The Mindanao Cross | June 3, 2023

GRILLED TILAPIA FOR FREE

KIDAPAWAN EMERGING SWEET, DELICIOUS TILAPIA PRODUCER

By Williamor A. Magbanua

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Culminating the farmer’s month, the city government, through the agriculture office, hosted a “Sugba sa Plaza” featuring locally grown tilapia and gave it to the public for free on Tuesday.

Balindong favors pro-clemency for ex-ARMM gov

By Nash B. Maulana

By Edwin O. Fernandez

THE Speaker of the Bangsamoro Parliament has issued a judicial statement saying a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was eligible for a Presidential clemency after a final conviction by the Supreme Court.

The lawyers of former ARMM Governor Zacaria Candao had earlier petitioned the Supreme Court to reopen the case for the respondents considering that one of them was already dead when the promulgation took place.

By Drema Quitayen Bravo

By John Felix Unson

Speaker Pangalian Balindong has stated in his affidavit that the only six-digit amount in the Philippine Currency involved in the original charge sheets, were withdrawn from Army

Another “mastermind” in Adiong ambush detained

“Kalabasa” rotting as buying price drops

Kidapawan fisher folks grill tilapia and give it free to anyone who would like to taste the evolving delicious “Kidapawan tilapia” during the “Sugba sa plaza” on May 30.

Photo by Williamor A. Magbanua

Pangalian Balindong

Army now escorts North Cotabato teachers

By Edwin O. Fernandez

THE military has deployed forces to serve as escorts of public school teachers assigned in critical villages of PIkit, North Cotabato following the killing of a teacher and wounding of another on May 26.

Lt. Colonel Rowel Gavilanes, 90th Infantry Battalion commander, said starting Tuesday (May 30) his unit also deployed “riding tandem” soldiers in “full battle gears” to protect the public school teachers as they travel to and from their respective schools.

“We are here providing them security in support of the local police,” Gavilanes said in a radio interview.

Since Tuesday, police and military forces have been roaming around communities and conduct vehicle and foot patrols near public schools to thwart attempts to harm teachers, students and anyone.

In Barangay Manaulanan, one of the critical villages in Pikit, unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed Joel Reformado and injured Elton John Lapined both riding on a motorbike.

They were among the victims

of gun attacks in Pikit that hit this town since last year.

The local police listed more than 40 victims of shooting in different villages of Pikit since 2022 to date.

Education officials have condemned the killing of Reformado and urged authorities to take bold steps to ensure safety of teachers and students.

In February this year, unidentified gunmen, for still unknown reasons, shot three pupils walking for home for lunch in Barangay Gli-Gli, killing one of them and wounding two others. The perpetrators remained.

Gavilanes said he was sad by the turn events on Friday that left a teacher dead in Barangay Manaulanan.

He said that ambush against Reformado and his companion has “broken the 3-month silence, peace and tranquility of Pikit” or the three

months of “zero violence.”

Alarmed by the killing of Reformado, Dr. Romelito Flores, Cotabato schools division superintendent, also gathered the 36 school heads of Pikit schools district to determine the level of risks in their areas of assignments.

“Write your feelings and assess the situation in your place, also write what can be improved,” Flores told the head teachers during his intimate session with Pikit head teachers.

“What can you say or reaching about the murder of Reformado,” he said during the meeting. Silence prevailed in the session room.

He then asked them to write their assessment of the risks in their areas of assignment.

Their sharing shall serve as input in policy formulation for long term and immediate intervention for short-term response, he said.

Army, PNP response to Dawlah threats cited

LANAO del Sur officials have expressed appreciation for the prompt response of the military’s Western Mindanao Command and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for promptly responded to the threats last week by the Dawlah Islamiya to attack Marogong town.

The PRO-BAR deployed this week personnel to strategic spots in Marogong town in Lanao del Sur, which the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya has threatened to attack.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. said Tuesday is thankful to Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of PRO-BAR, for personally supervising Monday's positioning of more police officers in Marogong.

Thousands of residents have

evacuated to other towns, fearing an attack by members of the DI terrorist group.

In an interview on Alerto Bangsamoro, Marogong disaster risk officer Ronaldin Damiano said at least 3,550 residents have gone to safer areas outside town, with some seeking shelter as far away as Iligan and Cotabato cities.

He said classes were suspended and only around half of establishments are open as the town worries about a repeat of the Marawi Siege of 2017.

The outlawed Dawlah Islamiya, in 2-way radio messages and Facebook posts, threatened to enter the town proper of Marogong following the arrest of four Dawla Islamiya members.

More than 20 Dawlah Islamiya members also fell in anti-narcotics operations in the province in recent months, now detained and are being prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Nobleza said Tuesday a platoon from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and personnel of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Mobile Company are now positioned around the town proper of Marogong as part of their preparations for any Dawlah Islamiya incursion.

Adiong to Maranaws: Rise above threats

MARAWI CITY —

Unshaken by extremists’ rumored takeover of Marogong town, Governor Mamintal Bombit Alonto Adiong Jr. said Lanao del Sur residents should rise above the challenges of underdevelopment, terror threats and criminalities.

On Tuesday, Adiong received farm equipment from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at the PEO grounds, New Capitol Complex here.

It can be recalled that amid rumored threat by extremists Dawlia Islamia, some 259 families have fled Marogong to seek safe refuge in nearby Binidayan, Tubaran, Bayang and Masiu towns. Adiong himself survived a daring daylight ambush where he was wounded severely, and four of his escorts killed.

BARMM Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo had visited Marogong to assess projects funded by his office.

Adiong accepted the equipment, underscoring the importance of ensuring the province’s food security. By empowering the farmers, he said, they would be able to contribute much to agricultural sustainability and development of the province.

Also on Tuesday, Adiong laid the cornerstone for the mounting of photovoltaic plates to generate solar energy to help power the Tamparan District Hospital

The 22KW solar energy project in the Tamparan District Hospital (TDH) is funded by the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Energy.

The system will be installed to energize primarily the hospital’s blood bank, laboratory, emergency room, and hospital corridors, among others, said Provincial Information Officer Salma Jayne Alonto Tamano.

TDH has been using diesoline generator set due to erratic power supply.

local terrorist

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have joined efforts to boost the coconut industry in North Cotabato, officials said Monday.

PARPO II Evangeline Bueno, DAR Provincial Agrarian Refomr Program Officer II, said validation activities have been going on and DAR has been looking for potential Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) that will be developed as a central hub for coconut processing under the proposed coconut value chain boosting project.

"Potential ARBOs will be assessed for further interventions to strengthen their operations and to establish tie-ups with private sectors

in order to expand their markets," Bueno said in a statement.

The validation team composed of DAR regional and provincial officials visited the Bagong Pag-asa Credit Cooperative (BPCC), a DARassisted organization engaged in virgin coconut oil production in New Panay, Pigcawayan.

Roldan Ali, Al Haj, assistant regional director for administration and support services, explained that DAR wanted to improve the process and product of the ARBOs to have a steady market or expand them to a bigger market.

Seminiana Bawik, BPCC project manager, was grateful to DAR for the continued assistance given her

He said a company-size contingent from the Army’s 32nd Infanty Battalion had also been deployed in different barangays in the municipality.

Felix Unson

DAR, PCA eye hub for coconut processing in NoCot

John

Brig. General Allan Nobreza, BARMM police regional director, said the PNP is working closely with BARMM, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the local government units, to secure communities with high-security risks.

Adiong said the agriculture support package from BARMM funded by MP Diamla Musa could help prevent terrorism from thriving in Lanao at the same time enhance productivity and profits.

Amer Magarang station superintendent of the MAFAR-LDS Research Outreach, said MAFAR is committed to making agricultural lands more productive with more crops to harvest on the part of the farmers.

Vice Mayor Harounal-Rashid Disomimba Lucman, III welcomed the welcomed the development, saying the project will address the issue of inadequate power supply in Tamparan.

Ms. Tamano officially opened the program by highlighting the partnership forged by the Provincial Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Energy (DOE). She recalled how the project was envisioned in 2018 with the late Engineer Pipalawan Naga on instruction of Governor Adiong, Jr. to implement renewable energy programs in the province as part of his Vision 2040.

Nash B. Maulana

Farmers get “proof of land ownership” from DAR-12

A total 111 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Sarangani province are now certified and legal owners of lands they have been tilling after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) released on Monday their electronic land titles, officials said.

group. "We are thankful to DAR for considering us as a potential recipient of the proposed coconut value chain boosting project," Bawik said.

The BPCC is a recipient of the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project.

They also received VCO processing machines and equipment under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and is now in the process of registration with the Food and Drug Administration.

Aside from palay, Pigcawayan has vast coconut plantations and known for copra production and its by products. Edwin O. Fernandez

On Tuesday, Hadji Roldan Ali, Al-Haj, DARSoccsksargen assistant regional director, said the e-title distribution was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directive to DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, to improve the ARBs’ security of tenure.

He said the distribution of e-titles was part of the agency’s land parcelization activities to strengthen ARBs’ individual ownership of the lands they are actually tilling.

This undertaking is implemented under the Support to Parcelization of Land Through Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project,

which aims to fast-track the subdivision of collective or co-owned Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CCLOA) into individual land parcels and issue individual titles. Anecito Hibanada, former Chairperson of Fleischer Estate Integrated Multi-purpose Cooperative (FEIMCO), said that although the previously issued CCLOA gave them rights to till their own lands, they experienced several contentions as there arose countless issues on management.

"In 1996, FEIIMCO was awarded with 214 hectares. We encountered ups and downs as an ARB cooperative involving land ownership,” Hibanada said.

“But now differences and contentions will surely be avoided through the SPLIT Project and with God’s grace we proudly say that we have fully paid our amortization," he added.

Edwin O. Fernandez

PROMPT COUNTER -TERROR ACTION. Officials of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region led this week’s deployment of combat-ready policemen in Marogong, Lanao del Sur to guard against any attack by the Dawlah Islamiya, a

group.

Photo courtesy of PRO-BAR

Quiapo Church elevated as ‘Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black...from P6

the mercy, compassion, peace, and love of God for us,” he added.

The Quiapo Church is

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late SANDIALE A. SAMBOLAWAN and BAI PAELA M. SAMBOLAWAN, who both died intestate, left real properties - parcels of land in Cotabato City, Lot 4, Block 3, Psd-62555, under TCT No. T-15596, with an area of 395 sq. mts. and Lot 3, Block 3, Psd-62555, under TCT No. T-22209, with an area of 400 sq. mts.; Lots in Sultan Sa Barongis, Lot 770, Pls-442, under OCT No. P-33056, with an area of 58,931 sq. mts., Lot No. 133, Pls-442, (Free patent No. 598640) under OCT No. P-04839, with an area of 102,843 sq. mts., Lot No. 1531 of Cadastral Survey of Dulawan, under TCT No. T-5860, with an area of 193,859 sq. mts.; Lots in Sampao Lambayong, Cotabato, Lot 765, Pls-442, under by OCT No. V-4530, with an area of 130,803 sq. mts., Lot 627, Pls-442, under TCT No. 4539, with an area of 22,129 sq. mts.; Lots in Datu Piang, Cotabato Lot 21, Pls-440-D, under TCT No. 6276, with an area of 49,585 sq. mts.; Lots 214 and 215, Pls-440-D, under TCT No. T-6277, with an area of 49,354 and 55,736 sq. mts, respectively; Lot 225, Pls 440-D, under TCT No. T-6278, with an area of 49, 834 sq. mts., more or less are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Felix B. Draper as per Doc. No. 27; Page No. 06; Book No. CLVIII; Series of 2018. MC: June 3, 10 & 17, 2023

Notice

home to the revered image of the Black Nazarene, which attracts millions during its

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late VICENTE CELESTIAL, who died on September 10, 2005 at Midsayap, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot 4424-C-8-A, Psd-12-001459, situated in Poblacion, Libungan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. 78384, containing an area of 300 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Noel A. Gretare, CPA as per Doc. No. 2,427; Page No. 76; Book No. C; Series of 2023.

MC: June 3, 10 & 17, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MIGUEL PALILEO, who died on September 8, 2001 at Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot HV-41918A-4-D-3, Psd-(ARMM)000048, situated in Awang, Dinaig, Maguindanao, covered by TCT No. T-10612, containing an area of 5,000 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of sale before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. No. 921; Page No. 9; Book No. XXIX; Series of 2023.

MC: June 3, 10 & 17, 2023

annual procession every January 9.

In 1987, St. John Paul II elevated the church as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene because of its role in strengthening a deep popular devotion to Jesus Christ and its cultural contribution to the religiosity of the Filipinos.

Sescon earlier announced their plan to push for the elevation of Quiapo Church as a national shrine. CBCP News

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JOSE R. RABAGO, who died intestate on February 24, 2022 in Cotabato City, left certain properties: parcels of land Lot 14 Blk 1, PSD12-014942, under Title No. T-30212 with an area of 125 sq. mts.; A two (2) storey building on (Lot 14 Blk1, PSD12-014942) with an area of 172.15 sq. mts; Lot 3 Blk 1, PSD-12014942, under Title No. T-30211 with an area of 125 sq. mts., more or less and Bank accounts with Philippine National Bank (PNB)- Makakua Branch under Account Nos. 4051700001754 and 405160011381 are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Froebel Kan Balleque as per Doc. No. 263; Page No. 52; Book No. 45; Series of 2023.

MC: May 20 & 27 & June 3, 2023

SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY ACCESS, EJC Montilla, Tacurong City

The Search Committee for the Private Sector Representatives (SCPSR) of the Board of Regents of Sultan Kudarat State University is now accepting applications/nominations for two (2) vacant slots for Private Sector Representatives.

The Following are the required minimum qualifications and documentary requirements: Applicants/Nominees must possess the following minimum qualifications:

1. Must be a Filipino citizen, and of legal age;

2. Be domiciled in or a resident of the Province of Sultan Kudarat (where the Sultan Kudarat State University is located) for at least 2 years;

3. Must be from an industry, business, or profession preferably related to the SKSU’s Charter or mandate;

4. Must have at least five (5) years of employment, business, or practice of profession in the private sector;

5. Not connected with the Sultan Kudarat State University or other government agencies and instrumentalities in any manner, for one (1) year immediately prior to his or her nomination to the PSR position;

6. Not currently employed or appointed to any position in the government (local, national, including government-owned and controlled corporations), be it full time or part time, at the time of nomination for the PSR position;

7. Not related to any member of the present Board or their duly-authorized representatives, within fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; and

8. Not have been a candidate who lost in any national or local election, except for barangay elections, within one (1) year after such election.

Application/Nomination Requirements:

Applicants/Nominees for the position of Private Sector Representative should provide four (4) sets of all pertinent details, as follows:

1. Duly notarized application or nomination (with the conforme of the Nominee)

2. Duly accomplished, computerized and notarized (Personal Data Sheet (CSC Form 212);

3. Certificate of Employment stating Nominee’s present position in the private sector related to the industry, business or profession related to the University’s charter or mandate;

4. Service Records of Nominees who have been employed in the government at any point;

5. NBI Clearance;

6. Certification of no connection with SKSU the applicant/nominee is applying or nominated to (Issued by the SKSU HRMO);

7. Signed Commitment and Availability of the Nominee to serve as PSR;

8. Signed Conforme to the Conditions of PSR as provided in Section 14; and,

9. Other documents as may be required by the SKSU GB.

Application/Nomination Process

Applications/Nominations and all supporting documents shall be addressed to:

REV. FR. JESSIE P. PASQUIN, DCC

Chair, Search Committee for the Private Sector Representatives

Sultan Kudarat State University and shall be submitted not later than July 7, 2023 at 5:00 in the afternoon to:

MS. LYNETTE G. PENIERO

Secretariat, Search Committee for Private Sector Representatives

Sultan Kudarat State University

ACCESS, E.J.C. Montilla, Tacurong City

Contact No.: 0935-783-7160

Note: The Search Committee shall only consider nominations with complete documents Nomination Form shall

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANTONIO J. PACIOLES, who died on May 4, 2021 at Gumaga, Libungan, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot 274-C-3-1-5, Psd12-002609, situated in Poblacion, Libungan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-67131, containing an area of 400 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Noel A. Gretare, CPA as per Doc. No. 2099; Page No. 10; Book No. C; Series of 2023.

MC: June 3, 10 & 17, 2023

Republic of the Philippines Province of Cotabato Municipality of Aleosan

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Luzminda S. Mendavia-Pineda has filed with this Office a petition for change of Sex from Male to Female in the birth certificate of Luzminda Sorongon Mendavia who was born on 8 January 1985 at Katalicanan, Aleosan, Cotabato and whose parents are Maximo Mendavia and Lucia Sorongon

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 31 May 2023.

(Sgd.)MARILOU G. NANLABI Municipal Civil Registrar

MC: May 27 & June 3, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LEONARDO DE LOS SANTOS and JULITA DE VILA, who died on October 12, 2011 and December 09, 2016, respectively, at Carmen, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 1,993, Pls-217, situated in Poblacion, Carmen, Cotabato, covered by OCT No. P-59440, containing an area of 1,200 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Joseph N. Madriaga as per Doc. No. 494; Page No. 99; Book No.18; Series of 2023.

MC: June 3, 10 & 17, 2023

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao OFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR Cotabato City

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the Public that EVELYN G. LACAR has filed with this office a petition for Change of First Name from ALYSSA FARHANN to ALYSSA in the birth certificate of ALYSSA FARHANN UDAY AL SUHIEL who was born on June 26, 1997 and whose parents are Hamad G. Al Suhiel and Farhana G. Uday

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: May 27 & June 3, 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 NIZMA PAJA BERNAN has filed with this Office, a correction of entry in sex/gender from Male to FEMALE in the certificate of live birth of NIZMA PAJA BERNAN who was born on September 18, 1994 at Cotabato City and whose parents are Arthur K. Bernan and Welina R. Paja.

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: May 27 & June 3, 2023

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomus Region in Muslim Mindanao Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048/10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that SARAH GUIOMLA KASAN has filed with this office a petition for Correction of Clerical Error in Sex from MALE to FEMALE in the birth certificate of SARAH GUIOMLA KASAN and whose parents are IBAD KASAN and BULON GUIOMLA.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than May 31, 2023

(Sgd.)JOHANADEE S. MIDTIMBANG Local Civil Registrar

MC: May 27 & June 3, 2023

TNT, Smart group lead mobile brands in PH with the most subscribers

TNT is the Philippines’ leading mobile brand, while Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the country’s leading mobile group when it comes to number of subscribers, according to a recent internal study conducted by Smart in partnership with market research firm NielsenIQ.

The study, which polled 1,175 Filipinos from all over the country, aged 18 to 60 years old who use and personally own any mobile SIM, asked respondents about their mobile service providers. The study ran from Jan 5 to April 3, 2023 and took into account both single and multiple SIMs users of mobile brands.

The study found that 46% claim to own and currently use a TNT mobile SIM, significantly higher vs competition. Moreover, 14% of respondents claimed to own and use Smart Prepaid, and 1% Sun Prepaid.

Smart is the leading mobile group with most number of claimed subscribers

Based on the same study, Smart is the Philippines’ leading mobile group in terms of number of subscribers, with a combined 59% of respondents claiming to use its brands, which include TNT, Smart Prepaid and Sun Prepaid, significantly higher vs competitors.

By region, TNT leads mobile brands in terms of claimed users across all surveyed areas except in Mindanao.

TNT leads in the Visayas with 60% of the surveyed respondents claiming to own and use a TNT mobile SIM; Balance Luzon with 46% and Mega Manila area (i.e., Metro Manila Area + Rizal + Palawan) with 39% claimed TNT SIM users. Meanwhile, TM leads in Mindanao with 54% claimed SIM users, followed by TNT with 41% claimed SIM users.

The survey had a sample size of 329 respondents in Mega Manila, 438 in Balance Luzon, 194 in Visayas and 214 in Mindanao.

Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network, according to Ookla

TNT is powered by Smart, which was recently recognized as the fastest mobile network in the country in Q1 2023 in a separate report by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.

This adds to Smart’s back-to-back recognition as the Philippines’ Best Mobile Network for Q1-Q2 2022 and Q3-Q4 2022, also by Ookla. To clinch this rare citation, Smart won both the Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage awards within the same reporting periods of the firm - a first for a Filipino mobile operator

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao OFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR Cotabato City

Kidapawan emerging sweet, delicious...from P1

THE event was part of the year round celebration of the city’s 25th charter anniversary.

Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said the city has set aside P200,000 for the purchase of P1,350 kilos of tilapia from city fisher folks who maintained cultured fresh water fish in their communities.

The participants from each of the 40 barangays of Kidapawan have participated in the festival that aimed to highlight that Kidapawan tilapia is sweeter, tastier and no smell of mud.

Grilling stations were put up with tables and chairs for the convenience of those who wanted to try grilled “Kidapawan tilapia.”

“Our tilapia has

good taste, thick meat,” Evangelista said, adding that once tasted people would like to take another.

It has no “petrichor” scent (smell of mud) unlike most freshwater fish in the local market.

In propagating the tilapia, Evangelista said the city government, through the city agriculture office, provided free fingerlings to local fisher folks.

The city government buys the tilapia at regular market price to help local fisher folks improve income.

Kidapawan tilapia raisers produced at least one ton of fresh water fish per week, enough to supply the city’s needs.

These products are exclusive for Kidapaweños only. When production

improves these can be sold to neighboring towns.

On June 27, 2021, several giant tilapia were fished out from a pond in the upland Barangay Balabag, Kidapawan City that weighed 5.2 kilos.

Pond workers, while harvesting, were surprised to see a huge tilapia, not one but four giant tilapia.

Officials are not admitting, even saying or entertaining it as of yet but some observers believe Kidapawan could be the next “Lake Sebu” in terms of tilapia production.

GRILLED TILAPIA FOR FREE. Kidapawan fisher folks grill tilapia and give it free to anyone who would like to taste the evolving delicious “Kidapawan tilapia” during the "Sugba sa plaza" on May 30.

BARMM speaker issues pro-clemency statement...from P1

the ARMM finance office under compelling circumstances and in pursuit of a “cause” of “rebellion” which made Candao eligible for a presidential pardon.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) covers Presidential amnesty on members of the MILF who may have committed political offenses in pursuit of legitimate cause of rebellion. The Presidential power of amnesty restores the inherent rights and privileges of the pardoned person.

A lawyer consulted by this reporter for this story, said the “ball is now in the Office of the Presidential Legal Adviser,” the 94-year old former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

It was not clear, however, whether any

SQUASH are given for free to commuters, and to anyone, in a remote village in Alamada, North Cotabato as farmers opted to leave it to rot due to low buying price.

Netizens posted on social media several squash left to rot beside the provincial road in the upland village of Campo Dyes after owners have decided to five to the public “since nobody is buying them.”

“Just beside the road, kalabasa for free and anyone can take as may as he can,” netizen Kimay Alvares said in the vernacular.

Earlier, former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, on his FB page, also posted that farmers in Alamada gave away tons of kalabasa as price drops to P2 per kilo.

He said from a high of P30 per kilo early this year, the buying price of Kalabasa has dropped to only P2/kg.

“With that very low buying price, the farmer has to pay the harvesters and haul these to the main highway where 10-wheeler wing vans are waiting to bring the squash to other places where the prices are a bit higher,” Piñ0ol said.

Some of the farmers opted to give away the Kalabasa while others opted to just leave these

lawyer has already represented a clemency petition before the Office of the Presidential Legal Adviser.

Balindong, a lawyer like Candao, said the obtaining circumstances then were that the officials of the now defunct ARMM finance were under compulsion by some men passing off as members of a revolutionary group.

He said as a high official Candao was in a quandary in contrast then to a prior professional commitment as a counsel for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at the Tripoli Agreement in December 1976, and later for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 1977.

At one point, Candao resigned as governor of Maguindanao in preference

in the field to rot or for anybody to take home.

"Lugi (loss). P10,000 bili ko ng binhi hindi ko mabawi," Piñol quoted Iranun farmer Mitra Butig when the former agriculture official visited his Butig’s farm in Campo 11, Rangayen, Alamada.

“Butig opted to have his remaining kalabasa field to be plowed by our tractors so he could try planting Sorghum and Soybeans,” Piñol, who is propagating Sorghum and soybeans, said.

“The sad story of farmers like Mitra will be replayed every harvest season for as long as government does not come up with a National Food Supply and Demand Map and no processing facilities are established,” Piñol said of the sad situation of farmers in the provinces.

Edmundo Guleng, Alamada Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO), said the situation of squash farmers now in Barangay Campo Dyes was a result of oversupply.

“The law of economics apply here,” he said in the vernacular.

Guleng said during planting season early this year, the buying price of squash (genus Cucurbita) went to as high as P24 per kilo. Traders from Davao City, Cagayan de Oro

of his professional commitment as a lawyer working as counsel for the MILF, Balindong said.

Under that situation, Balindong said, Candao must acquiesce to any covert revolutionary demand particularly that the offenses with which he had been charged happened in 1993 when the antisubversion law (RA 1700) had already been repealed.

Balindong said like him, Candao apparently did not want to incur the ire of an emerging new revolutionary group that was the MILF.

The two of them were eventually recruited by the top revolutionary leadership to be legal counsels for the MILF, particularly in preparation for peace

City and even Cebu went to buy squash in Alamada.

“That tempted farmers to shift to planting squash and eventually resulted to oversupply,” Guleng said, adding that the local market could no longer absorb huge volume of agricultural products. When too much supply of squash, the municipal agriculture office is eyeing to produce noodles out of squash

negotiations, MILF insiders have disclosed.

Lawyer Jose Dalisay III had signified willingness to represent the case, having known Candao when Dalisay was editor of the Catholic-run weekly The Mindanao Cross in the 1990’s. Atty. Dalisay relayed the information to a former media colleague who is close to the Candaos.

Pocket Separatists in other countries, too Balindong recalled the overall situation then was that some countries were in the “mode of recognizing” the existence and at some point, even the legitimacy, of pocket separatist groups, including the Chechens and the other Muslim enclaves in the former Yugoslavia like Bosnia Herzegovina.

with the help of government agencies.

“As of now we are still coordinating with other agencies that have the expertise and equipment in making noodles,” Guleng said, adding that easily these can be made for livestock feeds.

He admitted though that farmers experiences losses because of unplanned farming. Guleng urged farmers not to

easily join the bandwagon because the law of supply and demand always apply.

Guleng also urged farmers to venture into other agricultural crops that do not easily rot. Squash easily rot or spoil easily because of damages caused by mircroorganisms.

As of Monday noon, hundreds of kalabasa remained beside the highway in Barangay Campo Dyes waiting to rot.

“Kalabasa” rotting as buying price drops...from P1

EXCESSIVELY LARGE. Kidapawan City is also host to giant tilapia weighing about 5.2 kilos like shown here that fisher folks captured on June 27, 2021 in Barangay Balabag.

Photo by Williamor Magbanua

LEFT TO ROT. Hundreds of Vitamin C and A rich “kalabasa” (Scientific name: Cucurbita) are left to rot in an upland village of Campo Dyes, Alamada, North Cotabato where any can take home for free.

Photo by Netizen Kimay Alvares

Silence on injustice is negligence, Manila archbishop tells priests

THE head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church said that priests, as shepherds, have a duty to speak against violence and injustices

At a priesthood ordination recently, Cardinal Jose Advincula warned the clergy against the “temptation” of silence to play safe because “the flock will be in danger of getting lost”.

“Do not be afraid to speak, especially in the face of oppression, injustice, violence, and evil,” Advincula said. “A silent shepherd when he is expected to speak is a form of negligence.”

“When the sheep do not hear the voice of their shepherd, they may easily follow false shepherds who will only do them harm,” he said.

Advincula made the statement in his homily during the priestly ordination of Fr. Florencio Unida at the Sagrada Familia Parish in Manila’s Sta. Ana district on May 18.

The cardinal, who is also a member

of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, emphasized that priests must speak up, but that their words must be of God.

“The flock will recognize our voices as their shepherds only if we speak the words of God to them,” he added.

The Manila archbishop also reminded the clergy that their prophetic ministry goes beyond the voice that comes from their mouths.

The more powerful and credible proclamation of Jesus is made, according to him, “through the voice that comes from the witness of our lives”.

“Let your life be a living proclamation of God’s word. May people see you, and by simply looking at you, may they already hear God speaking to them,” he said.

CBCP News

Quiapo Church elevated as ‘Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene’

THE St. John the Baptist Parish or Quiapo Church has been elevated to the status of an archdiocesan shrine.

Following a petition to the Archdiocese of Manila by the parish’s Rector, Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr, Cardinal Jose Advincula gave his approval to the new shrine in a decree dated May 10, 2023.

“We hereby decree that the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene – St John the Baptist Parish (Quiapo Church), be conferred the title of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene,” Advincula decreed.

The Quiapo Church

The parish’s new status was formally announced Wednesday during Mass presided over by Fr. Reginald Malicdem, the archdiocese’s vicar general.

In his homily, the priest said that for the parish church to be declared as an archdiocesan shrine is “long overdue”.

“But for us devotees, whether there is a formal declaration, or none is made, this church is a real shrine because here we feel the presence of God,” Malicdem said.

“In this place we experience

VATICAN—Attention

#CatholicTwitter and keyboard

warriors: The Vatican has released recommendations for how to better “love your neighbor” on social media.

The 20-page text, “Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media,” published on May 29, addresses the challenges Christians face in using social media.

Topics covered in the pastoral reflection include information overload, constant scrolling, not giving others one’s full attention, being an “influencer,” witnessing to Christ, “digital detox,” the need for silence, intentional listening, and building community in a fragmented world.

“One significant cognitive challenge of digital culture is the loss of our ability to think deeply and purposefully,” it warns. “We scan the surface and remain in the shallows, instead of deeply pondering realities.”

The Vatican Dicastery for Communication published the document, which was signed by its lay prefect Paolo Ruffini and its Argentine secretary Monsignor Lucio A. Ruiz, who cite many of Pope Francis’ speeches from past World Communications Days.

The text is “not meant to be precise ‘guidelines’ for pastoral ministry,” the dicastery clarified, but

seeks to promote a common reflection on how to foster meaningful and caring relationships on social media.

Robbing our attention

The Vatican’s pastoral reflection posits that social media’s constant demand for people’s attention “is similar to the process through which any temptation enters into the human heart and draws our attention away from the only word that is really meaningful and lifegiving, the Word of God.”

“Different websites, applications, and platforms are programmed to prey on our human desire for acknowledgment, and they are constantly fighting for people’s attention. Attention itself has become the most valuable asset and commodity,” it says.

“Instead of focusing on one issue at a time, our continuous partial attention rapidly passes from one topic to the other. In our ‘always on’ condition, we face the temptation to post instantly since we are physiologically hooked on digital stimulation, always wanting more content in endless scrolling and frustrated by any lack of updates.”

The text highlights the need for silence and for schools, families, and communities to carve out times for people to detach from digital devices.

It warns that space for “deliberate listening, attentiveness, and discernment of the truth is

becoming rare.”

“Without silence and the space to think slowly, deeply, and purposefully, we risk losing not only cognitive capacities but also the depth of our interactions, both human and divine.”

Social media pitfalls

The document raises red flags about “pitfalls to avoid” with social media, such as aggressive and negative speech shared under the “cloak of pseudonymity.”

“Along the ‘digital highways’ many people are hurt by division and hatred. We cannot ignore it. We cannot be just silent passersby. In order to humanize digital environments, we must not forget those who are ‘left behind.’ We can only see what is going on if we look from the perspective of the wounded man in the parable of the Good Samaritan,” it says.

The text notes how algorithms’ content personalization can reinforce people’s own opinions without exposure to other ideas, which at times can lead to “encouraging extreme behaviors.”

It also raises concerns about how social media companies treat people as commodities whose “profiles and data are sold.” The text underlines that social media “is not free: We are paying with minutes of our attention and bytes of our data.”

Courtney Mares/Catholic News Agency

We celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity this Sunday. In the second reading, we have the classic greeting of St. Paul to his communities, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). St. Paul who was a Jewish convert and came late to the faith had a very good grasp of the Holy Trinity. St. Paul assigned roles to each person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ is the Father’s grace or gift given to us out of the Father’s love for humanity as the gospel tells us (Jn. 3:16). The Holy Spirit is the one who unites and brings to fellowship the church so that the believers “agree with one another and live in peace” (2 Cor. 13:11).

Unity in Diversity

Reflections

The Most Holy Trinity is at the core or Christian doctrine. No matter how difficult it is to grasp intellectually, God revealed Himself to us in three ways: as Creator and maintainer of the universe, as Savior who became flesh, and as Spirit who though invisible animates the Church. There were many efforts to explain this mystery of God as Three-In-One . St. Patrick who brought the faith to Ireland used the most common plant, the shamrock with its threepointed leaves. What I love most is this explanation of an African chief who was listening to a missionary trying to explain the intricacies of the Trinity, and making no headway. The chief said, “ I get it. God is like the Sun, who sends the Light (Jesus), and who keeps us warm (the Holy Spirit). The three are always together and remain as One.” These are poor human attempts to explain the mystery of the Trinity, but these attempts give us a little glimpse into the mystery. God is a communion of persons.

In his call to Synodality, Pope Francis, Pope Francis invites the universal church to journey together towards

Daily

1) Communion,

2)Participation, and

3) Mission. The call to Synodality is a call to live the life of the Trinity. Because God is community, we in the church are also invited to live a life of communion with one another. We are invited to communion with God, with our co-believers, and even with those outside of the church. Communion is the mark of Christian disciples so that an early observer of the life of Christians remarked, “See, how they love one another.” A mark of communion is participation in the life of worship, service, and witness. As St. Paul encouraged his communities, each one is given a charism to serve the church. Each one is unique but each one contributes to building up the Body of Christ, which is the Church. It is not enough to keep God’s gift of salvation within the circles of the church. As Pope Francis repeats, the Church is not self-referential. The Church and each of its members have an obligation to share the faith “to all the world”. Each disciple is duty-bound to witness to his faith in love, service, and proclamation.

In the personal level, we can live the Trinitarian spirituality, like St. Paul. When we pray, we address God the Father in worship, and petition. We imitate Jesus who “went about doing good” and who showed the face of the Father as love. We seek the guidance of the Holy Trinity in every activity that we do so that we can further communion and unity.

Indeed, although we are many and each one is unique, we are called to be a unity in diversity, just like the Holy Trinity.

Readings

Readings: no. 353, p. 972 or no. 577, p. 1779

1st Reading: Tobit 1.1ad, 2a, 3, 17; 2.1-8++

Gospel: Mark 12.1-12

Readings: no. 354, p. 975

1st Reading: Tobit 2.9-14; 3.1++

Gospel: Mark 12.13-17

Readings: no. 355, p. 977

1st Reading: Tobit 3.1-6a, 7-10a,11-13, 15b-17a

Gospel: Mark 12.18-27

Readings: no. 356, p. 981

1st Reading: Tobit 4.20; 5.4; 6.10-11b; 7.1, 9-16; 8.1, 4-9++

Gospel: Mark 12.28-34

Readings: no. 357, p. 985

1st Reading: Tobit 11.5-15

Gospel: Mark 12.35-37

Readings: no. 358, p. 987

1st Reading: Tobit 12.1-20

Gospel: Mark 12.38-44

Photo courtesy of RCAM-AOC

Cardinal Jose Advincula delivers his homily during the ordination Mass of Fr. Florencio Unida at the Sagrada Familia Parish in Sta. Ana, Manila on May 18, 2023

Balanced Growth and Development

Onething is noticeable at the turn of the century. The interest in sports activity has dwindled at the grassroots level, and there is a sudden rise in professional sports such as basketball, both here and abroad. Sports is now likened as another entertainment venue, and only those who conform to the strict requirements can participate. Furthermore, participation in today’s sports is equated with the material benefits that the player gets from participation.

Gone were the days when sports is equated with academics in school, and education is not purely a mental activity but a physical one as well. This augers well with students who are born physically handicapped, and the rest of the growing children have their taste of flexing their muscles instead of focusing on purely mental exercises. Sports also comes with an added feature – the camaraderie and the unity that comes among those who are engaged in the activities.

Many are therefore happy to know that the BARMM has included sports in their focused area for the development of its constituents. The recently concluded BARMM sports fest was a good example for the education sector to give importance to events such as this.

Sports Fest (for those who have already forgotten what sports is all about) is a gathering where people, growing children in particular, compete or participate in sports, possibly for trophies or awards. It is where people can showcase their talents in different sporting events. It is not just a matter of showcasing talents, but it focuses on the value of sportsmanship.

The Cambridge dictionary defines “sportsmanship as the quality of showing fairness, respect, and generosity toward the opposing team or player and for the sport itself when competing “. A child steep in the value of sportsmanship has better chances of competing as an adult in this highly competitive world. The problem is that this value has less chances of being experienced in academics which many schools have devoted itself to nurturing. There is a need to present venues where this value can be practiced and caught as a lifetime skill.

Our congratulations to those who participated in the recent BARMM sportsfest!

A new feature in the life of Cotabatenos is the installation of traffic lights in strategic corners of the city. It helped in making traffic more bearable, but could the waiting time for lights to change be adjusted? The heat is really suffocating, and waiting for the lights to change is a challenge to those with short tempers. This also calls for a review of the traffic situation of the city where the streets are unfortunately too small compared to the vehicles (both 4 wheels and 2 wheels) using the streets. Most of these are subdivision roads which were enough for the use of its residents before. Now, even those roads are used heavily due to the influx of big and wide vehicles. Calling our Traffic Management Office please! MC

Thepresence of viable clean and renewable energy alternative notwithstanding, big financial institutions have “continued funding of coal and financing of new fossil gas projects which signals a detour away from renewable energy transition.”

This was the finding highlighted in the 2023 Fossil Fuel Divestment Scorecard released earlier this year by the energy advocacy and bank watchdog group Withdraw from Coal: End Fossil Fuels (WFC-ECC, formerly Withdraw from Coal).

According to the report, “As of March 2023, the total amount financed by Philippine banks for coal-related activities and projects reached USD 867.08 million for April 2022 to March 2023, with the majority through bonds underwriting of around USD 594 million while the rest are from loans. Meanwhile, financing for the expansion of new fossil gas projects registered USD 930 million for this scorecard period.”

Leading the list of banks that are into fossil fuel financing, per the report, are BPI, BDO, Metrobank, Security Bank, Philippine National Bank, and China Bank. BPI is the top coal financier; BDO is the top fossil gas financier.

In 2020, the International Trade Administration, a United States government agency, said in its official website that “the Philippine Government has stated it envisions the Philippines being energy self-sufficient, utilizing a combination of fossil fuels and renewable energy as solutions. About 43 GW of additional capacity will be required by 2040, and the country is clearly behind schedule in developing solutions. The current energy mix is composed of coal (47%), natural gas (22%), renewable energy (hydro, geothermal, wind, solar) (24%), and oil-based (6.2%) with current energy capacity at 23GW.”

Three years on, with the WFC-ECC 2023 Fossil Fuel Divestment Scorecard showing the continued huge financing by Philippine banks of coal-related activities and projects, we wonder if the picture of the Philippine energy mix has changed much.

A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism earlier this year quotes Matt Carpio, head of transaction advisory at the renewable energy-focused consultancy firm Climate Smart Ventures as saying, “Banks don’t like risks, they like certainty.” The report also cited a paper published by Justin Reginald Nery, a professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific, on the sustainable financing practices of banks which found that “While banks acknowledge the role they play as catalysts in mobilizing capital to finance the transition to renewable energy, merchant plants

BY NOW, top Malacanang officials would have read the story I wrote for Manila Standard about Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong issuing an affidavit, interceding for a Presidential Pardon for former ARMM Governor Zacaria A. Candao.

is published every Saturday by the Mindanao Cross Publishers, Inc., Sinsuat cor Quezon Avenues, Cotabato City. Tel Nos. (064) 4217161 and E-mail Address: mindanao.cross@gmail.com | mincross101@yahoo.com.ph

Fr. Rogelio Tabuada, OMI, Chief-Executive-Officer

Eva Kimpo - Tan, Editor-in-Chief

Edwin O. Fernandez, News Editor

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, Nash B. Maulana, Mark Anthony Tayco & Drema Quitayen Bravo

NORTH / SOUTH COTABATO CORRESPONDENTS

Williamor Magbanua, Romer “Bong” Sarmiento & Louige Allan Tutor

CARTOONIST

Lourd Jim Diazon

I wrote the story for three reasons namely: 1) to help shield the former ARMM Governor’s case from some “professional interests” in the uniformed community at his expense when he is past 70 years old, and in this day and age of officers, including a ranking police officer, arrested right in their turf of security powers; 2) to help clear that case of the cobwebs of misinformation for second generation leaders among kindred who may not have understood the case more properly, and hopefully to help dismiss angles of political motivation and the politics that drove wedge between and among their ancestors, as the descendant leaders move forward; and 3) the story is of public interest.

One such misimpression in the second reason has been that the case could have been left in the back burner of prosecution or could have been dismissed outright when then Secretary Simeon A. Datumanong of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in 2004. The fact however is that the Ombudsman, not the DoJ, procedurally prosecuted that case to the SandiganBayan Special Court, and not the ordinary fiscals (under DoJ) to any other of the usual courts. The case was prosecuted by the Ombudsman in 1994

From the day we first met after some two decades, Speaker Balindong had related to me that he had issued not only a political statement but a judicial statement for former Governor Candao, his co-revolutionary legal counsel for the Moro National Liberation Front, and latter for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Candao was groomed and absorbed as member of the MILF Central Committee.

The lawyers of the former ARMM Governor had

continue to be considered risky.”

From a layman’s standpoint, such a stance on the part of banks is not unexpected. They are “in it for the money,” so to speak. They want assurance that the money they put into any project pays dividends.

WFC-EFF has urged banks to abandon fossil gas and coal plans, develop and fully implement policies and mechanisms to reach climate ambitions, and intensify their renewable energy investments. And according to San Carlos Bishop Gerry Alminaza, Convenor of WFC-EFF, the last three years have seen the number of domestic banks having some level of restriction or announced positions on limiting or moving away from financing for coal rise from zero to six. Bishop Alminaza believes “This is the result of communities and civic movements’ unrelenting push to protect our people and our Common Home from any more damage from coal.”

In 2019, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a pastoral letter where they raised an alarm about the situation of the country’s environment as well as its growing dependence on fossil fuel-based energy especially coal which they noted “have been scientifically proven to be among the lead causes of the current climate degradation.” The bishops also agreed then not to allow the financial resources of Catholic institutions to be invested in favor of coal-fired power plants and mining companies, saying “Divestment from such investment portfolios must be encouraged.”

In 2022, in another pastoral statement, the bishops affirmed their commitment to divest from coal and other destructive industries. Catholic institutions, they said, should lead by example by promoting the use of renewable energy and other sustainable systems in their own facilities and communities, and urged all Church institutions holding the Church’s financial resources to move away from extractive industries, including logging and mining, with haste.

That challenge “to lead by example” continues, no doubt.

petitioned the Supreme Court for the reopening of the case for the respondents considering that one of them was already dead when the promulgation took place.

Speaker Pangalian Balindong has stated in his judicial affidavit that the only six-digit amount in the Philippine Currency involved in the original charge sheets, were withdrawn from the ARMM finance office under compelling circumstances and in pursuit of a legitimate cause in rebellion which made Candao eligible for a Presidential Pardon.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) covers Presidential amnesty on members of the MILF who may have committed political offenses in pursuit of legitimate cause of rebellion. The Presidential power of amnesty restores the inherent rights and privileges of the pardoned person.

A lawyer consulted by this reporter for this story, said the “ball is now in the Office of the Presidential Legal Adviser,” the 94-year old former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

It was not clear, however, whether any lawyer has already represented a clemency petition before the Office of the Presidential Legal Adviser.

Lawyer Jose Dalisay III had signified willingness to represent the case, having known Candao when Dalisay was editor of The Mindanao Cross in the 1990’s. Atty. Dalisay had relayed the information to a former media colleague who is close to the Candaos.

Before we go

Charlie Señase csenase@yahoo.com

THISsubject brings to mind the here and the hereafter, the temporal and the eternal or the salvation and damnation. Our earthly life, as we all know, revolves around sowing and reaping, that what we plant is what we will harvest.

Start within ourselves and among family members then with our neighbors in the community the essence of value formation by sowing the good seed through faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love for all, even detractors or those against us.

In faith, we are obliged to love our enemies and to pray for their spiritual transformation from being evil-possessed to God’s grace in righteousness. Thus, the biblical reminder that: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). And to be able to confront the enemy, we were advised to trust God’s awesome power and might by putting on the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).

With this faith intact in the midst of confusion, chaos and division, God’s peace, love and mercy await those who will willfully repent and reconcile with the King of kings and the LORD of lords.

Sowing the good seed is liken to a tree shall bear good fruit, for the Sower and his loved ones to enjoy unlike seeds sown in bad fate. For God Himself assures blessing to those who are blessed and cursing to those who are cursed depending on choices of individual freewill.

This week, we were saddened by a news report that North Korea government had to incarcerate a couple with their infant because the family was caught in

possession of the Holy Bible. This was confirmed by the US State Department that we have to pray for spiritual enlightenment.

Here at home, our lawmakers in Congress are in a quandary on the efficacy of laws on perjury when recent witnesses on crimes have to recant their earlier testimonies despite their being under-oath. Is lying underoath justified? Is this not perjury in contempt? This legal issue of concern in the country’s law-making body, prompted Senator Alan Peter Cayetano with the support of colleagues like Senators Miguel Zubiri and Francis Tolentino to initiate possible amendment to tighten existing laws on perjury. For it has been public knowledge that most if not all judicial testimonies by witnesses in court are anchored on “vested interest with hidden agenda.” It’s simply deception by clients that their defense lawyers will resort to circumventing the law to suit that vested interest.

Looking Back: The LORD has been so good to keep the just concluded regional sportsfest held in Cotabato City peaceful and orderly amid bomb and typhoon threats. Congratulations to the host city and all other public school division contending winners in the 5-day 2023 BARMMAA Sportsfest attended by some 7K delegates from the Bangsamoro Region. Medals and cash prizes were awarded to those who excel in various events with Cotabato City hailed as overall winner followed by Maguindanao-I, Maguindanao-II and Tawi-Tawi among others.

The May 25-29 BARMMAA could have been disrupted if it were not for the vigilance of citizens and security forces who uncovered four improvised explosive devices at a bus terminal in Barangay RH-l0. This also ensued the arrest of BIFF bomb expert by combined security forces at Barangay RH-10. The joint militarypolice operatives nabbed Kuntong Basilan, believed close subordinate of the late BIFF leader Umbra Kato. The suspect has pending court cases from multiple murder to arson that he has to suffer the consequence of the kind of seed sown. MC

Alynna from London

Oneof the perks of having the kind of business I had, my Ghia boutique, named after my Jr, Victoria, is meeting all types of girls, women, all sizes, all shade of skin and so forth. Engaging them in conversations that covers fashion, movies stars, songs, hobbies, travel and many more, from the serious to the mundane, but never about religion and politics. To this day, I meet our costumers and they express their wishes for me to start and open again. I wish I could. Circumstances like my age, the health protocols, security, all keep me from pursuing one of my passions all over again.

One particular costumer with whom I had a special attachment at that time was nursing student Sunshine Macalangcom. She often comes to the store after school, looking around, appreciating my merchandise, asking questions. She was a very insightful 18 year old. Pretty, tall, easy to talk with and with a warm smile, she won me over with her quiet charm that I willingly lent one of my special garment for her to vie for a muse title at NDU. Our friendship was further bound by our interest in cross-stitching.

Before she left for London after college at 21, she embroidered a set of tea cups for me. Four of which are still on my wall, and one I gave to Alyann , proof of her mother’s handiwork. I don’t usually part with my projects, but this one has to go back to Sunshine, to show how I treasured her work, her friendship that our bond will be deeper than before.

Last week, I had a special visitor coming all the way from London. She came with her cousins, petite Rhyan Armanda Usman and her super smart brother Rashed Ampha, both students of Notre Dame of Cotabato, residents of Cotabato City.

Alyanna Patrice Batoy, Sunshine’s eldest daughter came specially for the graduation of her cousin Rhyan Armanda. I am extremely joyful that the cousins and their father brought her to our humble

abode. What stroke me about her was her appreciation of our “vintage” house, the wooden walls , floors and stairs. The Usmans are showing her around Gen. Santos, Davao and the environs.

She thought it strange how graduations are conducted here. She noted: there are 3 hymns the students had to sing during the graduation - a National Hymn, a Regional Hymn and a city Hymn, not to mention the final hymn at the end. Furthermore, each student had to line up the stage for their diploma which does not happen in their schools in London.

Back to Sunshine, after so many years, we can appreciate FB for helping me meet up with one of the most friendly young ladies I have ever encountered. I am so delighted that Sunshine took efforts to send her daughter to me. Meeting Alyanna is stepping back in time, recalling the good old days of Cotabato City and my boutique. Where have all my years gone? At least at 80, someone stepped into the shoe of her mother, bringing the light only the sun can give. Thank you Sunshine, you are a joyful spot in the pages of my journal, as for Alyanna, be like the glow your mom brought to my life years ago.

Whatis polio?

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a disease caused by poliovirus. It causes mild or no symptoms in most people, but in some people it can cause paralysis or death.

There are three variations of poliovirus, called wild poliovirus type 1, 2 and 3 (WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3). Wild polio types 2 and 3 have been eradicated (no longer exist), and wild polio type 1 only exists in a few parts of the world. Polio type 1 is most likely to cause paralysis.

Is polio a virus or disease?

Polio is the name of the disease caused by poliovirus.

Is polio still alive today?

Yes, there are still cases of polio in some parts of the world today. While the number of people affected has been greatly reduced, international efforts to eradicate polio are still ongoing.

What are the types of polio?

Polio can affect your body differently depending on where the virus multiplies and attacks. Types of polio include:

•Abortive poliomyelitis causes flulike and intestinal symptoms. It only lasts a few days and doesn’t cause long-lasting issues.

•Non-paralytic poliomyelitis may cause aseptic meningitis, a swelling of the area around your brain. It causes more symptoms than abortive poliomyelitis and may require you to stay in the hospital.

•Paralytic poliomyelitis happens when poliovirus attacks your brain and spinal cord. It can paralyze the muscles that allow you to breathe, speak, swallow and move your limbs. Depending on what parts of your body are affected, it’s called spinal polio or bulbar polio. Spinal and bulbar polio can appear together (bulbospinal polio). Less than 1% of people with polio get paralytic poliomyelitis.

•Polioencephalitis is a rare type of polio that mostly affects infants. It causes

brain swelling.

•Post-polio syndrome is when symptoms of polio come back years after a polio infection.

How does polio affect my body?

Poliovirus gets into your body through your mouth or nose. It makes more copies of itself (reproduces) in your throat and gut (intestines). In some cases, it gets into your brain and spinal cord and causes paralysis. Paralysis can affect your arms, legs or the muscles that control your breathing.

Who is at risk for polio?

You’re most at risk for polio if you aren’t vaccinated and you:

• Live in or travel to an area where polio hasn’t been eliminated.

• Live in or travel to an area with poor sanitation.

• Are under 5.

• Are pregnant.

Can adults get polio?

Yes, adults can get polio. Many adults have immunity, either because they’re vaccinated or they’ve had polio. Adults who aren’t vaccinated can get polio if they’re exposed to poliovirus.

How common is polio?

Symptomatic polio is rare in many parts of the world, thanks to worldwide vaccination programs. In most countries, polio is considered eliminated — it’s no longer spread in that area. But when people stop getting vaccinated, polio can start to spread again.

Is polio eradicated?

Wild poliovirus types 2 and 3 are globally eradicated. That means there aren’t any naturally occurring cases anymore. Poliovirus type 1 has been eliminated in most countries but not eradicated worldwide. “Eliminated” means a disease is no longer spread in that area. There can still sometimes be cases and outbreaks, usually from international travel.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries that still have naturally occurring cases of polio.

The Essence of Clarity…

The last trimester for the classes of a local graduate school had just recently concluded putting a close to academic year 2022 to 2023.

During the just recently concluded academic year, I had the opportunity to teach two courses under the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program. This teaching experience provided me the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics pertaining to public policy making, program and project administration, and fiscal administration.

Interacting with students at the graduate school level is quite educational as the teacher gets to know the level of knowledge and skill that current employees of various public organizations (and private companies as well) on various aspects of governance and administration.

Having taught at the graduate schools for more than a decade, I noticed that one of the common weakness of students (even those with some length of work experience in the public sector) is on the aspect of analysis. Thus, during the school year (and in my other teaching assignments in previous year in a different University), I took time in emphasizing the need for clarity through in-depth and comprehensive analysis of situations, problems, and proposed solutions.

Clarity of a situation, problem, or issue is important for the analyst (and later, decision-makers) to know what they are dealing or what needs to be resolved. For example, if a certain province is hit by a typhoon the heavy rains and flooding would lead to destruction of public infrastructure, loss of livestock and other agricultural products, destroys private properties, and dislocates residents.

It is understandable that government agencies and local

government units would like to quickly respond to disasters, however, their response may not be very effective and equitable due to lack of clarity on the extent of impact and specific areas affected. Many times, equal amount of financial assistance (e.g. P10 million per municipality) is given even if the disaster-affected areas suffered in different ways and extent.

In the above case, it is important for the agency/ies or government unit/s that are tasked to respond to know the areas (cities, municipalities, and barangays), extent of damage, and peso-value of the losses incurred. With complete information, the disaster responders would be able to know which areas are the most affected, as well, as the extent of their respective damages. The areas that should be prioritized for disaster response would then be established.

Aside from knowing which areas should be prioritized, the responding entities would be able to provide what type of assistances )clearing of roads, temporary shelters, food and other relief items, and so on) are exactly needed by each affected area and the amount of funds that should be provided (if any).

One of the problems discussed in class was poverty incidence (much higher than national average) that afflicts a certain region of the country. The requirement was to find ways for addressing the said problem. Students were required to know where the poorest are (provinces and municipalities), identify potential solutions, and to evaluate which of the options would be best.

The exercise required examination of historical data and examination of various poverty-alleviation programs and projects. With this class requirement, the students learned how to be thorough in analyzing situation and determining what programs or projects (considering their effectiveness, financial feasibility, gestation period, social acceptability, sustainability, etc.) could be implemented to address the problem of poverty.

AR ket d R iven Danny Buenbrazo danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com

Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy franco1573victoria@gmail.com

Maranaw lass No. 2 in CPA exam...from P1

A 23-year-old Maranao lady from Barangay Moriato Diwan, Bayang town in Lanao del Sur placed number 2 in the recent licensure examination for Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Rayhanah Nuesto Decampong had obtained 89.33 percent.

She finished her baccalaureate degree

(Bachelor of Science in Accountancy) at De La Salle University in Manila.

The provincial government of Lanao del Sur headed by Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong and Bangsamoro Government Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim commended Decampong’s achievement for bringing pride and honor for the

region.

A son of a taxi driver in Baguio City, who graduated at University of Cordilleras topped the licensure examination. Alexander Salvador Centino Bandiolan Jr, 23, obtained 89.50 percent.

Another pride of Mindanao made it to the top 10. She is Shania Rose

Alfeche Lozana who graduated at Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City. She placed number 4 who gained 88.83 percent.

In an official report, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), said 2,239 have passed the board exam out of 7,376 examinees.

BARMM’s aeronautics board activated...from P1

The 3-year old Bangsamoro regional government now has a civil aeronautics board that business communities and local government units in the region support, officials said.

Paisalin Tago, transportation and communications minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said members of the newly-organized Civil Aeronautics Board of the Bangsamoro, or CABB, met last week and agreed to cooperate in carrying out its public service mandate.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines devolved early this year to the Ministry of Transportation

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses SALILAGUIA K. MASABPI and PINDA B. MASABPI, who died on February 27, 1990 and November 4, 1992, respectively, both in Brgy. Poblacion VII, Cotabato City, left a parcel of land Lot 6990, Buluan Pls-73, covered by OCT No. (V-334) P-149, containing an area of 97,785 sq. mts., more or less is subject of Extrajudicial Settlement of estate with Special Power of Attorney before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. No. 916; Page No. 9; Book No. XXIX; Series of 2023.

Iqbal orders probe of overage players in BARMMAA

MINISTER Mohaqher

Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTEBARMM) had initiated an investigation to check the age legitimacy of some players in the recently concluded BARMM athletic association meet in Cotabato City.

Iqbal told DXMS Radyo Bida that regional education office has been strict in checking requirements for qualified players.

Some parents turned to the social media in airing what they believed was inconsistency in some players’ height and physical appearance as against the other.

A confidential informant representing teachers in the region was dismayed over the obviously overaged players who she believed doesn’t fit in the elementary category.

She said the height and other physical attributes are evident as compared to young and small players from the other teams.

Iqbal said he haven’t received any formal complaint but

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is h ereby given that the late VICENTE PATEÑO and FELOMENA DOMINGUEZ, who died intestate at Kapayawi, Libungan, Cotabato on August 27, 1982 and November 17, 1972, respectively, left parcel of land Lot 56, Pls-357, situated in Nica-an, Midsayap, (now Kapayawi, Libungan), Cotabato, covered by OCT No. V-3049 with an area of 38, 281 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Celestino R. Rapacon as per Doc. No. 321; Page No. 66; Book No. I; Series of 1984. MC: May 20, 27 & June 3, 2023

them in.

and Communications-BARMM its functions in overseeing the airports in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte, in Jolo, Sulu and in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

“We are grateful to the national government, particularly to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., for helping make the BARMM government become a functional regional government,” Tago said.

Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, said the BARMM regional leadership aims to improve the airports in the autonomous region to boost the confidence of foreign investors, which is essential in trying to lure

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late DATU AKMAD (ADTING) ALAMADA, who died on July 8, 2006 in Cotabato City, left a parcel of land Lot No. 73, GSS-367, covered by OCT No. P-52254, Homestead No. 153397, situated in Maluao (now Igbaras), Pigcawayan, Cotabato, containing an area of 68,120 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Armando U. Lauban as per Doc. No. 03; Page No. 01; Book No. 13; Series of 2023.

MILG has various capacitybuilding programs for the police and local government units covering areas where airports in the autonomous region are located.

Tago, also a member of the 80-seat Bangsamoro interim parliament, said the creation of the CABB had the “full imprimatur” of the national government.

The regional government’s CABB has powers to investigate and address public complaints pertaining to airport operations.

“The board, in a way, can ensure efficiency of airports that are now under our control and management,” Tago said.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses LAURO and AVELINA CONCHA, who died on January 30, 1997 and March 5, 2003, respectively, both in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, left a parcel of land Lot 1-A-2-(A)-2-1-5-A, Psd12-002882, coverd by TCT No. 17876, situated in Kakar, Cotabato City, containing an area of 173 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate (partial) with waiver of shares before Notary Public Antonio F. Diocera as per Doc. No. 92; Page No. 19; Book No. CV; Series of 2023.

MC: May 27, Jun. 3 & 10, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late TOMAS YU, who died intestate on May 11, 2017 in Cotabato City, left a parcel of land Lot 5, Block 62, Psd-32741, covered by TCT No. T-3492, situated in Bo. Kakar, Municipality of Cotabato, containing an area of 416 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with absolute deed of sale before Notary Public Atty. Ricardo R. Arce, Jr. as per Doc. No. 448; Page No. 90; Book No. I; Series of 2023.

an investigation is in progress.

He maintained that the BARMMAA screening committee have been strict in selecting players to meet the requirement in the regional meet.

An informant emphasized that the essence of sportsmanship and the spirit of fairness can only be achieve if teachers themselves value honesty and integrity.

Meanwhile, MBHTE is preparing for the prenational qualifying meet on June 04-09 in Davao del Norte with about 340 athletes and officials participating.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses DIONISIO L. ASETRE and ANDREA C. ASETRE, both died in Cotabato City on June 13, 1981 and September 8, 1997, respectively, left parcels of land Lot 8, Block 6, (LRC) Psd-28701, TCT No. T-22426, area of 418 sq. mts. with (1) unit residential house and machineries; Lot 1, Block 24 (LRC) Psd 6212, TCT No. T-6447, area of 383 sq. mts.; and Lot 11 Block 8, (LRC) Psd 11122, TCT No. (T-3160) T-1106, area of 405 sq. mts., all in Matampay, Cotabato City; Lot 26, Block 16, (LRC) Pcs 10718, TCT No. (T33227) T-1239, area of 354 sq. mts. and Lot 24, Block 16, (LRC) Pcs 10718, T-1238 (T33225), area of 300 sq. mts., both in Landasan, Parang, Maguindanao; Lot 1, Block 31, (LRC) Pcs 2091, TCT No. T-13884, area of 411 sq. mts. and Lot 12-A, Block 31, (LRC) Pcs-2091, TCT No. T-13885 area of 100 sq. mts., both in Domalangcog, Municipality of Nuling; and Agricultural land covered by TCT No. CT-1239 CLOA 00060649 with an area of 50,000 sq. mts., more or less, located at Bagolibas, Aleosan, Cotabato are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Felipe Vicente A. Velasco as per Doc No. 103; Page 21; Book No. IX; Series of 2023.

MC: May 20, 27 & June 3, 2023

NOTICE

VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I AND BRANCH II will hold a public auction sale of all unredeemed and unrenewed items pawned from November 1 to December 31, 2022 on June 6, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., and VGM PAWNSHOP INC. II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City

Be There, Management

SUBASTA

Ang VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I ug BRANCH II magsubasta sa tanan nga wala lukata ug wala tubui gikan sa bulan sa Nobyembre 1 hangtud sa bulan sa Disyembre 31, 2022 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag karung Hunyo 6, 2023 sa VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., ug sa VGM PAWNSHOP BRANCH II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City.

MC: May 20, 27 & June 3, 2023 Ang Nagdumala

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of MARIA SOLEDAD I. PRESBITERO, a parcel of land Lot 1-F-8, Psd12-005160, located at Bo. Presbitero, Pigcawayan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-91413, containing an area of 2,651 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement and partition of estate with simultaneous confirmation of sale before Notary Public Atty. Romeo S. Subaldo as per Doc. No. 166; Page No. 35; Book No. LXXI; Series of 2021.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JOSE V. SANTOS, who died on November 21, 2010 in Davao City, a parcel of land Lot 8, Blk 31, Psd6212, situated in Bo. Matampay, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-21389, containing an area of 432 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver before Notary Public Ma. Lourdes Romelli D. Juliano as per Doc. No. 179; Page No. 37; Book No. IX; Series of 2018.

Another “mastermind” in Adiong ambush detained

By John Felix Unson

THE South Cotabato Provincial Police Office turned over this week to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region one of the two alleged masterminds in the February 17 ambush of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr., arrested in Surallah by a joint policeArmy team.

Brig Gen, Jimili Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office-12, told reporters last week Saidamen Baratumo was cornered by combined personnel of the South Cotabato Provincial Police, the Bangsamoro regional police and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Sitio Morales, Barangay Centrala, Surallah. Macaraeg said intelligence agents of PRO-12 and counterparts from the Bangsamoro region launched the operation that resulted in the arrest of Baratumo after his relatives in the faraway Maguing town in Lanao del Sur reported his presence in South

Cotabato province.

Local executives in Lanao del Sur had earlier said Baratumo and a cohort, Oscar Gandawali, together led the gunmen who attacked the convoy of Adiong at Barangay Bato-Bato in Maguing while en route to the town proper of Wao, Lanao del Sur.

Adiong, chairman of the Lanao del Sur peace and order council, and his companions were in separate vehicles when their ambushers, positioned at one side of the highway in Barangay Bato-Bato, shot them with M14 and M16 assault rifles.

Adiong and his office aide, Ali

Hospital cook, 3 others fall in PDEA-12 operations

Tabao, were both wounded in the attack that left four others, their backup vehicle driver Hassanor Pundaodaya and police escorts Staff Sergeant Mohammad Jurai Mipanga Adiong, Cpl. Johanie Lawi Sumandar and Cpl. Jalil Ampuan Cosain, dead. Gandawali, long wanted for highprofile cases pending in different courts, was killed on May 4 in a shootout with members of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police dispatched to peacefully arrest him in Barangay Pilimoknan in Maguing, but neutralized him instead when he pulled out a gun and opened fire.

STATE agents seized P129,200 worth of shabu from four dealers, among them a government hospital cook, who fell in separate entrapment operations from weekend to Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 said.

Aileen Lovitos, director of PDEA-12, said Wednesday the three suspects entrapped in Kidapawan City and another in Barangay San Jose are now detained charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The first to fall in the two operations were the cohorts Danilo Provida Continedo, 62, Dino Villarete Labastida, 46 and the 49 year-old Ariel Mago Continedo, arrested after selling to nonuniformed PDEA-12 agents P95,200 worth of shabu in a tradeoff on Saturday in Barangay Lower Manungol, Kidapawan City.

Lovitos said Ariel is a

cook in the Kidapawan City District Hospital.

Lovitos said another dealer, Edwin Reign Capote Sangatanan, 31, long under surveillance for his shabu distribution activities, was entrapped on Monday by PDEA-12 agents in Barangay San Jose in Koronadal City.

He was detained for having sold P34,000 worth of shabu to PDEA12 operatives disguised as drug dependents on Monday afternoon in Purok Riverside in Barangay San Jose, Koronadal City. Lovitos said units of the Police Regional Office-12 in the cities of Kidapawan and Koronadal supported the operations that resulted in the arrest of the four men.

She said the PDEA12 would have learned of the illegal activities of the suspects if not for the reports relayed by vigilant people aware of their wrongdoings.

John Felix Unson

Army foils future bombings after BIFF bomb expert falls

MILITARY authorities have prevented future bombings and attacks against off duty soldiers and police officers in its area of operation following the arrest of a Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

In a statement, Lt. Colonel Rowel Gavilanes, 90th Infantry Battalion commander, said joint police and military forces served the warrant of arrest against Kuntong Basilan, 49 years old, alias Tong Basilan or Michael Basilan in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City.

QUEEN HELENA. Ma. Gene Angeles is the Reyna Elena of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cotabato City. The cathedral parish also celebrated the birthday of Catholic Church - Pentecost Sunday

Cops clueless on fatal ambush of nurse, teacher

POLICE probers are still clueless on last week's fatal ambush of a government hospital nurse in nearby in Maguindanao del Norte and a teacher in North Cotabato.

The first to perish in the two separate atrocities was Joel Reformado, 36, a teacher, who was shot dead by ambushers near the Maulanan Elementary School in Barangay Malaunan in Pikit, Cotabato.

Lt. Col. John Miridel Calinga, Pikit police chief, said Reformado and co-teacher, Elton John Lapined, were riding a motorcycle when ambushed,

killing him instantly. Lapined was hurt and still in the hospital

The second ambush fatality on Friday is a 35-year-old nurse, Sarifa Kabagani Gulam of the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital in Pinaring in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte.

Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro police regional director, told reporters via Viber that Sultan Kudarat police are now trying to identify the gunmen behind the ambush.

"They just need time to uncover

the real picture of that incident," Nobleza said.

Gulam and her husband, Samir, 35, were on board their white Mitsubishi Montero, on their way home to San Pablo Village from her workplace when men with assault rifles opened fire as they got close in Barangay Ungap.

Lt. Col. Julhamin Asdani, chief of the Sultan Kudarat municipal police, said Friday Gulam died instantly from bullet wounds that she sustained in the nighttime attack that left her spouse badly wounded. John Felix Unson

4 die in North Cotabato series of gun attacks

KIDAPAWAN CITY

Four persons, including a public school teacher, were killed while one was wounded in separate shooting incidents in North Cotabato.

The first victim was identified as Joel Reformado, 36 yearold public teacher of Damalasak Elementary School, resident of Pikit, Cotabato.

He was gunned down on May 26, 2023 in front of Manaulanan Elementary School while driving his motorcycle with his coteacher back-riding with.

His companion, teacher Elton John Lapined, 37, also sustained gunshot wounds but survived the

incident.

Lt. Colonel John Miridel Calinga told Radyo Bida Kidapawan, said that police have persons of interest on the Reformado murder but could not divulge other specific details while probe is on going.

Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza and Cotabato Schools Division Superintendent Rommelito Flores, CESO V have condemned the attacks urging the police to solve the cases as soon as possible.

In Kabacan, North Cotabato, unidentified gunman shot laundry business operator Erwin Carino while in front of his home in Sunset Corner Abellera Streets, Barangay

Poblacion.

Investigation disclosed that prior to the shooting, a customer and Carino had an argument over alleged poor laundry services. He died before reaching the hospital.

On Monday, Ariel Wacan, a member of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), a resident of Pikit, North Cotabato was shot dead beside the highway.

Lt. Col Arniel Melocotones, Matalam police chief, said the perpetrators are being hunted down after a CCTV footages showed he carried out the gun attack.

In Barangay Ginatilan, Pikit, unidentified gunman

shot dead farmer Kindatu Madidis of Nangaan, Kabacan.

Despite the almost daily cases of gun attack in Kabacan, Pikit and Matalam, Capt. April Rose Soria said Cotabateños have nothing to worry.

No organized crime groups were behind the attacks, she said.

"Those incidents are murder, premeditated, but not necessarily orchestrated by an organized group, North Cotabato is still generally peaceful," she added.

Soria assured police are intensifying preventive measures to ensure safety of every Cotabateño. Louige Allan Tutor

“He did not resist arrest,” Gavilanes said of Basilan, a bomb-making expert of the Kagi Karialan faction of the outlawed Moro armed group allied with international terrorist organization.

“Basilan is facing double murder, multiple frustrated murder and arson charges before the local court,” Gavilanes said, adding Basilan was one of the trusted lieutenants of BIFF founding chair Ameril Umra Kato.

Major General Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, said Basilan was also linked to gun attacks against uniformed personnel of the military assigned in Maguindanao del Sur.

“Our information showed he is a gun-for-hire and participated in the harassment and landmine attack against our forces in Barangay Dungguan, Aleosan, North Cotabato; arson in Barnagays Bagolibas, also in Aleosan,” Rillera, also commander of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) said in a statement. (CIDG). Edwin O. Fernandez

2

POLICE authorities in Maguidnanao Sur and Sultan Kudarat are determining if the separate gun attacks against were related to the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Two village councilmen were separately killed on Sunday and Monday in Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat (SulKud) province and in Paglat, Maguindanao del Sur (MagSur), respectively.

Major Davis Dulawan, municipal police chief of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, identified the victim as Mahadi Khalipapa, village kagawad of Barangay Malingon, President Quirino town.

He said the couple was on board a motorbike driven by Khalilpapa when ambushed by still unidentified gunmen in Purok 6, Barnagay Malingon

on May 29.

The village official has died on the spot while his slightly injured wife is now undergoing medication in an undisclosed hospital here.

He said police probers are investigating further whether it was election related.

Dulawan has appealed to the people of Pres. Quirino to help the police identify the suspects behind the incident.

In Paglat, Maguindanao Sur, unidentified gunmen also shot dead a former village councilman Nasser Labay, 54, in Barangay Damalusay on Monday afternoon, according to town police chief Lt. Amer Hussein Disomangcop.

“He was tilling his farm lot and took a short breather when unidentified man arrived and shot him without provocation,” Disomangcop said. Edwin O. Fernandez

Photo courtesy of Karl John Daniel

“kagawads” slain in MagSur, SulKud