The Mindanao Cross | July 23, 2022 by The Mindanao Cross

Vol. LXXIV| No. 24 Cotabato City | Saturday, July 23, 2022 |8 Pages | P10.00

Solon pushes for Bangsamoro science hi-school

CHURCH / P4

Pope Francis warns of toxicity in social media

2 busted for P340K shabu in Cotabato City

The Mindanao Cross issuu.com/mindanaocross mindanao.cross@gmail.com

AWESOME SUNRISE. Mornings at Sibutu Island by the Celebes Sea to the East. Photo courtesy of Nash B. Maulana

BARMM HIRING 900 NEW TEACHERS FOR SY 2022-2023 By Edwin O. Fernandez

AS face to face classes in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) draw near, education officials announced the education ministry is needing about 900 new teachers. “We are hiring and this is urgent because classes are to open in August,” according to Minister Mohaqher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTEBARMM). He said Sulu will be needing

about 500 new teachers, both in elementary and high school. “Maguindanao is in need of 400 new teachers,” he said, adding that 200 will be for Maguindanao schools division 1 and the other for Maguindanao schools division 2.

Accompanying these requirements are additional arm chairs and additional classrooms. “We already have prepared for this, all what we need primarily are teachers, LET passer teachers who will serve beginning August when classes

Labor favors BARMM labor code

By John Felix Unson THE Bangsamoro Business Council is of the big Bangsamoro Business Council, optimistic of the approval soon of the said anything good for the Bangsamoro regional labor code pending in the region’s labor sector and their employers are good interim parliament. for all and is, thus worthy of support. A labor summit, in fact, was held in Many stakeholders have endorsed the Cotabato City recently where stakeholders proposed regional labor code pending in discussed its intricacies. the Bangsamoro parliament, partly Lawyer Harold Dimacisil, chairman meant to boost the socio-economic

Acting Health secretary visits BARMM, CRMC By Edwin O. Fernandez UNDERSECRETARY Maria Rosario S. the very reason why we are here, DOH Vergeire, Department of Health (DOH) main office is here, because we want to acting secretary on Tuesday assured help the region in the vaccination,” Sec. health officials in the Bangsamoro Vergeire who was barely a week in office Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told BARMM officials. of her all out support in the vaccination “From January this year to date, the campaign in the region and other flagship vaccination rate of other regions remain program of DOH for Bangsamoro. at steady level while BARMM, the “I told Chief Minister Ebrahim that vaccination rate is increasing, with

resumes. MBHTE-BARMM eyes 600,000 new enrollees this school year. BARMM, composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has a population

of 4,404,288 based on the 2020 census. MBHTE said this year’s school population is expected to be more than 2 million. Iqbal also noted that many volunteer teachers have refused serving this school

First ever town hall to rise in Sibutu By Nash B. Maulana

SIBUTU, Tawi-Tawi — A new Municipal Hall will rise here as Sibutu’s nucleus of modern-day development, since this island town was inadvertently excluded among others in the Sitangkai Group of Islands from Las Islas Filipinas in the Treaty of Paris of December 1898. Lady Mayor NurFitra Pajiji Ahaja said a cornerstone was laid over the weekend for the construction of a modern, yet culturally-significant Municipal Hall building in this town that is 595.57 nautical miles (1,103

Kilometers) southeast of Manila. Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebahim sent in interior and local government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo to represent the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in a memorandum of agreement with the Sibutu local government unit for the construction of its first Municipal Hall ever. Sinarimbo said the MOA will cover management and spending of a P 15 million

allocation fund for the construction of Sibutu municipal hall building in Barangay Taungoh, in accordance with BARMM architectural and engineering standards of local government centers. He said the funding requirements for these projects are drawn from the local government facilities development program of the Office of Chief Minister with the MILG working on the implementation. Ahaja, who hails from an educated family that speaks good English, said

DID YOU KNOW? Schools Safety Month July has been designated Schools Safety Month under Proclamation 115-A, series of 1966, signed by Ferdinand E. Marcos which identified each month of the year as safety month for a specific area of our everyday lives. It is under this proclamation that March, as we know, has been named Fire Prevention Month, April is Vacation Hazards Month, May as Land Transportation Month, June as Sea Transportation Safety Month and July as Schools Safety Month. This was in response to the “impelling and constant need for propagating safety consciousness among our people” every month of the year.

HISTORIC. Beneath the facade of the Sibutu Municipal Hall are historical facts rarely told of this town. This old building, constructed in 1960, used to be the Municipal Hall of Sitangkai. Nash B. Maulana

July 23, 2022

THE MINDANAO CROSS

Solon pushes for Bangsamoro science hi-school

AS part of support program to comprehensive, adequate and integrated high school science system for learners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a BTA member has filed a bill seeking to establish Bangsamoro Science High School (BSHS). The proposed bill No. 203 was authored by Bagnsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament Aida Silongan. She said her bill, to be known as the "Bangsamoro Science High School Act of 2022," will offer a free scholarship to qualified learners in the region who are interested in pursuing a career in science. Silongan, also minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), said the bill ensures that BSHS meets or exceeds the standards of the current Philippine

Science High School System and integrates values education to fortify the foundation of both science and faith in the lives of students in the region. She said the bill also seeks to increase awareness and interest among youth about science and technology related courses. Under the proposed bill, the BSHS will be established in Parang, Maguindanao. Once approved, it will establish a Board of Trustees chaired by the Minister of Science and Technology and

“We are not paid, only hardship,” ex-BIFF says SAYING they get nothing but hardship fighting a lost cause, 11 members of IS linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the government in Maguindanao Wednesday. The BIFF gunmen who belonged to Commander Bungos faction and formerly operating in North Cotabato and Maguindanao also turned in assault rifles and home-made cal. 50 barret rifles to Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong, 6th Infantry Division commander. Capulong, also commander of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), lauded the decision of 11 violent extremists and the support provided by the local governments of Maguindanao and North Cotabato

to the campaign to end violent extremism. “You made the right decision,” he told the former BIFF rebels. “Tell your companions out there to avail of the peace offer of the government,” he added in the vernacular. One of the surrenderors who introduced himself as “Samil,” aired a message to his colleagues. “Sa mga kasamahan ko, sana tularan niyo kami. Sana magbago na din kayo, wala naman tayong nakukuha diyan, wala tayong sweldo, pahirap lang sa pakikipaglaban na walang patutunguhan (Come out and follow our decision, hopefully you will surrender too, we get nothing there, we are not paid, only hardships in fighting a lost cause),” “Alias Samil”

said. “Here, we can live with our families peacefully, the future of our children is at least assured,” he added. He and 10 others voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s First Combat Battalion. Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Balintong, commander of 92nd Battalion commander, presented the surrenderees to Maj. Gen. Capulong during ceremonies held in Pigcalagan, Sultan Kudarat town Maguindanao. Mayor Juanito Totoy Agustin of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato vowed to extend aid to BIFF from his town who dropped his gun and rejoin the mainstream. Edwin O. Fernandez

Maguindanao town on state of calamity due to floods

THE municipal government of Datu Montawal in Maguindanao has placed the town under state of calamity due to floods that inundated all 11 villages in town affecting more than 5,200 families. Balumol Cadiding, Datu Montawal municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the floods also destroyed agricultural crops but the cost of damaged crops are yet to be determined. “Even the town center are under water when the Pulangi river overflowed due to weather disturbances upstream,” Cadiding said, referring to

frequent heavy downpour in Bukidnon and North Cotabato. He said the declaration would allow the LGU to use its calamity fund to cushion the impact of flooding and to help farmers recover from the losses on agricultural crops. In nearby Pagalungan town, all of its 12 barangays were affected by waist deep floods. Some people leave their homes and moved beside the highway but many still prefer to stay claiming when the rains stop, floods will recede. Ben Alip, Pagalungan municipal disaster officer, said the crop damaged,

based on municipal agriculture office report, was estimated at P20 million. In Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, officials said the flood waters have started to recede Tuesday, leaving thick mud in the flooded areas. Even the police office in Datu Salibo did not escape flooding as the station was inundated by up to knee level flood water. Aside from Datu Montawal, Pagalungan and Datu Salibo, the provincial disaster office also reported that floods also submerged low lying areas of Northern Kabuntalan, Sultan sa

Barongis, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Guindulungan, Talayan, Talitay and Datu Odin Sinsuat, all in Maguindanao. On Wednesday, Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led the distribution of relief goods to some 10,000 families affected by floods. Sinarimbo said more relief goods are already being prepared for other flooded areas in Maguindanao. Edwin O.

Fernandez

FOR BARMM’S HEALTH. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Kagi Murad” Ebrahim (right) welcomes Health OIC Sec. Maria Rosario Vergeire (center) and DOH Usec. Dr. Abdullah Dumama at the BARMM’s chief minister’s office. Sec. Vergeire said she came down to assure BARMM of her office all out support to vaccination program. Photo courtesy of BIO

BARMM hiring 900 new teachers for SY 2022-2023...from P1 year after the local government school board ceased providing them allowances. On Monday, July 25, the MBHTEBARMM will commenced the week-

long “Brigada Eskwela” to prepare all public schools for the long awaited face to face classes. “We are prepared and foremost in this preparation are health protocols

to ensure our school children are safe from COVID-19,” Iqbal said, adding that his office has already coordinated with the BARMM’s Ministry of Health.

co-chaired by the Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, with members including the President of Mindanao State University System, the Campus Director of BSHS, the President of the BSHS Alumni Association, and a private sector representative. Silongan file the bill Tuesday, July 19, at the resumption of regular sessions of BTA, the region’s law making body, held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in BARMM government center, Cotabato City.

Edwin O. Fernandez

PRO-12 members warned vs “politicking”

THE leadership of the Police Regional Office-12 warned on Thursday members of the force against engaging in partisan activities of local executives. Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, director of PRO12, said Thursday the policy is in compliance with the instruction of Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos for Philippine National Police personnel to distance themselves from political activities. “There is no problem with us adhering to that directive. We shall obey,” Tagum said. Abalos had earlier urged members of the PNP, the Armed Forces and other state lawenforcement agencies to avoid “influence peddling” in favor of politicians and patronage of any political group to preclude credibility problems. PRO-12 covers the cities of General Santos,

Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan and the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato. “Our personnel performed well, with utmost neutrality, in helping the Commission on Elections administer in Region 12 the May 9, 2022 synchronized local, provincial and national elections. That was something so consoling for us in PRO-12,” Tagum said. He said personnel of PRO-12 are reminded periodically of the contents of the PNP’s Ethical Doctrine and the Republic Acts 6713 and 3019. The RAs 6713 and 3019 are also known as Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law, respectively. John Felix

SITANGKAI, Tawi-Tawi — Bangsamoro regional officials over the weekend marked the ground under low-tide seawater for the construction of a market building on stilts here. The proposed structure will stand in the heart of Sitangkai’s Barangay Datu Baguinda Putih, a small multi-trading village by night and day, officials and residents have said. A new municipal hall building will also rise here, according to an official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Mayor Tiblan Ahaja for the construction of a government center building, and a wet market structure on stilts here. BARMM interior and local government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo noted that in Datu Baguinda Puti, a village under seawater, still exist, Sitangkai’s traditionally distinct enterprises of land-based goods, and on-boats-sell of fresh sea products. Sinarimbo said he was here on orders of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim to help bring local governance closer to the people in more substantial terms of development. Sibutu has made use

of the 60-year old town hall building of Sitangkai, leaving the mother municipality without a government center building during the last 14 years. The Municipality of Sitangkai Group of Islands (including Sibutu) was founded in August 1959 in the presidency of Carlos P. Garcia. The Washington Post reported in spring of 1901 that an “administrative error” had existed out of the Sibutu Group of Islands and the Cagayán de Sulu

Unson

Sitangkai’s first wet market building in ages

Republic of the Philippines Autonnomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parang, Maguindanao OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. 9048, notice is hereby served to the public that Al-Nashrim D. Usman has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from Jinhar to Al-Nashrim in the birth certificate of Jinhar Dandan Usman who was born on August 26, 1999 at Making, Parang, Maguindanao and whose parents are Abdul Muran Usman and Merijim Garcia Dandan. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than August 3, 2022. (Sgd.) KARIM O. OMAR, MPA Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Jul. 23 & 30, 2022

First ever town hall to...from P1 Barangay Taungoh will also serve as Sibutu’s long-term development site of infrastructure and utility support facilities to local governance and the community. She added that her family and constituents were profoundly grateful to BARMM Chief Minister Ebrahim, as well as to Minister Sinarimbo and the regional government in general, for the project. Journalists in the regional entourage said ecotourism potentials in what used to be called the Sitangkai Group of Islands (including Sibutu) were comparable to other known spots in the Philippine Tourism Map. The Sibutu Strait is of great geopolitical significance in terms of international trading by the ocean liners—but sadly the locals have not benefitted anything from it. Sibutu was created as a separate municipality from the Sitangkai Group of Islands under Muslim Mindanao Act 197. It serves as the sea passage for ocean liners plying the routes of Japan and China to and from Australia, steaming by day and night in fast navigation through this island town and the capital Bongao. The strait connects the Sulu Sea from the north (between Palawan and the northern tip of Zamboanga

Peninsula) to the Celebes Sea toward Australia in the south. Vice-Mayor Alshefa Pajiji said up to 150 international vessels pass safely through the Sibutu Strait to and from Australia in day-and-night navigation. Sinarimbo, a lawyer, said the historical case of the (islands') exclusion from the Treaty of Paris was one interesting lesson in constitutional law, that only in a 1901 supplemental pact to the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the U.S., has eventually covered the Sitangkai Group of Islands (including Sibutu) as part of Las Islas Filipinas, or the Philippine Islands. “Otherwise, it would have been a separate republic,” one visitor added in jest, drawing laughter at a dinner hosted by the Pajiji’s. Sinarimbo said a “sustainable engagement” is the essence of going down on the part of the regional governance to the level of the local government units, and feel the need of their constituent-communities— “so that none may feel being in a separate entity from the rest of the archipelago.” “And that mandate is already relegated to the Bangsamoro Region as an integral part of the national government, under one, united republic,” Sinarimbo said.

Acting Health secretary...from P1

that our congratulations,” she added as the BARMM officials and health frontliners applauded. “Because of your improving vaccination performance, I decided to come over here so other regions could emulate your feat,” Vergeire told officials led by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Health Minister Dr. Zul Qarnayn Abas. “This region will hopefully serve as model for our PinasLakas campaign to be launched on July 26,” she added. “We are here to further expand vaccination coverage of BARMM,” Sec. Vergeire said. She was accompanied by Usec. Abdullah Dumama Jr., OIC- Usec. Beverly Ho, Asec. Nestor Santiago Jr., and other DOH officials. The visit is part of the DOH itinerary to prepare for the increasing cases of COVID-19 and starts the campaign of the “PinasLakas Campaign” (Special vaccination days) DEED OF ADJUDICATION

THE MINDANAO CROSS

July 23, 2022

which aims to provide booster doses to 90 percent of the class A2 population. To date, BARMM has so far vaccinated more than P1.5 million Bangsamoro people. “I would like to congratulate Minister Abas, to the people of Bagnsamoro region, you are all in good hands with the kind of health professionals you have, they will not fail you,” Vergeire also said in the vernacular. Before her engagement with BARMM, Sec. Vergeire also lauded officials of Cotabato Regional and Medical Center that she first visited. Dr. Ishmael R. Dimaren, CRMC chief, welcomed Sec. Vergeire’s party and presented them the hospital facilities “I would like to congratulate Dr. Demaren and all women and men behind CRMC and your vaccination program against COVID-19,” Sec Vergeire said.

AFFIDAVIT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late VICENTE VALDEZ, who died on March 22, 1987 at Midsayap, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 949, Pls-519, situated in Blensong, Upi, Cotabato (now Maguindanao), containing an area of 191,652 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. P-35870 is subject of deed of adjudication before Notary Public A t t y. A g n e s R . D e Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. 1006; Page No. 1006; Book No. XXVII; Series of 2021.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late RAMON SINGCO ONG, who died on January 29, 1998, a parcel of land consisting of 48,255 square meters, more or less, situated in Libungan, North Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-58140 is subject of affidavit of self-adjudication of sole heir before Notary Public Atty. Ysnaira A. Ibrahim as per Doc. 258; Page No. 34; Book No. IX; Series of 2020.

MC: Jul. 23, 30 & Aug. 6, 2022

COOPERATIVE BANK OF COTABATO Name of Bank PUBLISHED BALANCED SHEET (Head Office and Branches) As of June 30, 2022 CONTROL PROOFLIST

Account Code

Current Quarter Previous Quarter

Cash and Cash Items

108000000000000000

36,047,941.60

31,001,844.41

Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

105150000000000000

28,032,326.45

28,412,483.05

Due from Other Banks

105200000000000000

604,846,877.32

583,397,690.24

Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss

112000000000000000

0.00

Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net

195200000000000000

156,263.29

Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net

195250000000000000

606,311.77

Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net

195300000000000000

0.00

Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net

195350000000000000

0.00

Loans and Receivables - Net

195400000000000000

1,735,322,846.86

1,654,361,923.26

Other Financial Assets

148000000000000000

10,302,876.41

10,310,501.41

Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures- 195452500000000000 Net

0.00

Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net

195500500000000000

131,638,326.43

132,090,714.93

Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net

195501000000000000

1,905,593.37

1,444,260.30

Non-Current Assets Held for Sale

150150000000000000

3,478,288.56

Other Assets-Net

152000000000000000

134,633,368.91

138,178,157.88

Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Phil. branch 155250000000000000 of a foreign bank)

0.00

TOTAL ASSETS

100000000000000000

2,686,971,020.97

2,583,438,439.10

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss

208000000000000000

0.00

Deposit Liabilities

215000000000000000

1,577,842,793.58

1,534,689,059.09

Due to Other Banks

220050000000000000

0.00

Bills Payable

220100000000000000

350,556,708.31

295,347,025.78

Bonds Payable-Net

295201500000000000

0.00

Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net

295202000000000000

0.00

Redeemable Preferred Shares

220250000000000000

1,000,000.00

Special Time Deposit

220300000000000000

0.00

Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

230350000000000000

0.00

Other Financial Liabilities

240050000000000000

8,977,162.12

8,123,966.50

Other Liabilities

240100000000000000

112,760,264.32

136,614,078.48

Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch 230850000000000000 of a foreign bank)

0.00

TOTAL LIABILITIES

200000000000000000

2,051,136,928.33

1,975,774,129.85

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

300000000000000000

635,834,092.64

607,664,309.25

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

905000000000000000

2,686,971,020.97

2,583,438,439.10

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

400000000000000000

5,696.00

Gross total loan portfolio (TLP)

499020000000000000

2,085,847,866.18

2,002,357,190.89

Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP

499300000000000000

333,916,814.74

332,611,163.60

a. Gross NPLs

499100500000000000

362,743,740.17

350,105,485.53

b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%)

499150500000000000

17.39%

17.48%

c. Net NPLs

499101000000000000

45,272,453.30

40,410,924.74

d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%)

499151000000000000

2.17%

2.02%

e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%)

499151500000000000

96.63%

99.40%

f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP 499152000000000000 to gross NPLs (%)

92.05%

95.00%

499650500500000000

20.89

20.41

499650501000000000

20.31

19.87

499650501500000000

0.00

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Non-Performing Loans (NPLs)

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%)

1/ Common Equality Tier 1 is only applicapble to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

I hereby certify that all matters set forthin this Publish Balance Sheet are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief. JUDE A. DACUTAN - ACCOUNTING MANAGER Autorized Signatory

ROLLY R. DELA CRUZ - PRESIDENT Autorized Signatory

List of Members of the Board of Directors & Officers As of June 30, 2022 Name of Directors/Officers

Position

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: JELITO GARCIA JUGAS ERMA ROILO ODAL GIL DAGOC PASTOLERO RICARDO MAGAT CARMONA MARIANITA DEFENSOR SOTERNO JONATHAN MERCADO VIAJANTE CECILLE DIZON COLIMA

Chairman Vice - Chairman Independent Director Independent Director Director Director Director

Officers with rank of senior vice president and above (or equivalent ranks): ROLLY RASCON DELA CRUZ

President

Officers below the rank of senior vice president: EDELLE GASATAN HERNANDEZ LIEZL LANAJA MAGBANUA JESUS SANTURDIO JAUOD DEFER RANO VILLARUZ

Vice President for Branch Operations Vice President for Credit Management Vice President for Administrative Services Vice President for Finance Certified Correct: JELITO GARCIA JUGAS Chairman

MC: July 23, 2022

Pope Francis warns of toxicity in social media

VATICAN— Pope Francis has called on Catholics to counter toxicity in social media, and to engage in dialogue and education to help deal with “lies and misinformation.” In a message published by the Holy See on July 18, the Holy Father also called for the inclusion of currently excluded communities into “the digital space.” Pope Francis addressed this message to the participants of the 2022 World Congress of SIGNIS in Seoul, South Korea. The event is held every four years, and the 2022 Congress explores the theme of “Peace in the Digital World” both on site and digitally from August 16-19. SIGNIS is the World Catholic Association for Communication, an organization whose mission is to “help transform cultures in the light of the Gospel by promoting human dignity, justice and reconciliation.” In his message, Pope Francis said, “the use of digital media, especially social media, has raised a number of serious ethical issues that call for wise and discerning judgment on the part of communicators and all those concerned with the authenticity and quality of human relationships.” “Sometimes and in some places, media sites have become places of toxicity, hate speech and fake news,” the pope added. He encouraged Catholic communicators to persevere in efforts to counter these, “paying particular attention to the need to assist people, especially young people, to develop a sound critical sense, learning to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, good from evil, and to appreciate the importance of working for justice, social concord, and respect for our common home.” The pope also drew attention to “the many communities in our world that remain excluded from the digital space, making digital inclusion a priority.” In doing so, Catholic communicators provide a

“significant contribution to the spread of a culture of peace grounded in the truth of the Gospel,” the Holy Father added. Pope Francis prayed that “the story of Saint Andrew Kim and his companions two hundred years ago [may] confirm you in your own efforts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the language of contemporary communications media.” AC Wimmer/Catholic News

Agency

Pope Francis. Photo courtesy of Vatican Media

Kidnapped priest killed in Nigeria, another escapes FOLLOWING the kidnapping of two Catholic priests in central Nigeria last week, the local diocese announced July 19 that one of the two priests had escaped, while the other was “brutally” killed. Father John Mark Cheitnum and Father Denatus Cleopas were abducted at around 5:45 p.m. on July 15 at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, in the town of Lere in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State. Cleopas escaped with his life, but Cheitnum was “brutally killed” by his abductors on the day of his kidnapping, a letter from the diocese of Kafanchan says. His burial is scheduled for July 21 at the Kafanchan’s Cathedral of St. Peter. Father Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, who serves as the chancellor of the diocese of Kafanchan, told CNA last week that the diocese is

July 23, 2022

THE MINDANAO CROSS

asking people to pray for the quick and safe release of the kidnapped priests. He said in his July 19 letter that Cheitnum’s body had been found that day. The diocese did not say who the kidnappers were thought to be, or whether any ransom was demanded for the two priests. Cheitnum served as chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the Jema’a Local Government Area, as well as coordinator of CAN in Southern Kaduna. At least seven Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria in the month of July, according to data compiled by Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic nonprofit organization. Kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria have multiplied in recent years, a situation that has prompted Church leaders to express

serious concern about the security of their members and to call on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens. Nigeria’s Kaduna state, in particular, has been described as “an epicenter of kidnapping and violence by nonstate actors” in Nigeria by the UKbased human rights foundation Christian Solidarity Worldwide. A 2022 report by the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom cites six attacks against churches in Kaduna State in 2021. Fulani herders, most of whom are Muslim, have had increasing conflict with largely Christian farmers over limited natural resources in Kaduna and other states in recent years, and the radical Islamist group Boko Haram continues to threaten safety in Nigeria’s north. Jonah McKeown/

Catholic News Agency

Petition and Intercession

rayer is rooted in and so we ask that God reign relationship. Whatever over us, “Thy kingdom come” kind of prayer, whether means that His will is done it be worship, petition, here on earth as in heaven. thanksgiving, or contrition; We ask for our daily bread. group or individual, we pray Our dependence on God’s eflections because of our relationship providence is from day to day, with God. We pray because we even from moment to moment. Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC acknowledge that God is and The air that we breathe to tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com that we are. We can say that sustain our life comes from the tendency to pray is rooted in our very being. A person God. Our life belongs to God. “Forgive us our sins,” for we may say that he is not religious, that he does not belong are not perfect people. Although we may have committed to any organized religion, but still that person somehow ourselves to be faithful to God’s laws, yet human as we are addresses God in certain moments of his life. Warriors who we fall. And so, we ask for God’s infinite mercy. This also have been through the thick of fighting , say that soldiers presupposes that we forgive and become merciful to those wounded in the battlefields call on their mothers and on who have offended us. We also ask to be delivered from the God. On the other hand, when one is blessed and feels test. This means that there are always temptations that we thankful, whom does he address? I dare say that prayer confront daily, but we have to persevere until the end. The is instinctive. great test is the moment of death and the final judgement. In this Sunday’s readings we are shown two kinds of Our whole life is directed towards this final showdown for prayers. The first reading from the book of Genesis showed our souls, and we pray that we will be faithful until the end. Abraham bargaining with God (Genesis 18:20-22). As God’s The Lord’s prayer is a petitionary prayer. It is a prayer of friend Abraham was on familiar terms with God. He was humility. interceding for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The St. Paul’s letter in the second reading, tells us that it inhabitants of these twin cities were noted for their sinful was Christ who bargained for us. He paid for our sins with ways and God wanted to destroy the cities. Abraham’s his own death on the cross. “God gave you life with Christ. brother Lot and his family were living there and so Abraham He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of our debts” did not want the cities destroyed. Abraham showed his (Col. 2:12-14) The father cannot refuse His own Son’s prayer skill in bargaining for the life of his friends. Bargaining is of intercession and petition, “Father, forgive them for they a skill respected in the market places of Middle Eastern do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). culture and Abraham was an expert. He asked God not to It cannot be denied that in the gospels Jesus would from destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah if there were fifty time to time go off by Himself to pray in the early morning or righteous people there. He went down to 40, 30, 20, and in the evening. Why would He do that? Why do friends talk finally 10 righteous people. God agreed not to destroy the to each other? Why do lovers want to talk endlessly with cities if there were ten righteous people there because of each other? Why do children seek their parents’ presence? If Abraham’s prayer of intercession. This shows the power of God is our source of life, our parent, our friend, our loved one, the prayer of intercession. wouldn’t we seek His presence and listen to Him? Sometimes The gospel narrates Jesus teaching his disciples how to we wonder if our prayers are being heard since we cannot see pray. He taught them the Our Father (Luke 11:1-13). We or hear God. Somehow, if through prayer we have become can easily notice the different petitions in the Lord’s prayer. more sensitive to God’s ways we will know our prayers are It is an acknowledgement that everything belongs to God answered, in God’s own way and in His time. MC

Archbishop Lagdameo laid to rest in Jaro MANY gathered at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in the central Philippine province of Iloilo on Tuesday to honor a man who lived a life of service. Those who knew Archbishop Emeritus Angel Lagdameo of Jaro came from near and far to pay their last respects. Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, attended the funeral to personally convey Pope Francis’ “heartfelt condolences” to the local Catholic community. Recalling the archbishop’s long years of priestly and episcopal ministry, he said the pope prays that Christ “will grant him the reward of his labors, and welcome his soul into the serenity and joy in heaven.” “To all who mourn the late archbishop’s passing, the Holy Father imparts his blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation in the Lord,” the nuncio said as he read a letter from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state. In his homily, Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones of Cebu delivered a touching reflection on the life, the ministry and character of the late archbishop. “Looking back at his life, he was truly a faithful companion to those entrusted to him by God,” said Billones, who served as Lagdameo’s secretary

when he was a priest of Jaro. The 53-year old bishop highlighted the archbishop’s “divine gift of humor” that characterized his “angelic ministry”. Humor, according to him, is of “sacred origin” because “it consoles, heals and generates hope”. “This is the legacy of our beloved angel gifted to us through accompaniment by laughter towards faith, reconciliation, and transformation,” Billones said. “In accompaniment he made people smile and in that eruption of laughter, the movement of the fire of the spirit triggers transformation for mission,” he added. Archbishop Lagdameo, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, died at the age of 81 in Iloilo City on July 8. He was Jaro’s archbishop for 17 years until his retirement in 2018. After the Mass, his cremated remains, contained in a wooden urn, were interred in a mausoleum inside the cathedral. “May his death give us the needed strength and courage to face the challenges and trials that may come our way,” Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro said. CBCP

News

Archbishop Emeritus Angel Lagdameo of Jaro was laid to rest on Tuesday, July 19, following a funeral Mass at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral Photo courtesy of Vincent Valencia

Meditation Fr. Rock Saniel, OMI rocksaniel@gmail.com

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings:

Genesis 18.20-32; Colossians 2.12-14; Luke 11.1-13 “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” These powerful words of Jesus speak to us about trust. We simply have to ask the Lord for everything, and when we seek and knock, it shall be given, opened and revealed for our way. Just like the “Lord’s Prayer,” faith in the Lord is what we need each day. We do not know what comes “next.” We do not know everything and often we come into situations where we have nothing more to give, nowhere else to go, almost at the brink of losing and giving up. So, to trust the Lord is our ultimate weapon. It is our only lifeline that never ceases to behold our imagination. Simply, trust. Prayer: Lord, help me rely always in your loving grace. Amen.

THE MINDANAO CROSS

July 23, 2022 EDITORIAL

Working on food security

n its editorial entitled “Helping the poor get access to food” last July 19, 2022, the Business Mirror, highlighted the result of the 2 day meeting of Finance Chiefs from many of the worlds’ economies. This is the agreement to act on the problem of global food insecurity. The world economy is worried on the prospect of not reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goal of “zero hunger” or an end to hunger in all forms by the year 2030. It further mentioned the joint report of several UN agencies that we are only 8 years away from the target date of 2030, but the “distance to reach the targets is growing wider each year”. It has reported that “almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020. This is 112 million more than the previous year, reflecting the inflation in consumer food prices stemming from the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.” In the Philippines, in Mindanao in particular, the economic impact of the pandemic is at its worst, even when the pandemic appears to have been defeated by the steps taken to control it especially the vaccination program. Apparently, the increase in unemployment have fueled the countries displacement of its regular sources of food. This in turn increased the cost of food, which everyone finds to lead to higher food price inflation. Unfortunately, the Philippine agriculture sector seem to be preoccupied with other problems other that food security. Instead of giving a boost to farmers who are the primary producer of food, the agencies concerned are more into importation of food products, especially rice, and other staple commodities. It should be more concerned on increasing the production of fish, meat, and vegetables which have a steady supply before the pandemic. We should not wait for the example we find in the US where the Associated Press reports that more Americans are turning to handout to feed their families. Prices there have increased due to problems with supply chains, higher transport costs, and even the Russia-Ukraine war (the two happens to be big producers of agricultural products and cereals). The Philippines may have felt these world wide problems with food security, in the increasing prices of diesel and gasoline, which have the ability to push up prices of commodities, especially food. But this is only starting to take effect, and the government still have time to cushion the negative effect. This is the time to have a firm food security plan. The past pandemic showed how Filipinos can unite to fight hunger and malnutrition with novel moves such as community pantries, or neighborhood food packages for the poor. This can be started at a small scale in the BARMM especially, since the communities it covers already have the small agricultural plots (and gardens) that can make food security at the lowest levels work for all. It only needs more information, instead of flooding the market with cheap noodles which everyone knows have low nutrition content. Anyone ready to start a food bank in their barangay? Calling all “plantitas and plantitos”! MC +

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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, Charlie C. Señase Nash B. Maulana

NORTH / SOUTH COTABATO CORRESPONDENTS Williamor Magbanua, Romer “Bong” Sarmiento, Roel Osano & Drema Quitayen Bravo CARTOONIST Lourd Jim Diazon

Member: PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Entered as Second Class Mail at Cotabato City Post Office under Permit No. 91-01 Dated August 15, 1991.

recent news dispatch from Peace and Equity Foundation, a social development organization focused on positive change in poor Filipino households by investing in social enterprises, reported that it inked last month a memorandum of agreement with two other Mindanao-based organizations, the Mindanao Development Authority and Ateneo de Davao University’s Mindanao Renewable Energy Research and Development Center, to establish the Mindanao Renewable Energy Advocacy and Coordination Hub or Mindanao REACH. “The Mindanao REACH seeks to establish a platform for multi-stakeholder, grassroots-based strategies of promoting renewable energy in poor communities which are underserved and unserved by traditional grid-based electricity,” the news dispatch said. “The hub will also advocate measures that would promote RE to revise fossil-dependence on Mindanao, electrify off-grid communities to attain inclusive growth and provide access to information relating to RE,” it added. It was noted in the news dispatch that a 2021 report by the Department of Energy shows that 31% of the installed energy capacity in Mindanao as of 2020 comes from renewable energy sources. This shows a drop of close to half from the 65% share of clean power in the total power generation mix of the island in 2011. Coal-fired plants have since become the leading source of power, a phenomenon that is true as well in most of the country. Data show that the share of coal in installed generating capacity by source in the country has increased from 5,963 MW in 2015 to 9,313 MW in 2019. It has a 39.2 % share in the country’s power source, with renewable sources – geothermal, hydroelectric, wind and solar – taking up 29.3 %, oil-based 15.9%, and natural gas 14.5%, according to environmental activist organization Greenpeace Philippines. “While the rest of the world is moving away from fossil fuels and shifting to clean renewable energy, the Philippines is moving in the opposite direction, largely because of pro-coal government policies that allow energy companies to keep building coal facilities despite their documented negative impacts on the climate, the environment and communities,” Khevin Yu, a campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines, was quoted in an online ASEAN Post report as saying.

AMA shipwrights in Tawi-Tawi are leastknown gifted and precisionists, doing the craft without a naval architectural plan. Yes, they build launch vessels, the traditional kumpit unaided by any technical supervision by the better schooled theoretically in this field. Sama master launch vessel builders Jubail Muyong from Sibutu and Haji Musa Malabong from Sitangkai have built most of the kumpit vessels plying the routes of Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-TawiTawi, transporting goods and passengers for decades. Indeed, kumpit has become a part of every life in the islands—be they Muslims, Christians or of the Indigenous People’s (IP) Tribes. Back home, launch and ship-sized vessels in Cotabato City of the 1960’s through the 70’s were also built without naval architecture plans by known master shipwrights named Sumampao Maido and Gaerlan Lauban. Among Maido’s heirs Hadji Teng and Ben Sumampao had briefly continued the trade but the age of concrete roads has overtaken the old coast-to-coast sea transport industry in the region. Former Sibutu Island town Mayor Kuyoh Pajiji says, “The plan is drawn imaginarily in their head.” Pajiji who owns a kumpit, says the locally-built wooden-hulled vessel can be as large in terms of load capacity as to carry 150 tons (150,000 kilograms) of gross buoyant weight. Literally bent to wavelength and amplitude, the keel frames of a kumpit are of curvature form, and in symmetry of shape and weight to maintain a centroid balance from yard to dock—to its sail of clear waters and rough seas. Square formed nails clip the wooden hulls onto lower and upper frame members. G.I. customized bolts and nuts fix the joints along the frame-keel members, to the bow. Pajiji says the ship builders in his hometown build kumpit that is as big as one measuring 27 ft. in

Looking forward to a clean energy-powered Mindanao

Thinking Aloud Carlos C. Bautista caloyb@gmail.com

Coal is considered to be the cheapest fuel option, but it is also believed by climate and environment activists to be the most polluting one. Greenpeace estimates that coal plant emissions could kill up to 2,400 Filipinos per year due to stroke, heart disease and other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The establishment of Mindanao REACH is no doubt a move in the right direction, bringing back the use of clean energy in Mindanao. Being highly dependent on agriculture, the island needs a more stable climatic situation than what it has been continuously experiencing in recent years – extended periods of drought, more intense typhoons, and other similar phenomena blamed on climate change and global warming to which carbon emissions from coal and oil-based power generators are primary contributors. The PEF position is correct: the need for energy sufficiency cannot be addressed separately from the need for food sufficiency. If the push for more clean energy is to be successful, there is one move that needs to be done: advocating for laws and government policies that would enable it just as laws have enabled the domination of coal-fired power plants in the power generation mix with subsidies, financial incentives and other forms of support to the industry. The island is not lacking in clean energy sources be it geothermal, hydro-electric, wind or solar. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region alone, according to a 2021 report, thirteen sites have already been identified by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) as potential sources of renewable energy,. These include waterfalls inside the five BARMM provinces, and two potential solar farm sites in the island province of Taw-tawi. With MINDA as part of Mindanao REACH, encouraging other Mindanao local government units to look into the identification and development of clean energy source potentials would be a good move. MC

Sama shipwrights are leastknown gifted, precisionists

Penlight

Nash B. Maulana

nash.penlight@gmail.com

width by 80 ft. in length, from bow to stern. The shipwrights in Bongao say building a 65to-80 ft. long kumpit can run up to one year, and to cost up to P 15 million, including a 500 HP keelfixed Cummins, an England-Made engine with an F-R hydraulic propelling transmission assembled in Malaysia. According to a member of the Philippine National Historical Commission, shipwrights from Tawi-Tawi— Muyong from Sibutu, Malabong from Sitangkai and Ustadz Amer Turoganan, a Maranao-born Sama from Bongao—built the balangay boat replica in 41 days, from April to June in 2009 with no naval architectural plans, but based solely on knowledge and skills passed from one generation to another. Debris of the balangay boat, an archaeological find on display at the Butuan Museum, has been carbondated 320 A.D. when exhumed along the shores of Masao (Butuan) in the 1970s. The modern-day balangay boat made in TawiTawi was previously set out by Filipino artists on a four-year voyage to Sabah, Malaysia from an undisclosed part of the Southern Philippines, and to other parts of Southeast Asia across the waters of the Indo-Pacific Region. A balangay boat measures three meters wide and 10 meters long from bow to stern, according to Ustadz Amer Turoganan, the shipwright in Bongao. MC

6 Endurance in Righteousness True to Form Charlie Señase

csenase@yahoo.com

ERSEVERANCE in the midst of worldly temptations that lead many to perdition, for the world is embroiled in the lust of the flesh and of the eyes for material gain and selfaggrandizement. Imagine the PH government has to deploy over 22,000 cops in Manila to ensure that peace and order are in place in the first State of the Nation Address of President Marcos, Jr. scheduled on Monday (July 25). The PNP has imposed strict enforcement a four-day gun ban before and after the SONA to ensure safety of the President and all in attendance. The security preparation could have been lesson-learned from what happened to the former Japanese Prime Minister who was recently killed in broad daylight while on a speaking engagement. Wickedness of men as shown by the day-to-day news bordering on corruption and violence is rooted on love of self and money. Without regard if others suffer or die, provided they gain much money or ill-gotten wealth. These are so-called gun-for hire, drug lords or peddlers of illegal drugs, scammers, extortionists, terrorists, extremists, leftists, thieves and manipulators who change truth for their lies. With the country’s village polls underway, a barangay chair of Pikit in North Cotabato was killed this week while on his way home aboard a motorbike at the national highway. Police identified the victim as Makabual Barangay Chair Jalandoni Matalam but they have yet to name the suspect and motive behind the attack. Even the Comelec official of Albarka in Basilan was not spared when killed in an ambush on Tuesday in Isabela City. Police said the death Ruayna Sayadi was the third case of an election officer slain in Basilan, a province of the Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region. Despite government’s thrust to attain peace, development and harmonious coexistence the world still thrives in chaos, disorder and life’s burden and complexities, man-made or otherwise. Why? As anti-dote to crime, Senator Raffy Tulfo, who condemned this week the killing of a man and the raping of his fiance by still unnamed suspect voluntarily offer a P1-million cash reward to whoever can facilitate the arrest of the felon or felons. As this developed, the senator’s brother Erwin, who is the new social welfare secretary has just made an anticorruption initiative when he removed some 1.3 million families in the DSWD’s list of 4Ps beneficiaries. It was meant to allow and accept new recipients to avail of the P15 million amount saved from those considered no longer suffering from “extreme poverty.” The DSWD 4Ps is a national government’s poverty reduction program that has successfully graduated 1.3-family beneficiaries said Secretary Tulfo, an erstwhile ABS-CBN reportorial protegee. What’s all about Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s sudden confinement that he blamed on pneumonia and not COVID infection. His health condition came to light after news broke out that the Commission on Audit has caused the delay of 14 DOT projects worth P1.6 trillion. Since last year COA’s flag on huge amount of foreign loans had delayed project implementation forcing government to pay P128.42 million in additional interest fees. The DOT, however, alleged the delay was due to “Procurement, financial and technical concerns.” Can we totally eradicate corruption and lawless violence? That people everywhere come and go yet these problems keep haunting us to no end. A reminder to all and sundry, especially those at the helm that chart the course of history. That we may plan all our ways but allow God Almighty to direct our steps onward to that missionvision. For as always His eyes are on the righteous who continue praying for Peace, Provision, Protection and People. MC

stronger studentry having tested ourselves. Each of us have become a stronger job applicant as we have overcome the unexpected and persevered. We are stronger persons finding the ingenuity he tuff of ife and resolution we did not Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy know we had. franco1573victoria@gmail.com We are a special little over two years ago, we all graduating class. We have woke up to the news that churches had to deal with Covid 19 and its global shall be closed, schools shall be impact, and have shown great fortitude, closed, business establishments shall not resilience and perseverance. Despite the operate, curfew and lockdowns shall be shift in our academic and personal lives, imposed, stay at home was the order of we all have made it to this the day many lost their jobs, all else were Commencement exercise. This alone held abeyance . Panic gripped us all. We deserves another certificate or a trophy worried about how to put food on the table, that says “I am a survivor “ indeed you how to heal our sick or nourish our souls. are, and so are all of us. Your parents, your People we know, People we love were friends, we all live to see a new dawn, a dying, frontlines, health workers, doctors promise of better things to come. By the and nurses, pharmacies all but collapse grace and mercy of God, we overcame the from the gravity of work load in the trials and tests with glowing colors. hospitals and other health centers. Day Be warned though, The spokesperson after day, the numbers of those infected of DOH and currently appointed OIC of the and dying were mounting. same, Dr. Rosario Vergiere , advised that At school, we scrambled to find we should learn to live with the virus. means for the graduating students to move Sticking to the protocols of washing hands, on without the formal commencement staying at home, avoid crowds, take care exercises they and their parents looked of your immune system, wear your masks. forward to. Our next problem was how to Even as we speak, mutations of Omicron continue our mission of educating minds continues. It spreads faster, vaccine and nurturing the seeds in a situation resistant , highly contagious. Health beyond our control. officials in the US named it Ninja virus. Adding to our woes, nature’s Using of masks were once again strictly wrath could not be abated. Typhoons, being implemented. floods, volcanic eruptionsearthquakes, We wish you all the best the world landslides, continue to lash at our beloved can offer as you enter a new phase of your country. These days, we are faced with lives. Go on, dream of making this world skyrocketing prices and a never ending a better place than how you found it. But war brought about by Russia upon its dreams do not come true just because you neighbors particularly Ukraine. dream them. Its hard work that make In between these unfortunate things happen, its hard work that creates happenings, happily we had a merry dreams. distraction of the election campaign, colourful, vicious frustrating but Las Hermanas at 40. A newly entertaining nevertheless. Frustrating refurbished Las Hermanas welcomed because despite the huge crowds at the guests at its celebration of their 40th pink rallies, their numbers did not register Anniversary. Dedicated to the lovely at the polls. daughters of Madam Linda Yap, Las No doubt our lives were disrupted. Hermanas survived through the many We have completed school in the midst trials, like many other restaurants. We of a global pandemic. No doubt there wish Madam Linda many years more of was added stress. No doubt there was giving us dining treats different from the uncertainty. Despite these challenges others. The place is still where it used to or more accurately because of them, be, conveniently located along Sinsuat we have become stronger. We are a Ave., fronting Mang Inasal. MC

July 23, 2022

THE MINDANAO CROSS

grocery store; they are also part of routine hospital care, scientific research, and play key roles in treatment for diseases like cancer. Where To Start: ealth orner You will need to get a Pharmacy degree. This fairly A reprint BEST HEALTH DEGREES.COM standard degree program will octor” or “Nurse” will always prepare you for necessary be a good quick answer to the state licensing. question “What do you want to 3. Physical Therapist be when you grow up?” But these days, What They Do: both professions rely on a large web of Physical Therapists help people recover supporting roles that require shorter, more physical mobility, find relief from pain, and interesting, or more lucrative educational prevent long-term injury from accidents investments. Healthcare is growing at a or disabilities. This very hands-on world faster rate than most areas of our economy, of medical care requires people specialized and its job market has kept pace. in working with different age groups and Advances in biomedical technology conditions. Given the wide-open nature of require people trained to put them into the profession, many PTs also function as practice. A more efficient healthcare system social workers, teachers, or in related roles. requires people with solid backgrounds in Where To Start: administration and technology. An aging Physical Therapy careers begin after US population has renewed interest in taking a graduate degree in PT. Many many different kinds of therapy. These students continue on to take a Doctor in ten careers are at the core of tomorrow’s Physical Therapy (DPT), but this is not a healthcare. requirement for most PT jobs. 1. Physician’s Assistant 4. Healthcare Information Technology What They Do: Manager As demands on doctors increase, the What They Do: Physician’s Assistant is becoming a better Someone has to take care of all the way for patients to receive timely care. The records, billing, and data collection that PA is trained to offer diagnostic advice, goes into proper healthcare. The technology provide some preventative healthcare, and that has recently made this more effective even take a look a clinical testing results. requires people with backgrounds in As we continue to see a shortage of trained computer science and IT administration. MDs in the US, the PA is quickly becoming Biomedical scientists are also becoming part of frontline medical care. more reliant on people with the skills to Where To Start: help them interpret data and create models Obtaining the education and license of diseases and healthcare populations. that will qualify you as a PA typically Where To Start: takes about two years. Many people start Healthcare IT degrees now exist at as registered nurses or paramedics before the undergraduate and graduate level. shifting into PA and outpatient care, but Many people find access to this quickly entry requirements vary for most programs. growing industry by adding a Healthcare The PA track is perfect for someone with Administration degree to IT experience. basic medical training looking for a step 5. Occupational Therapist up the ladder. What They Do: 2. Pharmacist Occupational Therapists work with What They Do: people that need help learning or recovering A Pharmacist is mainly trained to routine skills. Whether as a result of prepare and distribute drugs prescribed disability or injury, people often need help by doctors. It sounds fairly simple, but learning to cope with stress, perform tasks, Pharmacy remains an attractive career or find their place in the job market. In track because our options for various drugs helping people live satisfying lives, OTs and treatments are constantly changing. often find their jobs blended with social Pharmacists do not just staff desks your work, mental health, and education. MC

Top ten best health care careers for the future (part 1)

“D

Hurdling a milestone

How to Make Your Customers Happy (and your business Profitable)

Market Driven

Danny Buenbrazo

danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com

here are dozens of sayings about the importance of customers to a business enterprise and why you need to keep them satisfied. The most popular sayings always include: “the customer is always right” Billionaire Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation said: Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” Another legend in the retail industry, Sam Walton of Walmart chain of stores, clearly emphasized the importance and power of consumers with this quote: “There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” Walton recognizes that a consumer has the power of choice, especially now that markets are very competitive, and he or she can easily elect to patronize another firm. Ken Blanchard, a well-known author of business and management books pointed out the higher bar in treating customers when he said: “Just having satisfied customers isn’t good enough anymore. If you really want a booming business, you have to create raving fans.” How can we keep customers happy and loyal to our business establishment? While the nature of businesses could differ in terms of their products and services or means of providing goods and services to the public, there are commonalities in the way that they should treat and deal with their clients. First, ensure that customers are provided good, if not excellent, quality of product and services. The expectation of customers on the quality of product may vary due to different market segments but perhaps the best

guidance is to meet, if not exceed, expectations. Probably the best gauge for measuring this is to determine if customers are getting equal or higher value for their money. Second, ensure that customers are safe in your premises and with your product or service. Safety could come in several forms; establishments may need to have security guards to ensure the physical safety of customers or health measures to lessen danger of infection from COVID-19 or other diseases. Restaurants and similar establishments must be very careful with the ingredients they use, should strictly follow health standards, and keep their premises clean. Third, the business establishment can extend discount to their customers. Giving discounts to customers could proceed from different reasons. Firms give out discounts on products that may be expiring soon or about to go out of fashion. Discounts could also be provided during lean season or to dispose of slow-moving products. Finally, discounts may also be given as a mere expression of gratitude by the company to their customers. Fourth, to ensure that the products and services of the company and the way that it does business are always aligned with the requirements and expectations of their customers. Now there are a wider variety of ways to obtain customer feedback aside from the traditional “suggestion box.” Establishments can use social media, email, and other means to reach out to clients and seek their experiences, impressions, and suggestions with the company, its product or services, and way of doing business. Fifth, a company should always assess its products and service as well as its business processes that deals with customers. During a lunch at a popular fast-food, I noticed how company quality officers checked on their service and food quality to ensure they are on top of the game. MC

Labor favors BARMM labor code ...from P1 goals of the Mindanao peace process. Cross-section support for the measure, proposed by Bangsamoro parliament member Romeo Sema, started last week after a regional labor summit here. Among the endorsers of

the proposed Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code, or BLEC, are Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Party-list group, the Chinese business groups and elected officials in five provinces in the autonomous region ---

CONLUCK PAWNSHOP - SK PENDATUN CONLUCK PAWNSHOP - BONIFACIO & CONLUCK PAWNSHOP - ORC BRANCH COTABATO CITY

ay nagpapatalastas na mayroon silang Subasta ng mga hindi natutubos na mga sanla. Ang mga ito ay isinangla magmula Hunyo 2021 hanggang Hulyo 2021. Ang Subasta ay sa Hulyo 30, 2022 sa ganap na ika 8:00 ng umaga hanggang ika 4:00 ng hapon sa nasabing lugar. MC: May 16 & 23, 2021

Notice for Auction

Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Main, Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Roman Vilo Branch, SK Pendatun Branch, Mabini Branch, ORC Branch, Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Branch I, II, III, IV in Parang Branch, Carmen Branch, Pikit 1 and Pikit 2 Branch, Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Dalican 1, Dalican 2, Shariff Aguak Branch of Cotabato City, Parang North Cotabato, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Shariff Aguak announce the Auction Sale of all unredeemed pledges contracted July 1-31, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Main 4J Bldg. Corner Jose Lim Sr., and Don Roman Vilo St. Cotabato City. Auction sale will be on July 27, 2022.

Patalastas ng Subasta Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Main, Agencia de OroPawnshop Inc. Roman Vilo Branch, SK Pendatun Branch, Mabini Branch, ORC Branch, Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Branch I, II, III, IV sa Parang Branch, Carmen Branch, Pikit 1 and Pikit 2 Branch, Agencia de Oro Pawnshop Inc. Dalican 1, Dalican 2, Shariff Aguak Branch of Cotabato City, Parang North Cotabato, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Shariff Aguak ay nagpapatalastas na mayroon silang Subasta ng mga hindi natutubos na mga sangla. Ang mga ito ay isinangla noong Hulyo 1-31, 2021 sa alas 8:00 ng umaga hanggang alas 4:00 ng hapon sa Agencia de Oro Jose Lim Branch, corner Jose Lim Sr, and Don Roman Vilo St., Cotabato City sa Hulyo 27, 2022.

MC: July 16 & 23, 2022

Republic of the Philippines Midsayap, Cotabato LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Ma. Mervina Linaban Villegas has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from Mervina to Ma. Mervina in the certificate of live birth of Mervina Belotendos Linaban who was born on September 3, 1973 at Midsayap, Cotabato and whose parents are Tito F. Linaban and Rosalina S. Belotendos Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office of Municipal Civil Registrar, Midsayap, Cotabato. (Sgd.) NORAH B. CABUGWASON Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Jul. 16 & 23, 2022

THE MINDANAO CROSS

July 23, 2022

Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Big Chinese business blocs in BARMM had also expressed favor for the enactment into regional edicts, by the BARMM parliament, of the BLEC and a separate but related measure, the region’s

proposed Magna Carta for Informal Economy. Representatives from the International Labur Organization, an agency of the United Nations, also participated in last week’s two-day Bangsamoro regional summit here. Khalid Hassan, ILO’s country director

NOTICE

VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I AND BRANCH II will hold a public auction sale of all unredeemed and unrenewed items pawned from January to February 2022 on August 10, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., and VGM PAWNSHOP INC. II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City

SUBASTA

Be There, Management

Ang VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I ug BRANCH II magsubasta sa tanan nga wala lukata ug wala tubui gikan sa bulan sa Enero hangtud sa bulan sa Pebrero 2022 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag karung Agosto 10, 2022 sa VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., ug sa VGM PAWNSHOP BRANCH II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City. Ang Nagdumala

MC: July 9, 16 & 23, 2022

RANEN PAWNSHOP MAIN, BRANCH I, II & III Don Rufino Alonzo & Don Tomas Martinez Sts, Cot. City

Notice for Auction

All unredeemed articles pledged on December 2021 will be auctioned on August 1, 2022 at 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Please come before August 1, 2022 for renewal or redemption.

Patalastas ng Subasta Lahat ng sangla noong Disyembre 2021 ay ipagbibili ng Subasta sa Agosto 1, 2022 sa ganap na ika-8:30 ng umaga hanggang ika-4:30 ng hapon. Kung maari ay pumunta bago ang Agosto 1, 2022 para sa pagbayad ng tubo o pagtubos. MC: July 16 & 23, 2022

SULTAN PAWNSHOP

corner Bonifacio and Don Rufino Alonzo Sts., Cotabato City

Ang Sultan Pawnshop ay nagpapatalastas na mayroon silang Subasta ng mga hindi natutubos na mga sangla. Ang mga ito ay isinangla noong Disyembre 2021. Ang subasta ay sa Agosto 01, 2022 sa ganap na ika-8:00 ng mga umaga hanggang ika-4:30 ng hapon sa nasabing lugar. MC: July 16 & 23, 2022

in the Philippines, then spoke about the need for prevention of child labor, a serious problem besetting many countries. Jennylyn Aguinaldo, EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late HONORATO A. JAUOD who died intestate on May 19, 2021 in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot No. 587, Ts-264, situated in Poblacion, Pikit, Cotabato, containing an area of 728 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. P-60330 is subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of sale before Notary Public Roland D. Jungco as per Doc. No. 237; Page No. 49; Book No. 152; Series of 2022. MC: Jul. 9, 16 & 23, 2022

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALBINO CORPUZ and JULIANA CARAMAT, who died on September 15, 1996 and January 24, 1995, respectively at Malamote, Kabacan, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot 2285E, (LRC) Psd-160182, situated in Kabacan, Cotabato, containing an area of 25,000 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-35607 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with deed of donation before Notary Public Atty. Joeyfer Samaniego Villanueva as per Doc. 344; Page No. 70; Book No. XVII; Series of 2022.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LEONITO TURCINO FLORENTINO and BASILISA HIMAYA FLORENTINO, who died on June 05, 1987 and September 28, 2009 at Ta g b a c , M a g p e t a n d Paruayan, Alamada, Cotabato, respectively , a parcel of land Lot No. 614, Pls-866, situated in Magca-alam, Magpet, Cotabato, containing an area of 96,017 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. T-70023 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Jonah E. Denaque-Mineses as per Doc. 142; Page No. 30; Book No. 69; Series of 2022.

Republic of the Philippines Region XII Pikit, Cotabato OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

Republic of the Philippines Magpet, North Cotabato OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

MC: Jul. 23, 30 & Aug. 6, 2022

Republic of the Philippines Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parang, Maguindanao OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

Republic of the Philippines Province of Cotabato City of Kidapawan LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048/10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that Dionisio F. Esconar, Jr. has filed with this office a petition for change of sex from Male to Female in the birth certificate of Judimher Asid Esconar who was born on June 29, 2005 at Making, Parang, Maguindanao and whose parents are Dionisio Jr. Fantonial Esconar and Meriam Akmad Asid. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than July 28, 2022.

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Norman S. Perez has filed with this office a petition for correction of clerical errors of the date of birth from December 25, 1963 to November 3, 1963, sex from Female to Male, and change of first name from Norma to Norman in the certificate of live birth of Norma Soberano Perez who was born on 03 November 1963 at Kidapawan, Cotabato to parents Wilfredo G. Perez and Jovita J. Soberano. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office.

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1, Guidelines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 904810172), a notice is hereby served to the public that Ma. Antonietta L. Elusfa has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from Maria Antonia Tomasa to Ma. Antonietta in the certificate of live birth of Maria Antonia Tomasa Baaya Lapined who was born May 10, 1970 at Pikit, Cotabato, to parents Alejandro Lapined and Dominica Baaya. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than August 5, 2022.

(Sgd.) KARIM O. OMAR, MPA Municipal Civil Registrar

(Sgd.) MERCEDES P. TOLENTINO Acting City Civil Registrar

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ESTELITA J. DIERO, who died intestate on November 24, 2016 in Cotabato City, parcels of land Lot 10, Block 1, Psd12-0022408 and Lot 11, Block 1, Psd-12-0022408 situated in Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City, covered by TCT Nos. T-38534 & T-38672, respectively, containing the total area of 234 sq. mts., more or less, are the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Atty. Abbyr Ahmad Nul as per Doc. No. 288; Page No. 58; Book No. XXXIV; Series of 2022.

MC: Jul. 16 & 23, 2022

MC: Jul. 16, 23 & 30, 2022

an ILO project manager, and senior officials of the Ministry of Labor and Employment-BARMM were also present in the labor summit. The ILO and the MOLEBARMM together launched after the summit a training manual on child labor, a compilation of laws, policies and programs intended to address the issue. The manual was produced with the support of the Japanese government. Participants to last week’s regional labor summit here told reporters they shall help push forward the joint anti-child labor efforts of the MOLEBARMM government and the ILO. The ILO and MOLEBARMM shall cooperate in activating a pool of “focal persons” who shall oversee various programs meant to end for good child labor in the Bangsamoro region.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

(Sgd.) MICHAEL C. TOBIAS, MPA Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Jul. 16 & 23, 2022

MC: Jul. 23, 30 & Aug. 6, 2022

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In compliance with the publication requirement of OCRG Memorandum Circular 2013-1 Guidelines in the implementation of Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Leonora J. Billano has filed with this office a petition for change of date of birth from March 31, 1970 to April 1, 1970 in the certificate of live birth of Leonora Tabuco Gimenez who was born on March 31, 1970 at Magpet, Cotabato and whose parents are Leonedis Esmedina Gimenez and Gregoria Adolfo Tabuco. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than August 8, 2022. (Sgd.) CHONA M. PROVIDA, MPA Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Jul. 23 & 30, 2022

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Spouses BERNARDO OLMOGUEZ and ANGELITA ARBOLADA who died on March 25, 1998 and October 8, 2000, respectively at Alamada, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 2745-B, Csd12-000814-D, situated at Gumaga, Libungan, Cotabato, containing an area of 19,272 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. P-50180 is subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of absolute sale of a portion before Notary Public Noel A. Gretare, CPA as per Doc. No. 6,198; Page No. 78; Book No. XCI; Series of 2022.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ERNESTO G. LIM, who died on May 31, 2004 in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 2, Block 37, Psd04-00305, situated in Barrio Donare, Caloocan City, Metro Manila, containing an area of 301 sq. mts., more or less, is subject of deed of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Omar Yasser C. Sema as per Doc. No. 463; Page No. 93; Book No. XXII; Series of 2021.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LOURDES TELLORO and DEMETRIO TELLORO, SR. who died on December 01, 2009 and August 16, 2013, respectively at Midsayap, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 157, PLS-620, situated in Milaya, Midsayap now Cawilihan, Aleosan, Cotabato, containing an area of 29,163 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. CT-11042 is subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 423; Page No. 85; Book No. CCXCV; Series of 2022.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANSARI ABDULSATAR ZAILON who died intestate on March 15, 2022 in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 7, Block 10, Psd(ARMM)-0005, situated in Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, containing an area of 200 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-34212 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Amira S. Pagayao, CPA as per Doc. No. 350; Page No. 70; Book No. X; Series of 2022.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the l a t e C A R M E L I TA C . CHENG, who died on January 2, 2005 in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 1, Block 16, Pcs-3679, situated in Colina, Cotabato, Cotabato, containing an area of 321 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-19158 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of share before Notary Public Roy P. Acelar as per Doc. No. 425; Page No. 85; Book No. LII; Series of 2018.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late EDUARDO HEIZON, who died on September 5, 1998 in Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot No. 420, Pls-357, situated in Nicaan (now Pacao), Alamada, Cotabato, containing an area of 48,560 sq. mts., more or less, covered by TCT No. T-43045 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 146; Page No. 30; Book No. CCC; Series of 2022.

MC: Jul. 9, 16 & 23, 2022

MC: Jul. 16, 23 & 30, 2022

MC: Jul. 9, 16 & 23, 2022

MC: Jul. 16, 23 & 30, 2022

July 23, 2022

THE MINDANAO CROSS

2 busted for P340K shabu in Cotabato City

STATE agents seized P340,000 worth of shabu from two peddlers operating in a slum area in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here on Thursday morning.

Karim Mamalangkay and Mastura Mamantal are now clamped down in a detention facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Rogelito Daculla, director of PDEABARMM, told reporters

the duo was arrested after selling P340,000 worth of shabu to non-uniformed agents in a sting in Purok Masagana, Barangay Rosary Heights 10.

The entrapment operation that led to their arrest was laid with the help of the Cotabato City Police Office, according to Daculla. John Felix Unson

Sitangkai’s first wet market building in ages...from P2 which had remained “vassals of Spain” “while the rest of Las Islas Filipinas (Philippine Islands) were ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris on December 1898.” “However, these groups of islands were formally ceded to the U.S, upon the ratification of the Treaty of Washington on March 23, 1901.” A waterway passage of transit vessels for passengers and dry

goods and for small fishing boats here is colloquially called the “Venice of the South.” It is formed partly by bilateral stone-reclaimed commercial lots in an island market that is otherwise underwater, allyear round. The proposed structure will be the first wet market building in ages for this fishing enclave of the minority Sama and Badjau

communities in the south, which do not go well along with the priceregulated wet markets run by the Taosugs and other tribes. A former official said the Taosugs simply did not want the unstable pricing of the boat-based sea products sellers (mostly Sama and Badjao), as opposed to those of conventional markets. Nash B.

Maulana

Soldiers kill BIFF bomb-maker

THE military is anticipating possible retaliation by a local terror group for the death of its bomb-maker in a clash with soldiers in Maguindanao province Monday, July 18. Personnel of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion shot dead Ramos Amilil of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in an encounter before dawn Monday in Barangay Duguengen in Shariff Saydona town in Maguindanao, the Army's 6th Infantry Division said in a statement Tuesday. Amilil's companions immediately scampered away when they sensed that Army reinforcements were closing in. The soldiers who neutralized Amilil were dispatched to the area by the Army’s 6th Infantry

Division before midnight Monday after villagers reported the presence of heavily-armed BIFF members, as if bracing for an attack. Soldiers found beside Amilil's cadaver M14 and M16 assault rifles. Amilil, known in the local communities as expert in fabrication of improvised explosive devices, was tagged, along with some 20 others, in recent bombings in central Mindanao. Units of 6th ID are guarding against possible attacks by the BIFF to avenge the death of Amilil. The group, operating in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, has a reputation for venting ire on nonmilitary targets over losses in clashes with pursuing government forces. John Felix Unson

Manhunt on vs killers of Pikit village exec

VENICE-LIKE WATERWAY. Sitangkai’s Boats Market Waterway will be replaced by BARMM with a permanent structure of a wet market on stilts. Nash B. Maulana

4 Abus in Basilan up for rehabilitation

THE provincial government of Basilan will reintegrate soon to the local communities the four Abu Sayyaf terrorists who surrendered in the province Monday, July 18. Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region said the four men, whose real names were withheld pending relocation to safe areas, yielded through the joint intercession of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion,

the Basilan provincial police and emissaries of local officials. Cabalona said the office of Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman shall extend to them essential humanitarian interventions. The four men turned in their rifles before renouncing their membership with the group during a simple rite at the headquarters of the 18th IB in Lamitan City. Cabalona said the 18th IB and the 101st Infantry Brigade were key

players in convincing the four men to return to the fold of law. More than 300 Abu Sayyaf members in Basilan, a componentprovince of the Bangsamoro region, bolted from the group in batches in the past five years. They have all been reintroduced to mainstream society by local executives, among them Gov. Jim Salliman and Congressman Mujiv Hataman. John

Felix Unson

P500K imported cigars seized in Zampen

AUTHORITIES seized P393,160 worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate operations in the Zamboanga peninsula early this week, the Police Regional Office-9 said. Combined policemen and personnel of the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion together foiled an attempt

by two men to deliver eight boxes of cigarettes from Indonesia to a buyer somewhere in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte. The contraband, worth P143,160, was immediately seized from the duo, the siblings Arnold and Ruben Billones, and turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Another police team also confiscated P250,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes inside a tinted van flagged down at a checkpoint along a stretch of a highway in Barangay Dacanay in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay. The driver of the van carrying the imported cigarettes, Zaldy Bada

Abdul, a resident of Parang town in Sulu, failed to present customs and tariff clearances for the merchandise inside his vehicle. The 10 boxes of cigarettes that Abdul was to bring to a buyer in Siay is now in the custody of the municipal police. John Felix Unson

No closure still on duo’s ambush in GenSan

GEN. SANTOS CITY — Probers are still unsure if the fatal ambush here on Sunday, July 17, of two residents of Tupi, South Cotabato is related to the spate of killings in that municipality early on. More than 10 residents of Tupi and in nearby Polomolok, South Cotabato had been killed in one attack after another in the past three months, records from the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office and the Police Regional Office-12 showed. Ambushers on motorcycles shot dead two Moro men and wounded two others in a daring attack in Barangay

Bawing in this city on Sunday, July 17. Victims Johnrey Samad Banto and Sari Aminola Kalamongi died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds. In an initial statement Monday, the Tambler Police Station of the General Santos City Police Office said the duo’s companions, Uday Acad and Ressan Alawadi Uday, were badly wounded in the attack. They are now confined in a hospital, according to the local police. The victims were on board a gray Isuzu pick-up truck bearing license plates CAB 4153, on their way home

to Tupi town in South Cotabato, when the suspects trailing behind on motorcycles opened fire with pistols as they got close. The suspects escaped towards nearby Maasim town in Sarangani, witnesses had told the local police. Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, director of the Police Regional Office-12, said Monday he has directed police investigators here and personnel of the Maasim Municipal Police Station to cooperate in identifying the gunmen behind the atrocity for prosecution. John Felix

Unson

POLICE authorities in Pikit, North Cotabato have launched massive manhunt against motorcycle riding gunmen who waylaid a village executive Wednesday. Maj. Maxim Peralta, Pikit municipal police station chief, said police probers are pursuing a lead that will help identify the perpetrators in the murder of Datu Jalandoni Matalam Akas, 58. Matalam-Akas is the chairman of Barangay Macabual, Pikit. He was back-riding on a motorbike driven by his wife heading for home when they were ambushed along the national highway in Barangay Nalapaan. He died while being rushed to the Cruzado clinic while his wife was unharmed in the 8 a.m. shooting. The gunmen on board separate motorbike fled after the shooting heading toward town proper. “Hot pursuit operation is still on going,” Maj. Peralta said

in a radio interview. His relatives claimed that Chairperson Matalam has no known enemies and roam around without firearm or armed escorts, his relatives claim. Mayor Sumulong Sultan has directed the police to fast tract the investigation to give justice to the victim’s family. “He is a good man, he has no bad records with the police and governance wise he is doing good,” he said. It was the second daylight shooting in Pikit in two days. On Tuesday (July 19) afternoon, unidentified gunmen also ambushed and killed Alex Salcedo, 58, an employee of Pikit Water District. He was on motorbike when the suspect shot him from behind along Barangay Batulawan, Pikit at about 2 p.m. Salcedo died while being rushed to a hospital. Peralta said investigation continues.

Edwin O. Fernandez

Peddler with P340K worth shabu charged TANTANGAN, South Cotabato - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 has charged with violation of state anti-narcotics regulations a peddler entrapped here Sunday, July 17. This was confirmed Wednesday by Director Naravy Duquiatan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12. Duquitan said suspect Elbert Suedad Nequinto is now in their custody, to be prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Nequinto was immediately arrested last Sunday after selling P340,000 worth of shabu to PDEA nonuniformed agents during a clandestine tradeoff in Barangay New Iloilo here. Duquiatan said the operation that led to his arrest was carried out with the help of units under Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, director of the Police Regional Office-12. John

Felix Unson