Mindanao Examiner Newspaper June 16-22, 2014

After Sayyaf ordeal, freed Filipina resort worker returns to the Philippines

MILF praises Japan for its support to peace in Mindanao

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Hunt is on for notorious bomber, BIFF rebels in Maguindanao

Philippine leader calls on nations to tackle effects of climate change

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US Ambassador to Manila snubs Filipino officials

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‘COCOLISAP’

P10

June 16-22, 2014

Coconut pests swarm Basilan province

A

new invasive species of coconut scale or locally known as “cocolisap” have already destroyed over 76,000 coconut trees in the southern Philippine province of Basilan and the level of infestation there has reached an alarming stage, officials said.

The same infestation is also ravaging the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon – all in Luzon Island and officials were trying to determine how the insects (Aspidiotus Rigidus) managed to find its way to Basilan, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We still don’t know how these invasive insects which are similar to those now destroying coconut plantations in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal find its way in Basilan. We are investigating this now, but at the moment our hands are full in trying to control the infestation in Basilan, particularly in Isabela City and it is very alarming now,” Efren Carba, the provincial coconut development manager, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said more than 76,000 coconut trees in different plantations in 16 out 33 villages in Isabela City are infected with the pests.

Copra and rubber are the two main industries in Basilan, just several miles off Zamboanga City.

But Carba said the infestation of the coconut scale is at the moment within Basilan and there were no reports of similar problems in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, and also Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, all in western Mindanao.

He said pests attack the leaves and fruits of coconut trees and there were reports that mangoes, bananas ang other fruit trees are also at risk of infestation in Basilan.

He said there were other species of coconut scale in Basilan, but not the same species bow wrecking havoc to coconut plantations in the province and in Luzon.

“Right now, we are trying to control the infestation and are using both chemical and biological agents to fight off or exterminate the coconut scale. We also launched a massive information drive to help local farmers and the City of Isabela learn more about the coconut scale and how to control this,” Carba said.

Carba said the life cycle of a coconut scale is 30-32 days with each insect can spawn up to 50 eggs in just one week. Rudy Corsame, the PCA provincial manager, said they have formed an inter-agency Task Force CSI (coconut scale insects) that will quarantine all plants and

seedlings coming to Basilan to ensure that no invasive species of insects such as the coconut scale would be able to enter the island.

President Benigno Aquino has ordered the Philippine Coconut Authority to which Carba works to identify areas infested by coconut scale and to establish measures to control and manage the spread of the pests. Under the order, the PCA would identify the infested areas and coordinate efforts in formulating appropriate emergency measures to treat infected coconut trees and host plants and these will include mechanical, chemical and biological measures, as well as quarantine measures to prevent the transport of infected coconut plants.

The local governments will also help implement emergency control measures by contributing manpower resources. Local government officials will also help in the massive information dissemination campaign in their areas.

Authorities have warned that failure to control the spread of the pest could ruin the country’s coconut industry. The Philippines is the world’s top supplier of coconut products. The coconut industry serves as the economic backbone of 68 of the country’s 80 provinces, employing 3.5 million farmers and bringing in $2 billion in net foreign earnings. (Ely Dumaboc)

A coconut plantation in Basilan province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ARMM

Southern Mindanao

Davao

Si Sulu Governor Totoh Tan, Vice Governor Sakur Tan at Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin sa distribution of scholarship allowance ng ARMM.

Proyekto sa Sulu walang humpay

K

aliwa’t-kanan ngayon ang mga proyekto na ipinatutupad ng Sulu provincial government at sa mga nakalipas na buwan ay walang humpay ang mga p r o g r a m a n g ipinatutupad ni Gov. Totoh Tan. Kabilang sa mga proyekto ay ang construction ng Jolo Airport Terminal Building sa bayan ng Jolo, construction ng elementary classrooms sa bayan ng Patikul, pababakod o fencing ng Timbangan Elementary School at ng

Indanan High School sa bayan ng Indanan at ang katatapos lamang na bagong covered court sa Barangay Tandu Bagua sa bayan ng Patikul at twostorey building sa bayan ng Jolo.

Magkatuwang rin sina Gov. Totoh at Vice Gov. Sakur Tan, gayun rin si Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin sa katatapos lamang na educational program “May K ka sa ARMM (Distribution of Scholarship Allowance) ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Ito ay programa na pinakikinabangan ng mga piling scholars bilang suporta sa

Western Mindanao

Cebu

pagtustos sa kanilang pagaaral.

Bukod sa mga proyekto at programang ipinatutupad ay aktibo si Gov. Totoh sa sports development kung kaya’t mas maraming mga kabataan ang ngayon ay nahuhumaling sa basketball, tennis at iba pang mga sports.

Sinabi naman ni Gov. Totoh na marami pa itong ilulunsad na mga proyekto para sa kanyang mga konstituwente at bilang suporta na rin sa kapayapaan sa lalawigan. (Franzie Sali)

Manila

The Mindanao Examiner June 16-22, 2014 2 After Sayyaf ordeal, freed Filipina resort worker returns to the Philippines COTABATO CITY – A kidnapped Filipina resort worker freed by the Abu Sayyaf along with a Chinese tourist has returned to her hometown in the southern Philippines after being detained and interrogated by Malaysian authorities on suspicion she was involved in the crime.

Then victims were Marcy Dayawan, 40, was reunited with her fam- fetched by security forces ily in North Cotabato’s and handed over to MalayMidsayap town and told lo- sian officials who were in cal media her ordeal. Jolo town. The freed victims Dayawan and Gao Huayun, were then whisked to a 29, were both freed by the waiting speedboat that Abu Sayyaf on May 30 in brought them to Sabah.

According to the PhilSulu province where they were taken by Abu Sayyaf ippine News Agency, militants. The duo was kid- Dayawan, who spoke Ennapped on April 2 from the glish, had served as translaSingamata Adventures and tor between the kidnappers Reef Resort in the town of and the Chinese woman.

Semporna in Sabah where Dayawan also said that she acted as “personal assisDayawan works.

The kidnappers origi- tant” to Huayun.

In an interview with the nally demanded RM36.4 million ransom or equiva- Catholic-run radio station lent to almost P500 million dxMS, Dayawan said: “We for the safe release of the travelled by a speed boat Chinese woman. Sources from Sabah to Sulu during told the regional newspa- which I told them that I was per Mindanao Examiner in not Gao’s helper as they Sulu that a leader of the thought me to be thus they Moro National Liberation abducted me too. They kept Front, Nameh Sangkula, on telling us that all they helped negotiate the re- need was money from Gao’s lease of the hostages in the family.”

The report also quoted village of Bawisan in Parang town. It was unknown who Dayawan as saying that the tapped Sangkula to secure kidnappers demanded the freedom of the hostages. P500 million ransom from

Huayun’s family. “I was not sure if ransom was paid but we were repeatedly told by Malaysian authorities that no ransom was paid,” she said.

Dayawan said they were guarded by about 70 gunmen whose leader has been identified as Alhabsi Misaya, who was also being called “maas” and that they were not abused. “They did not harm us, they respected us as women,” she said.

PNA said the kidnappers fed the two women with fried chicken and rice and even bought foods for the Chinese when she celebrated her birthday on April 8. “We were always fed with fried chicken and other special food the kidnappers bought somewhere in the downtown,” Dayawan was quoted by the report.

Dayawan also admitted that she entered Sabah illegally to work 13 years ago, according to PNA. Malaysian police released Dayawan to the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on June 1 after being interrogated against her will. The Kuala Lumpur-

based news website The Rakyat Post reported that the Royal Malaysia Police detained Dayawan shortly after she arrived in Sabah.

The report quoted Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying that Dayawan is being interrogated in by the Royal Malaysia Police in Kuala Lumpur in connection to the investigation into the kidnappings. “We will detain her further until we are satisfied and confident that she is not involved in the kidnapping incident,” he said.

The police commissioner said Dayawan was an illegal worker and had entered Sabah illegally. He said the Filipina was employed by resort just two months before the kidnappings. “And if Marcy, who had entered Sabah illegally, is proven to be clean, she will be deported to her country of origin,” he said.

But the Philippine Embassy, quoting Malaysian authorities, said Dayawan was not considered a suspect in the kidnapping.

“During the hand-over,

Malaysian police authorities told Embassy officials that they did not consider her as an accomplice to the kidnapping plot and had cleared her of speculations.

Ms. Dayawan said that she was given the choice to remain in the Philippines after her rescue, but she decided to return to Malaysia partly to clear her name,” it said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The Philippine Embassy expressed alarmed over the spate of cross-border kidnappings perpetrated by criminal elements from Mindanao, saying this has detrimental impact on Filipinos residing in Sabah.

“We wish that these groups desist from conducting such criminal activities, as many of the affected people in Mindanao and Sabah share a common heritage and have close affinity and blood ties. Carrying out or tolerating these criminal actions is a disservice to one’s country, fellowmen and kin,” it said.

Malaysian authorities also said gunmen snatched May 6 a Chinese

fish farm manager in Lahad Datu town in Sabah and clashed briefly with pursuing patrol before disappearing into the southern Philippines. At least 5 armed men on a speedboat intruded into the Wonderful Terrace and seized the 34-year Yang Zai Lin after he came out to check the commotion at the farm.

The latest abduction has forced Sabah authorities to declare curfew and travel restrictions in several areas there.

In November last year, the al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf group kidnapped a Taiwanese tourist Chang An Wei, 58, after killing her husband Hsu Li Min, 57, in a daring cross-border raid in Sabah’s Pom Pom Island.

The woman was eventually released a month later near the village of Liban in Talipao town in Sulu after paying ransom. The Abu Sayyaf has resorted to ransom kidnappings to raise money for the purchase of weapons and to fund terror attacks in the country.

(With reports from Mark Navales and J. Magtanggol)

Manyakis na magsasaka nadakip PAGADIAN CITY – Nadakip ng pulisya ang isang magsasaka na umano’y nagtanggkang gahasain ang isang 15-anyos na estudyante sa bayan ng Dimataling sa Zamboanga del Sur province.

Sinabi ng pulisya na agad tumakas ang 40anyons na si Victor Angca matapos na mabigo sa kanyang pagnanasa sa

dalagita na si Celsa (hindi tunay na pangalan), ngunit nasakote rin ito matapos ng mahabang paghahanap sa kanya.

Maglalaba sana ang estudyante sa isang balon sa Barangay Sugbay Uno ng ito’y dambahin ni Victor, ngunit sinipa umano ni Celsa sa bayag ang lalaki kung kaya’t namilipit ito sa sakit at nakakuha ng

pagkakataon ang dalagita na tumakas at humingi ng saklolo.

Agad naman tumulong ang mga kapit-bahay ng biktima at sa tulong ng lokal na pulisya ay nadakip si Victor at ngayon ay nakapiit na sa naturang bayan at nahaharap sa kasong isinampa ng pamilya ni Celsa. (Mindanao Examiner)

Si Shariff Aguak Mayor Bai Zahara Upam-Ampatuan at ang evaluating team ng DILG-ARMM na nagtungo sa nasabing bayan nitong June 4, 2014. (Mindanao Examiner Photo -Rose Muneza)

Sipag at katapatan sa serbisyo, puhunan sa kapayapaan sa Shariff Aguak MAGUINDANAO – Mistulang walang kapaguran sa kanyang trabaho si Shariff Aguak Mayor Bai Zahara Upam-Ampatuan matapos nitong asikasuhin ang pagdating naman ng mga evaluators ng Department of the Interior and Local Government-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao sa kanyang bayan.

May kinalaman sa “Seal of Good Housekeeping” ang pagdating ng evaluation team. Ang prestihiyosong award ay ibinibigay bawat taon sa ibat-ibang bayan, lungsod at lalawigan na mapipili ng DILG base sa criteria nito.

Si Mayor Zahara ay ilang ulit ng nabigyan ng mga ibat-ibang awards, kabilang ang Public Service

Excellence Award ng Civil Service Commission dahil sa kanyang maraming mga accomplishment; at ng Seal of Good Housekeeping for Local Governments.

Kilalang peace advocate si Mayor Zahara at nasa likod ng ibat-ibang peace and development efforts sa Maguindanao.

(Mark Navales at Rose Muneza)

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 16-22, 2014

MILF praises Japan for its support to peace in Mindanao COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has praised Japan for its strong support to the peace process in the southern Philippines.

MILF vice chairman and chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said Japan has been playing an active role in an international effort to monitor the ceasefire agreement between the former Muslim rebel group and the Philippine government.

“We are grateful to the Government of Japan and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) for several assistances they have been extending to the Bangsamoro. Japan has been playing active roles in the International Monitoring Team, International Contact Group and Independent Commission on Policing,” he said during the launching June 4 of the Human Resource Mapping in Cotabato City funded by Japan.

The program was attended by Takahiro Morita, Senior Representative of JICA Philippine Office, and Shinichi Masuda and Kazuhiro Okamoto, also members of the Japanese aid agency. It was designed

to gather data on Muslim professionals and store their files so that in the event the future Bangsamoro government requires workers, there would be easily accessible database.

Speaking before professionals during the June 4 launching, Iqbal also cited the importance of professionalism among civil servants, especially in the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous regional government. The new government would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that has suffered from decades of poverty, corruption, and conflict.

ARMM abolition But Iqbal said the abolition of ARMM - comprised of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, including the cities of Lamitan and Marawi - would be gradually in several phases and he assured the rights of civil workers.

He said there is nothing to be worried about even if the ARMM is abolished because “the bulk of the bureaucracy of the future Bangsamoro government would not come from

the ranks and file of the MILF since the latter would enjoy the fruits of the more than 40 years of struggle in some ways that would be fitting and special for them.”

“Certainly much of the bureaucracy for the incoming Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the future Bangsamoro government would substantially come from the ARMM because they have the training already,” he added.

Iqbal said while some of the MILF leaders would be in the prospective Bangsamoro government, majority would not be part of bureaucracy because they are not trained to be part of it. “Their forte and training was something else,” he said.

He also emphasized though that over and above the training and competence, is to put in place a new value system that gives premium to accountability. “It is the value system that determines the kind of people running a government. The MILF envisions that accountability is not only to the people, but more so to Allah,” he said.

Iqbal also urged Mus-

MILF vice chairman Mohagher Iqbal with Takahiro Morita, Senior Representative of JICA Philippine Office, during the launching June 4 of the Human Resource Mapping in Cotabato City. lim professionals to journey with them in the quest for genuine self-governance and said that “efforts to transition require the entire Bangsamoro society and thus the MILF has to be inclusive and this inclusive policy includes resource mobilization and capacity development for everybody. People have to be the focus of development and empowerment since our society has already suffered a lot.”

Government and MILF peace negotiators signed the Comprehensive Agree-

ment of Bangsamoro in March. The Bangsamoro Transition Commission has already submitted to President Benigno Aquino in April the draft on the Bangsamoro Basic Law so he can sign it before it goes to Congress for approval.

Once Aquino signs the BBL, it can be ratified and implemented in time for the 2016 local and national elections. The BBL will pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro autonomous region in Mindanao.

The creation of

Bangsamoro autonomous region would have to be decided on a referendum in the ARMM and in areas where there are large Muslim communities probably before the year ends.

The MILF a breakaway faction of the Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 - was the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which fought for decades for self-determination in Mindanao.

(With reports from Mark Navales and J. Magtanggol)

2 fishermen arrested for transporting endangered turtle specie in Zambo

City Hall photo shows Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar looks on the hawksbill sea turtle confiscated by the Coast Guard from two fishermen in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.

PHL allocates huge funding for feeding program in schools MANILA - The Philippine government said it appropriated over P1 billion to fund a feeding program for school children aimed at eradicating malnutrition.

A government spokesman Herminio Coloma said lead agency for the program is the National Nutrition Council - which is under the Department of Health - in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Higher Education.

“Pinapatupad po ‘yon programa sa loob ng 120 araw at pagkatapos ng pagrelease ng standardized malunggay recipe, at meron po silang tinatawag na 20day cycle menu, at ang nationwide implementation ay pinopondohan ng Gen-

eral Appropriations Act. Ang pangkalahatang budget para diyan ay isang bilyon walumpung milyong piso (P1,080,000,000),” Coloma said.

He said under this program, school canteens were given guidelines on how to provide proper nutrition to children by giving only nutrition-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Coloma said this is apart from the supplementary feeding program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and separate from feeding programs of the Local Government Units in partnership with private groups and corporations.

“Ang mga programa pong ito ay naglalayon na ibalik sa normal na kalagayang pang-nutrisyon ang ating mga kabataang mag-aaral,” Coloma said.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two local fisherman were arrested after they were intercepted by a coast guard patrol boat transporting a hawksbill sea turtle they caught off the Santa Cruz Island near Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.

The fishermen - Alonto Inguan, 42, and Bagatsing Katomel, 45, - were brought to the Coast Guard headquarters and handed over to the maritime police on June 7.

Mayor Maria Isabelle

Salazar, who was informed of the arrest and the recovery of the turtle, rushed to the Coast Guard and oversee the release of the 18-inch hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate) to the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.

The reptile was released to its natural habitat near Santa Cruz Island after being tagged for documentation and Agaton Baysa, a wildlife enforcement officer, estimated the age of the turtle to be around 10 years old.

Salazar told the fishermen that catching of sea turtles is illegal and urged the duo to help in preserving marine animals and protect their habitat.

According to reports, hawksbills are a critically endangered species due mostly to human impact and their eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and their stunning shells.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 16-22, 2014

Hunt is on for notorious bomber, BIFF rebels in Maguindanao MAGUINDANAO – Philippine troops continue to hunt down a notorious rebel leader with links to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya after he escaped a military operation that killed at least 2 suspected rebels.

Brigadier General Edmundo Pangilinan said Abdul Basit Usman managed to escape a military dragnet and is now the object of a massive operation aimed at capturing one of the country’s most wanted terrorist. He said two other suspected rebels were killed by soldiers who raided a hideout of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the village called Libutan

near Shariff Saydona Mustapha town last week.

Those slain were identified as the grandfather and uncle of Usman’s wife, who was also captured along with her two children who were turned over to social workers.

Three other women two of them Indonesian nationals and a Filipina native of Sulu province - were also arrested and that one of them is the wife of Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, the leader of the Kumpulun Mujahidin Malaysia, who was reportedly killed in a US-backed airstrike in February 2012 in Sulu province, but his body had not been found or recov-

ered.

The names of the four women were not released by the military, but all of them are being interrogated separately by authorities in an undisclosed location in Maguindanao province.

Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said there were no casualties on the military side. “Usman was wounded, but he managed to escape and troops are tracking him down. Two other rebels were also killed in the fighting,” he told the Mindanao Examiner by phone from the town where he set up a command center to monitor the operations against the terrorist

leader, who is wanted both by the Philippines and the United States for the spate of terror attacks in Mindanao.

Pangilinan said they recovered a cache of weapons and improvised explosives, including a 155mm howitzer and mortar bombs and munitions. Troops also recovered a van and 7 motorcycles before rebels could rig it with explosives and use to bomb military and civilian targets.

A wallet with Usman’s picture was also recovered in the area.

“We have recovered so many weapons and explosives, and there is also a Barrett sniper rifle, blasting caps and cell phones that

they use as detonators, and 155mm (howitzer) and mortar bombs. The recovery of these war materials has saved a lot of lives,” he said.

He said troops launched the raid after a long surveillance operations and intelligence provided by civilians about Usman, a bomb expert, and the BIFF. “This clearly shows that Usman has a connection with the BIFF which was behind the series of attacks and bombings in Maguindanao and nearby provinces,” he said.

He said troops clashed with about 2 dozen rebels and the fighting lasted 45 minutes. Maguindanao is one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where BIFF, the armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement founded by former Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Ameril Umra Kato is actively operating.

Philippine authorities

have blamed Usman, also a former MILF commander, for the spate of deadly bombings in Mindanao the past two decades. The MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which recently signed a peace deal with Manila, has previously ordered its forces to hunt down Usman after he was linked to terror attacks. In 2010, Pakistan military reported that Usman was killed along with another foreigner and 10 alQaeda militants in a US drone strike in the restive South Waziristan region, but the reports turned out to be false with the Philippine military saying that the militant leader was in Mindanao.

The United States has put up a $1 million bounty for Usman’s capture under its Government Rewards Program after he was tagged by authorities as behind deadly bombings in the Philippines and has been considered by Washington as a threat to the country. (Mark Navales)

Major General Ariel Bernardo presides over the assumption of Colonel Macairog Alberto as Task Force Davao commander.

Task Force Davao has new commander DAVAO CITY – Philippine Army Colonel Macairog Alberto was assumed as the new commander of the Task Force Davao here.

Macairog, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1986, replaced Colonel Casiano Monilla, said Captain Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.

Major General Ariel

Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, presided over the ceremony Wednesday which was attended by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Lieutenant General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, among other guests in the police and military, and representatives from various government agencies.

Duterte thanked the

The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Joshua Alvia Joanna Valerie Wee Graphics/Video Editor

military for helping the local police force in maintaining peace and order in Davao City. “I want to thank the military for securing Davao City and for protecting the welfare of the humanity,” Duterte said.

Bernardo also praised the task force for its many accomplishments here.

“Task Force Davao displayed a very good performance in anti and counter terrorism in the city, you shall maintain or even surpass this achievement by creating a positive change in your leadership,” Bernardo. Alberto vowed to pursue peace and development in Davao. “As I face high expectations and challenges in this new position, I feel a great sense of confidence

knowing that we have a very cooperative environment, with our stakeholders not only sharing our common purpose and desire, but leading us in the objective of providing good governance and service to our people to eventually achieve a truly secure and progressive environment,” he said.

He said the Task Force Davao has achieved a great milestone in security Davao City and making it a peaceful place and a terrorist-free society for residents.

But despite all these rhetoric praises, the communist New People’s Army rebels are still active in some parts of Davao City, especially in Paquibato District.

(Mindanao Examiner)

An old wanted poster of Abdul Basit Usman.

2 injured in Zamboanga road accident

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 EDITOR: Ely Dumaboc/ Jun Feliciano 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

The road accident in Zamboanga City that injured two persons. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) ZAMBOANGA CITY – A motorcycle driver was seriously injured after he hit a woman in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

The woman, Nilda Llanera, of Baliwasan village,

was also injured and both have been rushed to hospital. Llanera said she was just crossing the street outside the Santa Cruz Market when hit by the motorcycle.

“I don’t know what hap-

SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO

pened. My face is numb and my whole body is aching,” Llenera told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner after regaining her consciousness.

The motorcycle driver was not immediately identified. Policemen, who rushed to the scene, said the driver was not carrying any identification cards.

Witnesses said the driver, who was not wearing a helmet, was driving fast

when he hit the woman. “He was driving fast and did not even slow down,” one motorist who witnessed the accident, said.

Emergency crews arrived in two ambulances and brought the victims to the hospital.

The local police chief Angelito Casimiro was also spotted in the area manning the traffic along with other police officers. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 16-22, 2014

Phoenix gas station sa Zambo, inireklamo Z AMBOANGA CITY – Inireklamo ng maraming mga motorista ang isang gasolinahan ng Phoenix sa Zamboanga City matapos na mabukong may halong tubig ang ibinibenta nitong gasolina.

Ayon sa mga nagreklamo, sa Phoenix Sutterville umano sila nagkarga ng gasolina sa kanilang motorsiklo, ngunit hindi pa man nakakalayo ay namatayan na sila ng makina.

Isang lalaki ang nagsabing nagkarga siya ng gasolina sa kanyang motorsiklo at patungo sana sa sentro ng

Zamboanga upang bumili ng gamot, subali’t wala pang dalawang kilometro ang itinatakbo nito ay tumirik na ang sasakyan.

Sa nakuhang sample ng gasolina sa Phoenix ay nakita ang dami ng tubig ng nakahalo sa kanilang ibinibenta. Sinisi naman ng Phoenix ang nag supply sa kanila ng gasolina.

Hindi pa mabatid kung aaksyunan ba ito ng Department of Trade and Industry, ngunit hinimok naman ng lokal na pulisya ang mga motorista na magsampa ng kaso laban sa Phoenix.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf man captured in Basilan province BASILAN PROVINCE – Police and military arrested an Abu Sayyaf militant linked to kidnappings for ransom and killings in Basilan province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in southern Philippines, officials said.

Moraham Ameng was arrested by policemen, who were backed by soldiers, in the village of Bulan-bulan in Lantawan town.

A civilian informant was said to be responsible for the arrest of Ameng, who reportedly has a P600,000 bounty for his capture.

Ameng was brought to Zamboanga City where he is currently being interrogated for dozens of kidnappings and murders in Basilan.

No other details were made available either by the police or the army about Ameng. (Mindanao Examiner)

President Benigno Aquino addresses the Asia-Europe Meeting onference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the Diamond Hotel in Roxas Boulevard in Manila City. He also met with Also European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Kristalina Georgieva. (Photo by Rey Baniquet)

Philippine leader calls on nations to tackle effects of climate change MANILA - Filipino leader Benigno Aquino echoed calls by environmentalists to work together to address the global effects of climate change.

Speaking at the AsiaEurope Meeting (ASEM) Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Aquino cited the devastation left behind by super typhoon Haiyan last year where thousands of people had died.

Citizens, local governments, and nations must work together to address this problem, he said, adding, countries must take advantage of every opportunity to share their experiences,

ideas, and technologies, the value of which is not measured by any form of currency but by the number of lives saved.

"This is why I encourage all of you to please, let us continue working together through forums such as this one, and let us deepen our cooperation to give rise to a world that is safer and more resilient," he said.

"This is our only planet, and it is our duty as its citizens to do everything in our power, not just to protect it, but to improve it and make it better than it ever has been," he added.

He said the increasing number of typhoons and

their devastating effects are becoming the norm today as a result of climate change.

Aquino also met with European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva in Manila before the conference also being co-hosted by EU, Japan, and Switzerland.

Georgieva suggested possible ways on how the EU and other developed nations could further work together with the Philippines to help address the increasing challenges of climate change to prevent the destruction caused by super ty-

phoons from happening again.

She also recounted her experiences in Haiti following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 and shared with the President some anecdotes regarding her recent trip to Tacloban City, taking note of the improvements made six months after the tragedy.

The 60-year old Bulgarian has been serving the EU as its Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Response since February 2010 after her stint as Vice President and Corporate Secretary for the World Bank Group.

7

The Mindanao Examiner

June 16-22, 2014

US Ambassador to Manila snubs Filipino officials SULU – US Ambassador Philip Goldberg has inspected American troops stationed in the town of Jolo in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, but his visit last week was criticized after the former Bolivian ambassador did not even bother to meet as a courtesy protocol with local Filipino government officials.

Goldberg visited Jolo to- pared and ready to brief the gether with embassy officials on former Assistant Secretary of June 2 and went straight to the State for Intelligence and RePhilippine Marine Brigade head- search in case he wanted to disquarters where US troops put up cuss peace and development efa small camp under the Joint forts in the province.

But no one from Goldberg’s Special Operations Task ForcePhilippines (JSOTF-P). group and not even the US EmThe capital town of Jolo is bassy informed the Filipino offihosting both Philippine and US cials that the ambassador is not military bases, although the meeting, even briefly, with them main headquarters of the JSOTF- for a still unknown reason. Some P is inside the Western Mindanao government officials said they Command in Zamboanga City. felt insulted with Goldberg’s acSome sources told the regional tion and likened the American newspaper Mindanao Examiner ambassador to a cat. “You know, that local government officials, cats just go inside your house who learned about Goldberg’s and leave whenever they want. prior visit in Jolo, had even pre- Animals do not have courtesy,”

Army clashes with rebels in Surigao del Norte DAVAO CITY – Government troops clashed with communist rebels in Surigao del Norte province in southern Philippine, officials said.

Officials said the fighting broke out in the village called Cambuayon in Bacuag town last week and lasted more than 20 minutes.

There were no reports of casualties on both sides, but Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said soldiers had recovered weapons and explosives left behind by the New People’s Army.

Caber said among the

weapons recovered by troops were four AK-47 assault rifles, 15 magazines, two hand grenades, a rifle grenade, a radio transceiver, six bandoleers and six backpacks.

“The residents provided the information to the 30th Infantry Battalion on the harassment and extortion activities made by the CPP-NPA in the area,” he said.

Caber said the military have recovered 45 AK-47 rifles from the rebel group – which is fighting for a separate state - in separate clashes in eastern Mindanao since last year.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Gunmen seized Zambo foreman ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen snatched a construction foreman near Indanan town in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, police said.

Police said Zamboanga native Remigio Villanueva Lingayan was travelling on a vehicle when flagged down by gunmen near the village of Kan Islam and seized him. Villanueva came from the town of Maimbung and was heading to the capital town of Jolo when the abduction occurred.

Soldiers and policemen

pursued the gunmen, but failed to catch up with them.

There was no immediate statement from the town’s mayor or village officials, but police said the search is going on for Villanueva.

“We are still searching for the victims,” said Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, the provincial police chief.

No group claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, but the town is notorious for Abu Sayyaf kidnapping and many victims had been taken in Indanan in recent years. (Mindanao Examiner)

US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg. (Wikipedia) one Filipino official said.

In the past, US Ambassadors Kristie Kenny and Harry Tho-

mas, and other foreign dignitaries would always meet and pay their courtesy with local municipal and provincial officials every time they visit Sulu. Kenny in particular had repeatedly flown to Jolo and enjoyed the hospitality accorded by her hosts and the Muslim residents.

One military officer said Goldberg spent several hours inside the base where he met behind closed door with US troops and later police and military commanders, and former local exchange students who were invited by the embassy to meet with the ambassador, who was declared persona non grata by Bolivia in 2008 for plotting against Bolivia's government.

Many Muslims are opposed to the presence of US troops in Sulu because of the massacre of

hundreds of locals, including women and children, in what is known now as the “Bud Dajo Massacre” which occurred more than 100 years ago, but the memory of the brutal American campaign is still fresh in the minds of many Muslims in Sulu.

Some 600 US troops have been stationed in the southern Philippines – on a rotation basis - since 2001 after three American nationals – Kansas missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and California man Guillermo Sobero - had been kidnapped from a posh resort by the Abu Sayyaf. Sobero was beheaded by the rebels tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, while Martin was killed during a US-led rescue operation. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippines and Vietnam hold friendship games in Spratlys MANILA - The Philippines and Vietnam held a friendship games in the Spratly Islands which are being claimed in part or whole by both countries, and Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China.

Government spokesman Herminio Coloma said the holding of the friendship games is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and camaraderie among Filipino andVietnamese troops in the Spratly Islands which is believed to be rich in minerals and oil.

“Sila ay hindi naman maglalaban sa isa’t isa sa idaraos na mga palaro na kung saan magkakasama ang mga Pilipino atVietnamese sa mga pangkat na maglalaro. Hindi ito Philippines versus Vietnam. Joint teams po ang lalahok sa palaro para mas maging mainam ang kanilang pakikipag-kaibigan,” he said, adding, Filipino and Vietnamese troops will compete in football, volleyball

President Benigno Aquino and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan during a recent World Economic Forum on East Asia in Manila. (Photo by Ryan Lim) and tug-of-war matches.

They will be playing at the Vietnamese occupied island of Pugad (Southwest Cay).

“Ginawa po ang inisyatibang ito para maitaguyod ang pakikipagkaibigan at mainam na pagtutulungan ng mga Pilipino at ng mga Vietnamese na naatasang magbantay sa mga lugar na iyan,” Coloma said.

Vietnamese Prime Min-

ister Nguyen Tan Dung was in Manila in May during the World Economic Forum on East Asia. And he and President Benigno Aquino forged stronger ties and reaffirmed the strong bonds between their countries.

The two leaders had discussed how the Philippines and Vietnam can enhance confidence building, defense capabilities, and interoperability in addressing security challenges, par-

ticularly on issues involving China provocative actions in the South China Sea. Matters pertaining to exchanges in intelligence and naval technology, and others, were tackled in the meeting. Collaborative activities between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard have increased over the years, including information exchange and Hotline Communication Mechanisms between the the two countries which is aimed at protecting marine resources and suppressing illegal activities in the adjacent sea area.

Aquino said the continued cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam will enable them to better protect their maritime resources, as they pursue strategies for regional growth and progress. He said the two countries must remain steadfast in their shared aspiration and by working together they can build a more stable Southeast Asia.

Rebels accuse military of killing civilian THE NEW People’s Army accused government soldiers as behind the execution of a motorcycle taxi driver earlier accused by the military as a member of the communist rebel group in Davao del Norte province in southern Philippines.

A rebel spokesman Aris Francisco branded as “barbaric” the murder of 41-year old Wilfredo Estrebillo, who was killed on June 4 in the village of Mabantao in Kapalong town. Citing confidential reports, Francisco accused the 60th Infantry Battalion as behind the killing and condemned the attack on an innocent civilian.

“The barbaric killing of motorcycle driver Wilfredo Estrebillo showed that the notorious 60th Infantry Battalion is engaged in vindictive operations against civilians,” he said, vowing to give “revolutionary” justice for victim’s family.

A photo released by the Kilab Multimedia to the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper shows the casket of Wilfredo Estrebillo, who was killed in the town of Kapalong in Davao del Norte province in southern Philippines.

Estrebillo was shot at least 13 times by his three passengers. Francisco said the Estrebillo was first to be killed by the military among the list of six motorcycle taxi drivers in the town that are all in the army’s order of battle.

He said the list was recovered from Corporal Rogelio Rosales, who was captured by rebels in May in the village of Florida

also in the town of Kapalong.

Rosales was freed by the NPA on humanitarian grounds, but he was dismissed from the military after the rebel group recovered illegal drugs from his possession while arranging the delivery of illegally cut logs in the town.

The six drivers were suspected as members or

supporters of the NPA after Rosales implicated them. The six men were included the so-called “hit list” of the military as part of its anti-insurgency campaign called Oplan Bayanihan.

Before he was killed, Estrebillo told his family and relatives that the military put him and other drivers under surveillance and accused them of transporting provisions to the NPA in Kapalong, an allegation he and the others had strongly denied.

He also told his family that government soldiers were harassing them in army checkpoints. Among the drivers in the military hit list were Eleazar Batobato, Loloy Labaho, Undo Labaho, Dodong Labaho, and Joy Eway, who was also harassed by soldiers.

There was no immediate statement from the military about the accusations. (Mindanao Examiner)

8

The Mindanao Examiner

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June 16-22, 2014

PHL to ban foreign sex offenders THE PHILIPPINES said it will ban foreigners who are facing sexual abuse charges or whose names are included in the socalled registry of sex offenders.

Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said any foreigner whose name is found in the registry as may be provided by a foreign embassy will not be allowed in the country or may be issued

an order to leave if he managed to enter the Philippines.

He said foreigners tagged as sex offenders clearly pose a threat to public safety.

This after the Bureau of Immigration recently deported a 67-year old American Robert Snyder following his arrest in Dumaguete City in the central Philippine province of Negros Oriental.

Snyder, who had been a fugitive for ten years in connection with a sex assault case in the US, was arrested by a joint team of Filipino immigration agents and American law enforcers.

Five foreign fugitives, who were accused of rape and child molestation in their countries, were also deported in February after their passports were revoked by authorities.

Kidnapped hardware store owner freed ZAMBOANGA CITY Police have recovered a kidnapped hardware store owner after he was freed by the Abu Sayyaf after almost eight months in captivity in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said.

Officials said the 29year old Archie Hablo, whose family owns Sincere Enterprises in the capital town of Jolo, was recovered last week in the village of Gandasuli in Patikul town.

He was kidnapped on October 19 last year.

“Hablo is now reunited with his family and we don’t know if there was ransom paid to the kidnappers, but we have deployed forces in the town to track down the kidnappers who are believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf,” Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, the provincial police chief, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

No other details were made available by the police on Hablo’s release or his state of health. There

was no immediate statement either from the town mayor or Hablo's family.

Hablo was travelling on a motorcycle with his brother Miko when the gunmen, who were in a jeep, blocked their path.

Hablo was seized while his brother managed to run and escape and reported the incident to authorities.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels have been largely blamed for many ransom kidnappings in the southern region. (Mindanao Examiner)

Aquino vows to pursue cases vs lawmakers in 'pork barrel' scam MANILA - The Aquino government said the filing of plunder charges against three Filipino senators is a significant step to ferret out the truth as more lawmakers accused in the P10-billion pork barrel scam are being linked to the scandal.

The three lawmakers Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Jose Ejercito, Jr., better known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada - have denied involvement in the scam allegedly perpetrated by businesswoman Janet Napoles, who is also facing plunder charges.

Arrest warrants for the lawmakers are expected to come out soon.

"This constitutes a major step forward in our mission to find out the truth about these anomalies," Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told the government radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

She said the Aquino administration remains firmly committed to unearthing the facts in the scam. She said the government will continue to push for reforms aimed at strengthening the foundations of transparency and

accountability in the bureaucracy.

Valte also brushed off allegations that the filing of charges against the three senators was rushed as Aquino prepares his State of the Nation Address.

She said the Office of the Ombudsman was given enough time to review and to consider all the pieces of evidence that was submitted by the Department of Justice.

The lawmakers said the charges against them were politically motivated, an accusation denied by Valte.

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9

The Mindanao Examiner

June 16-22, 2014

Batas nga ba o pinagkakakitaan lamang?

By Leo Diaz SA GANANG akin, ang mga umiiral na batas ay isang gabay o panuntunan sa lipunan upang magkaroon ng restriksiyon ang mga nilalang mula kina "Eba at Adan" upang mai-ugnay naman ang 10 Banan na Kautusan mula sa Poong maylikha ng lahat.

Subalit sa kabila ng karunungan at kredibilidad na taglay ng mga gumawa ng batas; tila hindi tayo kumbinsido na ang pagpapatupad sa naturan ay naaayon o di kaya ay laan lamang para sa isang malinis at kaaya-ayang sosyedad sa ating lipunang ginagalawan.

Pansamantala ay hayaan po muna ninyong tumbukin ko ang partikular na batas sa ating trapiko at isahog mo na rin sa naturan na ang pangunahing bibigyan natin ng pansin aay ang mga ahensiyang naatasang ipatupad ito nang sa ganoon ay hindi palaging sangkot sa sakuna na madalas na nagbubunsod ng kamatayan sa marami nating mga kababayang motorista at masahol pa diyan; ang malayong agwat ng pumupunta sa kaban ng ating bayan sa bulsa ng iilang taong naatasan lamang.

Una - ang "Land Transportation Office" (LTO) ay siyang namamahala o nangangasiwa sa mga rehistro at pagpapa-lisensiya ng sinumang indibidwal na kwalipikado (maski nga ata hindi kwalipikado) at napansin natin na sa proseso pa lamang ay katakut-takot na pangaral o seminar na susundan pa ng pagsusulit at aktwal na pagma-maneho bago magawaran ng lisensiya ang isang indibidwal.

Bakit sa tila maganda naman sanang proseso ay kung titingnan mo ang mismong rekord mayroon ang otoridad, aba, nakakabahala ang mga aksidente at sakuna sa mga daan at hindi lamang iyan bakit kung titingnan mo ang maraming drivers na nabigyan ng lisensiya ay tila hindi man lamang ata "alam" ang umiiral na panuntunan o batas nang sa ganoon ay malayo sa kapahamakan ang mamamayan!

Sa puntong ating paghalukay sa isyu, sa halos lahat ng napuntahan kong mga sangay ng LTO; nakita natin ang talamak na presensiya ng tinatawag na mga "fixers"-mga fixers na walang ginawa kundi "super laki" ang hinihingi kaysa sa regular na nabibigyan ng opisyal na resibo mula sa nasabing tanggapan, mga "kuno" ay nangangaral at nagbibigay ng pagsu-sulit na mayroon na palang "S.O.P" at maya't maya lamang ay nariyan na ang lisensiya ng isang aplikante, pangatlo mga nalalagay na mga STRO's na may "lagay" naman pala sa kani-kanilang

"pontio pilatong" direktor at higit sa lahat ang sistemang ginagawa naman ng ilang "kuno ay media" na nangongotong sa mga sangkot upang hindi maibulgar ang mga "kalokohang" ginagawa ng aking mga sinabi.

Idagdag ko na rin sa aking listahan ang mga "LETAS" kasama na rin diyan itong marami-raming miyembro ng PNP-HPG na madalas ay nasa mga Daang Nasyonal at mukhang hindi nga kagandahan ang aking madalas na narinig sa ilang mga nagma-maneho"ANDIYAN NA NAMAN ANG MGA BUWAYA" na tila baga naging "curious" lalo tayo.

Dito nga tumambad sa aking pagsi-siyasat ang tulad ng sistemang "lagay sa daan" at ang sistemang aregluhan sa mas mababang halaga kaysa sa ipinapataw ng batas na multa at kung aking susumahin halos "butata ang kaban ni Juan dela Cruz" sa mga lagay na ganyan.

Papaano na kaya ngayon at may batas na naman ang "Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board" (LTFRB) na nagpapataw ng multa sa mga "kolurum" na mga sasakyan? Sa tingin kaya ninyo; hindi lalala ang usapin sa korapsiyon sa lagay na iyan?

Hesusmaryosep!

"Kamoteng baletungeg" aba, kailangan marahil ay pag-isipan nga naman ninyo ang ipina-palabas ninyong mga multa o baka naman parusa na iyan! Alin kaya ang mas tama; iyong lumalabag, iyong nanghuhuli o iyong nagpapa-multa?

Marahil ay hindi na po kaila sa ating marami ang sinasabing "Money is the root of evil" at paumanhin nga pala sa isang Sultan diyan sa bahagi ng Sulu; aba magbayad naman kayo sa utang ninyo sa Mindanao Examiner at hindi iyong animo sa tingin ninyo sa sarili ninyo ay hari kayo.

Ito po ay paunang isyu mula po sa inyong lingkod at sana sa pagkalagas ng mg ilang bahagi sa dahon ng kada pahina natin ay tangkilikin po ninyo ang Mindanao Examiner at iyong nagbibigay ng kung anu-anong "Award" bilang Best Regional Newspaper ang diyaryong ito, ito ang aking masasabi hindi po kami 20k lamang!

Mahiya ka naman! Hanggang sa muli at sana ay lalawig ang ating samahan! (leod164@gmail.com) DISCL AIMER: The views and opinions DISCLAIMER: expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Mindanao Examiner or any of its staffs and employees.

Another broadcaster murdered

A FILIPINO radio broadcaster, who previously sought court protection following a death threat, was shot dead outside his home in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro province, about 140 km southwest of Manila.

The media watchdog National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said the 67-year old Nilo Baculo, Sr. was killed by a still unidentified gunman. It strongly condemned the attack on Baculo, who in 2008 asked a court for protection after learning of a plot to kill him from the hired gun contracted to carry out the hit.

The NUJP said the courts failed to protect Baculo, saying the threats against the broadcaster was “unsubstantiated” until now. Following the court’s denial to protect him, Baculo said: “Our justice system is rotten. You have to die first before you can prove that a threat does exist.”

“Baculo’s words had proven sadly prophetic,” the media organization said.

Baculo, who hosted a news talk and public service program “Isumbong Mo kay Ka Nilo” over radio station dwIM in Calapan City, was the 165th journalist murdered in the Philippines – the 33rd under the watch of President Benigno Aquino, and the fourth this year.

“Between a President who dismisses media kill-

ings because to him, most victims are targeted not because of professional activities, but, shall we say, other issues, courts that, as Baculo sadly foretold, will believe lives are in danger only

Nilo Baculo, Sr. when those lives are actually lost, and security forces that, as a recent Human Rights Watch report and a number of other investigations into journalists’ murders have noted, are most likely involved, demanding, even hoping for, justice may seem to be an exercise in futility.

But we cannot give in to despair and cynicism,” the NUJP said.

“We will continue to cry out for justice. We will continue to call out Mr. Aquino, as we have called out the presidents before him, for their accountability in our colleagues’ deaths, not least of all because of their apathy. We will never tire of pointing out that the State’s failure to protect its own citizens makes it accountable for each and every extrajudicial murder that makes a mockery of all claims to our

being a democracy,” it added.

NUJP said it will never tire in urging journalists and media workers, and the public to come together and join in demanding accountability and justice.

“For more than apathetic or even complicit government, the other sure way to ensure that the impunity with which extrajudicial killings is committed will continue to thrive is indifference,” it said.

There was no immediate statement either from Aquino or to any of his spokesmen about the latest killing, which was also condemned by other Filipino media groups.

Just last month, motorcycle gunmen also killed a 35-year old radio broadcaster Richard Najid in an attack in Tawi-Tawi province, also in southern Philippines.

Nadjid, the manager of radio station dxNN, was shot several times in the village of Tubig Boh in the capital town of Bongao. He was heading home on a motorbike when gunmen attacked him. The motive of the killing remains unknown.

The provincial police chief Joselito Salido quickly dismissed the possibility of Najid's murder was related to his work, saying, the victim was just a disc jockey.

Salido’s statement drew criticisms from various media groups. (Mindanao Examiner)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC This is addressed to any third persons who have entered or might have entered into a transaction with Felicity Hills Homeowners Association, Inc., for the purchase of any lot within the said subdivision located at Divisoria, this city.

The concerned third person can contact or communicate with Engr.

Renato Dagalea, with business address at RV Dagalea Enterprises, Don Toribio St., Tetuan, Zamboanga City, to thresh-out said transactions with Felicity Hills Homeowners Association, Inc., considering the said development of the said subdivision is under new management.

All transactions will be entertained only up to July 31, 2014.

CLIMACO & DE FIESTA LAW FIRM By:

NOTICE TO THE EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTELEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SALE NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of late ‘SALIH MAADIL’, who died of old age, consisting of a residential lot, situated at the Barrio of San Raymundo, Municipality of Jolo, Province of Sulu, Island of Jolo, containing an area of Three Hundred Seventy Five (375) Square Meters, and covered by the Original Certificate of Title No. P-989, has been extra-judicially settled between and among his surviving heir ‘DANILO C. MAADIL’ by virtue of document of ‘Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Sale’ executed and acknowledge before Atty. Ulka T. Ulama, a Notary Public for and in the Municipality of Jolo, Province of Sulu, on May 12, 2014, which was then enrolled in latter’s Notarial Register as Doc. No. 305; Page No. 61; Book No. 57; Series of 2013.

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Presidente nimugna og task force batok sa mga nanggawas nga mga sakit

N

imugna si Presidente B e n i g n o Aquino og usa ka inter-agency task force nga motabang sa gobyerno aron epektibo ug hapsay nga masulbad ang mga nanggawas karon nga makatakod nga mga sakit sa nasud aron maatiman ang kahimsog sa katawhan.

Gilagdaan sa Presidente ang Executive Order No. 168 nga nagmugna sa Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) batok sa mga nanggawas nga makatakod nga mga sakit diin ang manguna niini ang Department of Health

(DoH) aron masiguro nga daling masumpo ug malikayan ang posibleng pagkatap niini sa Pilipinas.

Matud pa ni Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa ang maong task force ang moassess, magbantay ug mohimo og mga lakang aron dili mokatap ang mga nagkalain-laing sakit sa nasud, apil na usab sa mga Pilipino nga nagtrabaho sa ubang mga nasud.

Ang Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ug ang Middle East Respiratory Synndrome Cirronavirus, apil na usab ang nagbalikbalik nga hulga sa meningococcemia, leptospirosis, antimicrobial resistant tuber-

culosis ug uban pa ang hinungdan mao nga gimugna kining maong task force nga katambayayong ang Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism ug Department of Transportation and Communications.

Pangunahan sa maong task force ang pagtumbok, pagsusi ug pagtabang sa mga Pilipino nga gidudahang gitaptan sa mga nahisgotang matang sa sakit, apil na usab ang pagpaningkamot nga malikayang mokatap ang

maong mga sakit sa nasud ug unsaon kini pagsumpo dayon.

Gihatagan usab og gahum sa Executive Order No. 168 ang pagtabang sa Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police ug ubang tigpatuman sa balaod nga magpatuman og mga kamanduan alang sa dali nga paghatud sa mga adunay sakit.

Ang DOH-Task Force Control usab ang magandam sa EID Preparedness Manual diin ibutang ang mga lakang ug pamaagi aron masumpo ug malikayan ang pagkatap sa mga nahisgotang sakit. (MBCN, ECB)

Salt to clean teeth? Why not...

DO YOU know that sodium chloride or salt can be a substitute for toothpaste in brushing teeth as it contains fluoride, an essential cleansing agent.

Dr. Rodivick Docor, past president of the Philippine Dental AssociationCebu Chapter, said using salt is fine and just like toothpaste, it contains the main element that cleanses the teeth which is found in toothpaste. Fluoride is said to play a significant role in the prevention of cavities as well as the promotion of healthy tooth

development.

Docor said whether one uses salt or toothpaste in brushing the teeth, it should not be done in a vigorous manner because this also destroys the enamel of the teeth. Enamel is the hardest mineralized surface of the teeth. He said salt can also be used to clean the gums through warm saline - a mixture of water and salt rinsing.

“Just add one-fourth teaspoon of salt to one glass of lukewarm water then now you have your warm saline rinse,” Docor said.

Although Docor is not pushing for the use of salt as a substitute for expensive toothpaste, he said toothpaste has other advantages and makes the breath smells good, but salt is better than not practicing good oral hygiene. Dr. Philip Yray, of the Department of Health (DOH), said based from a past National Monitoring and Epidemiological Dental Survey, 92.4% of Filipinos have tooth decay and 78% have gum or periodontal diseases.

“Though the last survey was done over 10 years ago,

Capture of Negros NPA leader praised SECURITY officials praised the capture of a senior communist rebel leader in Tanjay City in the central Philippine province Negros Oriental.

The Philippine Army said the rebel leader, who goes by the nom de guerre Pediong and Nasyo, was arrested last week at a joint military and police checkpoint in the village of Tugas.

Pediong is said to be the Secretary of the Southeast Front of the New People’s Army in Negros.

Troops also seized from him a fragmentation grenade and several identification cards with different names, believed to be his aliases, to conceal his real identity.

The army said the rebel leader is facing murder charges and that he was positively identified by former NPA fighters who surrendered to the govern-

ARMM

ment and are now helping the military in its anti-insurgency campaign.

“This development is certainly a big blow to the CPP-NPA in Negros Oriental as its organizational structure has been dismantled.

This is the result of the Bayanihan among the people of the province who are eager to attain lasting peace and live in a place that is conducive for uninterrupted economic development,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade.

The rebel leader is also being linked to the brutal killing of Narciso Bantoto in January this year in the town Siaton also in Negros Oriental. Bantoto was killed in front of his family.

Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, praised soldiers and police-

men for the capture of the rebel leader. He also urged other rebels to surrender peacefully.

“Your Army is strongly committed to bring lasting peace in this part of the country. It is through Bayanihan or working together where we can find peaceful solution to our problems,” he said.

“We reiterate our call on the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army and the New People’s Army to go down and talk with us peacefully.

Abandon the armed struggle for it is not the solution to our societal issues. Let us work together in the spirit of Bayanihan to finally put an end to the insurgency problem of our country,” he added. The rebels have been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a communist state in the country.

(Cebu Examiner)

Southern Mindanao

Davao

it seems that the incidence of dental and periodontal diseases still remain high today,” Yray said. To decrease the high incidence of dental diseases among Filipinos, the DOH is linking with the Department of Education and local governments to promote regular brushing of teeth and healthy diet among schoolchildren.

Other stakeholders in promoting oral health in partnership with the DOH are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government and non-governmental organizations such as the PDA, academe and other civic groups.

P10

June 16-22, 2014

Parents told to choose food products with ‘Sangkap Pinoy Seal' THE DEPARTMENT of Science and TechnologyFood and National Research Institute have urged parents to buy food products with the “Sangkap Pinoy Seal” as micro-nutrient deficiencies continue to be a health concern especially among children.

DOST-FNRI Senior Science and Research Specialist Marilou Galang said the top three micro-nutrient deficiencies confronting children today are Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) and Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).

Galang said all micronutrients are important for children's growth, health and development and that deficiencies can result to growth retardation, underweight and poor mental health. “FNRI’s latest survey showed that 20.2% or two out of 10 children aged five years and below are underweight and 33.6% or three out of 10 are under height for their age,” Galang said.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Vitamin A causes eye disease, impairs the immune system and raises the severity and mortality risk of measles and diarrheal disease. UNICEF also warned that lack of iron, which is essential for the production of hemoglobin, can result to IDA. And common symptoms of IDA are paleness, tiredness and frequent headaches and breathlessness.

For IDD, UNICEF said this could cause a range of abnormalities including brain damage and mental retardation. But the most common symptom of IDD is goiter or the swelling of the thyroid gland while in its severe form is cretinism or both mental and physical disability. Maria Corazon Palompo, DOST-FNRI Science Research Specialist, also said that in order to address the problem of micro-nutrient deficiencies, the government passed the Republic Act 8976 otherwise known as “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and for other purposes.”

Palompo said the law mandates the fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and flour and rice with iron. Another is the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program that calls for the voluntary fortification of processed food products with Vitamin A, iron and iodine, she said.

She said some food products such as noodles, biscuits, breads have already been fortified so these products have the Sangkap Pinoy Seal. Both Galang and Palompo, who were recently in Cebu for the Nutrition Communication Network media briefing, said parents must first check the food products and choose those with the Sangkap Pinoy Seal because having this means the food products have undergone quality testing with the Bureau of Food and Drugs. (Fayette Riñen)

TESDA maghimo na sab sa libre nga nasudnong sertipikasyon HIMOON sa ahensya sa kagamhanan nga nagtanyag sa sertipikasyon sa katakus sa usa ka tawo sa technical, vocational education ang libre nga pagtimbang ug paghimog sertipikasyon kon may igo na bang katakus ug kahibalo ang usa ka tawo subay sa nasudnong batakan sa kaalam.

Ang sertipiksyon sa sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority ( TESDA) gikinahanglan kon may laraw ang usa ka tawo nga manimpalad sa gawas sa nasud nga gipamuhunan ang technical-vocational skills, matud ni Jaminel Damolo, information Officer sa TESDA.

Ang nasudnong sertipikasyon buksan alang sa pag-ila sa kapasidad sa mga nabansay sa napulo ug usa ka sector nga sakop sa technical-vocational education. Mahimo nga mopailawom sa certification and mga gradwado sa mga kurso sa technical-vocational courses, mga tigtudlo sa TESDA, mga trabahante na ug mga Overseas Filipino Workers nga nagkinahanglan sa sertipikasyon alang sa pagpanarbaho o promosyon, matud ni Damolo.

Gipahayag ni Francisca Opog, hepe sa TESDA Bohol, nga ang schedule sa assessments mahitabo sa Hulyo 14-18, Agosto 11-15 ug Octubre 13-17.

Western Mindanao

Cebu

Ipailawom sa libre nga assessment un national certification mao ang katakus sa agriculture, automotive, construction, refrigeration, air conditioning, garments, tourism, health social and community development, information and communication technology, processed food and beverage, electronics ug metals and engineering sectors, segun sa TESDA. Sang sertipikasyon mahinabo usab sa lima ka mga testing centers sa Bohol didto sa Bilra, Inabanga, PIlar, Jagna ug Tubigon. Alang sa dugang kasayuran, tawag o bisitahe ang TESDA. (MBCN, RAHC)

Manila