The Mindanao Cross | November 7, 2020

SECOND FRONT PAGE

BARMM launches 1st BDP/P2

Vol. LXXII| No. 39 | Cotabato City | Saturday, November 7, 2020 |8 Pages | P10.00

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Caritas organizations to help typhoon-hit areas/P4

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Escaping, Surviving, Rebuilding: A PWD’s story on Marawi Siege/P8

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GIVING LIFE. Mural paintings of flora and fauna by local painters on the walls of Koronadal National Comprehensive High School in Aurora Street, Brgy. Zone-IV, Koronadal City amazed bystanders and netizens.

MARBEL BISHOP SLAMS NCIP

Photo courtesy of Francisco Japhet Moralde

B’laans favor mining project KORONADAL CITY — For B’laan leaders, only with the extraction of copper and gold in Tampakan, South Cotabato and nearby towns can the tribe rise from poverty and underdevelopment.

“Let us mine freely these lands in our ancestral domain that are rich in copper and gold,” Bae Dalena Samling, head of Blaan tribal council in Barangay Danlag, Tampakan, South Cotabato, said Wednesday.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), released last week to the tribal council during a gathering on

October 28 a Certificate of Precondition (CP), allowing the Sagittarius Mining, Inc. to mine for copper and gold in their ancestral lands.

The document also covers mineral-rich barangays in towns around Tampakan that are inside the territories of the adjoining Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur. “Finally, after a long almost endless wait. It is a dream come true,” lawyer Jesus Dureza, former presidential adviser on the peace process, said referring to the CP. Dureza was a former consultant of

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FOR ALLOWING MINING PROJECT

KORONADAL CITY — The Diocese of Marbel has slammed the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for allowing the controversial $5.9 billion Tampakan project, Southeast Asia’s largest known undeveloped copper and gold minefield, to proceed in the ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas said the Church saddened by the move of the NCIP to issue certification precondition (CP) to Sagittarius Mines, Inc., developer of the Tampakan project straddling four provinces in Mindanao.

CP is a certification that Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) have given their consent to the mining venture within their

ELATED. Blaan women perform a dance number, during a gathering on October 28 in Barangay Danlag in Tampakan, South Cotabato, to show their appreciation of the grant of permission by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to the Sagittarius Mining Inc. to extract copper and gold in their ancestral lands.

John Felix Unson

Government troops neutralize DI leader

SULTAN KUDARAT — A joint Army-police team killed in a brief shootout Wednesday in Esperanza town a senior leader of the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya (DI).

Jazzer Nilong, tagged in a recent bombing in General Santos City, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds sustained in the gunfight with personnel of the

Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion and members of the Police Regional Office-12 in Barangay Saliao in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

Soldiers and policemen were to peacefully arrest him for his involvement in a deadly bomb attack in General Santos City and for the murder of Police Capt. Herman

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ancestral domain and that the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process had been satisfactorily complied with by the company.

“Despite the lingering issues and strong opposition of indigenous peoples, NCIP still issued the certificate…

The NCIP did not listen,” the prelate said in a statement furnished to The Mindanao Cross on Wednesday.

Bishop Casicas stressed

The ethnic B’laan tribe populates the mining tenement.

NCIP Chair Allen Capuyan issued the CP in Quezon City on Sept.

19, which was known two weeks after a local court dismissed on October 12 a petition by the tribal councils within the project area to revoke the open-pit mining ban imposed by the provincial

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PROTECTING JOURNALISTS. The Bangsamoro region during a press conference on November 2 in Cotabato City reassures its commitment for the safety of journalists working inside the region as they join the celebration of International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists.

Ferdinandh Cabrera

Kapa spox in Ed Dizon’s murder denies joining NPA

BARMM vows support, protection for journalists

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reiterated its commitment to promote the safety of journalists working inside the region as they join the celebration of International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists.

BARMM Interior Minister Lawyer

that the Tampakan LGU withdrew its support to the Tampakan project last August, yet the NCIP still issued the CP. Despite the NCIP action, the prelate expressed confidence that the “law and justice will be on their side.”

“The Diocese of Marbel will continue to amplify as the voice of conscience until our government leaders (will) listen,” he stressed.

Naguib Sinarimbo, also Bangsamoro Region spokesperson, the region does not want to experience the dark history of the media in the region, referring to the infamous Maguindanao Massacre that claimed the lives of 58 persons, including 32 media workers in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao on

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KIDAPAWAN CITY — The alleged plotter of the murder last year of a radio commentator critical of the investment racket has denied he joined the New People’s Army.

In a video posted in the social media, Dante Encarnacion Tabosares, alias Bong Encarnacion, denied anew any involvement in the murder of radio broadcaster

Eduardo “Ed” Dizon on July 10, 2019.

Tabosares, who is at large, was Kabus Padatuon (Kapa) coordinator for Kidapawan City and North Cotabato.

Dizon, a commentator in the Brigada FM station, was a staunch critic of the Kapa investment scheme founded by self-proclaimed Christian preacher Joel Apolinario.

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November 7,2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

BARMM LAUNCHES 1ST BDP

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government launched here on Thursday its first Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), marking another major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process.

“Despite the unfortunate circumstances brought by the pandemic, I am extremely optimistic that the BDP 2020-2022 will help the Government of the Day in materializing our shared hopes and aspirations for the Bangsamoro,” BARMM Chief Minister and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Balawag Ebrahim said during the launch.

Ebrahim said BARMM wishes to create an environment that “promotes people-centered policies and programs.”

“We wish to begin a culture that gives the investors, the constituents and other significant partners trust with the regional government,” he added.

Composed of 13 chapters, the BARMM’s BDP is aligned and consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the country’s economic and development blueprint. It articulates the overall socio-economic direction of the BARMM from 2020 to 2022 and beyond.

The eight development goals identified in the BDP aim to: 1) to establish the foundations for inclusive, transparent, accountable, and efficient governance; 2) to uphold peace, security, public order and safety, and respect for human rights; 3) to create a favorable enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable economic development; 4) to promote Bangsamoro identity, cultures, and diversity; 5) to ensure access to and delivery of quality services for human capital development; 6) to harness technology and innovations to increase socio-economic opportunities and improve government services; 7) to increase strategic and climate-resilient infrastructure to support sustainable socioeconomic development in the Bangsamoro Region; and 8) to improve ecological integrity, and promote and enhance climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction to sustain resilience of communities in the Bangsamoro.

Continued support to Bangsamoro gov’t BARMM Executive

Secretary, Minister Abdulrauf Macacua praised the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) under the leadership of Director General Mohajirin Ali for spearheading the formulation of the plan, saying it is “a step to achieve your desired goals. Goal without a plan is just a wish.”

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), represented by Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said “the NEDA along with the entire national government is fully committed to support all implementation of BDP, as well as the successful transition of the region to a developed Bangsamoro.”

“We are committed to work with you every step of the way, not only for the Bangsamoro but for the entire country,” Sombilla added.

NEDA is the BPDA’s counterpart in the national government and as such, provided the latter with technical advice in the crafting of its BDP. BPI-

of our dear Bangsamoro to provide support in the region’s growing human resources requirement, and hopefully, this will also allow them to seek livelihood opportunities in the process.”

According to the MOA, programs and projects, whether locally-funded or foreign-assisted, including TVET scholarship and grant programs, as well as assets along with corresponding

budgetary support, shall be transferred to the Bangsamoro Government, through the MBHTE. “TESDA welcomes these changes as we remain committed to bring quality TVET nationwide. We make sure that our training is inclusive and refle ctive to our guiding principle (as carried by our campaign), TESDA Abot Lahat,” said Lapeña.

For its part, the

MBHTE assured the TESDA leadership that its counterpart TESD services will be open and made available to all qualified BARMM residents, especially the disadvantaged sector – the poor, illiterate, outof-school youth, persons with special needs, senior citizens as well as former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Nash B. Maulana

COTABATO CITY — The chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority said the Rice Tariffication Law is a major threat to food sufficiency in the country.

Big groups of farmers propagating rice in irrigated farms in North Cotabato province tagged “antipoor” the RTA, or Republic Act 11203, in a common statement Sunday.

Emmanuel Piñol, chairperson of MINDA, said the RTA is endangering the country’s rice industry.

The law allows the

massive importation by merchants of rice from abroad, causing a serious marketing setback for local rice farmers.

Prices of palay in southern Mindanao provinces are now only from between P12 to P10.50, so low if compared to the P20 to P22 per kilo before the RTA was enacted into law in 2018.

“Rice production is one of the major industries in Mindanao and its collapse will affect Mindanao’s economy,” said Piñol, a

former agriculture secretary of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Piñol said there is time yet for the legislature to avert a possible collapse of the rice industry by fixing the defects of the RTA. The Philippine Statistics Authority has reportedly confirmed that local rice production had fallen so alarmingly in recent months, reducing the Philippine Rice SelfSufficiency Ration of 86.2%, from a more than 19 million metric ton production in

2018, to only 79.8% last year.

“There is, thus, an urgent need to review and amend the Rice Tariffication Law. It is an urgent concern,” Piñol said.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato officials are now trying to address the continuing downswing in prices of palay and marketing constraints due to what is for local farmers “anti-poor” Rice Tarrification Law. Gov. Nancy Catamco said told The

Saying he was tired of fighting for a meaningless cause, an official of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) decided to rejoin the mainstream by surrendering to the Army.

Abdulani Dimalen, BIFF deputy chief of staff, belonged to the Kagi Karialan faction, volunteered to peacefully surrender to the 33rd Infantry Battalion in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

He was formally presented to Col. Ferdinand Lacadin of 1st Mechanized Brigade together with Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan at the Army headquarters in Barangay

Kamasi, Ampatuan.

He turned in an M-14 rifle with ammunition.

Major General Juvymax R. Uy, 6th ID commander, has enjoined the Army units under him to intensify drive for the peaceful surrender of lawless groups to give them new lease in life.

A total of 42 BIFF combatants had surrendered to the government.

Uy said the series of surrender could be attributed to soldiers’ efforts, along with local government units, in bringing lawless groups back to the mainstream society.

Massive Army operations also a contributing factor.

TESDA devolves powers... P8

BARMM

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FIGHTING THE NASTY DISEASE. Volunteer barangay watchmen inspect the digital COVID-19 contact tracing identification cards of people entering Cotabato City from the southern side of Maguindanao province as part of the war on coronavirus of the administration of Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

John Felix Unson

Only P2.5B of P10B special dev’t fund released to BARMM KORONADAL CITY — Of the P10 billion special development fund (SDF) for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim (BARMM) since 2019, only P2.5 billion has been released by the national government, the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC) said.

During the "Bangsamoro in Transition" web forum, MPC secretary general Atty. Mary Ann Arnado urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the balance in line with the efforts to bring the dividends of the Bangsamoro peace process at the grassroots.

Under its charter, the BARMM shall get P5 billion a year for 10 years following the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Is Rice Tariffication Law threat to food security?

ORPHAN AID. 79 orphans from Pualas, Lanao del Sur on October 28 individually received P5,000 cash aid from the Ministry of Social Services and Development under their ‘Kupkop’ Program, which aims to provide financial assistance to orphans aging 0-18 years in the Bangsamoro region.

Photo courtesy of MSSD

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Ranking BIFF leader yields to Army in Maguindanao

Rhoderick Beñez

“This (SDF) is a big gap that needs to be addressed as it relates to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the communities and the normalization process,” she stressed.

The MPC urged the release of the P7.5 SDF as part of a 12-point recommendation after it conducted a rapid mid-term review on the performance of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

On October 26, Ebrahim issued Memorandum Order 0606 to all ministries and offices, directing them to submit their proposed programs, projects and activities to be funded under the fiscal year 2020 SDF. He stated that with the adoption and submission of the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan 20202022 by the Bangsamoro

government to the DBM, the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) in the amount of P5 billion and P2.5 billion, respectively, have been released by the DBM to the Bureau of Treasury, being the conduit in the release of funds to the BARMM government.

Ebrahim added that the DBM requested the BARMM government to submit a program with cash requirements to be funded under the 2020 SDF. “This will be the basis of the DBM in the release of the NCA covering the remaining balance of P2.5 billion 2020 SDF allocation of the BARMM,” Ebrahim said.

Lawyer Hanan Romanda Kahalan, a member of the review team, said the team found out the total SDF fund for

UPI, Maguindanao – Farmers here had found an ally in the person of Mayor Ramon Piang, the local government officials of this town and the traders.

The farmers have been “crying” for government attention so they could, at least “break even” or have the deserving profit in their produce amid the pandemic.

Upi has become the first town in Maguindanao, and most likely in the Bangsamoro Region, to have realigned funds to help the “dying” rice farmers or arrest the continued drop of buying price of palay.

“This is part of the measures to ease the burden of farmers who have been complaining of unbelievable buying price of their products, especially during the pandemic,” Upi Mayor Ramon Piang said in an interview.

Upi has been known as corn capital of Maguindanao as well as palay.

But its farmers have been crying for help due to falling palay buying prices and the National Food Authority (NFA) ceased buying local rice due to oversupply.

Buying price of palay by private traders could range from P10 to P12 a kilo with the highest at P14.

“Kawawa talaga kami,

lugi pa kasi kung minsan P10 minsan or P11 pesos na lang ang buying, hindi na mabawi ang capital, eh kami kami nag menor muna magbili sa farmers kay wala man kami magawa”, said Salama Malang, a farmer who is also into buy and sell business in Barangay Borongutan, Upi. Mayor Piang said the LGU is planning to buy farmers’ palay at P17.50 to P18 pesos per kilo of palay or unrefined rice.

“I met with our town civil society groups and they discussed the plight of the farmers, we discussed how to help them and I decided to realign remaining funds amounting to P7 million pesos to establish a local purchase program with a reasonable price,” Piang said.

The funds came from the Staff Development Fund that the LGU has allocated for team building, out-of-town trainings of staff and the remaining calamity fund usually used to purchase rice and other relief items to be given to calamity hit areas.

“It’s a part of Covid recovery program kasi yung farmers natin Covid victim din ito so kung hindi sila masave dito talagang dehado sila”, he said. Ferdinandh

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Piang realigns funds to buy farmers’ palay

Cabrera

November 7,2020

B’laans favor... P1

the Sagittarius Mining, Inc., more known as the SMI. Samling said it is the Blaan community that should approve or disapprove of copper mining in their ancestral homelands based on the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (Republic Act 8371), that explicitly gave them and other indigenous communities in the country a “selfascription” privilege.

“These are our homelands since time immemorial. Let us decide on how we would want these lands to rise from neglect, poverty and underdevelopment,” Samling said.

Blaan tribal leaders manifested support one after another for the extraction of copper and gold in their highland enclaves by the SMI during a gathering on October 28 in Barangay Danlag.

The event was attended by NCIP employees, led by Regional Director Michael Mamukid.

B e n e f a c t o r s have earmarked US$5.9 billion for the development of the mine fields in Tampakan and for other socio-economic and humanitarian interventions needed to improve living conditions in impoverished Blaan territories.

“The IPRA law provides opportunities to our marginalized indigenous sectors to realize their right to selfdetermination,” a senior SMI executive, Joselito Kakilala, said.

Kakilala, a retired Army general, said the NCIP’S CP is seen as the solution to the poverty gripping the Blaans for so long.

The Blaan homelands in Tampakan and nearby barangays have the richest copper and gold deposits in all of Asia.

Hadja Bai Naila Mamalinta, barangay chairwoman of Datalblao in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, said they are anticipating the massive development of Blaan territories once the SMI operates.

Mamalinta said the Tampakan mining project is favored by the Blaans in Salnaong area in her barangay, where the SMI is also to operate.

“We are wishing for that operation of the SMI to happen soon,” Mamalinta said.

Tribal chieftains told reporters they are grateful to the SMI for having distributed vehicles for their barangay governments, built roads and health facilities even before it can start operating.

The SMI also has provided college education to hundreds of Blaans through a scholarship program, according to Samling.

Samling and key members of the tribal council said the SMI already spent P260 million for various community development projects in Blaan lands that have vast deposits of copper and gold. John

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 14 Cotabato City -oOo-

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

SPL. PROC. CASE NO. 2020-1488 I N T H E M AT T E R O F CANCELLATION/ CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF MOHAMMAD SAED PANANGGULON MALASIGAN, MOHAMMAD SAED P. MALASIGAN, Petitioner. versus

CIVIL REGISTRAR OF KABUNTALAN, MAGUINDANAO, AND ALL PERSONS/ENTITIES WHO/WHICH MAY BE AFFECTED THEREBY, Respondents. x– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –x ORDER

A verified petition was filed by petitioner assisted by counsel praying that after due notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the herein respondent Civil Registrar to CANCEL and CORRECT the following information supplied in the Certificate of Live Birth under Civil Registry No. 20072993: 1. “Entry No. 1” as to the spelling of the first name of the Petitioner from “MOHAMAD SAED” to “MOHAMMAD SAED”; 2. “ENTRY No. 3a” as to the date of birth of the Petitioner from “15” to “14”; and 3. “Entry No. 3b” as to the year of the birth of the Petitioner from “1993” to “1995” FINDING the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this case be set for hearing on December 17, 2020 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon, at which place, date and time, any person who may have interest, if any, may show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published in a newspaper edited and of general circulation in the City of Cotabato and Province of Maguindanao, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing, at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED. GIVEN this 28th day of October, 2020 at Cotabato City, Philippines.

(SGD.) KASAN K. ABDULRAKMAN Acting Presiding Judge

MC: Nov 7, 14 & 21, 2020

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THE MINDANAO CROSS

Felix Unson

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular Guidelines in implementation of Administrative order No. 1 , series of 2012 (IRR in R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that, Abdulraof M. Disalungan has filed with this office, a petition for Correction of sex from male to female in the Certificate of Live Birth of “Mubtasimah Disalongan Abdulwahid” bearing registry No. 2008-831, registered at the Local Civil Registrar office of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and whose parents are Abdulmanan S. Abdulwahid and Derhana Mohammad Disalongan.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than 17 th November 2020 (Sgd) Lesaida O. Saban Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Nov. 7 & 14 , 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Mr. Wilfredo D. Gerodias & Mrs. Cesaria D. Gerodias who died intestate, left a parcel of land situated in Barangay Arizona, Midsayap, Cotabato, covered by OCT No. V-19868, Lot 705, Pls620 with an area of 62,690 sq. mts. is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with absolute sale before Notary Public Atty.

Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 279; Page No. 56; Book No.CXCVII; Series of 2020.

MC: Nov. 7, 14 & 21, 2020

Marbel bishop slams... P1

government since 2010.

Bae Dalena Samling, chieftain of the Danlag Tribal Council in Tampakan and a staunch supporter of the Tampakan project, hailed the NCIP for granting the CP to Sagittarius Mines, which officially received a copy of the certificate, 10 years after the process started.

“There’s a lot of struggle between the tribal councils and the company during the FPIC process, that’s why it took it so long to finish,” she said.

The mining firm is yet to issue statement on the court decision rejecting petitions to lift open-pit mining ban and the issuance of NCIP of certification pre-condition.

The Tampakan project has the potential to yield an average of 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold in concentrate per year within the 17-year-life of the mine, which straddles the provinces of South Cotabato (where the bulk of deposits is found), Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Sur and Sarangani.

On Oct. 12, RTC Branch 24 Judge Vicente Peña ruled against the tribal council’s

petition, saying the openpit mining ban was valid, legal and consistent with the provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

In an earlier study, SMI said the open-pit mining method was the most viable means to extract the deposits deep into the earth’s surface.

Bishop Casicas welcomed the court’s decision, saying the ruling “is very well aligned with the Catholic Church’s encyclical on the environment, the 'Laudato Sí.'”

“Truly, this is an answered prayer, not only for the believers of the Catholic faith, but also for the people of South Cotabato and the neighboring provinces,” Casicas said earlier.

“With this decision, we are convinced that [the] law and the legal system could be truly used to attain social justice for the people and the environment,” he said.

Samling said her group would appeal the court ruling.

PHOTO CAPTION: The Tampakan mining site straddles several tribal communities that will be relocated once the production phase starts.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Safety earlier said Tabosares has joined an NPA group operating in North Cotabato province.

“There is no truth to that,” Tabosares said in a

video.

The warrant for his arrest was issued on January 15 by Judge Henelinda Molina-Diaz of the Regional Trial Court 12th Judicial Region Branch here. John

Mindanao Cross early this week the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has been formulating plans meant to cushion the effects of the low prices now of palay and accruing marketing issues due to the abundance everywhere imported rice.

At least 27 dulyregistered groups of farmers in North Cotabato and its capital, Kidapawan City, have asked for Catamco’s help, despondent over the seeming inability of the agriculture department to bail them out.

“They are suffering from losses in latest cropping seasons. We need to fix the problem, hopefully without getting constrained by our limited capability and resources,” Catamco

said.

Prices of palay in parts of the adjoining North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces are now less than P12 per kilo.

Catamco said local government units in North Cotabato are now helping constituents market their palay for them to cope up.

Catamco and his constituent-provincial leaders have earlier called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to reassess the RTA, or Republic Act 11203 and study extensively its bad effects on rice farmers.

“The law is counterproductive. We have to listen to the farmers. We must look around and listen to them,” Catamco said. John

two years has not been fully released after reviewing DBM records posted on its website.

As for the P63 billion block grant for the Bangsamoro region, she said it has been released circuitously to other government channels before reaching the BARMM

government.

“It was not (released) on a comprehensive basis,” she noted.

In a press release on August 20, 2019, the DBM stated that pursuant to the BOL, P70.6 billion is allocated for the BARMM in the administration’s 2020 budget proposal. Of the

Bong S. Sarmiento

Kapa spox in Ed Dizon’s... P1

Felix Unson

Is Rice Tariffication... P2

Felix Unson

Government troops... P1 Gabat but neutralized him instead when he pulled out a pistol and opened fire.

Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Nilong alias Khalid Nilong, was a senior member of the Dawlah Islamiya, also known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Uy said the operation that resulted in Nilong’s death was launched after confidential tipsters informed the Esperanza municipal police and the 7th IB of his presence in Barangay Saliao.

Nilong has been in a small roadside hotel in Barangay Saliao three days before he perished in Wednesday’s joint

Notice is hereby given that the late Carlos B. Tumlos, who died on June 4, 2006 at Cebu City, left a parcel of land situated in Cotabato City, and covered by TCT No. T-13034 with an area of 223 square meters, more or less is the subject of Extrajudicial settlement with Sale before Notary Public Atty.

Eugenio U. Soyao as per Doc. No. 116; Page No. 24; Book No.49; Series of 2020.

MC: Oct. 24, 31 & Nov. 7, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late Felmida Agar-Palisoc who died on August 7, 2019 at Cotabato City, left a parcel of land with residential building located at Purok 6, Rosary Heights 9, Cotabato City, covered by TCT No. T-52897, with an area of 229 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate agreement between heirs before Notary Public Atty. Gapor G. Quituar as per Doc. No. 385; Page No. 77; Book No. LVII; Series of 2020.

MC: Oct. 24, 31 & Nov. 7, 2020

John Felix Unson

ADVERTISE WITH US CALL US (064)421-7161

BARMM vows support... P1 November 23, 2009.

Sinarimbo represented BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua in the news briefing.

“We made this commitment earlier and we are reaffirming it today that your government would ensure that impunity for the crimes against journalists do not happen in the region,” he said.

Acknowledging the important role of free press in a democratic society where some powerful forces wanted to curb or curtail the truth, the Bangsamoro government is willing to assist journalists under threat to seek refuge from them or be provided with government protection or legal services.

Informal assistance will also be offered if needed, like Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) interventions.

“If you feel threatened or in any way receive threats from anyone, please feel free to call us or communicate with us by any means and we will make sure that we provide the necessary assistance for you, that is the commitment from the chief

Only P2.5B of P10B of P10B special.... P2

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Army-police anti-terror operation.

Besides his .45 caliber pistol, police and military investigators found in his possession components for home-made bombs, a 60 millimeter mortar projectile and a rifle grenade, both convertible to improvised explosive devices that can be detonated from a distance using mobile phones.

Uy said he is thankful to residents of Esperanza who led government operatives to the exact location of Nilong.

Also part of the operating unit were members of South Cotabato provincial police office. Nilong’s group operates in the South Cotabato and Sarangani.

amount, P63.6 billion is for the annual block grant, P5 billion for the SDF, and P2 billion is for the BARMM’s share in the national taxes.

Bong S. Sarmiento

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Datu Untong Balabaran who died intestate on July 19, 1969 at Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, left a pending undeteermined amount of claim with the Land Bank of the Philippines pertaining a two farm lots covered by OCT Nos. P-38943 & P-38944 subject to coverage of the Voluntary Offer to Sale program of the Government is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights and quitclaim before Notary Public Atty. Hamlet M. Pahm as per Doc. No. 34; Page No. 07; Book No.62; Series of 2020.

MC: Oct. 24, 31 & Nov. 7, 2020

minister and Bangsamoro government,” Sinarimbo said, quoting a word from BARMM Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

The region has allocated funds for medical assistance, burial assistance or calamity devastated members of the media or unfortunate members of the group.

“While we are assisting the journalists it doesn’t mean that they will report only all praises on us, we are still open to criticisms, to report or look on the gaps that we have not seen,” Sinarimbo said.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is celebrated every 2nd day of November.

In the past fourteen years (2006-2019), close to 1,200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public.

Ferdinandh B. Cabrera

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Jose Romasanta Mojado who died intestate on December 25, 2019 at Cotabato City, left three parcels of land TCT No. T-27852, Lot 1-A-2-A-2-H-9-A-2; Psd-12-012374; TCT No. T-3246, lot 8, block 15-A, T-146-2016003375, lot No. 46-blk.5 situated at Bo. Kakar, Cotabato City, Bo. Dalumangcob,Mp. of Nuling, Cotabato, Brgy. Ma-A, Davao C i t y, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; Landbank VISA ATM Regular account #00003126144406; Metrobank savings account #3-074-08623-4; 2015 Model SUV Isuzu MU-X 4X 2 LS-A-A Plate No. AAH-3009, CR No. 200602732; 2018 Model Yamaha Mio Aerox BG25 CR No. 315006005; 2019 Model Hyundai Kona 2.0 GLS 6A Plate No. MAH 8573 are the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty.

Eugenio U. Soyao as per Doc. No. 175; Page No. 35; Book No.49; Series of 2020.

MC: Oct. 31, Nov. 7 & 14, 2020

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November 7, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

Caritas organizations to help typhoon-hit areas

Various Caritas organizations from different countries pledged to help the Philippines recover from the disastrous impact of Super Typhoon Rolly.

The organizations conveyed to Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian arm of the Philippine Catholic Church, their readiness to support its emergency and recovery efforts.

“Several Caritas Internationalis member organizations have responded not only with messages of solidarity, but likewise an offer to help in any way possible,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines.

He said these include Caritas Española, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Norway,

Caritas Germany, Caritas Switzerland, and Caritas New Zealand.

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Cordaid, and Trócaire have also pledged to support the local Church’s response to help communities devastated by the storm.

With wind speeds of 225 kph, the typhoon slammed into southern Luzon on Nov. 1and touted to be the world’s strongest tropical cyclone for 2020, so far.

Rolly claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed

many homes and forced thousands to evacuate.

An estimated 1.6 million people were affected with around 408,473 individuals being served inside and outside evacuation centers.

Caritas Philippines has earlier launched an international appeal for aid after the typhoon caused “massive destruction” in the country.

Bagaforo said that several dioceses were also fast in responding to the call including Manila, Iba, Borongan, Sorsogon, Lucena, and several parishes in Metro Manila.

CBCPNews

Cardinal Tagle warns against ‘individualism’ amidst pandemic

The prolonged coronavirus pandemic brings with it the “threat of individualism” among peoples, warned Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples.

“Human beings try to secure themselves when there is a threat and they do the same for their families and close friends,” he said, adding that the “threat of individualism is always there.”

He said there is a danger that people will focus on their own personal concerns faced with the difficulties of the pandemic.

“While it is legitimate to think of one’s security and the safety of family members, we hope [the pandemic] will challenge all of us to contribute to the solution or at least the slowing down of this,” said Cardinal Tagle.

“That means a social type of love. We hope it can help us to a better humanity and a better human family,” he said in

T

an interview with online magazine The Tablet.

He cited people in countries like Taiwan and Japan who wore masks even before the outbreak of the pandemic.

“It is embedded in their culture that they should protect themselves and others. There is a regard for safety and for the common good in these countries,” he said.

“They have strict rules on travel and sophisticated systems so they can trace the virus straight away.

People say it is a restriction on freedom, but it is for the common good,” said the cardinal.

Cardinal Tagle tested positive for the new coronavirus disease in September when he travelled from Rome to the Philippines.

In the same interview, the cardinal reminded the faithful that the Church should “stand alongside the most vulnerable and help build their resilience” during the pandemic.

Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Caritas organisations around the world, has been working at the grassroots with the most vulnerable during the global health crisis.

“We have been asked to expand our social services at this time, especially accompanying the most vulnerable,” said Cardinal Tagle.

“We are focused on equipping communities to be resilient,” he added.

The prelate said the Church should also stand in solidarity with refugees and forced migrants and listen to stories of people who had fled war and poverty.

He urged people to be more concerned about the plight of refugees, especially children living in camps who are at risk of becoming victims of slavery.

“Unless society works together, this forced migration will become one of the biggest businesses in the world,” he said. LiCAS. news

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests showing the mushroom products.

OMI Initiative:

Photo Courtesy of OMI

Mushroom Culture Program

BAGUMBAYAN, Sultan Kudarat - In the past, during rainy seasons, mushrooms which sprout and picked at the backyards of every house were the usual scenes. People would collect them fresh and cook to serve as a meal.

Now, most mushrooms which are found in the market and stores are being cultured due to the influx of families and houses in towns and cities.

Mushroom culture has been introduced in the country many years ago and is now being practiced by many people to generate more mushroom and additional income. Its huge significance as well as its productivity for market is booming in abroad and even among the locals in the country.

Mushroom is commonly identified as vegetable but in reality it is actually a fungus.

Its seedling is called spawn.

It can be grown in any place even in small areas. It is an easy income for many people since the mushroomonly needs at least 2 weeks to be fully grown and sold.

Unlike any other vegetables in the market, mushrooms is easy to culture. It only needs some dry babana leaves, madredecacao leaves and a little fertilizer for

speedy and maximum growth.

H e r e i n M i n d a n a o, specifically in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Masiag, Bagumbayan, Fr. Alvin Barreto, OMI and Rev. Joseph Nadua, OMI have introduced this interesting program, the mushroom culture.

For almost 2 weeks, they have started the program inside their parish’ function hall.

Together, Fr. Barreto and Rev. Nadua are confident that the mushroom culture can help a lot of people especially the people of Masiag during this time of pandemic.

A l t e r n a t i ve L i ve l i h o o d program During this pandemic, a lot of people are affected which includes their daily food and economic resources.

This mushroom culture is a good way in order to assist people, families and communitiesstruck by this COVID-19. This program aims to create and instill personal responsibility to individuals by teaching them skills on mushroom culture.

Moreover, this program also aims to strengthen food availability in the area while being open to other possibilities

of engagement with other interested groups.

With this program, people will have alternatives and additional sources of income.

By creating their own vegetable garden in their houses, families can have easier access for their food.

Looking at its market, mushroom price today varies from P130 to P150 per kilo.

This will give a huge economic leverage for those who are interested for other source of income for businesses and families.

Future programs of the parish will include training individuals or groups on how to grow mushrooms in their own backyards and houses. The free training will empower people for food sustainability.

To have a sustainable program, the market will be available outside the area of Barangay Masiag and to encourage groups and individuals to adapt the program.

This also makes a possibility of the potential collaboration of the local government with the Church in answering the needs of the people during the pandemic.

Fr. Alvin Vicente Barretto, OMI and Fr. Joseph Nadua,OMI

B adaliyya

he past week’s in the second reading. celebrations of All They were awaiting the Saint’ Day and All Lord’s coming soon and Souls’ Day reminded some of their community us of the temporariness members have departed. of earthly life. Just And so they asked Paul, Fr. Jun Mercado, OMI like the candles that what about those who have we lighted in memory died? Paul’s answer was of our loved ones, life that at the Lord’s coming, Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC “those who have died in grows shorter even as tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com Christi will we provide light. It rise first. is the law of life. Once we were young, robust, Then we the living. The survivors, will be caught healthy, and full of energy. At some point of our up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the Readings: adult life we reach the pinnacle of our physical, air”(Thess. 4:16-17). Christ can come anytime so intellectual, and psycho-social powers. Then we must be ready. The parable can also refer to our Wisdom 6: 12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14; Matthew 25: 1-13 things begin to wane. Our physical strength and readiness to do God’s will at anytime in our life of Selected Passage: energies weaken and we suffer illnesses but we discipleship. The lighted lamp is our preparedness “While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were manage to adjust and go forward with our goals. to obey God’s bidding in the present moment. ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.

Our intellectual sharpness and memory decline The light that the Christian believer brings is Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for but hopefully we have gained a wealth of practical derived from the Wisdom of God (first reading). us!’

But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, wisdom. In terms of our psycho-social life, people God’s Wisdom is none other than Christ Himself. stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt. 25: 10-13) may seek our company or may shun us. With the We received Christ’s light at baptism as symbolized years, we can grow better or bitter. As the French by the candle given to us through our godparents.

Meditation: say, “’C’est la vie,” that’s life, you take the joy and The priest admonishes, “Keep this light burning The parable tells the wise and the foolish virgins. Both groups went take the sorrow. brightly.” The candle is only a symbol of that inner out to meet the bridegroom that took time in arriving. The wise ones went out to meet the bridegroom bringing flasks of oil, as well, while Are we really living? Have we added life to reality of our new life in Christ. the foolish ones did not. And when the bridegroom arrived, the foolish our years or just years to our life? As our gospel We can then ask ourselves in what way have I ones were not around and they missed him. parable today reminds us, are our lamps burning? carried the light of Christ? Is that light of faith still We must, then, imitate the wise virgins who take things seriously, Are we lighting up someone’s path? This Sunday’s burning in us or is it barely alive? We can only are prepared to meet the Lord, anytime when he comes. They are parable speaks of a group of ladies tasked with radiate Christ’s light if we have been irradiated who prepared at anytime and they don’t scramble for things, when it is time providing the light for the coming of the groom. by Christ. There are people whose presence to act. We cannot make God and others wait for us and let us stop being foolish This was a common practice in the time of Jesus. enlightens us. By conversing with them we feel The groom fetches the bride from her home and the that we are appreciated, loved, and can overcome lady relatives of the groom prepare for their arrival the challenges that we face. We become inspired at anytime in the night. In this parable, five of and feel empowered by their presence. People seek the ladies had their lamps as well as oil prepared. their wisdom and their counsel.

The five foolish ones were not ready with their oil In many ways, we are who we are because of the Dhikr is an Arabic word which means REMEMBRANCE. when their lamps were going out. When the groom light that was shared to us by our parents, teachers, arrived the prepared ones went with the groom to mentors, and co-workers. We have followed 1st step: Write the text in your heart. the feasting. their good examples. We have been inspired and step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind There are two levels of interpretation for challenged by their words of wisdom. Some may 2nd - RECITING the text silently as often as possible... this parable. It can refer to the coming Parousia be dead but their spirit remain alive in us. Let us or the second arrival of the Lord as Judge and not keep the light hidden. Let us share the 3rd step: Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of King. This was the concern of the Thessalonians light. MC the text in your life.

Keep Your Lamps Burning

REFLECTIONS

Short Reflection for the 32nd st Sunday of the Ordinary Time (A)

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

5

THE MINDANAO CROSS

November 7,2020

EDITORIAL

Is RP serious about Environmental Care?

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he bad news came at a time when the Indigenous Peoples were celebrating their IP month. The month of October was supposed to be dedicated to the welfare of the IPs, preservation of their culture and traditions, and giving importance to the value of their ancestral lands.

In Mindanao, there are a number of Indigenous Peoples who were pushed back to the mountains in the process of developing the fertile plains and valleys.

Their present domicile (places where they reside and earn their income) are called Ancestral Lands. This is where they chose to live close to nature and be free to practice their culture and traditions.

Unfortunately, these Ancestral Lands which were judged marginal before, were found to contain minerals that the process of development cannot do without. One of these is the mountains of Tampakan.

Tampakan represents one of the largest copper resources in the Philippines and in the world having an estimated resource of 2.94 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.6% copper. The deposit also has a resource of 18 million oz of gold. This is the controversial area which attracted foreign investment and has merited the crusade of people in South Cotabato who realized the impact of its development. It has caused the former Environment Secretary and late Regina Paz Lopez to stop the project. Citing environmental concerns, Sec. Lopez cancelled the ECC of the project. “It’s a 700-football field open-pit mine on top of rice fields and agricultural lands affecting four provinces and six rivers. Why do we even consider it?” She did not mention that the waste materials from the project will certainly pollute the biggest and very productive Buluan Lake in Southern Mindanao. But Lopez was kicked out as DENR Secretary because of her environmental protectiveness, and unfortunately she died a few months after. Her pronouncements led to the biggest foreign divestment ever recorded in the Philippines when Anglo-Swiss mining giant Glencore plc decided to exit the project.

Three years after Lopez, the environmental clearance certificate which Sec. Lopez cancelled was restored by the Office of the President. Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Director Wilfredo Moncano said that the Office of the President already restored the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold mining project of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), which could become one of the largest copper mines in the world.

An update to this recent development is the granting of a Certification Precondition (CP) issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) that the IP communities have given their consent to the mining venture within their ancestral domain and that the Free and Prior Informed Consent process has been complied with. In a report to The Mindanao Cross by Bong Sarmiento (Oct. 31 issue), the chieftain of the Danlag Tribal Council of Tampakan (Bae Dalena Samling) lauded the granting to SMI of the CP and the FPIC and mentioned the entry to the project of foreign firms Xstrata Copper and the Glencore Plc. This update came after Regional Trial Court Branch 24 ruled that the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato is valid, legal, and consistent with the Constitution. This decision was welcomed by Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas who said that the ruling is aligned with the Catholic Church encyclical on the environment, “the Laudato Si” and can be truly used to attain Social Justice. +

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 Valérie Ann P. Lambo, Reporter 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 Orlando Dinoy 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.

N

o Mindanaoan is perhaps unfamiliar with the “Lumad.” They are the indigenous people of Mindanao. Lumad, Wikipedia notes, is short for Katawhang Lumad, the autonym officially adopted by the delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation founding assembly on June 26, 1986 at the Guadalupe Formation Center, Balindog, Kidapawan, Cotabato, as self-ascription and collective identity.

Tribes which have ascribed to the collective identity include the Erumanen ne Menuvu’ or Arumanen Manobo, Matigsalog Manobo, Agusanon Manobo, Dulangan Manobo, Dabaw Manobo, Ata Manobo, B’laan, Kaulo, Banwaon, Bukidnon, Teduray, Lambangian, Higaunon, Dibabawon, Mangguwangan, Mansaka, Mandaya, K’lagan, Subanen, Tasaday, Tboli, Mamanuwa, Tagakaolo, Talaandig, Tagabawa, Ubu’, Tinenanen, Kuwemanen, K’lata and Diyangan.

Edtami Mansayagan, an Arumanen from Carmen, Cotabato, was among the leading tribal personalities behind Lumad-Mindanao. This writer remembers Edtami as one of the first of the Lumad voices to articulate self-determination and self-governance within their ancestral domain in accordance with tribal culture and customary laws. The untiring advocacy of Edtami, Lumad-Mindanao, and countless other individuals, organizations and support groups and institutions gave birth to the landmark legislation known as the Indigenous People’s Rights Act or Republic Act No. 8371.

He went on to become one of the first Commissioners of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and is now a member of the U.N. EMRIP or United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples for Asia and the Pacific.

On October 30, this writer sat through an online forum featuring IP leaders from various parts of Mindanao in commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of IPRA: Lumad voices sharing tribal experiences amid a pandemic.

They expressed gratitude for government assistance that reached them in various forms, while at the same time hoping that future assistance be more equitably distributed, implying the existence still of what the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines describes as social exclusion. They urged the government to utilize indigenous political mechanisms that are in place in determining needed aid and its distribution to ensure

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HE PRESS can either be confrontational in character or engaging in its dealing with institutional news sources in obtaining and presenting facts.

On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity of Crime against Journalists, local practitioners raised issues on the situation of media coverage of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Philippine Daily Inquirer—at the height of its earthshaking editorial stand on issues like congressional “pork-barrel”, the so-called “Midnight Cabinet” in the late 90’s, and later, on the ZTE deals— was one good example of a confrontational Press.

Now, Inquirer editors describe the newspaper as one of becoming “more engaging.” I am not saying it has softened for some reasons.

Tradition of independence may have remained but certain realities have changed since U.S. President Thomas Jefferson articulated that famous line: “Where I have to decide on whether to have a Government without a Newspaper, and a Newspaper without a Government, I would not hesitate a moment to choose the latter.” One such reality is the culture of impunity itself: “Impunity will not happen again under the Bangsamoro watch. If you are receiving threats or experiencing harassment, please feel free to inform us, and we’ll see to it that you are ensured of protection,” said lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM Minister of the Interior and Local Governments.

The “protection” that Minister Sinarimbo wants ensured of every media practitioner covering BARMM includes persuasive approaches in dealing with perceived or supposed sources of threats to the profession and the practitioner. Similarly, the Bangsamoro Government is trying to be more engaging as it opens some doors in addressing challenges, such as professional risks and deliberate threats to the practice of the profession.

Professional risks include health peril from excessive exposure to, and from coverage of the state of pandemic amid covid19. That the members of media can benefit from medical fund subsidy program covered

“Lumad’ voices Thinking Aloud Caloy Bautista

caloyb@gmail.com

that it truly responds to community needs in accordance with the principles of the IP right to self-determination recognized by IPRA. They welcome the growing number of local government units that have put in place Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representatives. At the same time, they lament that there are local government officials who “control” the selection and appointment of IPMRs, choosing who they favor instead of giving the tribal communities the right to choose their own representative according to tribal culture and customary laws.

Tribal communities especially in the hinterlands continue to live precarious lives, caught in the crossfire in the continuing battle between Communist guerillas and government soldiers, either being branded as rebel supporters or government agents by one side or the other.

And there is the central question of ancestral domain. 23 years after IPRA, much still remains to be done in finally giving Lumad communities their ancestral domain titles. Both the Tinenanen and Teduray-Lambangian are in that predicament, and probably many others. Ancestral domain claims have been submitted to the NCIP years ago, processed or acted upon, but no Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles have been given to the claimant tribes. The CADT is a title formally recognizing the rights of possession and ownership of indigenous people over their ancestral domains identified and delineated in accordance with IPRA. They blame the lack of funding for NCIP complicated further by its lack of personnel for this situation. In the case of the Teduray and Lambangian, the situation has become more complicated with the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Still, these Lumad voices are hopeful that their longcherished dream would see fruition. We hope along with them as they continue with their struggle. MC

More ‘engaging’ Press of the Modern World

PENLIGHT

Nash B. Maulana

nash.penlight@gmail.com

by memorandums of agreement (MOA) the BARMM has had with hospitals in Cotabato City, Jolo and Davao City, is one assurance that comes along with the open doors of the Bangsamoro Government in dealing with professional hazards.

The assurance was shared with local media practitioners amid questions literally overflowing in Monday’s dinner dialogue hosted by Salig Mindanao, through regional focal person Sheikh Mubarak Tiboron Dumato, and the BARMM, represented by Minister Sinarimbo.

As student of public journalism (PJ), we see some models of press councils work well as a venue of serious exchanges where media and the government meet halfway without compromising the interest of the public that both aspire or are trying to represent the best way they can. To systematize responses to concerns in more programmatic links and procedures, we raised the possibility of establishing a Regional Press Council (RPC), a forum that is multi-sector in composition and engaging in character and is policybased in its approaches at addressing concerns, including media professionalism (or the lack of it), as well as issues and challenges besetting the public sectors.

Probably noting the success of the National Press Council of Indonesia, Amando Doronila, a senior columnist and editorial consultant of the Inquirer, once raised the need to activate a Philippine Press Council (PPC) as a forum of continuing public dialogue by the media with other sectors represented in that forum. MC

6

come out and join the fold of the law.

Only rebels and other terror groups who strongly resist government’s peace and security mission will be dealt with Charlie Señase accordingly.

This is in line with csenase@yahoo.com Bangsamoro governife’s ups and downs are life’s chalment’s thrust to bring lenges to hurdle as a test of our pa- back to the fold misled armed groups tience and perseverance to endure wanting to topple governing authorities from all the threats and uncertainties through bloodshed or lawless violence. we are into.

So concern of the citizens’ rights to inThe series of tropical disturbances formation amid allegation that legitimate that included the world’s strongest media practitioners are under threat, the typhoon in 2020 have caused massive regional government has assured the displacement and destruction up North security of journalists in whatever way with at least 20 dead and four missing possible that true and factual expression as of midweek. of information is not hindered by threat Although storm Rolly’s fury seems and intimidation. to have been dwarfed by Yolanda’s onProposal to establish a regional meslaught in 2013 it left thousands missing dia multi-sectoral council that will serve and dead. This despite summing-up the as a regulatory body for members of the destruction left behind by hurricanes Fourth Estate has been endorsed by BAR Pepito, Quinta and Siony these past Local Government Minister Naguib Sidays. narimbo, with the assurance of medical, The need for government and all sec- legal and security support to beleaguered tors to unite is a must by helping alleviate scribes. one another’s plight.

Sinarimbo, a lawyer who also heads The active involvement of men in the region’s emergency and disaster uniform not only in security matters but assistance office, has called upon print, also in humanitarian concern to reach- broadcast and social media practitioners out to those needing rehabilitation and that they are free to criticize government relief assistance is noteworthy in their without fear or favor provided construcadvocacy to attain peace and coexistence. tive and devoid of malice.

The voluntary surrender of a rankThe Cotabato City media forum ing BIFF terror group belonging to the this week which centered on the subject Karialan faction to the military and local “International Day to End Impunity for government units of Maguindanao indi- Crimes Against Journalists” was meant cates the AFP and the PNP are against to instill the essence of being free with reviolence. sponsibility or self-regulation to confront Earlier, 42 other Bangsamoro Islamic so-called calculated risk in the profession.

Freedom Fighters yielded with their A print and broadcast journalist for firearms and other paraphernalia. The sixty years, the worst threat thus far is Army’s 6th ID chief and Joint Task Force the COVID-19 pandemic after having Central commander Maj. Gen. Juvymax survived the 1976 killer quake with tsuUy said the voluntary surrender of former nami that left 18,000 dead, the prolonged Moro Islamic Liberation Front members Moro insurgency-related fire fight and was through the united peace efforts of rampant kidnap-for-ransom activities, government forces and the Bangsamoro among others.

Autonomous Region. The new ranking Thank God for all the protection and surrenderee, whose name was withheld sustenance for us to have reached this far for security reason, was BIFF’s deputy knowing that a hundred years may be commander, who said tiresome and impossible to us but with God nothing is weariness as a fugitive prompted him to impossible, except one - He cannot lie. MC

Eye Opener TRUE TO FORM

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in older people, it can also develop in younger adults, as is likewise the case for dementia and osteoporosis.

There are a lot of mechanisms contributing to sarcopenia. Aside from protein loss, disease process and hormonal changes, DISUSE plays Cheridine P. Oro- Josef, an important factor in the of muscle M.D., DFM, FPAFP, FPCGM development wasting. Sedentary cheridinemd@gmail.com lifestyle has been one of the problems of the n the Philippines, Senior Citizens work present generation. With to help defray family expenses. Families the use of many technological gadgets, in poverty level because of early marriage the digital natives, our children, have and unemployment have older members of the less physical activities. Among the older family still working. I even have an 80 year generation, those who worked in the office full old male patient who still rides his bicycle to time just sitting down with paper works are collect plastic bottles in the neighbourhood of more prone to experience muscle weakness.

Marikina to provide food for his family. An 89 Aside from ageing, there are other causes year old female with kyphosis who frequents of sarcopenia. Inadequate nutrition also the clinic for consultation still sells vegetables contributes to the deterioration of muscle and fruits in the market. For some Filipino mass and function. Treatment options senior citizens, retirement is just a dream. include the use of Testosterone, Estrogen, Among those elderly who are fortunate to Growh Hormones, Myostatin inhibitors, enjoy their later years, they usually complain creatine and Vitamin D. However, at this of difficulty opening bottle caps and even moment all these modalities are still heavily opening doors. Some of them realize that investigated. their grip is much weaker that carrying their The good news is, some promising studies grandchildren becomes a feat. There are also have shown that with proper nutrition and those who find difficulty to drink water from exercise, muscle degeneration may be heavy glasses. Some senior couples who are delayed. Increasing protein in diet, with still sexually active complain of difficulty caution for those with renal problems, may sustaining the sexual act because of weakness help increase muscle mass. Our body is made in their lower extremities. up of proteins, hence a diet with adequate As in any part of our body, the muscular share of proteins is recommended. system too undergoes a characteristic Regular exercise program too, play a physiologic change as we age. In healthy central part to protect oxidative stress that young persons, 30% of body weight is muscle, damage cellular structure and aging of tissues and 20% is adipose tissue (fat). However, and organs. Among the exercise programs, by age 75, only about 15% is muscle, and resistance exercise help in maintaining 40% is adipose tissue. Starting at 40 years muscle function. Strength training is the only of age the muscle function declines by 1%, known non-pharmacological intervention annually. At 60, 20% of the muscle mass that can reverse some of the functional and function decrease by 20%. This is called changes seen during aging. Strength training SARCOPENIA of ageing. Coined by Irwin is based on the principle of adaptive response Roseberg in 1989, sarcopenia came from the of muscle to different mechanical loads.

Greek word sarx- muscle and penia- loss of. Resistance exercises constitute controlled The European Working Group on movement against varied resistance which Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) includes the use of cables and pulleys, developed a practical clinical definition and plyometrics, free weights and of course, the consensus diagnostic criteria for age-related use of body weight. sarcopenia. They defined sarcopenia as a MOVE IT OR LOSE IT! This is a very syndrome characterised by progressive and timely appeal for our senior citizens to generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass and advocate ACTIVE AGEING. This advocacy strength with a risk of adverse outcomes such clearly encourages senior citizens to find as physical disability, poor quality of life and time to help their bodies cope with all the death. While sarcopenia is mainly observed physiologic changes of ageing. MC

Our Muscles As We Age

GOLDEN THREADS

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Working Against a Good Project THE STUFF OF LIFE

IBA or the Stevie Awards, conferred recently to ABS-CBN this recognition for achievement and impactful contributions of companies worldwide. This year’s competition attracted over 3800 nominations from 63 countries. Nothing can stop a good project from rising.

By an act of faith and Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy charity, evangelist Bro. Eddie franco1573victoria@gmail.com Villanueva enabled the return of ABS-CBN, the A2Z channel he sun is out with its mighty power.

We welcomed the downpour, but not that started airing Kapamilya shows in Oct. the intermittent rains over the last 3 10, this year. The new A2Z Channel 11 is on weeks that flooded our farms, excessively free TV via analog broadcast in Metro Manila drowning our plants in my garden. These do and nearby provinces.It is also available on not matter as much as the experiences of those many cable and satellite TV operators like in Typhoon Rolly’s path, and all others whose Sky Cable.

Many were delighted at the return on lives, home, farmlands, livelihood have been destroyed. Four typhoons one after the other, the air of ABS-CBN, myself included. To the watching out for Siony, the fifth during this warm expression of gratitude by celebrity last quarter. Pagasa expect eight before year couple Oggie Alcacid and Regine Velasquez, end, we are on the fifth so far, three more to go. Bro. Eddie told them to thank the Lord who We prayed that the typhoon weakens and is the real owner of A2Z. Brother Eddie Villanueva is the founder change path; that the weather reports are not true; that it was a miscalculation; we prayed of one of the largest “Christ Centered”, biblethat we be safe and spared or that it does not based, full-gospel” churches in the world, the come our way. Fr. David Concepcion, preached Jesus Is Lord Church and Zoe broadcasting that, this is not the right way to pray, because Network.

STOP to SMELL the FLOWERS. There by that prayer, other people will be victimized is one plant in my garden that benefited from just the same.

Despite the denial of ABS-CBN franchise, the rains. This plant has been moved from even before the landfalls of Rolly took place. one part of the garden to another,following They were first on the site, on watch to relay the sun, looking for some shade, it was taking crucial information reporting the progress of my patience away, it was finally planted on a the typhoon, and mobilizing their resources to corner, where there is at least 6 hours of sun bring provisions , especially in far flung places. each day, there it was left to fend for itself.

One morning, after days of rain, a As we all know ABS-CBN has the widest reach of all existing networks. Their “ bayan fragrant smell greeted me at the garden. patrollers “ have been in place and were the Unnoticed, the sweet smell of Camia filled the sources of on the spot news , sending minute air. It made my day. We’ve had this Camia for the longest time, years, finally, we are to minute posts to the station.

These are eye-openers to those who reaping the fruits of our labor. The Facebook plotted to close ABS-CBN. Yes, I am an post received many likes, many affirmed its unabashed cheerleader for the station, and fragrance and recalled sweet memories of yes, now, even if there are other TV stations, other just as fragrant flowers.

To the plantitas and plantitos, I wish it is the choice of most viewers, reliable in disasters and calamities. ABS-CBN is you would propagate our indigenous species practically all over the country, from the of fragrant flower bearing plants. They are lowest valleys to the highest mountains. It becoming extinct now. I have difficulty looking has the greatest number of followers. On the for rosal, champaka, dama de noche. How can first show after the final decision of Congress, we forget our national flower the sampaguita -- this tiny, delicate flower, strung to a garland, a program garnered 6 million views.

While it has gone the extra mile to look a humble admirer offers to his lady love? Or after the welfare of the Filipino people, it the ylang-ylang, whose essential oil we export also ensure the well being of its staff, crew, to Paris, then comes back to us in the form of artists and audiences by implementing highly priced perfume? Or the balmy nights safety protocols, work from home schemes. we sit outside a dimly lit patio, the scent of The world’s premier business award, the dama de noche tickling our senses? MC

T

November 7, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

The Essence of Clarity…

MARKET DRIVEN

E

Danny Buenbrazo

danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com

very organization or office created is intended to accomplish certain goals and objectives aligned with the interest of the general public, investors, and other stakeholders. The nature of the goals and objectives that are supposed to be achieved would vary from one organization to another.

Public organizations were created to provide some goods and services to the citizens of the country or residents of specific areas. Of course, the bottomline is to improve the general welfare by improving the situation of every individual residing therein.

Private institutions could either be created primarily for generating profit for the owners or serve some other purposes for the benefit of the general public or for a certain group of persons or even for a defined interest group.

Other forms of organization aspire to attain the purposes for which they were supposed to have been established.

In reality, not all of the organizations would be able to accomplish the purpose or purposes for which they were created in the first place. Why does this happen?

There are a number of reasons for the failure of government agencies, non-government organizations, and private business firms to achieve their goals and objectives and one of the most common reason would be the lack of clarity. Similarly, the lack of clarity is also one of the major reasons for the failure of programs and projects implemented at the national or a a local level.

Clarity refers to that situation where there is no ambiguity in the understanding of something. In operational terms this would mean that people have common perception

of details of something, such as, color, size, quality, and quantity, among other dimensions or attributes.

Let us go through more concrete examples of lack of clarity that contributes most frequently to failures of organizations and/ or projects to realize their stated goals and

objectives.

First, the failure to specify or delimit the problem or concern that are supposed to be addressed by an organization or by related organizations. For example, there are several government agencies that try to address like the lack of supply, high price, or poor quality of consumer goods. When the jurisdiction of the various agencies is not clearly identified, there would either be overlaps (two or three agencies attending to the concern) or failure of action with no agency responding.

Second, the geographical scope of the operation of an agency or a project may not have been well defined resulting to neglect of certain areas or some places receiving more goods or services than there are supposed to have.

Related to the first two, there are instances that the extent of the problem in various areas would be different,, therefore, the level of their need should vary but the policy make or problem analyst neglected to delve into that properly. A concrete example would be responses to calamities such as the recent spate of typhoons that visited the country. There is a tendency for government agencies and even relief organizations to provide equal amount of funds or volume of goods and services to the affected localities failure to note that places are not equally affected.

Fourth, there are also situations where the agency or organization seeking to resolve an unfavorable condition adopts solutions that could not squarely deal with the problem, like using a knife to cut a piece of wood into two equal lengths instead of a saw. MC

7

THE MINDANAO CROSS

November 7,2020

PALM TREE, INC. A Rural Bank Tanghal Bldg. 5, Roman Vilo St. Cotabato City LIST OF BANK FORCLOSED REAL PROPERTIES FOR SALE RBCI NO.

FORMER OWNER

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION OF PROPERTY

AREA (HECTARES/ SQUARE METER)

I. COTABATO CITY

1 ALAMADA, HADJI MENDOZA Bagua, Cot. City 2 MAMA, DATU BLAH Kalanganan, Cot. City 3 SINSUAT, DATU MANDO Zenaida S. Subd. Cot. City 4 BAGIS, SALEM Bagua, Cot. City 5 ABDUL, SALILING M. Sinsuat Subd. Tamontaka,

Cot. City 6 MOHAMMAD, TARHATA Bo. Bagua Cot. City

7 ORTOUSTE, RAYMUNDO Bo. Colina, Cot. City

8 CANOSO, LEONARDO PC Hill, RH Cot. City

9 LAGUIDAO, GLORIA Colina, Cot. City 10 ROSALES, ANTONIO Colina Pascual, Cot. City 11 MARTINEZ, MANUEL San Vicente St. Cot. City 12 MAULANA, MAMA/ASNAIDA Matampay, Cot. City 13 PANGASIAN, IBRAHIM Bo. Matampay Pob.2 Cot. City 14 VISMANOS, LOURDES Matampay Pob. 2 Cot. City 15 SERO, CARMENSITA Kakar, Cotabato City

16 VALERA, VICTORINO Kakar, Cotabato City

17 ADIL, ARTHUR/ALICIA Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

Bo. Kakar, Cot. City

18 AYUNAN, ELPIDIO Bo. Manday, Cot. City 19 LUCMAN, HEDJARA Usman Subd. Mampen,

Cot. City - House & Lot 20 MALA, HAPSA Tamontaka, Cot. City

II. DOS, MAGUINDANAO

21 ROJAS, ANASTACIO Dimapatoy, D.O.S., Mag. 22 LIZADA, HELEN Awang, D.O.S., Mag.

23 BAKAL, NASSER Semba, D.O.S., Mag.

24 ESPERAT, CYRIL Bo. Semba, D.O.S., Mag. 25 BARAGUIR, BLAH Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 26 BRAHIM, LAURA Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 27 BRAHIM, HADJI MUNIB Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 28 BELLO, HELENA Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 29 LUMENDA, MISSUAREY Brgy. Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 30 YAP, ANTHONY PAUL Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 31 ADAM, JASMIN Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 32 DIMAUKOM, BAILON Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 33 YAP, ALEXANDER Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 34 YUSOPH, ABDULRAHMAN Capiton, D.O.S., Mag. 35 LOSARIA, ENRIQUE Semba, D.O.S., Mag. 36 BULALAQUE, ROGER Semba, D.O.S., Mag.

III. SULTAN KUDARAT, MAGUINDANAO

37 SOLEDAD, JAIME Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

38 SOLEDAD, ESTRELLA Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

Rebuken, S.K., Mag.

39 BORREROS, INES Domalangcob, S.K Mag 40 ADANG, FARIDA Bo. Baumbo, S.K., Mag. 41 GUAL, MONERA Bambo, S.K., Mag.

42 LATADA, ELEUTERIA Ungap S.K., Mag.

43 LARODER, CASIMERO Pinaring, S.K., Mag.

Pinaring, S.K., Mag.

Pinaring, S.K., Mag.

Pinaring, S.K., Mag.

44 ANTAO, IBRAHIM Crossing Pinaring S.K., Mag. 45 AGUAM, PUNDOG Salimbao, S.K., Mag.

46 LAGAOLAN, ALI Gang, S.K., Mag.

IV. PARANG, MAGUINDANAO

47 POSADAS, EVELYN Sarmiento, Parang, Mag. 48 CORDERO, MARIA JECYLL Bo. Landasan, Parang, Mag.

323 7,941 787 542 414 320 200 452 474 498 426 350 120 700 399 1,000 450 450 450 450 450 450 900 1,000

6,250 432 200 196 300 1,000 400 500 400 300 1,005 300 1,000 500 240 240

620 661 1,111 1,013 484 494 545 523 593 618 349 533 267 400 360 360 434 399 282 1,700 729

400 300

RBCI NO.

FORMER OWNER

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION OF PROPERTY

AREA (HECTARES/ SQUARE METER)

49 GEPTE, PABLO Polloc, Parang, Mag.

1,180

V. NORTH COTABATO

50 CUEVAS, DOMINGO Pagalungan, North Cotabato 940 51 CUEVAS, ENCARNACION Pagalungan, North Cotabato 941

VI. SOUTH COTABATO

52 DE PIO, JUANITA Bo. Makar, Gen. Santos City 601 53 SANTOS, HERNAEZ Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 3,674

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 3,647

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 3,606

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 312

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 300

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 300

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

Tubi-Allah, Surallah, South Cot. 299

VII. AGRICULTURAL - MAGUINDANAO AREA

54 ALIANZA, CONRADO Dinganen, Buldon, Mag. 8.0000 55 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao

-LOT 1 8.0000 56 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao

-LOT 2 8.0000 57 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao

-LOT 3 8.0000 58 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao

-LOT 204 8.0000 59 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao

-LOT 223 8.0000 60 CASTILLON, LOZANO Ampatuan, Maguindanao 7.1963 61 DADIGAN, LUMENDA Gadungan, S.S Barongis 1.2023 62 GANDAWALI, KAIRON Pangakat, Parang, Maguindanao 6.4701 63 GANDAWALI, KAIRON Pangakat, Parang, Maguindanao 5.1284 64 MANGULABNAN, PATROCINIO S.S Barongis, Maguindanao 19.993 65 MAQUILING, PATROCINIO Banaba, Ampatuan, Mag. 18.2943 66 MAQUILING, PATROCINIO Banaba, Ampatuan, Mag. 8.8666 67 MAQUILING, PATROCINIO Banaba, Ampatuan, Mag. 2.9903 68 MAQUILING, PATROCINIO Banaba, Ampatuan, Mag. 2.6845 69 MUARES, LUDOVICO Kaya-kaya, Ampatuan, Mag. 23.9285 70 RAJAMUDA, ALING Rasangan, Sultan Kudarat, Mag. 18.8142 71 SABANDAL, CESAR Nangi, Upi, Maguindanao 7.154 72 SOBRESTANTE, OSIAS Maganoy, Maguindanao 8.0000 73 SOBRESTANTE, OSIAS Maganoy, Maguindanao 8.0000

VIII. AGRICULTURAL - NORTH COTABATO PROVINCE

74 ALAMADA, LUMBAK Pigcawayan, North Cotabato 5.2475 75 BANOG, DAMAGUE Pikit, North Cotabato 3.6814 76 BAUTISTA, ROSAL Dansuli, Isulan, SK 12.7813 77 BONA, FILIPINAS/RB Labas, Libungan, North Cotabato 4.9375 78 BONA, MILAGROS/RB Labas, Libungan, North Cotabato 4.8458 79 BUGAYONG, VIRGILIO/RB Pisan, Kabacan, North Cotabato 4.7750 80 BOTAWAN, DIOSCORO Pikit, North Cotabato 3.8747 81 BULANAN, RAMON/RB Kapinpilan, Midsayap, Cotabato 4.9999 82 ELECHICON, MORITA/RB Dimatog, Midsayap, Cotabato 4.6019 83 ONGTANGCO, GLORIA Balugo, Midsayap, Cotabato 6.8191 84 ONIA, DOMINGO/RB Suluk, Midsayap, Cotabato 3.7414 85 YADAO, LUZVIMINDA Baliki, Midsayap Cotabto 4.8903 86 RURAL BANK COTABATO Brgy. Ugalingan, Carmen, Cotabato

TCT-37310 Lot 343 - 2.5082 has.

344 - 14.0092 has.

345 - 1.9677 has.

18,4851 has.

INTERESTED BUYERS ARE ADVISED TO GO TO PALM TREE BANK, INC. (FORMERLY RURAL BANK OF COTABATO, INC.) LOCATED AT TANGHAL BLDG. #5, ROMAN VILO STREET, COTABATO CITY. TEL.NO. (064)421-7306 CELL NO. 09176340008 DURING OFFICE HOURS MONDAY TO FRIDAY FROM 9:00AM TO 3:00PM

8

November 7, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

Army seizes guns in NoCot, UXO in SK

REGISTER NOW. The Department of Agriculture in Region 10 is urging farmers and fisherfolk to register in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System through web-based registration using the link: ffedis.da.gov.ph.

Photo courtesy of Monalisa Camama/CFSI

Escaping, Surviving, Rebuilding:

Elements of 90th Infantry (Bigkis Lahi) Battalion seized assorted firearms from suspected lawless elements during focused military operations in Matalam, North Cotabato.

Found by soldiers were one M-16 Armalite rifle, two cal. 45 pistols two M1 Garand rifles, a Carbine rifle and ammunition loaded inside two backpacks.

The backpacks were left by unidentified men who quickly fled after sensing government forces were coming.

Major General Juvymax R. Uy, 6th ID commander, lauded the troops for relentlessly pursuing lawless elements in their area of operation.

He said the 6th ID forces

will continue the campaign to eliminate threats posed by the lawless elements even as he called for public’s support.

Meanwhile, soldiers from 37th Infantry Battalion discovered an unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Sitio Nursery, Barangay Sta Clara, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.

Personnel of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) found the explosive beside the highway and quickly alerted government forces.

The UXO was a rifle grenade.

Maj. Gen. Uy said “timely reporting of citizens to authorities means a lot.”

Rhoderick Beñez

A PWD’s story on Marawi Siege

Escaping the Marawi Siege on May 2017 was more difficult for Yusoph Edris, 35 and a person with disability (PWD), with his family on May 2017. Three years after the liberation of Marawi, his family is now walking to rebuilding their lives.

His family used to live in Raya Madaya I in Marawi City with his wife, Epi Ibra, 37, and three children.

He said that his left leg suddenly swelled up to almost the size of a basketball in 2014. They thought that it was because of diabetes.

However, because they did not have the money to have his condition properly checked, they were only able to see a doctor in Marawi City. Without any other examinations, the doctor can only conclude that it might have been cancer and had recommended that he see another doctor in Iligan City, about 50 kilometers from Marawi, for second opinion and for amputation.

They did not have the money to take him to Iligan City, neither did Yusoph want to lose a leg.

“Before, he (Yusoph) wasn’t able to go out of our house in Raya Madaya for 20 years. The first time he went out was when we had to flee from the war in

2017,” said Anisa Yusoph, Yusoph’s daughter On the day they fled from the siege, Yusoph needed to be carried by the shoulder by family members. He shared that they had to literally drag him to cross Pumping Bridge by foot in the midst of all the exchange of fires because they had no vehicle. When they catched a glimpse of men in black shirts, members of the Daesh group, they can only keep going.

While crossing the bridge, he begged his cousins who carried him to just leave him on the bridge and save themselves. They refused to leave him behind and continued to drag him just so they could cross the bridge together alive.

Fortunately, at the end of the bridge, a tricycle passed by them and saw that they had a patient with them. The driver offered them a ride out of the city.

Community and Family Services International (CFSI) first met Yusoph in their

TESDA devolves powers, functions to BARMM

THE Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has devolved powers of supervision and control to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to implement its programs and projects in the areas of autonomy.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim said “despite challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, all efforts designed to provide access to education for the region’s constituents must not stop.”

BARMM Education Minister Mohaguer Iqbal said the regional government and the TESDA has entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the devolution of powers of control and supervision over programs

and projects allocated for or to be implemented in the Bangsamoro region—which is composed of Basilan, Lanao Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Secretary Isidro Lapeña, TESDA Director General, said the devolution agreement dated October 30, 2020 “signalled closer collaboration between TESDA and BARMM in the field of technical-vocational education and training (TVET).”

A Bureau of Technical Education and Skills Development form part of the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), under Iqbal.

Ebrahim said: “We have many Bangsamoro brothers and sisters who can truly benefit from this shared journey…it’s time to diversify the skills set

P3

tent in Bito Buadi Itowa Evacuation Center in Marawi City in 2018 where he was temporarily relocated after the war.

His family lived under a tent for almost three years.

CFSI’s Marawi Recovery Project (MRP), funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government, granted Yusoph Edris livelihood support to set up a sari-sari store (retail store).

Using the profit they earned from the support, the family then started exploring more means to gain income by selling viands and accepting laundry jobs.

He and his wife is now able to earn as much as P700 a day.

Yusoph was proud that ever since he received the support, he and his family is no longer dependent on the relief goods distributed to the IDPs and can now better provide for them. He can now also afford to buy the medicines he need for his

aching leg.

CFSI’s MRP also assisted Yusoph in applying for a PWD ID. He shared that it was his only valid ID which he used to claim benefits and support from the government.

Yusoph’s family were then relocated to a sturdier temporary house in October 2019 by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City. His wife, Epi Ibra, said that they are now more comfortable because they have their own toilet and a house made of concreate.

He also recently received Certificates of Live Birth (COLB) for him and his wife with the assistance of CFSI. He was able to use the certificates for hospitalization to see a doctor about his leg.

Since 2014, he has not seen a doctor again for a check-up.

He also received crutches from CFSI MRP which not only allowed him to go out of the house, but also to personally go to government offices such

MOLE-BARMM asks constituents how best to serve them

COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Labor and Employment in the Bangsamoro region is building cross-section consensus on how it can best serve the local communities via a periodic constituents’ forum.

Minister Romeo Sema of the MOLE-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the latest Bangsamoro Constituents Forum (BCF), was held in Parang, Maguindanao.

“Besides the participants of the local sectors, representatives from different BARMM ministries were also present in the gathering,” Sema said.

The engagement also involved leaders from the Moro, Christian

and Lumad groups in Maguindanao and from parts of Lanao del Sur. The periodic BCF is meant to gather essential public inputs on how MOLE can best address labor issues besetting the communities in BARMM’s five provinces, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“It was our second BCF activity in just a couple of months and the discussions on labor issues and other community concerns were extensive and participatory,” Sema said Tuesday.

He said their BCF is in support of the participatory governance initiatives of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. John Felix Unson

REBUILDING LIFE. Yusoph Edris’s store in his tent in Bito Buadi Itowa Evacuation Center in Marawi City.

Photo courtesy of Monalisa Camama/CFSI

as DSWD to claim IDP benefits for his family, as the head of the household.

“We hope that the war would not happen again, especially that it would be difficult to flee again, given the case of my father, Anisa shared, looking back at the war three years ago.

Epi said that they still need have Yusoph see another doctor for his leg and to get medicines to ease its aching. They are also affected by the effects of the province-

wide quarantine imposed against COVID-19 but because of the support given to them, they were able to get by and is able to provide for the needs of their family.

“We are also thankful for the help from CFSI. Without them, we would not have been able to make it this far,” she said.

After surviving the siege and its ravaging effects, Yusoph and Epi, at present, continues to walk to rebuilding their lives for their family. CFSI

Nurse, tanod jailed for shabu deal The police confiscated 33 sachets of shabu from a frontliner nurse who fell in an entrapment operation in Midsayap, North Cotabato Tuesday.

Julius Cesar Dadero Duque, a nurse in the local government unit of Midsayap, is now detained.

He was arrested after selling 33 sachets of shabu to a nonuniformed member of the Midsayap municipal police during a tradeoff Tuesday.

He was entrapped by policemen led by Lt. Col. John Calinga inside a lodging house in Barangay Poblacion 6, Midsayap.

Calinga said Duque is a nurse assigned in a COVID-19 isolation facility of the Midsayap

LGU. Also in Midsayap, a village “tanod” was nabbedby antinarcotics agents during entrapment operations.

Seized from Randy Arida Manto, 42, were P680,000 worth of shabu, according to PDEA12 Regional Director Naravy Duquiatan.

Manto, a member of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team in Barangay Tumbras, immediately cuffed after selling P680,000 worth of shabu to an undercover agent.

The Midsayap PNP and Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion backed the anti-drug operation.

Manto and Duque are both facing charges for violating RA 9165.

John Felix Unson