ARMM holds consultation on gender, development code and Magna Carta for Women

Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Ziahur Rahman Alonto Adiong (1st from Left) joins the group of young lady officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as panelists and resource speaker during the Conference on the Magna Carta of Women here in Cotabato City on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Also shown (from left to right) are lawyer Christina Hawtay Jovero, OIC, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights –Region 12 and ARMM; DTI-ARMM Regional Secretary lawyer Asnairah Batua; Philippine Commission on Women executive director Emmeline Versoza as the Resource Speaker; ARMM Bureau on Cultural Heritage Executive Director lawyer Bai Ashrafiah Aymee Biruar and Regional Legislative Assembly Gender and Development focal person lawyer Bai Ysrahayda Sinsuat.

Assemblyman Adiong delivered the message of the ARMM acting regional governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong on the conference. PCW Executive Director Emmeline Versoza explains to participants of the Conference on Magna Carta of Women the salient provisions of the Republic Act 9710 Tuesday in Cotabato City. The conference was one of the activities on the month-long celebration of the Women’s Month with the theme “Babae, Tagumpay Ka Ng Bayan” spearheaded by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Concerned sectors and stakeholders are pushing for the adoption of Gender and Development Code for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a bid to empower resident-women and enable them to participate in local development undertakings.

The Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) and the Regional Sub-Committee on Gender and Development (RSCGAD) conducted their final consultation in Maguindanao on the draft GAD Code in the region and a conference on Magna Carta for Women here on March 22 and 23, respectively.

The activity was the last of the series of provincial consultations concerning the drafting of the GAD Code, gathering local government stakeholders and development partners to brainstorm on issues and concerns involved in the prospected legislation of the code.

The adoption of the code could be “a regional landmark legislation that promotes and protects women’s rights in different areas and responds to gender issues and concerns affecting women and children in the region”, said DILG-ARMM assistant secretary and GAD Code Technical Working Group chair Sharifa Pearlsia.Dans.

The “implementation of the ARMM GAD Code will give best chances to the rural men and women to enjoy various basic programs and services, create greater participation of women in socio-economic development and active representation in the local legislative bodies in the discussion of their needs and wants”, stressed RCBW-ARMM and RSCGAD Chairperson Jasmin Domado.

The ARMM GAD Code is envisioned to be the regional translation of the Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women that was recently passed and signed into law by President Gloria Arroyo.

Like the Magna Carta for Women, the Code affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men, young and old.

Moreover, it also promotes empowerment of women and pursues equal opportunities for women and men, boys and girls, ensures equal access to resources and to development results and outcomes in the region.

In his message read by Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Ziahur Rahman Adiong during the conference on the Magna Carta for Women, ARMM acting regional governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong said that “the current developments that takes place before us with respect to women are truly inspiring”.

“Women of today have remarkably conquered many frontiers on modern enlightenment and empowerment. Indeed, enlightenment and empowerment are inseparable from each other as there could be no empowerment in the absence of enlightenment,” added Adiong.

Meanwhile, a final review and consultation with the Muslim Religious Leaders (MRLs) is scheduled sometime next month to comprise and conform to their official position on the contentious provisions of the ARMM GAD Code.

The final draft of the ARMM GAD Code will be submitted to the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly for enactment into law.

Maguindanao 1st District Assemblyman Abdulradzak Tomawis will sponsor the Code and Speaker Reggie Sahali-Generale as co-sponsor.

The GAD Code consultation was spearheaded by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women in line with the celebration of the National Women’s Month in coordination with the United Nations Population Fund, Commission on Population XII and Regional Planning and Development Office.

Kabunsuan’s displaced workers get benefits

Asmad Enok, serving the government for over 20 years (left), receives a check worth more than P600,000 representing the "monetized terminal leave" following his displacement from the abolition by the Supreme Court of the Shariff Kabunsuan provincial government at simple rites Monday, March 22, 2010 at the ARMM complex in Cotabato City. Shown handing the check is Maguindanao OIC-Governor Gani Biruar as former SK acting Governor Ibrahim Ibay Jr. (right), Maguindanao OIC-Vice Governor Nariman Ambolodto (second from left) and ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimb (center) look on. Enok is one of 167 personnel belonging to the first batch of check recipients from P40-million fund released earlier by the national government. (Photo by Ali Macabalang)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – After more than a year of waiting in anxiety, displaced workers of the defunct Shariff Kabunsuan province finally received their "monetized terminal leaves" under the fresh leadership of the Maguindanao provincial government.

OIC-Maguindanao Governor Gani Biruar personally distributed checks to 167 initial beneficiaries in formal ceremonies last Monday at the cultural center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here.

ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, representing acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong, in a brief speech, said the displaced personnel of the Supreme Court-abolished Shariff Kabunsuan provincial government “deserved prompt attention and every penny of their benefits.”

Sinarimbo’s remark drew resounding applauds from the beneficiaries, who admitted having suspected “something fishy” in the delayed release of their monetized terminal leaves accruing from their separation from service as a result of a Supreme Court order dissolving Shariff Kabunsuan in 2008.

Biruar said that upon his installation to office by Adiong as OIG-governor last February 24, he started receiving formation about the availability in bank of P40-million earmarked for the terminal leaves of the first batch of displaced Shariff Kabunsuan personnel.

“We got confirmation in our verifications from the Department of Budget and Management that the fund was indeed for the terminal leaves of the 167 displaced workers. So, on order of the acting ARMM governor, we promptly prepared the checks and distributed them today,” Biruar said.

Biruar expressed what he described as “immeasurable joy” over the release of the displaced personnel’s terminal pays, stressing that “justice is defined simply as giving Cesar what is due to Cesar.”

Monday’s recipients of checks belonged to the first batch of personnel of the defunct province whose application for terminal leaves were received and processed as early as early last year, it was learned.

The amounts in the checks ranged from the smallest one-year terminal leave of P7,000 to the biggest sum of P600,000 allotted to at least three displaced ranking personnel who have served the government for over 20 years, official records showed.

Biruar said there are more than 200 other displaced personnel of the defunct province who were still deciding either to apply for monetized terminal leaves or seek reemployment in the provincial government of Maguindanao.

Shariff Kabunsuan was created in 2006 out of Maguindanao province via legislation by the ARMM Regional Assembly. In 2008, however, the Supreme Court issued a ruling nullifying the process because of the assembly’s lack of power to create a Congressional district. The power belongs to Congress.

Over 400 of the personnel of the Maguindanao province, who joined the provincial government of Shariff Kabunsuan, have been displaced following the Supreme Court order. (Ali Macabalang)

Maoist rebels raid Philippine village

KIDAPAWAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 27, 2010) – Communist rebels took responsibility Saturday for the raid on a southern Philippine village that killed a government militia and wounded two more.

The New People’s Army said rebels seized 35 assorted high powered weapons in the attack Friday afternoon on the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town.

“The Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command commends the Red fighters of Front 72 for their daring attack on the Cafgu detachment of Luz Village, Mlang, North Cotabato which garnered for the people’s war thirty five high powered rifles and other military paraphernalia,” a rebel spokesman Dencio Madrigal said.

Cafgu refers to Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, a paramilitary group maintained by the military to guard villages against rebel attacks.

He said the attack lasted for about 14 minutes. “It was launched in the very heart of Vice Governor Manny Piñol’s stronghold, just a few kilometers away from the 57th Infantry Battalion headquarters. A Cafgu who resisted the attack was killed, while those who surrendered were left in peace,” Madrigal said.

“We would also like to express our most heartfelt thanks to the masses and allies of Mlang and other areas of North Cotabato who secretly and ably assisted us in our tactical offensive right under the nose of Manny Piñol whose notoriety as a despotic bureaucrat is known far and wide. Indeed, nothing is impossible for the NPA because the people support them wholeheartedly,” he added.

The Philippine Army said more than 50 rebels took part in the attack. The raiders, who arrived in a truck, were clad in black and camouflage uniforms while some disguised as farmers. They opened fired on the militias and overran the army detachment and torched six bunkers.

Colonel Benjamin Hao, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said troops were pursuing the attackers. He said the truck used by rebels had been recovered by soldiers in Tulunan town where the raiders abandoned the vehicle.
“We will not stop until they are captured,” he said.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

Government peace talks with rebels collapsed in 2004 after communist negotiators accused President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several humanitarian agreements, among them the release of all political detainees in the country and to put a stop on extrajudicial killings of activists opposed to Arroyo’s rule. (Mindanao Examiner)

51 Governors Throw Support Behind Gibo

MANILA, Philippines - At least 51 provincial governors from the country’s vote-rich regions have forged a “multiparty alliance” to campaign and deliver the votes for Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro, who they described as the “best, brightest and most capable candidate” in this year’s presidential race.

In a manifesto of support adopted last week, the governors said their decision to back Gibo was reached after careful consideration of the track record, qualifications and platform of government of each of the presidential bets in this year’s national balloting.

“Having completed our review, our candidate for President has to be ‘Gibo’ Teodoro and no other, and for whom we hereby commit ourselves to campaigning nationwide, among our local constituencies—our vice-governors, our board members, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, barangay captains and other local leaders— with the view to delivering to him the highest possible number of votes in our local areas,” the governors said in their joint manifesto.

Among those who signed the manifesto forming a “multiparty” alliance to support Gibo’s presidential bid were Governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu; Amado Espino Jr. of Pangasinan; Michael Keon of Ilocos Norte; Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur; Teresita Lazaro of Laguna; Casimiro Ynares III of Rizal; Joey Salceda of Albay; Jesus Typoco Jr. of Camarines Norte; Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija; Sally Ante Lee of Sorsogon; Erico Aumentado of Bohol; Salvacion Zaldivar Perez of Antique, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani.

They said their “multiparty alliance” was created solely to achieve the goal “campaigning only for the best, brightest and most capable candidate for President in the May elections,” who is none other than Gibo Teodoro.

The governors, who are grouped together under the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), said that after carefully studying the current crop of presidential candidates in this year’s elections, they have reached the “inescapable conclusion” that Gibo is the one candidate who “towers over the field, possessing the high intellect, courage of conviction and managerial competence to pursue the best-conceived pro-gram of government that could propel our country to new heights of economic development and growth.”

“Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. has articulated a well-thought out program and vision for the Filipino people—by far the best, and only presidential aspirant who has eschewed empty platitudes and rhetoric to provide a substantive, issue-specific program on how the country can move forward and be modernized through deep-rooted reforms and change within our democratic way of life,” their manifesto stated.

The others who signed the manifesto were Governors Josephine Sato of Occidental Mindoro; Telesforo Castillejos of Batanes; Alvaro Antonio of Cagayan; Bellaflor Angara Castillo of Aurora; Nestor Fongwan of Benguet; Floydelia Diasen of Kalinga; Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province; Enrique Garcia, Jr. of Bataan; Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino; Eustaquio Bersamin of Abra; Jose Antonio Carrion of Marinduque; Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro; Mario Joel Reyes of Palawan; Natalio Beltran III of Romblon; Elisa Olga Kho of Masbate;

Governors Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte; Felipe Hilan Nava of Guimaras; Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental; Jesus Jurdin Romualdo of Camiguin; Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte; Milagros Tan of Samar; Orlando Fua, Jr. of Siquijor; Carlito Marquez of Aklan;

Governors Ma. Valentina Plaza of Agusan del Sur; Vicente Pimentel, Jr. of Surigao del Sur; Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi; Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte; Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental; Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani; Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte; Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato; Aurora Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur; Abdusakur Tan of Sulu; George Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay; Jum Akbar of Basilan; Mamintal Adiong of Lanao del Sur; Erlpe John Amante of Agusan del Norte; and Suharto Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat.

They pointed out that “Gibo, the country’s 1989 Bar topnotcher, former three-term Congressman and former Secretary of Defense, has strength of character and unquestioned integrity.”

“[Gibo] does not only have a program of government but has courageously worked with issues of peace and development amid the rising demands of the new global economic order,” they said.

The governors also agreed that Gibo has shown “decisive leadership in promoting social and economic justice, in building bridges of understanding in our archipelagic nation of multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity, in fighting conflict and terrorism through education and economic alleviation program, and most specially in strengthening the local government units to enhance their capacity to govern, raise income and fight mass poverty as the front-line workers of government.”

Arrest warrants vs. Maguindanao massacre suspects inilabas na!

Ang mga wasak na sasakyan na ito at ang back hoe sa kanyang likuran na pagaari ng Maguindanao provincial government na umano'y ginamit sa paglilibing ng 57 katao na walang awang pinatay nuong Nob. 23, 2009 sa bayan ng Ampatuan ay nagsisilbing alaala sa malagim na sinapit ng mga biktima, kabilang ang 32 mga journalists. Nasa pangangalaga ng pulisya sa General Santos City ang mahigpit na pagbabantay sa mga ebidensya na gagamitin laban sa angkan ng Ampatuan na inakusahan sa masaker. Itinanggi ng mga Ampatuan ang lahat ng paratang sa kanila. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 25, 2010) – Inilabas na rin sa wakas ng korte ang arrest warrants ng halos 200 katao na isinabit ng mga awtoridad sa malagim na pagpaslang sa 57 katao – 32 sa mga ito ay pawang mga journalists – sa Maguindanao province nuong nakaraang taon.

Ayon sa ulat ng ABS-CBN ay mismong si Judge Jocelyn Reyes, ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, ang naglabas ng arrest warrants para sa mga akusado, kabilang ang ilang mga “John Does.”

Ang John Does ay ang mga suspek na hindi alam ang pangalan at maari itong gamitin sa pagaresto ng mga inosenteng sibilyan at palabasin na kabilang sila sa mga akusado.

Kabilang sa mga akusado ay sina Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., ang mga anak na sina Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Jr, at iba pang mga clan members na ngayon ay nakapiit sa ibat-ibang lugar matapos silang dakpin mataposn ng Nob.23 massacre.

Kabilang sa mga nasawi ay ang asawa ni Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, kapatid at tiyuhin at mga kamag-anakan. Maghahain sana ang grupo ng certificate of candidacy ni Mangudadatu na tumatakbo bilang governor ng Maguindanao ng harangin sila ng halos 100 armado sa pangunguna diumano ni Andal Jr at saka dinala sa liblib na lugar sa bayan ng Ampatuan at doon ay walang-awang pinagtataga at pinagbabaril ang mga ito. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA rebels torch irrigation equipment in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – Communist rebels torched construction equipment used in government irrigation projects in an attack in the southern Filipino province of Agusan del Sur, officials said.

Officials blamed the New People’s Army for the attack which occurred late Tuesday in the village of Angas in Santa Josefa town.

“It is another case of arson perpetrated by the communist rebel group New People’s Army to extort money from uncooperative construction companies in the area. More than three million pesos worth of construction equipment used in the irrigation project undertaken by the National Irrigation Administration was destroyed.”

“This happened even if the project was meant to alleviate the plight of the farmers in the area who are reeling from the effects of the El Nino phenomenon,” said Colonel Daniel Lucero, Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the Philippine Army.

Quoting military reports, Lucero said the attackers were led by an NPA leader identified only as Ka Jamal, of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. He said the rebels briefly held Rene Amoy, who works for the MarkBuilt Construction Company, and torched the equipment before fleeing to the hills.

“In some areas where the NPA still operates, it is expected that renewed extortion activities will be imposed against companies unwilling to cooperate in the payment of NPA extortion money,” Lucero said. “Rest assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will do its duty to safeguard the industries and the people who run them in order to operate their businesses.”

He said the NPA have also resorted in collecting monies from politicians in exchange for a safe passage in areas where rebels are actively operating.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Kidapawan journalists remember Maguindanao massacre

Journalists in Kidapawan City light candles and offer prayers Tuesday, march 23, 2010 for victims of the so-called Maguindanao massacre. At least 57 people were killed, among them 32 journalists, in the province on November 23, 2009. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – Filipino journalists pray as they commemorated the brutal slayings of at least 32 journalists who were among 57 people brutally murdered in the province of Maguindanao last year.

Members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines gathered Tuesday in Kidapawan City and offered prayers. Four months have passed since the gruesome killings, but the slow progress of the investigation is also putting a heavy toll on the families of the slain journalists.

The journalists were accompanying a political caravan of Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu when some 100 gunmen allegedly led by rival Andal Ampatuan Jr, the mayor of Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, intercepted them and herded them to the hills and shot.

Ampatuan and two of his brothers and father and other clan members were eventually arrested and charged in connection to the mass murder. The Ampatuans denied all accusations against them. (Geo Solmerano)

Philippines Editor Receives Death Threats

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Philippines government to urgently investigate a series of threatening messages sent to Newsbreak editor-in-chief Marites Danguilan Vitug in the national capital region of Manila in the past week.

According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an IFJ affiliate, Vitug received two text messages from an unknown mobile phone number.

One of the messages reportedly said,“Your kind is the reason why journalists are being killed. Ampatuan had valid reason to kill those journalists. I wish you were one of them.”

The message refers to the massacre of 58 people including 32 journalists in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. Several family members of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr including his son Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr were arrested as suspects in late 2009.

The threats follow the release of Vitug’s controversial book, Shadow of Doubt on March 16 which deals with allegations of corruption against judges of the Philippines Supreme Court.

Vitug is also facing a libel suit filed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco for an article she wrote about him last year.

The NUJP quoted Vitug as saying she made the threat public “because this is the best protection.”

“In an environment where attacks on press freedom are frequent and violent and all too often unpunished, all measures must be taken by authorities to quash any potential risk to the personal safety of individual media personnel,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“Only by actively pursuing justice against all perpetrators of violence against the Philippines media will the authorities be able to send a message that such impunity will no longer be tolerated.”

The IFJ stands in solidarity with the NUJP and other local media organisations as they honour the courage of their colleagues in commemorating the four-month anniversary of the November 23 massacre. (IFJ)


Link: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00453.htm

Escaped Ampatuan ally captured in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – Philippine authorities captured Wednesday a former provincial police chief accused of illegally selling weapons to members of a political clan implicated in the brutal slayings of 57 people last year in Mindanao.

Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluña, the regional police chief, said they captured Piang Adam in Davao City. Adam previously headed the police force in Maguindanao province where the massacre occurred.

“Long surveillance and intelligence operations led to the capture of Piang Adam, who is also facing charges of illegal possession. He is now under our custody,” Cataluña told the Mindanao Examiner.

Adam was first arrested in December last year on charges of illegal possession of firearms in his home in Sultan Kudarat, but escaped in February.

Police said he is also facing other criminal charges, including falsification of public documents.

Adam is an ally of jailed Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, the clan’s patriarch, who was implicated in the November 23 massacre of 57 people, among them were at least 32 journalists accompanying the political caravan of rival Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor of Buluan town.

Other accused in the slayings were his sons - Zaldy Ampatuan, the regional governor of the Muslim autonomous region; Andal Ampatuan, the mayor of Datu Unsay town and other clan members who are also in jail. (Mindanao Examiner)

Blast hits Zamboanga ahead of Arroyo's arrival

President Gloria Arroyo during a visit Wednesday, March 24, 2010 to Basilan Island, just several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, where she inspected government infrastructure projects in Tipo-Tipo town. (Photo by Rey Baniquet).

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – An improvised bomb exploded in Zamboanga City ahead of President Gloria Arroyo’s visit Wednesday to nearby Basilan province in the southern Philippines.

The explosion near the Zamboanga City Hall occurred late Tuesday, but police and military said no one was hurt or killed in the blast. It was unknown whether the explosion was connected to Arroyo’s visit. The blast hit an area where Muslim traders had previously occupied.

The army said the blast was probably pulled off by pranksters, although authorities were still investigating the explosion which damaged a concrete wall.

“That’s nothing serious. It was probably carried out by pranksters,” said Army Colonel Santiago Baluyot, commander of a local anti-terror task force.
The explosion coincided with police announcements that the Abu Sayyaf and Moro rebels were planning to sow terror.

Arroyo arrived at a military base in Zamboanga City on Wednesday and flew by a helicopter to Basilan, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf and Moro rebels, to inaugurate several government infrastructure projects.

Zamboanga had been previously bombed by Abu Sayyaf militants and Moro rebels who are actively operating in the restive region.

While in Basilan, Arroyo met with her political allies, but details of the meeting were unknown. Sources close to local politicians said Arroyo told her allies to campaign hard and ensure the victory of former Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro who is running for President in the May 10 elections.

Teodoro is running under the government coalition Lakas-Kampi parties and popular among many people in Mindanao.

Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, Basilan police chief, said Arroyo also spoke with villagers and assured them of continued government infrastructure projects.

Arroyo’s chopper landed in the town of Ungkaya Pukan and then she motored to Tipo-Tipo town where she inspected the projects.

“The President’s visit is a big success. Basilan officials and villagers welcomed the President and they were all happy that she visited Basilan and inspected various government projects,” Mendoza said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Rain at last!

Droplets of rainwater cover the windshield of this motorcycle taxi after a heavy downpour in Kidapawan City in Mindanao, where many areas are dry because of the El Nino weather phenomenon. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geo Solmerano)

Moros condemn religious discrimination in Switzerland

A mosque stands in the background of a market place in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato. Muslims in the Philippines have condemned the Swiss ban of the construction of minarets in mosques in Switzerland. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Thousands of Muslim believers converged Sunday morning at a public square in Cotabato City in the southern Philipines to condemn a recent move in Switzerland to ban the construction of minarets in mosques.

Muslim religious leaders in Mindanao headed by Sheikh Jaapar Ali spearheaded the rally which was participated by various Islamic schools and other non-governmental organizations and civilians.

Several sectors in attendance have delivered speeches to denounce the Swiss law which for them discriminate the Muslims in Switzerland.

Sheikh Ali read the manifesto of the group. He called on all ulama or religious and political leaders, individuals, and the Organization of Islamic Conference to appeal to the Swiss government to uphold the universal principles for the freedom of religion and the rights of minorities in Switzerland and in other parts of the world.

Ustadz Norden Hussain who represented the group of Imams in the city also called on all Muslims in the world to stand united in condemning the Swiss government.

He emphasized that Muslims in the world are brothers and sisters even how far a distance they may be situated. He also challenged the Muslim leaders in the Philippines, especially those seeking elective position in the government for the May polls, to show their sincerity to be a true Muslim.
“Most of our leaders are so prompt to attend a rally if it’s for politics (campaigns) but they do not if it’s for fighting the rights of the Bangsamoro, most of all, for Islam. This is the time for you to express concern with our brothers in other country” Hussain emotionally uttered

Lawyer James Dalumimbang, who brought out the voice of the Muslim professionals, described the fate of the minorities in the Southern Philippines. He told the huge crowd the disadvantaged status of the Bangsamoro in its native place and narrated a few footnotes of the past where Muslims in the Philippines were abused and mercilessly killed.

For the women sector, Ustadza Anisa Taha challenged the Muslim ummah to condemn in the strongest possible term the law banning the making of minaret in the Mosques in Switzerland.

She also issued a strong opposition to the law in France prohibiting women to wear hijab. “I call on the united kingdom and the western world in general to propagate peace without discriminating other religion (Islam). Otherwise, world hatred will exist among religions in the world” Ustadza Anisa said.

The rally ended after the groups in attendance have signed the manifesto.(Nash Acan)

Sulu politicians sign peace covenant; vow peaceful electionsd

Lakas-Kampi candidate Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, who is seeking reelection, flashes a thumb-up sign while opposition leader anformer governor Benjamin Loong, of the NPC, smiles after the signing Sunday, March 21, 2010 of a peace covenant at the Notre Dame College in Jolo town in Sulu province.Local politicians have pledged to support the government’s campaign for peace, orderly and honest elections in the May national polls. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 21, 2010) – Local politicians have signed Sunday a peace covenant and pledged to support the government’s campaign for peace, orderly and honest elections.

Some 300 people witnessed the signing of the so-called “Covenant for Hope Sulu 2010” initiated by civil society, religious and various organizations, including the police and military.

Those who led the signing were Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, who is running again and former governor Benjamin Loong, now running for vice governor and their party members.

Notably absent was Sulu Representative Munir Arbison, now on his third and last term and is running against Tan, the government’s candidate for the May national polls. And so was former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who twice ran and lost in previous gubernatorial elections.

Both Tan and Loong said they are supporting government calls for honest and clean elections. “We have been advocating for clean, honest and orderly elections. We are peaceful in Sulu,” Tan told reporters after the covenant signing.

Tan was applauded many times by those who attended the signing when he introduced his line up, mostly incumbent mayors and their deputies.
For Loong’s part, he also pledged to abide by the covenant. “We will abide by the covenant for peaceful elections,” he said.

Commission on Election’s Vidsfar Julie said poll workers will remain apolitical. “We will remain neutral and apolitical in the coming elections and I hope the politicians will also make true their promises for honest and peaceful elections,” he said.

Sulu military chief Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero said the signing of the covenant is a step forward to ensure peaceful elections in the province, one of five under the Muslim autonomous region.

“We are working side by side with all sectors because we are also for peaceful and orderly elections. We will also remain neutral and non-partisan,” he said.

Those who attended the signing of the covenant were Catholic priests Jose Ante and Romeo Villanueva; regional military commander Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, of the Western Mindanao Command, Doctor Hannbal Bara, of the Sulu People’s Congress, Sulu provincial police commander Senior Superintendent Joseph Ramac.

And also Doctor Sahie Udjah, of the Ulangig Mindanao, Inc. and Farida Hadjulani, of the Sulu Tanjuh Organization, and Father Emmanuel Sison, of the Notre Dame of Jolo College. (Mindanao Examiner)

Illegal miners flock to Zamboanga gold mountain; environment under threat

Government militias patrol a mountain where small scale miners and child laborers dig for gold in the remote town of Diplahan in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines. Small scale miners digging for gold use mercury and cyanide in extracting the precious metal from rocks and soil and threatening streams and rivers in the province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 20, 2010) – Mercury and cyanide used by illegal miners searching for gold is threatening the environment and health of thousands of villagers in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

And small scale miners have been operating the past decade in the province, particularly in Diplahan, a remote mountain town where tunnels dotted the once beautiful mountain.

“These illegal miners have been operating here for many years now, perhaps over a decade after gold was discovered in the area. Now the environment is under threat since miners still use mercury and cyanide to extract precious metals from the earth and these chemicals find their way into streams and rivers and pose a danger to the health of thousands of people,” said a government militia deployed in the village of Balabag.

And the tunnels dug by miners – some under their houses – are also in danger of collapsing due to poor construction and the lack of safety equipment.
There are no hard hats or gloves for miners working inside the tunnels. And authorities are hapless in preventing, if not, stopping the illegal mining operation.

“This mountain is our home, our life and future and gold is life. We have sent our children to schools, gave them good education because of our hard work and same with the others,” said Ofelia, an elderly woman who operates a ball mill in Balabag.

Her house also serves as center of the family’s gold mine operation, milling and office as well. Three workers operate the mill – one doubles as a rock crusher and the two help each other in running the 24 hour facility.

Although there is no electricity in Balabag, miners and ball mill operators use generators to power their facilities. Gas sells for more than P60 a liter - at least 25% more than the prevailing retail price of fuel.

“We are not harming the environment. This is our livelihood. We only dig for gold and that’s it,” said Armando, a small scale miner, who uses horses and paid labors to haul tons and tons of rocks taken from the tunnels and mountain.

He said he earns at least P50,000 a month and enough to feed his family and two dogs. But despite the high prices of gold, basic commodities in the mountain also cost like gold with a bottle of soft drink selling for P25.

And as many as 5,000 small scale miners, he said, are operating in Balabag alone. “There could be more,” he said, pointing to a nearby mountain where villagers are also digging for gold.

Even children, some as young as seven years old, are also mining for the yellow metal – helping their father to earn money instead of going to school. Child labor is common in the area, some earn as low as P30 a day.

Aside from the hazards to environment, prostitution and child trafficking have become a big problem in Diplahan. Many were lured into prostitution in exchange for money – P1,500 for three-hour of sex at thatched houses that served as dens to miners wanting a good time after a day’s hard work.

“Child trafficking and prostitution are a big problem here. We have filed criminal cases against some people involved in these nefarious activities and as a matter of fact some of them have already fled Balabag because of the warrants for their arrest,” Inspector Arnel Galaben, the town’s chief of police, said.

For the miners, Balabag is a haven – gold, women and more gold. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf, MILF attack military post in Basilan province

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 20, 2010) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants backed by Moro rebels attacked Saturday a military post and wounded a soldier and three government militias in the troubled province of Basilan, south of the Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the attack occurred at around 6 a.m. in the village of Guiong in Sumisip town.

“Elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 together with government militias manning a temporary patrol base were harassed by an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf and lawless MILF group. One soldier and three militias were wounded,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

The motive of the attack was unknown but the military and police had previously blamed both groups for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings in Basilan, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The MILF is currently negotiating peace with Manila, but its fighters occasionally clashed with security forces in the southern Philippines and with both sides accusing each other of violating a fragile truce.

The military always tagged the MILF as lawless group if there are peace talks and terrorists and bandits is negotiations are either suspended or had failed. The MILF, which is fighting for self-determination the past decades, denied any alliance with the more violence Abu Sayyaf group whose members are tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terror networks. (Mindanao Examiner)

Groups oppose Agus-Pulangui proposed sale

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 19, 2010) - Two groups have strongly opposed the proposed sale of 6 Agus-Pulangi hydro-power plants in Lanao region to the private sector, saying it will further drive the prices of electricity.

In a joint letter to the Sangguniang Panglungsod, the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Western Mindanao and the Consumer's Alliance of Pagadian City have asked the city council to pass a resolution exempting from privatization the National Power Corporation's generation assets in Mindanao.

“For the past ten years since the passage of EPIRA we have witnessed a series of rates increase as a consequence of privatization,” it said.

Diosdado Marquez, FDC chairperson, sought audience with the city council members here recently for the proposed resolution.

The two hydro-power plants

There are six hydro plants along the Agus River, which gets its water from Lake Lanao in Marawi City, emptying it to Iligan Bay, some 36 kilometers away, generating a total of 727 megawatts.

Pulangi's - in Bukidnon province - lone plant generates 255mw. Combined, the hydro plants in the two river systems reportedly supply 70 percent of Mindanao's electricity needs.

The EPIRA law

Republic Act 9136 of 2001 (the EPIRA) has provided for the sale of the Agus/Pulangui hydro complexes by next year.

According to Chapter V of the EPIRA, Sec 47 (f), “The Agus and the Pulangui complexes in Mindanao shall be excluded from among the generation companies that will be initially privatized.

But EPIRA provided that the two may be privatized not earlier than 10 years from the effectivity of the law.

The law says the privatization of the two power plants will be left to the discretion of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp., in consultation with Congress.

He cited that after Napocor was privatized, the Philippines has become next only to Japan with the highest power rates in Asia.

The reasons of the opposition

Power consumers in neighboring Lanao del Norte province expressed vehement opposition to the privatization last year when the Lanao Power Consumers Federation (LAPOCOF) appeared at the City Council of Iligan to register their stand.

The group was composed of several sectoral, religious, concerned individuals of Iligan City and the two Lanao provinces who are opposed to the privatization of the hydro power complexes.

Among the arguments raised by LAPOCOF is that in privatization, the assets have to become attractive with high electricity rates.

“The higher the winning bidder bids, the higher the electricity price we have to pay in the future so the winning bidder can recover its investment,” says a position of the group as posted in reporter Violeta Gloria's blog site. (Becky de Asis)

Studes hold rally vs. no-permit, no exam in Davao university

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Filipino students staged a protest rally Friday and criticized the continued implementation of the so-called no-permit, no-examination policy at the University of Mindanao in Davao City in Mindanao despite a memorandum issued by the Commission on Higher Education prohibiting the hated policy.

The CHED Memorandum No. 2 , issued January 22 this year, was in response to House Bill 6799 or the Anti-NPNE Bill filed by KABATAAN Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino. It mandated all Higher Educational Institutions to "allow students with delinquent school accounts to take their examinations."

KABATAAN Party-list Regional Spokesperson Ronnie Clarion said: "Now that graduation is near students are beset with this problem because they cannot take their examination. The no-permit, no-examination policy at the University of Mindanao is a big burden to the students."

The UM administration issued a memorandum dated March 3, 2010 signed by Guillermo Torres Jr. directing all teachers for their "full cooperation and support in the implementation of the policy of NPNE" to the dismay of students.

"This is clearly a total neglect of the law and policy of the state and the UM administration should be penalized," stressed Clarion. "The CHED Memo is very easy to comprehend, no students will be barred to take their exam due to unpaid fees. And yet, how come the UM administration cannot understand this very simple order?"

He added: "It is very clear how the Arroyo government continues to be inutile in protecting the interest of the students. It would appear that the CHED memo is toothless, for the way it is being implemented right now, the CHED cannot run after profit-hungry, profit-driven schools like UM."

KABATAAN Party-list monitors schools and universities nationwide that implements NPNE and collects compulsory graduation and yearbook fees.

Kidnapped school canteen manager rescued in Basilan province

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 19, 2010) – Government troops rescued a kidnapped school canteen manager after arresting one of her captors in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Friday.

Officials said Examinda Lindio was rescued at a house owned by Arvin Artiaga in Basilan’s Lamitan City on Thursday afternoon. Her rescue came about after Artiaga was arrested by soldiers, said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

“Artiaga was arrested by the government soldiers for his involvement in the abduction of Examinda Lindo,” she said.

It was unknown whether Artiaga is a member of any rebel groups in Basilan province, several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City.

Police earlier tagged Abu Sayyaf militants under Pulah Montong. It said the woman was reported missing March 6 until the kidnappers contacted Lindio’s family to say that she was being held hostage. The gang demanded two million pesos for her safe release.

Police and military previously warned that the Abu Sayyaf may strike at any opportune time. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for many kidnappings and terrorism in the southern Philippines.

Just this month, security forces captured an Abu Sayyaf base in Basilan and killed at least 6 militants in an ensuing firefight. (Mindanao Examiner)

Gibo campaign may peak on back of Lakas-Kampi machinery

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. greets students of Father Saturnino Urios University during his campus tour Thursday, March 18, 2010. Teodoro has been getting wide-margin victories in mock presidential elections in state campuses and private universities and colleges in Metro Manila and the regions. Teodoro has emerged with a critical base of support from the youth sector. And Edu Manzano, running mate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.,
receives a warm welcome from supporters upon his arrival at Butuan
airport Thursday, March 18.

Pollsters have pointed to a possible “strong surge” in the survey ratings of presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro during the latter half of the campaign season when the machinery of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD could make its presence felt.

In a recent briefing in Makati City this week, the head of Stratpolls pointed to the possibility of a surge in Gibo’s ratings when the local election campaign period starts in March “when the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party’s advantage in terms of political machinery, could make its presence felt.”

This independent survey group, in partnership with the news daily Business Mirror, released their latest nationwide survey of 1,500 voters from February 26 to March 3, 2010, showing the ratings of Gibo and the other contenders in the May 10 presidential race.

Stratpoll’s second and third tracking polls showed Gibo’s rating breaking through the double-digit level to 11 percent, compared to 4 and 7 percent in the Pulse Asia and SWS surveys of the same period, respectively.

However, a separate survey by The Campaigns & Image Group of over 5,000 respondents nationwide showed Gibo coming in a strong 2nd to Sen. Manuel Villar as his strong showing, especially among the youth, enabled him to overtake Sen. Benigno Aquino III and former President Joseph Estrada.

According to the third tracking poll of Campaigns & Image, Villar is still on top with 31 percent, followed by Teodoro with 24 percent; Aquino, 20 percent; and Estrada, 13 percent.

Campaigns & Image also said in its analysis of the third survey results that Gibo’s rating could surge next month after the March 26 start of the official campaign season for local candidates.

“Secretary Teodoro’s fourth ranking at this point, is understandable, given that he came late into the race,” Sureta told reporters during a press conference at the BusinessMirror office in Makati City.

“The other candidates had been preparing for this elections as early as two years ago. But as voters, particularly the youth—though not limited to them—get a chance to hear the former defense secretary speak, combined with his party’s strong political machinery whose influence may kick in after the local elections in March, I wouldn’t discount him from making this a tighter race,” he said.

Former press secretary Mike Toledo said “The results of this survey and Professor Sureta’s insightful observations confirm that we’re on the right track with regard to Gibo’s campaign strategy. The youth vote and the ruling party’s campaign machinery—these are Gibo’s “secret weapons, and we intend to use these to the hilt to guarantee his electoral victory come May 10.”

Toledo, who is now Gibo’s spokesman, said Gibo has an apparent lock on the support of the youth, who comprise the majority of this year’s balloting, as more and more students and other young Filipinos realize that he is the most qualified and deserving to be the country’s next president—given his impressive credentials and proposed concrete programs to address the country’s pressing woes.

“They have either witnessed for themselves how he has outshone his rivals during presidential forums and debates or heard him explain his doable platform of government in clear, simple terms,” he explained.

“At the same time, we recognize the need for Gibo to attract a wider voter base, which is why a major focus of Gibo’s strategy is to visit depressed communities all over the country to personally hear the concerns of our underprivileged countrymen, and reach out to them,” he said.

Toledo described the youth vote as “a potent sector that does not easily fall prey to campaign gimmicks and empty promises made by candidates”, as shown by the results of surveys or mock presidential elections held in universities and colleges, and the overwhelmingly warm reception that Gibo has been receiving during his campus tours nationwide.”

“The youth is not only the most discerning, but is also the biggest voting bloc in this year’s elections,” Toledo pointed out.

Besides this strength, Toledo said Gibo could count on the Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s formidable campaign machinery, which extends down to the grassroots.

“The ruling party has candidates for 170 or 73.9% of all House seats up for grabs, 64 or 80% of the 86 gubernatorial posts, 86 or 71.7% of 126 city mayoralty slots, and 1,043 or 69% of all seats for municipal mayors,” he explained.

“A machinery that reaches down to the grassroots easily accounts for 15% of the votes for a candidate vying for a national post. In contrast, Gibo’s closest rivals can only fill up candidates in as much as 41% of the local posts at stake in the May balloting.”

“Once the official campaign period for local candidates starts later this month, the full weight of the ruling party machinery will kick in–to deliver the decisive number of votes that would catapult Gibo to the presidency via the May 10 balloting,” Toledo said.

DSWD, ARMM intensify anti-poverty program

In this photo released by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Governor Ansaruddin Adiong and Social Welfare Secretary Celia Yangco shake hands after signing their memorandum of agreement enhancing the implementation of the anti-poverty Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the autonomous region in sidelights of Monday’s first meeting among foreign donor-institutions and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao executives in Manila, as witnessing local officials look on enthusiastically.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao signed a memorandum of agreement to ensure the intensified implementation of the government's anti-proverty measure called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

DSWD Secretary Celia Yangco and acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong signed the accord Monday in Manila and witnessed by officials and representatives of foreign donor-organizations and institutions and executives of the regional autonomous government.

In her brief speech, Yangco said the signing of the MOA was meant to replicate if not enhance the 4Ps implementation and ensure effective poverty-alleviation efforts especially in the conflict areas of ARMM.

The 4Ps, one of major anti-poverty government interventions, is a five-year program launched in 2008 through the DSWD. It is funded by international donors including American Development Fund, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, The United Nations Children Fund and United Nations Population Fund.

It provides small cash grants to identified extremely poor families with the condition that the money will be spent for health and education of their children particularly from zero-to-fourteen years of age.

In ARMM where the country’s highest rate of malnutrition and school dropouts has been recorded, the program has gained momentum with the recent creation of the advisory committee to intensify efforts against poverty and improve the health, nutrition, education and economic condition of the local populace.

The DSWD leads the RAC with the Department of Health), Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Regional Development Planning Office and the ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information as members.

The RAC aims to effectively implement the 4Ps and translate national policies into region-specific operational guidelines, according to DSWD-ARMM acting Secretary Pombae Kader, who witnessed the signing rites alongside other regional cabinet members.

In his response speech, Adiong said the forging of the MOA would further boost the operations of the RAC in carrying out efforts prescribed under the 4Ps.

“With everything in place, we can no reason for gray areas in ARMM areas as far as the 4Ps implementation is concerned," Adiong stressed.

In an interview, Kader said the 4Ps targeted 92,000 families in the region, each earmarked with P1,400 monthly subsidy for five years for health services and education of three children. Each child will have P300 education or a total of P900 for the three children while the P500 will be used for the family’s basic health service.

As of August 2009 nation-wide, the program increased its target beneficiaries from 700,000 to one million households in 2008, entailing the government to increase its budget from P5-billion to P10 billion, a DSWD report said.

In the ARMM, as of August 2009, the program then covered 15 towns, serving some 30,000 households that received roughly P58 million, the report said, adding that 57 more towns and approximately 70,000 households are targeted in the region in five years. (Ali Macabalang)

NPA rebels kill soldier visiting ailing wife in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 17, 2010) – Communist rebels killed Wednesday a military intelligence agent who was visiting his ailing wife in the southern Philippines, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said the soldier, who belonged to the Army’s Military Intelligence Battalion, was killed before dawn in their house in the village of Lasang in Bunawan district in Davao City, where the insurgents are actively operating.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said motorcycle gunmen attacked the soldier and escaped after the shooting.

“Corporal Benjie Hupayan, an administrative personnel doing paper works at the Army’s Military Intelligence Battalion, was shot dead by motorcycle riding gunmen using caliber .45 as he was about to visit his wife who is suffering from a heart ailment,” Garcia said.

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the army division, also condemned the attack. “Even at dawn Benjie made it a point to go home after receiving a message that his wife is ill. He was a loving husband and a responsible family man. He was unarmed at that time of the attack. This is a clear violation of the basic tenets of human rights.” Holganza said.

Last week, New People’s Army rebels also shot dead a gold miner in Compostela Valley province and abducted his two brothers, one of them was a former insurgent who surrendered to the military several years ago.

The NPA is fighting for decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Maguindanao wharf declared ARMM’s free port

Acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Adiong (seated second from right) signs the proclamation declaring Polloc Port in Parang town in Maguindanao province a Free Port and Special Economic Zone at a convergence among officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and foreign donor-institutions in Manila on Monday, March 15, 2010 as Japan Embassy second Secretary Hirochika Namekawa (right), Counsellor Hussain Ibrahim Al-Badr of Qatar Embassy (middle), ARMM Speaker Reggie Sahali-Generale, Regional Cabinet Secretary Ila Manalocon (extreme left) and other regional executives shown standing look on enthusiastically. (Ali Macabalang)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Bouncing back from what technocrats lamented as operational deprivation in power devolution, the Polloc Port here finally sees a ray of light in its two-decade quest to open investments and stimulate growth in the impoverished Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The prospects brightened after acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong declared Monday the facility as a Free Port and the host village Polloc as a Special Economic Zone in the autonomous region.

Adiong signed the proclamation in formal ceremonies highlighting the equally unprecedented convergence of top ARMM officials and heads of over a dozen of foreign donor-institutions at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Madaluyong City Monday morning.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chairman of the ARMM Board of Investment, extolled the proclamation, saying: “We’ve waited long for this proclamation and we are grateful to Acting Regional Governor Adiong for doing it in pursuit of his vision to spur accelerated growth in the region.”

Mastura, then Trade and Industry regional secretary, conceived and pushed for the declaration of the regional economic zone and the free port during the first ARMM business congress in 2003.

Polloc Port Manager Harry Mohammad said the declaration marked a “historic beginning for the facility, not anymore as a ‘vision of the future’ after years of operation weathering political upheavals, natural and man-made calamities that characterized the Mindanao conflict.”

Mohammad said the Port was dubbed as “vision of the future” when it was constructed in the late 70s by the Korean Nam Kwang Construction, Ltd. with P150-million fund from the Asian Development Bank under the Marcos era.

The Polloc Port was classified then by the Philippine Ports Authority as the country’s “most modern facility outside Metro Manila equipped with main wharf, lighter docks, transit sheds and wide back-up areas fit for medium industries and processing plants, he said.

The ARMM government under the Aquino administration named the Polloc Port an international facility, pursuing an uphill campaign to make it a stimulus of regional economic growth.

The momentum, however, nose dived when the national government through the PPA devolved the operations of wharves in ARMM including Port of Polloc to the regional autonomous governance sans the manpower item-positions and the corresponding funds in 2002.

In recent problem-solving meetings, regional officials led by ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo had crafted measures to push for the immediate declaration of the facility as free port and enhance its operations from the grim effects of the lamentable devolution process, setting up Monday’s occasion.

According to Sinarimbo and Mohammad, Monday’s declaration posed a “hard work” for the new ARMM leadership to “buck down to work and realize a giant mission of achieving a vibrant maritime hub” in mainland Mindanao.

The ARMM officials appealed to maritime industry players and foreign donor-institutions to “help us attain this goal and push the ARMM towards a greater height.”

In response, officials of the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Asian Development Bank, Canadian International Dev’t Agency, Asia Foundation, International Labor Organization, USAID, UNFPA, UNIDO, ILO, UNDP and other foreign institutions assured continued assistance to ARMM.

ARMM is composed of the cities of Marawi and Lamitan and the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which all have been lagging behind in various development dimensions.

National authorities have blamed the ARMM’s slow growth to peace and order problems, but regional economists argued that the region’s dismal share from the central government funding supports coupled with stringent national laws and policies is the “main impeding factor.”

In his campaign salvo, manager Mohammad said the free port would attract potential partners and investors for industrial estates, export processing, free trade, commercial centers, enterprises and tourism ventures, among others.

He said the port, being the major trading backdoor in the south, would initially operate actively in the commercial ventures of the Brunei , Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines’ East Asean Growth Area.

Tax holidays, capital equipment incentives, exemptions from real property and local taxes, and attractive build-operate and transfer scheme await investors in the village of Polloc, the just-declared special economic zone, which lies in the southern coast of the harbour 14-kilometer north of Cotabato City, he said. (Ali Macabalang)

Sayyaf strikes in Basilan, seized canteen manager

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 15, 2010) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants seized a school canteen manager in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, police said on Monday.

It said the woman, Examinda Lindio, was abducted over the weekend in Lamitan City and that her captors contacted the family and asking an unspecified amount of ransom.

“We have formed a task force that will handle this case,” said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, the provincial police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Mendoza said the woman was reported missing on Saturday until the kidnappers contacted her family to say that she is being held hostage. It was unknown how much the kidnappers were demanding, but police said the gang is led by Pulah Montong.

Police and military previously warned that the Abu Sayyaf may strike at any opportune time. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for many kidnappings and terrorism in the southern Philippines.

Just last week, troops captured an Abu Sayyaf base and killed at least 6 militants in an ensuing firefight in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Worlds apart: The Ampatuans and cry for justice for murdered journalists in Mindanao

Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr, left, sits at a thatched hut with relatives and family members inside the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City in the southern Philippines.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 15, 2010) –

Wearing a pair of signature sunglasses, he quietly sits in one corner, puffs his cigarette and stares at the open sea, unmindful of the armed soldiers and military nurses gathered near a thatched hut overlooking the Davao Gulf at the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command base in southern Philippines.

The man, Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., is facing rebellion charges, along with his sons, who were all accused in the mass murder of 57 people, at least 30 of them journalists accompanying a political caravan of rival Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor of Buluan town in Maguindanao province in Mindanao.

The Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus are no ordinary men—they belong to powerful and wealthy Muslim clans that have ruled the province for the past decade or so.

The 70-year-old Andal, the governor of Maguindanao, is being held by the military at a hospital inside the base in Davao City after his blood pressure shot up and his diabetes, among other illnesses, prevented him from being put in jail instead.

“I am a little okay now, but my arthritis is still a big problem. I could hardly walk and this is the only place inside the military base that I am allowed because it is in this small corner that I can smell and feel the cold breeze of the sea,” the clan’s patriarch said. Relatives who were visiting him listened. They nodded their heads and some just stared at the old man as if they wanted to cry because of what had become of him.

They seemed to pity him so much that they swear justice would be served.

The former strongman of Maguindanao and those who surrounded him did not speak about the massacre of November 23, 2009. They just spoke about his health condition and praised the military nurses and doctors for taking care of the old man.

“The nurses and the doctors are taking care of Datu Andal and we appreciate it so much,” said a relative and Ampatuan agreed. “Yes, that is true. The military is taking care of me and I have nothing to say, but [we] wanted to thank the nurses and doctors and others who are helping me get well,” Ampatuan said.

He was arrested in December last year and together with his sons Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, the governor of the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr, the mayor of Datu Unsay town who was tagged by authorities as the alleged mastermind of the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao’s Ampatuan town.

Zaldy Ampatuan and his two brothers are locked up in jail in General Santos City and, like their father, facing rebellion charges. Andal Ampatuan Jr. is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila and facing multiple murder charges after being implicated by witnesses in the killings.

Among those murdered were the wife, sister and relatives of Mangudadatu, who is running for governor in Maguindanao in the May 10 elections. The Ampatuans denied all accusations against them and insisted that they were innocent.

Supporters of the politicians, many of them from Shariff Aguak, the hometown of Ampatuan Sr., continue to send him letters, some from children whose families he had supported financially and telling him to be strong and firm and always pray to God for him to overcome all problems besetting the clan.

Back home, volunteers take turns in cleaning his mansion. His servants say that he is innocent. “I am always in tears. I always pray that no harm shall befall Datu Andal and the others. They are kind people. My heart aches every time we hear bad things about them because they are all good people, good masters,” said 28-year-old Sandra Lakim, who volunteers her services along with a few dozen others in cleaning the old man’s sprawling mansion.

Villagers said Ampatuan Sr. should be freed immediately.

“Datu Andal should be released by the military and also his sons and others they arrested. They are all innocent. Now we are scared here. The rebels may attack our town and steal our cattle. There is looting every day and hooded men barge in houses and steal our things,” said Mustapha, a farmer in Shariff Aguak, the capital town of Maguindanao and a former stronghold of the Ampatuan clan.

But for the victims of the massacre, justice is just as elusive. They cry for justice and the slow progress of the investigation of the gruesome murders is also “killing” them slowly.

“We are crying for justice. Where is justice? They killed innocent people and they should pay for their crimes. We will not stop until justice is served,” said Myrna Reblando, whose husband Alejandro Reblando, a veteran journalist, was among those killed in the massacre.

Myrna added that the slow progress of the cases against the suspects in the murders is putting a heavy toll on the families of the slain journalists who are seeking justice.

“We are not rich. We don’t even know where to get our next meal. I am only praying to God to give us the strength so we may continue to carry on with this fight. Justice is all we ask for,” she said. Her daughter stopped going to school after the death of her husband.

Myrna now has to struggle to support a big family in Mindanao and the only means of livelihood for her is a small Internet café, which is being managed by her two sons and the boyfriend of her daughter.

Outside the Internet shop hangs a huge photo of the murdered journalist that reminds the family of the elusive justice they are seeking. (Mindanao Examiner)

Strong youth support, party machinery to boost Gibo's ratings, says pollster

MANILA, Philippines - Ever-growing support of the youth sector along with the formidable political machinery of Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) will all the more further shore up the ratings of former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr, who has already overtaken Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III from the No. 2 slot in the latest nationwide poll of the current crop of presidentiables, according to an analysis done by an independent research firm.

The Campaigns & Image Group, which conducted its latest survey in partnership with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), said Gibo’s ratings took off from single-digit levels in December 2009 to 24% in March due to “the political machinery of the administration party and (his efforts of) touching base with local government politicians seeking re-election into various offices.”

It also noted that Teodoro’s campaign relies heavily on “a large network of volunteers …..in colleges and universities that by far put him well-entrenched in the psyche of voters across the 18-28 and 29-39 age brackets.”

Gibo’s ratings, according to the research firm, is expected to further surge when the campaign period for local bets kick off on March 27, which is the time when the ruling party’s machinery that reaches down to the grassroots would start to work full blast in his favor.

Conducted by Campaigns & Image among 5,100 adults of voting age nationwide during the period ending March 7, this survey showed Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) remaining on top, but with Teodoro jumping to second place after having overtaken Senator Benigno "Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP).

Villar remained the survey front runner with a rating of 31%, up by 3 percentage points from his previous rating of 27% in the earlier survey done in the week ending Feb. 17. Teodoro followed with 24%, which is a significant increase of 6 percentage points from his previous rating of 18% in the Feb. 17 survey.

Aquino dropped 8 percentage points to 20% from his previous rating of 28% in the Feb. 17 survey. When Campaigns & Image first did its survey of voter’s preferences for President in Dec. 2009, Aquino’s rating was at 31% and remained unchanged a month later when the group conducted its January survey.

Former President Joseph Estrada landed in fourth place with 13%, which was an increase of 6 percentage points from his rating of 7% in the previous survey.

Senator Richard Gordon got 5% and TV evangelist Eddie Villanueva, 2% in the March survey where 4% of the voters were still undecided on their choice of presidential candidate for the May 10 elections.

“As the campaign period for local candidates kick off on March 27, the top-of-mind shares for Teodoro is expected to increase by 800%. Like (Sen. Manuel) Villar, first-name choice for Teodoro among voters will be higher in subsequent surveys,” Campaigns & Image said.

It likewise noted that Teodoro’s campaign took off on a relatively late start compared to his fellow contenders in the presidential race, which was why his ratings were on single-digit levels in December 2009 and January 2010.

The poll was done three weeks after the start of the official campaign period for national posts in the May 10 elections.

In its analysis of the survey results, Campaigns & Image attributed Aquino’s continued slide “to widespread perception about his lack of management experience and leadership.”

“Because most of the provincial and mayoralty candidates of the Liberal Party are over 65 years old, they had been unable to shore up (Aquino’s) ascendancy among young and middle-aged voters,” Campaigns & Image said.

The survey group also said that Aquino’s “good-versus-evil” type of messaging produced “a strong adverse reaction among voters in the industrial sector that expected him to avoid mudslinging and present a decent, high-level, platform-oriented campaign.”

This survey asked the respondents the question: “Who among the 10 presidential candidates do you think is capable of governing the Philippines and for whom will you be voting for the presidency?”

Campaigns & Image said that to gauge the governance capability rating (GCR) of each candidate, it also asked respondents the question: How do you rate your preferred candidate in accordance with the following parameters (—leadership, experience, integrity, transparency, platform and accessibility)?

Based on this question, Villar got a GCR of 81%, followed by Teodoro with 74%, Aquino with 70%, and Estrada 62%.

“This survey by the Campaigns & Image Group is by far the most comprehensive, easy-to-follow presentation because, unlike its Pulse Asia, TNS and SWS counterparts, it pinpoints the reasons for any change—increase or decrease—in the governance capability rating (GCR) of candidates,” the group said.

“The GCR includes the voters’ perception on individual qualification (leadership ability and management experience), track record (accessibility, integrity, and transparency) and relevance of platform.”

Campaigns & Image noted that “there is a corresponding percentage weight for each of the parameters that add up to a candidate’s GCR.”

Filipinos rejoice Manny Pacquiao's victory over Joshua Clottey

Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, right, and soldiers and relatives and family members watch inside the hospital of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters in Davao City in Mindanao on Sunday, March 14, 2010 the telecast fight of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who won over Joshua Clottey, of Ghana. Pacquiao retains his World Boxing Organization Welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 14, 2010) – Filipinos rejoiced Sunday the victory of Manny Pacquiao after he defeated Joshua Clottey and retaining his World Boxing Organization Welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

As usual, roadside eateries and restaurants and cinemas were filled with Pacquiao’s fans in Davao City for the 12-round bout against Ghana’s Clottey. “He is the best, perhaps the greatest boxer ever, Manny is truly our hero. He brings pride to the Philippines,” said Peter Cataquis, who watched the fight at a local cinema with his friends.

Pacquiao dominated almost all rounds against the burly Clottey, who was able to score more on the 3rd round with hooks and jabs landing on the Filipino boxer’s face. But every time Pacquiao’s unleashed his barrage of punches, his fans back home cheered wildly.

Even soldiers in Davao city enjoyed the telecast fight. “Manny is the man and Clottey is gone. We have the best boxer and Manny will always be the greatest, the Filipino boxing legend,” an army private said.

Soldiers filled living quarters in the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City and watched Pacquiao defeat Clottey.

Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, who was accused of rebellion in connection with the killings of 57 people in his province last year, also watched the fight on a huge white screen inside the base’s hospital where he is under medical care.

Ampatuan, surrounded by relatives and family members who visited him, was with other soldiers and patients in the hospital. A staunch supporter of Pacquiao, Ampatuan watched silently and occasionally would smile.

“The old man is doing well and his health is okay. He just needs to maintain his diet and avoid cigarettes,” one hospital staff said. (Mindanao Examiner)