Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (March 15-21, 2021)

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Is BARMM hostage?

‘Marcos seeks compromise on BARMM polls postponement’

C

OTABATO CITY – Senator Imee Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms, said postponing elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will also mean a delay in developing the restive region and correcting the historical injustice on its people.

Under the law, the sectors have strongly BARMM elections are opposed the postponesupposed to take place at ment of the BARMM the same time as national polls and Marcos said elections in May 2022, but that full political legitseveral bills in the Senate imacy in BARMM can and the House of Repre- only be achieved after sentatives have called for elections. postponing the regional Sulu Governor Sakur polls to 2025.

Tan and his mayors and Muslims and their po- the Tausug people are Continue on page 2 litical leaders and various

Senator Imee Marcos, Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tan, and BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim.

BARMM guidelines on foreign grants, donations approved The Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB) has approved the guidelines on the acceptance of foreign grants and donations by the Bangsamoro govern-

ment.

The IFPB is created under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to deal with revenue imbalances and fluctuations in the regional financial needs and

revenue-raising capacity of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said Continue on page 3

Ravina Shamdasani (bangkok.ohchr.org)

Palace defends Duterte’s call to kill communists, U.N. ‘deeply worried’ over Philip‘don’t mind human rights’ pine killings, violent rhetoric

Atty. Harry Roque. (Presidential Photo)

PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte’s order to security forces instructing them to “kill” communist terrorists was legal, his spokesman said.

“The president’s ‘kill, kill, kill’ order is legal because he directed … [it] at the rebels holding weapons,” Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, said during a March 8 press briefing.

“Under the IHL Continue on page 5

Senate panel OKs bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces A SENATE panel approved a measure that seeks to divide Maguindanao into 2 provinces, to help the area better manage its re-

ARMM

sources.

Under House Bill No. 6413, Northern Maguindanao will have 12 municipalities, while 24 munic-

ipalities will be part of Southern Maguindanao.

Under the law, all bills about local concerns Continue on page 6

Eastern Mindanao

THE UNITED Nations condemned the killing

by Philippine police of nine activists in weekend

raids against suspected insurgents and urged authorities to avoid rhetoric that could lead to human

rights violations.

Rights groups have accused President Continue on page 5

Robredo abandons presidential bid

By Rigoberto D. Tiglao

EIGHT months before the October deadline for the filing of candidacy certificates for the two highest posts of the land, Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo has all but given her up her ambition to be president in 2022.

While still saying — but as an afterthought — that that option is still open, Robredo in the GMA Continue on page 3

Western Mindanao

Vice President Leni Robredo.

Cebu

Manila

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

Is BARMM hostage?

‘Marcos seeks compromise on BARMM polls postponement’

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan with Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino. (Zack Musa) Continued from page 1 also opposing the postponement of the BARMM polls. And there were reports that Basilan and Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi provinces want the BARMM elections to push through next year.

Marcos said a balance must be struck between fulfilling the main purpose of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and giving the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) enough time to cope with difficulties in governance wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic and thus effect a smooth turnover of authority to elected officials.

“Given the purpose of this (BARMM) law, which is to rectify historical injustice - political, military, as well as economic - it is important that we conduct these elections at the soonest possible time,” Marcos said during a hearing of the Senate committee on local government.

“Decommissioning militants and weapons and achieving a normal way of life cannot take place without full political legitimacy, without inclusive governance, without the complete exercise of the Bangsamoro people’s voting rights. The election has its advantages,” Marcos explained.

“Only after elections will the BARMM be able to focus on normalization that has been stymied by the pandemic, and to address the region’s unique and difficult circumstances,” Marcos added.

The BARMM elections can be held “months or a year after” the May 2022 elections, instead of three years later, Marcos recommended, adding, while the BTA is still in place, the BARMM elections will be under the control of Comelec.

Marcos, who cited the Palawan plebiscite, even quoted President Rodrigo

Duterte as saying: “Upon the orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, all elections must continue as close to the stipulated dates as possible.”

Former rebel chieftain-turned-politician Murad Ebrahim insisted that running the BARMM is solely vested on the peace agreement his group Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed with the Filipino government eight years ago.

Ebrahim, now BARMM Chief Minister, said the 2014 peace accord was the basis for them to continue ruling the Muslim autonomous region. He and his allies in the BTA are pushing and lobbying for the extension of the interim government. It would also extend Ebrahim’s term and BTA members and those holding key positions in the regional government.

But any extension of the interim government would violate the BOL which the MILF and the government crafted. Under the BOL, the BTA will be dissolved once the new parliament is formed after the first regular elections in BARMM in 2022 and any extension in the BTA’s term would require congressional approval.

Is BARMM hostage?

In a previous virtual hearing of the House of Representatives, Kusog Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut asked this question to Ebrahim: “For example, there is an election and then the MILF members who are members of the BTA now do not win, what will happen to the agreement between the MILF and the government?

Will the MILF turn away from that agreement, for example you do not win in the election, if you are no longer for example, member of the parliament, will you turn away from that agreement with the government?”

In his reply, Ebrahim suggested the peace agreement may suffer from Manila’s failure to ensure the MILF-led BTA to stay in pow-

er. He did not say whether the MILF or its members may resort to armed struggle again. “We do not want to speculate, but then you see the implementation of the agreement is a partnership between the MILF and the government and the mechanism is the BTA, and now if the MILF is no longer the BTA then there is no partnership between the national government and the MILF in implementing, so I do not see how,” he said.

Ebrahim also doubted whether the next leaders of the BARMM and new members of the BTA may be able to honor the provisions of the peace accord after Tambut asked him what steps would he take if the MILF is no longer in control of the interim government and the BTA. “My next question is assuming that there will be an election for the BTABARMM on 2022, and then assuming you will not win, and there will be new set of officers are you saying that the newly elected officers will not be able to perform the task you mentioned, that only you can do the things you mentioned meaning people like (House) Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman cannot performed the task you have mentioned or seasoned legislators, politicians like Congressman Khalid Dimaporo na napakagaling (at) hindi nila kaya gawin yun mga na-mention mo at ikaw, kayo lang mga BTA ngayon ang may kayang gumawa noon?” asked Tambut.

Ebrahim maintained that BARMM is the result of the peace accord and without the MILF at the helm of power there is no agreement or partnership between his group and the government.

“I recognize the capability of our leaders, other leaders but then remember that this is an agreement between two parties and implementation must be a partnership between the two par-

ties, so that is our reason,” he said, adding postponing the BARMM election will give them more time to fully implement the peace deal.

“The challenge now will be the implementation process meaning the agreement will not be fully implemented. So now on our side, we are not postponing this just to be able to hold power, but we are postponing this in order to complete the implementation of the agreement, once it is complemented we are ready to have the election,” he added.

But Tambut posed another question and asked this to Ebrahim: “My question is what are the matters that you need to accomplish that necessitates the cancellation of the first election in 2022 and why would they be a hindrance to the conduct of an election in 2022?”

Ebrahim replied: “Actually, the transition of the BTA is the mechanism that will be an agreed mechanism between the MILF and the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in implementing the comprehensive (peace) agreement through the BOL, so the reason why we are asking for an extension, for the postponement or moving in of the 2022 election to 2025 is based on our analysis, considering all the experience we have also, and the challenges we had, so we see that 2022 will not complete the implementation of both the political aspects and normalization aspects of the agreement.”

“So basically, if it will not be implemented then the (peace) agreement is not in place, so we are not sure whether the next government, because the BTA as a mechanism to implement, is already out of the picture so we cannot be assured that the other provisions which needed to be implemented both in the political aspect and the normalization aspect will be implemented.”

At this point, Tambut, citing Ebrahim’s frequent referral to peace in the troubled region, asked the MILF chieftain why did he refused, even up to now, to surrender members of the MILF who massacred 44 Special Action Force commandos in the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao province.

Tambut was referring to the January 2015 police operation to capture Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, who was eventually killed in the operation in deep inside MILF territory in Tukanalipao village. Police commandos were on their way to re-join their more than 300 SAF members after killing Zulkifli and cutting off his finger for DNA analysis when MILF forces, aided

by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), attacked them and sparking daylong clashes.

“With regard to the issue on peace, I am sorry but there is already this agreement between the MILF and the government.

I am sorry to say, but still there is the BIFF and then still there is this issue about the SAF 44 if you are going to talk about peace. Now my second point is regarding the unfinished tasks, well it would be arrogant to say that only the MILF can function, can perform this unfinished tasks besides you were given an ample amount of time to do everything you needed to do, in fact it is stated in the (Bangsamoro) Organic Law that by 2022 we will have BARMM election and yet you did not perform so basically that is your fault,” Tambut said.

“Now, if we will allow the extension of the BTABARMM because BTA was not able to finish their tasks, well who knows they might just delay and delay and use their lack of performance as an excuse so as not to hold an election in the point that I intend to introduce an amendment to

all the house bills filed that there shall be a referendum to submit this amendment to a referendum so we can hear the voice of the people, anyway we submitted the Organic Law to a plebiscite and now that we are making an important amendment it is important that we consult again the people whether they want to extend the election or not through a referendum,” she added.

But in previous media interview, Ebrahim admitted that should election in BARMM pushes through next year, they may not be able to win because they have accomplished so little. “We’re very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami.

And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mag-eleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said.

Ebrahim said new transition schedule might not be enough to complete systemic and structural changes in the region, including the crucial decommissioning of combatants under the peace deal’s normalization process.

“Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron.

Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (in 2022 election).

Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation? So sana matapos yung term ng transition, ma-implement na rin lahat nung sa normalization process para mag-coincide.

Kailangan i-push namin na before the election talagang yung normalization track ay ma-complete natin,” he told journalist Christian Esguerra.

BARMM’s block grant is worth P65.3 billion on top of a P10 billion special development fund. (Mindanao Examiner)

Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino with Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and his mayors.

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

Robredo abandons presidential bid

By Rigoberto D. Tiglao

Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

BARMM guidelines on foreign grants, donations approved Continued from page 1 the guidelines issued by the IFPB are similar to the protocols provided under the law that other government agencies have to follow when receiving grants or donations. “The IFPB’s goal in issuing the guidelines was to streamline the process for the Bangsamoro government in receiving grants and make it more efficient,” he said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) should be informed by the BARMM when initiating talks with

potential foreign donors, so that the processing of grants can be done simultaneously with the national government.

Under IFPB’s approved guidelines, the BARMM shall coordinate closely with the DOF prior to the negotiation and signing of foreign grants to facilitate issuances of request for Office of the President’s approval or Special Authority.

Under the BOL (Republic Act No. 11054), the BARMM shall enjoy fiscal autonomy, and have the

power to create its sources of revenues as provided under this law.

The BOL also provides that the Bangsamoro government shall exercise authority over grants and loans, without prejudice to the general supervision of the President and that its acceptance of foreign grants shall be subject to the prior clearance and approval by the President or his authorized representative.

(With additional reporting from the Mindanao Examiner.)

Continued from page 1 TV show “Mangahas Interviews” last March 5 said she was instead thinking or running as governor or as congressman, or even going back to just lawyering for nongovernment organizations.

Surprisingly, she even disclosed for the first time that she was also considering a post “in the judiciary.”

But judges in the Philippines up to Supreme Court are appointed by the president: is Robredo sending a message to Rodrigo Duterte?

Robredo even cited the excuse many politicians here and abroad give to get out of politics: the family.

“I might listen to the plea of my children, who’ve told me that they want 2016 to be the last time I’d run for a public post,” she said.

That Robredo doesn’t have a political leader’s fire in the belly became obvious in the interview when she herself said the Liberal Party has been “decimated,” the term she used. She just chuckled in obvious agreement when the interviewer Malou Mangahas related to her the joke going around media that from the school bus Liberal Party members would crowd in at the start of the Duterte administration, they now would fit in a tricycle.

She even demonstrated her political naiveté by revealing that she doesn’t have the financial resources needed to run for the presidency. Why? Because businessmen are afraid of Duterte, she said. “Look at what happened to ABS-CBN.” This chairman of the Liberal Party blamed the opposition’s decimation on itself — and on the unintelligent view that it was due to President Duterte’s propaganda machinery.

“We failed to counter immediately the accusations against me and the opposition,” she said. Doesn’t she read the staunchly Yellow Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, even the Philippine Star?

Alternative truth It was hilarious, but indicative of Robredo’s state of mind, that she borrowed, although a bit changed, a term a high Trump official had used, and which has become notorious, to deny something so clearly obvious: “alternative truth.”

“It was a huge shortcoming for us in the opposition not to have provided the people alternative truths,” she said.

What the heck does that mean? Truths are truths, and there are no “al-

ternative truths.” Or is she saying they were so inutile to have not manufactured better propaganda?

Robredo also blamed Duterte-paid “trolls” in social media for the president’s popularity. Didn’t it cross her mind that these are ordinary people empowered by the new democratic venue called social media, and that it is her camp that has employed at huge cost such trolls? I realized that recently. After my column last Friday that proposed the abolition of the vice president’s post, I was barraged by obvious trolls.

How do I know? Because these trolls had been posting so many posts inconceivable (over a hundred in a week’s time) for an ordinary netizen to have done, and in several newspapers.

Robredo said several times in the interview that she and her office have been busy in projects to help her “countrymen.” It is certainly disappointing for Mangahas, in her youth a feisty reporter and the former head of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, not to have asked Robredo what any newbie reporter would have asked: “Exactly what has your office, and your staff been doing in spending P2.6 billion in the past four years?”

Robredo should employ a professional auditor to investigate the use of her office’s funds. I suspect her staff may have been telling her fibs, that they have meetings all over the country organizing the masses, when there is no indication at all of that.

Desperate Indeed, what is astonishing is that Robredo admitted that the Liberal Party was so desperate that it has given up recruiting political leaders, and instead has been organizing “ordinary people.” C’mon, for what? Or perhaps her staff are jointly organizing the masses together with another party, similarly put in the ropes by Duterte — the Communist Party.

Mangahas even pathetically started her interview with that sickening “necropolitics” tack Cory and her son Benigno 3rd used to crawl to power.

Mangahas’ very first question, obviously scripted, was why she was always wearing a particular pendant. Robredo said it contained some of the ashes of her late husband Jesse Robredo, and that her daughters also have similar ones.

C’mon, do we really need to know that? It was even an overkill of this “ne-

cropolitics” tack: behind her throughout the entire one-hour interview was a portrait of her late husband right next to her face.

In the hour-long interview Robredo never even mentioned, much less praised, any other Liberal Party or Yellow leader.

Mangahas didn’t live up to the meaning of her name as she didn’t even dare to ask: “Are you and Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal having an affair?” While her office, in reply to my persistent queries, denied that report last year, the issue has again come to public attention after the Land Transportation Office in Naga City posted in its Facebook page a photo of him smiling profusely, glad that office gave him the medical clearance needed for the renewal of his driver’s license.

In the neighborhood Why did Banal, a congressman of Quezon City, where the Land Transportation Office’s main offices are, have to renew his driver’s license in Naga 400 kms away, where Robredo lives? He was “just in the neighborhood”? I think it would have been revealing to watch Robredo deny the accusation in person, and not just through a press release.

If Mangahas thought the interview was a brilliant opening salvo for Robredo’s candidacy, it had the opposite effect. Robredo gave rambling, boring answers, found nothing to commend in the Duterte presidency (which would have portrayed her as a sensible person) — while Mangahas nodded continuously in agreement.

She isn’t a leader, and Kiko Pangilinan and Rissa Hontiveros would get many more votes for the presidency, if ever. And of course, she all but announced she was giving up on the presidency.

That it was a propaganda disaster for Robredo is obvious in that in the YouTube version I watched, it had only 73 likes, with 772 dislikes. Out of 400 comments on the post, not a single one was favorable to Robredo. Some were even vicious not just against Robredo, but even Mangahas and GMA7, which one commentator implied had become the new ABS-CBN. From an enfeebled Robredo, to an Antonio Trillanes 4th declaring that he would put Duterte in jail next year. What an opposition, which is bad for a democracy. (First appeared on The Manila Times.)

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

Palace defends Duterte’s call to kill communists, ‘don’t mind human rights’ Continued from page 1 [International Humanitarian Law], the president’s ‘kill, kill, kill’ order is right because if there is an armed conflict, when your enemy has a gun and can kill you, you wouldn’t wait to get shot and killed,” he explained.

“It is not against the law, the international humanitarian law, when a soldier shoots an armed NPA fighter and kills the NPA fighter,” Roque added, referring to the New People’s Army (NPA), which is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The NPA is officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the Philippine government, which has battled a guerrilla insurgency by the group in the Philippine countryside for decades.

The U.N. and the U.S. have declared the NPA a

“foreign terrorist organization.”

Addressing ongoing attacks on rural villages by the NPA on March 5, President Duterte instructed members of the Philippine National Police and military to “kill” armed NPA members if a conflict with them arose.

“If there’s an encounter and you see them armed, kill, kill them. Don’t mind human rights. I will be the one to go to prison; I don’t have qualms,” Duterte said at a meeting of the Philippines’ National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Eclac) in Cagayan de Oro City. Duterte created the task force to help coordinate an end to the NPA’s armed insurgency by the end of his tenure as president in 2022.

Duterte said most village chiefs in the Philippines who supported

the country’s democratically-elected government “had been killed by rebels as [the] NPA continued to prey on the poor in remote villages, which are the last bastions of the insurgency,” according to the Philippine Inquirer.

“So, if you see them holding arms, shoot them, kill them,” Duterte reiterated.

“Just return the bodies to their families,” the president instructed, adding that he “welcomed those who would surrender.”

Duterte said communist rebels pose the “number one threat” to the Philippines’ national security in late June. The president made the remark during a speech condemning the NPA’s then-recent attacks on Philippine government troops distributing aid to Filipinos during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gabrielle Reyes)

FOR SALE

A military photo shows the surrendered Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

14 Sayyafs yield, military promises aid SULU - The Philippine military said 14 Abu Sayyaf terrorists surrendered in the southern province of Sulu with security officials promising them aid despite the group’s atrocious and violent campaign in the restive region.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Bautista, commander of the 1101st Infantry Brigade, said the terrorists also yielded assorted weapons, mostly old firearms, during last week’s ceremony witnessed by senior commanders at the army headquarters in Talipao town.

He said two of those who surrendered were notorious Abu Sayyaf fighters, Almudar Muhajiri and Warsib Hamja, under terrorist leader Radulan Sahiron.

Maj. William Gonzales, commander of the 11th Infantry Division, welcomed the mass surrender of Abu Sayyaf members. “These 14 people are from various age groups. One thing in

common is that they have once gone astray but are now slowly going back on track,” he said, adding, Muhajiri was among those in the military’s watch list.

“He was in hiding for four years before he came clean. He told me that he realized that he doesn’t have a future in the group of Radulan. He wants to live in peace and wants to start a new life to be able to help his family,” Gonzales said.

“Meanwhile, Hamja revealed in an interview that he joined the Abu Sayyaf in 2014 and that he was wounded during the encounter with the military around 2016. Since then, he never returned to the group but was always hiding from government forces,” he added.

Gonzales, who assured the surrenderees they will get assistance, also quoted Hamja as saying: “Sa hirap ng buhay, nasilaw ako sa pera kaya naisipan kong

sumama sa grupo ngunit napagtanto ko na wala palang patutunguhan ang ginagawa namin puro patayan nalang. Gusto ko ng mamuhay ng mapayapa, makapaghanap ng trabaho para sa pamilya ko.”

“I’m glad that you are here with us. The 11th Infantry Division is constantly working with local government units to formulate and implement programs for all of you. As for the troops present, let’s continue our mission. We will not stop until ultimately end terrorism in this province,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf group, whose leaders pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, was behind numerous deadly bombings in Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga City and other parts of Mindanao. It is also involved in ransom kidnappings and brutal slayings of their Filipino and foreign hostages over the past decades.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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U.N. ‘deeply worried’ over Philippine killings, violent rhetoric Continued from page 1 Rodrigo Duterte of encouraging a crackdown on activists to silence dissent and target his detractors, under the guise of intensified counter-insurgency operations against Maoist rebels.

His government has said Sunday’s killings were lawful and legitimate operations, but has promised a full investigation.

“We are deeply worried that these latest killings indicate an escalation of violence, intimidation harassment and ‘red tagging’ of human rights defenders,” U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a news briefing in Geneva.

An influential church

group expressed alarm at the killings and concern about “red-tagging”, or the labelling of opponents as communists or terrorists to justify targeting them.

Rights groups said those killed in recent raids were activists, not combatants. Their deaths came two days after Duterte told security forces they could kill communist rebels if they were holding a gun, and to “ignore human rights”.

Activists said the raids were reminiscent of thousands of deadly police operations under Duterte’s bloody anti-drugs crackdown, in which police said all of the victims were armed and had resisted arrest.

Critics accuse Duterte of openly encouraging police to kill drug suspects.

His office rejects that.

Shamdasani urged police to “take urgent measures to prevent the use of excessive force” and the government and security forces to “refrain from rhetoric that may lead to violations”.

Shamdasani said an investigation must be “conducted with a view to accountability”. “The fact remains that most of the perpetrators of these human rights violations are enjoying impunity to this day,” she said. (Reporting

by Stephanie Ulmer-Nebehay in Geneva; Writing

by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty. Reuters)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Senate panel OKs bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces Continued from page 1 including the creation of new provinces and legislative districts - must originate from the House of Representatives before it can be tackled by the Senate.

“We want to finalize, to crystalize a long-promised bill,” said Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government.

If passed into law, the 36 towns currently of Maguindanao will be divided as follows: Northern Maguindanao: Datu Odin Sinsuat (proposed capital), Datu Blah Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Upi, Kabuntalan Mother, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Buldon, Matanog, Barira and Datu Sumagka (formerly Talitay).

And Southern Maguindanao: Ampatuan, Buluan (proposed capital), Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Pagalungan, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, General S. K. Pendatun, Mamasapano, Datu Montawal (Pagagawan), Paglat, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Rajah Buayan, Pandag, Mangudadatu, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

“The minor details will be threshed out in a technical working group,” Tolentino said, referring to several contentious provisions in the bill, including the transfer of Southern Maguindanao’s provincial

capitol to Buluan town from Shariff Aguak.

Of the 24 municipalities in the proposed Southern Maguindanao province, only 3 areas are close to Buluan, while 18 others need to cross regional boundaries to reach it, said incumbent Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu.

“Shariff Aguak remains to be the nearest to the center of the province,” she said at the Senate’s hearing.

But Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu rejected the proposal of the governor, who is the wife of his cousin, to retain the seat of power in Shariff Aguak, saying the area is too close to strongholds of armed groups.

“Napakaraming baril diyan sa lugar na ‘yan kung saan naglulungga yung napakaraming extremist groups,” he said.

Mangudadatu - the author of the House bill - is the former vice mayor of Buluan town, where he is pushing to have the capitol located. But the incumbent governor said that Mangudadatu’s concern about armed groups near Shariff Aguak gives them more reason to retain the seat of power there.

“Yung sinasabi niya na doon namumuga, ‘yun po ang dahilan na dapat makita ng sambayanan, lalo na sa lalawigan, na may gobyerno. Wag natin ilayo ang gobyerno sa tao,” she said.

The governor also flagged a provision that would allow Congress to recommend temporary local government officials to supervise the new provinc-

es, while leaders have yet to be elected.

Under the measure, if the law is approved at least a year before the 2022 presidential elections, the President may appoint members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, upon the recommendation of the acting provincial governor and the incumbent representative of the first legislative district of Maguindanao.

Maguindanao First District Rep. Roonie Sinsuat Sr. is a co-author of the bill.

“It is inappropriate, improper and baseless that representatives in the House have the prerogative to recommend to the President nominees for the vacancies,” the governor said.

The Commission on Elections is asking lawmakers to extend the 60day period of preparations for the plebiscite in relation to the measure, saying the Covid-19 pandemic may affect the government’s capacity to mount the polls.

The 5,691-square-kilometer Maguindanao passes all the law’s requirements for it to be divided into 2 provinces, Tolentino said.

Under the law, an area may only be declared as a new province if it is at least 2,000-square kilometers in size, has at least 250,000 in terms of population, and receives a certification from the Department of Finance that it is capable of generating sufficient income to provide for its constituents. (Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News)

March 15-21, 2021

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Sinovac vaccine rollout sa Pagadian

Sinovac vaccine rollout sa Pagadian. (Asenso Pagadian) PAGADIAN CITY – Naatol sa birthday ni Mayor Sammy Co ang pagsugod sa pagbakuna batok Covid-19 dinhi sa syudad.

Ang priority sa vaccination protocol mao ang mga medical frontliners ug sa Aisah Medical Hospital ang Day 1 sa Sinovac vaccination rollout diin gi-unhan kini ni Aisah Medical Hospital Director Dr. Brando Khalif Jally, Chief of Clinic Dr. Erving Noel Merlin, Dr. Edward Nasiad, ug uban pang mga doktor og nurses.

Gi-saksihan mismo ni Co ang pagbakuna sa

mga medical frontliners nato og gikalipay kini sa amahan sa syudad nga ang gipaabot sa tanan nga paglaum, naabot na gayud.

Anaa pud ang presensya ni City Health

Officer Dr. Noel Ceniza, Councilors Sam Tyra Co ug Nonoy Pameron, mga representate sa nagka lain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno.

(Mindanao Examiner, Asenso Pagadian)

March 15-21, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

Across : 1. Wind dir.

4. Large bodies of water 8. Astronaut ___ Armstrong 12. Weeding tool 13. Peel 14. “The Diary of ___ Frank” 15. Ecstasy 17. Fails to exist 18. Option 20. Of course!

21. Shudder 24. ___ Kippur 27. Antlered animal 28. Sis’s counterpart 29. ___ wing and a prayer (2 wds.)

30. Fragrant flowers 32. Science rm.

33. ___ Moines, Iowa 34. choose 35. City trains 36. Take for granted 38. 100% 41. Was thankful for 46. Circle sections 48. Glue, e.g.

49. Fatigue 50. Juvenile 51. Once called 52. Encourage 53. Make ___ meet 54. Furthermore

Down : 1. Citi Field predecessor 2. Inner being 3. Cried 4. Fern “seed” 5. Merits 6. Operatic melody 7. Seahawks’ hometown 8. Innocent 9. coordinated outfit 10. Roadhouse 11. Rent 16. “You there!”

19. Bothers

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PAGADIAN CITY

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Exam type Steals from Jedi master Washington bills “The Texas Chainsaw ___” 27. MA time zone 30. Frolic 31. Perform surgery 37. Troubled 38. Hurt 39. Property claims 40. ___ Vegas, Nevada 42. Rocker ___ Turner 44. Uniform 45. Land document 46. ___ standstill (2 wds.)

47. Josh

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Newspaper, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief / Producer

Answer to last week:

Reynold Toribio Graphics / Video Editor

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 15-21, 2021

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Heightened security at sea after failed hijacking

Akij Pearl TAWI-TAWI – The Philippines tightened its security anew in the southern border near Sabah following a failed hijacking on a Bangladeshi cargo ship while sailing off Sibutu Island in Tawi-Tawi province.

The bulk carrier, the Akij Pearl, escaped pirates who tried to board the cargo vessel, according to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre which immediately issued a warning and urged ship master and crew to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, in particular waters off Sibutu Island.

ReCAAP stands for Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.

“While the bulk carrier was underway, an unidentified speed boat with three perpetrators on board attempted to board the ship.

The master reported the incident to the Philippine Navy Littoral Monitoring Station,” ReCAAP said in recent report.

The 190-meter cargo vessel, built in 2005 by the Mitsui Tamano Engineering and Shipbuilding in Japan, departed the port of Taicang in Jiangsu province in China on February 2, according to a report by the Marine Traffic Terrestrial Automatic Identification System.

It was unclear whether the pirates were members

of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf who operate in the area. But in January last year, Abu Sayyaf terrorists hijacked a Malaysian trawler and kidnapped eight of its crew members and brought to Sulu province.

ReCAAP reported that at least 86 crew members had been kidnapped in the area since March 2016.

The Malaysian state of Sabah has also extended its curfew hours and is now on heightened due to threats posed by the terror group Abu Sayyaf.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the curfew hours runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and covers areas up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran - all near the border of Tawi-Tawi’s chain of islands.

The curfew which was supposed to end February 28 was extended until March 16. It was imposed in July 2014 following a series of Abu Sayyaf kidnappings which saw the beheading of kidnapped Sarawak man Bernard Then Ted Fed and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists.

“There is a need to continue the curfew in these waters to prevent the encroachment of terrorists and criminals who can threaten the safety of locals, international re-

searchers and tourists on islands,” Malaysian media quoted Ghazali as saying.

Ghazali, citing unnamed intelligence sources, said kidnap-for-ransom groups and Abu Sayyaf militants are still trying to attack and commit cross-border crimes.

“We also want to ensure the safety of the people of Sabah who use the waters and are staying near the Esszone,” he said.

Malaysian newspaper The Star also quoted Ghazali saying that the curfew was to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the areas, as well as establish a sense of security with nearby chalet owners and fishermen through the presence of a security team.

Malaysia and Indonesia have a border patrol agreement with the Philippines and share regular intelligence and conduct trilateral maritime patrols to prevent piracy and terrorism, including ransom kidnappings of sailors in the maritime borders.

The Philippine military previously said that security is tight in the border to prevent Abu Sayyaf kidnappings inside Sabah or in the waters of Tawi-Tawi which is frequented by cargo boats. Security forces have been targeting militants in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan provinces forcing a number of terrorists to surrender. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey...

COFFEE LOVERS in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think.

Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.

In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad.

But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City.

The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak

– sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink.

Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a backyard reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection.

Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice.

And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 0915-3976197. (AJC)

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March 15-21, 2021

March 15-21, 2021

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Cebu starts historic agribusiness program

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EBUANO FARMERS and fisherfolks get another opportunity to bring their livelihoods to the markets and even expand their businesses further now that the Capitol’s Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) Program will finally roll out in the entire province.

The Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement with three government banks in Pinamungajan town for the program’s implementation.

Through the ECD, farmers and fisherfolks will be provided with funds for their needed capital to restart or improve their businesses, according to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

She said the funds will be given through a loan program with reasonable interest rates and payback terms from the Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Veterans Bank.

Businesses include farming corn, cassava, and other crops; raising native pigs, mud crabs, bangus, and others; as well as food processing and manufacturing like squash noodles, banana chips, cassava chips, among others.

Garcia said the provincial government will also help connect the farmers and fisher-

folks to companies that will buy their products and harvests at an assured price. It will ensure the “right price for the farmers and the right volume for the buyers” giving all the proceeds to the farmers, fisherfolks, and other micro, small and medium agri-entrepreneurs.

Food sufficiency Garcia said the ECD program aims to reinvigorate the economic activities in the countryside, particularly in the agribusiness sector. “This way, Cebuanos can work in their respective localities and would no longer need to go to the urban areas,” she said.

The ECD expands the Sugbusog and Sugbo Negosyo programs and the revival of Cebu’s tourism industry last year to bring back the economy crushed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also targets to ramp up food production in the Province to ensure food security and sufficiency for the Cebuanos.

Garcia said the pandemic highlighted the reality that

food production in the province is not enough. “Panahon sa pandemya dinha nako nakit-an nga pagka-insufficient sa atong food supply, nagpailog sa bugas, naglisod pa’g pangita sa bugas mais,” she said.

She said that over 15 livestock feed mills need about 500,000 metric tons of corn but the province’s corn farmers at present can only supply one percent of it. This resulted in importation of corn from other areas such as Mindanao.

Garcia noted that Cebu has more than 3,000 hectares of idle lands that can be utilized to increase corn production and lessen the importation and revealed that big companies like San Miguel Corporation have expressed desire to buy cassava products, raw or processed, from the province.

Commitments To encourage farmers to grow crops in their lands, Garcia said the provincial government will provide infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market

roads and P32-million post-harvest facilities in strategic areas in the whole of Cebu.

It will also secure crop insurance to all ECD participating farmers with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, as well as technical and marketing support, among others.

The three banks, on the other hand, committed an initial P20 billion agricultural funds for the program. The bank representatives said more funds can be extended, if needed.

“Mu-commit mi bisan pila ka bilyon basta ang mga kinahanglan nga requirements naa, qualified sa program, ug bayran ang utang. We are very willing to help you financially and technically,” said Philippine Veterans Bank Vice President Ofelia Oliva.

The Development Bank of the Philippines will also cater to infrastructure projects, while LandBank for agricultural projects, and Philippine Veterans

Bank for MSMEs. Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena said they will meet with representatives from the lender banks to finalize the guidelines for the implementation of the program. They will also meet with city and municipal agriculture officers to identify and prioritize the farmers and fisherfolks’ organizations that are interested to join the program.

“As long as interesado ang farmers, og unsa ilang ganahan i-venture nga livelihood, atong i-assist.

Magbuhat man ta ug screening committee ani,” Saragena said.

“Ang farmers and fisherfolks, ilang isubmit ilang application or letter of intent sa city or municipal agriculture office unya isubmit sa Provincial Agriculture Office aron atong ma-screen o review iyang feasibility. Then, ato na i-submit sa lender banks,” he added.

Saragena revealed that the agri-MSMEs’ initial response to

ECD has been positive as they trooped to the bank representatives present in the event to inquire about the documentary requirements.

Cebu moving forward Garcia enjoined all town and city mayors, and the provincial board members, and national government agencies to continue the collaborative work they have started with Sugbusog and Sugbo Negosyo in implementing the ECD program. “We will need all of you. All hands on deck.

All Cebuanos rising up as one niining hiniusa ug nagkahiusang Sugbo,” she said.

“With a sense of purpose, with a sense of continuity, and as always, with a sense of leadership at this time, Cebu must take the lead for the country, for the Philippines,” Garcia added, emphasizing that “Cebu is moving on and moving forward.” (Lianne Llesol)

Dialysis center opens in Balamban THE HEMODIALYSIS Center at the Cebu Provincial Hospital (CPH) in Balamban town is now ready to serve patients from all over the province following its recent inauguration.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia inaugurated the center which also marked the turnover of 10 new hemodialysis units.

Previously used as the hospital’s Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center, the facility was converted into a hemodialysis center which cost P2.8 million and funded by the Department of Health – Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

“Ready na gyud ang atong building. Duna na gyud ta’y lugar kay na-convert naman nato ang PT rehab center nga nahimo sad nga OPD niadto. Pagkahibawo nato nga gusto ni Gov nga duna ta’y Hemodialysis Center, maong gipa-convert dayon nato,” CPH Balamban Chief Dr. Olivia Dandan said.

Dandan said the center will serve 25 patients, who regularly use the hospital’s ambulance when going to dialysis centers in Cebu City. There are also 18 patients from Pinamungajan and others from Toledo City, Tabuelan, and Tuburan, she said.

“Wala pa ni labot ang ihap

sa patients who have their own private cars. Dako kaayo ning tabang kay number one, kon taga-Balamban ka, ang time element, dili na ka mo-travel og layo. Second, ang financial kay naa man ta’y PhilHealth,” Dandan said.

Currently, CPH Balamban has doctors who specialize in nephrology and cardiology while two nurses are trained to operate the dialysis units.

Dandan said the provincial government allocated P40 million for a two-storey building that will house the hospital’s Out-Patient Department.

(Eleanor Valeros)

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