Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (May 31-June 6, 2021)

Ex-Zambo lawmaker Celso BARMM excluded from P13Lobregat is Covid positive billion infra funds for LGUs ZAMBOANGA CITY – Former lawmaker Celso Lobregat announced that he was tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease.

The 73-year old Lobregat said he started feeling body pain and headache on May 24

Founded 2006

and by the next day had suffered from a fever and underwent RT-PCR testing at the Philippine Red Cross in the afternoon of May 25.

And on May 26, he received the test results. Lobregat is Covid positive.

Below is Lobregat’s Continue on page 9

mindanaoexaminer.com

COTABATO CITY - The National government has set aside some P13.5 billion in funds for various infrastructure and development projects for local governments in all 16 regions, except those in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, said Interior Secretary Eduar-

do Año.

He said the project is part of the “Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units” (LGSF-FALGU) under the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) of the Department of the Interior and Local Govern-

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ment (DILG).

Año urged local governments to avail of the LGSF-FALGU for their local infrastructure and development projects and submit the documentary requirements until June 30 this year.

He said local chief Continue on page 5

May 31-June 6, 2021

Senators review allocation of seats in Bangsamoro Transition Authority ‘Postponing BARMM polls up to residents in plebiscite’

President Rodrigo Duterte, MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim, MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari, Sulu Governor Sakur Tan.

S

ENATOR JUAN Miguel Zubiri has proposed to allot seats for members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) if the proposed extension of the transition period of the peace process is approved, according to a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).

READ STORY ON PAGE 2

Poor Filipinos to get Pfizer Covid vaccine DAVAO CITY – Poor Filipinos are now the government’s priority for the

Pfizer vaccine rollout after President Duterte said the country’s indigent sector

must be given greater importance in accordance Continue on page 3

PNP, DOJ to probe extrajudicial killings NATIONAL POLICE Chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has vowed to sincerely cooperate with the Justice Department in investigating extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country.

ARMM

Eleazar assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is serious in partnering with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Continue on page 3

PNP Chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar.

Eastern Mindanao

Return of Filipinos from Sabah suspended THE NATIONAL Task Force Against Covid-19 has temporarily suspended the entry of Filipino deportees following the request made by the local government due to the high number of Covid-19 cases here.

Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said Continue on page 5

Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana listens to Mayor Beng Climaco during a meeting in Zamboanga City.

(Kathy Wee Sit - Library Photo)

Droga nakumpiska sa Zambo Sur provincial jail PAGADIAN CITY – Nakumpiska sa gipahigayong search and seizure operation ang P544,000 nga kantidad sa iligal nga droga gikan sa usa ka inmate sulod mismo sa Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Jail sa Barangay San Jose sa Pagadian City.

Western Mindanao

Nasayran nga sa wala pa gilusad ang operasyon, nakig-meeting una kang Governor Victor Yu ang mga operatiba sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ug Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Continue on page 6

Cebu

Manila

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The Mindanao Examiner

May 31-June 6, 2021

Senators review allocation of seats in Bangsamoro Transition Authority ‘Postponing BARMM polls up to residents in plebiscite’

From page 1 It said Zubiri also echoed suggestions of local officials in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provinces to reconfigure the composition of the BTA to be proportionate to the number of congressional districts of each constituent province. Provinces now have an equal number of seats regardless of population or size.

The PCIJ, which is following plenary debates on the proposed bills, said Senate Bill 2214 entered the period of interpellations on May 24 and was tackled briefly by the senators.

Senator Francis Tolentino, head of the Senate local government panel and sponsor of the committee report, recognized the role of MNLF in the peace process in Mindanao and did not oppose the proposal.

Tolentino said the inclusion of the MNLF in the BTA would be “without prejudice” to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose leaders occupy the top positions in the BTA. Sectoral groups such as indigenous peoples, women, the youth, traditional leaders, and settler communities will also retain their parliament seats under the proposal, he said.

The BARMM is the result of 17 years of negotiations between the MILF, a breakaway group of the MNLF headed by Nur Misuari, and the national government.

Zubiri said the MILF would retain its current allotment of 41 parliament seats. The same will be true for the national government, which has 39 seats.

The proposal to allot seats to each congressional district in BARMM would mean more representation for the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu, which would have six representatives to the BTA. Basilan and Tawi-Tawi will each have three.

Zubiri said there were officials who also suggested allotting one seat each

to the cities of Marawi, Cotabato, and Lamitan, and another to North Cotabato province, and even the Sama people of Tawi-Tawi have appealed for representation.

The BARMM leadership asked Congress to postpone the first regular elections next year to select the members of the regional parliament and extend the transition period of the peace process by another three years.

The Commission on Elections asked Congress to decide on the proposal

by July to give poll officials enough time to prepare if the BARMM elections would push through.

Protests In February this year, the influential Sultans of Sulu protested the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government, and called on Muslims in the country and President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress to disallow all attempts and maneuver to extend the tenure of those trying to hold on power.

Sultans Muizuddin Bahjin and Vennizar Julkarnain said that aspiring members of the Bangsamoro parliament should be compelled to submit themselves before the true will of the people to legitimize their mandate through the electoral process as set and scheduled by the Constitution.

BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim 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.

Ebrahim, also chieftain of the former rebel group MILF, said he is pushing for the extension of the interim government based on the recommendation of the so-called peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus following its “rapid midterm review” on the Bangsamoro transition period. Ebrahim also met

several times with Duterte to lobby for the proposed extension.

Manifesto Both Sultans also issued a signed manifesto on February 13 enumerating the reasons for their opposition to the extension. A copy of the manifesto was seen by the Mindanao Examiner and it reads: “Royal House of Patikul, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, after having gone through series of consultation to gauge and register the pulse of our Ra’ayats vizavis the performance of the BTA, conscious of the fact that Sulu registered a majority NO votes in a (2019) plebiscite to ratify the BOL forming the so-called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, hereby make a stand arrived at in a consensus based on common observations.”

It listed the following issues with BARMM and BTA: “That since its inception, the BTA which constitutes the so-called Bangsamoro Parliament and Regional Government have been markedly slow in the delivery of government services as mandated to Sulu, and for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families, and rather spent long working hours if only to deliberate and enact codes and bills while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, were left to fend for themselves.”

“That, BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting; That, gauging from the general observation on the operation and performance of the BTA, it can be construed as deliberate delaying maneuver to justify the plan they seemingly hatched from the very star, that is, to ask for an extension, accordingly for as long as 7 years.”

And “That, to allow the

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extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter viz-avis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s right of suffrage that is enshrined in the Constitution to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possibly legal redress maybe sought; That, the region, and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand “failed experiment.”

Other Sultans of Sulu - Ibrahim Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kiram, Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram have rejected the BOL. Rejected Sulu Governor Sakur Tan previously said that municipal mayors and their constituents are also opposing the extension of the interim government and the BTA. “People are now protesting here (in Sulu) because they are opposing the self-serving proposal to extend the interim Bangsamoro government for another 3 years,” he said.

Sulu has previously cited various reasons for rejecting the proposed extension, according to a manifesto passed November 17 last year by the Provincial Board after consulting with municipal mayors and peoples’ organizations, among other sectors.

The manifesto said the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Regional Government have not delivered even the most basic of government services, as mandated, to Sulu. And for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families.

It said that after almost 2 years, “all they can afford to banner is but the passing of an Administrative Code while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, was left to fend for themselves.”

The manifesto also said BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting, almost negligible; And to allow the extension of the

transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter vis-a-vis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s constitutional right of suffrage to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possible legal redress maybe sough.

It further said “that the region and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand of a failed experiment.”

“The question should be asked to those who are in the seat of authority in the BARMM on why are they so hesitant to submit themselves to an election when even before the transition they have repeatedly boasted of their readiness and preparedness to rule and govern; and how could they have the moral ascendancy to sit as an authority over a region when they are devoid of a mandate by the true will of the people, thereby casting doubts on their platform of so-called “Moral Governance?”, the manifesto reads.

It also called on the Office of the President, House of Representatives and the Senate, and Constitutional Commissions and other concerned groupings and individuals and the BARMM general populace to deny all attempts to extend the tenure of the BTA. Referendum But Senator Panfilo Lacson also echoed the sentiments of the Tausug people, including the Sultans of Sulu and Tan and other provincial and municipal government leaders, and even Kusug Tausug Representative Shernee Tambut.

Lacson said postponing the Bangsamoro elections should be decided by the residents themselves in a plebiscite.

“In the plebiscite they ratified last January of 2019, kasama po ito sa kanilang ni-ratify na magkakaroon ng eleksyon after the transition period of three years. So therefore, the people in the Bangsamoro region not being able to exercise that right to suffrage will affect the basic structure of the Bangsamoro regional

government,” Lacson said during plenary debates last week.

This was also reported

by CNN Philippines.

Lacson was interpellating Tolentino who - through Senate Bill No. 2214 - seeks to amend the Bangsamoro Organic Law to allow the postponement of the BARMM’s first regular election.

Lacson cited the (jurisprudence) Supreme Court decision on the Abas Kida vs. Senate of the Philippines case. He said depriving the Bangsamoro people of their right to vote next year constitutes a change in the basic structure of the regional government - a condition that would require a referendum.

Fears Ebrahim admitted last November that he fears he may not win should the elections push through in 2022 and that is why there is a need to extend the term of the interim government. “We are 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 mageleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said in a podcast interview on November 13 with journalist Christian Esguerra on Press One. He 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 elections). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” he told Esguerra.

Esguerra’s report said BARMM was allocated a much bigger budget compared with the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its block grant is worth P65.3 billion in this year’s appropriations law, on top of a P10-billion special development fund it was supposed to receive. (JC Gotinga, PCIJ, Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

May 31-June 6, 2021

PNP, DOJ to probe extrajudicial killings

Poor Filipinos to get Pfizer Covid vaccine Continued from page 1 with the COVAX Facility prioritization for vaccines.

Majority of the Filipinos prefer Pfizer vaccine over Chinese brands Sinovac and Sinopharm, and even the Russian’s Sputnik V. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte instructed to make the Pfizer vaccines available in inoculation sites where vaccine take-up is low, in

line with the President’s directive to provide safe and effective vaccines for all Filipinos.

He said Duterte had seen news photos of the long queues for the Pfizer vaccine wherein social distancing was not observed. “Napansin ng Pangulo na naging pihikan ang ating mga kababayan pagdating sa vaccine brand. Kaya nanawagan po tayo na huwag tayong ma-

mili ng brand ng bakuna,” Roque said, adding, that all available vaccines are safe and efficacious.

“Hindi lamang po iyan dumaan sa proseso sa Pilipinas, dumaan din yan sa proseso abroad dahil mayroon din pong WHO emergency use list na halos lahat naman po ng ginagamit natin ay dumaan din doon sa proseso ng WHO,” Roque said. (Malou Cablinda)

South Cotabato board member, nadale ng Covid-19 SOUTH COTABATO – Patay ang isang miyembro ng South Cotabato Provincial Board matapos itong tamaan ng Covid-19 sa edad na 47 lamang.

Kinilala ang nasawi na si Board Member Wilson Paclibar at dahil sa kanyang pagpanaw ay labis ang kalungkutang iniawan nito sa mga kasamahan at mamamayan ng lalawigan.

Inihayag rin ni Vice Governor Vic de Jesus ang malungkot na balita at kumpirmadong Covid-19 ang nakadale kamakailan lamang sa masipag na pulitiko.

Ayon kay de Jesus, huli nilang nakita si Paclibar sa virtual session noong Mayo 10 dahil ipinaalam umano nito sa kaniya na nagkaroon ito ng sintomas ng Covid-19 at kinabukasan, Mayo 11 nang lumabas ang swab test result na nag-positibo ito.

Ikinalungkot rin ng mga konsehal sa buong lalawigan ang pagpanaw ni Paclibar lalo na’t marami itong naitulong sa kanila bilang presidente ng Philippine Councilors League - South Cotabato chapter.

Agad rin nai-cremate ang labi ni Paclibar at na-

kalagak ang abo nito sa kanilang tahanan sa bayan ng Tantangan. Mabilis rin nag-quarantine ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ni Paclibar na nagkaroon ng contact sa kanya bilang paniguro.

Ang yumao ay nagsilbing presidente rin ng Sanguniang Kabatanaan Federation noong 2002, at 2019 nang ito ay naihalal bilang municipal councilor sa bayan ng Tantangan bago napiling maging PCL President ng probinsya.

Umupo ito bilang ex-officio member sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (Rhoderick Beñez)

Continued from page 1 on the investigation.

He said the PNP and the DOJ are set to sign an agreement pertaining to police cooperation in the investigation.

“The signing of the agreement intends to convey our sincere intention to cooperate in the investigation of so-called extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs,” he said following a recent meeting with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

Eleazar said: “I assure our good Justice Secretary that the PNP has no tolerance for rogues, including those who may have committed unjustified killings in the course of anti-illegal drug operations, and that we are serious in cleansing our ranks.”

Human right groups and families of slain drug suspects accused the police as being behind the summary killings during the “Oplan Tokhang” campaign.

Eleazar said cleansing the ranks of police scalawags is one of his priority campaigns upon his assumption as Chief of the PNP on May 8 this year.

“Our agencies are both committed to address this long-time concern on EJKs and we see this agreement as a step towards further strengthening our ties. Our willingness to open some of

our records to the DOJ is already a big development in terms of our relations,” Eleazar said, adding, the PNP has allowed the DOJ to scrutinize 61 records of alleged extrajudicial killings.

“The DOJ shares the same view and understands why we only allow them access to 61 records of investigation against policemen. It is possible that, in the course of the DOJ’s probe, we can make more records available for its scrutiny,” he added.

The international Human Rights Watch said the two developments signal possible improvement in the conduct of the PNP, which has been deeply implicated in President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly “war on drugs” and other alleged abuses.

It was referring to Guevarra’s announcement that the PNP will allow the DOJ access to the records of 61 cases in which there is sufficient evidence to file administrative or criminal charges against police officers.

“This could be a breakthrough. The Department of Justice promised the United Nations Human Rights Council that it would investigate some of these killings,” the Human Rights Watch said.

It added that in February, Guevarra also disclosed to the United

Nations Human Rights Council that police violated internal protocols in half of the 328 cases it examined. “Since the drug war began in 2016, only one case has resulted in a conviction of law enforcement officers. The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor is examining whether the drug war killings in the Philippines warrant a full investigation,” it said.

The Human Rights Watch said the second development was the statement of Eleazar who declared as “resolved” the murder case of a 21-year old transgender man Norriebi Tria in Quezon City recently following the arrest of three men who are prime suspects in the brutal killing.

“These hopeful developments are all to the credit of Eleazar, a well-regarded police official. So far, he’s been saying all the right things, even promising to rid the PNP of scalawags,” the Human Rights Watch said, but Eleazar only has five months left before he retires.

“If Eleazar is serious about these reforms, he should ensure the police’s full cooperation with investigators into the drug war killings and take more concrete steps to hold abusive officers accountable,” it added. (Mindanao Examiner)

‘Green Lane’ for fully vaccinated travellers proposed DAVAO CITY - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has proposed the possibility of setting up a “Green Lane” that will facilitate the entry of foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of the government’s effort to reopen the economy.

The Green Lane will make it easier for fully vaccinated travellers to visit the country for leisure as quarantine rules are being relaxed with the progress of the vaccination worldwide.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat raised this proposal with the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), and said she is optimistic about the prospect.

“The Green Lane will pave the way for the reopening of our tourist destinations to leisure travellers who are now fully vaccinated. It will give the jobs back to many of our tourism workers and gradually revive the tourism industry under safe conditions,” she said.

Her proposal was also in response to the IATFMEID which the DOT and several other government agencies to explore protocols for inbound international travel for fully vaccinated individuals.

Headed by the DOT and the Department of Foreign Affairs, a small working group has been formed to evaluate the possibility of implementing “green lanes” and formulate protocols therefor.

The group also in-

cludes the Bureau of Quarantine, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Transportation, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Puyat said several countries have already opened up their major destinations to fully vaccinated foreign travellers.

“We must keep pace with our neighbors and the rest of the world in slowly reopening our tourist destinations. We must be ready for the visitors when the whole world is ready to safely travel again,” she said. (Malou Cablinda and Rhoderick Beñez)

SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO

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The Mindanao Examiner

May 31-June 6, 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)

BARMM excluded from P13billion infra funds for LGUs Continued from page 1 executives must submit a letter of request specifying the projects, locations, and fund allocation and addressed it to the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DILG regional offices will conduct preliminary evaluation of requests and then forward to the DBM central office through the Office of the Secretary - Technical Review Unit. The DBM will then determine compliance with the requirements, according to Año.

“Nakalaan talaga para sa inyo ang pondong ito kaya samantalahin ninyo ang pagkakataon para masimulan ninyo ang papapatupad ng mahahalagang proyekto at pagbangon ng ekonomiya sa inyong mga lugar,” he said.

Año said only 319 local governments have been allocated with LGSF-FALGU funding for their projects amounting to P2.93-billion which accounts for 22% of this year’s fund.

He emphasized that provincial governors, cities, and municipalities with limited Internal Revenue Allotment can utilize the LGSF-FALGU funds for delivery of priority programs and projects listed in their Local Development Investment Program.

Among the infrastructure and other projects covered under LGSF-FALGU are roads, bridges, public markets, slaughter houses, multi-purpose buildings and halls, multi-purpose pavements, drainage canals, sea wall and river wall, water system projects,

age patients. Life is very fragile and Covid very potent. We need to protect everyone, including our frontliners.”

Zamboanga City is the entry point for returning Filipino workers and deportees from Sabah. It is also a converging point for those from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and other provinces going to Manila or travellers returning home.

The sudden spike in Covid-19 infections here - from just under three dozen active cases in early March to probably around 3,000 by end of May - occurred following the easing of travel restrictions by the national government and the revival of the tourism industry in the country.

The uniformed travel protocols were approved by national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases under Resolution No. 101 which forgoes documentary requirements such as RT-PCR

testing and medical certificate for travellers across the country in an effort to revive the economy.

It was crafted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.

The surge in Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City may have been caused by new strains of coronavirus that are now plaguing the National Capital Region and other provinces in the country.

The Department of Health also confirmed in March the presence of Covid-19 U.K. variant in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur from 2 overseas Filipino workers who arrived home from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi in February.

(Zamboanga Post, Mindanao Examiner)

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including stand-alone water points, evacuation centers, public parks, fish ports, and post-harvest facilities such as ice plant and cold storage facilities.

Considering the public health emergency situation, Año said the LGSF-FALGU funds can also be used to purchase ambulance, trucks, minidump trucks, multi-purpose vehicles, street lighting or barangay electrification; medical equipment, financial assistance for health and sports programs; assistance programs and projects for education, health and social protection in light of the Covid-19 pandemic; and assistance to indigent individuals such as medical, burial, transportation, food assistance, cash-forwork, and educational assistance. (Mindanao Examiner)

Return of Filipinos from Sabah suspended Continued from page 1 Zamboanga now has over 2,500 active coronavirus cases and the number is steadily increasing due to violation of health protocols by residents.

Climaco said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads the National Task Force Against Covid-19, approved her appeal for a moratorium on the return of Filipinos from Sabah, many of them illegal entrants.

The mayor said the moratorium will run for at least two weeks after Lorenzana approved it.

She said Lorenzana texted her, saying: “Okay, Mayor Beng. We will suspend the (arrival of ) ROFs from Sabah for two weeks initial.”

ROFs refers to Returning Overseas Filipinos.

Climaco said she personally appealed to Lorenzana and explained to him the current health situation in Zamboanga.

“This is what I texted the good Secretary Lorenzana: We appeal for a moratorium of Sabah ROFs because we cannot man-

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May 31-June 6, 2021

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3 pari patay sa Covid-19

Fr. Loreto Sandoy, Fr. Rex Bacero at Fr. Eliseo Mercado.

COTABATO CITY – Nagluluksa pa rin ang mga debotong Katoliko at mga kaibigan ng 3 pari matapos silang pumanaw ng sunod-sunod dahil sa Covid-19.

Dalawa sa mga ito ay miyembro ng Diocesan Clergy of Cotabato habang ang isa naman ay kasapi ng Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Kinilala ang mga nasawing alagad ng Diyos na sina Fr. Loreto Sandoy, Fr. Rex Bacero at Fr. Eliseo Mercado.

Sinabi ni Cathedral Parish Rector Fr. Ben Toreto na si Fr. Sandoy, 78, ay vicar ng Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish, at nag-reklamo ito na nahihirapan sa paghinga at bigla na lamang nawala ang kanyang panlasa. At dahil sa kanyang kondi-

syon ay agad itong dinala sa Cotabato Regional Medical Center kung saan ito pumanaw.

Si Fr. Bacero, 52, ay presidente naman ng Notre Dame of Salaman College sa bayan ng Lebak sa lalawigan ng Sultan Kudarat, at nakaranas din ng sintomas ng Covid-19. At tulad ni Fr. Sandoy ay bumigay rin ito sa nasabing virus.

Pinakahuling namatay si Fr. Mercado matapos itong atakihin sa puso - kahit pa may pacemaker sa dibdib - habang nasa Cotabato Regional Medical Center. Siya ay pumanaw sa edad na 72 at nakatakda sanang magdiwang ito ng kanyang ika73 kaarawan nitong May 29.

Nabatid na isinugod

sa naturang pagamutan noong Mayo 8 si Fr. Mercado matapos na mag-reklamong hirap sa kanyang paghinga matapos na mag-positibo sa Covid-19. Nalampasan na sana ni Fr. Mercado ang sakit at handang lumabas ng pagamutan nitong Mayo 22 matapos na gumaling, ngunit bumigay rin ang muscle ng puso nito kahit pa may pacemaker.

Ang pacemaker ay isang device na nagbibigay ng lakas sa heart muscle upang ito ay tumibok.

Ngunit kung ang isang tao na may pacemaker ay tumigil sa kanyang paghinga sa anumang kadahilanan ay walang oxygen na dadaloy sa heart muscle at ito ay titigil sa pagtibok.

(Rhoderick Beñez)

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The Mindanao Examiner

May 31-June 6, 2021

Droga nakumpiska sa Zambo Sur provincial jail Continued from page 1 Office diin mihatag gilayon og ‘go signal’ ang gobernador sa raiding team nga miresulta sa pagkasikop sa usa ka drug personality sulod sa bilangguan.

Si Col. Ruel Lami-ing, ang police provincial director, nagkanayon nga motimbang sa 80 gramos sa gituhoang shabu ang nakuha gikan sa usa ka Danilo B. Martinito, 45 anyos, dunay kasong gun-running ug miembro sa nabaniog nga Alferez criminal gang sa Ozamiz City sa Misamis Occidental.

Pagsaysay ni Lami-ing nga ang nahitabong surprise inspection sa provincial jail usa ka follow-up operation sa nahitabong pagkasakmit sa 39 gramos nga shabu sa usa ka drug personality sa Pagadian City.

Nasayran sa imbestigasyon nga pareho og supplier sa droga ang mga nadakpan.

Pagpaambit ni Lami-ing nga mipasalig si Yu nga dili konsentihon ang iligal nga aktibidad sa bilangguan og nga walay mahitabong ‘white wash’ sa pagahimuong imbestigasyon.

Gipadayag usab niya ang pagahimuong lakang sa kapulisan ilawom sa iyang pagdumala labot sa pagkakumpiska sa il-

legal drugs sulod mismo sa bilangguan.

“We need to double time our efforts, sa law enforcement natin together with the provincial jail and other jail facilities. We will coordinate with the jail wardens so that we can conduct Oplan Galugad on regular basis,” pahayag ni Lami-ing.

Gidugang usab sa police provincial director nga maghimo sila og separate investigation aron masuta kung dunay kalambigitan ang mga jail personnel sa pagpasulod sa ginadiling droga sa provincial jail.

Sumala ni PDEA Provincial Director Cesario Judilla, daling miangkon ang detainee nga si Martinito nga gilubong niya sa yuta ang drogang shabu. Mag-atubang siya sa kasong paglapas sa Section 5 sa Article 2 Republic Act 9165 kun Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Samtang gikonsiderang isolated case ni Jail Warden Joey Villanosa ang nadiskubreng shabu sa presohan nga gipaagi matud pa sa usa ka package delivery pasulod sa pasilidad. Maghimo usab sila og kaugalingong imbestigasyon labot sa nakalusot nga droga sa Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Jail. (ZDS/PPB)

Frontliners, not a priority at Union Bank CEBU CITY ADVERTISING For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our CEBU CITY office at this phone number:

RODIL YBANEZ G/F Dreamfield Bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan, Cebu City Phone: (0923) 1670009

DAVAO REGION ADVERTISING UnionBank of the Philippines Jaldon Branch in Zamboanga City.

(Google Street View Photo) ZAMBOANGA CITY – While many commercial establishments in Zamboanga City have priority lanes for frontliners, the UnionBank of the Philippines branch along Mayor Jaldon Street has none.

The bank’s security guards said frontliners are treated as ordinary customers and have to line up or wait for their turn. This was the complaint made by a female media frontliner who

went to the bank to deposit money.

“While other banks and commercial establishments, including malls and supermarkets and utility firms are prioritizing frontliners, and sad to say UnionBank isn’t,” she said. “We are always working against time and a little consideration for the work we do is big appreciation, but apparently this does not apply to Union Bank.”

She cited the good prac-

tice of the Bank of the Philippine Islands which gives priority to all frontliners.

Even at KCC Mall de Zamboanga Supermarket and Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative and its payment centers, including at CityMall and Watsons, among others, always give way to the frontliners in respect to their dangerous work and contribution to the community and public service. (Mindanao Examiner)

WE ARE NOW HIRING! Advertising Executives in Mindanao and Cebu Please e-mail your application letter and bio-data with 2x2 picture to: The Manager - The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com Qualifications: Male or female, must be hardworking, honest and willing to travel within or outside their area of residency. College graduate or not, can communicate very well both in oral and written, and has a pleasing personality and is very good in dealing with people.

For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our DAVAO REGION office at these following phone numbers:

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MANILA ADVERTISING For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our MANILA Sales Execu ve at this phone number: Phone: (0915) 0070927 Email Address: chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

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ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA ADVERTISING For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA office at these phone numbers:

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May 31-June 6, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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May 31-June 6, 2021

Across : 1. Frosted 5. Exercise club 8. Blunders 12. Lawn tool 13. Recline 14. Jump 15. More tired 17. Dwell 18. Cushion 19. Uncorked 21. Tit for ___ 24. Reduces 26. Baseball stat 27. Bread browner 30. Stately tree 31. Fruit skins 33. Street (abbr.)

34. Unpleasant sight 36. Golf prop 37. Harpooned 40. Stop 41. Commences 43. Zodiac sign 45. Volcanic flow 46. Car exhaust 51. Prophecy 52. Rodent 53. Shoe fastener 54. “Titanic” foe 55. Perceive 56. Aware of

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

Rodil P. Ybañez

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

Marilou Cablinda

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. Tax inits.

2. Pres. Coolidge 3. Get by 4. Bottomless 5. Playground fixture 6. Crusted dessert 7. Hairspray type 8. Burstyn and DeGeneres 9. Establish again 10. Speak wildly 11. Rushed 16. Chum 20. Pod dwellers 21. Family diagram 22. With competence 23. Modern convenience 25. Navigate

28. Smooth 29. Marsh plant 31. Verse maker 32. Chalkboard wipers 35. Leapt 38. Upper crust 39. ___ Plaines 41. Messy fellow 42. Not wild 44. Scandinavian capital 47. Actress ___ West 48. Actor ___ McKellen 49. Halloween mo.

50. Agent Smith’s nemesis

Weekly Sudoku:

ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / 0915-3976197

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

Marilou Cablinda (0997) 3172021 Davao Region/ Eastern Mindanao Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula

Richard Suarez (0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

The 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 DAVAO CITY OFFICE: Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero Phone: (082) 2841859 Mobile: (0925) 7621914 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

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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May 31-June 6, 2021

Studies on Covid-19 booster shots, mixed brands needed ing the vaccine shots from the available Covid-19 vaccines in the country will be evaluated on those given Sinovac as the first dose.

“Combination of Sinovac vaccine with other vaccine brands will be the main aim of the study due to it being the most stable vaccine supply in the country,” he said.

Adverse events, he

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, who had a bout with the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease and had beaten it, gets his first dose of vaccine recently from Dr. Fahra Omar, of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, after the national government’s Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases passed a resolution prioritizing provincial governors and city and municipal mayors in the government’s vaccination program. Tan has shown the general public on the trust he has with the Covid-19 vaccine as the only effective option if everyone wants normalcy to return back to their lives. He calls on everyone to submit themselves for jabs when vaccines are made available and refrain from being swayed by false information, rumors and hearsays. (NBJ, Sulu Task Force Covid-19 photo) A PHILIPPINE government official said there is a need to conduct clinical trials on having a Covid-19 booster shots, as well as on determining whether one could use different vaccine brands for the first and second dose.

Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said they and the Department of Health have agreed these studies have to be done. She said during clinical trials, experts will use same vaccine brand for the first and second doses and will use a different vaccine brand for the booster.

Guevara added that experts will also be studying the use of two different vaccine brands for the first and second doses. “The protocol for the study is still being finalized, and will need approval of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The result of the study will be reported to the Vaccine Cluster of the National Task Force against Covid-19 for appropriate action,”

she told the Philippine News Agency, adding, the studies will start this year and may last for up to two years.

She said these studies will answer important and practical scientific questions about the government’s vaccine rollout and strategy. “Is there a combination that will yield better immunogenicity? This is among the questions that could be answered through the study,” Guevara said.

The experts, she said, will also analyze the immune response over time.

She said while some vaccines have been granted the FDA Emergency Use Authorization, experts do not know yet how long the protection from these vaccines could last.

When asked if using two different brands would not be costly for the government since it has already procured two doses of the same brand for each recipient, Guevara said, “we are looking at efficacy and safety, rather than cost.”

She said the study will

also determine how the government could minimize the impact of any potential delivery delays.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said having a booster shot could help strengthen one’s immune response to the virus, while the study on using two different vaccine brands would see if an immune response could still be produced.

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said it has allocated P133 million for the project study and will begin this June and will run for 18 months.

“The study aims to contribute to addressing the Covid-19 vaccination concerns in the Philippines associated with the unpredictable vaccine supply,” he said.

The study also aims to determine if the high-risk population who completed the dosing regimen of a vaccine would show a better immune response after getting a booster dose. According to De la Peña, the safety and immunogenicity of complet-

Ex-Zambo lawmaker Celso Lobregat is Covid positive Continued from page 1 announcement on his Facebook page: “Many have reached out to verify the news.

Please allow me to share an update.

Monday 24 May (afternoon): Started feeling body ache, headache, and some pain on the neck. Tuesday 25 May (morning): Fever-

ish, some ache on my back and other parts mentioned previously.

On the same day in the afternoon, I had my PRC RT-PCR. Wednesday 26 May: At 6:57 a.m., I received the test results: POSITIVE. With the grace of God, I am feeling great and I am optimistic that I will soon

defeat the virus. Thank you so much for all your prayers, love, and support.”

Lobregat did not say if he is currently in hospital or not, and whether any of those who had contacts with him were tested for Covid-19, including his younger brother Jomar.

(Mindanao Examiner)

added, will be monitored and evaluated as part of the study’s safety assessment. Antibody tests, on the other hand, will be done in five different time points to assess the immunogenicity of the different vaccine combinations.

De la Peña pointed out that the local clinical data to be generated from this study can serve as the basis for the Department

of Health’s guidelines on the vaccination rollout, especially during limited vaccine supplies or vaccine shortage.

The study will be led

by Dr. Michelle De Vera, of the Philippine Society for Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, he said.

There are eight proposed study sites nationwide. (Maria Cristina Arayata)

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Cebu’s tourism, economy picking up ‘Governor takes a swipe at those who belittle her efforts’

C

EBU GOVERNOR Gwendolyn Garcia has been largely credited for reviving the local economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Garcia said her current challenge is not the economy, but dealing with “people in re-opening of the tourism these consultants sugpower who try to stymie industry. gesting nga i- lockdown her efforts to move on Also in February, Gar- ta after I made the propast the pandemic.” cia rejected recommenda- nouncement that Cebu “Perhaps they are not tions from several medical province will now open its happy about our success. consultants of the Depart- doors to domestic tourism Perhaps they are bewil- ment of Health (DOH) to including those coming dered what makes Cebu place Cebu province anew from Metro Manila,” she tick, when the rest of the in a lockdown following said. country is still mired in reports of a “variants of She chided the DOH doom and gloom. And concern” from Covid-19 medical consultants for I hope that those that patients here. raising the recommenare watching outside of The governor said she dations without actually Cebu, especially those found it strange that the seeing the real condiwho have gotten used to recommendation came tions in the province and be called the power bro- at the heels of her recent even Cebu City, for that kers and the powerful declaration to open tour- matter. “Ay mo’g pataka voices, you know what ism to the rest of the coun- dinha pang-rekomendar makes Cebu tick? (It is) try. “Don’t mess with us. og lockdown, sayunan The Cebuanos. The Ce- We can take care of our- lang mo, no? Wa man gani buanos that are creative, selves. I will not and never mo mangrekomendar og innovative and, most of again accept a lockdown. I lockdown sa mga Metro all, possess in each of our will fight for Cebu and the Manila cities nga tag-as hearts that indomitable Cebuanos because Cebu pud kaayo ang mga posiwill and spirit to suc- is moving on and moving tive cases,” she said. ceed,” she said without forward,” Garcia said in a Praises identifying any one of press conference, adding But Deputy Speakthose she referred to. the DOH consultants also er Pablo John Garcia and In February, Garcia recommended for travel Department of Tourism issued Executive Order restrictions on Cebuanos (DOT) Regional Direc(EO) No. 9 which eased – meaning anyone from tor Shalimar Tamano acthe travel restrictions for the island-province can knowledged Garcia’s efpersons coming to the no longer leave or travel fort to jumpstart the local economy that was devasprovince and effectively outside of Cebu. removing the required Garcia said three of tated by the lockdowns to letter of acceptance from the DOH medical consul- contain the pandemic by the local government of tants whom she did not reopening the tourism indestination from the list identify, recommended dustry in August.

“We believed that of documentary require- for stricter quarantine ments. And followed by measure or reverting to integral to Covid-19 reanother EO No. 12 which the enhanced commu- sponse is how to meet the no longer require RT- nity quarantine (ECQ) challenge head on, and PCR test for visitors from status for Cebu, or if not, how to get our lives and other provinces. She also bar Cebuanos from trav- livelihoods back again,” met with the members of elling outside or visiting the Deputy Speaker said the Tourism Task Force Manila or other areas at a during the recent R’ Cebu and representatives of time when Cebu is open- Exhibit, an exposition that tour operators, travel ing up tourism to the rest featured various delicaagencies, and airliners, of the country. “It is really cies, services and tourist among others, to final- strange though nga nikalit spots, among others, in ize the guidelines for the man lang ni nigawas and the 3rd District of Cebu

During the opening of the fifth tranche of R’ Cebu Experience in Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is joined by Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia, Department of Tourism Regional Director Shalimar Tamano, Mayors Jose Antonio Pintor of Asturias, Julie Flores of Barili, Cesare Ignatius Moreno of Aloguinsan, Alex Binghay of Balamban, PB Member Victoria Corominas and some tourism officers from the 3rd District of Cebu. (Junjie Mendoza) which comprises the towns of Tuburan, Balamaban, Asturias, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Barili and Toledo City.

The lawmaker thanked mayors, vice mayors, councilors and businessmen for supporting the governor’s initiatives. The exposition was held at the Robinsons Galleria.

Tamano also noticed many new establishments like cafes and restaurants have popped up in mountain villages, especially in Balamban town, during his recent tour around the province. “So obviously, the trend now is people want open-air restaurants. People want openair cafés. People want glamping,” he said.

Glamping is a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping,” and describes a style of camping

with amenities and, in some cases, resort-style services not usually associated with traditional camping.

“This is very good news and we really cannot understate the help of the provincial leadership in opening up tourism in the province. Kita ra gyuy tinuod nga abri sa turismo, walay daghang gipangita nga dukomento,” Tamano said.

The exposition is a program of the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office in partnership with Robinsons Malls and it started in January and has already featured the several districts the past months.

Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay said he was surprised by the different products his town has to offer to the public had it not for the holding of the exhibit. “Nanggawas nang mga produkto sa Balam-

ban, not only pastries ug kining mga pagkaon, naa pay furniture. Para nako this is a good occasion para ma-showcase ang mga produkto sa mga kalungsuran not only in the third district but all over in the Province because this will make tourism more, makanindot sad,” he said.

Robinson Mall’s senior regional operations manager Floramie Adolfo also thanked the Provincial Government for partnering with them in the exhibit. “And what makes it more interesting is for us, it’s also an awareness. Kay daghang mga products nga wa mi kahibawo nga naa diay sa ani nga lugar, or serbisyo or tourist spots nga naa diay ni sa kani nga distrito,” she said. (Mylen P. Manto. Cebu Examiner contributed to this report.)

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