Jailed Sulu mayor, son implicated in kidnapping of TV reporter, 3 others freed

Sulu town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and son Haider Isnaji were ordered released Monday, April 12, 2010 by a Philippine court after they are cleared of all charges against them. Both had been detained and charged in court by the police in connection with the June 8, 2008 kidnappings of ABS-CBN television presenter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, including a university professor Octavio Dinampo. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 12, 2010) – A town mayor jailed on charges of collecting ransom for four people kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province had been released Monday, his secretary said.

Gafs Kanain said Alvarez Isnaji and his son, Haider, were released from jail at 3 p.m. after a court in Manila found him innocent on all charges.

“He is now a free man. Mayor Alvarez Isnaji was released from jail at 3 p.m. today after the court found him innocent of the charges against him. His son, Haider, was also released – both of them are happy and are looking forward be with their loved ones in Sulu,” Kanain told the Mindanao Examiner.

Philippine authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the June 8, 2008 kidnapping of an ABS-CBN television reporter Ces Drilon and her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, including their guide, university professor Octavio Dinampo.

The four were freed separately a week later allegedly in exchange for some P20 million.

Isnaji and his son helped in the negotiations for the release of the hostages, but the politician insisted no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

Provincial authorities had blamed Drilon’s group for ignoring warnings not to go to areas where the Abu Sayyaf is actively operating. Drilon also rejected security escorts and relied on her own guide.

Drilon and her group were detained by followers of a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, whom they wanted to interview after he allegedly sent surrender feelers to the government.

Police implicated Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail, Umbra Jumdail, Tuan Walis and Sulayman Patta as among about 30 gunmen who held Drilon’s group.

But Avelino Razon, then the chief of the Philippine National Police, tagged Isnaji as one of the alleged mastermind of the gang that held Drilon’s group and that his son was also involved in the kidnapping.

Razon said Isnaji allegedly took P3 million from the P5 million ransom paid for the release of one kidnapped cameraman.

Sahiron, a notorious terror man, is included on the most wanted lists both of the Philippines and the United States because of killings and kidnappings of foreigners and Filipinos.

The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf group as a foreign terrorist organization and has offered rewards of up to $5 million for the capture of its known leaders. US troops are deployed in Sulu province since 2006 and assisting the Philippine military defeats the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)

Rebels abduct mayoralty candidate, aide in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 12, 2010) – Communist rebels abducted a mayoralty candidate and his aide after his group was intercepted in the southern Philippines, security officials said Monday.

Officials said New People’s Army rebels are holding former Lupon town mayor Arfran Quinones who is running as an independent candidate for the May 10 national polls and an ex-village official, Ronisito Pedro.

The politician was campaigning along with his eight supporters when rebels seized them on Sunday in Marayag village in Davao Oriental’s Lupon town.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the rebels released seven of Quinones’ supporters on the same day, but the gunmen held on to the former mayor and Pedro after they failed to pay so-called “permit-to-campaign” fees to the New People’s Army, which has been waging a secessionist war the past decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

“Former Lupon town mayor Arfran Quinones who is running as an independent was with eight of his supporters in a campaign sortie when about 30 armed NPAs clad in military uniforms led by a certain Benjie of Sentro de Gravidad, of the Local Terrorist Front-18, held them at gunpoint.”

“The terrorists freed seven of the victims three hours later while Quinones together with a former village councilor of Marayag identified as Ronisito Pedro are still being held against their will,” the spokesman said, adding at least 30 rebels were involved in the abduction.

Quinones’ group was in a car when rebels stopped them at a checkpoint. The provincial governor, Arturo Uy, is currently negotiating for the safe release of the hostages, the military said.

Last month, two political campaigners were briefly held by rebels in Davao City after they failed to pay protection money. The military said the NPA is also campaigning for some candidates and party list groups with links to the Communist Party of the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Norwegian peace team visits ARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The present dispensation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under Acting Regional Governor Ansarruddin Alonto-Adiong is fully supportive of peace efforts including the going negotiation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

This was the message of Adiong read for him by ARMM Attorney-General Baratucal Caudang, who led regional officials in welcoming Saturday the visiting Norwegian delegation headed by Ambassador Vegar Brynildsen, Special Envoy and Norway’s Peace Process Facilitation.

Brynildsen was accompanied by Norwegian Ambassador to Philippines Knut Solem, Thomas Stageland, Assistant Director General, Ture N.L. Lundh, Senior Adviser, Aing Holm, Advisor and Lars Salvperg and a team from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Peace Porcess, including Dr. Grace Rebollos, a member of the government's peace panel; and Director Edsel Mijares, a legal adviser.

Caudang told the visitors that upon assuming office last December 14, 2009, Adiong pursued peace and development policies and programs focused on the five key priority areas: peace, public order and security; development administration and governance; economic programs; social services; and infrastructure development.

In his speech, Brynildsen, who came to Mindanao for the first time, said the road to peace is difficult, but it has great potentials for achievement through peaceful dialogues but they believe in dialogues. He said Mindanao people deserve peace.

For his part, Solem expressed appreciation over the reception of the MILF and government peace panels of the expressed desire of Norway to become part of the International Monitoring Team, which is assisting the peace process.

Before meeting with the ARMM officials, the Norwegian delegation met here with the officials of the MILF Central Committee and IMT members.

With Norway’s expected entry, the 60-man IMT will be composed now of five countries - Malaysia, Libya, Brunei, Japan, and Norway, which has been invited by the two parties to join the peace keepers.

The IMT is tasked to monitor the implementation of truce between government and MILF forces with the in view of paving the way for the conclusion of the talks in a final accord.

Malaysia heads the IMT as well as the security and civilian protection component, while Japan handles the socio-economic aspect.

Meanwhile, Solem vowed to closely assist the talks because according to him, “peace is a pre-conditioned to economic condition.” (Jo Henry and Ali Macabalang)

Task group holds final consultation on ARMM's gender code

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - A task group helping draft the Gender and Development Code of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao held its final lap of consultative meetings in Davao City in the southern Philippines.

The series of meetings with Muslim religious leaders is a prelude to the legislation of the code. The Technical Working Group of the Regional Sub-committee on Gender and Development gathered comments and suggestions from invited participants of the April 7-8 consultations on the draft of the GAD Code.

The consultation intended to comprise and conform to the official position of the Muslim religious leaders on the religious and contentious provisions of the ARMM GAD Code.

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

DILG-ARMM Assistant Secretary and GAD Code Technical Working Group chairperson Sharifa Pearlsia Dans said 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”.

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

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.

“Our advocacies are more on re-inventing initiatives, mechanism, public policy agenda suitable to our being a Muslim and to our region’s geographical configuration," said Tarhata Maglangit, the Commissioner of the ARMM Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women for Maguindanao province.

Maglangit expressed optimism that the consultation with the Muslim religious leaders can widen the wisdom of opportunities for women’s participation in advancing gender and development agenda.

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

The GAD Code will be sponsored by Maguindanao 1st District Assemblyman Abdulradzak Tomawis and Speaker Reggie Generale of the Lone district of Tawi-Tawi as co-sponsor.

Series of provincial consultations have been conducted by the RSCGAD-ARMM technical working group since last year last, gathering local government stakeholders and development partners to brainstorm on issues and concerns involved in the prospected legislation of the code.

The consultation was spearheaded by the RCBW and the RSCGAD in the autonomous region in partnership with the the Commission on Population-XII and the United Nations Population Fund.

3 soldiers die in NPA attack in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 12, 2010) – The Philippine Army has confirmed Monday the killings of three soldiers in a clash with communist rebels in the outskirts of Davao City in the restive region of Mindanao.

The soldiers – Corporal Moises Gaddawan, Private First Class Caesar Gadot and Glenn Haro – died as they were being airlifted to a military hospital in Davao City.

The New People’s Army rebels said the soldiers who were members of the 69th Infantry Battalion were ambushed Sunday in the village of Lumiad in Paquibato District.

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the soldiers were patrolling the area after receiving reports that rebels were collecting money from political campaigners.

“This is part of our efforts to keep the election safe and secure. We have hit the main terror group which has been influencing the area and exploiting the people, we continue our incessant campaign to keep these terrorists on the run. We mourn the death of our comrades even as we take inspiration from the heroism and sacrifice they made to keep Davao free from terrorists’ influence,” Holganza said.

A rebel spokesman Simon Santiago said New People’s Army forces also attacked a military helicopter trying to provide cover to security reinforcements in the area.

“Members of the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-New People’s Army ambushed the 69th Infantry Battalion. The reinforcement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a bomber-helicopter, was hit by the NPA and immediately retreated. Based on initial reports, NPA forces have recovered one high-power weapon from the enemy,” Santiago said.

Last week, rebel forces also killed a government soldier and wounded seven more in separate attacks in Montevista town in Compostela Valley province and in the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province.

Last month, NPA forces also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.

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

Mindanao scholars speak in international confab on Muslim action in climate change

The Muslim world has now become concerned on global warming and climate change because of the more than one billion Muslims, seventy percent live in the East part of the world and in countries which are very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

To respond to this global problem, the Muslim Seven Year Action Plan for Climate Change (M7YAP) was crafted in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2009 for all Muslim countries. Part of this action plan was to convene the First International Conference on Muslim Action on Climate Change in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia last April 9-10.

The objectives of the conference were to raise awareness of communities, stakeholders and decision makers in the Muslim World on the threat of climate change and the need for making responsible actions by Muslim communities in each of the country’s development context and to promote dialogues and interactive learning process in developing strategy and guidelines as well as coordinated program of actions by the Muslim communities all over the world on how to deal with climate change issues.

Some 200 environment experts, academics and clerics from 30 countries with Moslem population, such as the United Arab Emirates, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, India, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Egypt, Britain, Indonesia and the Philippines attended this conference.

From the Philippines, Amina Rasul, the Lead Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy and Dr. Filemon G. Romero, Professor of Oceanography of Environmental Science of the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi were invited as resource persons.

Rasul talked on the Philippine Initiatives on Climate Change: Actions Needed for Muslim Mindanao while Romero presented a paper entitled “Institutionalizing Education for Sustainable Development in Muslim Communities, Philippines: Tawi-Tawi in Focus”.

Among the major agreements in the conference were to promote collaboration among Muslim countries by mobilizing scientists to conduct research on climate change and environmental sustainability; train the ulamas or religious leaders on knowledge on climate change for them to propagate as khutbas their congregations; promote a special curriculum on environmental issues in Islamic schools or madrasas from elementary to university level. It was also agreed that a position paper be submitted to the OIC to put pressure on the international community to deal with global warming.

Another highlight of this conference was the declaration of Bogor City in Indonesia as the first Islamic Green city or Al Khaer City in the world.

The conference was held in cooperation with several private organizations, such as Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, the Kehati Foundation and the Conservation International Indonesia with support from the ministries of forestry, environment, religious affairs and the Bogor city administration, the National Council on Climate Change and the Earth Mate Dialogue Center based in London.

Rebels ambush army troops, chopper hit in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 11, 2010) – Communist insurgents ambushed a military patrol Sunday and opened fire on a helicopter trying to provide cover to security reinforcements in the outskirts of Davao City in the southern Philippines.

A rebel spokesman Simon Santiago said New People’s Army forces attacked members of the 69th Infantry Battalion in the village of Lumiad in Paquibatao District.

“Members of the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-New People’s Army ambushed the 69th Infantry Battalion. The reinforcement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a bomber-helicopter, was hit by the NPA and immediately retreated. Based on initial reports, NPA forces have recovered one high-power weapon from the enemy,” Santiago said.

Santiago did not say how many government soldiers were killed or if there was a casualty on the rebel side. Army spokesmen and their officials did not give any statement to the press about the rebel attack and ignored telephone calls from journalists.

On Saturday, NPA rebels also fatally ambushed a government soldier, Sergeant Marlon Salva, a member of the Philippine Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion, in Camantangan village in Compostela Valley’s Montevista town.

Earlier this week, seven soldiers were also wounded in a rebel ambush in the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province.

Last month, NPA forces also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.

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

Soldier killed in NPA ambush in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 10, 2010) – Communist rebels killed a government soldier in an ambush Saturday in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said Sergeant Marlon Salva, a member of the Philippine Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion, was on his to meet with village leaders when rebels ambushed him in Camantangan village in Compostela Valley’s Montevista town.

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, condemned the killing, saying, the soldier was unarmed when New People’s Army rebels attacked him.

“It is with deep sympathy that we condole with the family of Sergeant Salva. The repeated murders being perpetrated by this terrorist group show their heartlessness and utter disregard to human life,” Holganza said.

Holganza branded the killing as “horrible and brutal,” saying the soldier died from multiple gunshot wounds. He said six rebels opened fire at the soldier who was on his motorcycle. “He was defenseless, he had no chance.” he said.

The motive of the attack was unknown, but the NPA which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country, had been blamed for past killings of soldiers and policemen in the restive region. (Mindanao Examiner)

What The Heck? Zamboanga Residents Go About Their Lives

Zamboanga City residents go about their daily routine unmindful of the elections propaganda of politicians who promise "heaven and earth" to win in the Mayo 10, 2010 general polls. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Philippine military accused of political partisan

A photo released Friday by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan to the regional newspaper the Mindanao Examiner shows a Philippine Army soldier lecturing students in Davao City about leftist party list organization.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 9, 2010) – Political activists opposed to President Gloria Arroyo’s rule accused Friday the Philippine military of campaigning against leftists and progressive groups in Mindanao where security forces are battling communist insurgents.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, a party list group linked by the military to the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army rebels, also accused government soldiers of actively campaigning against progressive party list organizations which fielded candidates for the May 10 nationals elections.

It said government soldiers are conducting vilification campaign in Davao City after political activists on Tuesday chanced upon members of the 69th Infantry Battalion campaigning against progressive party list groups at the Philippine College of Technology.

The military also accused Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other leftist party list organizations of misusing its congressional funds to the point that it cannot even provide even a piece of door for a school in Davao City.

"Dirty propaganda will not succeed for as long as this corrupt government fails in uplifting people’s lives from dire poverty," said John Birondo, a spokesman for the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

"These dirty verbal attacks against us will fail to gain people’s sympathy; we will not tolerate these lies sowed by the military because it is pure deception," he said.

Birondo said soldiers urged students not to join or support progressive groups, particularly Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and GABRIELA, a party list group that advocates for women’s issues.

GABRIELA is the acronym of General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action.

"The military accused progressive party lists of corrupting ‘pork barrel’ funds in Congress, a move in direct violation of the election code which prohibits the Armed Forces of the Philippines from partisan politics and partisan campaigning," Birondo said.

Pork barrel refers to the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF amounting to P200 million pesos for each senator and P70 million for each congressman.

The PDAF makes possible the implementation, in every congressional district, of small-scale but significant projects which can not be part of large-scale projects of national agencies. These projects are generally in the form of infrastructure, health, education and social aid packages.

Ariel Casilao, a regional coordinator of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Mindanao, said: "The military is desperate in preventing us from pushing reforms in the government; it being the mouthpiece of this corrupt and bankrupt government."

Casilao described the military as "mad dogs," and denied accusations that the progressive party lists have misused pork barrel fund. "The military is so frantic because it failed in their counter-insurgency program, the Oplan Bantay Laya and this is the reason why the military establishment is hell-bent in sowing lies and deception against legitimate people’s organizations and progressive party lists," he said.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan strongly denied it was misusing pork barrel funds.

It said President Arroyo stopped approving medical, education and infrastructure projects from progressive party list groups, including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, after it pursued impeachment cases against the President in the past in connection to corruption scandals in the government.

"Everybody knows that Malacanang has stopped approving referrals from progressive party list for medical, education, and infrastructure projects since Bayan Muna and the other groups filed for Gloria’s impeachment. What is even worthy is that despite this fact, progressive party list organizations have continued to expand and consolidate its ranks and provide ample services to the vast majority through sheer hard work and principled alliance with other political groups over the last five years," Birondo said.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Division on Friday denied it was campaigning against progressive party list groups, including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and GABRIELA, but admitted embarking on an information drive exposing alleged links of these organizations to the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army which is actively operating in Davao City and other parts of Mindanao.

"The military is not campaigning against progressive party list organizations or other political groups, but we are just continuing our information drive exposing the links of these militant groups to the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army rebels," said Army Captain Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel. "It is up to the public to decide who to vote for in the coming national elections. We are non-partisan."

She said militant groups are fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army based on documents recovered by security forces from captured rebel camps in Mindanao.

The NPA is fighting the past decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. Government peace talks with the rebels collapsed in 2001 after the communist group accused President Arroyo of reneging on several agreements, among them the release of all political prisoners and to put a stop to political killings in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

3 people wounded in Zamboanga blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 9, 2010) – Three people were injured in a grenade attack in Zamboanga Sibugay province in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday.

Officials said the grenade exploded late Thursday outside the house of a police officer in Kabasalan town, several kilometers from Titay where two improvised bombs were detonated earlier near the house of George Castillo, a mayoralty candidate of the ruling coalition; and at a village hall in nearby Titay town.

The grenade attack occurred 30 minutes after two improvised explosives went off, although there were no reports of casualties in the bombings.

It was unknown if the three attacks were connected.

“The attacks are being investigated by the police,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a regional military spokeswoman.

On Monday, a grenade attack wounded one person outside a radio station in Titay town owned by Zamboanga Sibugay governor George Hofer, an ally of Castillo. The facility is just several meters away from Hofer’s house.

Hofer, who is on his third and last term, is running for mayor in the town of Ipil, while his daughter, Dulce Ann Hofer, the congresswoman of Zamboanga Sibugay, is running for governor in the province. His son Jet Hofer is also running for a congressional seat.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the spate of attacks.

A local newspaper, Sibugay Express, quoted the radio station manager Kim Porras as saying the attack could be retaliation for the political commentaries of freelance broadcasters. Porras, himself, is also receiving subtle threats though text messages warning him to take it slowly, it said.

The explosion occurred minutes after Porras’ radio program ended, but it was unknown whether he was the target of the attack or the Hofers, who held a grip in the province’s political power for many years now. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA rebel yields, surrenders anti-tank weapon in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 8, 2010) – A communist rebel who broke away from his group called New People’s Army in Mindanao has surrendered to the military, officials said Thursday.

Officials said Romeo Bangilum also handed over to the military a 90mm recoilless anti-tank weapon and a rifle he took from the NPA. He surrendered Wednesday to Filipino army chief General Reynaldo Mapagu who inspected troops at a military base in Davao City.

Bangilum said he was recruited by his sister Imelda Lintubad, but it was unknown whether the woman would follow him or not. He said he was lured into joining the NPA, which has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

“I was a rebel for four years. I was lured into false promises. They promised me seven thousand pesos every month and another seven hundred pesos for each of my four children, but those were all lies. Now I am free,” Bangilum told military interrogators.

Mapagu said he was happy with the Bangilun’s surrender and urged other rebels to return to the folds of the law and live peacefully with their family.

“We are glad that another misguided brother has returned to the folds of the law. He was deceived and promised a better life by the communists, but suffered only hardships and pains while in the underground movement. We call on our misguided brothers to lay down their arms as what Romeo did and take the peaceful path to change for our country’s progress,” Mapagu said.

The military said Bangilun surrendered through the efforts of the local tribal council and decision of its leaders to convince Lumad natives who joined the NPA to rejoin society.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Division said Bangilun will receive a total of P170,000 in benefits under the government’s Social Integration Program.

Major General Carlos Holganza, a regional army commander, said the good relationship established by government soldiers in Lumad communities paved the way for the tribal council to help the government in its peace efforts. “We are sincere with our program and we urge our brothers in the NPA to come back to society and begin a new life,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

RP should strengthen foreign ties, says Gibo

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro and Lakas-Kampi-CMD Provincial Chairman and re-electionist Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan answer questions from journalists. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA - The next administration should focus not only on internal concerns but also on strengthening the Philippines’ ties with other countries to guarantee national security, spur economic growth and protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro said.

At the same time, Gibo said Filipinos should speak with one voice before the global community, especially when it comes to fulfilling its international commitments, to protect its reputation overseas and build investor confidence in the domestic economy.

“Filipinos should speak with one voice,” he said in a recent media forum. “There must be no crack. Our reputation as a country that is ready, willing and able to stand up to its commitments made fairly, freely, must be proven because there is a sad question mark on that in the world scene. And that is also one factor why investments, perhaps, have not come.”.

Gibo said Philippine foreign relations was one topic “sorely missed” in the discussions during forums and debates among presidential candidates in this year’s elections, even though it is a key pillar in developing our economy and even in improving the quality of our human capital.

“One of the canons of Philippine diplomacy, Philippine foreign policy, is that we rely on our good and principled relations with other countries for our national security, national economic security, and thirdly, the welfare of Filipinos abroad,” Gibo said.

He said that to develop Filipino skills and brainpower, the country should learn to interact globally and open itself “not merely to investments but to influences worldwide.”

Gibo said that if elected President, he would continue strengthening the Philippines’ ties with its traditional allies such as the United States, Australia and Japan, while developing bilateral and trade relations with the Middle East, the European Community and South America.

The Philippines must also continue to build its partnerships with China, which is a major trade partner and potentially the largest market for Philippine exports, Gibo said.

Moreover, China is also a key element in maintaining economic growth and preserving peace and stability in East Asia, he added.

China, he said, also presents a large market for the country’s tourism sector and is a potential partner in investments on power and energy,
In the first six months of a Teodoro presidency, Gibo said that due to pressing domestic concerns, he would prefer to stay in the country rather than travel overseas, save for attending the upcoming Asean Summit in Vietnam in October and the APEC Summit in in Japan in November.

A former Defense chief, Gibo has huge public support and governors and mayors are campaigning for him to ensure his victory and that of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates for the May 10 general elections.

Ahon Pinoy gets huge support in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 6, 2010) - The party list group Ahon Pinoy (Ahon) continues to draw huge support in Mindanao, many from families and relatives of overseas Filipino workers and civil groups and different organizations advocating good governance and peace and progress.

Ahon Pinoy is strongly advocating for the rights and welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers of OFWs; Small and Medium Scale training for overseas workers, good government and new politics. "We will campaign for Ahon Pinoy because it is for the welfare of all OFWs," said Ben San Diego, whose father works in the Middle East the past 5 years.

Ahon Pinoy recently submitted its list of nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for accreditation and enrollment.The list includes Dante Francis Ang 2nd, of Las Piñas City (Metro Manila); Emerito Remulla of Cavite; Von Bryan Cuerpo of Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal; Efren Villaseñor of Lopez, Quezon; and Fundador Soriano of Pangasinan.

They will represent Ahon in the House of Representatives and public forums in the next three years should the party-list group win in the May 10 elections.

Ahon said in a statement that it speaks for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families as well as organizations of expatriates and immigrants.

Its legislative agenda includes: expansion of the study-now, pay-later education program to benefit more poor, deserving youth; low-cost housing; health care assistance; return of the coconut levy fund to the farmer beneficiaries; collateral-free loans to help create and launch small businesses; and “good governance.”

Ahon’s campaign also stresses the role of the part-list system in developing and educating the electorate on correct and intelligent voting on election day. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)

7 soldiers wounded in NPA ambush in Mindanao

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 6, 2010) – Philippine Maoist rebels ambushed a military patrol and wounded at least 7 soldiers in the restive southern region of Mindanao, reports said on Tuesday.

The attack occurred in the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province where New People’s Army rebels are actively operating. Reports said the rebels used a landmine in Monday attack and that a firefight erupted between the two groups.

It was unknown if there were casualties on the side of the ambushers, who retreated to the hills after the fighting. A military truck was damaged in the roadside bombing.

Army spokesmen in Central Mindanao ignored telephone calls from journalists and could not be reached to comment on the attack. Military officials have previously trumpeted the government’s victory in the campaign against communist rebels in Mindanao.

The latest attack came a day after rebel leaders accused the military and politicians in North Cotabato of human rights violations and vowed to retaliate for their abuses.

“The people and its army, the NPA, will not take this policy of persecution sitting down. They have no other recourse but to fight back and defend them selves,” said Dencio Madrigal, a spokesman for the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command.

“Having failed miserably to hit the NPA, the operating soldiers have taken it out on the innocent and hapless civilians,” he said.

Last month, NPA forces also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.

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

Huge Public Support Greets Sarangani Re-electionist Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez

In Sarangani’s Maitum town, re-electionist Governor Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez meets former mayor and provincial board member Juanito “Tatang” Purisima, who is among the thousands of supporters who attended the Sarangani Reformation and Reconciliation Organization and Lakas-Kampi-CMD proclamation rally Monday, April 4, 2010. Dominguez also spoke to party supporters and community leaders and also led the evacuation and restoration of peace in the communities of Maitum and Maasim towns during disaster and social disturbances in the past with the assistance of former Defense Secretary and presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion)

Zamboanga radio station bombed, 1 person injured

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 6, 2010) – One person was wounded in an explosion in front of a radio station in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay, police and military reports said Tuesday.

It was unknown whether the explosion came from a hand grenade or homemade bomb, but the attack late Monday on the radio station in the town of Titay was believed to be politically-motivated. Its owner, George Hofer, is the incumbent governor of Sibugay province.

Hofer, who is on his third and last term, is running for mayor in the town of Ipil, while his daughter, Dulce Ann Hofer, the congresswoman of Zamboanga Sibugay, is running for governor in the province. His son Jet Hofer is also running for a congressional seat.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but reports said two men on a motorcycle were spotted near the radio station before the blast. The facility is just several meters away from Hofer’s house.

A local newspaper, Sibugay Express, quoted the radio station manager Kim Porras as saying the attack could be retaliation for the political commentaries of freelance broadcasters. Porras, himself, is also receiving subtle threats though text messages warning him to take it slowly, it said.

The explosion occurred minutes after Porras’ radio program ended, but it was unknown whether he was the target of the attack or the Hofers, who held a grip in the province’s political power for many years now. (Mindanao Examiner)

Agro-Industrialization To Create Rural Jobs, Says Gibo

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro said the government should set the environment for re-industrialization and agro-industrialization to bring back the factories and the jobs that used to be vital anchors of the national economy.

This push for re-industrialization and agro-industrialization was made by Gibo in a recent radio interview, saying the resurgence of the factories and the agro-industrial sites is one sure way to lifting the economy and generating jobs on a massive scale.

Gibo is the first presidential candidate to argue for the twin programs of industrialization and agro-industrialization, the attraction of which as economic anchors has waned owing to the emergence of service and tourism jobs and the rise of jobs generated by business outsourcing.

In the same interview, Gibo said the government’s role in the overall job-generation and economic-lifting landscape has to be recast in its proper role—as a stimulator of growth, not a source of endless subsidies and dole-outs.

“The government should not be a well of dole-outs and of benefits. The government is a bridge that lays the foundation for jobs and growth,” Gibo said.

Toward this, Gibo said, his presidency would use good governance to entice the private sector into creating and generating quality and well-paying jobs.

He said that micro and small-scale entrepreneurs should either be assisted with the start-up capital, or given the assurance of adequate return-on-investment.

As all of these are being pursued by government, there will be adequate investments in the precious human capital through education and health care investments, added Gibo.

At forums and discussions related to the presidential election, Gibo has been the most impressive presidential candidate, with his in-depth take on critical national issues and his impressive but doable policy prescriptions.

“Gibo’s push for industrialization and agro-industrialization has never been part of the presidential discussions on the economy because it is essentially an out-of-the-box solution and it would take immense political will and planning to see to it that the country recaptures its industrial foundry,” said Gibo’s spokesman Mike Toledo, who is also director of the G1BO 2010 Media Bureau.

Toledo said Gibo is also batting for the imperative “synergy” between the country’s agricultural development programs and the agrarian reform program because the two are intertwined and the failure of the agrarian reform beneficiaries has been dampening agricultural production and the effort to achieve national food security.

Gibo has also been saying that his presidency would spend more in agricultural investments from roads to seaports to post-harvest facilities and irrigation.

Only through massive investments can agro-industrialization take place, Gibo added.

Army recovers bomb chemical in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 5, 2010) – Patrolling government troops on Monday recovered three sacks of chemical fertilizer used in the manufacture of homemade explosives believed left behind by communist rebels in Compostela Valley province in Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said New People’s Army rebels left behind the chemical in the village of Andap in New Bataan town.

“Responding from constant reports that New People’s Army terrorists will conduct offensives by utilizing improvised explosive devices fashioned as landmines, troops from the 66th Infantry Battalion conducting security patrol recovered three sacks of ammonium nitrate which is a potent bomb component,” said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City.

He said military reports indicate the rebels were planning to use improvised explosives against government troops who frequently pass in the village.

Major General Carlos Holganza, the army division commander, said the chemical can be used by the rebels to manufacture homemade explosives.

“Three sacks of this chemical will translate to many improvised explosive devices which may result to many casualties, including civilians, had not our troops recover the ammonium nitrate,” he said.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a secessionist war for the past decades. (Mindanao Examiner)

Grupo ng NPC sa Zamboanga City malakas; Mannix, Monsi at James patok!

Ang grupo ng abogadong si James Enriquez habang nangangampanya sa Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Jung Francisco)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Abril 5, 2010) – Pinagkakaguluhan sa Zamboanga City ang pangangampanya ng grupo ng batikang abogadong si James Enriquez na tumatakbong congressman sa District 1 at ang incumbent na si Bise Alkalde Manuel Dalipe at dating Presidential adviser na si Crisanto dela Cruz dahil sa kanilang inilatag na plataforma de gobyerno.

Si Dalipe ay tumatakbo ngayon bilang alkalde ng Zamboanga City laban sa incumbent rin na si Celso Lobregat. Si Dela Cruz, na mas kilala bilang “Monsi,” ay dati rin Katolikong pari at ngayon ay ang tumatayong katuwang ni Dalipe sa pagka-bise alkalde.

Kilalang mabait at matalino si Enriquez, na dating opisyal ng Bureau of Customs at isa sa mga pinakarespetado sa Zamboanga at ang mga programa nito ang siyang patuloy na nagdadala sa kanya sa kasikatan sa distritong tinatakbuhan.

Nahuli ng tatlo ang kalooban ng publiko dahil sa kanilang magandang programa kung sakaling palarin at magwagi sa halalan sa Mayo 10. Halos pagkaguluhan ang tatlo sa tuwing darayo sa ibat-ibang barangay kasama ang kanilang grupo na binubuo ng mga batikang pulitiko at baguhan, ngunit karapat-dapat na kandidato ng Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Bahay-bahay rin kung suyurin ng grupo nina Dalipe, Dela Cruz at Jimenez ang mga barangay at mainit na mainit ang pagtanggap sa kanila ng publiko. At mistulang mga artista kung sila’y pagkaguluhan at halos hindi na umano makahinga sa higpit ng yakap ng mga supporters sa tuwing mangangampanya.

“Panalo sila, tiyak sila ang mananalo dahil mabubuting tao ang grupo nina Mannix, Monsi at James. Bagong pag-asa sila ng Zamboanga City at kami ay naniniwala sa kanilang kakayahan at sana ay sila na ang mamuno sa Zamboanga upang umunlad naman ang ating lugar,” ani Nelson, isang supporter ng grupong NPC.

Mannix ang palayaw ni Dalipe at kilala naman si Dela Cruz sa Zamboanga bilang Monsi at siyang nasa likod ng tagumpay ng Lantaka Hotel at paaralan nito at gayun rin si Enriquez dahil sa kanyang slogan na “Puede Si Quire” na ang ibig sabihin ay “Kaya kung Gugustuhin” – isang patunay sa Pilipino na kayang maabot ang anumang pagsubok o minimithi kung magsisipag lamang.

Matibay ang pundasyon ng suporta ng tatlo sa Zamboanga City at patunay lamang ito ng malaking pagrespeto at pagmamahal sa kanila ng mga tao.

Naka-angkla sa matibay na pundasyon ang grupo nina Dalipe, Dela Cruz at Jimenez at pagbabago, progreso at kapakanan ng bawat mamamayan sa Zamboanga ang isinusulong ng mga ito.

Sa mga kandidato naman ng tatlo sa pagka-konsehal ay nangunguna rin sa mga paborito sina Allan Cajucom, na isang kilalang journalist sa Zamboanga; Cesar “Jawo” Jimenez; abogadong si Mel Sadain at iba pa.

Bukod sa NPC ay humahakot rin ng suporta ang mga re-electionists na sina Rogelio “Gerky” Valesco, Rodolfo “Rudy” Lim at Luis “Noning” Biel.

Malakas naman ang pangalan ni dating Defense chief Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jnr, na ngayon ay kandidato ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan sa pagka-Pangulo. (Mindanao Examiner)

Choose Gibo If You Are Not For Erap, Says Jinggoy

MANILA, Philippines - If voters decide not to vote for his father, Puwersa ng Masa standard-bearer and former President Joseph Estrada, as their presidential candidate, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said they should then vote for Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet Gibo Teodoro in the May 10 elections.

The senator made the statement during a proclamation rally in Bogo City and Daanbantayan town in Cebu that was also attended by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, the founding head of the local party One Cebu that has is backing Gibo’s presidential bid.

According to a report by the Cebu Freeman, the younger Estrada described Gibo as brilliant and qualified to be the country’s next president.

“Kung hindi ninyo iboboto ang aking ama na si Presidente Joseph Estrada, sana si Gibo Teodoro nalang ang iboto ninyo (If you will not vote for my father, President Joseph Estrada, I hope you would vote for Gibo Teodoro instead),” the Freeman quoted Sen. Estrada as saying before the crowd during the rally.

During Gibo’s latest sorties in Cebu, Garcia and his brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia” announced the full support for Gibo of One Cebu, which has emerged since its establishment in 2004 as the most dominant power bloc in the over 400-year history of the province.

“One Cebu is for Gibo, so Cebu is Gibo country,” said the lady governor. Her brother said, on the other hand, that 49 of 51 mayors in the province are backing Gibo.

Like the young Estrada, Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar also said earlier he would vote for Gibo if her husband, Nacionalista Party standard bearer and senator Manny Villar, were not running in the May polls.

Mrs. Villar said he would choose Gibo because “he is better than the others.”

She also pointed out that she liked Gibo because he was “campaigning on a more professional level.”

Gibo, who is a former defense secretary and 1989 bar topnotcher, has mounted a positive campaign anchored on issues, and has never resorted to mudslinging or criticizing his opponents to make himself look good during presidential forums and other public gatherings.

Besides his unblemished track record in serving government, Gibo’s impressive list of credentials include his Master of Laws at the Harvard Law School, his term of nine consecutive years as congressman from the first district of his home province of Tarlac and his skills as a licensed commercial pilot.

Swiss man kidnapped in Zamboanga City

A journalist points to an undated police photo - acquired by the regional newspaper the Mindanao Examiner - of Charlie Reith, 72, a Swiss-born and naturalized Filipino kidnapped Sunday, April 4, 2010 by eight gunmen from his beach house in Patalon village in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. Other reports say Reith was born in Zamboanga City, whose Swiss father was married to a Filipino woman.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 5, 2010) – Gunmen clad in police uniform raided a private resort and abducted a Swiss man in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga, officials said Monday.

Officials said the at least 8 armed men stormed the resort at around 6 p.m. on Sunday in Patalon village and seized Charlie Reith, 72. His friend, German national Karl Reichling, managed to fight off the raiders.

“The raiders, disguised as policemen, arrived on several speed boats and abducted Reith. We have launched a pursuit operation, but it was too dark to track down the raiders,” said Army Colonel Santiago Baluyot, commander of a local anti-terror task force.

Reith has been living in Zamboanga City for about four decades and owns a vast track of land. And Reichling is married to a Filipino woman and also lives in Zamboanga City.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the abduction and the motive is still unknown. But officials said ransom could be the motive for the abduction.

Baluyot said Reith who is a naturalized Filipino, may have been taken either to nearby Basilan or Zamboanga del Norte provinces.Other reports and some of Reith's friends said he was born in Zamboanga City, whose Swiss father was married to a Filipino woman.

Abu Sayyaf militants and Moro rebels are actively operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula and were linked to previous kidnappings and terrorism.

Kidnappings-for-ransom in Zamboanga City were not uncommon. Many foreigners and wealthy traders had been kidnapped in the past and released after their family paid ransom. Among those kidnapped in Zamboanga City were Taiwanese, Belgian, German and Chinese citizens. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Air Force 3rd Air Division turns 26

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force 3rd Air Division based in Zamboanga City in Mindanao is celebrating its 26th year of service on Wednesday with the theme - 3rd Air Division at 26, Your Air Force In Mindanao: In cadence with In-STEP for Peace and Development.

In-STEP is the Philippine Air Force Core Values which means Integrity, Service above all, Teamwork, Excellence in everything we do, and Professionalism. These define the character of each member of the PAF.

The 3rd Air Division’s newly installed commander Major General Lino Horacio Lapinid will lead the unit in celebrating its anniversary at the Edwin Andrews Air Base headquarters.

Philippine Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena is the guest of honor and speaker in the celebration which will kick off a series of activities lined up to highlight the anniversary. These activities which started on February 23 will culminate on April 7.

Lapinid on Saturday led soldiers in “Biking towards an Honest, Orderly, and Peaceful Election” in San Ramon village. The activity was also joined by contingents from the Philippine National Police, Western Mindanao Command and Joint Task Force Zamboanga and civilian cyclists as part of the military’s advocacy for credible elections on May.

A Retirees Day is also scheduled on Monday at the Edwin Andrews Air Base with former Division Commander Major General Vicente Belo as guest of honor and speaker.

On Wednesday, Lapinid will lead the anniversary program, awarding ceremony and parade and review at the air base’s grandstand. The activity will be highlighted by the naming of the Edwin Andrews Air Base Gymnasium to “Lacson Sports Complex” and the parade ground to “Fabie Fields” in honor of the Major General Mario Butch Lacson, former 3rd Air Division commander, and Colonel Ramon Fabie who perished at a plane crash early this year in Mindanao.

For the finale of the anniversary celebration, a 3rd Air Division Anniversary and Awards Night will be held later in the day at the gymnasium. The anniversary night aims to give entertainment to the organic and non-organic personnel, civilian employees and military dependents, and to give awards to those who won events during the inter-color sports fest. A variety show will highlight the activity.

Gibo bent on winning the Presidency

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro has assured his fellow Filipinos that he would never waver in his determination to pursue his goal of winning this year's presidential race.

Gibo issued the statement as he squelched nasty rumors circulating during the Holy Week that he would announce this week his withdrawal from the presidential race.

At the same time, Gibo welcomed the recent appointment of Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa as the new chairperson of the ruling party, saying the party's swift move now ensures a highly capable official would have enough time and energy to attend to the needs of the local candidates of the ruling party, leaving him to focus on his presidential campaign.

"Rumors have been circulating that I will allegedly call for a press conference this Monday to announce my withdrawal from the Presidential race,” Gibo said.

"Such rumors are originating from sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the Presidency,” he said.

"Unfortunately,” he said, “such is commonplace in Philippine politics, which reinforces my determination to make a stand, to continue the fight.”

Added Gibo: "I will settle for no less than VICTORY, our people deserve no less. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"

Villarosa, who represents Occidental Mindoro, was chosen chairperson of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in place of Gibo during an emergency meeting last Wednesday of the ruling party’s Executive Committee.

In that same executive committee meeting, erstwhile Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary-general Francis Manglapus was chosen to be the new party president—vice Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez—while its deputy secretary-general Raymundo Roquero took over Manglapus’ place as secretary-general.

As the newly appointed Lakas-Kampi secretary general, Roquero called on all of its local leaders and members to close ranks and rally solidly in support of Gibo and the rest of the ruling party's national candidates.

These are the party’s vice-presidential bet Edu Manzano and senatorial candidates reelectionist Senators Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid, lawyer Raul Lambino, media personality Rey Langit, former justice secretary Silvestre Bello and Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Roquero said last week’s meeting was convened following Gibo’s decision to step aside as party chairman so the former defense secretary can work full-time on his candidacy and let the party choose a new chairperson who can also devote his or her 100 percent attention to the needs of the party and its candidates who are running for elective positions in the May 10 balloting.

After Gibo’s resignation, Dominguez and Manglapus also gave up their party positions in order to give the incoming chairperson the free rein to pick the new officers.

Two-thirds of nearly 19,000 candidates running for local elective positions belong to the ruling party.

Former press secretary Mike Toledo had said that Gibo’s resignation was “a win-win situation because it will enable the former defense chief to devote full-time to his campaign and at the same allow the ruling party to pick a new chairperson who can attend to the needs of all its candidates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.”

Citing reports reaching the party’s headquarters along Edsa, Toledo said that governors belonging to Lakas-Kampi-CMD were fully supportive of Gibo’s decision to give up the chairmanship of the party.

Mhon at Allan Sabal: Ang Bagong Pag-asa ng Bayan ng Talitay, Maguindanao.

Mhon at Allan Sabal: Ang Bagong Pag-asa ng Bayan ng Talitay, Maguindanao. Noon at Ngayon, Liberal Marangal! Iboto sina Mhon Sabal bilang alkalde ng Talitay at Allan Sabal sa pagka-Bise Alkalde!

Photo by Mark Navales

Sabal Brothers To Address Poverty, Basic Social Services In Maguindanao's Talitay Town

Former municipal councilman Abdulwahad “Allan” Sabal, now running for vice mayor in Maguindanao's Talitay town; and his brother, Montasser “Mhon” Sabal, who is also a former municipal councilman. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and government forces had taken a toll on the social and economic condition of Talitay – an impoverished town where some 2,000 people were displaced by war remain unattended by concerned government agencies.

Local officials said the internally displaced persons still remain in evacuation centers as peace and order in their respective communities had not been normalized and basic social services are still unavailable.

Former municipal councilman Abdulwahad “Allan” Sabal said poverty is one of the contributory factors to the peace and order problem that has hampered the development of the locality.

“The lack of education among our local constituents was one of the factors that stalled our human resource development that could have spurred the economic prosperity of the area,” said Sabal, 35, who served as Sangguniang Kabataan chairman and municipal councilman from 1992 until 2003.

He explained that illiteracy has driven local people to join Moro insurgency groups as an option to attain political and economic justice.

Sabal resigned as municipal councilman in May 2003 and joined the police service. On March 4 this year, he resigned from the Philippine National Police to pursue his political bid for vice-mayor of Talitay which has a population of more than 10,000 people.

Sabal’s running mate is his brother, Montasser “Mhon” Sabal, who is also a former municipal councilman and a police officer. They are both running under the ticket of the Liberal Party.

Sabal said since the creation of Talitay town in 2000, the delivery of basic social services had not been improved, adding the administration officials did not give priority to alleviate the economic condition of their people.

He said infrastructure projects like farm-to-market roads and irrigation system were lacking to boost the agricultural production of the local farmers. He added that the lack of health centers in the barangays has not been given priority as local residents had to avail medical services in Cotabato City and nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

Should their slate win in the elections, they will focus on poverty alleviating programs, like educational scholarship and livelihood and the needed infrastructure for agricultural and fishery production in the area.

“We have to reduce the number of our people living below the poverty level which is pegged at 70 percent of our local population,” Sabal said. (Joseph Jubelag)

Philippine tuna catch affected by El Nino

Fishermen unload Yellow fin tuna in General Santos City in the southern Philippines. Many fishermen complain of less tuna catch due to the warn weather brought about by the El Nino phenomenon. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 4, 2010) – Tuna catch is declining in the southern Philippines as the warm climate continues to affect the ocean’s temperature.

Fishermen said their catch declined the past months and they blamed the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.

Nathaniel Cruz, of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said the warm weather is due to the El Nino effect. He said the prevailing temperature in Metro Manila is between 34.5-35.5 °C. “We expect warmer weather due to the effect of the El Nino,” he said over the weekend.

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.

“Our catch is less because the weather is so hot. We have less tuna catch as compared to the previous month. This is because of the El Nino. If the weather is good, then the catch is also good – it is too hot now,” a local tuna fisherman Pedro Reyes told the Mindanao Examiner.

Reyes is one of dozens who regularly unload their tuna catch in General Santos City, which is home to the country’s second biggest fish port after Navotas City in Luzon Island.

And other fishermen also complained about the tuna catch and the warm ocean water that affected their once abundant catch. “I know this situation will not last long, but it is already killing us. Less catch means less money,” said Bernie Santiago, a trawler operator.

Yellow fin tuna – many “sashimi grade” and the size of an adult man - is what the fishermen were all talking about in General Santos City. It fetches far more money than any other fish. And at the fish port, traders bargain with fishermen for the prized catch which goes all the way as far as Japan and European markets.

The Philippines is rank 7th among the top tuna producing countries in the world, both in terms of fresh and frozen and canned tuna.

According to the local government website, the total daily catch of adult and juvenile tuna unloaded in General Santos City can surpass that of any other fish port or even the entire unloading of all other fish ports in the Philippines combined. The daily catch is easily disposed for foreign and local buyers.

General Santos City being the sanctuary of seven tuna canning factories has an average daily capacity of 750 tons.

It said about 45% of the tuna catch are skipjack, about 25% are yellow fin, and 23% are frigate and bullet tuna. Around 60% of the ring net landings supplied to the local canneries, 35% is brought out of General Santos City to local domestic fish markets and the remaining 5 % is consumed locally.

The average number of boats that come to the local fish port on a daily average is about 25 and mostly fishing from as far as borders of Indonesia and Palau Islands. The catch according to the fishermen usually consists of 95% yellow fin, 3% big-eye, and 2% billfish. (Mindanao Examiner)

Kite-flying in Kidapawan City

Filipino children enjoying the summer vacation fly kites in Kidapawan City in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geo Solmerano)

A Catholic devotee in the Philippines

A Roman Catholic devotee carries a wooden cross as he walks past a wall covered in election propaganda on Holy Friday in Pampanga province outside the Philippine capital. (AKP Images - Buck Pago)

Tourists flock to Boracay Island

A Boracay Island sand artist finishes up on his sand sculpture in time for tourists to appreciate his art work. Hundreds of thousands of tourist crowd the shoreline of Boracay during the Holy Week celebrations to spent time away from the big city. While tourists check out the green algae on the shoreline of the famous tourist island and wonder where the P50 environmental fee the provincial government has been charging upon entry gone. (Pinoy Gonzales)

NPA, nadakip sa Agusan Sur

ILIGAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / April 3, 2010) – Nadakip ng militar ang isa sa tatlong rebeldeng New People’s Army na nakipagsagupaan sa mga sundalo sa lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur sa Mindanao.

Sinabi kahapon ng militar na naganap ang labanan kamakalawa sa Bayugan City matapos na matiyempuhan ng mga tropa ang 3 armado. Nabatid na sugatan ang nadakip na rebelde kung kaya’t inilikas pa ito sa isang pagamutan.

Walang inulat na sugatan o nasawi sa panig ng militar at kinilala naman ng Philippine Army ang sugatang NPA na si Jomar Mayordomo, 19. Nasa patrulya umano ang mga sundalo sa Barangay Calaitan ng masalubong ang mga rebelde at agad nagkaroon ng labanan.

Nakatakas naman ang kasamahan ni Mayordomo. Hindi naman mabatid kung ano ang ginagawa ng tatlo sa naturang barangay.

Ang NPA ay ang armed wing ng Communist Party of the Philippines na nakikibaka para sa sariling estado sa bansa. (Merlyn Manos)

Sulu cops bring home from US applicable ideas on community policing

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 3, 2010) - Nine police officers from the southern Philippines’ Mindanao region said their recent visit to the US showed them how “community policing” could be implemented more widely and systematically in a locality and how additional facilities and modern technology could enhance the partnership between the local police and the members of a community to maintain peace and order, the US Embassy website reported.

The police officers, all of whom were from Mindanao’s Sulu Province, visited the US on February 21-March 6 to observe the implementation of “community policing,” an approach to ensuring the safety of the community through active partnership between the local police and the residents and civic organizations in the community.

“We have been applying the concept of community policing in the Philippines for a long time now,” said Chief Inspector Amil Banaan, of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, in describing the approach to community policing that he and eight other officers observed in Virginia and New York. “But compared to the police in the US, we in Mindanao have less in terms of facilities and modern technology.”

Other members of the group noted that each police team in the U.S. community they visited has a vehicle available for their use, and U.S. patrol cars are provided laptop computers so that police officers could send or receive data even while on the road. Connection to the Internet as in the U.S., another member of the group noted, would be particularly useful in Sulu, where the province’s residents and police units are spread out in several islands. “With e-mail, it would be a lot easier for us to coordinate with other units in the island. We could even hold meetings through e-mails,” said Pakhar Mawan, chief of the Sulu Police Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Section.

Mawan and Banaan were the senior members of the group Sulu police officers who visited the US under the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The program seeks to build mutual understanding between the US and other nations through professional visits to the US for current and emerging foreign leaders. Each year over 4,500 IVLP participants from all over the world are selected by US embassies to travel to the US to meet and confer with their professional counterparts.

Baanan said the governor of Sulu province, Dr Sakur Tan, was supportive of the recent trip and pledged to continue further other programs that would largely help the police improve its services in the province. "The Governor is very supportive of this program and he pledged to continue other programs that would enhance more the police services in Sulu," he told the Mindanao Examiner in a separate interview.

The other members of Banaan and Mawan’s group were: Ednahar Hambali, chief of administration, Indanan Police Station; Russell Elenzano, chief of the Pata Police Station; Francisco Panisan, chief of the Patikul Police Station; Kris Conrad Gutierrez, chief of the Panglima Estino Police Station; Aida Banaan, assistant investigator of the Jolo Police Station; Ferusa Asiri, women and children desk officer of the Indanan Police Station; and Norhara Haiber, personnel officer of provincial police radio/communication logistics.

In an interview March 9 on the nationally broadcast “Pulis ng Bayan” program on Philippines’ radio station Veritas, all members of the group concluded that their visit to the US has been very useful.

Indanan town’s Hambali said that what the group learned from the visit is “relevant and applicable not just in Sulu but to the whole Mindanao.” Panglima Estino Police Station’s Gutierrez, meanwhile, noted that in the communities they visited, “there was no discrimination” and “Christians and Muslims work together” to maintain peace and order in their localities.

Pata Police Station chief Elenzano moreover observed that to establish closer ties between the law enforcers and the community, “it is the police that approaches the community.” (Leandro Llave. With a report from the Mindanao Examiner.)

LP Proclamatin Rally Sa Talitay, Maguindanao Dinagsa!

Si Mhon Sabal, na tumatakbo sa pagka-alkalde at ang katuwang na si Alan Sabal, na kandidato sa pagka-bise alkalde sa proclamation rally na isinagawa sa bayan ng Talitay sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao. Dinagsa ng napakaraming tao ang naturang rally na kung saan ay inilatag ni Mhon at Alan Sabal ang kanilang plataforma de gobyerno. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Mark Navales)

MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / Abril 2, 2010) – Dinagsa ng libo-libong katao ang proclamation rally nina Mhon at Allan Sabal ng Liberal Party sa bayan ng Talitay sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao.

Isang malaking motorcade rin ang idinaos ng grupo ni Mhon Sabal na tumatakbo bilang alkalde at kasama nito ang katuwang na si Allan Sabal sa pagka-bise alkalde.

Naroon rin sa rally na ginanap nuong Marso 31 si ex-Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tocao Mastura, ang provincial chairman ng LP, at maging ang sikat na singer na si Datu Khomeini Bensuan ay tumatakbo rin sa ilalim ng AMANA (Aksyon ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa) Party List.

Inilatag rin ni Mhon at Allan Sabal ang kanilang plataforma de gobyerno at isa-isang ipinaliwanag ang kanilang mga plano kung sakaling mahalal sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo.

Hindi naman magkatalima ang mga supporters nina Sabal at halos malunod ang mga ito sa lakas ng palakpakan at hiyawan ng mga tao sa tuwing magsasalita o babanggitin ang kanilang mga pangalan.

Malakas ang line-up nina Mhon at Allan Sabal at sa dami ng mga taong sumalubong at dumalo sa kanilang rally ay tila mga artista ang dalawang pamosong pulitiko sa laki ng suportang tinatanggap mula sa publiko.

Sinigurado naman nina Mhon at Allan Sabal ang kapakanan ng mga maralita at publiko at siguridad sa bayan ng Talitay, gayun rin ang mga pagbabago at programang pangkalakal sa nasabing bayan kung papalarin na manalo sa eleksyon.

Kilalang mabait at matulingin sina Mhon at Allan Sabal sa nasabing lugar kung kaya't di kataka-taka ang laki ng suportang tinatanggap ng dalawa at ng kanilang grupo. (Mark Navales)

Filipino faithful flock to a mass by Bishop Romulo Dela Cruz on Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces Cathedral in Kidapawan City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

Travelers cross Kidapawan river

Two travelers cross a river enroute to a village in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao. It is the capital city of North Cotabato. It is a favorite tourist destination in the late October to December and in the summer, where thousands of tourists climb the majestic Mount Apo, the country's highest peak. Kidapawan, the city hailed as “A Spring in the Highland”, comes from the words “tida” which means spring and “pawan” meaning highland. The city is found at the bottom of the majestic Mount Apo. Kidapawan is situated at the southeastern section of Cotabato province and in the middle of three other major cities - Davao, Cotabato and General Santos. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)