OPINION:
Attack on Cusi reveals more’ By Jun Ledesma
THERE’S ANOTHER variety of wrecking crew that hounds the Duterte government. They’re the more virulent types that had been unleashed by interest groups or individuals who felt there are officials in the government today that cannot be persuaded to follow their bidding. I have written about these creeping threats that are
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out to sow discord among the President’s men. I can smell them from the distance from what comes out in the press and it is easy to spot them. The most recent target of this sinister black propaganda are top government officials in the energy or power industry. I am referring to Energy Secretary Al Cusi and National Transmission
Corporation Pres. Melvin Matibag. Why they are lumped together provide a clue who are behind the plot to discredit them. Cusi is being accused of bilking P100-billion for power plant projects which were contracted by the Ramos government way back in 1993! The libelous item was so timed when Secretary Continue on page 7
Due to rice shortage, Zamboanga declares ‘state of calamity ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local legislators have passed a resolution placing Zamboanga City in a state of calamity following the shortage of rice supply here that resulted in high prices of grains in the market. The City Agriculturist Office also started monitoring rice prices in different areas here to
ensure traders follow the suggested retail pricing of grains and prevent hoarding. The lack of ample supply of rice was largely blamed by traders to the National Food Authority (NFA) for failing to deliver cheap rice to the market. But just this week, the NFA said it has started
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releasing thousands of bags of rice and has delivered 10,000 bags in Sulu province. Sulu’s rice stocks had been depleted the past weeks after the provincial government purchased over 5,000 bags of rice to feed thousands of people displaced by a huge fire in Jolo town. Continue on page 7
P10 Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
Central Intelligence Agency! Read story on page 2
President Rodrigo Duterte with Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate Special Envoy Datu Dr. Shahbandar Abdusakur Tan, who was also former governor of Sulu. With Datu Shabandar who is a strong political ally of President Duterte, are mayors of Sulu who are fully supportive of the President. (Presidential Photo)
Hidilyn Diaz’s gold medal is answered prayers, says family ZAMBOANGA CITY – It was a sweet victory – the second as a matter fact – for the family of Hidilyn Diaz, a local weightlifter, who won gold medal Tuesday in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Hidilyn, who also won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeated Kristina Shermetova of Turkmenistan in the 53kg weightlifting division – the first gold for the Continue on page 3
A screen shot of Hidilyn Diaz. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari. (Presidential Photo)
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Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
Central Intelligence Agency! PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE has accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of plotting to oust or assassinate him. Duterte, who has been very vocal against U.S. intervention in Philippine affairs, especially in his brutal war on illegal drugs, said the covert agency may kill him by blowing up his plane or helicopter, or set off a roadside bomb. “At least, if ever my airplane explodes, or if some roadside bomb explodes, maybe you can ask the CIA,” Duterte said. He claimed the CIA is eavesdropping on his conversation and clandestinely spying on his activities. And in several occasions, Duterte, who improved political ties with China, said Beijing promised to protect him. “ The assurances of (Chinese President) Xi Jinping were very encouraging “We will not allow you to be taken out from your office, and we will not allow the Philippines to go to the dogs,” he quoted Xi as saying.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (Presidential Photo) Duterte said he will not be cowed by the CIA plot. “Nakatingin ako sa TV kasi gusto kong iemphasize sa mga Amerikano, may mga CIA ngayon. Ang balita pa
gusto nila akong patayin. Go ahead. Be my guest. After all, this country will remain the way it is if you get all the leaders. Kaya kapag pumutok iyung helicopter ko diyan, sila
iyan,” he said during a recent gathering of the political party of his daughter Sara DuterteCarpio in Davao City.
Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said they are taking seriously all reports of threats to the life of
Duterte. “ We take and consider all the threats against the life of the President seriously,” Albayalde said, adding, that they do not dismiss the supposed threats whether it is foreign group or domestic. “For good measure, we take the security concerns of the President very seriously .We always assume that there is a continuing threat on the life of the President as we are taking it seriously because there is always that possibility that some interest groups may want him out of their way including the underground communist movement, local terrorist organizations and even foreign entities,” he said. “I honestly believe that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police can adequately protect the president against anyone who wishes him harm,” Albayalde added. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Benjamin Pulta.)
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Philippines expects more investment from Indonesia THE PHILIPPINE government anticipates more investment from Indonesia in the southern Philippines, as the Bangsamoro Organic Law has come into effect. "With the enactment of Bangsamoro Organic Law, there will be not only an autonomous government but also economic activities. As a neighboring country, the Philippines expects Indonesia to join the regional economic development," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after a closeddoor bilateral meeting with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano in Jakarta on Monday. Retno mentioned that aside from the construction sector, Cayetano is also looking for more Indonesian investment in Philippine micro, small and
medium enterprise (MSMEs) and plantations. "He (Cayetano) has high hopes for Indonesia because we are experienced in investing the Philippines and share cultural similarities with the southern Philippines," Retno noted. In addition to Indonesian investment, the two foreign ministers also discussed the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Indonesia and the Philippines. As Indonesia has already ratified the delimitation agreement in 2016, Retno urged the Philippines government to accelerate the ratification process. "Hopefully, the exchange of ratification documents could be done in September or November," Rent
remarked, referring to the upcoming UN General Assembly in September in New York and the ASEAN Summit in November in Singapore. Besides bilateral issues, the closed-door meeting addressed other issues such as South China Sea and counter-terrorism as well. Bangsamoro Organic Law was passed on July 26 and became effective on Aug 10 this year. It regulates the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines. The Philippine law aims at providing a basic government structure that recognizes Filipino Muslims and all indigenous communities in the autonomous region. (Chi Jo-yao. Antara News.)
Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
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Hidilyn Diaz’s gold medal is answered prayers, says family Continued from page 1 Philippines. “It was God’s answer to our prayers and we thanked God for the graces he showered us, especially Hidilyn, who really trained hard for this (2018 Asian) games,” says his 57-year old father, Eduardo, who stopped driving the family’s motorcycle taxi after Hidilyn won in the Rio Olympics. He said Hidilyn gave him enough money to start a small fish pond business in their village, Mampang, about 10 kilometers from downtown Zamboanga. “I now take of our fish pond, it is not too big just about two hectares,” Eduardo says. His tricycle, which bears a painting of Hidilyn lifting a barbell, is being driven by a relative. The family also has a small car which was given by the Universidad de Zamboanga to Hidilyn for winning silver in the Rio Olympics. Hidilyn now stands to get at least P5 million in bonus for the Philippines’ gold medal in Jakarta.
Eduardo Diaz’s tricycle. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Eduardo confides that his whole family, friends and neighbors went to Fort Pilar on Monday and Tuesday and prayed really hard, asking God to bless Hidilyn as she prepares for the games. “We really prayed hard, real hard and God listened to our prayers, to our pleadings and we thanked God for this,” he says. Hidilyn’s sister-in-law, the 35-year old Elymay, who lives with the Diaz’s family in a modest bungalow the famed weightlifter built in their village after the Rio Olympics, swears by the power of prayers. “We all prayed for two days before the games. We talked to God and there it is, and victory goes to all of us, our country. Glory to God,” she says, adding, Hidilyn’s mother, Emelita, who was in her daughter’s condominium apartment in Manila, was crying hard after watching the Asian Games from her television and saw her daughter win the gold medal. “She phoned us and she was crying really hard and we were all worried because she is alone in the condominium with Hidilyn’s pet dog. We told her to calm down and we also broke into tears, tears of joy,” says
Hidilyn Diaz Hidilyn’s snaring the silver in Jakarta was hardly played. “Yeah, we also noticed that, but it is okay. The important thing here is that Hidilyn has brought honor not only to the country, but to all Filipinos. It is a pride for us Zamboanguenos to win the gold,” Elymay says. Hidilyn’s father also managed to speak to his daughter via video call and they talked briefly as cell phone signal in the village is poor. During the short conversation, Hidilyn tells her father that she wants to continue her college degree and is excited to come home. “We may throw a big welcome for Hidilyn, us and our relatives and their neighbors and friends who supported her throughout the years of her training,” Eduardo says. Eduardo, clad in a gym shirt and sits on a plastic chair in front of his house, says he would ask Hidilyn to improve their two-year old bungalow. “I want a second floor. It is too hot in here. We will do more improvements to this house,” he says, pointing at the beige-color bungalow.
Hidilyn Diaz’s father, Eduardo, speaks to her daughter in Jakarta August 22, 2018 via video call on his mobile phone from Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Inside the house hang several framed photos of Hidilyn and various statuettes of the Santo Nino or infant Jesus sit atop a cabinet. One of the Santo Nino statuettes was brought by Hidilyn’s mother to her apartment to watch over her daughter, says Elymay. Hidilyn has a sister and four brothers. While many Filipinos celebrate the country’s first gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games, no politicians went to the Diaz’s family to congratulate them. “No one came here and it’s okay. Only you and some television people visited us today,” he says. (Mindanao Examiner)
Hidilyn Diaz Gym in Mampang village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Elymay. She says they were also able to talk with Hidilyn on the phone after winning the gold and she was also crying. Eduardo says his daughter started lifting weight at age 9 and his then had been training hard with her cousins in the family’s backyard and sometimes in private gym if she had extra money. “She started training at nine years old with her cousins, who influenced her to join them and lift weights,” he says. One of Hidilyn’s cousins, Roel Lardia, is helping train young men in the gym that she had built in 2016 from the money she got in winning the Rio Olympic silver medal. The 21-year old Roel says more than two dozen people are enrolled in the gym – free of charge – and all wanted to follow Hidilyn’s footsteps in weightlifting. “Oh! All of them are really serious in training at the gym. Everything is free and Hidilyn built that gym for everybody, especially the youth. She is really a big influence to all of them,” says Elymay. While the whole neighborhood celebrates Hidilyn’s winning, news and commentaries on radio and television stations here focused on local politics and the rice crisis plaguing Zamboanga. The news of
Modest house of Diaz’s family. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Media group concerned over Ampatuan furlough MEDIA WATCHDOG National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed concern over the furlough granted by the court that allowed former Muslim autonomous regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan to attend his daughter’s wedding recently. Ampatuan is one the principal accused in the multiple murder case filed over the November 23, 2009 massacre of dozens of people, including journalists in Ampatuan town. NUJP said it only learned of the furlough after Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali posted on social media a picture of herself with Ampatuan. And the caption reads: “Alhamdulilla, with my former Boss, RG Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan during the wedding
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ceremony of his eldest daughter Bai Nur Aila.” Shahali, it added, also posted video from the wedding, which she indicated was held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel. “While we may understand a parent's desire to be present at such an important milestone in the life of a child, we stress that the crime of which Mr. Ampatuan is accused of, is of such a heinous nature that the shock and outrage it stirred around the world forced then President Gloria Arroyo to move against the powerful clan that was among her staunchest allies.” “Almost nine years after the rampage that claimed the lives of 58 persons - 32 of them media workers - no one has yet been convicted. Yet a principal accused, Sajid Ampatuan, was granted bail. That and now this, we feel, gives us and the victims' families more than enough cause to worry about whether we can truly expect justice for this most grievous of crimes. We all know that most people accused of lesser offenses almost never get to enjoy a privilege as that granted Zaldy Ampatuan. What made him an exception to the rule?” NUJP asked. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
ARMM-BRIDGE to build thousands of core shelters
COTABATO CITY – To improve shelter and living conditions of poor families, about 12,000 households in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will receive core shelters from the regional government’s anti-poverty program. The 7,000 familybeneficiaries in 2018 and 5,000 in 2017 are recipients of ARMM’s Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (ARMM-BRIDGE), or ‘Apat na Dapat’ program that combats poverty and uplifts the living condition of the poorest households through the provision of basic needs. On August 23, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman led the groundbreaking ceremony of housing projects and distribution of food supplies in the towns of Matanog, Buldon, and Barira in Maguindanao. Gov. Hataman said through the ARMMBRIDGE program, beneficiaries will soon move into secure homes since among the basic needs of these families is decent housing. “Gagawin po namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang bago matapos ang taon na ito, maibibigay na itong lahat sa inyo,” Gov. Hataman said. For this year, the regional government earmarked roughly P2.9 billion for 7,000 familybeneficiaries. About 5,000 households in the region benefited from P1.9 billion allocated under the program in 2017. Each beneficiary will receive a core shelter in a 120 square-meter lot, food
supplies for six months, livelihood training, water and sanitation, and electricity. Official data from the ARMM-BRIDGE showed that P2.2 billion is intended for housing projects, P94 million for water systems, P180 million for supply of electricity, P320 million for food supplies, P140 million for livelihood, and P25 million for hygiene kit. Saira Macauyag, a mother of seven and a beneficiary in Barangay Poblacion in Barira, said she is excited to live in their new home as they currently stay in an abandoned house. “Matagal ko na pong pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling bahay kaya kapag natapos na po ito, isang katuparan po ito ng pangarap namin,” Macauyag said. For their daily living, Macauyag’s sons are helping her in harvesting corn. “Swerte na po kung may dalawang libo kaming kita mula sa pagha-harvest ng mais sa isang buwan, kaya malaking tulong po talaga ang food supplies ng ARMM-BRIDGE sa amin,” she shared. Under the livelihood component, her barangay will receive a mini-grocery store and a vegetable production project. “Masaya kami kasi nakikita talaga namin ang malaking pagbabago sa aming lugar, may maayos na rin kaming kalsada dito, pabahay at marami pang iba,” she added. And on August 22, some 100 families attended the ceremonial groundbreaking of ARMM-Bridge core shelter units in the town of Datu Blah Sinsuat
in Maguindanao province. Gov. Mujiv Hataman also led the groundbreaking ceremony which was participated by town officials. “Noong unang punta ko sa Datu Blah, ang nakita ko lang ay covered court, ngayon madami nang mga buildings na naitatayo at may municipal hall pa. Ang kalsada ay papalapit na ng papalapit dito sa Barangay Pura, ibig sabihin ay umabot na din ng Barangay Matuber,” said Gov. Hataman. “Lahat ng proyekto na ito ay hindi proyekto ni Mujiv Hataman kundi ng gobyerno at ang proyekto ng gobyerno na ito ay nagmula din sa mga tao ang pera na ginamit dito. Dapat ibinabalik lang namin sa inyo,” he added, giving credit to his constituents. “Bago ko iiwan ang ARMM, sa loob ng halos pitong taon na panunungkulan, alam kong nasilbihan ko ang aking mga kababayan ng tama,” he said. Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Raida TomawisSinsuat said she was thankful to the regional government for its efforts to ‘rescue’ the municipality since it is not entitled to an internal revenue allotment. “Sa dami ng naitulong ng regional government, hindi makita na itong bayan ay walang pondo galing sa national government,” she said. Barangay Pura resident Esmail Maladjanan, 61, finds relief in being one of the beneficiaries of the project. “Mangingisda ako. Hindi ko naisip na magkakaroon ako ng bahay na sementado dahil hindi
naman malaki ang kita ko sa pangingisda,” he said. “Bukod sa magkakaroon na kami ng bahay, malaking tulong yung supply ng bigas at mga pagkain,” he said. With a budget of P2.5 billion, the regional government’s BRIDGE program aims at improving the living conditions of 7,000 families in the region within the year. Each shelter unit is equipped
with connection to water system and a solar panel for light source. Aside from housing units, the beneficiaries also receive supplies including a sack of rice and other essential food items and hygiene kits that will last for a month. A series of meetings with local residents is being done to come up with a livelihood plan for the sustainability
of the development in the community as well. The ARMM-BRIDGE program provides decent homes and food to poor constituents of the region. Under the ‘Apat na Dapat’ framework of the office, each beneficiary shall receive a core shelter, access to clean water, light source, as well as food and livelihood. (Bureau of Public Information)
Victims of Marcos’ dictatorship cannot forget past HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP Karapatan has strongly criticized Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos – daughter of former dictator President Ferdinand Marcos – for her telling Filipinos to move on and forget the atrocities of her father’s regime. Marcos - a political ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, whose father Vicente, served under the former strongman - said “the millennial (new generation) have moved on” and thus, so should people of her generation. Karapatan branded as “grim” the 21 years of martial law under Marcos. “Imee has the audacity to speak on behalf of the millennial, and the discourtesy to address the generation that experienced the horrors and corruption of Martial Law first-hand. The Marcos family are thick-skinned, riding on the popularity of a vile and murderous President to creep back into power,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General. She reminded Marcos
and her family that on September 21 last year, it was the millennial who filled the streets with calls for accountability and justice, and protested the burial of the late dictator or order of Duterte - at the Heroes’ Cemetery on November 18, 2016. Palabay said contrary to the Marcoses’ claims that people have not moved on regarding their narratives on the Marcos dictatorship, martial law victims and their relatives have moved forward in their quest for justice. She said victims of Marcos’ dictatorship had filed and won a landmark case reaffirming the accountability of the Marcoses for the human rights violations during martial law. “They looked at all the possible places where the Marcoses stashed their loot from the nation’s coffers. They worked for a passage of a law recognizing the atrocities of the Marcos’s martial law and enabled compensation for the victims. And more
importantly, they are imparting their stories and narratives to the next generations of Filipinos through their continuing struggles, asserting that the Marcoses should be meted out retribution and that system change is needed amid repressive and exploitative regimes.” “Their narratives contribute to the current struggles, even as we see the Duterte regime’s shameless rehabilitation of the Marcos name and the whitewashing of their crimes,” Palabay said. Palabay said during the 21-years under the dictator Marcos, estimates point to $10 billion of alleged plundered wealth from the country’s coffers. “Moreover, people were deprived of their fundamental rights. At least 70,000 were imprisoned and 34,000 were tortured, while more than 3,000 were killed. The accounts of torture and killings are harrowing, indicative of a regime with no regard for human rights,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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3 Filipinos pilgrims die, buried in Saudi Arabia THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN Affairs (DFA) has confirmed reports that 3 Filipino pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia. “The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah has informed us that there were three Filipino pilgrims who have died from natural causes while participating in this year's Hajj,” DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said, adding, the bodies had been buried in Saudi. He said initial information identified two of the pilgrims as a 64-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man from Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. The man died at the Al Noor Hospital in Makkah due to acute peptic ulcer while the woman succumbed to cardiac arrest several hours after departing Manila on July 24. She was buried in Medina. The third pilgrim, a 47-year-old man from the town of Buldon in Maguindanao province, also in the autonomous region, was admitted to the internal care unit of the Al Noor Hospital in Makkah due to complications from diabetes. He died on August 17 and was buried on the same day.
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Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
Cato said the DFA facilitated the issuance of “no objection certificate” for the burial of those who died. The identities of those who died were not made public. He said there are about 5,570 Filipino pilgrims and 115 support staff from the National Commission
on Muslim Filipinos who joined the 2018 Hajj. In his report to the DFA, Consul General Edgar Badajos has assured they will continue to monitor the situation of Hajj pilgrims who are currently in Mecca to extend assistance when necessary. ( Joyce Ann Rocamora)
Duterte assures ‘non-partisan’ in 2019 polls CEBU CITY - President Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that there will be no partisan politics in next year’s midterm elections. Duterte, who was recently in Cebu for a conference of the League
Police tag slain Zamboanga cops in illegal drug trade ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have confirmed that the two cops slain in a firefight with members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) in Zamboanga City were involved in illegal drugs. It said the duo – PO3 Ronald Bernardo and PO2 Maria Oliver Olaso, were killed after they engaged undercover policemen during a sting operation on August 18 in the village of Ayala. Task force agents were trying to arrest the duo when the policemen reportedly engaged the arresting team, backed by police commandos, in a shootout. “Counter-Intelligence Task Force conducted surveillance on the reports the two subject police officers were involved in illegal drugs and upon
confirmation operating team CITF initiated the buybust operation which resulted to the death of the subject police officers,” said Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, a regional police spokeswoman. She said police investigators recovered suspected shabu and weapons and money from the slain cops and from their alleged safe house nearby. But former village chieftain Alex Macapili told E-Media Television that he was with Bernardo and Olaso and they just conducted an anti-illegal drug operation in the area when they ran into a group of policemen on their way home. And afterwards, policemen started shooting at them, said Macapili, who was able to ran to a safe
place at the first burst of gunfire. In the same report, EMedia said Macapili was the subject of a search warrant after police received information that he was keeping illegal weapons in his house. Macapili has gone missing and is believed to be hiding. The operation coincided with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to kill policemen involved in illegal drugs and offered P5 million rewards for each rogue cop killed. The families of the slain policemen did not release any statement on the accusations against Bernardo and Olaso, who were members of the antiillegal drugs unit of the police station in Ayala. (Mindanao Examiner)
of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP), also guaranteed that the polls would be fair, honest and orderly as he warned politicians against using guns, gold and goons to win the elections. “I will guarantee it all throughout the Philippines. The voting will be done fairly, cleanly, and honestly. Walang partido-partido. Your vote will be counted and it will be counted correctly. That I can assure you,” Duterte said. “You start to have a pr ivate army, one morning you will see me in front of you. Kalaban mo diyan ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and I promise you this. During the elections, there will be no private armies. All will be disar med,” he added. But Duterte also assured that he will campaign for local chief executives who have been outstanding in implementing their peace and order programs. He said all he can do is to campaign for the outstanding mayors as he has no money to give them for their campaign coffers. Duterte also urged
the mayors to improve their performance as local chief executives and avoid corruption. “You have to improve your performance as mayor. You are representing me as president of your own republic. So, you have to enforce the law against all,” he said. He said the government will support mayors if they ever face complaints in the implementation of their anti-drug campaigns. “If you do your duty and you will have a case against you just like the police, I will support and defend you,” Duterte said. During his speech, Duterte also warned policemen, soldiers and members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency involved in illegal drugs. “For a law enforcer to engage in illegal drugs trade is tantamount to treason. That’s treason. If you are a PDEA (member), or with the military and the police, but engage in illegal drugs, that’s treason. It’s the highest form of infidelity. So, let’s have a deal. Do not do it. Do not do it during my time. Or mamatay kayo,” Duterte said. (Luel Galarpe)
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Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
Across: 1. French preposition 4. Electrified atom 7. Player 12. FBI employee (abbr.) 13. Cloistered one 14. Over 15. Cow's comment 16. Values deeply 18. Gun owners' org. 20. Loathe 21. Long-distance prefixes (2 wds.) 25. Nuclear ___ 26. Soft belt 30. Pen 31. Skirt border 33. Flat bread 34. Went fast 35. North African 37. Holiday hunter's prize (2 wds.) 39. Biblical mountain 43. Apple color 44. Card game for one 47. Gotcha! 50. Marry clandestinely 51. Angeles preceder 52. Hunting dog, for short 54. Florida island 55. List abbr. Down :
Answer to last week’s crossword:
1. Water barrier 2. Sense of self 3. Caveman's time (2 wds.) 4. Unbroken 5. Belonging to us 6. Wind direction (abbr.) 7. Freon and oxygen 8. Adjoin 9. Extra 10. Nights before holidays 11. Take five 17. Fruity refresher 19. Rushed 21. Circle segments 22. Gather crops 24. Gown 26. Bowling term 27. Large terrier 28. Bachelor party 29. Dangle 32. Wrestling pad
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OPINION:
Attack on Cusi reveals more’
HEALTH
Magpapayat ng Tamang Paraan
By Jun Ledesma Continued from page 1 Cusi sold his passenger and cargo fleet the proceeds of which made him an instant billionaire. The issues raised against Matibag of TRANSCO are even more ridiculous and phantasmagoric. I checked on the engagement of Matibag with TRANSCO and it was only last January 2017 that he was appointed to head the agency which is under the Department of Energy but where Finance Sec. Sonny Dominguez sits as Chairman. The poor guy is being accused of making billions from the Right of Way negotiations when Transco was created by virtue of EPIRA law in 2001. Matibag might still be in college when the firm started constructing and expanding those transmission lines and power pylons which need to have road right of way as these traverse private properties. There were conflicts in valuations and ownerships and a number of these had to be settled in Court. Some cases caught up with Matibag who, to rightfully asked the Land Registration Administration to intervene. Another preposterous attempt at discrediting President Matibag was that he demanded billions of pesos from energy players in Visayas and Mindanao to
7
The Mindanao Examiner
Aug. 27 - Sept. 02, 2018
have them interconnected to the grid. How nebulous can this wrecking crew get. Mindanao and many parts in Visayas are not connected to the grid as yet and I do not think that will happen soon. Poor Matibag, he is also being crucified for being hard on Telecom players when it was during his watch that finally DICT, Transco and NGCP inked a Tripartite Agreement to support telco players, particularly the lucky 3rd Telco company which has yet to be announced. TRANSCO which owns the dark fiber assets that are embedded in the grounding accessory of the power grid have become public only during the term of Melvin as President of the corporation and Finance Sec. Dominguez as its Chairman. For decades these assets and revenue potentials had been kept secret. The travesty of this campaign to disgrace Cusi and Matibag reveals a pattern of a well coordinated plot to remove them as they are in the way of some oligarchs’ interest. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte had been fighting these wellentrenched and highly influential characters that in the past and up to the present control business. The Department of Energy is a prime target because it regulates power
distribution, energy resources and generations and, by quirk of some interwoven development, telecommunications. To put it rather bluntly, let’s stop this cheap black propaganda. The way to go? Negotiate for a more reasonable lease rental of the government assets by adjusting the rent to current levels. Firms with contracts that spells out revenue sharing should update remittance for what is due the government. Since these black propagandists demands investigation on the issues they raised then maybe we can start by unmasking those who leased fibers from NGCP without Informing TRANSCO. Machiavellian tactics won’t work with Duterte government. Better do what is fair and just, pay your taxes rightly and promptly. There is no need for intimidation or threats via economic terrorism. This government is fair. It guarantees you security and free from harassments. All it asks is for you to pay taxes because it needs all the money it can muster for its BUILD, BUILD, BUILD program. After all you are the first to benefit from it. Bear in mind too that President Duterte is the country’s best tax reformist and most efficient tax collector.
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong Tuwing bagong taon mayroon tayong New Year’s Resolution. Siguradong marami sa atin ay tataas ang kolesterol at timbang ngayong bagong taon. Pero huwag mag-alala, kaibigan, magbibigay kami ng mga special tips para mabawasan ang inyong timbang. 1. Sa mga nanay, sa palengke pa lamang piliin ang mga karne na konti lang ang taba. Ihiwalay ang taba sa laman bago pa ito iluto. 2. Mas healthy ang pag-ihaw at pag-steam ng pagkain kaysa sa laging pag-prito sa mantika. Puwede magihaw ng karne o mag-steam ng mga gulay tulad ng talong, okra at talbos. Kung gusto ng healthy na sawsawan sa gulay, subukan ang suka, na nakapapayat pa. 3. Sa paggamit naman ng mantika, konti lang ang ilagay. Tandaan natin na may calories ang mantika at puwede
Dr. Willie T. Ong itong magpataas ng inyong kolesterol. 4. Sa pagtimpla ng pagkain, hinay-hinay lang sa paglagay ng asin. Ang asin ang kalaban ng mga may altapresyon at may sakit sa puso. Kapag sobra ka sa asin puwede kang mag-high blood at magmamanas pa ang inyong paa. 5. Kapag naghahanda ng pagkain, bumili nitong maliit na plato. Ito iyung 9 inches na plato at huwag bumili ng 12 inches. Kailangan masanay ang ating pag-iisip na konti lang ang iyong isasandok na pagkain. 6. At kung ano ang
inilagay mo sa plato, iyon lang ang kainin. Bawal ang dukut-dukot o second serving. Mga nanay, huwag piloting ubusin ang tirang pagkain. Tataba kayo niyan. 7. Bago mag-umpisa kumain, puwede ka munang uminom ng 1 basong tubig para mabusog ka ng kaunti. Puwede ding uminom ng clear soup. Kapag umiinom tayo ng mga likido, medyo nakukumbimsi natin ang ating utak na nabubusog na tayo. 8. Magbawas sa pagkain ng kanin. Kung dati at 2 cups ng kanin ang kinakain, gawin na lang 1 cup rice. 9. Huling payo. Dahan-dahanin lang ang pagpapapayat. Huwag gutumin ang sarili. Kumain ng pakontikonti sa buong araw, tulad ng mansanas, saging o pandesal, para laging may lamang ang inyong tiyan. Good luck po.
RECIPE
Ginataang Baka
Due to rice shortage, Zamboanga declares ‘state of calamity
(http://www.panlasangpinoy.com) Even KCC Supermarket, the biggest in Zamboanga City, has no rice stocks. (Mindanao Examiner Photos) Continued from page 1 The same also occurred in the cities of Lamitan and Zamboanga following the burning of many houses that displaced thousands of people who relied heavily on rice donations. The supply of rice from nearby Malaysia – which helps stabilized the prices of commercial rice in Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu – also declined due to a strict government campaign against “traditional” barter trading in the area. A bag of 25-kilo rice from Malaysia only sells as P650 while commercial rice retails as P1,200 a bag of 25 kilos. And some small traders sell them as high as P72-P80 a kilo.
However, despite the government campaign, traders still managed to sneak nearly 7,000 bags of sugar in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan only to be seized by the Coast Guard. The cargoes came from Malaysia and had no pertinent importation permits. KCC Supermarket, the biggest in Zamboanga City, have no stocks of rice; while small traders sell rice way above its suggested retail price and higher by at least 20%. The most affected by the rice shortage is the poor as middle class can still manage afford the high prices of grains in Zamboanga. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, quoting rice
industry stakeholders, said the unusually high prices of rice in the market will taper off and stabilize in the 4th Quarter when farmers start to harvest their last cropping for the year, and rice stocks imported by private sector have been completely brought in by the end of September. According to Piñol, NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said that the first shipment of 250,000 metric tons of NFA rice has already arrived in the country and the next 250,000 metric tons would start arriving soon. Rice from Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan imported by traders has also arrived. (Mindanao Examiner)
INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs. Beef chuck (paypay), cubed 2 cups baby spinach 1 ½ cups long green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces 1 medium red onion, chopped 3 thumbs ginger, sliced into thin strips
5 to 10 pieces Thai chili pepper 2 cups coconut milk 3 to 4 tablespoons fish sauce (patis) 4 cloves garlic, chopped 4 to 6 cups water Ground black pepper to taste 3 tablespoons cooking oil
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Heat oil on a cooking pot. 2. Saute onion, garlic and ginger. 3. Once the onion becomes soft, saute beef until it turns light brown. 4. Pour coconut milk and add water. Stir. Cover the pot and continue to cook between low to medium heat for 1 hour. 5. Add chili peppers. Cook for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the beef gets tender. 6. Add green beans. Cover the pot and cook for 3 minutes. 7. Season with fish sauce and ground black pepper. 8. Put the spinach into the pot and cook for 1 minute. 9. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve. 10. Share and enjoy!
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Cebu is one of most competitive cities
CEBU CITY has been included in the “10 most competitive highlyurbanized cities in the Philippines today”, according to an annual survey. The Cities and Municipalities Index (CMCI) 2018 showed that the number of cities outside Metro Manila to attain this status increased
to four from only two last year, which only included Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Quezon City retained the top spot, a distinction it has held for three consecutive years now. Manila likewise remained on the second spot, while Davao City was dislodged by Pasay City for the third place. Davao City has slipped to the fourth spot.
Completing the top 10 cities are Cagayan de Oro at fifth place, Makati at sixth, Pasig at seventh, Bacolod at eighth, Cebu at ninth, and Muntinlupa at tenth. The CMCI measures the competitiveness of a local government in terms of four pillars: economic dynamism, or the activities that create stable expansion of business and industries
and higher job creation; government efficiency, or the quality and reliability of government services and support for effective and sustainable productive expansion; infrastructure, or the physical building blocks of a locality that enable the provision of goods and services; and resiliency, or the capacity of a locality to facilitate
Safer workplace law implementing rules underway THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR and Employment (DOLE) said it is now in the process of crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 11058 or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) law. DOLE Acting Secretary Joel Maglunsod said they expect to come up with the IRR within three months. “With this, we look forward to its full compliance after we have crafted its Implementing Rules and Regulations in the next 90 days,” he said. He said with the signing of the new law by President Rodrigo Duterte, the country will now have a comprehensive legislation on occupational safety and
health standards. “This augurs well for the DOLE as it continues to ensure that labor standards and occupational safety and health are upheld at all times in workplaces. We had earnestly shepherd and pushed for the enactment of this law, this is why we are grateful to Congress and the President,” Maglunsod said. “This is a landmark legislation aimed at the full well-being of our workers. This administration will continue to exert all efforts for the protection of the rights of workers to safe and healthful workplaces, and the promotion of their welfare,” he added. RA 11058 covers all establishments, projects, and sites including those in the economic zones. It
stipulates the duties and rights of employers and workers. It guarantees workers the following: the right to refuse to unsafe work; right to report accidents and the right to personal protective equipment. The law also requires safety signage and devices, safety in the use of equipment, OSH information, program and committee, safety officer, occupational health personnel and facilities and OSH report and trainings. Likewise, it imposes a fine of P100,000 a day until the violation has been corrected. “The law further mandates the solidarity liability of the employers and contractors. It imposes an administrative fine of not exceeding P100,000 for willful failure or refusal to
comply with the set standards and compliance order,” Maglunsod said. (Ferdinand Patinio)
MALACAÑANG PALACE has urged suspected drug lord Peter Lim to surrender peacefully and face accusations against him. Lim went into hiding after posting bail and police launched a manhunt in Cebu after the court ordered his arrest so he can answer all criminal charges against him. “We are asking Peter Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. But Roque was quick to clarify that he is not appealing to Lim police
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Eastern Mindanao
efforts are leading us into the right direction, towards a prosperous Philippines where our people can enjoy a better quality of life,” he added. Meanwhile, CMCI 2018 named Rizal as the most competitive province in the country; Legazpi, Albay as most competitive component city; and Cainta as the most competitive municipality. The CMCI 2018 also showed that Iloilo City is the most improved highlyurbanized city in the survey, which leapfrogged to rank 11 from rank 32 last year. (Kris Crismundo)
Palace urges Cebu businessman Peter Lim to surrender
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industries and raise productivity despite the shocks and stresses it encounters. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said this year’s CMCI covers 1,508 local government units (LGUs) nationwide. “I want to say that as stewards of local governance, I challenge all our local chief executives to reinvent the ways of delivering government service,” Lopez said. “I urge all the LGUs to level up the competitiveness of your localities, so that you can attract more investments and create more jobs for the Filipino people. All these
Western Mindanao
tracker teams have been formed to find him. “I’m just saying surrender. I’m not appealing. I’m just saying if you don’t surrender, we will still get you,” he said. Roque said the government will guarantee that Lim would be accorded a fair trial if he decides to surrender.“If you’re innocent, then, we guarantee that you will be given your day in court. I think we have proven to the whole world, that we have an independent judiciary,” he said. “You have nothing to fear by way of being a victim of injustice.We have competent courts, so I
think, he should surrender.” Lim remains the subject of the manhunt and that there is no information yet whether the businessman from Cebu has left the country. The Makati City Regional Trial Court issued warrant of arrest on August 14 against Lim for a drug case filed by the Department of Justice. Lim and several others, including self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, have been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. (Jelly Musico)
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Cebu
Manila