Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (June 21-27, 2021)

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June 21-27, 2021

ICC prosecutor seeks probe on Duterte’s bloody drug war READ STORY ON PAGE 2, 3

President Rodrigo Duterte inspects one of the sniper rifles he turned over to the Philippine Marine Corps during his visit at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on January 13, 2020. (Alfred Frias / Presidential Photo) And ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 2021

ICC prosecutor seeks probe on Duterte’s bloody drug war

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EFORE HER term ended, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought authorisation from The Hague tribunal to open a full investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte’s ongoing war on drugs that killed thousands of people, including innocent children.

ICC judges have 120 of the end of April 2021, days to issue a decision on police and security forces Bensouda’s request. Now, have killed at least 6,117 the new ICC prosecutor suspected drug dealers Karim Khan will oversee during operations, althe Philippine files. Khan though earlier governhas previously visited the ment figures showed at Philippines to look into least 8,600 deaths. the deadly war on drugs.

A police report in Bensouda said a pre- 2017, however, referred liminary probe that began to 16,355 “homicide cases in February 2018 deter- under investigations” as mined “that there is a rea- accomplishments in the sonable basis to believe drugs war. As early as Dethat the Crime against cember 2016, Al Jazeera Humanity of murder was had already reported committed” in the Phil- more than 6,000 deaths in ippines between July 1, the drug war, raising ques2016 and March 16, 2019, tions about the inconsiswhich was when Duterte tency of the government’s ordered that the Philip- numbers. pines withdraw from the Human rights groups court. said the number of deaths The suspected crimes could be at least 27,000, happened “in the con- and accuse the authorities text of the government of carrying out summary of Philippines ‘war on executions that killed indrugs’ campaign,” Ben- nocent suspects includsouda said in a statement ing children. Countless announcing that she was people were also killed by seeking judicial authori- “unknown” gunmen. sation to proceed with a Police say the susfull investigation. pects were killed when “Information ob- they resisted arrest and tained by the Prosecution became violent, but there suggests that state actors, have been documented primarily members of the cases of suspects being Philippine security forc- executed, or survivors es, killed thousands of saying police shot unsuspected drug users and armed civilians. other civilians during offiThe drug war killcial law enforcement op- ings have also continued erations,” she said. even in the middle of the Duterte launched his coronavirus pandemic deadly campaign against and lockdown, as Duternarcotics shortly after his te vowed that there is no victory in the May 2016 stopping in pursuing suspresidential elections. pects.

He ran on a single issue Bensouda said prosof fighting crimes in the ecutors also reviewed alPhilippines, and during legations of “torture and his campaign and later as other inhumane acts, and president, Duterte repeat- related events” dating edly urged police to “kill” back to November 1, 2011, drug suspects. “all of which we believe The latest govern- require investigation”. ment data shows that as Duterte’s drug war,

she said, shows “a State policy to attack civilians”.

Those allegations center in the city of Davao, where Duterte served as mayor for about two decades. In 2017, a retired police officer had linked Duterte and his men to nearly 200 killings in Davao.

Duterte will not cooperate In his regular press briefing, Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, dismissed the decision as “legally erroneous and politically motivated.” He said: “The President will never cooperate until the end of his term on Jun 30, 2022.”

He also said that the ICC “has no jurisdiction” of the alleged crimes, adding that the police officers have “the right to defend” themselves using “reasonable force” during drug operations, “and therefore, justified by the principle of necessity and proportionality.”

In an address recorded a week before the news of Bensouda’s request broke, Duterte called on human rights organisations to take a closer look into his war on drugs. “You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because they fought back,” he said, warning drug dealers: “Do not destroy the country. I will kill you.”

Duterte had previously called Bensouda “that black woman,” while calling another international human rights investigator, Agnes Callamard as “skinny” and “malnourished.”

Callamard is now the Secretary General of Amnesty International.

The “war on drugs” has been a cornerstone of Duterte’s presidency since

he came to power promising to crush crime, despite criticism from opponents and human rights groups of widespread abuses.

Landmark step Amnesty International welcomed what it described as a landmark step noting that the killings continued unabated. “This announcement is a moment of hope for thousands of families in the Philippines who are grieving those lost to the government’s so-called ‘war on drugs’,” Callamard said in a statement. “This is a much-awaited step in putting murderous incitement by President Duterte and his administration to an end.”

In Manila, the news of the ICC prosecutor’s move was welcomed by human rights groups. In a statement, Param-Preet Singh, of the Human Rights Watch, said that Duterte’s previous threats “may finally come back to haunt him”.

A possible investigation is “especially welcome given the United Nations Human Rights Council has yet to effectively condemn the Duterte government’s atrocities,” she said, while urging the UN body to back the probe and “course-correct” and stand up for the victims of the killings.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) also pressed the Human Rights Council to act and initiate “a long overdue independent investigation” into the killings.

Peter Murphy, ICHRP spokesman, said the case against Duterte “is already well documented,” and it is up to the UN body to “send a strong message that it too will no longer

allow the Philippine government to continue its campaign of human rights violations with impunity.”

The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) President Edre Olalia said the announcement “was all worth the wait, notwithstanding the long nights of grief and grim days of fear”.

“Crimes against humanity are crimes against all. No one is exempt or invincible, no matter how arrogant the impunity, or deceiving the pretension,” he said in a statement to Al Jazeera.

In a separate statement to Al Jazeera, the human rights group, Karapatan, which has been assisting families of slain drug suspects, said the

from the court, Duterte defended his drug crackdown, saying in a 15page statement that it is “lawfully directed against drug lords and pushers who have for many years destroyed the present generation, especially the youth”.

Callamard said Bensouda’s announcement “is a moment of hope for thousands of families in the Philippines who are grieving those lost to the government’s so-called war on drugs. This is a much-awaited step in putting murderous incitement by President Duterte and his administration to an end.”

While the Philippines has long faced issues with impunity prior to

Agnes Callamard Bensouda’s decision “is yet another damning indictment of the Duterte government’s murderous policies that have killed – an continue to kill – thousands of Filipinos with impunity.”

Many of those killed in Duterte’s crackdown had been on a drug watch list compiled by authorities or had previously surrendered to police, while a significant number of children and teenagers were victims, Bensouda’s office said in a report in December.

In June 2020, the UN said at least 73 children had been killed in the drug war, with the youngest just five months old.

Duterte announced that the Philippines was withdrawing from the ICC in March 2018. The decision came into force a year later. The court, however, still has jurisdiction over the alleged crimes that happened while the country was still a member of the court.

When he announced he was going to withdraw

the Duterte administration, the situation significantly worsened with the widespread and systematic killing of thousands of alleged drug suspects since 2016. “The ICC’s intervention must end this cycle of impunity in the country and send a signal to the police and those with links to the police who continue to carry out or sanction these killings that they cannot escape being held accountable for the crimes they commit,” she added.

March of justice Former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima said she welcomed the ICC’s fullblown investigation of the thousands of killings under the Duterte regime’s murderous war on drugs.

“Sabi ko naman noon pa, hindi pang-habangbuhay ang kapangyarihan.

May galaw ang hustisya na hindi mako-kontrol ng politika ninyo at kapangyarihan. Hindi ‘yan karma, that’s the march of justice about to trounce you.

Let’s return to Mr. Duterte

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 2021

NGCP spends P448 million on ads, entertainment

SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO

PAGADIAN CITY – Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’s multimillion peso expenses on advertisements and entertainment, saying these should not be shouldered by consumers as they are not critical to power transmission operations.

“It was puzzling to see items such as advertisements, representation and entertainment in NGCP’s expenditures. Not only that, they also spent almost half a billion pesos on them.

Ano’ng kinalaman nito sa transmission? Are these expenses critical part of their business?” she asked.

During the Senate probe on recent rotational blackouts in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, Hontiveros revealed that NGCP spent an accumulated amount of P369 million on “Representation and Entertainment” in 2017 and 2018 and another P79 million was also spent for “Advertising” in the same time period.

“I wonder kung ordinaryong consumer din ba ang nagbabayad nito under the Energy Regulatory Commission regulation? Ipinasa rin ba ito sa ating mga kababayan? Parang hindi naman yan makatarungan,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros emphasized that while NGCP has been spending big on advertisements and entertainment, the national power grid has been negligent in getting the transmission development plan approved and failing to properly carry out grid improvement projects.

“May tinira ba silang pera para ma-upgrade ang national grid natin? Nasunod ba nila ang Grid Development Plan? May 71 delayed at 83 uncompleted transmission projects. Mukhang sa ibang bagay sila abala at ang mga dapat nilang sini-serbisyuhan, taon-taon na lang nagtitiis sa blackouts at pass on charges,” she said.

Last year, Hontiveros also revealed that NGCP’s shareholders have already divided among themselves a total of P187.8 billion in corporate dividends in just 10 years of their 25-year contract to run the country’s power transmission system.

She has also been calling for the ERC to immediately peg a more conscionable rate of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital or the return a company expects on its capital investment, adding, NGCP enjoys an excessive rate of 15% as opposed to the global average rate of 7% and this contributes to the cost of electricity consumers have to pay.

“Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan sa mga isyung ito at hayaan na lang gatasan nang gatasan ang mga Pilipino. Isa lang ang malinaw sa ngayon, kailangan na nating simulang pag-aralan kung paano bawiin sa NGCP ang control ng ating power grid,” Hontiveros said.

The NGCP consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract and the 50-year franchise to operate the power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corporation led

by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner.

China controls four of the ten NGCP board seats and represented by Zhu Guangchao, the Vice Chief Engineer and Director General of International Cooperation Department of the SGCC; Shan Shewu, Director General of the Philippine Office of SGCC and Board member of State Grid International Development; Liu Ming, the SGCC Chief Representative of China’s Africa Office; and Liu Xinhua, an engineer with a master’s degree and a topnotcher in the CPA Board Examination in China. (Mindanao Examiner)

ICC prosecutor seeks probe on Duterte’s bloody drug war the favor and give him a taste of his own medicine: “Kung wala kang kasalanan, hindi ka matatakot.”

“That’s why it is called the Rule of Law. You can’t just play with the law of humanity and use your own set of rules. Kahit pa ang pangalan mo ay Duterte.

So the International Criminal Court is now at your door, behind it are thousands of victims of your bloodbath,” she added.

De Lima said the recent development means that Duterte’s days are coming to an end, stressing that the only question now is whether Duterte’s own death will come as a boon and save him from the trial and judgment of the ICC for his crimes against humanity.

“He might actually be entertaining that notion now, better to die first than to suffer the humiliation of being dragged in chains to The Hague as one of the few individu-

als in history to be tried as hostis humani generis, an enemy of mankind,” she said.

Pray for Duterte De Lima, adding insult to injury, further said that Filipinos should pray for Duterte’s long life and good health because his death would be unfair to the thousands of poor Filipinos killed under his orders.

“It would be an injustice for him to escape his coming trial and conviction by the grace of an early departure from this world. No, that should not happen. Let us all pray for Duterte’s long life and good health, so that he may go through the ICC trial that would follow his arrest after the start of the investigation of the Office of the Prosecutor,” she said. “All power, no matter how absolute, is always fleeting. Only justice is permanent. Let it be done though the heavens fall.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros also hailed Bensouda’s statement and said the day of reckoning is coming. “The International Criminal Court is an important part in the global fight against impunity and Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s tireless pursuit to exact the truth behind this administration’s bloody war on drugs is highly laudable,” she said.

War on drugs continues Duterte’s former aide-turned-politician Senator Bong Go said in spite of calls by Bensouda to probe the President, “the war against drugs will remain relentless to provide future generations of Filipinos a safer Philippines.”

“Hindi po titigil si Pangulong Duterte sa kampanya kontra droga.

Inumpisahan na po ito ni Pangulong Duterte. Ramdam na po ito ng taumbayan,” Go told reporters, adding, the campaign

against illegal drugs has made the country safer and more secure and Filipinos trust law enforcement authorities now more than before.

“Magtanong po kayo.

Nakakalakad na po ang kanilang mga anak sa gabi, sa tulong po ‘yan ng mga pulis. Ang mga pulis ngayon, malalapitan niyo po, maasahan niyo po. Ramdam po ng taumbayan na secure po at meron tayong peace of mind na umuwi ang kanilang mga anak,” Go said. “Kumpara po noon kesa ngayon, makakauwi po ang ating mga anak na meron tayong peace of mind na walang gagalaw sa kanila, dahil po ‘yan sa sakripisyo ni Pangulong Duterte para sa ating mga anak.”

Go said that the war on illegal drugs is in line with Duterte’s mission of providing a safer country not just for Filipinos today but for generations

President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go. to come. “Ang kampanya laban sa droga, ginagawa po ni Pangulong Duterte hindi lang po para sa atin ngayon para po ‘yan sa ating mga anak. Sinugal niya po lahat. Sabi niya

hindi siya titigil hanggang sa huling araw ng kanyang termino. Galit si Pangulong Duterte sa mga durugista,” he said. (Al Jazeera, Amnesty International and Mindanao Examiner.)

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 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, Rep. Shernee Tambut)

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 2021

MECQ in Region 9 extended!

President Rodrigo Duterte. (PCOO) PAGADIAN CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte extended until the end of June the stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) status in the whole of Zamboanga Peninsula in Western Mindanao or Region 9.

The national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended the extension of the MECQ in the region, according to Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque.

Region 9 comprises the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, including Pagadian City; Zamboanga del Norte and the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog; and Zamboanga City.

Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu urged the public to follow the health protocols and MECQ guidelines.

“Kung kita lang masunod gusto ko balik sa normal, nabati nako ang

kalisod sa mga negosyante nga apektado niiining pandemya. Walay gobyerno nga maghimo og balaod nga iduot iyang constituents, gihimo ni aron protektahan atong katawhan.”

“Kay labaw sa tanan importante ang kinabuhi, dili pa masabtan sa uban unsa ka delikado ang virus pero simbako isa sa ilang pamilya matakdan diha na nila masabtan nganong kinahanglan nato sundon ang balaod,” he said.

Yu also signed an executive order on June 15 outlining the quarantine guidelines for the public to follow. He said the movement of all persons shall be limited to the following: APORs; Essential Travels only such as - a.

Returning residents; b.

Medical Emergency; c. Burial of Immediate Family member; d. Essential Appointment in a Govt Institution; e. Returning Overseas Filipinos; and f. Cargoes

and Goods.

“The province of Zamboanga del Sur will now be identified as restricted under the S-PASS system.

Thus, non-APORs who are returning residents must present travel coordination permit.

Pagadian City Mayor Sammy Co also issued a

ed by the MECQ such as those from beauty salons and spas, barber shops, restaurants and eateries that were forced to closed down.

“Apektadong trabahante tungod sa MECQ, nahatagan og relief goods gikan sa Pagadian City Government - bugas, whole dressed chicken, hotdogs, canned goods ug noodles ang mga nadawat sa mga empleyado sa sektor sa salons, parlors, spas, barber shops, restaurants ug carenderia nga naserado atol sa pag deklara sa syudad sa MECQ. Mismo si Mayor Sammy Co kauban ang mga konsehal sa syudad nga gipangulohan ni Vice Mayor Mapi Obaob ang nag hatag sa maong relief goods.”

“Nanghinaot ang amahan sa syudad nga kining mga relief goods makahatag na kini og dakong tabang sa mga apektadong trabahante og naghanyo sa ilahang pagsabot sa gi-imple-

Pagadian City Mayor Sammy Co. (Photo from his Facebook page.)

A provincial government photo shows Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu signs an executive order on June 15 following the extension of MECQ classification in the whole of Region 9.

similar order and he prohibited the gatherings of civilians outside their houses, but allows gatherings that are essential for the provision of health services, government services or humanitarian activities authorized by the appropriate government agency or instrumentally shall be allowed up to 30% of the venue capacity, and provided further that minimum health and safety protocols shall be observed.

He said religious gatherings shall be allowed up to 30% only of the venue capacity and imposed curfew from 12 midnight to 4 a.m.

The Co administration also distributed relief goods for workers affect-

mentar na MECQ sa syudad. Gi-awhag ni Mayor

Co ang tanang katawhan nga kanunay magsuot og face mask ug face shield og pag mintinar sa physical distance,” according to the local government’s social media page Asenso Pagadian.

In Zamboanga City, Mayor Beng Climaco ad-

June 15 further boosting the local government’s mass vaccination program. “The Pfizer vaccines will be solely deployed to Zamboanga City and will cover the first and second doses of at least 17,500 people and the Sinovac will be distributed to the

Mayor Beng Climaco vised residents to remain vigilant in the fight against Covid-19 by strictly complying with the MECQ guidelines and following the minimum public health standards.

Climaco renewed her appeal for the public to strictly follow the health protocols and urged residents to register online through zambocovax. com or to barangay health centers for free vaccination.

“We have requested for more vaccines because Zamboanga City has been identified as one of the priority areas of concern in the country.

Take this opportunity because it will be an added layer of protection against Covid-19,” Climaco said.

She said the Department of Health (DOH) delivered some 31,500 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and 28,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines on

different municipalities and provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula,” the mayor said.

Climaco thanked Duterte and the IATFMEID, including the DOH for prioritizing Zamboanga City in the allocation of vaccines. She previously asked the national government for more vaccines so that essential workers and uniformed personnel, including tricycle and jeepney drivers can also be inoculated and protected from Covid-19.

In her request to the IATF-MEID, Climaco said: “Hinihiling po namin na masagawa na po ang pagbukas ng A4 priority category (sa Zamboanga).” Climaco said the mass vaccination in Zamboanga City continues as tens of thousands of people had received their Covid-19 jabs. (Mindanao Examiner, Zamboanga Post)

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 2021

U.S., PH complete program to detect, stops agri pathogens THE U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) completed the final phase of a five-year biological threat capacity building partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Beginning in September 2016, BTRP and the DA collaborated to build or renovate seven Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs) in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The P1.1 billion program also included the provision for Philippine counterparts to participate in 15 bio-safety and security courses, 26 quality management courses, four table-top exercises, 27 laboratory staff workshops, and support to the Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine through equipment fielding and training.

The BTRP-DA partnership included extensive disease surveillance and lab-

oratory security and safety training aimed at increasing the Philippines’ biological threat reduction capacity and capability. The partnership also addressed several emerging challenges within the agriculture sector, including detection and surveillance of Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever (ASF).

“We are proud of the work this partnership has achieved since 2016 to strengthen the Philippines’ capacity and capability to detect, diagnose, and report dangerous pathogens. Now that the Philippine government is operating these labs at full capacity, we look forward to the next opportunity to work with our critical Philippine friends, partners, and allies,” said Dr. Ada Bacetty, DTRA’s BTRP chief.

These laboratories are a central line of defense against dangerous pathogens affecting agriculture,

including those with potential to affect humans. The capabilities developed through the BTRP-DA partnership strengthened the Philippines’ ability to detect and respond to emergent threats.

“I can safely say that the desired outcome of the BSS (Bio-Safety and Security) project was fulfilled,” said William Medrano, Undersecretary for Livestock and Chairman of the Department of Agriculture BSS Project Steering Committee.

“We were able to modernize some laboratories and we were able to institutionalize quality management, which is very important when you manage laboratories. We’d like to express our sincere thanks to DTRA for recognizing the Philippines as their partner for this very important and noble project on BSS,” he added. (With additional reporting from Rhoderick Beñez and Malou Cablinda)

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Sulu Pictures in the News

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June 21-27, 2021

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 21-27, 2021

SDG 12 webinar series launched Various civil society organizations (CSOs) launched a three-part webinar series tackling Sustainable Development Growth or SDG 12 of the United Nations’ (UN) Agenda 2030.

SDG 12 is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN in 2015. It is about doing more and better with less, and also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.

Spearheaded by IBON International, People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), Council for People’s Development and Governance, and Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives, the webinar series seek to publicize the discussion on the nature, situation, and the future of sustainability in terms of production and consumption a year after Covid-19 first struck.

Dubbed as “Beyond COVID 19: Promoting People-Powered Sustainable Consumption and Production (PP-SCP),” the first part of the series covered the current state of consumption and production in Asia and identified its root causes.

Azra Sayeed, of PCFS, explained the unequal power relations and the dominance of multinational and transnational corporations in global trade which ingrains unsustainable production and consumption to poor countries.

“A very small minority of people have believed that they can actually hold everybody hostage to their desire for profit. It’s not a new system — it’s a classbased paradigm like monarchy and slavery,” she said, citing the capture of developing countries’ markets and resources by very few rich and developed countries through unequal economic relations.

According to Sayeed, global economic elites are trying to further policies that maintain unsustainable consumption and production processes post-Covid-19. “The postCovid-19 policy agenda is dictated by corporations who are responsible for the profit-seeking, blood-seeking paradigm while they control the world’s resources,” Sayeed said.

SDG 12 is among the goals adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 which aims to reduce and eliminate waste and pollution and ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns for curbing the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation.

However, critical CSOs argue that the goal and its indicators are problematic as it does not acknowledge the systematic barriers that hinder sustainability and deprive people of their rights.

“Unsustainable production and consumption are symptoms of systemic, structural barriers that rest on the social, cultural, po-

litical, and economic makeup of societies,” Lei Covero, of IBON International, said.

The groups attribute the rise of zoonotic and other types of diseases to unsustainable economic processes. Hence, they argue that the world must not return to “business-as-usual” and instead adopt truly transformational alternatives. “The current system must be replaced by radically transforming the systems of production and consumption that dismantle inequality and take care of the people and the planet,” he added.

The second forum to be held on June 29 will cover people-centered, rightsbased practices from countries across Asia while the third will tackle ways forward in campaigning and advocacy initiatives, coinciding with the opening of the UN High-Level Political Forum on July 13 where SDG 12 will be reviewed.

The entire webinar series serves as a build-up for the Global People’s Summit on Food Systems, a counter-summit led by PCFS and its seventeen allied organizations against the corporate-controlled United Nations’ Food Systems Summit which the groups denounce. The recommendations in all three parts will be compiled as advocacy messages to be submitted to the UN High-Level Political Forum and other related advocacy spaces.

(With additional reporting from Rhoderick Beñez and Malou Cablinda)

COMELEC preparing for 2022 BARMM polls THE COMMISSION on Elections (COMELEC) said it is not “jumping the gun” and still pushing through with the preparations for the 2022 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections despite on-going discussions of its postponement in Congress.

“Sa BARMM elections, on-going ang pag-uusap tungkol sa postponement ng BARMM elections. I think there are some very critical matters being discussed particularly ‘yung availability ng Bangsamoro Electoral Code as well as the completion of the districting of the Bangsamoro. Since the issues have not been resolved, kami sa COMELEC, tuloy-tuloy ang paghahanda natin.

We cannot jump the gun.

So tuloy-tuloy lang po tayo,” COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said.

The Senate is currently debating on the bill seeking to postpone the first regular elections in the BARMM from 2022 to 2025.

Senator Francis Tolentino, sponsor of Senate Bill

2214, cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a major challenge in accomplishing the priority programs and projects of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

“Despite all these strides, the BTA has yet to complete all its tasks under the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law).

Thus, we are faced with the question of the propriety of extending the BTA term,” Tolentino said.

The BTA is supposed to oversee the BARMM until the May 2022 regional polls, which would be held simultaneous with the 2022 national and local elections.

Malacañang said it leaves the decision on the BTA extension to Congress.

Sulu province and its people are also opposing the extension of the interim Bangsamoro government and BTA members.

GMA News also reported that BARMM interim officials and the governors of the 5 provinces in the region have yet to reach a consensus on the fate of the first regional elections set next

year.

“Unfortunately, there still was no consensus at the end of the meeting and the President directed them all to meet as a Council of Leaders meeting and resolve the issue amongst themselves before having them come back to Malacañang for the final meeting with him,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters.

He said Duterte stood largely neutral on the postponement of the BARMM polls, weighing its pros and cons.

Zubiri said the BARMM officials explained that they have not been able to govern and take off due to the late appointment of the BTA members and the limitations brought about by the pandemic.

Sulu province and its people led by Governor Sakur Tan and Cotabato City have opposed the postponement of the polls, asserting the people’s right to suffrage in BARMM which was also acknowledged by Duterte.

(GMA, Mindanao Examiner)

A United States military high speed vessel was spotted October 2005 off Zamboanga City. (Al Jacinto)

Duterte backs out again from his threat to junk VFA PRESIDENT DUTERTE has backed out for the second time to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Washington.

Duterte previously vowed to terminate the VFA with the United States after Washington cancelled the visa of former Philippine police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa, and forbidden his Cabinet members to go to the United States.

“I am terminating. I was not joking. The day I said it was the day that I decided it should be terminated. Alam mo sabi nila na it’s my — subject to my whim, ‘yung kapritso. No. It started when they mentioned about the resolution in the US Senate. They were trying to figure — trying to figure out who would be the persons who will be barred from entering. Noon pa lang nag — ‘yung utak ko gumagalaw na. Ganun ako eh, hindi naman ako naghihintay,” he told reporters last year.

“Pero at that time I have decided that if they do this…

And I will do it not only for Dela Rosa, but for every Filipino. Lalo na ‘yung mga taga-gobyerno na magpunta doon supposedly to attend a business concern officially. I will limit siguro sa Foreign Affairs. But I will not allow any Cabinet member to go there at this time. No Cabinet member should be allowed to go to the United States. I will ask them to not to go to the United States in the meantime, parang boycott,” he added.

Dela Rosa was the chief architect of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs called “Oplan Tokhang,” where thousands of suspected drug pushers had been killed in police operation.

Duterte also declined then President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the US-ASEAN summit for a still unknown reason. And Trump signed the 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill which included a provision that prohibits the entry of “foreign government officials involved in the wrongful imprisonment of Senator Leila de Lima, who was arrested in the Philippines in 2017.”

The provision is also in line with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, allowing the US government to impose sanctions on foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses in any part of the world.

Democrat Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy introduced the amendment which the US Senate Appropriations Committee passed in September. The two senators are among the US lawmakers who have earlier said that De Lima’s detention was politically motivated, according to a report by CNN Philippines.

Former police chief and also senator, Panfilo Lacson, reacted to Duterte’s statement and said “an indefinite travel ban to the United States imposed on all members of the Cabinet could have adverse consequences on our country’s economy and security, not to mention the many employed Filipino immigrants there, especially if the US retaliates to the recent tirades of President Duterte.”

He said the Philippines is exporting at least $10 billion worth of goods annually to the US, and accounts for 52% of the total US military support and assistance to the entire Asia-Pacific region. “Considering all these, I hope some of the Cabinet members will have the courage and sensibility to speak to the President to reconsider,” he said.

The VFA, signed in February 1998, allows American soldiers to visit the Philippines without passport and visa to pave the way for their participation in joint military drills. Manila sent a formal notice to Washington of the termination of the VFA on February 11 last year only to recall it and just suspended the accord for 6 months.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said: “The Department welcomes the Government of the Philippines’ decision to again suspend termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement.”

“We value the Philippines as an equal, sovereign partner in our bilateral Alliance. Our partnership contributes not only to the security of our two

nations, but also strengthens the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific.”

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin after meeting with Duterte posted a video to Twitter and announced the government’s decision to halt plans to withdraw from the VFA. “The president conveyed to us his decision to extend the suspension of the abrogation of the visiting forces agreement by another six months while he studies and both sides further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement,” said Locsin.

Last year, the United States voiced concern over the Philippine government-ordered shutdown of the country’s top broadcaster ABS-CBN, which has been targeted by Duterte.

“We are concerned by the situation regarding ABS-CBN,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. “An independent media plays a critical role in facilitating the open exchange of information and ideas which is vital to free, prosperous and secure democratic societies,” she said, adding, that free media was especially vital in promoting public health amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is true for the United States, the Philippines, as well as countries around the world,” she said.

ABS-CBN was forced off the air over the stalled renewal of its operating license, which Duterte had repeatedly pledged to block. Duterte had regularly assailed the media powerhouse, which he accuses of failing to air his ads during the 2016 presidential election despite accepting payment to do so.

The Philippines is a former colony and treaty ally of the United States but tensions have grown over Duterte’s signature policy of cracking down on drugs, a campaign in which police have killed thousands of people.

Trump said ending the troop agreement would save the United States money. (Mindanao Examiner, USNI, AFP)

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Cebu told to follow IATF arrival protocols

C

EBU - President Rodrigo Duterte said Cebu province must abide by the arrival protocols set by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), the Palace spokesman said.

Spokesman Harry and observe home quaranRoque made the announce- tine for another four days. ment during a virtual press- Incoming travellers are also er after Malacañang’s order required to take an RT-PCR to divert all international on the 7th day of their quarflights from Mactan-Ce- antine.

Executive Secretary bu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu to the Ni- Salvador Medialdea initialnoy Aquino International ly issued a memorandum Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City directing the diversion of international flights from ended on June 12.

“From the Office of the MCIA to NAIA from May 29 Executive Secretary, the to June 5 to ensure the propPresident has decided that er implementation of the the IATF protocols must be testing and quarantine proimplemented by the Cebu tocols imposed on returning Filipinos in the province. But Province,” Roque said.

The existing IATF- Medialdea extended this unMEID rules mandate all til June 12.

“The last extension was arriving passengers, including those who have just a preparation for full been vaccinated against implementation of that deCovid-19, to stay in a quar- cision. So, the President has antine facility for 10 days also considered the DOH

Cebu Mayor Gwendolyn Garcia and President Rodrigo Duterte.

(Department of Health) critique and has decided that Cebu Province must abide with the IATF arrival protocols,” Roque said.

Duterte met with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia at Malacañang Palace last month to reconcile the IATFMEID and the province’s different protocols against Covid-19. Roque said Cebu

Protocols for returning OFWs, foreign travellers proposed CEBU - Following his recommendation for the Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reconsider the current protocols for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and returning overseas Filipinos, Senator Richard. Gordon recommended a set of rules for fully vaccinated returning OFWs, Philippine residents, foreign tourists and foreign businessmen.

In a letter addressed to Carlito Galvez Jr., Chief Implementer of the IATF, Gordon proposed that all incoming OFWs and returning Philippine residents who have been fully vaccinated abroad or in the Philippines, whose arrival is 14 days or more after receiving the second dose of a vaccine which has been properly documented or certified, be sent directly for home quarantine for a period of 7 days and then tested for Covid-19 by RT-PCR on the 5th to 7th.

He said that the pas-

ARMM

senger will only be allowed to interact with other people in their household and community once a negative test has been secured, and that strict observance of safety protocols, such as wearing of face masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing, must still be practiced during and after the quarantine period.

Gordon stressed that requiring the OFWs 14-day quarantine will cause a drain on their resources and take away from the time they are planning to spend with their families from whom they have already been separated for years.

“I, therefore, urge you to consider the above recommendation in order to help alleviate the financial and emotional expense to our people during these trying times,” Gordon said in the letter.

Seeing the potential of the tourism industry in helping the economy recover from the pandemic, Gordon recommended that once fully vac-

cinated foreign tourists and businessmen are allowed to enter the country, they must be required to submit negative RT-PCR test results taken 48 hours prior to their flight and then undergo 5 days of hotel quarantine upon arrival.

They must be tested for Covid-19 on the 3rd or 5th day of their isolation and they may be released immediately upon receipt of negative results.

Gordon noted that such proposal is still stricter than what is being practiced in other countries like the United States, wherein fully vaccinated air travellers are required to have a negative SARS-CoV-2 viral test result or documentation of recovery from Covid-19 before they board a flight to the U.S., and merely recommends international travellers to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test 3-5 days after travel regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated travellers are also not required to self-quarantine in the U.S. following international travel.

Eastern Mindanao

has amended its ordinance on arriving OFWs to include RT-PCR test upon arrival and after a week.

“It has always been the protocol which deviates

from the IATF protocol that in Cebu arriving passengers are given PCR upon arrival and then—on the seventh but if they test negative on the third day then they are

sent for home quarantine,” Roque said, adding, the IATF-MEID policy on arriving OFWs “remains that it must be followed nationwide.” (Jelly Musico)

IT-BPM industry seen among key economic drivers in Cebu CEBU CITY – The Information Technology-Business Process Management (ITBPM) industry in Cebu is projected to continue growing as among the key economic drivers in the southern economic powerhouse amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pert Cabataña, president of the Cebu IT BPM. Organization (CIB.O), said: “The industry has not declined, but we are not entering a slow growth pace or curve. This is a normal process expected by the industry as it reels from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

IT-BPM has been one of the top job generators in Cebu for several years now, making the island-province among the top investment destinations for outsourcing companies globally.

Last year, the industry employed about 190,000 workforce, up from 170,000 two years ago, according to Cabataña.

He said the virtual summit “2021Transformation Summit” on July 12-15 will serve as a platform for key stakeholders in the IT-BPM, academe, and the govern-

Western Mindanao

ment to discuss strategies for the “big leap forward” under a global pandemic with its far-reaching impact on lives and businesses.

Cabataña said while the pandemic has transformed a lot of industries, the ITBPM sector has sustained its “normal operation” amid the pandemic, except it has widely adopted flexibility as to how it operates.

He added the key challenges in today’s business environment include innovation and ecosystem development, global market trends, artificial intelligence, big data, health and hygiene, economic forecast, digital education, and a changed work arrangement.

“The challenge now for the industry is how it should continue to thrive in these new realities and synergize to make the big leap forward so it sustains to drive the economy,” Cabataña said, adding, industry experts are set to discuss these issues during the summit.

DJ Moises, chairman of the 2021 Transformation Summit, also shared an optimistic view on the prospects of the IT-BPM industry, say-

Cebu

ing it continues to be the “lifeline pillar powerhouse of the economy” amid the pandemic.

Moises said the industry has been projected to overtake the remittances from overseas Filipinos as the top source of dollar earnings to the Philippines.

He said the industry is poised to move forward to a better new normal as the “pandemic is just a temporary situation and not a permanent state.”

Organized by Cebu’s main IT-BPM organization CIB.O, the four-day virtual event will feature local, national, and international speakers tackling topics such as industry updates and world market trends, local and national economic forecasts, as well as research developments on AI, IoT, Blockchain, Robotics, and Virtual Reality.

The Transformation Summit 2021 is in line with CIB.O’s goal to develop the strengths and sustain the growth of Cebu’s IT-BPM industry and make it a top choice for higher value services, aside from call centers. (Carlo Lorenciana)

Manila