Mindanao Examiner Newspaper Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2013

Images of Tacloban devastation PAGE 3

Police arrest Pagadian gunman PAGE 4

5 Reasons to Advertise Online

Four journalists perished, 7 missing in deadly typhoon

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Filmmaker drowns, 15 other rescued off Dapitan island

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New Figaro coffee shops in Visayas & Mindanao PAGE 9

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Two Catholic faithful pray over a statue of Jesus Christ in Tacloban City in the central Philippine province of Leyte. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

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Southern Mindanao

Davao

Manila

Zamboanga Peninsula

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ACL OBAN CIT Y CLOBAN CITY – IInter nter national nternational aid or ganizaorganizations and for eign foreign assistance a ssistance continue to pour in this centr al F ilicentral Filipino city dcity,, one of the har hardest hit b y super typhoon by H aiyan, but the nightmar e and tr auma left bemare trauma hind b y the disaster hav e by have manent mar k car ved a per mark carv permanent not only in this once booming ar ea, but also in area, the hear ts of ev er y one hearts ever ery who sur viv ed the deadly surviv vived dev astation. devastation.

Residents have largely blamed the government for the slow relief operations and many claimed that relief aid has started arriving only a week after the typhoon destroyed the whole city.

Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, is left in ruins – houses and buildings were destroyed – and not even prayers could save the city. The visible wrath of the deadly typhoon is unimaginable for many of those who survived the calamity.

Drama The stench of death is still in the air as hundreds of bodies decomposed under a mountain of debris.

One woman said she recovered the body of her four-year old daughter barely 9 days after huge waves battered their coastal village. “I lost her and now I have found her and she is dead. She just turned four the other day and it is very painful that this calamity took away the precious life of my baby girl,” she told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

She said started looking for her daughter after the typhoon ravaged the province and dug from under the debris that washed over village. “I was digging and crying as I dug because bodies after bodies I can see and it was really like a nightmare. I saw animals and pigs eating off parts of dead bodies of people. I was crying,” she said.

The woman said they would bury the body of their daughter in a mass grave together with hundreds of other cadavers recovered by government workers.

“There is no help from the government. We have not eaten for days. We drank dirty water to survive until other people came and offered little food. We do not know where to get the food or safe water and for one week we had nothing until foreign aid reached our place,” she said.

A carpenter vividly recalled his ordeal, but would often break down before he could finish a sentence. He described their family’s ordeal as “hell”. “If you believe in hell, then hell came upon the face of the earth and all we could do is pray that we survive this harrowing ordeal,” he said.

He said the typhoon was so powerful that it lifted his wooden house and drifted it about 100 meters from the shore and hit a building where they managed to climb. “I and my wife and two children survived and about a dozen of

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

Where is God?

my neighbors, but another family of eight was not so lucky. They were swept by a wall of water, by the tsunami and just disappeared under water,” he said, referring to the storm surge triggered by the powerful typhoon.

The Santo Nino Church in Tacloban was also damaged. One worshipper said the roof of the church was literally torn off from its steel support as if “the door of hell had opened and tested our faith to god.”

The massive looting has stopped, although not totally, because of the huge presence now of soldiers and policemen from other provinces sent to maintain peace and order. Looters have sold anything they stole from department stores and groceries – from a bottle of beer which sells at P85 to canned sardines and infant milk.

Tacloban still has no electricity and many hotels damaged by the typhoon relied on generator sets to

bring power to each of every rooms occupied by aid workers and journalists covering the disaster relief efforts. But others also took advantage of the situation – one hotel worker moonlights as a laundry woman and charged as high as P500 pesos for four pairs of jeans.

Room rates also tripled if not doubled due to the shortage of hotels and inns in Tacloban. Car owners charged rental as high as $300 a day.

Presidential action

President Benigno Aquino, tagging along some of his Cabinet members headed by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, inspected several areas in Leyte and Samar provinces and said he would stay in Tacloban to oversee government relief operations. “Hanggang makun-tento tayong okay na ang sitwasyon, na wala nang maidadagdag pa dito (Until I am satisfied that the situation is okay, and when there is nothing else to improve on),” Aquino told

television reporters who followed his visit in Tacloban.

Aquino said the progress of relief work has so far fallen below his expectations. “Yung marami tayong inaasahan after one week, hindi ko nakikita. So baka dapat… Kaya nandito tayo ngayon, tutok na tutok (I had expected much more substantial progress after one week but I did not see it today. So perhaps what is needed is for me to personally keep an eye on things).”

“Hanggang wala akong makitang maidadagdag ko pa dito, mananatili muna tayo dito (Until I am convinced there is nothing more to be done, I will stay here),” he said.

Aquino defended himself from mounting criticisms not only from the typhoon survivors, but also from politicians who accused him of not being in control of the disaster situation. He returned to Manila only after 3 days of stay in Tacloban.

Wake up call United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the devastation in the Philippines is a wake up call for the international community to speed up efforts to fight climate change.

“Everybody now knows that climate change is happening and approaching much faster than we might have thought. Therefore, it is imperative that Member States redouble their efforts to raise the level of ambition and there should be a strong political leadership role. I will be meeting many world leaders and ministers to ask them to raise their political awareness and political leadership role and mobilize all necessary means, particularly financial support, for developing countries so that they will be able to mitigate and adapt to this changing situation,” he said.

The UN and its partners launched an appeal for $301 million to provide humanitarian assistance for typhoon victims.

Nearly half of the health facilities in four affected regions remain closed. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos has arrived in the Philippines for a follow-up visit and is expected to visit affected areas in the coming days.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that at least 200,000 people in Tacloban and six surrounding districts are now receiving clean water, with the first water treatment plant having come back to full operating capacity.

The UNICEF, the Philippine military and the US Agency for International Development took part in negotiations resulting in an initial emergency fuel supply to run the plant.

UNICEF has been trucking and airlifting water and sanitation supplies to Tacloban and other affected areas to restore clean water supplies and reduce the threat of diseases caused by poor sanitation and contaminated water. (With a report from Mark Navales)

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

The Mindanao Examiner

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IMAGES OF TACLOBAN DEVASTATION (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

Village official ambushed in Zamboanga town UNIDENTIFIE D gunmen UNIDENTIFIED ambushed a village official in the town of Mahayag in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said.

Police said Julius Lapinig, a council member in th village of Manguiles, was driving his motorcycle

Residents read newspaper in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Police arrest Pagadian gunman POLICE ARRESTED a man who clashed with village guards in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials said.

Police said the village guards – Melchor Villegas and Jesus Nano – were responding to civilian reports that a suspicious man was spotted in the village of

Ditoray when they can under fire.

The two traded gunfire with the assailant who was shot and wounded and eventually arrested by policemen led by Inspector Mario Regidor.

The man has been identified as Roel Salomon, 23, and a resident of the neighboring village of

Pedulonan.

Police seized from Salomon his .38-caliber revolver and is being investigated in Pagadian City where hired killers are actively operating. Salomon is facing criminal charges for attacking the village guards and for possessing an illegal firearm. (Mindanao Examiner)

Army militia shot PAGADIAN CITY – Suspected communist rebels shot a pro-govern-

ment militia inside his store in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del

The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Ahmed Baldomero Joanna Valerie Wee Graphics/Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales Central Mindanao Richard Suarez Pagadian City Zamboanga del Sur

Alan Navales North- South Cotabato Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Richard Falcatan Basilan Province Ely Dumaboc Zamboanga Peninsula The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.

The Mindanao Examiner Television is broadcast in KISMET Cable TV and Pagadian Cable Television Channel 63.

Our business and editorial offices are located at Units 15, 3rd Floor, Fair Land Bldg., Nuñez St., Zamboanga City Phone & fax: 062- 9925480 Mobile: 0917-7103642 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

Sur, police said.

Police said four gunmen attacked and wounded the 49-year old Alfredo Montillano Sr. in the village of Maragang in Tigbao town. The attackers, who were believed to be members of the New People’s Army, escaped after the shooting.

Montillano, who is under the 5th Infantry Battalion, was rushed to hospital, but police did not say his condition.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack and the NPA did not say whether it was responsible in the shooting.

The NPA has been waging a secessionist war for many decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)

with his wife as passenger, when three gunmen shot him at Purok Sinco. His wife managed to escape and reported the attack to the police. The assailants fled after the shooting leaving behind the 41-year old official bathed in his own pool of blood. Police said investiga-

tors recovered 5 bullet casings of .45-caliber and 9mm pistols in the area.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing and it was unknown whether the attack was connected to politics or not. Police are investigating the murder.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

Gunman kills teacher who rejected bribes to rig polls PAGADIAN CITY – A government teacher, who rejected a bribe to rig the recently concluded village elections, was shot dead in a daring broad daylight attack in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay, police said.

Police said Gina Yosores, 45, was shot in the head with a .45-caliber pistol in the village of Danlungan in Buug town.

The alleged killer has been identified by authorities as 19-year old Freddie Puerto, who escaped after the shooting.

Yosores’s husband said his wife, a teacher at the Danlungan Elementary School, served as an

election inspector during the October 28 polls and told him that she had been offered a bribe by an unidentified to manipulate the results of the elections, but rejected this.

It was unknown whether the victim had reported to authorities or her supervisor the bribe offer to rig the poll results.

Police now suspect that the killing could be connected to the past elections. No other details were made available by the police about the killer, but authorities launched an operation to track down the gunman.

“Police theorized that the incident is election-related. The Buug Municipal

Police Station is conducting manhunt operation for the arrest of the suspect while appropriate charges will be filed in court against him,” said Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman.

Teachers are always at risk in every election in the Philippines, particularly in the southern region due to threats and intimidation by armed goons or private armies by some politicians and warlords.

And despite their low pay and allowances, state teachers bear the brunt of election violence which is a deadly characteristic of Philippine polls. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA rebels torch construction equipment DIPOLOG CITY – Communist rebels torched construction equipment in a raid in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, an army spokesman said.

Captain Jefferson Somera, of the 1st Infantry Division, said about

15 New People’s Army rebels raided the village of Titik in the town of Sindangan.

He said there was no report of casualties in the attack.

He said the equipment is owned by the ASR Construction Company

which is working on a government road project in the province.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA about the raid, but the rebels have been waging a secessionist war the past decades. (Mindanao Examiner)

Some of the casualties from the devastation of super typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban City in Leyte province in central Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Four journalists perished, 7 missing in deadly typhoon CEBU CITY – Four journalists were reported to have died and several more are still missing following the devastation of typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines, media groups said.

The Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM) identified the four fatalities as Archia Globio and Malou Realino, both of radio station dyBR in Tacloban City; Allan Medina and Ronald Vinas, of dyVL Aksyon Radyo, also in Tacloban.

Vinas body has not been recovered. He was killed along with two family members of their radio station personnel. Seven reporters remain missing and feared dead - Sarwell Meniano, who writes for Leyte-Samar Daily Express and BusinessWorld; Jasmine Bonifacio, of Radyo Diwa; Benjamin Veridiano, who strings for GMA television; Babay Jaca, Lulu Palencia, and Jun Estoya, all of dyBR and an unnamed radio technician.

The ALAM has offered

prayers and sympathy to the bereaved families of the journalists.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has put up a relief drive to help journalists and local media outlets recover from the typhoon through “Tabang Media” (Help for and by the Media).

NUJP said the drive would not only bring relief, but also to help local media outfits rebuild infrastructure so they can deliver much-needed information to the local communities under crisis.

It said while national and international media outlets have given the big picture of the damage brought about by Haiyan, information for and from locals in badly-hit cities and towns are not fully provided.

The typhoon rendered all local radio stations and other media outlets in Leyte inoperable. NUJP said initially, Tabang Media is reaching out and bridg-

ing the gap through material, financial and psychosocial assistance.

“Since all local radio, television and newspapers have ceased to operate due to damages in equipment, offices and personnel, media infrastructure is nonexistent. This means not having jobs for the next several months for the media workers, and, for the communities, not having information when they need it,” said Rowena Paraan, NUJP chairperson.

NUJP said all donations can be coursed to Tabang Media bank account Metrobank Kamuning Branch Account Number 229-7229507-458. And swift code is MBTCMMPH. Paraan said for those who wanted to help may call the NUJP its official mobile phone 09162221055 or go the NUJP National Office at FSS Building at #89 Scout Castor Street, Laging Handa in Quezon City. (With a report from Nanet Villafania)

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MANILA - The Philippines said it is learning its lessons from addressing the problems brought by super typhoon Haiyan so it can improve its disaster management in the future.

Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma said the government is not engaging in buck-passing or finger-pointing in this situation and maintained that while they had taken steps to prepare for the typhoon, Haiyan was simply “unprecedented” in terms of severity and magnitude. “ Walang kaisipan ang pamahalaan magpasa ng sisi o magturo ng responsibilidad. Dahil nakapulot tayo ng mahalagang aral… magiging mahusay para sa susunod na pagkakataoon (We never engage in buck-passing. And we intend to apply the lessons we learned to im-

prove our disaster management and response mechanism),” Coloma said dur ing a media briefing.

Secretary Herminio Coloma “Kung may pumupuna, tinatanggap natin ang pagpuna, hindi natin tinatanggi na maaring nagkaroon ng pagkukulang. Pero ito ay bunga ng severe constraints, hindi sinasadyang huwag tuunan ng pansin (If there are criticisms, we accept them. We never said we

would not be prone to mistakes. But what I can say is that we never intentionally neglected our duties).”

Coloma said even local government officials and their partners were themselves displaced by the wrath of the powerful typhoon.

“Extraordinary din ang demands ng situation compounded by the breakdown of power and communication facilities ( The demands of the situation were also extraordinary, considering the breakdown of power and communication facilities),” he said.

Coloma said the government uses a highly complementary and interdependent structure for disaster management and risk reduction, but was quick to say the government is open to constructive criticism so it can improve and be more prepared in the future.

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The Mindanao Examiner

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SALE

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late ‘JOCELYN M. GUMEN’, who died intestate at Zamboanga City Medical Center, Dr. Evangelista St., Zamboanga City on October 17, 2012, consisting of a parcel of land identified as Lot No. 13, Block 4, Ts-0900018, situated in the Barangay of Tumaga Riverside, Zone III, Tumaga, City of Zamboanga, containing an area of Fifty (50) Square Meters, and covered by the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. P-5,757, has been extra-judicially settled between and among her surviving heirs by virtue of a document of ‘Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Sale’, executed and acknowledged before Atty. Lucio R. Mabalod, Jr., a Notary Public for and in the City of Zamboanga, on November 05, 2013, which was then enrolled in the latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 73; Page No. 15; Book No. 104; Series of 2013.

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late ‘ROMEO M. FABIAN’, who died intestate at Zamboanga City on December 13, 2004, consisting of a parcel of land identified as Lot 337-J, Psd-32463, OCT No. P-4004, situated in the Barrio of Mercedes (now part of Culianan, Zamboanga City), City of Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of Forty Thousand and Eleven (40,011) Square Meters, and covered by the Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. P-4004, has been extra-judicially settled between and among his surviving heirs by virtue of a document of ‘Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate’, executed and acknowledged before Atty. Lucio R. Mabalod, Jr., a Notary Public for and in the City of Zamboanga, on July 16, 2013, which was then enrolled in the latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 147; Page No. 30; Book No. 100; Series of 2013 and before Atty.

Fernando V. Balinado, a Notary Public for and in the City of Sta Rosa, on July 22, 2013, which was then enrolled in the latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 157; Page No. 33; Book No. LIV; Series of 2013.

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late ‘MATEO T. ONTOLAN’, who died intestate on 27 January 2012 at the Zamboanga City Medical Center, Dr. Evangelista St., Zamboanga City, consisting of a Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga City Branch deposit, has been selfadjudicated by his sole heir, ‘MARIA ARLIN REGADO ONTOLAN’, by virtue of the ‘Affidavit of SelfAdjudication, Attestation and Undertaking’, executed before Atty. Lucio R. Mabalod, Jr., a Notary Public for and in the City of Zamboanga, on August 2, 2013, which was then enrolled in the latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 498; Page No. 100; Book No. 100; Series of 2013.

Filmmaker drowns, 15 other rescued off Dapitan island DAPITAN CITY – A filmmaker drowned after their motorized boat capsized off Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines, police said.

Police identified the lone fatality as Dr. Bob Aquino, a native of Pampanga province and owner of Hypernova Productions, was based in Zamboanga City. His last film, The Spy, is with the Mindanao Examiner Productions for post-production editing.

It said 15 others, including photographers from Trevorz, a small production company, were

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

rescued by another boat. spokesman.

Among in the group is The group came from Aliguay IsA q u i n o land where w e r e Agulong they had a p h o t o a n d shoot and Estephanie Apolinario, was returning to a regional Dapitan tourism officer. The when the b o a t , boat’s skipowned by a per was Anaclito local tourism officer Galleposo.

A p p l e Huesca M a r i e said the boat was Agulong, c a p s i ze d , battered by Doc Bob Aquino according huge waves to Chief Inspector Ariel and strong winds. “While Huesca, a regional police navigating back to the

mainland at more or less one kilometer away from Barangay Aliguay, the motorized boat accidentally capsized due to the strong wind and big waves. Fortunately, there was another motorized boat convoying and was able to rescue fifteen passengers, including the pilot and recovered one cadaver of drowned passenger identified as Dr. Bob Aquino from Pampanga,” he said.

He said one photographer, Jessie Yu, was rushed to the Zamboanga Del Norte Medical Hospital in Dipolog City for further observation. (Mindanao Examiner)

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late ‘FELENCIA R. MAGHANOY’, who died intestate on 10 July 2010 at Zamboanga City, consisting of the two (2) parcels of land identified as (a) Lot 5537-C of the subdivision plan, Psd-09-7332-021969, being a portion of Lot 5537, Cad. 124, Zambo. Cadastre, situated in the Barangay of Pasobolong, City of Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of One Thousand (1,000) Square Meters, described and/or covered by the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. T-119,069 and (b) Lot 317-A-3-A of the subdivision plan Psd-097332-021044, being a portion of Lot 317-A-3, Psd-09-009676, LRC Cad. Rec. No. 476, situated in the Barangay of Mercedes, City of Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of Four Hundred (400) Square Meters, described and/ or covered by the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. T-110,874 of the Register of Deeds for Zamboanga City, had been extra-judicially settled between and among her surviving heirs on 15 August 2013 at Zamboanga City, by virtue of a document of ‘Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate’, executed before Atty. Lucio R. Mabalod, Jr., a Notary Public for and in the City of Zamboanga, which was then enrolled in the latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 276; Page No. 56; Book No. 101; Series of 2013.

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013

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NEW FIGARO COFFEE SHOPS IN VISAYAS & MINDANAO

A

s part of its continuous expansion, Figaro Coffee Company opened new branches at two Gaisano malls — in Gaisano Island Mall, Mactan last July and in Gaisano Capital Surigao on September.

These are additions to the existing Visayas-Mindanao branches which are sited in Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro and Cebu. More shops are expected to open in provincial areas as Figaro set eyes on Visayas-Mindanao market and in the key provinces of Luzon. Since development on these regions are incessant, thus, attracting more tourists and better returns to the populace. And wherever progress is, Figaro Coffee should be there with its world class Filipino coffee and excellent service.

Whether full store, kiosk or cart, Figaro coffee shop’s elegant look gives the customers an impression that this coffee shop is for the high-class only. But Figaro actually caters other markets as

sandwiches, salads and even rice meals, customers of all ages will always find something that they surely will take pleasure in at Figaro.

This November 2013, Figaro will mark its 20th year anniversary and will continue spreading out and bringing Filipino coffee to the world. Currently, Figaro has 80 branches of which seven are located in other countries – Malaysia, China, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia and soon in Dubai. Figaro Coffee Company will surely be in the business for many many more years and will be brewing in more places so that every coffee lover can enjoy their cup of Filipino coffee anywhere. For franchise inquiries, you well with its wide selection of food and may visit www.figarocoffee.com or call beverage offerings. From specialty coffee (63) 917 5237864 and (632) 632 1526 concoctions, cakes and pastries to for more details.

NOTICE Please report to us any individual or persons who are illegally soliciting money or donations for or in behalf of THE MINDANAO EXAMINER REGIONAL NEWSPAPER and/ or MINDANAO EXAMINER TELEVISION – PAGADIAN CITY. We have a strict company policy against solicitation in any forms and the Company shall not be responsible for illegal practice of unscrupulous persons, who pass themselves off as Reporter, Stringer, Correspondent or Sales Executive of The Mindanao Examiner.

When in doubt, please call or SMS us at these numbers (062) 9925480 or SMS (0917) 7103642 or email us – mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC This is to inform the public that Pilar Gina Fernando is no longer connected with the Mindanao Examiner Newspaper and Television effective May 15, 2013.

Any transaction entered by Pilar Gina Fernando shall not be honored by the company.

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SUSPECTED SAYYAFS RAID MALAYSIAN RESORT

TAWI-T AWI PR O VINCE - S uspected A bu S ayyaf WI-TA PRO Suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels shot dead a Taiwanese tour ist and seiz ed tourist seized his wife in a dar ing cr oss-bor der rraid aid into the M adaring cross-bor Maoss-border laysian state of S abah near the P hilippine pr ovSabah Philippine pro ince of Tawi-T awi. awi-Tawi. online newspaper The Malaysian media Star reported. reported that gunmen It said policemen reraided the island resort covered four bullet casof Pom Pom off ings in room occupied by Semporna town and the Taiwanese couple shot Hsu Li Min, 57, and who was due to leave on dragged his wife Chang November 19. The fate of An Wei, 58, into a wait- the woman is still uning boat and fled before known but gunmen have security forces could ar- demanded ransom from rive. The raid occurred the victim’s family and before dawn on Novem- the resort owner accordber 15, Malaysia’s ing to reports.

“Based on their modus operandi, we believe that there is a link

Rebels ready to free 5 prisoners DAVAO CITY – Communist rebels demanded the pull out of military forces in two towns in the southern Philippines as a condition for the safe release of 5 prisoners of war.

Rubi del Mundo, a spokesperson for the New People’s Army, said the prisoners Mansanitas village chieftain Lito Andalique and council members Mar vin Bantua-san, Crisanto Piodos, Balaba Andalique, and militiaman and tribal member Pepe Subla – have apologized to the rebel group for their “counter-revolutionary and antipeople activities”.

“They have already apologized for their counter-revolutionary and anti-people activities and have pledged to desist from being active paramilitary forces that participate and condone the human rights abuses under the Oplan Bayanihan,” Del Mundo said, referr ing to the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

The prisoners were captured in a daring raid on October 24 and since then government forces have launched several rescue missions, but failed.

Del Mundo has demanded the pull out of government troops in

ARMM

the villages of Binucayan, Balite, Pangkat, Johnson, Santa Theresa, San Mariano, Kauswagan, Sabud, Kasapa 1, Kasapa 2, and Valentina, all in Loreto town in Agusan; and the village of Datu Dabaw in Laak town in Compostela Valley province – to ensure the safety and security of the prisoners and their NPA custodians.

“Provided that the Eastern Mindanao Command suspends its military operations in at least eleven villages of Loreto town in Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley, the National Democratic Front Southern Mindanao will release the five prisoners of war who have been under the custody of Comval North Davao South Agusan Sub-Regional Command- New People's Army since October 24,” Del Mundo said.

Del Mundo said the military rescue operations launched by the 26th Infantry Battalion have only resulted in more atrocities against innocent civilians and the murder of peasant leaders and massive bombings that severely affected farming communities in the provinces.

“In the last few weeks, this same military unit has ransacked the

peasant's homes, destroyed their properties, and looted their farm animals,” Del Mundo said. “The 26th Infantry Battalion’s combat operations camouflaged as rescue activities for the POWs in the last few weeks have miserably failed in securing for the release of the captives.”

Rebel forces have so far killed and wounded at least three dozen soldiers in a series of offensives since July in the provinces where the NPA is supporting the local tribesmen in opposing mining, palm oil and other foreign incursions in areas considered as farming and ancestral domain.

“Indeed, despite the display of brutality and use of superior military force by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the masses, people's militia and the revolutionary movement have persevered in fighting for justice and defending the gains of the armed struggle,” Del Mundo said.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, has been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the countr y.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Southern Mindanao

Davao

with the Abu Sayyaf group. The initial information we have is that

they came in a small group of eight,” said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in another report by The Star.

Police are also investigating the possible involvement of locals in planning the raid. The gunmen had been to have fled towards Pulau Mataking near TawiTawi.

The Abu Sayyaf has previously raided resorts in Sabah several times over the past decade and

kidnapped dozens of Malaysians and foreigners and exchanged them for ransom money which is used to purchase weapons and fund terror attacks in the Philippines.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small, but the most notorious rebel group with links to the Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya and involved in terrorism and kidnappings for ransoms in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Maguindanao massacre site revisited MAGUINDANAO – Journalists and families of those among massacred in 2009 have paid tribute on the site where 58 people had been killed in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines.

Three contingents of journalists and families of victims from the cities of General Santos, Koronadal and Kidapawan joined the convoy to the massacre site. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines led the convoy.

“The site visit aims to show that members of the media, in Mindanao and elsewhere in the Philippines, remain united in seeking justice for Ampatuan Massacre victims.

November 23 marks the fourth year since the massacre, the sorry incident that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists, and has since placed the Philippines in the list of the most murderous countries for journalists,” NUJP said.

It said only 108 of the 196 accused in the mass murder have been arrested and 104 arraigned, but 88 suspects remain at large. In addition, at least three crucial witnesses Esmail Enog, Jesse Upam, and Alijol Ampatuan - have been killed and other witnesses Bong Andal and Kenny Dalandag were barred from testifying.

Some of the Ampatuan political family allegedly linked to the murders have not been convicted and the trial still continues four years after the brutal killings.

Quezon City Representative Jose Christopher Belmonte has filed a resolution asking government to look into what he called the “correlation between corruption and media

Manila

killings” and to “act with dispatch to strengthen press freedom and freedom of expression.”

He filed House Resolution No. 520 which directs “concerned executive agencies to speed up the prosecution and conviction of guilty parties in the Ampatuan massacre, to help the victims' families and to conduct an investigation on the correlation between corruption and media killings; and urged members of both houses of Congress to act with dispatch to strengthen press freedom and freedom of expression.”

The resolution said the snail-paced progress of the case, the murder of witnesses, the pressure on victims’ families to settle and the continued failure to arrest all of the suspects have helped perpetuate the culture of impunity with which media killings and other human rights violations are committed, citing the 18 media killings under the current administration.

The resolution directs the Department of Justice to speed up the prosecution and conviction of those responsible for the Ampatuan massacre and security agencies to arrest all the remaining suspects and ensure the security of witnesses and the victims’ families.

It also asked the DOJ and law enforcement agencies “to produce a list of media killings, detailing the status of each case and the efforts needed to prosecute its perpetrators, especially the masterminds, and to make said list public with a commitment to do all that is necessary to end impunity.”

Zamboanga Peninsula