Mindanao's Panditas Seek Recognition

MARBEL CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 24, 2007) - Panditas, or Muslim Indigenous priests in Mindanao, gathered in Marbel City for the 2nd Pandita Mindanao Assembly to call on the government to carry the preservation and promotion of their practice.

The Panditas perform religious rituals and ceremonies for the Muslim communities in the southern Philippines such as the proper slaughtering of animals for food, administering weddings and cleaning the dead before burial.

In a manifesto signed Sunday by the Panditas, they sought recognition from Manila, claiming their vital role in encouraging sobriety and religious solidarity among theMuslims and other peoples of Mindanao for centuries.

But, the Panditas claimed, this did not prevent extremists from subjecting them to harassment and repression.

Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan, Agriculture Undersecretary and convener of the Pandita congregation, exhort the Panditas' role as antidote to religious extremism expressed in terror acts.

"In the settlement of family disputes, causing most of the fighting in Central Mindanao, the Panditas are also instrumental", Ampatuan told the Mindanao Examiner.

Ampatuan, who is an advocate of Moro culture and traditions preservation, said the assembly in Marbel was an opportunity for the Panditas to again shine as icons of peace and unity among peoples in Southern Philippines.

"Panditas strongly proposes resolving injustices in society by peaceful; and non-violent means," Ampatuan said. (Candido Aparece Jr.)

PGMA Reactivates Southern Philippines Development Authority

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Sr., left, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), turns over to Secy. Zamzamin Ampatuan, center, new SPDA Administrator, the documents of SPDA assets, as former Jolo island governor Yusup Jikiri, who chairman of the SPDA Board, looks on. (Photo courtesy of MEDco)

DAVAO CITY (Mark Navales / 02 Oct) – The new administrator of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan on Monday vowed to pursue President Arroyo’s priority program in Mindanao.

The SPDA, created through Presidential Decree No. 690 during the Marcos regime, was deactivated in 2002. It was engaged in various development projects involving conflict-affected areas and communities.

But President Arroyo, in an Executive Order No. 560, reactivated the agency in August 29, 2006, in order to pursue development efforts to fast track the full implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement.

“More than just operating on its present assets, the SPDA will go intoinvestment generation and will be project-oriented. This will not be a picnic; we are going to roll our sleeves, rework processes and ensure thatwe will develop and implement good and sound livelihood projects,” said Ampatuan, former head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Ampatuan said that the agency will focus on areas that lack investment and explore schemes that will provide more investment access to small entrepreneurs or investors.

While the SPDA aims to assist efforts in fulfilling the 1996 peaceagreement, which includes providing economic assistance, or livelihoodservices to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) soldiers, Ampatuan also pointed out the SPDA will also coordinate with the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) in the implementation of projects within the Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao, whose governor Zaldy Ampatuan is a relative.

To be re-established with a 10 Million Peso funding from the President’s Contingency Fund, the SPDA’s subsequent budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

Leyretana on Saturday handed over to Ampatuan the inventory of existing SPDA corporate projects, subsidiaries, real estate properties, as well as the inventory of existing SPDA assets, Leyretana welcomed the new SPDA Director and his corporate vision for SPDA.

“Working for S.O. 1391 was a daunting, but nonetheless fulfilling task tosafeguard the assets and properties of a crucial development agency in Mindanao. For Secy. Ampatuan, challenges abound the re-establishment of the SPDA, but I am confident that he, along with the new SPDA Board, has thevision, the heart, and the capabilities, to surpass them. My best wishes go to them,” Leyretana said. (Mindanao Examiner, with reports from MEDco)