Groups Opposed To Charter Change Hold Forum In Cotabato City

About a thousand people attended a forum on anti-charter change at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City in Mindanao on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (Photo by Michael Madamba)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 8, 2009) – Civil and progressive groups opposed to proposals to change the Constitution held a forum on Wednesday in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines.

About a thousand people trooped to the Notre Dame University where the forum was held to listen to resource persons discussed proposals by allies of President Gloria Arroyo to amend the Constitution.

The proposal could prolong the stay of Arroyo who is to step down next year when her term ends.

Representative Satur Ocampo, of Bayan Muna Party List, spoke about his group opposition to the passage of the House Resolution 1109 which would convene a Senate-less Constituent Assembly that would tackle the changes in the charter.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is one of those campaigning to amend the Constitution, said the changes are needed to introduce economic and other important reforms.

Ocampo said:”It is a total sell-out of national patrimony and sovereignty if we shall let this to happen. It is the future of the next generation which is at stake.”

He stressed some critical points that people should consider to resist charter change and among them are proposed amendments to “obliterate” nationalist provision especially on economic restrictions which does not allow 100% foreign ownership on lands, mining, shipping and education, among others.

One of the forum’s organizers, Pastor Orlando Zambrano, of the United Methodist Church, also expressed his dismay of what he called “Arroyo’s minions in lower congress which is to prolong the term of the president.”

“Her allies primarily working out to change the present presidential to parliamentary form of government through charter change, which is the only way for her to escape lawsuits and prosecution of corruption and plunder charges. Another term in favor of Arroyo as a president of this country would mean another burden to Filipino people.” Zambrano said.

Zambrano, who founded the group called “People’s MARCH,” issued a unity statement that reads:

We, the people’s movement against charter change or people’s march, express our strong opposition to House Resolution 1109, which would convene the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly (Con-Ass), and any move to amend the constitution perpetrated by the politicians who currently hold power.

The Filipino people cannot entrust the future of this country in the hands of those who profess to be selfless leaders while instigating or deliberately acting as complicit in massive graft and corruption, human rights violations and the sellout of our sovereignty.

A switch to a parliamentary form of government is not the key to solving any of the problems the country is facing. The problem does not primarily lie in the form of government or in the constitution. It is in the kind of leaders running this country.

We condemn the incessant attempts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her minions to press on with charter change despite the public’s disagreement. Their greed and lust for power are truly appalling.

We believe that charter change is nothing but a ruse to keep President Arroyo in power and to advance the interests of the elites, foreign capitalists and the unscrupulous politicians.

We also believe that President Arroyo, fearing for her and her family’s prosecution for their involvement in corruption charges, human rights violations and other crimes against the Filipino people, is exhausting all means to remain in power.

We vow to stir the minds of the people to the true agenda of charter change and its would-be consequence to the lives of Filipinos. We vow to mount pressure against charter change. We vow to resist the money, power and influence of those advancing cha-cha.

We will not allow a despot and her cohorts to continue to plunder our coffers, trample on the sanctity of human rights and give up our vital resources to foreigners.

We call on everyone to take a stand and join us in resisting cha-cha. Now is not the time for apathy. We cannot afford to be fence sitters when the good of the country and our fate as a nation are at stake. (With a report from Michael Dumanba)

Graduating students join jobs fair in Kidapawan City

Graduating students at the Notre Dame of Kidapawan hunt for possible jobs during the 2009 Jobs Fair held at the school’s gymnasium in Kidapawan City on Friday, March 6, 2009. The fair is presented by the Department of Labor and Employment, the local Public Employment Service Office and the online website http://phil-job.net. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geo Solmerano)

Filipino Catholics Observe Ash Wednesday

Catholic worshipers line up at a gym inside the Notre Dame School in Kidapawan City in the Mindanao province of North Cotabato on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 that signals the beginning of the Lent. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geonarri Solmerano)

Filipino Students Undergo Drug Test

Kidapawan City Councilor Joseph Evangelista speaks to students about illegal drug use. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geonarri Solmerano)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 22, 2008) – Students from the Notre Dame College of Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines of North Cotabato were put to a drug test.

It was the first tertiary school in Kidapawan City to undergo random drug testing for students, although there have been several secondary schools in the past which had similar test, according to Abner Lorilla, of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in North Cotabato province.

The effort was a joint undertaking by the PDEA and Kidapawan City Dangerous Drug Board headed by Councilor Joseph Evangelista.

Evangelista warned students to stay out of illegal drugs. It was unknown if there were students found positive for drug use.

Those who were present in Friday’s drug testing were Senior Supt. Chino Mamburam, the city police chief; and Dr Gerardo Rigonan, administrator of the Notre Dame College of Kidapawan. (Geonarri Solmerano)

Photo: Notre Dame Alumni, Alumnae Hold Outreach Mission In South RP

GOOD DEEDS. The Alumni Batch of 1985 of the Notre Dame School (Boys and Girls Departments) initiate their first community service dubbed as Operation "TULI" which was recently held in Purok San Isidro, Rosary Heights 10 in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines. Over 60 children benefited from the Operation Tuli in partnership with the Cotabato City Health Office, the Department of Health in Region 12, the Cotabato Regional Medical Center and officials of the Rosary Heights 10. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Mark Navales-Batch 85)

Sayyaf Frees Kidnapped Muslim University Head

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 27, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants have freed a kidnapped Muslim university principal after more than two months in captivity in the southern Philippines, police said.

Omar Taup had been freed March 17 in Tawi-Tawi province, but police only announced the release on Thursday for a still unknown reason.

Taup was kidnapped January 16 after militants raided the Notre Dame University in the province and killed its Catholic priest, Reynaldo Roda, after he resisted the kidnappers.

Police did not say if ransom was paid for the safe release of Taup, but the Abu Sayyaf had earlier demanded P1 million for his freedom.

Taup is reportedly sick and taken to a hospital in Zamboanga City. Another Abu Sayyaf faction is holding a Filipino trader, Rosalie Lao, who was kidnapped January 28 outside her house in Jolo town in Sulu province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Slain Catholic Missioner Buried In Southern Philippines

Slain Catholic priest Jesus Reynaldo Roda is buried Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 in Shariff Kabunsuan province in southern Philippines. Roda is killed by the Abu Sayyaf in Tawi-Tawi's South Ubian town during a failed kidnapping. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 23, 2008) – A Filipino Catholic priest killed by Abu Sayyaf militants during a kidnapping attempt in the southern Philippines was buried on Wednesday in his hometown in the Muslim province of Shariff Kabunsuan.

Oblate priest Jesus Reynaldo Roda was peppered with bullets by militants after he resisted the kidnapping July 15 in the remote village of Likud Tabawan in South Ubian town in Tawi-Tawi province.

Roda was killed outside his convent at the compound of the Notre Dame High School, where he also served as its director. The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped a teacher, Omar Taup and seized another Muslim villager as they escaped from pursuing policemen.

Hundreds of villagers and sympathizers, many were weeping, gathered at the Oblates cemetery in Datu Odin Sinsuat town where the priest was laid to rest.

Father Rito Daquipil, head of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate mission in Tawi-Tawi province, said the Abu Sayyaf raided the convent. He said the militants then tied Roda’s hands and then dragged outside the convent where he was shot in the head after resisting the kidnapping.

Roda was praying when the militants, about 10 of them armed with rifles and handguns, seized the priest and dragged him outside the chapel, Daquipil said.

“We are all sad. Father Roda was a good man and loved by everybody. He was there doing missionary works with our Muslim brothers and sisters for the past ten years,” Daquipil said.

Security forces have mounted a massive search for the gunmen, but failed to locate them and their hostages.

It was not the first time that the Abu Sayyaf killed a Catholic priest. In 2002, militants also kidnapped, tortured and killed a Claretian priest Roel Gallardo in Basilan province, several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City.

In 1997, the Abu Sayyaf also assassinated a Catholic bishop Benjamin de Jesus in Jolo town in Sulu province. He was shot several times outside his church in a broad daylight attack.

Three years later, the Abu Sayyaf also ambushed a Catholic missionary, Benjamin Inocencio, in Jolo town while buying gifts for poor Muslims. The Abu Sayyaf also randomly attacked and bombed Catholic churches in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and in Mindanao the past decade.

The Abu Sayyaf, which means "Bearer of the Sword," was originally fighting for a separate Islamic state similar to Afghanistan, but resorted to banditry and kidnappings for ransom after its Libyan firebrand founder, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, was killed in 1998 in a firefight with policemen in Basilan province. (With reports from Mark Navales and Nickee Butlangan)