29 more BIFF men yield to Army SAF battalion deployed in troubled Pikit town
Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday: Free yourself ‘from the dictatorship of full schedules’
FROM DUST TO DUST. Fr. Ben Torreto, DCC, parish rector of Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral puts ashes on the forehead of a Catholic faithful, a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return. The Ash Wednesday ushered the Lenten season among Roman Catholics.
MDN GUV SEEKS BUDGET RELEASE
was sent to Malacañang.
Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, Congress allotted P1.8 billion budget for MDN.
“Despite the commencement of corporate existence of Maguindanao del Norte, we are still being questioned,” Sinsuat said.
personalities or agencies that doubt its existence.
acting Gov. Bai Ainee Sinsuat has turned to social media and posted on her Facebook page a statement about non-release of MDN’s national tax allotment share for fiscal year 2023. A separate official communication
“Our assumption has been doubted even to the point of refusing the province to withdraw our own government funds for the people of Maguindanao del Norte,” she said added in her statement without naming
Probe in Adiong ambush zero-in on terror attack, kin says
PROBE on the ambush of Lanao del Sur Governor Bombit Adiong in his province on Friday could get deeper into possible involvement of remnant forces of a local terror group that once placed Marawi City under siege in 2017, officials have hinted.
“We are leaving no stone unturned. We are considering all possibilities,” including the fact that “these people’s target is (generally) the government… Anyone in the government is their enemy,” said Lanao del Sur First District Congressman Zia Ul-
Rahman
Alonto Adiong.Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) Parliament, said, “the government should act as if no one is safety anymore during this time,” adding that he was also trying
Atty. Mohajiroe M. Lauban, Maguindanao del Norte provincial administrator, said the operation of the province is heading nowhere as it has no funds to support its operation and delivery of services to its over 926,000 population.
In January, he said the provincial government has opened its corporate bank account with the Land Bank of the Philippines-Buluan Branch, Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.
Lauban said the shares of Maguindanao Norte from the National Tax Allotment for the months of January and February 2023 have been downloaded to the said account.
He said since MDN has no appointed provincial treasurer it requested the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Regional Office 12 in Koronadal City “to allow the provincial treasurer of the defunct Province of Maguindanao to perform the duties” while it is still in transition.
BLGF required the submission
LTO in 2 provinces now under BARMM By John Felix UnsonTHE Bangsamoro government finally assumed control Wednesday of the Land Transportation Office in Maguindanao and in Lanao del Sur that insiders first opposed due to misunderstandings on transition modalities.
Paisalin Tago, transportation and communications minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Wednesday their assumption of the management of the LTO branches in both provinces was premised on the charter of BARMM, the Republic Act 11054.
The LTO in Maguindanao and in
Lanao del Sur were originally under the LTO’s regional office in Administrative Region 12 in Koronadal City.
Officials of LTO-Maguindanao twice resisted the takeover of their office by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications-BARMM owing to what they asserted as lack of “legal imprimatur” from the central office of the Department of Transportation and the Office of the President.
P3 P3 P9
Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Wednesday the 29 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters agreed to return to the fold of law through the efforts of the 1st Brigade Combat Team based in nearby Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte.
“Credit for their having agreed to surrender should also partly go to local executives in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato,” Rillera said.
The 6th ID withheld, meantime, the names of the 29 BIFF men for their safety. The BIFF is known for harassing former members who have availed of the 6th ID's reconciliation program for violent religious extremists.
The group turned in assorted firearms and explosives before renouncing their membership with the BIFF during a surrender rite at the headquarters of the 1st BCT in Barangay Pigkalagan in Sultan Kudarat.
The BIFF and its allies, the Dawlah Islamiya and the Al-Khobar,
have a reputation for bombing commercial establishments and buses whose owners refuse to shell out “protection money” on a monthly basis.
More than 200 BIFF members have surrendered in the past 13 months through different units of 6th ID in central Mindanao.
Local officials told reporters
11 of the 29 BIFF members who surrendered to the 1st BCT were experts in fabrication of improvised explosive devices that can be detonated from a distance using mobile phones.
John Felix UnsonCOTABATO CITY — The digitalization initiative for BARMM's system of governance is being supported by the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), following the consultation held last Feb. 15, 2023.
The World Bank Group reaffirms engagement with the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM) as the two (2) agencies plan to beef up economic and digitalization opportunities in the Bangsamoro autonomous region.
Ndiame Diop, World Bank Country Director, discussed possible joint ventures on tax, expenditure management, and Islamic Finance which could highly contribute to the socioeconomic status in the region.
“We continue to support the BARMM in these aspects, and we are happy to discuss it with you. On the tax side, we did good work with the workshop and probably, tax devolution,” Diop said. BIO-BARMM
Dela Rosa lauds Marawi Compensation Board’s efficiency
MANILA – Senator
Ronald Dela Rosa on Wednesday commended the newly appointed officials of the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) for doing a great job so far in working to set up the newly established organization.
Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation and Victims' Compensation, said this was the first time that the members and resource persons of the committee were in good mood.
"Now, our proceedings were quite good. They are all clapping because our Marawi Compensation Board, which was just recently formed by President Marcos, only three weeks old but they have accomplished so much," the lawmaker told Senate reporters.
"Their commitment to address the problems in Marawi (victims) is really swift and heartfelt. So, we're very happy. Ako, I really feel contented sa kanilang ginagawa (in what they are doing)," he added. PNA
POLICE personnel in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur successfully rescued a kidnapping victim during hot pursuit operation on Wednesday afternoon.
Colonel Robert Daculan, Lanao del Sur police provincial director, in his report to Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), identified the victim as Jamel Lantod Hadji Jabbar, driver of Siena School Foundation in Marawi City.
CLEAN TEETH, NICE SMILE. Cotabato Regional and Medical Center Dental Department personnel visit Bahay Maria and perform free dental check-ups and oral health lectures for the elderly. The lectures focused on the importance of oral hygiene and the proper way to brush teeth.
AS the regional legislative body is finalizing the draft Bangsamoro Electoral Code, two Members of Parliament (MPs) have pushed for the increased women and youth participation in the 2025 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
MPs Amir S. Mawallil and Rasol Y. Mitmug Jr made the proposals as the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) resumes deliberation Parliamentary Bill No. 29 or the proposed Bangsamoro Electoral Code
(BEC).
MPs Mawallil and Mitmug, a lawyer, are both proposing amendments to PB No. 29 seeking to increase the number of women nominees and making it mandatory to nominate more women for the parliamentary elections.
Under the draft BEC, Mawallil noted that it stated: “At least ten percent (10 percent) of the nominees in the list shall, preferably, be qualified party members who are women.”
“While the above-cited provision of PB No. 29 speaks of a minimum
THE Lanao del Sur provincial police force is now trying to locate ten gunmen reportedly behind the propagation of more than 25,000 marijuana plants in Maguing town that policemen uprooted and burned last February 17.
Officials of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office and senior members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council were quoted in radio reports this week as saying that ten gunmen with links to the Dawlah Islamiya were behind the propagation of marijuana in Barangay Bato-Bato in Maguing.
Four of the ten suspects hail from Butig, Lanao del Sur and were former members of the Maute terror group, according to the Police Regional OfficeBangsamoro Autonomous
Region.
Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, director of PRO-BAR had earlier told reporters the teams involved in the antinarcotics operation in Barangay Bato-Bato immediately set the marijuana plants on fire after collecting specimen to be used as evidence in prosecuting its propagators.
Guyguyon said their anti-narcotics operatives placed at no less than P5 million the value of the confiscated marijuana plants.
The operation was launched after residents of Maguing informed officials of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office about the propagation of marijuana plants in Barangay Bato-Bato by an armed group
number of women nominees, it is our position that the same is not sufficient,” Mawallil and Mitmug said in a statement.
“To put it in perspective, in a list of 40 nominees, the provision only calls for four nominees out of the 40 names, or 10 percent of the nominees, to be women,” the two lawmakers added.
“We believe that 10 percent is too small a number to bring about meaningful change in support of the women’s agenda in the Parliament. And as the wording of the proposed bill says, it is ‘preferably’ and
MILITARY authorities here announced Wednesday it neutralized during law enforcement operation a communist rebel leader involved in burning of Yellow Buses, several construction equipment, extortion and ambush of government forces in South Cotabato.
Martin Min Fay, 52, vice commanding officer of the Front Organizational Command (FOC) of Guerilla Front MUSA under the Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR), was killed by elements of 5th Special Forces Battalion and local police during the serving of warrant of arrest in Purok Alaw, Sitio Lembed, Barangay Laconon, Tboli, South Cotabato.
Brigadier General Pedro Balisi Jr., commander of 1st Mechanized Brigade, said
Special Forces battalion and the local police jointly conducted the operation with the help of locals.
Martin Min Fay, also known as Diego or Kidlat, resisted arrest by firing at lawmen who were approaching his safe house during the 5 a.m. operation.
Brig. Gen. Balisi the soldiers and the police were armed with arrest warrants issued by local court in South Cotabato against Fay.
No casualty was reported on government side. Balisi said state forces recovered from Fay a .45-caliber STI Lemcat Pistol, 13 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition, three mobile phones, two sling bags and personal items.
Accoding to
Daculan said the victim was forcibly taken by gunmen, including the van (FAB-1185) he was driving, in Barangay Beyabadamag, Marawi City and brought him to Marantao.
Police quickly launched hot pursuit operation that led to the rescue of the victim and the recovery of the Kia Van vehicle in Barangay Cadayawan, Marawi City.
The Marawi City PNP said the motive of the abduction was “rido” (family feud). PNA
FOLLOWING its launch early this year, the feedback application known as the Community Monitoring and Actionable Concerns Tracking System (CM-ACTS) was officially turned over on Monday, Feb. 20, by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) to the Office of Chief Minister.
CM-ACTS is a digital application developed for community feedback mechanism, which aims to bring the government
closer to its citizens by using innovative technology that promotes good governance, specifically transparency and efficiency, of the Bangsamoro Government towards peace and development.
BDA Executive Director Rhadzni Taalim said the activity is one of the milestones of BDA to help manage expectations on the grounds through the CMACTS application. BIOBARMM
DESPITE the slight increase of inflation rate in the region in January of this year, BARMM is still considered "low" across the country placing the region at 4th lowest inflation rate in the Philippines.
The inflation rate across the BARMM region rose to 7.8 percent in January 2023 compared to December 2022 with the lowest inflation rate among all regions in the country at 6.3 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-BARMM) said in a report released Feb. 14.
PSA-BARMM Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Engr. Akan Tula mentioned that the main sources of inflation rate acceleration in the region’s inflation were due to increase in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 9.6 percent compared to the previous month; an increase in Restaurant and Accommodation Services at
of legal documents from MDN but, according to Lauban, despite complying with the requirements the request remained unacted.
He said, “the problem needs to be addressed urgently as the continuous delay on the designation of a provincial treasurer in MDN is already causing havoc on (its) dayto-day operations.”
Aside from provincial officials, provincial employees also cry for immediate release of funds so they will be paid of their salaries and wages.
Lauban believed that only President Ferdinand Marcos Jr can solve the impasse.
Sinsuat said as the acting
provincial governor of Maguindanao del Norte, “the welfare of every resident of Maguindanao del Norte is my immediate concern.”
“With all these before me, how can I be expected to perform my sworn duties without the recognition, support and guidance of government agencies? How can I address the needs of our provincial government employees and of our people without our share in the NTA?” she asked.
Provincial employees also issued a statement appealing to Pres. Marcos Jr to help the employees and their families.
“Mr. President Bongbong Marcos, you said ‘Pangarap nyo
2 MPs want more..from P2
Pangarap ko,’ pangarap namin ay maswelduhan kami sa serbisyong bigay namin sa gobyerno, kayo lang pag-asa namin (yo said your dream is my dream, our dream now is to get paid for our services, you are our hope on this),” the employees said in a statement.
MDN is composed of 12 towns of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Talitay, Upi with 189 barangays. Datu Odin Sinsuat municipality is the provincial capital of MDN and the town mayor, Datu Lester Sinsuat, is the governor’s husband.
to find out more facts to be able to share appropriate comments on the incident.
Adiong was wounded in an ambush on February 17 by still unidentified armed men and in which four of this detail-police escorts were killed.
On February 23, a police regional spokesperson said authorities were in pursuit of clues of hints on “persons of interest.” But they were still gathering more testimonies to effectively build cases against persons of interest whose identities would have to remain undisclosed until some time, she said.
“(We convey) our unending gratitude to everyone who has offered their prayers and support to Gov. Bombit and our family during this difficult time. Through the Grace of Allah, Gov. Bombit is in very stable condition. The worst has passed. He’s out of danger, Congressman Adiong said of his brother, Governor Adiong.
“We are heartbroken over the deaths of his security details, all of whom are family members who were with my brother during the violent attack. We offer our deepest sympathies to all of our bereaved loved ones,” the congressman added.
We implore the authorities to act with urgency and utilize all legal means available to pursue and bring the perpetrators to justice. This condemnable act must not be taken lightly.
May peace prevail in our beloved Lanao del Sur.
Congressman Adiong in a virtual press conference in Marawi City on Saturday said the governor may not be a "personal" target, "but anyone in the government (becomes) an enemy to them (terrorists)."
As this developed, Vice-President Sara DuterteCarpio on Saturday condemned the ambush on Governor Adiong, even as she sent a message of sympathy to the families of the slain detained police security escorts of the governor.
“As a nation, we should collectively reject this cowardly act of violence and demand that the perpetrators are immediately brought to justice,” the Vice-President said, adding that: “I commiserate with the bereaved families of the four security escorts of Gov. Adiong who died in the ambush.”
It can be recalled that the Philippine government under the Vice-President’s father, then President Rodrigo Duterte, had unleashed its military might and sustained
a seven-month ground military combat and air attacks against a local ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) that occupied the Lakeport of Marawi City (Dansalan) in 2017.
“I condemn the ambush that apparently targeted Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong in the town of Maguing Friday,” Vice-President Duterte-Carpio said, adding: “I pray for the speedy recovery of Gov. Adiong and the other injured persons.”
Congressman Adiong said even media practitioners could be an unwitting target of terror attack for a perceived pro-government reporting.
Otherwise, the congressman said, Governor Adiong felt being secured in his home province, even as “he goes around on a non-bullet-proofed vehicle,” Congressman Adiong said.
This means that the Adiongs and the political leaders of Lanao del Sur have long ruled out any possibility that they would resort to violence against each other in pursuit of political position in an election.
To prove the point raised by Congressman Adiong, local officials in solidarity with his family issued a statement read by the President of the province’s Municipal Mayors’ League of Lanao del Sur which said:
1 “The Municipal Mayors’ League of Lanao del Sur strongly condemns in all strongest terms the ambush against our Provincial Governor, his staff and detailed escorts. This is an attack against us and travesty ib the morals of the good people of Lanao del Sur;
2 “We seek the support and cooperation of all stakeholders including the leadership of the BARMM, civilian law enforcement agencies in pursuit of credible information and justice for our people and the victims;
3 “We call upon the natipnal government to immediately convene mechanisms to help in the identification and ultimate arrest of the perpetrators, and achieve justice for the victims;
4 “We call on the families of the perpetrators to show their sincerity in the call for justice by surrendering to the authorities their relatives involved in this dastardly act;
5 “We join the families of the governors and of the slain victims in demanding justice;
6 “We are one in confronting this incident. We ask our people to join us in seeking immediate and efficient solutions.”
with links to the Dawlah Islamiya.
The Dawlah Islamiya is a local terrorist group fashioned from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, blamed for deadly bombings in central Mindanao in the past five years.
Municipal officials and barangay
leaders said the armed men guarding the marijuana plants scampered away when they sensed that combined personnel of the provincial police and the Maguing Municipal Police Station and policemen from different units of PRO-BAR were approaching their location from three
directions.
“Credit for the successful uprooting of the marijuana plants has to go to vigilant residents of Maguing helping us prevent planting of marijuana in the municipality by criminal gangs,” Guyguyon said. John Felix Unson
Balisi, “Alias Kidlat” was charged for committing various crimes that hindered progress and development in Southern Mindanao Region.
He was believed to be behind the burning of a road grader owned by T-Square Construction in General Santos City in November 2016; burning of multiple vehicles and a building owned by
Amadeo Phela Resources, a banana exporting firm, in a separate incident in March 2017; burning of YBL air conditioning units in November and December 2016, and a packing station belonging to Dole Stanfilco in December of the same year. His group also took part in an ambush against the 27th Infantry Battalion in T'boli, South Cotabato
12.0 percent compared to 6.9 percent to the previous month; and increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4.5 percent compared to the previous month of December 2022.
“The major contributions to the increase in the region’s inflation rate are due to increase in the prices of commodities like vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking Bananas and pulses such as onions; flour, bread and other bakery products like cassava; housing services or rentals; and prices of gas, oils, and fuels,” Tula said. BIOBARMM
in 2018.
Major General Alex S. Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, commended the troops for their bravery and successful conduct of operation in neutralizing a high-ranking officer of the Communist Terrorist Group. He underscored that the operation was another remarkable feat for the
not even mandatory. So we propose an increase in the number of women nominees and change the language of PB No. 29 to make it mandatory,” they added.
Mawallil stressed that the draft code should reflect the spirit of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that created the BARMM.
The BOL mandates the Bangsamoro Government to ensure the inclusion of women’s agenda and the involvement of women and the youth in the electoral nominating process of the political parties.
Mitmug agreed with Mawallil and proposed a “zipper rule” in the political parties’ nominations of their representatives.
“Parties should nominate men and women in an alternating sequence. If your first nominee is a man, then the second nominee should be a woman, and so on and so forth. This way, we can achieve an almost equal number of men and women in Parliament, as envisioned by the BOL,” Mitmug said.
“This also implements the spirit of proportional representation in electoral systems, as adopted by the BOL,” he added.
Mawallil said in the event a permanent vacancy occurs in the party representative seat, filling the vacancy should also be gender-sensitive.
“If the previous representative is a man, then the replacement should also be a man. The same goes if the previous representative is a woman; she should be replaced also by a woman,” he added.
Mitmug said they are also proposing that women’s representation be not limited to nominees in Parliament, but also to representation in political party committees.
“If we were to truly have effective women’s representation in the Bangsamoro Government, it should start in the political party committees, deeply ingrained in the machinery of where leadership training
Republic of the Philippines Alamada, Cotabato OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
government forces in curbing insurgency.
"Neutralizing the suspect responsible for violent incidents in Southern Mindanao brought closure and justice to victims who suffered property damage, income loss, and even fatalities,” said Rillera, also commander of Army-led Joint Task Force Central. Edwin O. Fernandez
launcher, 9mm Uzi machine pistol (homemade), improvised explosive devices and ammunition.
The surrenderees are now undergoing interrogation at the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Office in Isulan for proper disposition. Their surrender came a day after police and the Army killed a BIFF sub-commander Abdulkarim Lumbatan Hasim alias “Commander Boy Jacket,” the mastermind in the murder of Police Lt. Reynaldo Samson, police chief of
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Krizia Mae b. Barrientos has filed with this office a petition for correction of her sex from Male to Female in the certificate of live birth of Krizia Mae B. Barrientos at Barangiran, Alamada, Cotabato and whose parents are Ronnie J. Barrientos and Mary Joy B. Banaybanay.
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than March 10, 2023.
(Sgd.) MA. LENY B. BUENAFE Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
really begins,” Mitmug said.
Elected, not appointed
The two MPs also want to amend PB No. 29’s process of “selecting” or “appointing” sectoral representatives from the youth, women and other marginalized sectors.
Both cited the BOL that clearly states that selection sectoral representatives should be through an election.
Section 7 of Article VII of the BOL provides, “The Parliament shall determine the manner of election of the reserved seats and sectoral representatives.”
In explaining his stance, MP Mawallil said: “The law is clear, it talks about election, which refers to a democratic vote that has been put to an entire electorate. However, Section 22, Article VI of PB No. 29 made use of the word ‘selection’ instead of ‘election.’”
Mitmug said provisions of the electoral code cannot supersede the BOL and go against its contents.
“As the famous legislative phrase goes: the spring cannot rise above its source. So the electoral code cannot go beyond its source of power and mandate, which is the BOL,” he said. Both Mawallil and Mitmug were reappointed members of the interim parliament. Edwin O. Fernandez
Republic of the Philippines 12th Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch XXVII Cotabato City Civil Case No. 2022-946 Rescission of Contract and Damages
DJOANNA CLARICE M. MANUEL, Plaintiff -versusVIVIAN B. BAUTISTA, Defendant. x------------------------------------x SUMMONS
TO: VIVIAN B. BAUTISTA, Number 35, Block 1, Barangay Lower Glad, Midsayap, Cotabato Greetings!
You are hereby required, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THIS SUMMONS UPON YOU, to file this Court and serve on the plaintiffs your answer to the complaint, copy of which is attached, together with the annexes. You are reminded of the provision in the IBPOCA Memorandum on Policy Guidelines dated March 12, 2022 to observe restraint in filing Motion to Dismiss and instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the Answer. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and may be granted the relief/s applied for in the complaint.
WITNESS THE HONORABLE
KASAN K. ABDULRAKMAN, Presiding Judge of this Court, this November 9, 2022 in Cotabato City.
(Sgd.) ATTY. SARAH JANE BORROMEO DITUCALAN Clerk of Court V MC: Feb. 25, 2023
Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur in August last year.
“PRO 12 welcomes our brothers with open arms,” Macaraeg said in a statement.
“We are glad that they have finally realized that in the hands of the government they will be safe and can start a new and peaceful life. I call to all the remaining members of the left-leaning group to return your allegiance to the government and live a normal life with your loved ones,” he added. Edwin O. Fernandez
IN an effort to prioritize the establishment of the Bangsamoro Agriculture and Fisheries Training Institute, the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform discussed the salient features of BTA Bill No. 39.
The training institute will develop a comprehensive information campaign to promote and disseminate modern agricultural and fisheries techniques and innovations. It will also take the lead in formulating
and issuing guidelines for planning, monitoring, and evaluating agriculture and fisheries programs.
The committee, chaired by MP Matarul Estino, also amended and adopted the internal rules and procedures.
MEMBER of the Parliament Rasul Ismael has distributed financial assistance to students from various Indigenous Peoples communities to provide them access to formal education.
Funded under his Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF), the project was implemented by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
The recipients of the said program were selected following a thorough validation process.
OVER 350 students from Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte received financial assistance from the Office of Member of the Parliament Akmad Abas.
The payout is part of the Angat Bangsamoro: Kabataan Tungo sa Karunungan (ABaKa) program of the Ministry of Social Services and Development, which aims to help financially disadvantaged students in the Bangsamoro region pay for their education. The assistance was funded under the Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of MP Abas.
The Office of Member of the Parliament Hussein Muñoz distributed 100 ducks to Bangsamoro communities outside the region.
them maintain their farms.
Farmers from the Davao region were also given farming equipment to help
Said project is funded through the Transitional Development Impact Fund of MP Muñoz in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources.
The Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committee on Social Services and Development deliberated on two proposed bills that would uphold and protect the human rights of internally displaced persons.
The committee agreed to consolidate BTA Parliament Bills No. 20 and 32, the
Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Act authored by MP Atty. Laisa Alamia and the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Act authored by the Government of the Day.
The proposed measures seek to protect the rights of Bangsamoro residents who are internally displaced during and after armed conflict, generalized or organized violence, clan wars, political violence, violations of human rights, development project implementation, and
natural, human-induced, and humanmade disasters.
It also seeks to protect Bangsamoro residents who have been displaced to areas outside the Bangsamoro region, as well as non-Bangsamoro residents who have been displaced to areas within the region.
THE Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committee on Public Order and Safety will hold a parliamentary inquiry into the series of killings and the alarming state of public order and safety in Maguindanao and the BARMM Special Geographic Area in March.
Deputy Speaker Atty. Lanang Ali Jr. said that the committee will invite the Philippine National Police, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety, the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission, and concerned barangay officials.
Meanwhile, CPOS has also adopted its own
amended internal rules and procedures during the meeting on Tuesday, February 14.
The CPOS has jurisdiction over all matters concerning peace and order, Bangsamoro Police, fire and jail management, suppression of criminalities, regulation of the private security services, firearms, firecrackers, pyrotechnics, destructive fires, rescue, emergency medical services, and research and development in the internal security aspects within the Bangsamoro region.
THE Bangsamoro Parliament held a special session via teleconference on Friday evening, February 17, and adopted three resolutions.
The Parliament unanimously adopted consolidated resolutions expressing deepest condolences and sympathy on the death of the Bangsamoro Wali Shiekh Khalipha Usman Nando and Former Member
of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and Philippine Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Akmad Atlah Sakkam.
They also expressed their sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6.
Schedules of the Committee on Rules' deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the Committee on Local Government's public consultations on the proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code were discussed in the plenary. Based on the timeline, the Parliament targets enacting the proposed electoral code in March.
VATICAN— Pope Francis said Wednesday that Lent is a good time to examine ourselves in the light of truth, to let go of distractions like overbooked calendars, and to improve our relationships with God and others.
“Let us set out on the path of fasting and use these 40 days to take stock of ourselves, to free ourselves from the dictatorship of full schedules, crowded agendas, and superficial needs, and choose the things that truly matter,” the pope said on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.
“This,” he said, “is the favorable time to be converted, to stop looking at ourselves and to start looking into ourselves.”
Pope Francis marked the start of the season of Lent, the penitential period before Easter, with Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome’s Aventine Hill.
Unlike years prior, Francis did not take part in a penitential procession from the nearby Church of St. Anselm before the Mass. The pope entered Santa Sabina in a wheelchair, which he has used regularly for almost one year since developing a problem with a ligament in his knee.
Cardinals, bishops, priests, the Benedictine monks of St. Anselm, the Dominican friars of Santa Sabina, and laypeople took part in the procession, which began with a brief moment of prayer at St. Anselm church. Catholics inside and outside the churches sang the Litany of the Saints as the procession prayerfully walked the roughly 1,000 feet between the two churches.
Pope Francis said at Mass that we should ask ourselves: “How many distractions and trifles distract us from the things that really count? How often do we get caught up in our own wants and needs, lose sight of the heart of the matter, and fail to embrace the true meaning of our lives in this world?”
“Lent is a time of truth, a
time to drop the masks we put on each day to appear perfect in the eyes of the world. Lent is a time, as Jesus said in the Gospel, to reject lies and hypocrisy: not those of others, but of ourselves. Look them in the face and grapple [with them],” he said.
The Mass marked Pope Francis’ first time returning to the fifth-century Roman Basilica of Santa Sabina since February 2020.
In 2021, Francis celebrated the Ash Wednesday Mass for a small group of people in St. Peter’s Basilica because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated the Mass in place of Francis, whose knee problem had worsened in that period.
The Ash Wednesday custom of the pope visiting the Church of St. Anselm before walking in procession to the Basilica of Santa Sabina for Mass was started in 1961 by St. John XXIII.
The Basilica of Santa Sabina is the mother church of the Dominicans and the first of the Lenten station churches. It is also Rome’s oldest church to still have its original architecture. The basilica’s large wooden door, which dates to the fifth century, has the oldest known depiction of the Crucifixion.
“Lent, then,” Pope Francis said in his homily, “is a season of grace when we can rebuild our relationship with God and with others, opening our hearts in the silence of prayer and emerging from the fortress of our selfsufficiency.”
“Lent is the favorable time when we can break the chains of our individualism and rediscover, through encounter and listening ― not solitude but through
CARDINAL Jose Advincula of Manila has challenged Catholics on Ash Wednesday to observe the season of Lent with sincerity and pure intention.
He said the traditional disciplines of prayer, fasting, and charity are not intended to be empty but to draw people closer to God and to a life lived out of faith.
“Let the ashes on our head remind us to pray with sincerity of heart, fast in genuine solidarity with the ones who are suffering, and give alms out of hearts that
encounter and listening ― our companions along the journey of each day. And to learn once more to love them as brothers and sisters.”
Quoting from the 2006 Ash Wednesday homily of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Francis said: “Jesus gives ‘advice that still retains its salutary value for us: external gestures must always be matched by a sincere heart and consistent behavior. Indeed, the inspired author wonders, what use is it to tear our garments if our hearts remain distant from the Lord, that is, from goodness and justice?'”
Pope Francis said Wednesday that there are many times our gestures and rituals do not reflect life and truth.
“Perhaps we perform them only to gain the admiration or esteem of others many times,” he said. “Let us remember this: in our personal life, as in the life of the Church, outward displays, human judgments, and the world’s approval count for nothing; the only thing that truly matters is the truth and love that God himself sees.”
He reflected on the Church’s call to strengthen one’s commitment to prayer, almsgiving, and fasting during the approximately 40 days of Lent.
“Let us set out on the path of charity,” he said. “We have been given 40 days, a ‘favorable time’ to remind ourselves that the world is bigger than our narrow personal
needs and to rediscover the joy, not of accumulating material goods, but of caring for those who are poor and afflicted.”
“Let us set out, then, on the path of prayer and use these 40 days to restore God’s primacy in our lives and to dialogue with him from the heart, and not only in spare moments,” he continued.
“Let us not neglect the grace of this holy season but fix our gaze on the cross and set out, responding generously to the powerful promptings of Lent,” he said. “At the end of the journey, we will encounter with greater joy the Lord of life ― we will encounter him ― who alone can raise us up from our ashes.”
Hannah Brockhaus/Catholic News Agencyare truly contrite and compassionate,” Advincula said.
“This season is a blessed time for us to turn away from hypocrisy and worldly attachments and go home into the warm embrace of our loving God,” he said.
The cardinal made the remarks during Mass at the archdiocese’s chancery chapel in Manila’s Intramuros district.
People trooped to churches today as they observe the start of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, penance and almsgiving
Weopened the season of Lent last Ash Wednesday. The ashes that were imposed on our forehead symbolize the call to conversion or “to rend our hearts,” not our garments. In the Jewish tradition, rending one’s garments is an expression of extreme sorrow, same with putting ashes on one’s head. Among all the many seasons of the church liturgy, it is the season of Lent that is most prescriptive. It is a season that calls for action by the Christian disciple. Lent prescribes three forms of action: to pray, to fast and abstain, and to do acts of charity. It is the disciple’s way of walking the Way of the Cross. These actions express one’s solidarity with Jesus’ own sacrifice that brought us salvation.
Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com
First, is the invitation to a more serious prayer. Prayer is the action of lifting up our minds and hearts to God. It is acknowledging that God is real and the foremost value in our life. If that is so, then the Christian believer has to follow the example of Jesus who in the early hour of the morning or in the evening would go off by himself and communicate with His Father. It was such a frequent practice that the apostles asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And He taught them the “Our Father.” There are many kinds of prayer, but what is most fitting for the Lenten season is the prayer of repentance. Lent is the time to examine ourselves and face God with all humility and say, “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” This humble prayer, that of the Publican in the temple, pleased the Lord more than the prayer of presenting God with all our accomplishments and good deeds. A more traditional and communal form of prayer we can do during this Lenten season is the Stations of the Cross, new or old version. We can even pray the stations without prayer books or notes. Just look at the image, make a silent reflection and say “We adore you O Christ and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
The second Lenten action is fasting and abstinence. In the
in preparation for Christianity’s most solemn feast of Easter.
In Metro Manila, parish churches have reverted to the imposition of ashes on the faithful’s forehead for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Advincula said the Ash Wednesday practice of placing ashes on the forehead is a Biblical symbol of repentance, reminding the faithful of man’s sinfulness before God and his mortality.
The priest who imposes the ashes
Catholic tradition we are invited to fast only twice a year, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The kind of fasting prescribed for adults is not even absolute fasting of no food and water at all during the day but of having only one simple complete meal. Abstinence is abstaining from meat all Fridays of Lent for those who are fourteen and above. Of course sick people and senior citizens are exempted from fasting and abstinence. But fasting and abstinence also covers fasting and abstaining from things that we enjoy but we can give up as a form of sacrifice for Lent. It is a way of disciplining the body and its desires. In present day culture, there are many forms of addiction. People can be addicted to social media, drugs, sex, gambling, alcohol, and other forms of vices. Fasting and abstinence helps us to strengthen our resolve and impose discipline on ourselves. The whole purpose is to gain spiritual discipline. It is being able to say “No” to our desires and simple pleasures, and saying “No” to temptation as our gospel reminds us this Sunday. Jesus said “No” to the temptations of the devil.
The third action is almsgiving, or doing works of charity. This action turns us towards others. Traditionally, the Philippine church has instituted the Alay Kapwa Lenten program. Lenten collections are made to help the social action work of the church. These collections are mostly used for relief programs for those who were victims of disasters like typhoons, floods, fire, earthquakes, and war. With the seemingly unending disasters that come to our country yearly, it is good to establish reserved funds for purposes of relief and rehabilitation. On the personal level, one can of course help anyone he sees in need of help. Our sacrifices can help someone else.
As one can see, these triple actions are concerned with our triple relationships: we pray to God, we renew ourselves, and we help our fellowmen. May we have a Blessed Lenten celebration.
says, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “Turn away from your sins and believe in the Gospel.”
But while everything in this world will come to, and end, the cardinal stressed that “only one thing is forever — the love of God.”
“The ashes we stain on our heads are shaped as crosses in order to remind us of the love of God,” he said. “We are created out of love, we are created for love.” CBCP News
Daily Scripture
Readings: no. 224, p. 386
1st Reading: Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18
Gospel: Matthew 25.31-46
Readings: no. 225, p. 389
1st Reading: Isaiah 55.10-11
Gospel: Matthew 6.7-15
Readings: no. 226, p. 391
1st Reading: Jonah 3.1-10
Gospel: Luke 11.29-32
Readings: no. 227, p. 393
1st Reading: Esther 14.1, 3-5, 12-14
Gospel: Matthew 7.7-12
Readings: no. 228, p. 395
1st Reading: Ezekiel 18.21-28
Gospel: Matthew 5.20-16
Readings: no. 229, p. 397
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26.16-19
Gospel: Matthew 5.43-48
Oneof the things promised during deliberations for the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is the maintenance of peace in the whole region. The word peace has many aspects, but in the case of the former ARMM, people from outside view the region as having a lot of “gubot”, meaning unpeacefulness due to the use of arms. These are in cases of RIDO, political rivalry, or at times simple banditry. With the BARMM, the banditry has been slightly controlled, and residents of the region feel at ease to travel even in the farthest corner of BARMM. It seems that the campaign to control the use of firearms is gaining grounds, hopefully.
However, this illusion has been shattered with the ambush of a prominent political leader in his own turf. Some say this is due to a long running political rivalry in the province, but it has placed a dent on the otherwise changing impression on BARMM by the rest of the nation and the world at large. Residents of BARMM swear to the new peacefulness that pervades in the region but this can be achieved in the long term if everyone works towards this goal. Political rivalry may also exist in other parts of the country, but the focus is here where the leaders are expected to be in unity to be able to promote the development agenda which was promised at the negotiating table.
The new mayor of Cotabato City has a lot of work in his hands. With the city located in a delta, the high incidence of flooding is predictable. Now that the “summer season “ is on, it is about time to put in the proper infrastructures in preparation for the rainy season. But this should be in coordination with the neighboring LGUs. Most of those who evacuate to the city because of flooding comes from other areas. There should be a coordinated effort among the LGUs to provide for the needs of their own constituents, and not leave the problem to the city government. We have to bear in mind that climate change has created havoc on the scheduled activities that government agencies have been practicing for long.
Aside from the influx of evacuees whenever there is heavy rain, the city has to be prepared for the repairs on the roads and bridges. Repairs on roads that are unpassable or destroyed by rain create a terrible traffic that affects the lives of city residents.
Since many of the employees of BARMM come from neighboring areas, the impact on the length of work done is hard to quantify. The traffic condition has set back also the city’s economy and the usual activities. After the COVID pandemic, so much have to be done to put the city in its normal pace. Of course, the neighboring areas also contributes to the traffic condition with its neglect of destroyed bridges and road slips which must be done in coordination with BARMM.
The most we can suggest is for everyone in the regions to put their acts together for peace and development and work for the betterment of people residing and working in Cotabato City. MC
Onceagain, the blessed season of Lent is upon us members of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
On Wednesday, February 25, Ash Wednesday, during Eucharistic celebrations in various churches around the country, blessed ashes from burned palms used on the previous Palm Sunday were applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each worshipper. It is meant to represent mortality. Thus in the past the cross is marked on the forehead with the small blessing: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” It also represents penance which is why these days the cross is marked on the forehead of each faithful with the blessing: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
The priest who officiated the early morning mass at our local church on Ash Wednesday mentioned about Pope Francis’ Lenten message, where, using the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration, the Pontiff encourages Catholics to “Listen to Him.”
Lent, the Pontiff said, is a time for us to listen to Jesus through the Word of God which we hear at Mass or through daily readings of the liturgy. He also reminded Catholic faithful: “In addition to the Scriptures, the Lord speaks to us through our brothers and sisters, especially in the faces and the stories of those who are in need.”
Even as we are called to pray, focusing on our need for God’s forgiveness, to fast and abstain from something to reduce distractions and focus more on God, so are we called to put our faith into action.
On February 17, The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced that it will hold a communication campaign based on Pope Francis’ Lenten message. Considering the task it was given when it was formed by Pope Francis in 2016, the Dicastery’s messages are expected to provide Catholics worldwide guidance on how they can “put faith into action” by helping promote the integral development of the person in light of the Gospel and in line with the Social Doctrine of the Church. The Dicastery, formed through the union of four
ONEwould wish to be able to host scholars, pundits, thinkers, poets, peace mediators in one common platform to bind them together. Guess it might be the science of food technology, and sumptuous servings of native menu courses that could get them together in one dining table.
It’s a dream coming true: Many thanks to the couple Atty. Anwar Malang and Melindi Bañas Malang, owners of the city’s Pagana Resto, for hosting the preparation and serving of popular Magindanaon-Iranun menu dishes for a bon appétit coffee table book project of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The occasion is tentatively scheduled in March before the Ramadan.
The bon appétit coffee table book is being developed on foods preparation and hosting in Mindanao by the MSU-IIT Center for Culture and Arts. Poet and fervent advocate of local cultures, Dr. Christine Godinez-Ortega, a retired MSU-IIT professor of English Literature, and another distinguished MSU-IIT alumnus, the awardwinning journalist, photojournalist, Bobby Timonera, will be here to co-host with the Malang couple and document the preparation and servings of major Magindanao native dishes—hopefully in seven courses.
Gemma A. Peñaflor, Administration and Marketing Executive
Julito P. Torres, Circulation Officer
Karl John B. Daniel, Graphic-Layout Artist
COTABATO CITY / ARMM CORRESPONDENTS
John M. Unson, Ferdinandh B. Cabrera, Charlie C. Señase
Nash B. Maulana
NORTH / SOUTH COTABATO CORRESPONDENTS
Williamor Magbanua, Romer “Bong” Sarmiento, Roel Osano & Drema Quitayen Bravo CARTOONIST
Lourd Jim Diazon
In Christine’s list are Cheng Xu, a Ph.D. student from the University of Toronto in Canada, Datu Michael Mastura and his wife Madam Lourdes Hadja Salama Veloso-Mastura, and an ambassador. Collaborating in mine are Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga and his educator wife, Bai Laga Jo Malaguiok-Lingga, MP Engineer Aida Silongan, concurrent Minister of the BARMM Ministry of Science and technology (BARMM MOST), Engineer Abdulrakman Asim (ME), Engineer Moammer Tabara, and Engineer Nasrudin Buisan, all holding specialized, directorial, or supervising positions at the MOST BARMM, and Atty. Naguib G. Sinarimbo and wife tourism executive, Dr. Ross Alonto.
The BCCRRE (Bangsamoro Center for the Continuing Review of Renewable Energy) will be providing relevant domestic and administrative support for the project (behind the scene)—the science of food technology and punditry at food tasting and critiquing, being the common thread that links the “endangered species” that they are of the sectors mentioned.
It’s been a long way through for the Pagana Resto which has since expanded to the tourism industry of transient accommodation for hosting training sessions, as well as visitors and travellers on cheaper options in variety of decent lodging-cum-dining packages. Such is
Pontifical Councils – Justice and Peace, the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Cor Unum, and Health Care Workers – is tasked to express the Church’s attentiveness in the fields of justice, peace, the safeguarding of all of Creation, as well as in those that concern health and works of charity.
The clear singular message is we cannot be truly, fully Christian unless we hear our Lord Jesus “speak to us through our brothers and sisters, especially in the faces and the stories of those who are in need” and take action on their situation guided by our faith. We need to stand with and for those who seek justice and peace, those whose rights are being trampled upon and fighting for it that they may stand with dignity, those whose lives are threatened by programs and projects that similarly threaten the very land and environment upon which they rely on, those at the periphery of society who are most often neglected, forgotten and abandoned.
This Lent we are challenged once again to reflect on our lives in the light of our faith, in the light of our being Christian. And as we do so, may we hear that voice amid the noise and din, the one calling us to tread a path that is often difficult and less popular but one that will lead us to Easter.
Speaking of providing a helping hand to those in need, The Philippine Catholic Church’s social action and humanitarian arm is helping raise aid for victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
a long-standing commitment on my part to Atty. Anwar Malang to help promote the establishment through the print media. At long last, it’s fulfilled. My wife Ilyne cooks and I write about what she cooks.
***
Elsewhere in the World, Nobel Peace Prize (2022 Awardee) Oleksandra Matviichuk writes in an email to this columnist, as he takes up a new ugly face of armed conflict in the protracted Russian war on Ukraine: that Russia has taken thousands of Ukrainian children into Russian re-education camps.
“Many families have almost no way to get their children back,” writes Matviichuk, the Ukrainian human rights lawyer and the head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Working with Avaaz, an online platform of peace and human rights activism, the pretty thinking Matviichuk says “Investigators just confirmed that Russia has taken thousands of children from Ukraine and put them into Russian re-education camps. And many families have almost no way to get their children back.”
“Governments must speak out immediately and issue a united call to bring Ukraine’s children home, and hold those responsible to account,” Avaaz writes as it commits to “deliver our call with a massive media stunt outside the European Council, pushing our leaders to act.”
Also a Reuters news dispatch datelined Washington D.C. (February 14) reports that Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children - likely many more - in sites in Russian-held Crimea and Russia whose primary purpose appears to be political re-education, according to a U.S.-backed report published on Tuesday.
“The report said Yale University researchers had identified at least 43 camps and other facilities where Ukrainian children have been held that were part of a “large-scale systematic network” operated by Moscow since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
INlife, we have two masters to reckon with that we are free to choose and allow ourselves to be used as servants of either God or Satan whose respective delight lies on good and evil. This is a timely issue and concern in the midst of worsening lawlessness and chaos in the world today at the expense of precious human lives lost and maimed.
It’s mind-boggling to realize frequent news stories about ambuscades that lately almost killed Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. He was reported slightly injured with his personal aide, but the incident along the Marawi-Wao Highway also resulted in the death of Adiong’s driver and three of his police escorts. Authorities have yet to identify the brain and the motive behind the attack.
Much earlier, a municipal election officer of Maguindanao, who was alone driving his car perished when waylaid by motorcycleriding men in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat. Political angle in the ambush-slay is closely being looked into by probers.
Hard-working security forces of the AFP and PNP in their recent joint operation killed a BIFF commander in Tacurong City in a shootout when he allegedly resisted arresting operatives. The slain rebel commander has been tagged as the “principal suspect” in the ambush-slay last year of Ampatuan town police chief Lt. Reynaldo Samson and his driver in Maguindanao.
Vigilance of government security forces against corruption and lawless violence also yielded this week the seizure of P90 million worth of smuggled cigarettes by navy patrollers at the Sulu Sea. This includes the demise of a ranking officer of a Communist terrorist group operating in South Cotabato when he refused receipt of warrant for his arrest and instead engaged a joint militarypolice operatives in a shootout.
The most recent ambush happened in Nueva Viscaya that killed Aparri, Cagayan
Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five of his companions aboard a parked SUV just outside a school ground in Bagabag town. Police investigators said at least six armed men in another vehicle alighted and peppered the vice mayor’s SUV with bullets. As usual suspects’ identities and motive behind the brutal assault are being ascertained.
One thing sure, that these untoward incidents are purely man-made and executed for the love of self and money, nurtured by one’s pride, envy and greed which are demonic. No worldly things can there be genuine peace and coexistence unless God is with us in spirit and in truth. That, we have been forewarned of always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth (2 Timothy 3:7).
This reminds us of Senator Allan Peter Cayetano’s recent reminder to his colleagues and for them to share the good news about the essence of “revival, restoration and reformation” through faith as the key to resolving the country’s multifarious woes by citing God’s WORD: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything shall be added unto us” (Matthew 6:33).
Christ has warned on the use of deadly weapons saying those who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52). That now the sword has evolved to weapons of mass destruction. It’s about time for us to be filled with Holy Spirit that manifests love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. And by these fruits we should walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
That our faith in God may grow through diligence, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love as a reiteration in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
We became sinners and wicked because of man’s disobedience so likewise with One Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. This biblical quote from Romans 5:19 refers to the first man Adam and Christ the Messiah. That although Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). With self-control and obedience to God Almighty makes us truly productive, peaceful and law-abiding citizens. MC
The genetic changes that contribute to cancer tend to affect three main types of genes—protooncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes. These changes are sometimes called “drivers” of cancer.
Proto-oncogenes are involved in normal cell growth and division. However, when these genes are altered in certain ways or are more active than normal, they may become cancer-causing genes (or oncogenes), allowing cells to grow and survive when they should not.
Tumor suppressor genes are also involved in controlling cell growth and division. Cells with certain alterations in tumor suppressor genes may divide in an uncontrolled manner.
DNA repair genes are involved in fixing damaged DNA. Cells with mutations in these genes tend to develop additional mutations in other genes and changes in their chromosomes, such as duplications and deletions of chromosome parts. Together, these mutations may cause the cells to become cancerous.
As scientists have learned more about the molecular changes that lead to cancer, they have found that certain mutations commonly occur in many types of cancer. Now there are many cancer treatments available that target gene mutations found in cancer. A few of these treatments can be used by anyone with a cancer that has the targeted mutation, no matter where the cancer started growing.
When Cancer Spreads
A cancer that has spread from the place where it first formed to another place in the body is called metastatic cancer. The process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.
Metastatic cancer has the same name and the same type of cancer cells as the original, or primary, cancer. For example, breast cancer that forms a
metastatic tumor in the lung is metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.
Under a microscope, metastatic cancer cells generally look the same as cells of the original cancer. Moreover, metastatic cancer cells and cells of the original cancer usually have some molecular features in common, such as the presence of specific chromosome changes.
In some cases, treatment may help prolong the lives of people with metastatic cancer. In other cases, the primary goal of treatment for metastatic cancer is to control the growth of the cancer or to relieve symptoms it is causing. Metastatic tumors can cause severe damage to how the body functions, and most people who die of cancer die of metastatic disease.
What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is caused by changes to DNA. Most cancer-causing DNA changes occur in sections of DNA called genes. These changes are also called genetic changes.
What Causes Genetic Changes?
Genetic changes that cause cancer can be inherited or arise from certain environmental exposures such as viruses, UV radiation, smoking and chemicals. Genetic changes can also happen because of errors that occur as cells divide. Most often, cancer-causing genetic changes accumulate slowly as a person ages, leading to a higher risk of cancer later in life.
Terms of Reference.
Whenthe Spaniards descended upon the Philippine Islands, many of them settled in Cotabato City. Thus, we have friends with family names of Martinez, Roales, Marquez, Rodriguez, Blanco and many more. We recognize them by their fair complexion, curly hair and the now, bastardized Spanish language Chabacano.
I wish the existing descendants continue to speak chabacano; my good grades in Spanish 1 nd 2 in college can be attributed to our enhanced vocabulary from our exposure to our chabacano speaking friends.
True to our historical records, these
clans were rewarded with huge tracks of land as far as the eyes can see, as incentives for coming to this yet undiscovered treasures of land. In time, the properties were sold, distributed to heirs. Up there in Magutan, Upi Nuro, Siblings Marilou Matinez Labitan and her brother nurtured their inherited huge property by planting fruit trees, and Lot’s vegetable and flower garden. Fifty years after they first erected a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, all the “kastilaloys” among us from as far as Parang and wherever they have settled, it was time to grandly celebrate the feast of our Lady OF Lourdes. Only a few remained in the city; Though our friend Lot who invited us to this occasion, has her family in the US, she manages to come home to oversee this paradise up the cool mountains. A retired educator, she lends her expertise in tutoring pupils at a nearby school in religion and catechism.
International and Philippine rules have three (3) common classification of items that are the subject of procurement: Works (construction), Goods, and Services. Of these three, the most commonly procured are Goods, followed by Works, and Services places third.
How does the procurement of services differ from Works and Goods?
Generally, procurement of services (specifically, consulting services) is more complicated than those involving Goods and Works. This is true from the vantage point of both the procuring entity and the prospective bidders.
There are many cases when a procuring entity (the organization that is seeking the services of a consulting firm) is not very well acquainted with the services that they would like a firm to perform, thus, preparing the Scope of Work and the Terms of Reference that will be issued in the form of an Invitation to Bid could be very difficult.
In a situation where the procuring entity needs to engage the services of a consultant or a consulting firm (e.g. to do a research, to provide training, to prepare a feasibility study or a master plan) and is not familiar with the service that they require, outside assistance may be secured. For example, if a regional or provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry needs to have a feasibility study for agri-based enterprises) the agency could seek the assistance of other offices such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other agencies in preparing the Scope of Work and
In the same manner, a city government that wants to have a Development Master Plan may also call on the NEDA, DPWH, DTI, DA, DOT, DOTR, and such other government offices that could help them prepare documents needed to kick start and complete the bid process for engaging the services of consultants.
Technical personnel within and outside the procuring entity need to ensure that the statement of the Scope of Work reflects what the organization wants to be done. If they fail to include a vital task in the Scope of Work, requiring the hired consultant to do it after the contract had been signed could mean additional cost.
It is also important to be able to provide a good estimate of the costs of the services required to be performed by the consultants. For example, if the export potential of coffee to Western markets is to be part of a feasibility study, the people preparing the Scope of Work and Terms of Reference should be able to secure information as to the cost of such service. Otherwise, the procuring entity could be paying much more than market rate or if the estimate is too low, there will be a failure of bidding since the bids could all be much higher that the agency estimate.
Bids for consulting services are evaluated based on the technical and financial proposals submitted by the consulting firms. Procuring entity may opt to evaluate first the technical proposals and negotiate with the first-ranked firm or the technical proposal and financial proposal could be considered simultaneously and just assigned weights (e.g. Technical Proposal = 70% and Financial Proposal = 30%).
The technical proposal includes the firm and its experience, qualification of personnel to be deployed, and the methodology that will be employed in performing the services. A financial proposal includes professional fees, management cost, and reimbursables.
The Spaniards among usThe “kastilaloys” descended on Magutay for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the chapel Credit: © Terese Winslow
Bangsamoro region.
“It was officials of the DOTr who told us, during
Republic of the Philippines Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular Guidelines in the implementation of Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2012 (IRR in R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Joy Tabile Escobar has filed with this office a petition for correction of sex from Male to Female in her certificate of live birth bearing Registry No. 2000-326, registered at Local Civil Registry of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and whose parents are Hermenegildo L. Escobar and Celestina Valdez Tabile. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than March 15, 2023.
(Sgd.) LESAIDA O. SABAN
Municipal Civil Registrar
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Adelina E. Lagudas has filed with this office a petition for correction of entry in sex from Female to Male in the certificate of live birth of Adrian Jhay L. Villasis, who was born on March 11, 2011 at Cotabato City and whose parents are John Paul Andy D. Villasis and Ana Marie I. Lagudas.
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office.
(Sgd.) EDRES A. SAMAMA
Asst. City Civil Registrar
OIC-City Civil Registrar
MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the late CANDAO DILAO KEMPA, who died on December 3, 2017, left a Savings Account with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) under Account No. 0376 4197 46 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. de Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. No. 104; Page No. 104; Book No. XXIX; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 2023
EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Bario Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty.
Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 438; Page No. 88; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
our dialogues last year in Metro Manila, that the MOTC can take over the LTO in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur without any issue at all,” Tago said. Tago told reporters Wednesday, while at the LTO-Maguindanao office
Notice is hereby given that the late DANILO A. DEAROS, SR., who died intestate on April 25, 2019, in Poblacion 7, Midsayap, Cotabato, left parcels of land Lot 21, Bad-124709001786-AR, with an area of 6,186 sq. mts., more or less and Lot 23, Bsd124709-001786-AR, with an area of 4,698 sq. mts., more or less, both situated in Poblacion 7, Midsayap, Cotabato, covered by TCT Nos. T- 7033 & T-7933, respectively are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Benjamin G. Salanatin as per Doc. No. 4134; Page No. 820; Book No. IV, Series of 2022.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Felix Dela Cruz has filed with this office a petition for correction of entry in sex from Female to Male in the certificate of live birth of Felix Dela Cruz Centino, who was born on September 10, 1967 at Magpet, Cotabato and whose parents are Vivino Trabocon Centino and Teresita Ingge Dela Cruz. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than March 14, 2023.
(Sgd.) CHONA M. PROVIDA,MPA Municipal Civil Registrar
MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses RESTITUTO TABAUSARIS and PATROCENIA ESPOSO, who died on July 6, 2020 and October 18, 2016, respectively at Pentil, Aleosan, Cotabato, left a parcel of land Lot No. 766-B, Psd-124716-020827 (AR) situated in Malamote, Midsayap, Cotabato, with an area of 32,298 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public AlbertoT. Eramis as per Doc. No. 111; Page No. 22; Book No. CCLVII; Series of 2021.
MC: Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Barrio Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty.
Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 403; Page No. 81; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Spouses ESLAO LAUDE CANJA and GENOVEVA PUNO CANJA, who died on March 21, 2002 and December 17, 2013, all in Malengen, Libungan, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot 381, Pls-134, situated in Barongis, Midsayap (now Libungan), Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-10407, containing an area of 57,039 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of intestate estate with simultaneous waiver of rights and simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Teresita Carreon Llaban as per Doc. No. 356; Page No. 72; Book No. 24, Series of 2022.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
Republic of the Philippines Alamada, Cotabato OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Rovie R. Sarita has filed with this office a petition for correction of the child’s sex from Female to Male in the certificate of live birth of Rovie Ruta Sarita at Bao, Alamada, Cotabato and whose parents are Teofilo T. Sarita and Danilda E. Ruta.
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than March 7, 2023.
(Sgd.) MA. LENY B. BUENAFE Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the late RUDY I. INOCENCIO, who died intestate on December 12, 2017 at Nituan, Parang, Maguindanao, left an undivided portion of Lot No. 291-0-2, Ped-06035177, covered by TCT No. T-24853, containing an area of 1,567 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement /adjudication of estate before Notary Public Mimbalawag T. Mangutara Jr., CPA as per Doc. No. 89; Page No. 19; Book No. LXIX; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Barrio Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty.
Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 404; Page No. 81; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
in Barangay Capiton in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte, that he is grateful to the DOTr for supporting their takeover of the LTO branches in
Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late CAROLINA PASCIOLES COLLADO, who died on June 25, 2011, in Midsayap, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot 2883-B, (LRC) Psd-239253, situated in Sitio Katitisan (now Bario Gumaga) Libungan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-47989, containing an area of 40,001 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of intestate estate with simultaneous waiver of rights and simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Renato M. Eugenio as per Doc. No. 407; Page No. 83; Book No. 221, Series of 2022.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Elefer C. Cumighod has filed with this office a petition for correction of the child’s sex from Male to Female in the certificate of live birth of Elefer C. Cumighod at Kitacobong, Alamada, Cotabato and whose parents are Fernando V. Cumighod and Elena E. Calabroso.
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than March 7, 2023.
Sgd.) MA. LENY B. BUENAFE Municipal Civil Registrar
MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that FLORA J. MA, of legal age, Filipino, married and resident of Brgy. Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato is the registered true and lawful owner of a parcel of land Lot No. 2586-G-2-H-2-D, Psd-12-012921, situated in Bo. Katingawan, Midsayap, Cotabato, containing an area of 329 sq. mts., more or less, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-90831; That the said certificate of title is missing and subject of affidavit of loss before Notary Public Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 427; Page No. 86; Book No. CCCXXXII; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 2023
EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Barrio Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty.
Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 405; Page No. 81; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
Maguindanao and in Lanao del Sur.
“All ended well. The informal turnover rite we had also applies for the LTOLanao del Sur,” he said.
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALIPIO BERNABE who died intestate on November 1, 2000 at Nicaan, Libungan, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 10, PLS357, situated in Nicaan, Libungan, Cotabato, covered by OCT No. V-4452, containing an area of 38,651 sq. mts., more or less is subject of deed of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of sale and waiver of rights before Notary Public Roland D. Jungco as per Doc. No. 208; Page No. 42; Book No. XX; Series of 2023.
MC: Feb. 25, Mar. 4 & 11, 2023
OFFICE
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Incompliance with
R.A. No. 10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that Norman P. Quintua has filed with this office a petition for change of sex from Female to Male in the birth certificate of Norman P. Quintua who was born on 04 July 1969 at Kidapawan, Cotabato and whose parents are Armando Quintua and Leonora Pacate. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office.
(Sgd.) MERCEDES P. TOLENTINO Acting City Civil Registrar
MC: Feb. 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MA. SUZETTE N. LAO, who died on December 26, 2022 in Cotabato City, an account with Metrobank under Savings Account No. 074-3-074-90598-7 is subject of affidavit of self-adjudication before Notary Public Atty. Edwin P. Matura as per Doc No. 122; Page No. 25; Book No. II, Series of 2023.
MC: Feb.18, 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Barrio Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty.
Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 436; Page No. 88; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC:
Tago said a team from MOTC will proceed to Marawi City this week to meet the LTO-Lanao del Sur employees whose office is now under the Bangsamoro government.
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ARSENIO AWAYAN SINGCO, who died on March 13, 2018, in Cotabato City, parcels of land Lot 6992-B, Psd-12002133, TCT No. T-53122, area of 590 sq. mts. in Pob. 4, Midsayap; Lot 3924-B, Psd-12-03791, TCT No. 78726, area of 1,301 sq. mts. in Pob. 6, Midsayap; Lot No. 58-A, Psd-124709019734, TCT No. T-84253, area of 249 sq. mts. in Pob. 1, Midsayap; Lot No. 4033D-6 (LRC) Psd-101094, TCT No. T-121482, area of 800 sq. mts. in Pob. 8, Midsayap; Lot 2485-F-2-B, Psd-12-000580, TCT No. 80939, area of 622 sq. mts. in Pob. 8, Midsayap; Lot 6992-A,CSD-12-002133, TCT No. T-85429, area of 500 sq. mts. in Pob. 4, Midsayap; Lot 6966-A, Psd12-124709-019735, TCT No. T-83896, area of 964 sq. mts. in Pob 4, Midsayap; Lot 6, PCS-12-000391, TCT No. 83556, area of 19,574 sq. mts. in Bo. Upper Glad II, Midsayap; Lot 585-C-5, Psd-12-055965, TCT No. T-152-2017002065, area of 10,000 sq. mts. in Bo. Kimagango, Midsayap; Lot 2165-B-1, Psd-12-028499 (AR), TCT No. T-110359, area of 8,971 sq. mts. in Bual Sur, Midsayap; and Lot 7, Pcs-12-000391, TCT No. T-83517, area of 9,339 sq. mts., more or less, all in the Province of Cotabato, are subject of extrajudicial settlement of intestate estate before Notary Public Renato M. Eugenio as per Doc. No. 403; Page No. 82; Book No. 221, Series of 2022. MC: Feb. 25, Mar 4 & 11, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the late LUCIA TABADA SANCHEZ-ANGELES, who died intestate on May 10, 2011 at San Teodoro, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, left a parcel of land Lot No. 97-1, Psd-115996, covered by TCT No. T-29073, containing an area of 14,899 sq. mts., more or less, located at Tunggol, Pagalungan, Maguindanao is subject of deed of extrajudicial settlement with special power of attorney before Notary Public Atty. Hilarion P. Clapis, Jr., as per Doc. No. 445; Page No. 45; Book No. 29; and Emmy Louise S. Guiritan as per Doc. No. 21; Page No. 05; Book No. V; all Series of 2022.
MC: Feb.18, 25 & Mar. 4, 2023
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AMIL SALAMAT and DAUDAYAN SALAMAT who died intestate many years ago in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 236-A-1-1, Psd12-007901, situated in Barrio Matampay, Cotabato City, containing an area of 32,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-22220 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Atty. Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 437; Page No. 88; Book No. XLI; Series of 2023.
MC:
STAKEHOLDERS were elated with Tuesday’s deployment of a battalion-size Special Action Force contingent in Pikit, Cotabato to help address the nagging security problems in the municipality.
The SAF is an elite combat-ready unit of the Philippine National Police, ready for more extensive and intricate law-enforcement operations.
Two members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro parliament, Datu Jambo Matalam and the physician Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., both related to big clans in Pikit, separately said Thursday the presence of a SAF battalion in the municipality will help deter wanton gun attacks in the area.
Sinolinding, however, said the local communities still ought to help the local government unit of Pikit, the police and the military in preventing crimes in the municipality.
“Without community support, all
of these peace and security initiatives cannot fully take off. We have to support these efforts,” Sinolinding, most known by his moniker “doctor sa parliamento ng Bangsamoro,” said in a statement Thursday.
Officials of the Pikit Municipal Police Station confirmed to reporters Thursday the deployment in Pikit last Tuesday of a SAF battalion from the Police Regional Office-11 in Davao City.
No fewer than 40 people have been killed in gun attacks in Pikit since late 2021, all unsolved.
Most of the deadly incidents happened in barangays in Pikit that are under the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao. There are 63 barangays in different towns in Cotabato province that are now grouped together as BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA).
The chairperson of the Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council, Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, said Thursday she, too, was elated with the deployment in Pikit of the four SAF companies from PRO-11.
“Many of the barangays in Pikit are already under BARMM but our provincial government is still ready to extend peace and security interventions, via the Bangsamoro government, to the residents there,” Mendoza said. John Felix Unson
KORONADAL CITY — After the recent operations against a vlogger for wildlife hunting and trading, several residents of Barangay Pangyan in Glan, Sarangani have come forward and voluntarily surrendered their caged wildlife to personnel of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR Region 12).
DENR protected area ranger Hajero Daibal reported to Dr. Rosalinda B. Cortez, Glan Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of Glan that several residents decided to surrender their caged wildlife upon learning that they are violating the Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act.
A total of 24 short-billed brown doves locally known as “Alimokon” were turned over on Wednesday (Feb.
22) by the residents who admitted that they only kept the birds to follow the social media trends during the pandemic without knowing that it is strictly prohibited by law.
Since January, a total of 84 birds of various species were rescued in the Soccsksargen region from vloggers and hunters. But no one was arrested so far.
Apart from the violations in the Wildlife Act, Cortez also warned residents that the birds are potential carriers of diseases that might affect their health.
“We should also use the social media to disseminate information on how to protect these species,” she urged the public.
Dr. Cortez also encouraged the residents to be one of the department’s wildlife extension officers and help the DENR in protecting and conserving
the wildlife.
“You can help us address the illegal wildlife trade which is an industry that involves unlawful harvesting and trafficking of wild animals and plants,” she said.
The wildlife species are now under the temporary custody of DENR-12 Regional Wildlife Rescue Center for health examination before they will be freed back to their natural habitat.
DENR-12 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer said the presence of short-billed brown doves locally known as “Alimokon” is an indication the region’s thick forests are havens for them.
It also shows that the region’s eco-system is rich and safe sanctuary for endangered species like migratory birds, sea creatures and the famous Philippine Eagle. Edwin O. Fernandez
— The local government here has offered a P400,000 reward money for anyone who can provide information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects behind the recent killing of 13-year-old student and tricycle driver.
On Monday, Mayor Sumulong Sultan of Pikit said the amount will hopefully help fast track the identification of the brains behind the series of killings in town.
“We need your help, we need everybody’s help to stop all these killings,” Sultan told members of the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) that he chaired and convened Saturday.
Mayor Sultan said the MPOC approved the use of P400,000 worth of bounty wherein P200,000 will go to anyone who can help identify the killers of 13-year-old student Fahad Guiamalon on Feb. 14 and another P200,000 for informant that will help solve the killing of tricycle driver Jose Neri Gonzales on Feb. 13.
He urged the informants to come forward and submit information and evidences to police authorities for verification and validation.
Sultan also said that the town council has passed a resolution banning riding tandem in town.
“Back-riding will no longer be allowed,” he said in a radio interview. “The police will implement no riding tandem policy,” he added.
An additional soldiers have been deployed to help the police contain the series of gun attacks in town.
The Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PROBARMM) said it is ready to deploy police personnel to augment security personnel of Pikit.
Classes in all public and private schools resumed today after the suspension order of Mayor Sumulong on Feb. 15 last week until Feb. 17.
More police personnel have been deployed near schools to ensure safety of schoolchildren. Edwin O. Fernandez
Duo in foiled shabu delivery charged
AUTHORITIES foiled an attempt by two couriers to deliver P850,000 worth of shabu from Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur to a contact here and both suspects now face criminal raps.
Christian Frivaldo, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement AgencyBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, told reporters this week they are now in custody of Ben Mohammad and his companion, a woman named Meri Baluta, whom they have charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
"They now face criminal cases for that offense," Frivaldo said.
FREE SINGING BIRDS. Some of the short-billed brown doves, locally known as “Alimokon,” that local residents of Sarangani handed over to DENR-12. “Alimokon” is known also as “humming birds” that provide music to one’s ears while relaxing under huge trees in the countryside. Photo courtesy of DENR Soccsksargen
TACURONG CITY — Police and military authorities here brace for possible retaliatory attacks following the death of a ranking local terrorist leader during law enforcement operation at a bus terminal here Saturday.
A local terrorist leader and his companion believed to be behind the murder of police lieutenant in Maguindanao del Sur and bus bombings were slain during police law enforcement operation inside the bus terminal compound here.
Lt. Col. Bryan Bernardino, Tacurong City police director, identified the fatality as Abdulkarem Lumbatan Hasim alias “Commander Boy Jacket” and his lieutenant who both resisted arrest during checkpoint operation inside the city Public Terminal in Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong City at 6 a.m.
“It was a legitimate police-Army operation, we know he is going to the terminal,” Bernardino told DXOMRadyo Bida Koronadal.
Three police officers were injured during brief shootout.
Two of his companions on board a separate motorbike managed to escape during the operation.
An Army officer requesting not to be named said Hasim and his companion could be conducting “casing” or intelligence and surveillance operation for bombing plot on public transport.
The BIFF was linked to bus extortion and bus bombing in the past.
Hasim is a sub-commander of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) “Kagi Karialan” faction involved in a series of bombing, highway robberies and extortion in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Hasim was tagged as the brain behind the murder of Police Lt. Reynaldo Samson, police chief of Ampatuan municipal Police station in Maguindanao, and his driver on August 29, 2022.
In October last year, Hasim led the harassment of an Army checkpoint in Barangay Sambolawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao that left an Army corporal dead.
His group was also behind the harassment of another Army base in Datu Hofer town in Maguindanao in November last year that injured two soldiers.
Hasim has several warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder issued by local courts in Maguindanao.
Bernardino the injured police officers are now safe in an undisclosed hospital. Edwin O. Fernandez
Mohammad and Baluta were intercepted by PDEA-BARMM agents and policemen at Lower Taviran in Kabuntalan
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat – Five Moro extremists have surrendered to police authorities in the province, police said Monday.
Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, police director for the Soccsksargen region, said the extremists who belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) also denounced their members to the armed terrorist group and pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag.
The surrender of violent extremists in Sultan Kudarat province came after weeks of backdoor
town in Maguindanao del Norte, together in a vehicle supposedly en route to this city.
Frivaldo said the interception of the duo by PDEA-BARMM agents and personnel of the Kabuntalan Municipal Police Station was premised on tips from their relatives aware of their plan to smuggle into this city 125 grams of shabu from Maguindanao del Sur province.
“We are now probing on the source of the shabu confiscated from them. We are also exhausting means now to identify their prospective contacts around,” Frivaldo said.
PDEA-BARMM agents placed at P850,000 the value of the shabu confiscated from Mohammad and Baluta, now clamped down in the agency’s detention facility here. John Felix Unson
negotiation jointly initiated by the Sultan Kudarat police office, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and PNP 12 intelligence units.
“They turned in their firearms and explosives,” Brig. Gen. Macaraeg said.
He identified the former violent extremists as Montasir Bamigan, 23, Alimuden Ali, 51, Jerry Kamid, 25, Bimbo Utto, 22 and Benladin Balayman, 22, all residents of Maguindanao and members of BIFF Kagi Karialan faction.
They turned in M-79 grenade
5 BIFFs pledge allegiance to PH Flag, denounce VE
