Abu Jumdail, also known as Doctor Abu because of his alleged ability to cure wounded militants.

Both leaders are wanted by the Philippine and US authorities for their involvements in the kidnappings of American citizens and the killing of two US Special Forces soldiers in Sulu in the past.

Other reports in Sulu province said Parad was among those killed in the fighting which began as early as 4:00 a.m. It said Moro National Liberation Front rebels under former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari also fought soldiers side by side with the Abu Sayyaf.

The MNLF signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but many of the rebels were disgruntled with the accord and accused the government of failing to comply with the provisions of the deal.

The accord promised the rebels a massive livelihood aid and housing programs, including a mini-martial plan in areas where there are large Muslim communities to help them uplift their standard of living. But many disgruntled MNLF members have either joined the Abu Sayyaf or engaged in kidnappings-for-ransom. (Mindanao Examiner)

Teachers' group criticized Arroyo son

MANILA, Philippines - The ACT TEACHERS party-list group criticized Pampanga province's 2nd District Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo who announced his intention to run for a party-list seat in Congress in the May 2010 elections.

“Mikey Arroyo's entry into the party-list arena will make a mockery of the spirit and intent of the party-list law of providing representation to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of society,” said ACT TEACHERS party-list president Antonio Tinio, referring to Arroyo.

“He belongs to the most powerful political clan in the country at the moment and he's one of the leaders of the party in power, KAMPI,” he said.

“There's no place for him in the partylist system and any party-list that takes him onboard as a nominee will thereby reveal itself as a bogus partylist, a mere Malacanang front. The voting public will not be fooled.”

Noting the negative effect that close association with President Gloria Arroyo has had on the campaign of administration presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, Tinio declared that Arroyo’s eldest son will likely encounter the same problem. “Any party-list that’s considering taking him as a nominee should think twice. They will have to contend with the so-called 'Arroyo kiss of death'.”

Tinio said this is not the first time an Arroyo has used the party-list system as a backdoor to the House of Representatives. “Maria Lourdes Tuason Arroyo currently sits in Congress as the representative of Kasangga. Dato Arroyo is known to have close ties to Ako-Bicol, which is running in the coming elections.”

Tinio added that a number of party-lists vying for seats in the upcoming elections have been identified as having links to Malacanang’s Office of External Affairs.

These include Agbiag Timpuyo Ilokano; Ahon Pinoy; Akbay Pinoy OFW-National; Aangat Ating Kabuhayan Filipinas; Babae para sa Kaunalaran; Bigkis Pinoy Movement; Byaheng Pinoy Labor Association; Kalahi Sectoral Party; and League of Youth for Peace Advancement.

In addition, BANTAY of Representative Jovito Palparan and Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy of Representative Jun Alcover and the Kasangga sa Kaunlaran, inclduding BANAT, and Aangat Tayo are likewise known to be closely associated with the Arroyo administration.

“Given President Arroyo's candidacy for a congressional seat in Pampanga, it seems that the leading members of the Arroyo clan are hell-bent on positioning themselves in Congress, together with various Malacanang-sponsored bogus party-lists, to prolong their hold on power and possibly to play a role in Arroyo's avowed goal of Charter change and the shift to a parliamentary system,” Tinio said.

Kidnapped ex-soldier freed in Zamboanga province

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 20, 2010) – A former soldier kidnapped in Zamboanga City was released by his captors after two weeks in captivity, police and military said on Saturday.

Authorities said Benjamin Almonte was abducted by gunmen February 6 while fishing off the coast of Zamboanga City.

“He was freed near the town of Ipil in the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay,” said Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, head of the anti-terror Task Force Trillium, and commander of the naval forces in Western Mindanao.
Officials did not give details of the release of Almonte or whether ransom was paid to his captors.

No group claimed responsibility for Almonte’s kidnapping or the motive behind this and police said it still investigating the case. But other sources said members of the so-called Moro Islamic Liberation Front special operation group under Waning Abdusalam was behind the kidnapping.

Abdusalam was also linked to the kidnapping last year of Irish Catholic priest Michael Sinnott last year in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Sinnott, 80, was taken by six gunmen on October 11 from his missionary house in Pagadian City and brought to Lanao province and freed in Zamboanga City after a month in captivity. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf terror man linked to kidnap-slay of 2 Americans falls

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 19, 2010) – Philippine authorities arrested a wanted Abu Sayyaf militant accused of kidnapping three US citizens and 17 Filipino tourists at a posh resort nine years ago.

Security officials said Jumadali Arad was arrested late Thursday afternoon while trying to board a passenger ship bound for Zamboanga City.

Arad was among those who raided the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan province near central Philippines in 2001 and kidnapped US missionary couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham, and California man Guillermo Sobero and the Filipinos, and brought them to Basilan province, south of Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Guillermo Sobero was beheaded in 2001 in Basilan while Martin Burnham was shot and killed in 2002 during a US-led military rescue operation in Mindanao. Gracia Burnham was also shot and wounded during the rescue operation.

“The arrest of Arad is part of the military’s continuing operation against terrorism,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a regional military spokeswoman.

The Abu Sayyaf, which means “bearer of the sword, has been linked to many kidnappings of foreigners and terrorism in the southern Philippines and was linked by authorities to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden and the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya. (Mindanao Examiner)

2 soldiers killed in Basilan blast

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 19, 2010) – Two government soldiers were killed in a landmine explosion Friday in the troubled province of Basilan in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said one soldier was also wounded in the blast. The soldiers were searching for two kidnapped Chinese nationals in the village of Pamatsaken in Sumisip town when they tripped on the mine.

It was the second attack on soldiers this week after Abu Sayyaf militants also opened fire on a military post in Sumisip town on Monday.

“Two of our soldiers were killed and another is wounded in the blast. It is believed the landmine was planted by the Abu Sayyaf,” said First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, are holding Zi Shun Lu, 51; alias Oscar Lu; and Bo Shung Tan alias Michael Tan, 27, both from Guangzhou, China. The foreigners were kidnapped November 10 from a plywood factory in Basilan’s Maluso town along with a Filipino worker, Mark Singson, who was later beheaded after his employer Hi-Tech Wood Craft Corporation and family failed to pay ransom.

It was unknown whether the Abu Sayyaf was behind the latest attack on soldiers, but the militants are actively operating in the province. The Abu Sayyaf is demanding fifteen million pesos for the release of the two Chinese men, who are both illegally staying in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

The two foreigners were previously reported to be Filipino citizens, but later investigations revealed they are Chinese nationals and probably illegal workers hired by George Tan, owner of the plywood factory. The fate of the hostages is unknown.

Police said about 20 gunmen disguised as soldiers raided the factory and seized the trio.

Last year, Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan freed six kidnapped government teachers after private negotiators paid millions of pesos in ransom. The teachers Noemi Mandi, Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion were released in separate places in the towns of Tipo-Tipo and Ungkaya Pukan.

The trio was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Naga town and brought to Basilan where they had been held captive.

Three other state teachers Janette de los Reyes, Freires Quizon and Rafael Mayonado, all kidnapped in Zamboanga City, were also brought to Basilan and freed four months later after private negotiators ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

But a faction of the Abu Sayyaf last year also beheaded a school principal, Gabriel Canizares, in nearby Sulu province after his family failed to raise two million pesos ransom. His head was found at a petrol station in the capital town of Jolo. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga plans to put up fossil-fuel power station

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 18, 2010) – The local electric cooperative said Thursday there is a plan to put up a coal-fired power plant to augment the increasing power requirement in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Betty Marquez, a spokeswoman for the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, said there are proposals to put up a fossil-fuel power station here because of the increased demand for electricity.

“There is a need to have an alternative source of electric power,” she told the Mindanao Examiner.

Coal-fired units produce electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. The steam, at tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the boiler to start the process over. But environmentalists say the coal-fueled plants will pollute the air and contribute to global warming.

There are at least 9 coal-fired power plants in the country – six in Luzon Island, two in the Visayas in central Philippines and one in Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

Marquez said the daily power consumption of Zamboanga City is about 78 megawatts and at present the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has been supplying only half of the total requirements of the local electric cooperative because of the El Nino weather phenomenon which is affecting the whole country.

“The El Nino is really affecting us all, not only the local electric cooperative, but many power providers, and even the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines which is supplying at least eight others electric cooperatives in Mindanao,” Marquez said.

The abnormal weather pattern also called El Nino-Southern Oscillation occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean on average every five years, but over a period which varies from three to seven years. El Nino is associated with floods, droughts and other weather disturbances in many regions of the world, which vary with each event.

The Philippines like any other developing countries dependent upon agriculture and fishing, particularly those bordering the Pacific Ocean, are the most affected.

Marquez said the low water level at Lake Lanao is also aggravating the supply of electricity in Mindanao because it affects the hydropower plant in Iligan City.

“Right now, all we can say to everybody is to conserve electricity and wait for the rains to come,” she said, adding, the dry spell is expected to last until June.

Of Zamboanga City’s 98 villages, at least 90 percent have rotational blackout lasting from one hour to as long as two hours every day, she said.

“The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines simply cannot cope up with the power demands,” Marquez said.

Incorporated in 2008, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines won in the bidding for the franchise to operate and maintain the country’s transmission network - the National Transmission Corporation – the biggest government auction conducted in efforts to reform the local power sector.

The fifty-year franchise provides National Grid Corporation of the Philippines with the right to operate, maintain, expand and further develop the country’s power transmission system which as of end-2008 involved 19,778 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 24,214 MVA of substation capacity.

As the system operator of the power grid, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines balances the demand and supply of electricity to efficiently serve all of its customers which include generators, private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, government-owned utilities, economic zones, industries, and directly connected companies. (Mindanao Examiner)

Kidapawan Catholics line up for Ash Wednesday

Catholics lined up in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines during Ash Wednesday. In the Western Church, the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of changing their lives. The practice, which dates from the early Middle Ages, is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Episcopalians, and many Lutherans; it was also adopted by some Methodists and Presbyterians in the 1990s. (Geo Solmerano - Mindanao Examiner)

Blast kills boy, 2 others wounded as President Arroyo visits Mindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 17, 2010) – An improvised bomb exploded Wednesday as President Gloria Arroyo inspected troops in the volatile region of the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the blast killed a nine-year old Tata Palao and wounded two children in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province where Arroyo visited.

The children were getting firewood in the village of Kabingi at around 11: 45 a.m. when Palao stepped on the mine, said Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Hao, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Hao said the boy did not reach the hospital alive. He said the bomb was believed planted by Moro rebels a long time ago. “The IED was believed planted by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels a long time ago,” Hao told the Mindanao Examiner.

Arroyo inspected soldiers at an army base in the province as part of her visitation in Mindanao. The President is to step down in June after her term ends, but is also seeking a congressional seat in her hometown in Pampanga province in Luzon Island.

The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is currently negotiating peace with Manila. The explosion also occurred just as a team of international truce observers arrived in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police search for escaped Ampatuan ally in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 17, 2010) – Police launched a manhunt Wednesday to track down a former cop who an ally of a powerful political clan implicated in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province after he escaped from jail in the southern Philippines.

Police forces were hunting down Piang Adam who escaped from the Sultan Kudarat provincial jail.

Adam, who was the former chief of police of Maguindanao province, was arrested in December after security forces seized from his house about a dozen automatic rifles in Sultan Kudarat after President Gloria Arroyo declared martial law in the province as well as in Maguindanao, after the brutal murders in November 23 of 57 people, including at least 31 journalists.

It was unknown how Adam was able to escaped, but police said it is investigating four prison guards.

“We are planning to detail a team of PNP personnel in the jail to prevent escape of prisoners,” said regional police chief Josefino Cataluna.

PNP is the acronym of the Philippine National Police.

Adam was last seen inside his prison cell on Tuesday afternoon and was reported missing the next morning. Several policemen also linked to the murders are also detained in the jail.

Datu unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was arrested after the massacre. He was accused of leading more than 100 gunmen in the gruesome murders of the 57 people in Maguindanao’s Ampatuan town.

Among those killed in the attack was the wife of Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, Ampatuan’s rival.

Ampatuan’s father and namesake, and brothers and other clan members were also arrested and are facing multiple murder charges in connection with the killings. The Ampatuans all denied involvement in the murders.

Authorities recovered more than a thousand assorted light artillery and heavy infantry weapons and hundreds of thousands of munitions in the town after President Gloria Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao after the massacre. (Mindanao Examiner)

Radyo ng Bayan in Sulu province gets new facelift

The facade of the state-owned Radyo ng Bayan in Sulu province which was recently inaugurated in the capital town of Jolo.

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 17, 2010) – The state-run Radyo ng Bayan inaugurated its newly renovated broadcast station in the capital town of Jolo in Sulu province.

Zenaida Masong, station manager of the dxSM, expressed her gratitude to Sulu Governor Sakur Tan who funded the renovation of the radio station. She said it was also during the time of Tan, then the congressman of Sulu, that the Radyo ng Bayan acquired a 10-kilowatt Harris transmitter.

Masong said the total cost of the renovation reached more than half a
million pesos which Tan funded. The radio station also added some P300,000 more for other improvements. She said the improvements included the building housing the radio station, among others.

“This is the first time that a government official has given Radyo Ng Bayan assistance in this scale and Governor Sakur Tan made us feel the importance and value of media in public service,” she said.

Engineer Mike Pangilinan, of the government’s Bureau of Broadcast Services, who represented Director John Manalili, expressed his gratitude to the support of Governor Tan to the Radyo Ng Bayan.

The Radyo ng Bayan and the Sulu Provincial Government’s constructive
collaboration in providing information to the people and the community is a noble duty. Radyo Ng Bayan is an ally of the provincial government for progress and development, Thank you to Governor Sakur Tan,” Pangilinan said during the inauguration of the dxSM.

He said in addition to the improvement of the Radyo Ng Bayan, dxSM will soon have its own digital audio and video capabilities, including teleconferencing facilities.

The inauguration was attended by many town and provincial officials.

“The renovated Radyo ng Bayan, constructed with the support and assistance of the Provincial Government, is a testament of how we value friends from media,” the governor said.

He also appealed to media to give due space and attention to the better things that are happening in Sulu instead of sensationalizing news which is affecting the good image of the province.

“Despite the portrayal of the province as violence-prone as we usually
see in the news and hear over the broadcast medium, we always treat media as friends and allies of the government, to the extent of almost pampering them. The power of media in shaping public opinion is well acknowledged,” he said. (The Sulu Provincial Information Office contributed to this report.)

ARMM holds investment consultation in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 16, 2010) - As an offshoot of the Strategic Planning Conference of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao held last month in Cagayan de Oro City, the Regional Board of Investments in ARMM held Tuesday a public consultation and hearing on the Investments Priorities Plan in Cotabato City.

With a theme “Maximizing Opportunities of a Stronger ARMM Economy” and a set goal ‘More Investments, More Jobs,” Board Chairman and Managing Head lawyer Ishak Mastura cited the ARMM's investment advantage because it is the only region in the country where a board has been devolved by virtue of Executive Order 458 by then President Corazon Aquino.

“RBOI-ARMM is empowered to determine its investment priorities, supervise enterprises duly registered with the ARMM Regional Government, cancel certificate of registration to include those registered by the national board, evaluate incentives uniquely found in ARMM, determine income tax holiday and to supervise registered projects,” Mastura said in a statement.

Executive Secretary lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo praised the management of RBOI-ARMM for its timely and prompt conduct of the one-day public hearing and for the involvement of various public and private sectors in determining the Investments Priorities Plan for the autonomous region.

Sinarimbo said that it is not only the political aspect of governance that should be considered, but more importantly, the investment climate for investors which E.O.458 has accorded ARMM in contrast with other administrative regions.

“The competitive advantage of ARMM as investment destination is one good reason to attract investors to come,” Sinarimbo said.

As to the peace and security aspect, Sinarimbo pledge to decisively address the same as it would need sometime to seriously tackle security concerns in the region.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Department of Trade and Industry are presently pushing for the necessary infrastructure support for the Polloc Port as a "free port," to complement RBOI’s effort to further attract local and foreign investors.

“With 26 new registered firms, P8.6-billion investments and 15,300 generated employments last year, the new IPP, is hoped to usher more investments in the region for this year,” Mastura said.

Militants attack Basilan army post

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 16, 2010) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya attacked a military post in the troubled province of Basilan, south of Zamboanga City.

Police said the attack occurred Monday in Sumisip town, but troops repulsed the militants headed by Puruji Indama, who is on the list of the government’s most wanted terrorists in the southern Philippines.

“We have doubled our security in the province to protect the civilians from possible attacks by terrorists,” said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, commander of police forces in Basilan.

The attack coincided with reports that some 100 militants from the province of Sulu landed in Basilan.

The Abu Sayyaf, which means “bearer of the sword,” was blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings in the southern Philippines. Two Chinese nationals were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan last year. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf, lumusob sa Basilan!

BASILAN – Isang sundalo ang sugatan diumano matapos na lusubin diumano ng mga hinihinalang Abu Sayyaf ang detachment ng militar sa bayan ng Sumisip.

Ayon sa mga ulat ay pinangunahan umano ni Puruji Indama ang naturang atake nuong Lunes sa Barangay Pamatsaken na kung saan ay naroon ang isang detachment ng 32nd Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army.

Hindi naman mabatid kung may nasawi o sugatan sa panig ng Abu Sayyaf na siyang itinuturong sabit sa ibat-ibang karahasan sa magulong lalawigan na kabila sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Wala naman pahayag ang pamunuan ng provincial government ukol sa mga kaguluhan sa Basilan na kungn saan ay bihag pa ng teroristang grupo ang dalawang Chinese nationals na dinukot sa isang plywood factory nuong nakaraang taon pa. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sulu unveils new museum

Sulu artifacts from the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City and photos released by the Sulu provincial government show scenes during the recent inauguration of the renovated museum in Patikul town. Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and First Lady Nurunisah Tan speaheaded the rehabilitation of the old museum.

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 16, 2010) – After long years of neglect, Sulu’s lone museum was finally renovated and now is attracting throng of people who wanted to learn more about the Tausug culture and its rich history.

And behind all these developments are the couple Dr. Sakur Tan, the provincial governor of Sulu, and his wife, Nurunisah Tan, who spearheaded the rehabilitation of the two-storey museum building located within the capitol ground in Patikul town.

“People are distinguished and identified by their respective culture, traditions and civilization. We don’t like to see the repository of our heritage - the museum - to be lost by neglect and effects of time. Like a vault, the museum must also be in a condition where our valued heritage is kept and stored,” the First Lady, a known philanthropist, said.

For his part, Dr. Tan said: “It is only thru our past that we can know our future. I always believed in our glorious past, and that Sulu is the cradle of civilization in the Philippines, Sulu has a very rich history.”

“We must give our children good memories and impart all the good things about our heritage and culture and for them to have better character, confidence and proud of the past,” he added.
The recent inauguration was attended by many important guests and among them were Director Eufemia Catolin, who represented Corazon Alvina, the Director of the National Museum of the Philippines.
The local curator of the National Museum in Sulu, Langca Tapsirul Dahum, was all praised to the efforts and support of the first couple to rehabilitate and maintain the museum.

Dr. Tan said there is a need to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the people of Sulu.

Director Catolin also praised the initiative of Dr. Tan and the First Lady for their support and rehabilitation of the dilapidated museum building, which has been transformed into one of the most beautiful site in Sulu.

“This is a start of a fruitful collaboration” she said.

In September 2008, the Yuchengco Museum in RCBC Plaza in Makati City featured “Beyond the Currents: The Culture and Power of Sulu” where it put on public display rare Tausug suits of body armor and weapons of power and defense that highlighted the strength and might of the Sulu Sultanate during the 18th and19th centuries.

This was the period when the Sulu archipelago was a major trading zone, as it bridged two worlds and lay at a most strategic point for maritime trade. The exhibit told the story of power wielded over European expansion and commerce - the Spanish, Dutch, and British - in relation to the Chinese trading zone during an era when the China trade was strong and profitable.

In order to have goods to barter for Chinese tea, the British traded firearms to Sulu in exchange for its sea and forest products. The Chinese meanwhile bartered their goods for native products such as mats, yellow wax, lake wood, tortoise shell, and the famous Sulu pearls. To Sulu went textiles and other imported manufactures and, of crucial importance, guns and gunpowder which contributed to Sulu's physical power. The exhibit presents the independent Sulu Sultanate's culture and geographical reach through kinship and intermarriages, and as the heart of a trade zone, market center, and regional power.

Through the Sultanate's alliance with other nations and successful engagements in both war and diplomacy with the colonizers Sulu survived attempts at colonization by the Spaniards for more than three centuries.

"Beyond the Currents" was curated by a team led by Abraham Sakili and Ramon Villegas, who also presented the culture of the various indigenous inhabitants of Sulu. Also shown in the exhibit were archival photos, prints, trade ware ceramics, maps, jewelry, textiles, and ritual objects defense gathered from private collections and museum partners like the National Museum, Lopez Museum, and Ayala Museum. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA's Valentines’ gift to a 13-year old girl

DAVAO CITY - Memilyn was a typical 13 year-old girl who on her spare time helps her mother in house chores and just like any other girl of her age, weekend is a welcome respite from school and a time to play. Her Sunday should have been wonderful just like the previous week as she is about to play after her family took their breakfast but the succeeding events proved the contrary.

While the rest of the neighborhood and perhaps the whole world are enjoying Valentines’ day with their better half, Memilyn’s foresight is the delight the whole day would bring but her joy was short-lived when violent burst of bullets from automatic rifles suddenly rang and came.

When the smoke of gunfire subsided, Memilyn Moreno lay dead. Her lifeless body sprawled on her own blood. A blood-red Valentines gift coated in full metal jacket from the New People’s Army (NPA).

Memilyn lives in the Village of Sibajay in Boston town in Davao Oriental province. A place which local terrorists frequently harass, often with civilian casualties.

The Valentines attack in this small town is no different in the level of violence with previous ones; only that this time it is supposed to be a day of the hearts and a day of love.

Government peace and development projects under siege

Several peace and development infrastructures are ongoing in Davao Oriental; and in Boston town, a huge road project is taking shape and it happened to be the target of terrorists that fateful day of February 14, 2010 at 8:45 in the morning.

Sebastian Construction Company is at the forefront of the road project that would connect Davao Oriental to Surigao Del Sur which would hasten travel time and provide ease of access and relative comfort to the predominantly Mandaya residents. Sebastian Construction Company has been receiving extortion demands from local terrorists but its management stood its ground and refused to give in.

Troops from the Armed Forces were compelled to secure different construction projects in the countryside due to prevalent threats of local Maoist terrorists and the Sibajay Construction site is no exception. In December of 2009 the same band of local terrorists attacked the same construction site and attempted to burn construction equipment in Boston town killing 55 year old Rosalinda Clata and two government troops while two others who defended the road project were wounded.

Middle of last year, local terrorists were also figured out in a bomb attack against soldiers securing another peace and development project in the village of Puntalinao in Banaybanay town also in Davao Oriental. This is after they burned three powerline towers which brought widespread brownout in the said province.

Government troops pursued but terrorists held hostage two busloads of passengers which made their escape easy. Members of Local Terrorist Front-18 (LTF-18) of the NPA were responsible in the said attack.

More innocent civilians fall prey to terrorists

The case of Memilyn is not new in Boston not even in Davao Oriental and not even in the Philippines. Innocent people fall prey to local terrorists almost every day in Davao region and Socsargen Area; and everywhere, communist terrorists continue to terrorize people.

In November of 2009, 55 year old Silvano delas Alas was about to tend to his farm when he was peppered with bullets as local terrorists attacked his home. The same band of men from Local Terrorists Front-20 (LTF-20) of the NPA who killed Memilyn, were responsible. They said their real target is a government agent but apparently they made a terrible mistake.

Again, in December last year, a spokesperson of the NPA hiding in the name of a certain Simon Santiago bragged about killing a soldier as he sent text message to every media outfit in Davao. Leading reporters of competing media companies rushed to the scene only to be shocked in finding out that Fernando Timbal, a 48 year old bank driver was murdered and not even a shadow of a purported slain soldier is in sight.

Justice for Memilyn and countless others

Memilyn like many others who lost their lives in the lost cause of local terrorists cry in the afterlife as justice proved elusive in putting the murderers face the court.

The year of 2009 proved fatal to innocent civilians in southern Mindanao as 83 people were killed by NPA death squads. 52 of these are plain civilians, unarmed, no means to defend themselves and were murdered in violent ways.

Now, 2010 is a year where we have to brace ourselves as Jorge Madlos, a high ranking communist leader in Mindanao declared that a they will step-up their operation by increasing their death squads in every municipality into a platoon.

The more than 3,000 people who died in the hands of the NPA in their purging operations in the late 80’s and early 90’s are crying for justice. The 39 Tagabawa tribe members massacred by the NPA in Digos, Davao del Sur inside a church in 1989 are crying for justice. The 357 Lumads murdered by the NPA in their ten year plague of terror in Davao region from 1998 to 2008 are crying for justice. The 83 victims of the NPA in southern Mindanao in 2009 are crying for justice.

All of them are crying for justice; and this year, Memilyn is one of them. (Captain Emmanuel Garcia. The author is the spokesman for the Army's 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City.)

Reduced voting precincts eyed for Sulu province

MANILA - Philippine authorities are eyeing a clustered voting scheme in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, in which the number of voting precincts will be reduced as a security measure to ensure peaceful and honest elections in May, reports said.

The Manila Times quoted Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero, commander of military forces in Sulu, as saying the 'cluster system' would allow voters in the province to cast their votes on designated polling precincts - around 70 of the 410 precincts - so as to ensure the safety of the electorate and maximize the number of deployed soldiers and policemen who are tasked to secure the elections.

Guerrero said that there are some 3,000 soldiers and policemen in Sulu while over 300,000 are expected to cast their votes for the local and national polls.

“We have asked the Commission on Elections to allow us to implement this clustering system because it will help us better secure the safety of the voters and the teachers despite our limited number,” Guerrero told reporters during the forum on Leadership Innovations in Public Service: Bridging Leadership Presentations organized by the Asian Institute of Management and Australian Embassy in Manila.

Guerrero said that clustering the precincts will make authorities perform their tasks more effectively.

“It will be hard if we all use the 410 precincts and we still have to be on alert for other continuing threats such as the Abu Sayyaf, lawless elements and other players that affect the elections, which are the politicians,” he said.

“We are also doing this [appeal for clustering] to avoid instances in the past wherein some voters cannot go to certain precincts because of security concerns brought by the rivalry among politicians. As such, we hope that the Comelec can approve our request a month before the elections,” he added.

The Abu Sayyaf is actively operating in Sulu province and had been blamed for the kidnapping last year of three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross - Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba - and the capture of broadcast journalist Ces Drilon in June 2008.

The ICRC workers were kidnapped after inspecting a water system project in Sulu. While Drilon and her cameramen and a guide were all abducted while on their way to interview Abu Sayyaf leaders. They were all freed after negotiators paid huge ransom to the kidnappers. (Llanesca Panti. The Mindanao Examiner contributed to this report.)

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Maguindanao governor throws support for ex-Defense chief presidential bid

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 15, 2010) – Acting Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto has vowed Monday to support the administration’s presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro.

Ambolodto, who belongs to the ruling political coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said her loyalty to the party will not change.

The acting governor said she is supporting the presidential bid of the former defense chief even if civil society groups backed by the Catholic Church are throwing their support to opposition senator Benigno Aquino III, who is also running for the presidency in the May national polls.

“I am a member of the ruling political coalition and I am supporting the presidential candidacy of Gilberto Teodoro,” she told the Mindanao Examiner.

Civil groups are also supporting Ambolodto who was named acting governor of Maguindanao in December by Ansaruddin Adiong, the acting governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Ambolodto said she is not running anymore in the coming elections, but would continue her term as acting provincial governor or until a new governor is elected in May. “I am not running anymore in the coming elections. What I am doing now is for the sake of Maguindanao and my people,” she said.

Ambolodto is the first Muslim woman appointed as acting governor in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. She was elected in 2007 as provincial board member and named as acting vice governor in Maguindanao and later on as acting governor.

Adiong earlier created a committee headed by ARMM Interior Secretary Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman to screen all the aspirants to Maguindanao’s vacancies spawned by the indictment and arrest of elected provincial officials in connection to the massacre.

Authorities arrested the governor of Maguindanao, Andal Ampatuan Sr and his sons led by ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan, after they were implicated in the brutal murders of 57 people, including at least 31 journalists in November 23 in Maguindanao. The Ampatuans denied all the accusations against them.

Despite the charges against the Ampatuans and over a hundred others implicated in the carnage, many of their relatives and family members are also seeking elective posts in the May polls.

There are 10 vacancies in the Maguindanao provincial legislative council. More than 100 people have applied or nominated for the various vacancies from the acting governor to the legislative council in Maguindanao.

Sources in the province said the problem in the selection process in Maguindanao even grew more complicated after conservative Muslim leaders joined the tug-of-war against the perceived “church interference” in the local affairs of the largely Muslim province.

Supporters of former congressman, Guimid Matalam, are also endorsing him to be the acting governor or officer-in-charge of Maguindanao province. At least 20 others are also interested in the same position, but some of them are known influential politicians in Maguindanao - Asnawi Sinsuat Limbona, Bongarsa Tomawis, Harris Mastura, Bai Mompong Mentang and Armando Lidasan.

Sources did not identify the church leaders backing Ambolodto and Aquino, but Cotabato Bishop Orlando Quevedo is a known supporter of the senator. Followers of Adiong also doubted Ambolodto’s loyalty, saying, she allegedly snubbed him in several occasions in the province for still unknown reasons.

Adiong could not be reached to comment on the reports. Sources also said that because of the growing indifference of Ambolodto towards the ARMM leadership and the perceived meddling of the Catholic Church in the affairs of the Maguindanao, supporters of Adiong are now pushing for the immediate appointments of new acting governor and provincial board members. (Mindanao Examiner)