Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (April 26-May 3, 2021)

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April 26-May 3, 2021

Hindi natin kaya ang China: Duterte

‘West Philippine Sea, hindi na sa atin’ S

INABI NI Pangulong Duterte na wala itong balak magpadala ng mga barkong pandigma sa West Philippine Sea kahit pa inangkin ng China ang Julian Felipe Reef sa loob ng ating exclusive economic zone, ilang milya lamang mula sa Palawan.

“We do not send gray sa Pilipino na maski na il- cause we are not in the ships to, war ships diyan, ang balik natin doon, wala possession of the sea. Sa na para ipakita lang natin talagang mangyari beContinue on page 2

Sulu employees receive blessings in time for Ramadhan SULU - Provincial employees thanked Governor Sakur Tan for “all the blessings” they received at the start of the Holy month of Ramadhan.

Employees said they received three months of salary differential, half of their 13th month pay on top of regular salaries, and a sack of rice. Tan’s benevolent acts have been a long time tradition not only during Ramadhan, but Continue on page 5

In South China Sea, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Lewis and Clark class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Pecos (T-AO 197). Barry is assigned to Task Force 71/ Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN (DESRON 15), the Navy’s largest forward deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Stack)

Gov. Sakur Tan and Hadja Nurunisah Abubakar Tan.

Maguindanaons with fake Zambo is No. 1 in Covid response RT-PCR test results nabbed SECURITY FORCES recently intercepted 10 people, including wom-

en from Maguindanao’s Parang town, trying to enter Zamboanga City with

fake RT-PCR test results.

The group was in a Continue on page 9

More Covid vaccines arriving AT LEAST 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the country in the next

few months, according to the government.

It said the vaccines could arrive as early

as June with deliveries stretching until August after Manila secured Continue on page 5

PAGADIAN CITY – The local government of Zamboanga City topped the entire Western Mindanao region in Covid-19 response despite the surge in community transmission in the latest assessment of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DILG said the local government is number

Mayor Beng Climaco.

1 in functionality rating garnering 86.5 percent and beating the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, including the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog and Pagadian.

Mayor Beng Climaco thanked the DILG and all those who contributed Continue on page 5

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2

The Mindanao Examiner

April 26-May 3, 2021

Hindi natin kaya ang China: Duterte

‘West Philippine Sea, hindi na sa atin’ Sulu’s own community pantry, fresh fish and rice

A Philippine Coast Guard photo shows Chinese vessels anchored at Julian Felipe Reef inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone off Palawan province.

Continued from page 1 kanila eh,” ito ang pagamin ni Duterte sa kabila ng mga batikos sa kanya ng publiko sa pagiging pro-China nito at kabiguan na ipag-laban ang karapatan at teritoryo ng bansa.

“Kaya nga ang China kung hanggang diyan lang, ‘wag ka lang maggulo, you claim there even if you go there and then wala ring mangyari kasi kanila talaga eh, para sa isip nila kanila.

Even if I go there, I said, with (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana, and sail there and ask questions, wala mang mangyari. Sasagutin ka lang, but you know the issue of the West Philippine Sea remains to be a question forever until such time that you know, we can take it back,” paliwanag pa ni Duterte.

Ayaw rin umano ni Duterte na makapag-away sa China dahil sa posibleng pagsiklab ng giyera sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa.

“Ang akin diyan is

walang iba, giyera lang. If we promote a war against China and America, medyo siguro mamadalian. Pero at what cost to us? Iyan ang problema, iyan talaga ang problema. But we can retake it only by force. There is no way that we can get back the…tawag nilang Philippine Sea without any bloodshed. Iyan talaga ang totoo. Maski na anong sabihin ng mga military, na may iba diyan na ano alam ko na walang ginawa. You know the cost of war.”

“And if we go there really to find out and to assert jurisdiction, I said, it would be bloody. It will result in a violence that we cannot maybe win. Ang problema nito we have always, well, sided with America in so many issues, including this one. Pero kung sabihin mo that America will go to war because of the Philippine Sea tapos tayo ang mag-umpisa, ang sa ano doon that, alam mo doon sa Mutual Defense Treaty, I

don’t know if I’m right, only if we are being attacked and assaulted. It does not include a war that is initiated by us,” ani ng Pangulo.

Papalagan lamang ni Duterte ang China kung magsisimula itong mag drill ng langis sa West Philippine Sea. “Ako totoo ‘yan, ‘pag mag-umpisa na sila ng drill ng oil diyan, sabihin ko talaga sa China, is that part of our agreement? Because if it is not part of our agreement, I’m going to also to excavate, to drill my oil there. If you own it, I own it. I do not want a quarrel, but that is how it is. Noon ko pa sinabi ‘yan, iyong pagkatapos na nag-usap kami ni President Xi Jinping na sinabi ko na I will get my oil also. Sabi niya, “Please don’t. We just leave it that way in the meantime,” ayon pa kay Duterte.

Tikom naman ang bibig ni Duterte sa pag-angkin ng China sa Julian Felipe Reef at sa mahigit 200 barko ng Chinese militias doon. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Photos from the Facebook page of Elmor Sakandal show residents in Sulu’ capital town of Jolo getting fish and rice from a community pantry.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – While community pantries are sprouting in Metro Manila to feed the poor and the hungry, now tricycle and pedicab drivers and laborers in the southern Muslim province of Sulu are also benefiting from these benevolent acts of Filipinos helping the needy.

In his Facebook post, Elmor Sakandal said many poor people have benefited from the donations of fresh fishes and rice provided by the Ministry of Fisheries and Rep. Samier Tan. He thanked Arshaima from the Ministry of Fisheries, and Tan for the donations, and even posted photos of men getting fishes from at least 5 huge plastic tubs in downtown Jolo.

Tan and his family, from his father Sakur, who is the governor of Sulu to his mother Nurunisah, and brother Toto, the pro-

vincial vice governor and sisters Shihla, the mayor of Maimbung town, and Shernee and Samier who are both members of Congress, have earlier distributed thousands of bags of rice, among other things before the start of the Holy month of Ramadan.

“Magsukol Madam Arshaima (of the) Ministry of Fisheries ha mga istah dihil mu ibn kan Congressman Samier Tan ha mga bugas dihil mu kmu mataud na n nakahampit sambil mga driver kuway-kuway, driver motor tricycle, laborer ibn mga tao ha dugaing kawman...Alhamdulilla boss Cong continue pa an pg dihil nmu sambil na ene pa dugaing kawman bng mgduhol n Allahutaala,” Sakandal said.

(Thank you Madam Arshaima of the Ministry of Fisheries for the fish you donated and also thanking Congressman

Samier Tan for the rice assistance from which we are distributing to the pedicab drivers, tricycle drivers, laborers and other needy people. Praise be to God, Congressman may you continue helping the poor. By God’s Grace these will also reach other areas. Allahutaala.)

The translation of this Arabic phrase Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (SWT) is “May He be praised and exalted” or all praises are for him alone. This is said

by Muslim as a show of respect to God. We are quite deliberate in making our language reflect our inner feelings to show love and respect.

The community pantries in Metro Manila started in Quezon City and eventually duplicated by other people in their communities and even in the provinces as a show of the so-called Bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 26-May 3, 2021

With militants gaining new footholds, Afghanistan no longer central to counterterrorism fight

President Joe Biden

Military launches ops vs. terrorists SULU – The military ordered an all-out offensives against terrorists and their supporters in Sulu following the recent killing of a suspected Egyptian ISIS soldier and two Filipino Abu Sayyaf bombers in a brief, but fierce firefight in the province.

Security officials claimed four other foreign terrorists are embedded with the pro-ISIS group in Sulu.

Army Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, identified the slain Egyptian only by his first name Yusop, whose mother - Reda Mohammad Mahmud - was behind the suicide attack at an a military post in Sulu’s Indanan town on September 2019.

Vinluan said Yusop’s grandfather, Abduramil, was also slain by the army in a clash in November 2019. “The neutralized foreign terrorist was identified as a certain Yusop, one of the five remaining foreign terrorists monitored in Sulu,” he said.

The slain Abu Sayyaf fighters have been identified as Abu Khattab Jundullah and Akram, one of the trusted followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader and bomb expert Mudzrimar Sawadjaan, who coordinated ISIS suicide attacks in Sulu.

The fighting erupted after members of the elite and U.S.-trained 4th Light Reaction Company assaulted an Abu Sayyaf hideout in the village of Igasan in Pati-

kul, a known stronghold of the terrorist group.

Vinluan, citing military reports, said the fighting only lasted 10 minutes with troops killing three of the most notorious terrorists in the South. “These successes (against the terrorists) are attributable to the intensified conduct of intelligence operations, the quick action of our ground troops, and the cooperation of the local governments and the people,” he said, adding, troops were sent to the town’s hinterlands on Saturday to pursue other terrorists who managed to escape under cover of darkness.

This was also confirmed by Col. Benjamin Batara, commander of the 1102ng Infantry Brigade.

“Reinforcements were immediately deployed to conduct blocking and pursuit operations in the possible enemy withdrawal routes,” he said.

Batara said troops recovered the bodies of the terrorists and their weapons - one R4 assault rifle, one M203 grenade launcher and an M653 rifle, including dozens of rounds of ammunition. “While scouring the encounter site, operating troops recovered the dead bodies of three slain terrorists. The cadavers were brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo town,” he said.

Army Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu, has

ordered an all-out offensive against the remaining foreign terrorists and Abu Sayyaf members following the slaying of the Egyptian.

“We are utilizing all our air, naval, and ground assets to conduct all-out offensives against the remaining foreign terrorists and Abu Sayyaf group members in our area of operation,” he said, the operations have been coordinated with local government leaders to ensure the safety of civilians.

On August 24 last year, a pair of suicide bombers struck in the capital town of Jolo and killed and wounded dozens of soldiers and civilians. One of the bombers was the Indonesian widow of Abu Sayyaf suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, who blew himself up outside a military base and killed eight people in Indanan town in 2019. The other bomber was the wife of Talha Jumsa, an Abu Sayyaf explosives expert and trained by ISIS, who was also slain in the 2019 clash with soldiers in Patikul town.

In January 2019, a twin suicide attacks carried out

by Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in downtown Jolo also killed and injured dozens of soldiers and civilians. The first bomb went off inside the church and the second blast occurred outside just as people were rushing out of the building. (Mindanao Examiner, Zamboanga Post)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM mission in Afghanistan had for years now become one of prevention, not one of identifying an imminent threat that must be countered, said Laurel Miller, the Asia program director of the International Crisis Group, who served until mid-2017 as the acting U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The absence of recent terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan, of course, doesn’t mean that the country won’t again become a hot spot for transnational militants after U.S. forces leave by September, as President Biden announced this week.

Still, the importance of a territorial base has declined: Many Islamic State attacks in Europe in recent years have been perpetrated by radicalized locals who pledged allegiance to the terrorist group via social media and never set foot in areas under its control.

“Terrorist activities aren’t things that just occur in so-called or alleged ungoverned spaces,” said William Ruger, vice president for research and policy at the Charles Koch Institute, a conservative think-tank, who was the Trump administration’s ambassador-designate to Afghanistan. “It’s not as if terrorist organizations have to be in a place like Afghanistan, they could be within European cities.”

U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 because that is where al Qaeda plotted its attack on America. Then, for nearly two decades, denying terrorists an Afghan foothold served as a key justification for what has become America’s longest war.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the global terrorist threat has mutated.

Recruitment—and even training—increasingly happens online. And Islamist militant groups have established outposts in dozens of places in the Middle East, Asia and, increasingly, Africa.

These new locations are often much closer to vital Western interests and global shipping lanes and represent more convenient staging grounds for attacks than the remote mountains of landlocked Afghanistan.

Concerns about Islamist terrorism, which already was weakened by the rout of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2019, receded further amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdowns, border closures and other restrictions triggered by the coronavirus have disrupted the ability of terrorist groups to execute attacks. Once the world reopens for business, however, terrorist groups could bounce back, too.

Insurgent groups affiliated with Islamic State and al Qaeda continue to operate in the southern Philippines, and a militant group linked to al Qaeda remains in northwestern Syria.

In West Africa, Islamist groups roam large parts of the Sahel, along routes used to smuggle people, drugs and cigarettes into Europe, while al Qaeda’s affiliate Al Shabaab controls a large part of Somalia.

In the latest push, militants affiliated with Islamic State gained ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo and last month they seized the major port of Palma in Mozambique, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

“ISIS and al Qaeda remain a persistent threat world-wide and continue to aspire to conduct attacks targeting the United States and its partners and allies,” said John Godfrey, the acting coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department. “Our focus is to maintain consistent pressure on terrorist groups to deny them the time, space and resources they need.”

Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D., Fla.), the vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, said threats emanating from Afghani-

stan shouldn’t be viewed in isolation from other emerging hot spots around the world, such as Africa and the Philippines.

“The reality is that many of those places are interconnected—we talk about foreign fighter flows,” she said. “While the withdrawal of the permanently based forces in Afghanistan is a force-posture shift, I don’t believe that it is a mission shift.”

Even though the Taliban have pledged under their agreement with the U.S. not to allow al Qaeda to use Afghan soil for terrorist attacks on America and American allies, the prospect of the Islamist movement seizing Kabul terrifies many counterterrorism experts throughout the world.

“The moment Afghanistan is abandoned, foreign fighters from Southeast Asia will go to Afghanistan to train there, and will come back with skills, motivation and networks to stage attacks,” said Rohan Gunaratna, a professor of security studies at the Nanyang Technology University in Singapore who advised regional governments on deradicalization strategies.

Countries in South Asia, particularly India, are likely to be most affected if terrorist groups reassert themselves in Afghanistan, said Bruce Hoffman, a professor at Georgetown University who advised the U.S. government on counterterrorism policies.

“It’s very unlikely that al Qaeda is going to reconstitute itself and use Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks against the United States,” he said.

“But it’s entirely plausible that, allied with the Taliban, al Qaeda is going to use Afghanistan as a base to destabilize South Asia.

And that eventually will become a big strategic issue for the United States.”

(By Yaroslav Trofimov and Jessica Donati – The Wall Street Journal)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 26-May 3, 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)

Sulu employees receive blessings in time for Ramadhan Continued from page 1 also in time of the needs of his people.

Even at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year, every single Tausug received regular food aid, among others from medicines to health kits from Tan and his family, including his sons Vice Governor Toto Tan and Rep. Samier Tan; and daughters Rep. Shernee Tambut and Maimbung Mayor Shihla Hayudini; and wife Nurunisah Tan. “Alhamdulillah,” is all what employees said of the blessings they received.

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 26-May 3, 2021

Alhamdulillah is an Arabic phrase meaning “praise be to God”, sometimes translated as “thank God.” This phrase is called Tahmid or Hamdalah.

A longer variant of the phrase is al-amdu l-illhi rabbi l-lamn, meaning “all praise is due to God, Lord of all the worlds,” the first verse of Surah Fatihah.

Tan, a well-respected and influential political leader in the South, has been largely credited for turning Sulu from a once war-ravaged province to what it is now.

He is a staunch advocate of peace and de-

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velopment and has repeatedly called on his constituents to continue supporting the government’s programs in Sulu in an effort to end the cycle of violence in the province due to the presence of Abu Sayyaf militants.

Tan also renewed his strong commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 providing for a Whole-ofNation approach in ending armed conflict and gives importance to an inclusive and sustainable framework towards attaining peace. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zambo is No. 1 in Covid response Continued from page 1 in fighting the further spread of the deadly respiratory disease – from barangay health workers to the medical frontliners and security forces, including various local government departments. She said the highest rating the local government received from the DILG only proves and demonstrated the hard work and dedication put up by each and every frontliners to save the lives of others.

“We are encourage by the (high) functionality rating (given by the DILG) as this gives us the will to carry on and do what we have to do to keep our people safe and protected from Covid-19 amediante el alto caso del aqui na ciudad,” she said.

“Este functionality rating que ya dale el Departamento del Interior ta sirvi como inspiracion con todo canaton, especialmente el de atun compañeros na gobierno local sin descanso ta trabaja cay ustedes el de amun numero uno prioridad, el de ustedes salud y seguridad el numero uno na de amun prioridad poreso ta apela kame con todo con ustedes dale grande responsabilidad na proteccion de cada egual familia,” she added.

Climaco said the raging battle to stop, if not reduce the spread of the deadly virus and other Covid-19 variants, is not only the work of government alone, but of everyone as everybody is vulnerable to the dreaded disease.

She said residents must

not to be complacent and always use face mask and face shield in public places, and sanitize or wash hands with soap and water frequently, and comply with the community quarantine guidelines. “I am enjoining the public to please cooperate with and help government in the implementation of these health protocols,” Climaco said.

The mayor praised the various departments at City Hall and the local police force and military for their role in Covid-19 response.

She has, since last year, has nothing to say but praises to all Covid-19 frontliners from Barangay Health Workers and their leaders and officials, to the doctors and nurses both in private and government hospitals, and all those involved in the fight against the disease – and calling them all “modern-day heroes.”

“Ta rindi tamen kita gracias con todo que ya contribui con este (alto) functionality rating (del DILG), talli el policia, el CDRRMO, el City Health Office, City Tourism Office, City Accounting Office, el Office of the City Planning (and Development Coordinator),el Office of the City Engineer, y todo con aquellos que ya hace este posible,” the mayor said.

“And we would like to thank everyone, sabe kita cay de ustedes govierno local junto con el maga vivientes necesita gat coopera hace lang kita claro el deseo de atun para dela ya el da atun (Covid-19) vaccines aqui na de atun ciudad para

puede tambien el de atun A2 (priority list el maga senior citizens) onward para recibi el de ila vacuna cay este ambos proteccion. Ta trabaja kita junto con el gobierno nacional, el Departamento de Salud junto con (City Health Officer) Doctor (Dulce Amor) Miravite para puede hace llamada na maga ospital pribado para hindi sila queda lleno y hace kita el recursos para resolve y responde con el subida del caso del Covid-19,” she further said.

In March this year, the Department of Health (DOH) cited the Climaco administration for topping in the anti-tuberculosis (TB) campaign in the whole of the Zamboanga Peninsula region despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Zamboanga City was also the sole recipient of the “Population Testing Rate Award” for garnering the highest percentage of the population tested for TB last year.

And even in the midst of the local government efforts to completely eliminate the deadly Covid-19, the local government has not lost sight of its priority programs that benefit the Zamboangueño people.

Considering the restrictions and the challenges posed by the pandemic on the anti-TB campaign, the local government though the City Health Office and Barangay Health Workers and others who were involved in the program, managed to vaccinate majority of its population against the lung disease.

(Zamboanga Post)

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More Covid vaccines arriving Continued from page 1 contracts with Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax and Gamaleya Institute. The Food and Drug Administration has also approved the emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.

Only 1.2 million of the country’s 110 million population had been vaccinated, mostly health care workers and senior citizens and those with comorbidities.

Manila is eyeing to receive 500,000 vaccine doses from Sinovac, 20,000 doses from Gamaleya and 195,000 doses from Pfizer through the COVAX facility.

The 20,000 doses of Gamaleya Institute’s Sputnik V is only a mini-rollout as the Russian pharmaceutical company conducts testing in the Philippines.

Once the government completed the agreement with Pfizer, it could make an early delivery of 2.4 million doses this second quarter.

Despite the lack of vaccine supplies, President Rodrigo Duterte said the government is excellent on its mass inoculation program.

Duterte said he is even prepared to invoke the police power of the state to effectively respond to the pandemic, allaying fears that government is running out of interventions in the present

Image:(VCG) health crisis.

“Kapag sinabi na we are at a critical condition, there is no space for the doctors and the nurses to move and stay healthy, then we begin to exercise the police power of the state. When we are pushed to the wall, either by the microbe itself or by external, internal, I can always order the military and the police to go there and confiscate the operation of the hotels. So kayong mga kababayan ko, huwag kayong matakot diyan sa ano. Hindi naman tayo talagang walang-wala eh. We are not really at a total loss of what to do. We know what to do,” Duterte said.

But he was quick to say that he will only invoke such power to control private facilities once the country’s healthcare system is at maximum capacity.

Duterte said that his administration is doing all it can to come up with inter-

ventions that mitigate, rather than aggravate, the medical and socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

Despite government efforts, he admitted that the only hope to fully recover from Covid-19 lies solely on massive vaccination program, noting, however, that the country has to compete with other nations in securing sufficient supply considering the current global vaccine shortage.

“Do not be afraid. Government is working. Government is busy doing everything, not nothing.

Government is trying to get the things to fix all of us.

Iyong mga bagay ngayon nandiyan pero wala sa ating mga kamay. Nandiyan ang bakuna, hindi sa ating kamay. Sa kamay ng ibang tao.

And this will go I think before it gets better, we’ll have to go to the worst of times,” he said. (Rhoderick Beñez)

6

The Mindanao Examiner

April 26-May 3, 2021

Garbage clog canals, drainage systems in Davao City

The Davao City Government released photos of Ancillary Services Unit personnel cleaning up the Mamay Creek and they collected 4.5 cubic meters of garbage that contributed to the recent flooding.

DAVAO CITY - The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) blamed the recent flooding here to uncollected garbage that clogged drainage systems and canals here, and further aggravated by siltation and structures built above waterways.

“Ang atong assessment, with reports from CDRRMO which was provided to us, napuno og mga basura ang atoang mga kanal. Siguro during that time wala pa makolekta ang ubang basura niawas na sa garbage bin, nikalit man to og ulan sa gabii. So nanglutaw, didto ni-clog sa atong mga drainage,” said CEO head Joseph Dominic Felizarta.

“Because of development, daghan na kayo ta’g mga building karon during the time magulan ang mga building mag-produce pud og mga tubig. Ang iba naka-clog na sa atong mga kanal, naay mga driveways na kailangan na nato i-check.

That’s why kung magkuha sila og building permit, ginapakuha gyud nato sila og drainage clearance sa City Engineer’s Office,” he

added.

He said they have identified 13 flooded areas around the city - Km 5 Tulip Drive in Matina Crossing; Matina Aplaya; Susana Homes in Baliok; Bacanaya Village in Catalunan Pequeño; Countryside Village La Vista Monte; Gallera de Oro Bago Aplaya; Goldland Subdivision Baago Gallera; Spring Valley Subdivision in Buhangin; Datu Loho in Maa, Circumferential road in Marfori; J.P. Laurel, and Quirino.

Felizarta said the CEO team will be checking the drainage systems whether it is heavily silted, including the newly-constructed drainage in Matina Crossing.

The local government, he added, has allocated P35 million for the rehabilitation of the drainage along the Civil Service Commission Road and another P40 million for the rehabilitation of the Kabacan creek in Ecoland.

Felizarta said another reason for the flooding is the illegal settlers who built their houses on top of the drainage systems.

“Ang mga drainage gipang-patungan na siya og mga balay ug mga extension sa balay. So, ginahangyo nato ang atong mga igsoon na mag-voluntary demolition na sila.

Kay naa nay legal opinion ang City Legal Office nga panghawaon gyud na sila kay nakatabon na sila sa atong mga drainage,” he said.

He said some drainage systems are under private properties and that private property owners should also give way to existing creeks. According to the law, they should not change the flow of water.

Felizarta said the local government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are addressing the flooding problems. “There are on-going projects funded by the city government and DPWH and pumping stations that operate to help ease the flooding,” he said.

Flooding here is a perennial problem, especially during the rainy season and cause rivers to swell or overflow. (CIO, Malou Cablinda)

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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 09153976197. (AJC)

April 26-May 3, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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April 26-May 3, 2021

Across : 1. Top pilots 5. Average mark 8. Molecule part 12. Rice wine 13. contains 14. Comboy ___ Autry 15. Dozing ones 17. Skating jump 18. Least shallow 20. Prepare leftovers 23. Largest desert 27. Partly cover 29. Concerned one 30. Pub 31. Bad actor 33. Bullfight cheer 34. Scents 37. Frontmost football players 40. Article of faith 42. Brahms piece 43. Artist Henri ___ 45. “Finding ___” 48. Blood vessels 52. Defeat 53. Suit accessory 54. Leaves 55. English princess 56. Clairvoyant’s letters 57. Santa’s time

CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009

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DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021

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NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936 Answer to last week’s crossword:

PAGADIAN CITY

Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600

Richard Suarez

Down : 1. Braying beast 2. Pres. Coolidge 3. Supplement 4. Planter 5. Fast feline 6. Marshal Wyatt ___ 7. Snaky letters 8. Writer ___ Christie 9. ___-Mex cuisine 10. Washington bill 11. Producer ___ Brooks 16. Chime 19. Defunct USAF branch 20. Mechanical man 21. Escape 22. Long-legged bird 24. Perfume

25. Rent again 26. Amphitheater 28. Friend 32. Blunder 35. Distant 36. Amtrak stop (abbr.)

38. Sniffer 39. Vigor 41. ___ Fair 44. Spring flower 45. Pistons’ league (abbr.)

46. Poet’s “yet” 47. Big boy 49. Debt letters 50. Snaky swimmer 51. Compass pt.

Weekly Sudoku:

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Maritess Fernandez The Mindanao Examiner The Zamboanga Post

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

Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily / Business Week / Mindanao Star ADVERTISING Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936 Central Mindanao/ Kidapawan City/Cotabato City North Cotabato Eduardo A. Sode (0917) 3087366 044 Mabini St. Cebu City Rodil P. Ybañez (0923) 1670009 Ground flr, Dreamfield Bldg, Sanciangko St., Kamagayan Cebu City

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The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.

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Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197

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April 26-May 3, 2021

Maguindanaons with fake RT-PCR test results nabbed

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.

BPAT, todo-pasalamat kay Catamco A photo released by the 74th Infantry Battalion shows 9 of ten travellers - their faces blurred - from Maguindanao’s Parang town while trying to enter Zamboanga City with fake Covid-10 negative RT-PCR test results.

Continued from page 1 van travelling when security forces stopped them at a checkpoint in the village of Licomo.

They presented Covid-19 negative RT-PCR test results which eventually were found to be fake.

Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, praised the vigilance of the soldiers from the 74th Infantry Battalion and policemen from Station 1, including staffs from the City Health Office manning the post, for intercepting the group.

Those intercepted said they were supposed to attend the burial of a relative in the village of Talisayan.

The 74th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Julius Villena previously, intercepted nearly two dozen boat passengers in Tictapul. Some of them natives of Basilan and the others were from Tungawan town in the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

At least 17 people from Surigao were also intercepted in Zamboanga City on their way to Sulu

province to work, but the group escaped after one of them turned out to be positive for the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease.

Climaco ordered the police and military to search for the group and put all of them under quarantine. Zamboanga City police chief Colonel Rexmel Reyes and Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander Colonel Randolph Rojas told the mayor that the men escaped to Sulu’s island town of Lugus on a motorboat.

The local government coordinated with the Sulu Covid-19 task force and informed it that one of the workers was carrying the virus and may have infected the others.

Climaco praised security forces and residents for their vigilance and told policemen and soldiers to strictly deny people entering Zamboanga without the negative RT-PCR test result.

The mayor repeatedly warned individuals who use faked RT-PCR test results and forged travel documents as part of an

intensified campaign to stop unauthorized people – who could be carriers of the virus - from illegally entering Zamboanga.

Climaco said charges await those caught in possession of fake RT-PCT test results. She said Covid-19 protocol enforcement teams have been deployed in the borders and entry points since the pandemic started in March last year to strictly check on the accuracy of information in the travel documents of inbound travellers.

“Our protocol teams at the borders are able to validate the information given them. That is why we are very particular in the entry of people at the borders. Those who will submit fake documents or dubious information, particularly on the required RT-PCR negative test result, will face legal charges for misrepresentation,” Climaco said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government also aired a similar warning following a series of apprehensions of people carrying forged RT-PCR test results. The DILG also ordered the police to prosecute individuals who are in possession of fake RT-PCR test results.

It said Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, provides for penalties of P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

The tampering of records relating to notifiable diseases or health events of public health concern, which includes official medical test results or medical certificates, or such other documents and records issued by public health authorities is punishable by law.

(Zamboanga Post, Mindanao Examiner)

Si Gov. Nancy Catamco at iba pang mga opisyal kasama ang mga miyembro ng Tulunan BPAT. KIDAPAWAN CITY – Todo ang pasasalamat ng mga miyembro ng Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) ng bayan ng Tulunan matapos silang makatanggap ng P5,000 incentive at uniporme mula kay North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco.

Umabot sa P517,000 ang halaga ng incentives at uniporme ang ipinamahagi ni Catamco sa mga miyembro ng BPAT kamakailan lamang.

Naniniwala ang Gobernadora na kabilang BPAT sa mga frontliners na naging katuwang ng pamahalaang lokal sa pananatili ng seguridad at iba pang serbisyo.

Saksi dito sina Provincial Board members Jonathan Tabara, Ivy Martia Lei Balitok at Joemar Cerebo at iba pang mga opisyal, kabilang ang ibatibang barangay captains.

“Ang probinsya wala naga tan-aw sang political color kay wala pa ta sa kampanya, kay wala pa tay filing. Pag-abot sa filing, kung kinsa ang inyong botohan, ako kana nga respetuhon.

Indi na sya ang magiging sukdanan ko para nga maghatag sang serbisyo.

Kay para sa akon, ako ang

inyo nga Gobernadora ug karon, ako anay ang maghatag sang serbisyo sa inyo,” ani Catamco.

Nais nitong madagdagan pa ang mga incentive para sa BPAT at isusulong umano ito ni Catamco sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Hiling niya na suportahan siya ng mga Provincial Board members.

Sinabi ni Catamaco na nais nitong madagdagan pa ang bilang ng mga BPAT sa lalawigan at dapat umanong maibase ito sa layo ng sitio na saklaw ng barangay at populasyon. Ito ay bunsod ng aktibong partisipasyon na ka-kailanganin mula sa kanilang hanay.

Saludo naman si Tulunan Mayor Reuel Limbungan sa pagiging masigasig ni Catamco at sa suporta na iginagawad nito sa iba’t-ibang sektor na nabigyan din ng ayuda. Nagbigay pugay naman sa BPAT sina Tulunan police chief, Major Jun Napat; mga Provincial Board members at ang mayor ng Tulunan dahil sa naging katuwang ng gobyerno ang BPAT sa panahon ng kalamidad, pandemya, implementasyon ng programa at pag-

sawata ng krimen.

Nasa aktibidad rin ang 20 barangay chairman at mga representante nito na sina Barangay Bacong Victor Acac; Bagumabayan - Vaneza Sailama; Banayal - Anderson Calibayan; Batang - Ruby Cadungan; Bituan - Levina Fajanilag; Bual - April Palomo; Daig- Ronquillo Samoñeza; Damawato Rudy Pagdato; Dungos - Nonito Pineda Sr.; F. Cajelo - Rommel Contayoso; Genoviva Baynosa - Alfredo Losbañes; Galidan Sindatok Sali at Barangay Kanibong - Maricel Dado.

Gayun rin sina Barangay chairman ng La Esperanza - Erwin Anggulo; Lampagang - Bernadeth Pamplona; Magbok - Matias Malabarbas Jr.; Maybula - Antonio Bedaño; Minapan - Jonathan Alacapa; Nabundasan - Ramonito Noble; Bunawan - John Gregorio; New Caridad - Richard Pandacan; New Culasi Eliezer Ventura; New Panay - Eddie Tajolosa; Paraiso - Regino Talingting Jr.; Poblacion - Susan Tagaro; Sibsib - Benny Dazo; Tambac - Rolly Castroverde; at sa Tuburan na si Crispino Fajorano.

(Rhoderick Beñez)

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April 26-May 3, 2021

April 26-May 3, 2021

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P10 April 26-May 3, 2021

Gwen to give away free face masks D

Reaping rewards from backyard gardening SAFE, FRESH and healthy food for their children, additional income to sustain their needs and an everyday activity that brings their family closer together. This is the success story of two single mothers, sisters Elenita and Erna Dela Peña, in the village of San Agustin in Madridejos, who participated in the Provincial Government’s Sugbusog program.

The 46-year old Elenita said she was forced to leave her job to look after her two children following the death of her husband died. And Erna, 41, lost her job at a local hardware store when it closed down at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

Both unemployed and with mouths to feed, the sisters thought of utilizing the unused area outside their house to grow crops for their own consumption. It just so happened that their village chieftain was going around announcing that the Sugbusog program was distributing free seeds for those who wanted to start a vegetable garden.

The Dela Peñas availed of the free seeds and began planting bitter gourd or ampalaya in May last year. “Sa una, kining among lugar mga saging ni siya tanan. ‘Nya naabtan sa Bagyong Ursula, ‘nya mao nang nag-vegetable na lang. Naa gihapo’y saging sa kilid pero gamay ra man ang kita sa sagingan, mao utanon nalang amo gitanom,” Elenita told Sugbo News, adding, they have since sold 180 kilos of bitter gourd.

ARMM

She and her sister worked together to build trellises for the bitter gourd using bamboo and tied it with a rope to secure them. “Kami ra gyud duha nagporma ani, ‘nya among mga anak ang mububu,” Elenita said.

More than a month later, the sisters finally able to harvest from their garden and started selling vegetables to their neighbors and teachers at a nearby school. Soon after, they started planting other kinds of vegetables - eggplant, herbs and other spices, including medicinal plants upon the requests of their customers.

Elenita now also makes her own organic fertilizer using banana peel, apple, grapes and molasses, which she ferments for a month. She adds two tablespoons of the mixture to a liter of water and sprays it to the plants. She also makes her own organic pesticide using vinegar and chili pepper mixed with water.

The sisters created their own water system to collect from their deep well. First, they manually fetch water from the well, load it into a recycled container with a hose attached to it. The water then runs through the hose to the other side of the garden and into a basin to be used by the children to water the plants.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who heard about the sisters’ vegetable garden and how they work hard for it, visited them recently and said she really appreciated their efforts and sacrifices they made for their families.

Garcia even promised to donate a water pump after learning that the two have been saving money to buy one for their deep well so they would not have to manually collect water. Elenita and Erna could only cry in gratitude and thanked Garcia, who said her Sugbusog program is to ensure that there will be fresh and ready-to-eat food on the table.

According to Erna, not only have they been able to provide food for their children, but they made sure that what they feed their kids is not only fresh and nutritious, but organic as well.

“Dako kayo kinig tabang ning pagtanom sa backyard.

Food security, ba. Makasiguro mi nga way chemicals tapos additional income sad. Tapos maka-inspire kami sa uban mama nga magtanom,” Erna said.

Elenita said she did not expect to reap a bountiful harvest from their garden since she only wanted to feed her children fresh and healthy food. To earn an extra income from their efforts was a bonus, she said.

“Ako sad ingnan ang uban nga pananom sad mo bisan wala moy luna bisan container lang okay ra na basta naa lay tambok nga yuta,” she said.

Erna and Elenita’s garden took home the first prize for the backyard gardening category in the municipality level. They received P5,000 during the recent awarding of municipal winners of Sugbusog program.

Their garden will go on to compete with other household backyard gardens in other towns. (Paula Joy Mendoza)

Eastern Mindanao

ESCRIBING THE imposition of fines on people caught not wearing face masks in public places as “anti-poor and oppressive,” Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the Provincial Government will instead give face masks to those who will be caught not wearing one, instead of penalizing them.

Capitol will distribute tug-an. It leads to corruption she said, adding, paying face masks to all police sta- that further oppresses the fines for non-wearing of tions in the 44 municipalities people. It is oppression,” she face masks is an additionand six cities, as well as to the said. al burden to most people, Police Regional Office which Garcia earlier said she especially those who are they can use to give away to would issue a memoran- struggling financially. protocol violators. dum directing all mayors Garcia said she is aware This, after the gover- and police chiefs to abolish that many would oppose nor clarified that her order the imposition of fines for her decision to abolish the to abolish the fine on the non-wearing of face masks. fines, but she clarified that non-wearing of face masks She lauded the regional po- wearing of face masks is in public does not mean she lice for initiating a move to still required and it is highly is telling people not to wear provide free face masks to recommended in enclosed one. the public. areas. “This is not about Garcia believes the The governor also said telling people not to wear mask-wearing mandate has the Department of Social masks,” she said. become “irrational and illog- Welfare and Development She also instructed the ical,” saying the penalty only has committed to give the police to deal humanely affects commoners and bik- povince three million face with violators of quarantine ers on the streets and public masks. “When they (police- protocols, particularly those places and not those hidden men) see people not wearing not wearing masks. “I don’t behind tinted windows of a mask, they can approach want any maltreatment and air-conditioned cars. them and give them one,” abuse for the Cebuanos,” She also said the poli- she said, explaining fur- she said. “They can be recy can lead to corruption. ther that this new directive minded to wear a mask, ad“Di ko moingon tanan pero is meant to rationalize the monished to wear a mask, naa diay nay klarong resibo? mask-wearing policy, as one but never should they be Unya kung ang fine P300 of the protective measures mistreated. We are kinder to unya pangayuan og P500. against Covid-19. criminals than violators of Naay resibo ana? Is there “I don’t just blindly fol- this so-called mask-wearing proper accounting for these low policies. I make policies thing. Let’s deal with the real fines? How would you know? based on thorough analysis criminals, not violators of Nga nay police nga gidakop of data. My decisions have some illogical imposition.” og lima pero tulo ray gi- always been data-driven,” (Carlo Lorenciana)

Cebu City youth set up own community pantries

CEBU CITY – Community pantries sprouting in the National Capital Region have inspired a Cebuano youth group to organize the same initiative to help the needy and the hungry, especially tjis time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Michael Angelo Quijada, founder and executive director of One Guadalupe, said his organization has partnered with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Guadalupe village here in setting up two community pantries. “What inspires us to organize a community pantry is what actually transpired in Manila. Actually, it’s a good program to replicate. It can help the people.

We are aware there’s financial difficulties of our people because of the pandemic,” Quijada told the Philippine News Agency.

Quijada, who is a student leader, said he used his connections to some 20 school and student organizations in coming up with food supplies for their community pantries.

Western Mindanao

Apart from the SK in Guadalupe, he said the SK Federation in Cebu City has also supported the program.

He urged businessmen in Cebu to help in the initiative that will benefit the indigent families and those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. “ The two community pantries at the entrance of the National Shrine of the Our Lady of the Guadalupe and across Angel’s Pharmacy along V. Rama Avenue, have already served hundreds of people.

Photos of the pantry project was first posted by a travel consultant, Rachel Navaja Olmogues, on her Facebook page and quickly went viral.

“The pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) has brought financial difficulties, especially to the poor and marginalized sectors in our barangay. This month of April, the first flagship program of One Guadalupe is to install community pantries in five strategic areas

Cebu

in the Barangay Guadalupe.”

“These community pantries shall be accessible to those willing to donate unperishable goods like sardines, instant noodles, rice, and water bottles. Fruits and vegetables are also allowed.

Anyone can place their donations on the same table where those who are in need can quickly grab enough amount of goods for him or his family,” Olmogues wrote in her post.

Quijada said members of the Visayan Youth Matters also distributed reading materials to those who lined up for the free food about the importance of following health and safety standards to prevent Covid-19 infection. One Guadalupe, he said, is a youth-led initiative that aims to unify and mobilize the young residents to address common issues faced by the people in their neighborhood.

(John Rey Saavedra)

Manila