The Mindanao Cross | June 5, 2021

Vol. LXXIII| No. 17| Cotabato City | Saturday, June 5, 2021 |8 Pages | P10.00

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DI sub-leader, NPAs yield to Army

CHURCH / P4

Pope Francis unveils sweeping reform of Catholic Church’s penal sanctions

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COVID-19 rise not due to new variants, DOH says

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

DOH-12 SAYS NEW COVID VARIANTS INFECT 19 PEOPLE

By Edwin O. Fernandez

Health officials in the Soccsksargen region has recorded 19 individuals who were infected with new COVID-19 variants.

Dr. Aristides Concepcion Tan, DOHCenter for Health Development (CHD-12) told members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19, that 10 of the 19 patients had the United Kingdom variant (B.1.1.7).

Of the 10, five were from Gen. Santos City, three in North Cotabato and two in South Cotabato.

The task force also recorded four patients with South African variant (B.1.1.351) of which three were from North Cotabato and one in Sultan Kudarat.

Two patient have the virus identified as “variant of concern/mutation with potential clinical significance.”

South Cotabato has one Brazil variant and an unknown variant. Gen. Santos City has one patient with COVID-19 Indian variant.

Tan said to date no clinical observations that would suggest these new variants are more lethal that the original variant.

He reiterated the calls of DOH for the public to observe health protocols at all times.

Cotabato clergy entombs colleagues

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By Edwin O. Fernandez THE Diocesan Clergy of expired at about 1 a.m.

Cotabato has sent to their Saturday, May 23. final resting place Fr. They were isolated Loreto “Loret” Sanoy and at the Cotabato Regional Fr. Rex “Bong” Bacero and Medical Center after on Tuesday morning, showing symptoms of June 1. the virus. They were Both diocesan clergy later tested positive for members succumbed to COVID-19. novel coronavirus disease Fr. Sanoy was born 2019 (COVID-19). on December 10, 1943 F r . B e n T o r r e t o , and ordained priest on DCC, cathedral parish April 8, 1983. rector, said Cotabato Before he joined A r c h b i s h o p A n g e l i t o the congregation, Fr. Lampon, OMI, DD, ang Sanoy was a teacher in main presider ng funeral Physics, Mathematics mass Diocesan priests. and Algebra at the then Fr. Sanoy, 78, died Notre Dame Diocesan at 8:25 p.m. Friday, May S e m i n a r y h i g h 22 and Fr. Bacero, 52, school department.

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BARMM brings potable H2O to island towns

By John Felix Unson WITH no potable water plants for the four towns are for decades, inhabitants of designed to process 20,000 the island municipalities liters of salty seawater into in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi safe drinking water daily. stand to benefit from the The desalination plants unprecedented water in different sites in Tawifor life projects from the Tawi are expected to produce Bangsamoro government. no fewer than 10,000 liters Bangsamoro Local daily of drinking water from Government Minister seawater.

Naguib Sinarimbo and BARMM, through Donna Paiso of the Water Sinarimbo’s office, allocated Equipment Technology P114 million for the projects.

Industries Inc. (WET) Thursday’s forging of f o r g e d T h u r s d a y t h e contract for the projects, contract for the setting up of held at the Bangsamoro desalination plants in Pata, c a p i t o l i n C o t a b a t o Panglima Tahil, Pandami City, was witnessed by and Pangutaran towns in accountant Bernard Sero Sulu and in Tawi-Tawi. from the Commission Each of the desalination on Audit.

Susing defeats COVID-19, Makilala veep gets virus

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By Edwin O. Fernandez MAYOR Jesus Sacdalan of Medical Center (CRMC) Alamada, North Cotabato that he has been cleared has defeated the virus and of the virus. will soon resume official Sacdalan believed duties as the town chief he was infected with executive. the virus durin gone of Sacdalan, 77, who the social event that he t e s t e d p o s i t i v e f o r attended where several COVID-19 on May 19, is people pose with him for raring to resume for work. photo opportunities that On Wednesday, he he had to remove his got another dose of anti- facemask.

COVID-19 vaccines at But he admitted he the municipal health really could not recall office where he showed where he exactly got his certificate issued by the virus since he the Cotabato Regional and was not exposed to

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ENRIVONMENT MONTH. Employees of Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 12 join the nation in celebrating Environment Month by planting trees. This year’s theme is “Sama-samang Pagkilos, Sama-samang Paghilom. Ikaw, Ako, Tayo ang Kalikasan.”

Photo courtesy of Ardec Erdb/DENR Soccsksargen

DID YOU KNOW? June is Environment Month June was declared Philippine Environment Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 237 signed on April 4, 1988,

by President Corazon Aquino.

The celebration coincides with World Environment Day, which is marked on June 5. The proclamation emphasizes the necessity to heighten environmental consciousness among Filipinos.

Marawi gets P400-M water supply project BANGSAMORO Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. are to expand the water supply system in Marawi City using a P400 million grant from the regional coffer.

Ebrahim and Adiong forged a memorandum of agreement, enjoining their offices to jointly implement the project, last week in Camp Darapanan,

By John Felix Unson the headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The project aims to ensure the connectivity of 40 of Marawi City’s more than 90 barangays to sources of water to complement the national government’s reconstruction of dwelling enclaves ravaged by the sixmonth conflict in the area in 2017 that

the Maute terror group instigated Ebrahim, head of the 80-member Bangsamoro parliament, and Adiong signed the agreement pertaining to the project in the presence of BARMM officials, among them Naguib Sinarimbo and Eduard Guerra, regional local government and public works ministers, respectively.

Adiong’s younger brother,

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June 5, 2021

THE MINDANAO CROSS

DI sub-leader, NPAs yield to Army

A senior member of the Dawlah Islamiya implicated in more than a dozen deadly terror attacks in central Mindanao surrendered to the military Wednesday.

Khalid Kalaing renounced his membership with the Dawlah Islamiya and pledged allegiance to the government after turning over to officials of the 7th Infantry Battalion four assault rifles during a simple rite in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat.

Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Thursday Kalaing yielded through the joint intercession of Brig. Gen. Roy Galido of the 601st Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Romel Valencia of 7th IB and local officials.

Kalaing belonged to the Maguid faction in the Dawlah Islamiya, also known as the

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), tagged by the Army in all deadly bombings in central Mindanao since 2014.

The group operates in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

It has a reputation for setting off improvised explosive devices in bus terminals, in markets and inside commercial establishments and restaurants to avenge losses in clashes with pursuing state security forces.

“It is not too late yet. The government can help usher Khalid Kalaing back to mainstream society,” Uy said.

No fewer than 90 Dawlah Islamiya members from central Mindanao’s

adjoining Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato provinces have surrendered in batches to units of 6th ID since September last year.

Kalaing’s surrender was simultaneous with the return to the fold of law by 21 members of the New People’s Army in Lebak town, also in Sultan Kudarat province.

The group surrendered to the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, also a component unit of 6th ID. The most senior guerilla in the group, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said they were enticed to turn themselves in with how former comrades

AFP: NPAs weakened by rebel surrender

THE communist movement in Sultan Kudarat continues to decline and becoming nonessential as more and more rebels denounced the communist rebels and surrendered.

After 21 New Peoples’ Army (NPA) yielded to the Army in Lebak, 13 NPAs also followed suit in nearby Kalamansig, both in Sultan Kudarat.

On Wednesday afternoon, the rebels who are members of Sub-Regional Command (SRC) - Daguma under Far South Mindanao Region, surrendered to the military’s 37th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Kalamansig with their firearms.

Colonel Eduardo Gubat, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, welcomed the rebels and told them they made the right decision.

They turned in six firearms and several war paraphernalia.

Maria Socorro Lanto, Kalamansig municipal administrator helped the Army in welcoming the former rebels.

“Their surrender is a huge setback to the mainstream CTG (communist-terrorist group) which is an indication that the stronghold of the communist terrorist group is continuously weakening in Sultan Kudarat,” Colonel Gubat said.

The new batch of surrenderors received immediate cash and livelihood assistance from Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Teng T. Mangudadatu and Kalamansig Mayor Rolando Garcia.

The former rebels will stay in the halfway house provided provincial government wherein they will undergo reorientation and processing to be included in the national assistance and livelihood initiatives of the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Ka Benny, one of the former rebels, said he was enticed to join the movement with the promise of better life, livelihood and legitimate ownership of the

land they till in the mountains of Kalamansig.

“That promise was never materialized and we were fooled, the story of our former companions who surrendered earlier has convinced us to lay down arms too and avail of govenrment’s help,” Ka Benny said in the vernacular.

Since January, the total number of NPA surrenderors rose to 72, according to Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th ID commander who lauded the 603rd brigade accomplishments.

"This mass surrender of NPA members is a clear manifestations that the organization is dwindling and in the brink of defeat,” Uy said even as he urged other rebels who are still in the mountains to follow suit.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Edwin O. Fernandez

Abus nabbed in Malaysia up for prosecution

THE police now have custody over the eight Abu Sayyaf terrorists arrested in Sabah by Malaysian authorities, to be prosecuted for various crimes, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region told Mindanao Cross this week.

The Malaysian government turned over Friday last to Philippine authorities the eight wanted Abu Sayyaf members arrested in

Sabah, Malaysia two weeks before.

Sansibar Bensio, Firdaus Omar, Munimar Binda, Ladin Mujahirin, Hamzah Faisal, Sansis Mohammad, Halim Akhir and Yusuf are now in the custody of the Sulu provincial police under the Police Regional OfficeBangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the military’s Western

Mindanao Command, said the eight Abu Sayyaf members were arrested by agents of the Eastern Sabah Security Command, acting on tips from the Filipino communities in Sabah.

The eight terrorists, implicated in heinous crimes, were turned over by the Malaysian security officials to counterparts in the WestMinCom and the Sulu provincial police on Friday in Taganak island

town in Tawi-Tawi.

The eight men were accompanied to Taganak

by Malaysian Army Brig.

Gen. Datuk Ahmad Fuan Othman and companions from the Malaysian military and police.

The eight terrorists were said to have fled to Sabah due to WestMinCom’s unrelenting anti-Abu Sayyaf operations in Sulu and in Tawi-Tawi. John

Felix Unson

MARIJUANA FARM. Combined personnel of the Police Regional Office-12 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency together raided and destroyed this marijuana farm in Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Its owner, Elmo Casuyon Lozada, was arrested in the operation, now detained for prosecution, story on page 8.

Photo Courtesy of PRO-12

got reintegrated into mainstream society via the government’s reconciliation program for communist insurgents.

“We are tired of hiding in the jungles every time soldiers tracking us down get close to our hideouts,” the group’s leader said in Hiligaynon vernacular.

The NPA is known for venting ire on relatives of comrades who have bolted out.

“Our main concern now is for us to be relocated to areas far from reach of our former companions,” said another member of the group.

Uy said the 21 NPAs operated in the hinterland borders of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato provinces. John Felix Unson

Wanted fugitive siblings now detained NORTH COTABATO — State operatives captured the elusive siblings Montukan and Walo Bungay, long wanted for heinous offenses, after a six-hour chase in Pikit, now both detained by the police, awaiting prosecution for heinous offenses.

The duo was tagged in high-profile crimes, including robbery with homicide, multiple murder, frustrated murder and cattle theft.

Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division said Monday the Bungays were cornered in Barangay Bualan Pikit, North Cotabato by personnel of the 602nd Brigade led

by Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong and members of the Philippine National Police.

A combined policeArmy team was to serve the suspects warrants for their arrest from the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in the province.

But the operation turned haywire when they resisted, opened fire and

ran away.

“Troops from units of the brigade and their counterparts from the PNP chased them until they were cornered with the help of villagers who provided information on their exact location,” Uy said.

Uy lauded Capulong and personnel of the 90th and 34th Infantry Battalions, both under the 602nd Brigade, the 6th ID’s 62nd Division Reconnaissance Company, the operatives from the North Cotabato provincial police and the Pikit municipal police for the arrest of the Bungays.

The Bungays have eluded previous attempts to clamp them down.

Uy said the suspects turned in two M16 assault rifles and a .45 caliber pistol.

“It is up to the police to charge them with illegal possession of firearms,” Uy said.

“The long hanad of law has finally reached them,” Uy said. John Felix

Unson

New COVID-19 isolation facility up in Koronadal KORONADAL CITY — The city government will open in the coming days another primary isolation facility for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients as it continues to cope with the “alarming” increase in locally transmitted infections.

The local government said preparations are ongoing on Thursday for the conversion of some classrooms at the Koronadal Central Elementary School-1 in Barangay Zone IV into an expansion Covid-19 isolation center.

Dr. Edito Vego, acting head of the City Health Office, said the school was earlier offered by the Department of Education city division, through schools division superintendent Crispin Soliven, to be used for such purpose.

A team from the city government inspected the school and its available resources on Wednesday afternoon, he said.

“We’re fast-tracking the process so we can immediately use it as isolation facility,” Vego

said in a radio interview.

The official admitted that the city’s allotted isolation beds are already depleted due to the sudden increase in new Covid-19 cases in the past several days.

He said the city’s 120-bed main isolation center at the Marbel 1 Central Elementary School in Barangay Gen. Paulino Santos was full as of Wednesday noon.

Vego said they were forced to reuse the available 30 beds at the Anawim-Koronadal Foundation’s home for abandoned elderly.

After “plateauing” at just above 200 in May, the active cases in the area rose to 369 on Wednesday night after recording 133 new infections in the last two days.

The confirmed cases in the city since last year have reached a total of 1,848, with 39 related deaths and 1,440 recoveries.

“Our cases are on upward trend and the situation is already alarming since our hospitals are also full,” Vego said. PNA

June 5, 2021

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THE MINDANAO CROSS JICA PHILIPPINES

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an active development partner of the Philippine Government, is now seeking the services of dynamic and competent staff with a high degree of initiative to fill the position of:

FIELD COORDINATOR FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY PROMOTION (Submission Deadline: June 16th, 2021) FC shall be responsible in performing a full range of assignment (such as administrative, logistic and technical support, as well as, coordinating with government offices or related agencies in the implementation of programs) under the supervision of Japanese experts at JICA Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CDPB). The FC will be working at JICA Cotabato Project Office in Cotabato City.

Qualifications*: • Graduate of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Agriculture, Community Development, or other related courses; • With at least 3 years of working experience; experience in capacity development in the areas of local industry promotion, agriculture, and community development. Work experience with the international development partners and in BARMM is an advantage; • Strong interest in and good knowledge of development issues is an advantage, • Good coordination and interpersonal skills, adaptable and willing to learn and work in a multi-cultural environment; • Excellent oral and written communications skills in English; fluency in Filipino and local language is an advantage; and.

• Proficient computer/IT skills with sound knowledge of common word-processing, spreadsheets and graphics software used in JICA (such as Excel, Word, Power Point &/or File Maker, Outlook, etc.)

Terms of Reference: • Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the project activities of CDPB under output 2.

• Facilitate the procurement of goods and services related to the project activities.

• Assist in the liquidation of expenses with respect to workshops, seminars, field trips and other related activities.

• Coordinate with peace stakeholders such as BARMM/BTA, MILF, MNLF, GPH, LGUs, Academe, CSO/NGO, Private Sector, UN Agencies, Bilateral and International Development Partners, and other related stakeholders.

Conditions: • Initial engagement/contract is from the 16th of July 2021 to end of March 2022 (end of Japanese Fiscal Year) • Subject to a satisfactory annual performance evaluation, the recruited field coordinator’s contract will be renewed for the duration of April 1st 2022 until end of December 2022 (end of CDPB) * Evaluation of applicants shall not be limited to the abovementioned qualifications. JICA may consider other relevant work criteria or qualifications in recruitment of said position.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is an agency of the Government of Japan responsible for implementing the technical cooperation, grant aid and yen loan programs of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA). For more information, contact jicacdpb@gmail. com or refer to www.facebook.com/jicaphilippines.

REQUIREMENTS: (i) All applicants must indicate “FC for Local Industry Promotion” in the subject line of their e-mail; (ii) send to RuselieEnriquez.PP@jica.go.jp and RoseArsena.PP@ jica.go.jp on or before June 16th 2021, 5pm.the following documents: Curriculum Vitae with photo (2x2” head and shoulders, no hat), a cover letter and a 400-word essay written on an A4 size bond paper with title: “My work experience in local industry promotion or community development” The essay should be written using Times New Roman, size 12 font, single space.

Only short-listed applicants will be notified.

Republic of the Philippines BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO REGIONAL BOARD OF INVESTMENTS Cotabato City

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the application of ESMAULANA GLOBAL VENTURES COMPANY INC. (EMGVCI) (OIL EXPLORATION AND EXTRACTION) With official address at #13 5th St., Don E. Sero Subd., Rosary Heights V, Cotabato City, applied for registration with the regional Bangsamoro Board of InvestmentsBARMM under Book I of the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, otherwise kown as Executive Order No. 226 as amended by the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or CREATE Law (R.A. 11534) for OIL EXPLORATION AND EXTRACTION on June 2, 2021.

Any person with valid objections to or pertinent comments on the above-mentioned application may file his/her objection, in writing and under oath, with the RBOI-BARMM within one (1) week from the date of publication.

Done this 2nd day of June 2021.

ATTY. ISHAK V. MASTURA Chairman

MC: June 5, 2021 Republic of the Philippines Region XII City Government of Cotabato OFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that SHEILA SEROT LIMOS has filed with this Office a petition for change of First Name from “JOSEPH MARIO” TO “RODILLO” in the certificate of Live Birth of JOSEPH MARIO CANAAN MORIN who was born on September 15, 1957 at Midsayap , Cotabato and whose parents are APOLONIO MORIN and VIRGINIA CANAAN. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office of Municipal Civil Registrar, Midsayap, Cotabato.

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Joseph Foronda Factora has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from Joey to Joseph in the birth certificate of Joey Foronda Factora who was born on April 2, 1965 at Cotabato City and whose parents are Eriberto Factora and Elena Foronda.

Any person adversely affected by the said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office.

(Sgd) NORA B. CABUGWASON

(Sgd.) TOHAMY M. LAUBAN

MC: May 29 & June 5, 2021

“He was a teacher for seminarians and eventually become a seminarian,” Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, DCC, DD said in one of the wake masses he presided for the priests.

“Both of us entered the Remase or Regional Major Seminary in Davao City,” he said, describing Fr. Sanoy as having “sharp memory.”

“He can easily memorize the names of the children of his close friends, that is why he always ask his friends how’s your children and he identify them one by one,” Bishop Bagaforo said.

“Fr. Sanoy was a very frank person, a joke among us religious was that we don’t tell our secrets to him because he will reveal it,” Bishop Bagaforo said in his homily.

After his ordination, Fr. Sanoy was assigned to various parishes in the Archdiocese of Cotabato, including as rector of Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary.

He was the parochial vicar of Our

Registration office IV

MC: May 29 & June 5, 2021

Republic of the Philippines Region XII City Government of Cotabato

OFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Hazel Amor Atay Margate has filed with this office a correction of entry in sex/gender from Male to Female in the certificate of live birth of Hazel Amor Atay Margate who was born on July 1, 1993 at Cotabato City and whose parents are Orvel Ba-ang Margate and Ma. Eliza Legorio Atay.

Any person adversely affected by the said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office.

(Sgd.) TOHAMY M. LAUBAN City Civil Registrar MC: May 29 & June 5, 2021

Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish at the time of his death.

Fr. Bacero was born on April 19, 1969 and was ordained to the priesthood on April 25, 1995.

He was the superintendent of Archdiocesan Notre Dame schools.

“He was a very good school administrator,” Bishop Bagaforo said of Fr. Bacero. “He wanted the best for the schools, students and administrators.”

He also described him as hardworking school administrator who never let things undone if it is for the good of the Notre Dame schools and its students.

At the time of his demise, Fr. Bacero was the president of Notre Dame of Salaman College in Lebak town and Notre Dame of Kalamansig, both in Sultan Kudarat province.

“Fr. Bong is like a son to me, I am close to his family and I even eat with them often in their house,” Bagaforo said.

DOH-12 says new COVID variants infect..from P1

In North Cotabato, all the patients who have the new variants have fully recovered.

Dr. Eva Rabaya, North Cotabato health chief and head of Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said based on records two of the seven patients were from Midsayap town were tested positive of UK variant (B.1.1.7) and one in Tulunan with South African variant (B.1.351).

Rabaya said based on record, four were permanent residents in North Cotabato but at the time that they tested positive of the virus “they were not in the province but somewhere else.”

One of the patients in Tulunan have fully recovered and is now with her family in Magpet, North Cotabato, according to Dr. Mylene Perez, Tulunan municipal health officer.

Perez said the patient has travel history outside

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late JUANITO PALMAERA, who died on February 26, 2005 at Poblacion, Tulunan, Cotabato, left a parcel of land situated in Tambac, Tu l u n a n , C o t a b a t o , covered by TCT No. CT31265, with an area of 24,814 sq. mts., more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De CastroJagunap as per Doc. No. 3007; Page No. 3007; Book No. XXVII; Series of 2021.

MC: June 5, 12 & 19, 2021

Republic of the Philippines Midsayap, Cotabato Local Civil Registry Office

Municipal Civil Registrar

Cotabato clergy entombs colleagues...from P1

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao Local Civil Registry Office

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

the province prior to the infection. She is from Magpet but married to a man from Tulunan.

She works in a company in the province while renting a home in Kidapawan City.

On April 27, after feeling some symptoms like fever and cough, she submitted herself for antigen tests where she tested positive.

Since then she did not return home to Tulunan but was referred by the provincial IATF to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center where her confirmatory swab tests showed she was COVID-19 positive. Her husband turned out positive of the virus, too.

She was confined there for 16 days and eventually recovered based on the certificate issued by CRMC. Instead of returning to Tulunan, she proceeded to her home village in Magpet where her relatives live. The village chair shut the door for her.

Dr. Perez said she was brought to the village of her EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late JUANITO Q. BORNEA and JOVITA ANITO-BORNEA, who died at Midsayap, Cotabato on August 5, 1984 and September 28, 2013, respectively, left a parcel of land Lot 2451A, Psd-23727, situated in Katingawan (now Central Katingawan), Midsayap, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-999, with an area of 20,000 sq. mts., more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Noel A. Gretare, CPA as per Doc. No. 1675; Page No. 40 Book No. LXXV; Series of 2021. MC: June 5, 12 & 19, 2021

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

(Sgd.) PRINCESS ESNAIRA M. NUR Municipal Civil Registrar

Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses GREGORIO L. SALJAY, SR., and ELENA O. SALJAY, who both died at Pigcawayan, Cotabato on October 25, 2014 and October 24, 2007, respectively, left a parcel of land Lot 2, Block 12, Psd-34835, situated in Poblacion, Libungan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. T-70939, with an area of 340 sq. mts., more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of sale before Notary Public Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 194; Page No. 39; Book No. CCXXXII; Series of 2021.

MC: May 29 & June 5, 2021

MC: May 29, June 5 & 12, 2021

In compliance with the Republic Act No. 10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that Nasrally Sumagka Dalimbang had filed with this office a petition for correction of sex of the child from Male to Female in the Birth Certificate of Nasrally Sumagka Dalimbang who was born on January 15, 1995 at Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao and whose parents are Abdulkarim Balo Dalimbang and Farida Sumagka Dalimbang.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than June 18, 2021.

husband in Tulunan. Since she has fully recovered, she decided to return to her village in Magpet and the village official allowed her to stay.

Rabaya could not say how the patients contracted the virus.

Contact tracing have been on-going for people who have close contact, not only with the three patients, but also with all positive patients across the province.

No other details were made available about the carriers of new COVID-19 variants and health officials said it will remain confidential to protect the patients from public discrimination and humiliation.

The World Health Organization said some COVID-19 variants may spread more easily between as it pushes for the performance of health protocols like washing of hands, keeping distance at least one meter apart from others, wearing of masks all the time and limiting time or avoiding enclosed/crowded places.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late spouses ALBERTO J . PA C H E C O a n d MANUELA ALTOBANO, who died intestate on May 12, 1994 and April 09, 20001 at Tamontaka and Labungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, respectively, left parcels of land Lot 315, Pls-519 and Lot 316, Pls-519, covered

by OCT Nos. P-32482 and P-32483, respectively, with the total area of 321,093 sq. mts., more or less are the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale before Notary Public Atty. Agnes P. Paracha-Balleque as per Doc. No. 489; Page No. 98; Book No. 05; Series of 2021.

MC: June 5, 12 & 19, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AIDA M. EUGENIO who died intestate in February 10, 2018 at Cotabato City, consisting of a Saving Account Deposit with the Land Bank of the Philippines, Cotabato City Branch, with a balance of P151,572.12, was the subject of an Affidavit of Adjudication By Sole Heir, executed by the Heir before Notary Public Renato M. Eugenio of Cotabato City on May 12, 2021, per his Natarial Register known as Doc. No. 95, Page No. 20, Book No. 210 Series of 2021.

MC: May 22, 29 & June 5, 2021

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June 5, 2021

THE MINDANAO CROSS

Pope Francis unveils sweeping reform of Catholic Church’s penal sanctions

VATICAN— The Vatican published Tuesday major revisions to Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which covers penal law in the Church, including sanctions related to clerical sexual abuse.

The revisions, which have been more than a decade in the making, were first commissioned

by Benedict XVI with the aim of making the code’s penal sanctions more effective and applied evenly across the Church.

Pope Francis introduced the changes with the apostolic constitution Pascite gregem Dei (Tend the Flock of God). He wrote that those who have committed a crime “need both mercy and correction on the part of the Church.”

The pope said that the revisions have improved “fundamental aspects of criminal law, such as the right of defense, the statute of limitations for criminal action, [and] a more precise determination of penalties.”

The reforms also introduced new crimes in the area of economic and financial matters to canon law and moved the canons concerning the crime of sexual abuse of minors and crimes of child pornography from the section on “crimes against special obligations” to that of “crimes against life, dignity, and freedom of the person,” as CNA reported earlier this month.

The Vatican initiated the reform to canon law because of concerns that some parts of the Church were failing to apply penal sanctions amid the burgeoning abuse crisis.

“In the past, much damage has been caused by the Church’s failure to perceive the intimate relationship between the exercise of charity and recourse — when circumstances and justice require it — to the discipline of punishment,” Pope Francis wrote in Pascite gregem Dei. “Such a way of thinking — experience teaches us — risks leading to living with behavior contrary to the discipline of morals, for the remedy of which exhortations or suggestions alone are not sufficient. This situation often brings with it the danger that, with the passage of time, such

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behavior will become consolidated to the point of making it more difficult to correct and in many cases creating scandal and confusion among the faithful.”

Pope Francis signed Pascite gregem Dei on the Solemnity of Pentecost and the text was released on June 1. The revisions will enter into force on Dec. 8, 2021.

At a Vatican press conference, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the Vatican department that oversaw the changes, said that there had been misunderstandings about the relationship between justice and mercy in recent years.

This has “fed a climate of excessive laxity in the application of criminal law” in the Church, the archbishop said.

“The presence of some irregular situations within the communities, but above all the recent scandals, which have emerged from the disconcerting and very serious episodes of pedophilia, has, however, led to the need to reinvigorate canonical penal law, integrating it with precise legislative reforms,” Iannone explained.

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, the secretary of the pontifical council, highlighted how the revised Code of Canon Law now includes crimes that have been typified in recent years in special laws, such as “the attempted ordination of women, recording of confessions, and sacrilegious consecration of the Eucharistic species.”

He said that new cases enumerated in the code also include the violation of papal secrecy; the omission of the obligation to execute a sentence or penal decree; the omission of the obligation to give notice of the commission of a crime; and the illegitimate abandonment of the ministry.

Msgr. Markus

here are numerous Eucharistic miracles. An ancient miracle happened in Lanciano, Italy around the year 750 when a priest doubted the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist while he was saying mass. After the consecration the sacred host turned into real flesh and blood. The host is preserved until the present time in the Church of Lanciano, where it is the object of pilgrimages. A more recent miracle took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina when Pope Francis was the still its Archbishop. A woman reported that she saw what seems to be a consecrated host left on a candleholder. This was in 1996. The priest placed it in a container with water and kept it in the tabernacle. It is a standard practice and later the host will melt and be disposed of appropriately. A few days later when the priest opened the tabernacle, the Host turned into a bloody substance. Cardinal Jorge Bergolio instructed the priest to take pictures.

For three years the Host remained in the tabernacle until Cardinal Bergoglio decided to have a specimen scientifically analyzed in the United States. The scientists were not told what the substance was.

They came up with a conclusion that the sample came from the living heart of a man who had been severely beaten. The scientists could not explain how the specimen could have been from a living man when

Graulich, the council’s undersecretary, said in an interview with CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, that these changes to Church law were necessary because the previous criminal law was not very “userfriendly.”

“In many places, punishments were mentioned only as a possibility, and the whole text gave the impression that it was almost merciless to apply punishments,” he said.

“In this regard, it must be remembered that the penal law was renewed at a time when the law in the Church, and especially the penal law, was fundamentally questioned. Today — also due to the examination of the abuse of minors — the atmosphere is different.”

The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is not itself a lawmaker, but assists the pope, who is the Church’s supreme legislator, in drafting, and interpreting canon law.

Pope Benedict XV established the pontifical council following his promulgation of the first Code of Canon Law in 1917. The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts has since played a role in interpreting the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and revising the code of canon law. A new code for the Latin Catholic Church was promulgated in 1983, and a code of canons for Eastern Catholic Churches was promulgated in 1990.

The council worked for more than a decade on the revisions to Book VI, published on June 1.

Archbishop Iannone said: “This reform, which is presented today, therefore, as necessary and long-awaited, has the aim of making universal penal norms ever more suitable for the protection of the common good and of the individual faithful, more congruent with the demands of justice and more effective and adequate in today’s ecclesial context.” CBCP

News

Prayer is source of strength in darkest times

POPE Francis explains that prayer was fundamental in Jesus' relationship with his disciples Christians can rest assured that in moments of trial, suffering or even sin, Jesus is interceding for them before God, Pope Francis said.

"Even if our prayers were only mutterings, if they were compromised by a wavering faith, we must never stop trusting in him," the pope said June 2 during his weekly general audience.

"Don't forget: 'Jesus is praying for me,'" he said. "In the moment of trial, in the moment of sin, even in that moment, Jesus with so much love is praying for me."

Arriving in the San Damaso Courtyard of the apostolic palace, the pope spent some time greeting pilgrims, blessing children and religious articles.

Continuing his series of talks on prayer, the pope reflected on how prayer was fundamental to Christ and his mission, especially when it came to choosing his disciples.

Recalling St. Luke's account of Jesus praying the day before he chose his disciples, the pope said that "judging from how those men were to behave, it would seem that the choice was not the best because they all fled, they left him alone

before the Passion."

“Jesus' love and prayer for each of us does not stop, indeed it becomes more intense, and we are at the center of his prayer!”

However, "it is precisely this -especially the presence of Judas, the future traitor -- that demonstrates that those names were inscribed in God's plan," he said.

Jesus' moments of prayer on behalf of his disciples, especially for Peter who would deny Christ, were an act of love that showed that even in times of failure, "the love of Jesus does not stop," the pope continued.

"Jesus' love and prayer for each of us does not stop, indeed it becomes more intense, and we are at the center of his prayer!" Pope Francis said. "We must always remember this: Jesus is praying for me; he is praying now before the Father and he is showing him the wounds he bore, so that the Father can see the price of our salvation; it is the love that he has for us."

Reflecting on other moments in the Gospels, including Peter's profession of faith and the Transfiguration, the pope noted that the "great turning points of Jesus' mission are always preceded by prayer." UCA News

Fr. Jun Mercado, OMI’s final resting place.

Photo courtesy MP Susana Salvador Anayatin

The Body of Christ REFLECTIONS

Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com

it was kept in water for three years. Only later were they told it came from a Sacred Host.

Such miracles are God’s ways to strengthen our faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

This is a Catholic belief. Some other Christian churches believe that the host and wine are mere representations of Christ. Catholics believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, that at the moment when the words of consecration are pronounced, the bread and wine becomes Jesus in reality. It is no longer just bread and wine. Occasionally, God allows miracles where the physical accidents are changed.

Bread becomes flesh and wine becomes blood. If this happens regularly, would people come to communion?

It is by faith that we believe in the real presence. For this reason, Catholics desire the mass even in times

of difficulties, such as the Covid pandemic that we are experiencing now. Throughout its history, the church kept celebrating the mass even amidst persecutions in obedience to the Lord’s command, “Do this in memory of me. “ We are an incarnational church. By receiving the Body of Jesus in the Eucharist, we engage ourselves in the Body of the world. It was at the Last Supper that Jesus also washed the feet of His apostles. Eucharist and service come together. A story is told about St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and a young sister. She asked the sister to wash the body of the sick and particularly, a leper. The young sister was reluctant. Mother Teresa asked her, “Do you believe that the Sacred Host is the body of Christ?” She answered, “Yes, Mother.” Then Mother Teresa asked, “Do you believe that Jesus is in the sick and the abandoned, especially this leper? The young sister said, “Yes, Mother.” Mother Teresa then said, “So now, wash the body of Christ.”

Jesus is indeed in the sacred Bread and Wine. Our own faith, and occasionally miracles attest to this. But Jesus also said, “Whatsoever, you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.” Jesus is also present in whoever needs care and our service. For this reason, at the end of the mass the priest sends us off, “The mass is ended, go and serve.” MC

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THE MINDANAO CROSS

June 5, 2021 EDITORIAL

Focusing on the Mindanao River Basin

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s if the Corona Virus Pandemic is not enough problem for the Philippine government, the rainy season has started and with it the perennial flooding in Central Mindanao. The floods, which the government tries to remedy on a piece meal basis, will soon be addressed (again!) reviving the old Cotabato River Basin Project the proposal of which was presented in the early 1960s. Among researchers, anyone who wants to get information about floods in the area will have to refer to the project document which is now 50 years old.

LGUs along the Basin were elated to hear that the old project will now be resurrected. In a report by Edwin Fernandez, North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco has welcomed the proposed Mindanao River Basin Project (MRBP) by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to address the recurring flood problem in the province and the 220,000-hectare Liguasan marsh. The MRBP covers 21 sub-basins on the island of Mindanao, including the Pulangi River that was seen by experts as the cause of the flooding of Mindanao’s lowlands and marshlands.

According to Governor Catamco, “I strongly support this comprehensive project and local government units must be involved from planning to actual implementation and its possible impact on the agriculture sector,”. Catamco hosted the Mindanao River Basin Management Council meeting last November 27, 2019 which was led by MinDA chair, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Secretary Piñol has been pushing for a more comprehensive anti-flood program through massive tree-planting in the balding forests of Mindanao as a long-term program, as well as the dredging of heavily silted rivers and waterways in many parts of the island.

A huge portion of North Cotabato lies within the Liguasan marshland, which is regularly submerged in floodwater when the Pulangi River overflows.

One drawback of the old Cotabato River Basin proposal is its concentration on the area traversed by the Pulangi River (Rio Grade de Mindanao).

However, the source of rainwater that flows to the Pulangi is in the mountain areas of Bukidnon, which is not included in the project.. The Pulangi overflows because it cannot accommodate the flow of water from the rivers emanating from these mountains of Bukidnon. This collectively drains to the Ligawasan marsh which acts as the cleaning agent of the rainwater. With the mountains almost denuded due to the logging activities of the decade of the 60s, the marshland has to double its work since the water it receives are now heavy with the silt of eroded mountain portions.

Hopefully, this project will take off immediately.

There are so many plans floating among LGUs of reclaiming land from the marsh because of overpopulation. At present, many parts of the Ligawasan Marsh are now used for agricultural purposes. We wonder: How will this affect the economy of areas adjacent to the marsh? Will it cause flooding of more areas? This is especially crucial since we are facing the effects of climate change. 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 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.

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here is a saying that goes “Slow progress is better than no progress.” With this in mind, we see the news that the National Task Force for the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups has disbanded seven private armed groups operating in Maguindanao within the first two quarters of this year as a positive note on the quest for peace in the Bangsamoro.

In a recent news release, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said Police Lieutenant General Jose Chiquito Malayo, commander of the Task Force Western Mindanao of the NTF-DPAGs, made the announcement during the Fourth Oversight Committee Meeting of the NTF-DPAGs held on May 28.

The NTF-DPAGs was created through Memorandum Circular No. 38 issued by the Office of the President on September 2, 2015. The national task force is tasked with the disbandment of private armed groups in order to stabilize the security situation in the then-envisioned Bangsamoro territory and adjacent regions IX and XII. Disbanding private armed groups is part of the comprehensive approach towards achieving security and peace in the Bangsamoro core territory as well as adjacent areas as part of the normalization process in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. The memorandum states that the disbanding of private armed groups is necessary for the effective implementation of the gradual and phased decommissioning of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In an online discussion on elections in the Bangsamoro Region organized by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, a representative of civil society organizations in Lanao del Sur said the decommissioning, disarmament, and disbandment of private armed groups are among the key issues that need to be addressed if there is to be truly peaceful, orderly, and honest elections in the Bangsamoro Region. That said and with the news of disbandment of seven private armed groups in the region in mind, we hope to see a more peaceful and orderly election in the region in 2022. Elections for national officials – president, vice president, and senators – congressional representatives, and local posts from provincial governor down to town councilors will still take

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HREE erudite persons from outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) raise the issue of “popular democracy” and electoral “mandate” on the proposed term extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to three more years from May 2022. They contend that the only legitimate governance is one run by officials voted to office in an election. That is, as if they do not know the ills of democracy in innumerable cases of election fraud still unresolved in the Commission on Elections and even in the Supreme Court.

But saying that “the choice of (BARMM) rulers is undemocratic being appointed by the President and nominated by the MILF,” I doubt if that one took reading the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) seriously-if ever.

With all due respect, these scholars’ opinions, as amplified by a Manila-based Muslim lawyer in a national daily op-ed miss more essential points in things they either don’t see or refuse to see. First, in the country’s history, even for the U.S. which champions democracy in all parts of the world took its government one year to run the First Philippine Commission (18991900) and seven more years to put in place and stabilize the Second Philippine Commission from 1900, before the first popular election of the Philippine Assembly (Lower House) was held in late 1907. This historical experience on the development of democracy in the country should be reviewed in the light of the fact that the government is dealing with a revolutionary group whose members have not been part of electoral exercises as a democratic process for decades. Now, they are on their way back to mainstream society by a multilateral process called Normalization.

Second, they missed the opportunity to present a friendly, scholarly view, let alone a lay appreciation of the Bilateral Intergovernmental Relations (IGRs) under the BOL, as an academic case study on a distinct setup, a bureaucratic mechanism on key policymaking that now charts the course of organizing the regional bureaucracy, operationalizing budget and finance management, drawing up policies on infrastructure baselines and revenue-sharing, and on the exploration and preservation of natural resources—as well as the multilateral Normalization Process that is now involving the helpful presence of matching programs of development organizations of

The quest for peace trudges on Thinking Aloud Carlos C. Bautista caloyb@gmail.com

place in the region since the proposed postponement of election, if passed, will only affect positions in the regional government or the members of parliament.

In the coming days, we and many others also hope to see progress in other areas that impact peace and security in the region. Memorandum Circular No. 38 which created the NTF-DPAGs identified the major causes which primarily contribute to the proliferation of private armed groups: gun culture, “rido” or clan war, political dynasties and the use of military and police auxiliaries. If such continue to exist, peace and security will always be unstable and constantly in peril.

The issue of land ownership also needs to be properly and adequately addressed as this serves as a trigger for conflict and violence in the region. In its 2020 Bangsamoro conflict report, peacebuilding organization International Alert Philippines, said clan feuding incidents tallied by the organization from police and media reports “rose by nearly 50% with highest concentrations in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, including Cotabato City… fueled by personal and political grudges and land conflict.”

And then, there is the ongoing presence of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The recent Datu Paglas incident has shown that they may have been reduced in number due to persistent military operations and the surrender of not a few but the BIFF can still mobilize a force and threaten security in certain communities.

That is the truth. Much still needs to be done so that the Moros in the SPMS Box as well as the non-Moro indigenous peoples in the rest of Maguindanao can live their lives in constant peace instead of constant fear. MC

Transitions are given ample time even by champions of democracy

Penlight Nash B. Maulana

nash.penlight@gmail.com

the international community. Normalization forms part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro entered into by the Aquino Administration and the MILF in 2014. These make their’ arguments wanting in terms of objectivity, historical comparison of similar situations in two different times, and the timing itself.

“How many times did the Committee meet to discuss the bill?” “Who were the resource speakers?” “I believe the Senate Legislative Records Office would be more than kind to share the right information. Some of the information I got is that prior to the Period of Amendment, a province not part of BARMM had been inadvertently allotted three representation seats in the BTA Parliament in one provision of the proposed Bill.

But when the Senate Local Government Committee Staff went back to see the records of previous public hearings, it was found out that the governor of that province had consistently represented the concerns of his people in most of the hearings.

One of the three erudite persons raises the contention that the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054) via plebiscite in January and February 2019 has “shifted the law from the realm of legislation to being a social contract involving the people.”

From a lay point of view, a “social contract” is more “philosophical” than a “legal matter” in the formation of society. Laws, whether or not ratified in a plebiscite (or in referendum) explicitly constitute a “social contract”-just as “implicitly”, a “social contract” is also expressed in raising one’s hand to speak in a class.

The U.S. Constitution, the most popular example often cited as an explicit social contract, was ratified in a realm of representative democracy by state legislatures; not via direct popular vote. The Philippines has all the time to wait until the current Constitution or the BOL (both ratified by direct vote) becomes collectively another popular example of an explicit social contract— of Charter or a law ratified via direct popular vote. MC

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has appointed man to die once and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Yes, we all need money but treasure priceless things that money can’t buy which to many is a tough task to do these millennial times.

Charlie Señase For it has been csenase@yahoo.com prophesied that men will be lovers of themselves HAT matters most is not what most allies or supporters say but lovers of money which is the root of what our God-given conscience all evils. And this makes us proud and arrogant, ungrateful, disobedient, dictates.

This brings us to the circulating traitor, bullheaded and ungodly (2 bits-and-pieces of information that the Timothy 3:1).

What is there in politics that people administration’s PDP-Laban party is likely to field a daughter-father tandem want to be elected or appointed in in the 2022 presidential polls which “juicy government positions?” Is it Palace sources considered still unofficial. financial security or popularity? With For the incumbent President to the world’s dwindling economy due to be the running mate of her daughter mass displacement of work forces, people Sarah Duterte-Carpio who is currently are into lawless violence.

It’s good to hear, that a number of Davao City’s chief executive would be unconsciously a monopoly and a communists and Moro extremists like monotony as in greed for power and the New People’s Army and the Abu Sayyaf are joining the fold of the law. political supremacy.

Credit goes to local government Amid criticisms from political d e t r a c t o r s , P r e s i d e n t D u t e r t e ’ s units and law enforcement agencies for stewardship has made the Philippines the surrender this week of 21 NPA rebels one of four countries in the world that with their assorted firearms in Lebak, has a big heart for public welfare in the Sultan Kudarat and a hardcore Sayaff member in Sulu. midst of worsening pandemic.

Whether the Bangsamoro Transition According to recent assessment survey by the International Budget Authority is extended or not in the Partnership (IBP), the Philippines Senate’s final deliberation, the interim along with Australia, Norway and Peru moral governance of Chief Minister were at the forefront in the realm of Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim will continue, transparency and accountability in the according to lawmakers.

Outreach projects and programs to implementation of health programs in marginalized sectors in BARMM will response to COVID-19 global threat.

The IBP has underscored the push through. Like the P143 million importance of individual country’s salination potable water project in Sulu fiscal and tax relief measures, credit and and Tawi-Tawi which has not been acted liquidity support as effective COVID- upon for generations.

In Lanao del Sur, some 80 antidote.

The six-month IBP survey conducted marginalized farmers and fisherfolk in March last year was also participated- were recipients of P25,000 each freein by civil society groups and other interest loan payable in 10 years.

The grant was made possible to 2,500 government agencies.

The growing demand for vaccines LDS beneficiaries through BARMM’s and other anti-COVID protocol materials Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and and gadgets has entertained doubts of Agrarian Reform.

Humanitarian efforts and concern corruption, bribery and so-called undersuch as these, according to BTA the-table deals.

Most are misled to believe that extension proponents ensure “peace, money is everything that without it we unity and genuine autonomy to develop die including the most affluent for God BARMM.” MC

Rhetoric for goodness-sake

True to Form

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What Makes the Difference?

people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by following the principles of life.

1.

Ethics as basic principles 2) Integrity. 3) Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy Responsibility 4. Respect for law and regulations 5) franco1573victoria@gmail.com The respect from majority of citizens by right 6) The love ime out from COVID-19 matters.

Here is an eloquently written piece, for work 7) The effort to save and invest. too good not to share, forwarded by 8) The will to be productive 9) Punctuality. my Soroptimist friend from Pangasinan. In the poor countries a small minority The difference between the poor and follow these basic principles in their daily rich nations is not the age of the Nation, life. We are not poor because we lack wrote a psychologist regarding the state of natural resources or because nature was the Philippines. This can be demonstrated cruel to us. We are poor because we lack by countries like India and Egypt, which attitude. We lack the will to follow and are more than 2000 years old and are still teach this principles of working to be rich and developed. poor countries.

2. We are in this state because we On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which 150 years back want to take advantage over everything were insignificant, today are developed and everyone. We are in this state because and rich countries. The difference we see something done wrong and say “ let between the poor and rich nation does it be” we should have a spirited memory not also depend on the available natural and attitude. Remember a wrong cannot be corrected by another wrong. So it will resources.

Japan has limited territory, 80% always be wrong.

3. Only then will we be able to mountainous, unsuitable for agriculture or farming, but it is the second in world’s change our present state. If you do not economy. The country is like an immense forward this message nothing is going to floating factory, importing raw material happen to,you. Your prized animal is not from the whole world and exporting going to die, you won’t be sacked from your job, you won’t be having bad luck for seven manufactured products.

Second example is Switzerland, it years, nor are you going to get sick. But does not grow cacao but produces the if you love your country, try and circulate best tasting chocolates in the world. In this message so that as many people can her small territory she rears animals and reflect on this. I love my country and pray cultivates the land only for four months we will not be taken advantaged of by our in a year, nevertheless manufactures the own countrymen and our neighboring best milk products. A small country with countries .

What could be more frustrating than an image of security which has made it a non-functioning landline, cell phone, the strongest world bank.

Executives from rich countries who television ? It is like being stranded in an interact with their counterparts from,poor island by yourself after a ship wreck. More countries show no significant intellectual frustrating is missing out on the on-going differences. The racial or colour factors circus among political contenders, in the also do not evince importance: migrants middle of a health crisis like the pandemic. heavy in laziness in their country of origin At least in these times of isolation, we are forcefully productive in rich European have this entertainment from “jokers “ who make my day with their shinanegans. countries.

What then is the difference? The Happy days are here again, enough to difference is the attitude of the people, last us till May 2022. Maybe there will be molded for many years of education and more comical issues enough for friendly discussions with friends, provided the culture.

When we analyze the conduct of the zoom works or messenger. MC

The Stuff of Life

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June 5, 2021

THE MINDANAO CROSS

What Is Depression?

HEALTH CORNER A reprint from the American Psychiatric Association

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epression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.

Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed • Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much • Loss of energy or increased fatigue • Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others) • Feeling worthless or guilty • Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions • Thoughts of death or suicide • Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for a diagnosis of depression.

Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life.

Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when firstdegree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression.

Depression Is Different From Sadness or Grief/Bereavement The death of a loved one, loss of a job

or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being

“depressed.”

But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression.

Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities.

Grief and depression can co-exist. For some people, the death of a loved one, losing a job or being a victim of a physical assault or a major disaster can lead to depression.

When grief and depression co-occur, the grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression.

Distinguishing between grief and depression is important and can assist people in getting the help, support or treatment they need.

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment.

Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical examination.

In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency (reversing the medical cause would alleviate the depression-like symptoms). The evaluation will identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and planning a course of action.

There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive feeling and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can also help reduce symptoms of depression. MC

Towards an Effective Epidemic Response….

to deal with the patients that would require medical care. Medicines and appropriate equipment should be readily available for deployment where they Danny Buenbrazo danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com would be needed. There should be protection for ver the centuries and in recent medical personnel and history, diseases that spread others who would have to deal with rapidly and having devastating people infected or suspected to be impacts on societies are likely to come infected with the disease. up with more regularity. The exact Fourth, there should be an toll of each wave of these epidemics effective system for contact-tracing on individual countries would depend to arrest the spread of the disease. on how rational they respond to the The system should be able to track coming of an epidemic. movement of people that are moving When we speak of the costs of across different local government an epidemic or a pandemic on a units. Sufficient number of contact c o m m u n i t y o r c o u n t r y , i t i s n o t tracers should be trained and deployed confined to the number of people that strategically. That means there will be will get sick or dies of a particular a minimum number of contract tracers disease but also the toll on mental assigned to each local government health, the economy, government and additional personnel deployed in finance, and individual households. areas that are more severely affected.

The initial effects of an epidemic on Local government units should be nations could depend on demographics, warned effectively that infected geographical characteristics, climate, persons or persons suspected to be quality of and access to health care possibly infected are entering their services, among others. Those with jurisdiction. older population could see more Vaccines should be made available infections and deaths initially but if to the public as soon as they are they have an effective response system developed and validated by licensing in place or can devise one quickly, the authorities. Acceptance of vaccines long run costs to that society could be would be faster and more widespread less than others. if people are well-informed and I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o e s t a b l i s h given the choice of which one to categories that would tell of the take. Procurement should not be a severity of the epidemic in a particular monopoly of government, the private city or region, the specific conditions sector is probably even more efficient c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o e a c h c a t e g o r y , and securing the vaccines that the and the rules that will govern the people prefer. Many would be more movement of people, goods, and the than willing to pay for their own conduct of business and government. vaccines and only those who cannot Related to these, mechanisms for afford to buy vaccines should be given managing and enforcing the rules free or subsidized vaccines. applicable to each category of warning.

Subsidies in cash and in kind must Second, there should be a good be provided to those that are really system for detecting people who are in need and not dispensed across the infected with the disease. Thus, board arbitrarily. Public funds should enough supply of testing kits must be be used wisely since taxes and other acquired and distributed to all parts government income are lower when of the country. the economy is not in full operation.

Third, the health facilities must These are just ideas; some could be properly and sufficiently equipped have a monopoly of what is right.MC

Market Driven

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THE MINDANAO CROSS

June 5, 2021

BARMM brings potable H2O to island...from P1

Sinarimbo, a lawyer, said the documents he and Paiso signed were premised on state accounting procedures.

“We can guarantee the public that all contracts pertaining to our projects, big or small, are done by the book,” Sinarimbo told reporters who covered the event.

In text messages to reporters, local officials and barangay leaders in the towns where the MILG is to put desalination facilities said they are grateful to the BARMM government for focusing attention on their need for water supply facilities.

Lt. Gen. Corleto

Vinluan, Jr. of the Western Command based in Zamboanga City said military units in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi shall help LGUs protect the projects from saboteurs.

“We were elated when we learned that there was this crafting of multi million contracts for desalination facilities in Sulu and in Tawi-Tawi,” Vinluan said.

Paiso said all of the major components for the desalination plants were produced in foreign countries.

“We’re putting up a revolutionary type of desalination plants in the recipient areas. We shall use desalination membranes

that will transform sea water into safe drinking water,” Paiso said without elaborating.

The police and military assured on Saturday to secure P144 million worth of desalination facility projects in island towns in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi where supply of drinking water is scarce.

Police Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, director of the Police Regional OfficeBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Saturday the provincial police offices in both provinces have been directed to help local government units secure the multi-million projects.

Zia, a member of the regional parliament, BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Lanao del Sur Provincial Board Member Allan Panolong and Mayor Akira Alonto of Marantao, Lanao del Sur also witnessed the event.

Adiong, a first-termer governor, said he was thankful to the BARMM government for providing funds for the project.

Thousands of Marawi City residents stand to benefit from the project, according to Adiong.

“This project will make residents of Marawi City realize even more that we have a functional BARMM regional government, sensitive to the needs of its constituents in the Bangsamoro region,” Adiong said.

Marawi gets P400-M water supply project...from P1

Catamco honors councilman who died of cardiac arrest NORTH Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco has honored a village councilman who died while implementing health protocols during the first “No Movement Sunday” in the province.

After learning of the sad news, Catamco directed North Cotabato Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spokesperson Philbert Malaluan to hand over financial assistance to the family of Jim Batislaon, village councilman of Barangay Singao, Kidapawan City.

Batislaon was with a group of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) manning a quarantine control point when two men on a motorbike passed by and was flagged down. But the two men fled.

Batislaon, 55, and other BPAT chased the teenagers and brought them to the quarantine control unit then filed the written report.

The two were to be turned over to the local police for appropriate action.

Since no patrol car available to fetch violators, Batislaon and another BPAT decided to bring the two to the city police office.

Batislaon was to drive a motorbike with one of the teenagers back-riding with him. They were about to leave the chekcpoint when the official suddenly fell on the ground, holding his chest and gasping for air.

Chairman Eduardo Loma of Barangay Singao said they rushed Batislaon to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

“It was extremely hot at 1:30 p.m. here and that could have triggered the heart attack on Batislaon,” Chairman Loma told reporters.

The province of Cotabato has started reverting to general community quarantine and implemented “No

Movement Sunday” to help arrest the rising cases of COVID-19 infections.

“Everything went on smoothly, I am glad the people of Cotabato cooperated with the local government units,” Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said Sunday morning or before the incident in Barngay Singao, Kidapawan City occurred.

Officials said more than 50 people across the province have been held and penalized for violating provisions of Executive Order No 29 that placed the province under GCQ. Batislaon left his wife pharmacy worker Lourdes Marasigan Batislao, 55, daughter Isoebelle, 24, DOH medical technologist in Kidapawan City and Sam Joshua, 21, a staff of Kidapawan City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU), all health frontliners. Edwin O.

MLANG, North Cotabato The town government has condemned the torching of a passenger bus that killed three and injured six others along Barangay Bialong Thursday, vowing full cooperation in the investigation by authorities on the incident.

“We are saddened by the incident and strongly condemn the inhumane act of killing civilians. Justice must be served,” Mayor Russel Abonado said in a statement Friday.

The ill-fated Yellow Bus Line (YBL) unit (Body No. A-104) had left Kidapawan City and was passing by the town at 4 p.m. on its way to Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province when the incident took place.

In a report, Bernardo Tayong III, the municipal disaster management officer, identified those who died in the incident as John Roy Ramil Jr., 28, laborer/ and Hazel Mallo Gallardo, 30, both residents of the town; and Arnold Patron,

49, of Tulunan town.

“All three dead victims were trapped inside the bus,” he said.

Injured were Joseph Lubay, 35, of Tupi, South Cotabato; Norhana Gumbao, 32, of Koronadal City; Abdulhaq Delna, 25, of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; and Jonah Jane Ramil, 28; Tessie Verdadero, 56; Diane Dancil, 28, all from this town.

Those hurt are undergoing treatment for skin burns at a hospital.

Lt. Col. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police deputy chief, said initial investigation showed that a man forced his way into the bus after the inspector was about to alight along the highway in Bialong village.

“A brief argument ensued between the man and the bus inspector but the former still managed to get inside the bus,” the police official said.

It was then, he said, that the man ordered the

passengers to move to the rear section of the vehicle as he splashed what was believed to be gasoline inside the bus and lit it with a lighter.

“The surviving passengers said the suspect escaped on board a motorcycle waiting nearby,” Tayong said.

He said the incident was the third time that YBL buses were involved in such attacks by lawless groups.

In 2017, armed men believed to be members of the communist terrorist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) burned a YBL bus in Makilala town after the bus management refused to pay “protection money.”

In January, a bomb attack by the local Al Khobar extortion group shook a YBL bus as it was unloading passengers at a bus stop in Tulunan town, killing a street vendor and injuring five others.

The YBL firm is yet to issue a statement on the incident. PNA

Susing defeats COVID-19, Makilala veep...from P1 anyone who was COVID-19 positive.

Sacdalan urged his constituents to submit themselves for anti-COVID vaccines from the government.

Meanwhile, in Makilala, North Cotabato, the town vice mayor is now on isolation after testing positive to COVID-19.

“Sadly, I inform my constituents that I have tested positive to COVID-19 despite my extra efforts of observing maximum health protocols,” Vice Mayor Ryan Tabanay of Makilala town said in a statement.

Tabanay, a lawyer, said he had experienced mild fever on Saturday, May 29, and his antigen test showed he was positive of the virus.

A confirmatory swab test was conducted and the results came out Monday morning, May 31.

“But I am okay now, I no longer have

fever, no cough, no other symptoms but I am isolated,” he added.

Tabanay assumed as acting mayor on May 17 after Makilala Mayor Armando Quibod has tested positive of the virus.

Quibod and two other local officials who also contracted the virus, are expected to report for work anytime this week. Quibod’s wife also contracted the virus.

Councilor Kristine dela Cruz, the No. 1 town councilor, assumed as acting town mayor.

Dela Cruz’s first directive was to implement a skeletal work force system where town employees of various offices, except the municipal health office and MDRRMO, were directed to report for work for three days and work from home for two days a week.

This system will last until June 30, she said.

Army rescues SK flood victims

THE Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion on Monday played larger role aside from keeping the nation safe by responding to emergencies.

On Monday morning, elements of the “Tapat” battalion, under Lt. Colonel Rommel Valencia, lay down their guns and use its military hardware to save the lives of residents who were endangered by flash floods in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Military trucks loaded with soldiers went from one sitio to another to find civilians trapped by floods after the Alah River and Banga River overflowed following moderate to heavy downpour brought about by Tropical Storm Dante.

AT least 300 families have been evacuated by the military and personnel from the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council.

“We physically carried the senior citizens, physically handicapped, children and those who are sick,” Lt. Colonel Valencia said.

“I can’t find words to describe how grateful we are you came to save us,” Ysabelle, 45, told the soldiers who also

assisted her haul the family valuables as flood water rose to as high as waist level in Barangay Sampao, Isulan.

The soldiers also went out of their way to provide displaced families with safe bottled water while emergency relief aid from local government unit are on its way to the affected families.

“This is our labor of love for our people who are in need of our assistance, we are ready to serve and help our countrymen, anytime, anywhere and any means,” Valencia added.

Mayor Maritess Pallasigue of Isulan lauded the Army for responding even without being asked.

“We are grateful to our women and men in uniform,” the mayor said.

Sultan Kudarat PDRRM Officer Lovely Joy Hallegado said the affected communities are low lying villages of Isulan, Tacurong City, Esperanza and Lambayong where more than 300 families have been affected and evacuated.

Assessment as to the damages to infrastructure was still going on, Hallegado said. Edwin O. Fernandez

Fernandez

Mayor vows justice for bus arson victims

SAVING LIVES. Soldiers of the 7th Infantry “Tapat” Battalion carry a sick woman to safety following flash floods spawned by Tropical Depression Dante in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Photo courtesy of 7th IB

Cops anti-drug drive nets P1.8-M

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The North Cotabato Police Provincial Office (NCPPO) has confiscated more than PHP1.8-million worth of illegal drugs in various law enforcement operations from January to May this year.

Col. Henry Villar, NCCPO director, said in a report sent to various news establishments here Thursday that the total number of confiscated drugs came from 245 anti-drug operations during the period.

“Our policemen seized 244.02 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of PHP1,830,150; and 48.77 grams of dried marijuana amounting to PHP5,852.40,” Villar said.

“Cases were also filed against all the suspects detained at the provincial jail facility,” he added.

Villar commended the local government units (LGUs) and barangay security forces

for assisting them in their operations. “It is the partnership with the LGUs that made our operations successful,” he said.

Meantime, the police official said that the NCPPO is also set to install 10 closedcircuit television cameras (CCTVs) in all provincial entry points to be funded by the provincial government.

Villar said the CCTVs are part of a centralized monitoring system being established at the provincial police headquarters.

The first phase of the project will be installed at entry checkpoints along the Makilala-Davao del Sur; PigcawayanCotabato City; and Arakan-Davao City routes.

“The new system is expected to improve police monitoring of suspicious groups and shipments entering the province,” he said.

PNA

8

June 5, 2021

THE MINDANAO CROSS

COVID-19 rise not due to new variants, DOH says

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) since last month is particularly caused by the community transmission of its original strain and not due to the dreaded “variants of concern”.

Arjohn Gangoso, Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12 health education and promotion officer, said Thursday their monitoring showed that the increasing cases in almost the entire region are traced to the first SARS-CoV-2 strain that was first reported in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

“Our cases are increasing mainly because of the failure of most people to comply with the nonpharmaceutical interventions,” he said in a phone interview.

He was referring to the wearing of face masks and face shields,

the practice of proper personal hygiene and disinfection, and the observance of safe physical distancing.

Gangoso reiterated that proper compliance to the minimum health protocols is still the most effective way to combat COVID-19, regardless of the variant.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, DOH12 reported some 2,687 active cases in the region, a significant jump from just 730 last May 1.

The confirmed cases since last year reached a total of 12,772, with 397 related deaths and 9,686

recovered patients. From May 1, the infections increased by 5,302, fatalities by 146 and recoveries by 3,199.

Gangoso said the agency has sustained its monitoring for the new COVID-19 variants in coordination with the rural health units and hospitals in the region’s four provinces and four cities.

He said samples from cases that matched with their biosurveillance criteria are sent to the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center for genome sequencing.

PNA

Authorities addressing Montawal conflict THE police and military have warned to use force if the two clans squabbling for ownership of lands in Montawal town ignore efforts to reconcile them, the Mindanao Cross learned Thursday.

Two were killed while three were hurt in running gunfights between two feuding clans in Montawal town Tuesday.

In separate statements, the PRO12 and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said the rival clans are led by Noah Abel and Dataya Bacana.

The commander of 6th ID, Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, said Thursday the 601st Brigade shall use force if both sides refuse to have the conflict settled by the Montawal local government unit.

They are squabbling for ownership of strategic swaths of lands in Barangay Nabundas in Montawal, Maguindanao, according to the municipal police.

Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, director of PROBAR, said he has directed the Maguindanao provincial police to help the Montawal municipal police force disengage the feuding clans to prevent displacement of innocent villagers.

“We will take drastic action against them if they ignore peaceful intercessions for them to reconcile for the sake of innocent people affected by the conflict,” Ugale said.

The Montawal municipal police said the two groups are locked in a land dispute that local leaders have repeatedly tried but failed to settle with the help of religious leaders.

Tuesday’s gunfights in Barangay Nabundas in Montawal exacted fatalities on both sides.

Two were reportedly killed while three others were wounded in the initial exchange of gunfire, according to the local police.

Uy said the 602nd Brigade in Carmen town in North Cotabato, is helping initiate backchannel efforts meant to diffuse tension in Barangay Nabundas in Montawal.

Uy said the 602nd Brigade will not hesitate to initiate a drastic tactical maneuver to flush the feuding clans out if they do not accede to peaceful intercessions for them to stop the hostilities.

“If we use force, everything will become so hard for them,” Uy said.

John Felix Unson

Cotelco starts energizing 1.4K homes

ARSON. This ill-fated YBL bus is a “mute witness” to heinous crime that claimed the lives of three passengers in Mlang, North Cotabato.

Photo courtesy of Mlang Vice Mayor Lito Piñol

3 passengers dead in bus burning in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO — Three passengers were burned alive when an arsonist set on fire a bus using gasoline while motoring through Mlang town at about 4:00 p.m.

Thursday.

Initial reports from the local government unit of Mlang and the municipal police said one of the passengers of a unit of the Yellow Bus Company poured gasoline on the floor of the vehicle, lit the fuel with

a disposable lighter and jumped out through its half-open hydraulic door.

Four other passengers, who suffered serious burns in different parts of their bodies, were rushed to a hospital by LGU emergency responders.

A passenger was killed while five others were hurt when suspected extortionists bombed in January a unit the Yellow Bus Company in nearby Tulunan town, also in North

Cotabato.

Radio reports said three passengers perished in Thursday’s arson attack.

Mlang and Tulunan towns are near Maguindanao province where there are local terrorists, using the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as banner, extorting money from operators of public conveyances and commercial establishments. John

Felix Unson

MAFAR grants loans to Lanao agri workers

MARAWI CITY — Eighty marginalized small farmers and fisherfolk (MSFF) from Lanao del Sur province each received P25,000 non-interest bearing cash loan from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR).

A delegation from the MAFAR regional office led by Senior Agriculturist Ramil Timpolok and Agriculture Credit Policy Council Provincial (ACPC) Focal Person Nassem

Sarangani officiated May 28 the third batch of loan distribution in Marawi City.

The loan assistance aims to finance the emergency and production capital requirements of the MSFF in order to ensure availability of food supply. The loan was granted through MAFAR’s expanded Sure Aid and Recovery Project in partnership with ACPC of the Department of Agriculture.

In his message

delivered by Sarangani, MAFAR Provincial Director Atty. Khalid D. Ansano reminded the beneficiaries to properly use the loan and maintain credibility by paying back responsibly so they can continue receiving support from the Bangsamoro Government.

“Maihahalintulad po natin ito sa pagtatanim, itanim natin ng maayos ang binhi (loan) na ating natanggap at alagaan upang ito ay lumago at mapakinabangan natin

ng mas matagal,” he said.

Beneficiaries were given ten years to pay at zero-percent (0%) interest with no collateral required. It was distributed through Landbank of the Philippines Lanao Lending Center which served as the lending conduit for the province.

MAFAR targets to extend loan assistance to a total of 2500 poor farmers and fisherfolk across the Bangsamoro Region. BIO BARMM

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The province’s power provider Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) kicked off here Wednesday its P49.4 million sitio electrification program (SEP) for this year as funded by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

COTELCO general manager Engr. Godofredo Homez said the SEP, a 10-year-old platform, targets to light 1,463 homes this year in sitios of the city, and also those from the nearby towns.

"This program is a pillar for progress rooted on the grassroots, the poor families that could further opportunities for them, particularly livelihood,” he said.

Under the program, each residential recipient only pays PHP117 covering a free kilowatt meter, 300-meter drop wire, two bulbs, and one outlet that will be installed free of charge.

As a counterpart, the beneficiaries’ respective local government units (LGUs) waive all payments in issuing building and electrical permits.

"We thank the government through COTELCO for this response as we really need electricity here for livelihood and my bedridden mother,” said Mergie Buned, one of the SEP beneficiaries in the remote village of Datu Sundungan, President Roxas town. PNA

STATE operatives uprooted 11,136 marijuana shrubs planted in rows in an upland area in Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Combined personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 and units under the Police Regional Office-12 had also arrested the 42-year-old Elmo Casuyon Lozada, the alleged propagator of the marijuana plants.

The raid involved the PDEA-12, the 1204th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12, the Sarangani Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Lake Sebu municipal police, all under the Police Regional Office-12.

Police Major Bernard Francia of RMFB 12 and

his deputy, Capt. Nixon Budikey, placed at no less than P3 million their estimate of the value of the confiscated marijuana plants.

The joint PDEA-police operation in Barangay Ned, a hinterland area in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato, was premised on tips by vigilant residents aware of the presence of a marijuana farm in the area.

Two junior police officers, Lieutenants Rex Tomales and Cristopher Sorongan, led the teams that raided the marijuana farm of Lozada.

The suspect is now detained, to be prosecuted for propagation marijuana plants, a violation of the Republic Act 9165, also known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. John

Marijuana plants uprooted in SoCot

Felix Unson