Mindanao Examiner Newspaper July 7-13, 2014

NPA tagged in slay of Bukidnon mayor

President Aquino assures MILF over peace deal PAGE 2

Benilde student dies from fraternity hazing PAGE 4

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Bemedalled general takes over 1st Infantry Division

Davao doble-alerto na dahil sa terorismo

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Good business climate attracts investors in Zamboanga del Sur PAGE 9

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July 7-13, 2014

‘DISBURSEMENT ACCELERATION PROGRAM’ NI P-NOY ILEGAL! T uluyan ng ibinasura ng Korte Suprema ang kontrobersyal na “Disbursement Acceleration Program” ng Malakanyang dahil sa unconstitutional ito.

Ang DAP ay brainchild o p m e n t ni Budget Secretary Butch Budget CoAbad at ni Pangulong ordination Benigno Aquino at binuo Committee ito upang may dahilan ang at ng CabiMalakanyang na magamit net Clusters ang mga salapi o pondo na b i l a n g nakalaan para sa ibang “s t i m u l u s bagay sa anumang package” ng administnaisihan ng mga ito.

Sinabi ng Korte rasyon para Suprema na ilegal ang DAP sa mga sariat natigil lamang ito ng s a r i n g mabuko ng oposisyon ang proyekto.

Bilyon-bilyong pisong paraan kung paano at saan kinukuha ni Abad ang pondo ang inilaan ng napakalaking pondo para pamahalaan para sa DAP. sa mga naising proyekto ni Mula 2011-2012, umabot sa P142.23 bilyon ang inilabas Aquino.

M a t a t a n d a a n g para sa mga programa at inakusahan rin noon ng proyekto - P83.53 bilyon oposisyon si Aquino at noon 2011 at 58.70 bilyon Abad na ginamit ang DAP naman sa 2012.

Sa 2011, karamihan sa upang isuhol sa mga politiko para sa conviction mga pinaglaanang pindo ng ni Renato Corona, ang dat- DAP ay napunta sa ing pinuno ng Korte healthcare, public works, housing and resettlement, Suprema.

Binansagan naman gayun rin sa agriculture at ng mga militante ang DAP iba pa. At sa 2012, ginamit na siyang “pork barrel” naman ang pondo ng DAP fund ni Aquino, bukod pa sa turismo at road infraang limpak-limpak na structure, school infrastrucpondo mula sa Presiden- ture, rehabilitation at extential Social Fund. sion ng kontrobersyal na Nagsimula ang DAP light rail transit systems, at noon Oktubre 2011 ang sitio electrification. matapos na aprubahan ito Sa taong 2013, umabot ni Aquino sa rekomen- naman ang pondo ng DAP dasyon umano ng Devel- sa P15.13 bilyon at ginamit

naman ito para sa karagdagang tauhan ng pulisya at bilang dagdagpondo rin sa modernization ng pambansang pulisya at sa redevelopment ng Roxas Boulevard sa Maynila at maging sa rehabilitation projects sa mga lugar na napinsala ng bagyong Pablo sa lalawigan ng Compostela Valley at Davao Oriental.

Ginamit rin ang DAP para pondohan ang mga proyekto ng mga piling mambabatas at umabot ito sa P142.23 bilyon mula 2011-2012.

At karamihan sa mga salaping inilaan para sa DAP ay galing diumano mula sa mga savings ng ibat-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan at ang ang mga “realignment at unprogrammed” funds na aprubado rin ni Aquino,

kabilang dito ang mga pondong mula sa remittance ng dividends ng mga government-owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions at mga pinagbentahan ng mga government assets.

Hindi naman agad mabatid ng Mindanao Examiuner kung gaano kalaking salapi ang nakuha ng DAP mula sa Malampaya Fund kung mayroon man, ngunit ang pondo mula sa Malampaya ay maaari lamang gamitin sa mga proyektong may kinalaman sa enerhiya.

Ipinag-matigasan noon ni Abad at Aquino na legal ang DAP base na rin sa Article VI Section 25 (5) ng 1987 Constitution. “…the President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of

the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of Constitutional Commissions may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appr opriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations.”

At ang Book VI Chapter 5 Section 39 of the 1987 Administrative Code na nagsasabing: “Except as otherwise provided in the General Appropriations Act, any savings in the regular appropriations authorized in the General Appropriations Act for programs and projects of any department, office or agency, may, with the approval of the President, be used to cover a deficit in any other item of the regular appropriations….”

Dahil sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema ay pinaghahandaan naman ng ilang mga grupo kung paanong makakasuhan ng plunder si Aquino at Abad at mga opisyal na may kinalaman sa DAP.

Sa kabila nito, sinabi naman ni Aquino na nais niyang maiwan sa bawat mamamayan ang isang legacy ng maayos na pamamalakad ng pamahalaan at magsilbing role model. “If there is a singular legacy that I am leaving and sana, masanay ang kababayan natin na ito ang kaya ng gobyernong pinapatakbo nang matino,” ani Aquino.

Sa 2016 magtatapos ang termino ni Aquino, ngunit ngayon pa lamang ay hinihiling na ng mga militanteng grupo na magresign na si Aquino.

“The Supreme Court ruling declaring President Aquino’s Disbursement Acceleration Program as unconstitutional further exposes Aquino as the nation’s pork barrel king.

The President and his men violated the constitution and facilitated corruption in government. Aquino and his pork gang should resign now in shame. Calls for him to be removed from office via impeachment or via a people’s uprising is growing and is increasingly justified.

A people’s council can replace Aquino, hold accountable the officials who plundered the nation, institute significant reforms and pave the way for elections,” pahayag pa ng Anakbayan.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Troops capture Sayyaf camp in fierce battle

M

a r i n e s captured a jungle base of the militant Abu Sayyaf group following a fierce battle that left two soldiers wounded in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials said.

Marine Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said troops recovered a huge cache of improvised explosives from

ARMM

the Abu Sayyaf base in Patikul town believed used

by Radulan Sahiron, a senior leader of the group which is being linked by authorities to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

Quoting military reports, Muyuela said the militants were forced to flee dragging their casualties when more marine reinforcements arrived in Patikul, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf.

Brigadier General Martin Pinto, commander of the

2nd Marine Brigade based in Sulu province, described the Abu Sayyaf camp as “well fortified.” “The seized camp is fortified with connecting trenches, well–established firing positions and with hundreds of improvised explosive device emplaced in all approaches,” he said.

He said the persistence of troops to capture the enemy base forced the heavilyarmed Abu Sayyaf fighters to break into smaller groups and fled.

Southern Mindanao

Davao

“Our troops had to breach the enemy’s defenses and squeeze themselves to the complex terrain to be able to get closer to the objective. Despite the Abu Sayyaf’s terrain advantage, the marines held their ground and returned fire as they inched their way to the camp, clearing several enemy satellite camps and the eventual capture of the Abu Sayyaf base,” Pinto said.

“The persistence of the troops to push forward forced the heavily-armed

Abu Sayyaf militants to escape and scamper towards different directions, taking along with them undetermined number of casualties - their dead and wounded members - while on the government side, we only have two marines who suffered minor wounds from the battle,” he added.

Officials said there were no indications that Sahiron was among the dead or wounded in the fighting which began on June 30, but there were reports that the

Western Mindanao

Cebu

Abu Sayyaf had fled with some of their kidnapped victims.

It was unknown whether the hostages were foreigners or Filipinos. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several foreigners and local hostages in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. Most of the hostages were kidnapped in Sabah in Malaysia and Tawi-Tawi in southern Philippines and brought to Sulu.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Manila

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President Aquino assures MILF over peace deal COTABATO CITY – President Benigno Aquino has again assured the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that the draft law on the Muslim homeland deal is still under review before being pass to Congress for approval.

Speaking to reporters Bangsamoro region in in Iloilo City last week, 2016 that would replace Aquino said he will per- the Autonomous Region sonally study the thick in Muslim Mindanao or draft of the Bangsamoro ARMM which is comBasic Law or BBL before posed of Basilan, Sulu, it is submitted to Con- Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur gress for ratification. “I and Maguindanao, inhave to confess, it’s cluding the cities of siguro about six inches Lamitan and Marawi.

Aquino has admitted thick, ‘yung the law itself and also ‘yung comments meeting MILF chieftain by both parties. I have re- Murad Ebrahim in ser ved Sunday to go Hiroshima while visiting through each and every Japan and that they disone of those pages and cussed the BBL and other hopefully, I can be of help issues.

“Now, we’re putting to get both sides to really be fully supportive of the in all of the details and I asked him if it would be measure,” The rebel group Moro possible to meet someIslamic Liberation Front, time next week, either which signed a peace their panels or we, in paragreement with Manila ticular, or our designated in March, has expressed representatives to thresh serious concern over the it out and come up with delay in the signing of the the proposed measure proposed Muslim home- and send it to Congress, even before the SONA,” land law by Aquino.

Aquino received on he said, referring to the April 14 the BBL drafted State of the Nation Adby the 15-member dress.

Aquino said PresiBangsamoro Transition Commission. It was sup- dential Peace Adviser posed to be signed by Secretary Teresita Deles Aquino on May 5 after a also met with Executive battery of government Secretary Paquito Ochoa, lawyers reviewed the Jr. on June 26 and talked draft law to ensure that about how they can hasnothing in its provisions ten the process of coming violate the Constitution. up with the proposed Once Aquino signs measure that both sides the BBL, it can be ratified can fully support and enand implemented in time dorse.

“But I can assure the for the 2016 local and national elections. The BBL Filipino people that we will pave the way for the will be exerting all efforts establishment of the to ensure that this mea-

President Aquino gestures as he speaks to MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim in a meeting in Tokyo, Japan in 2011. sure is passed in a timely manner because the dream still is to give the new Bangsamoro government time to demonstrate its abilities. We’re hoping that all the steps will be done that they can sit in office by January 2015,” Aquino said.

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.

Worr ied orried MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said they are worried over the delay in the signing of the BBL. “We are seriously worried about the delay in signing of the BBL by President Aquino and this further delay the implementation of the peace agreement – the

Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro – and it creates problems not only to the Aquino gover nment, but the MILF as well. It’s a political problem and government has to address this quickly because we are r unning out of time here,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Legality Deles has repeatedly said in the past that the BBL is likely to be certified as an urgent bill by Aquino and would be submitted to Congress for passage, and subjected to a plebiscite. But some lawmakers and various groups were saying that the accord was unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it in court.

The Aquino government insisted the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is legal and that the deal was based on the Constitution. “The CAB is legal,” said lawyer Anna Basman, head of the Cab legal team, but she was quick to say that they are open to engaging and informing everyone on the different provisions on the CAB. “Our Constitution itself provides the justification for the asymmetry and reserved a separate set of provisions for two particular areas in the countr y – Muslim

Mindanao and the Cordilleras. This progressive and enlightened section recognizes the uniqueness of the peoples belonging to these areas and provides for their rightful exercise of self-governance. The Bangsamoro Basic Law as the enabling law for the establishment of the Bangsamoro precisely aims to operationalize this constitutional objective,” Basman said.

No to B angsamor o deal Bangsamor angsamoro Christian leaders of Zamboanga and Isabela in Basilan, also a province under the ARMM, also vowed to fight for their inclusion in the new Bangsamoro homeland, although many of the residents there are Muslims and supportive of the peace deal. The other provinces in ARMM are Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

In the Lanao town of Wao, Christian villagers vowed to reject their inclusion to the new Bangsamoro region. Villagers said shortly after the deal was signed in March 27, Muslim groups have emerged and started claiming farmlands owned by Christians as theirs and invoking their ancestral rights in Lanao del Sur. Some villagers said several groups of Maranao, one of several Muslim tribes in Mindanao, have started putting up markers and began claiming farmlands as their ancestral domain. The markers had been destroyed by landowners.

Now, many residents have started arming themselves for fear that once the new Bangsamoro autonomous government is installed, Muslims will take away their lands which they inherited from their clan. Majority of the town’s 40,000 inhabitants is Christians.

In Sultan Kudarat province, villagers in the

town of President Quirino were also facing the same dilemma, but many also have purchased illegal weapons to protect their families and lands from unjustified takeover by Muslims who warned them that they should leave the town immediately once the Bangsamoro autonomous region is installed because they would take over their farms.

Indigenous tribesmen in the ARMM were also worried about their future and asked the government to ensure their rights and ancestral domain, but others have rejected their inclusion into the proposed Bangsamoro region.

Miriam Coronel, the chief government peace negotiator, and Deles's group continue to hold dialogues in Muslim areas, explaining the provisions in the CAB. The MILF a breakaway faction of the Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 - is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for decades now for self-determination.

In 2008, rebel forces launched simultaneous attacks in southern Philippines after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of the territorial deal between the Arroyo government and the MILF, which is fighting for a separate homeland in Mindanao, because many of its provisions were unconstitutional. The MILF said the peace panels have initially signed the Muslim homeland agreement in Malaysia, which is brokering the talks.

The controversial deal also sparked massive protests from politicians opposed to the agreement that would have granted about four million Muslims their homeland in more than 700 villages across Mindanao. (Mark Navales and J. Magtanggol)

Pagadian City kicks off twin events

THE PAGADIAN City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the Philippine Red Cross led the celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month and the Blood Donor's Month.

A blood drive at the City Commercial Center Mall followed the motorcade in Pagadian City, said

Hildaliza Muñoz, Administrator of the local Red Cross chapter.

“I encourage the people to join us and participate and be part of this noble cause by giving blood to those who give life and be a regular blood donor,” Muños said.

Haron Damada, CDRRMC Coordinator, said

the activities were also participated by the Barangay Emergency Response Team, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army Engineering Battalion, and the Emergency Response Team of Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative-1. (Jong Cadion and Ely Dumaboc)

Soldier shot in Zamboanga City A GOVERNMENT soldier was wounded in a gun attack in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the soldier, a member of the army’s Task Force Zamboanga, was driving his pick-up truck with his child as the lone passen-

ger when an unidentified gunman attacked him in the village of Taluksangay.

The child was unharmed and rescued by residents.

The soldier was identified only by his rank and name as Staff Sergeant Hassan. Police said the wounded soldier also lost control of the truck and rammed a house, destroy-

ing its facade.

The soldier managed to seek help from an army detachment and was brought to the hospital.

No individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but police launched an investigation into the shooting.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Tsinoy shot dead ZAMBOANGA CITY – Motorcycle gunmen killed a 23-year old Filipino-Chinese and wounded another man in an attack in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the attack killed Marvin Luy Yee while the wounded has been identified as Gerald

Usain, 23. The attack occurred near Don MC Enriquez Drive at Don Alfaro Street in the village of Tetuan.

The assailants fled after the shooting and police investigators recovered 10 bullet casings of .45-caliber pistol.

Police did not give details of the investigation or

whether Yee and Usain were together at the time of the shooting. The motive of the attack is still unknown and no individual claimed responsibility for the killing.

Gun attacks are not uncommon in Zamboanga City where hired killers are actively operating.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Police file charges vs 2 NPA rebels POLICE filed criminal charges against two communist rebels who were captured following a firefight with security forces in the town of Guipos in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials said.

Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, a regional police spokesman, said the cases against Wilfredo Dalumos and Edgar Cadilanza were filed in Pagadian City after soldiers and policemen re-

covered weapons and explosives from the duo who are members of the New People’s Army.

Samuddin said the two rebels were captured recently by members of the 2nd Maneuver ing Company, Regional Public Safety Battalion 9 led

by Senior Inspector Nijam Salim and 53rd Infantry Battalion led by Second Lieutenant Michael Paul Caspe in the village of Datagan.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist

Zambo cop killer arrested PAGADIAN CITY – Police arrested the prime suspect in the killing of a cop in Margosatubig town in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials said.

Senior Superintendent Sofroncio Ecaldre, the provincial police chief, said Honey Alibasa was arrested along with Ramos Montaner in the town following an operation launched by the police.

Alibasa also shot and wounded four people and killed PO1 Ryan Ponce on Saturday. It was not immediately known what was Montaner’s participation in the attack.

Officials said Alibasa walked into a hospital and grabbed the pistol of

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July 7-13, 2014

the security guard Roland Emaya and then shot him at close range before barging in the nearby house of Ponce and killed him.

Alibasa also shot and wounded Ponce’s father Leopoldo and Ruby Cantarona. He also shot and wounded SPO3 Julius Arnoco while fleeing from his murderous rampage.

Officials said an investigation has been launched to determine the motive of the attack, but an initial police report said it could connected to the killing of Alibasa’s father more than a decade ago by members of the town’s police force. ( Jong Cadion and Ely Dumaboc)

Party of the Philippines which has been fighting for the establishment of a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

5 gunmen attack truck in Zamboanga highway ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Five suspected robbers on three motorbikes opened fire on a truck travelling in Zamboanga Sibugay province after its driver ignored warnings to stop, police said.

Police said there were no casualties in the attack, but the shooting damaged the truck’s side mirror. The truck driver, Rolando Batac, said the gunmen tried to block their path on the highway

near the village of Mirangan in Siay town, but he did not stop fearing they would be harmed or robbed by the gang.

Batac told police investigators that he and three passengers were heading to Cagayan de Oro City from Ipil town when the incident occurred.

Policemen rushed to the area, but did not catch up with the gun-

men, who were believed behind several highway robberies in the province.

Just last December, a bus passenger was injured after he was attacked by one of five gunmen who robbed them in the town of Ipil. The gunmen boarded the bus, owned by Rural Transit Mindanao, and pretended to be passengers and declared the robbery.

(Mindanao Examiner)

NPA tagged in slay of Bukidnon mayor CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The military has tagged the communist rebel group New People’s Army as behind last week’s killing of Impasug-ong town Mayor Mario Okinlay.

Okinlay was inspecting a medical mission in the town when gunmen attacked his convoy near the village of Bontongon.

He was rushed to hospital in Malaybalay City, but died along the way.

The motive of the attack was unknown. Police have launched an investigation into the ambush, but no officials would say that the attack was connected to politics or not.

No other details were

made available either by the military or the police about the attack.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA - which has been fighting for a separate communist state - on the militar y’s allegation about its involvement in the ambush. ( J. Magtanggol)

Davao mayor, governor take charge of regional bodies DAVAO CITY - President Benigno Aquino has appointed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to head the Regional Peace and Order Council.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas handed Duterte's appointment paper.

Council members have also elected Duterte as chairman for Davao region which he previously

served.

Aside from Duterte, Aquino also appointed Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario as chairman of the Regional Development Council.

Del Rosario vowed to fulfill his mandate as head of the highest policy-making body that sets the direction of all the economic and social de-

velopment efforts in the Davao Region.

Del Rosario said he is committed to hasten the implementation of the updated Regional Development Plan, which charts the region development until 2016 that will pave the way for attaining its vision as the nation’s rising global frontier.

(Lilian Mellejor)

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Philippine Bar Association celebrates 123rd anniversary

A group of refugees in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Girl raped by minor in Zamboanga refugee shelter ZAMBOANGA CITY – A sixyear old girl was reportedly abused at a refugee shelter in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, but officials remain silent about the rape, a refugee leader said.

The victim was repeatedly abused by her 12-year old neighbor, but the incident was not even reported to authorities, according to Gammar Hassan, one of several leaders of refugees fighting for the rights and protection of thousands of people, mostly Muslim villagers, displaced by fighting last year between armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front and security

forces.

There was no immediate statement from either the Department of Social Welfare or Development or camp managers at the Don Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in Roseller Lim Avenue where the girl was sexually assaulted.

Hassan urged DSWD regional director Zenaida Arevalo and the police to investigate the reports and take necessary actions to protect the victim and other refugees from future sexual assault.

“We urged Director Zenaida Arevalo to recall all newly appointed or hired peacekeepers, camp man-

agers and social workers because they can't handle their job. Let us have our own selection within our communities of internally displaced people which we know will work for the welfare of these refugees,” he said.

Thousands of refugees remain in the filthy sports complex as the government continues to rebuild communities destroyed by three weeks of fighting in September where more than 400 people were killed and wounded in the violence.

The clashes displaced over 120,000 people. (Mindanao Examiner)

Security forces capture 2 NPA rebels PAGADIAN CITY – Security forces captured two communist rebels following a firefight in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said.

Officials said the soldiers and policemen were

patrolling the village of Datagan in Guipos town when they ran into a group of New People’s Army rebels and a firefight ensued. The two rebels have been identified by the military as Wilfredo Dalumos and Edgar Candilansa.

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 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

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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

Troops also recovered an Ingram machine pistol and fragmentation grenade from the rebels who were also tagged as behind the killing of a government soldier in San Miguel town in Zamboanga del Sur.Both Dalumos and Candilansa were being interrogated by the police.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a secessionist war for decades now. ( Jong Cadion and Ely Dumaboc)

THE PHILIPPINE Bar Association or PBA celebrated its 123rd founding anniversary with President Benigno Aquino as its guest of honor.

Aquino praised the PBA for "being a consistent voice for the rule of law."

In his speech before some 200 lawyers at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, Aquino lauded the PBA for constantly upholding the rule of law particularly during the Martial Law regime, the Arroyo administration and the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

He said the PBA has always considered the common good in upholding the rule of law. He particularly cited the advocacy of the PBA against human rights violation, which include the investigation into his father’s assassination; the group's support for the restoration of democracy during the People Power Revolution in 1986; and questioning the "midnight appointments" during the Arroyo administration.

"I made it a point to be

here with your association today not just to thank you for taking a similar position with us, but to thank you for being a consistent voice for the rule of law," he said.

"Even when so many other lawyers’ groups seem so willing to add to the noise and clamor, your association remains sober and measured in its statements. This is what sets the Philippine Bar Association apart from all other groups.

Even in disagreement, you do not pander to public sentiment, but raise the level of discourse and uphold the rule of law—in all situations, you have found that there is only one answer to the question, does this redound to the common good?," he asked.

Aquino extolled the audacity of the PBA lawyers for supporting the administration’s impeachment case despite knowing that such action would jeopardize their careers.

He said ensuring equity and justice is a duty not just by the government but by the lawyers as well, expressing confidence that

the PBA will continue to uphold its integrity in serving the Filipino people.

"Whether as lawyers today, or as judges and justices, each time you make a decision that redounds to the benefit of all—each time you choose the straight path, you are not only living up to the oath you swore when you were admitted to the Bar, you are also and more importantly helping to build a more just, a more fair society. Whether or not you are a member of the PBA, whatever your alma mater or area of practice, this is what must unite all those in the legal profession: a firm resolve to uphold both the spirit and the letter of the law, towards serving your fellowmen," he said.

The PBA is the oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers in the Philippines. It traces its roots to the Colegio de Abogados de Filipinas organized on April 8, 1891 and the bar association organized by American lawyers in the Philippines in 1900.

Benilde student dies from fraternity hazing MANILA – Police are investigating the death of a college student who succumbed to injuries during a fraternity hazing in Manila.

Police said the body of the student – of College of St. Benilde - was found in a condominium unit while three more were in the hospital due to injuries they received during the hazing.

The youth group Anakbayan has condemned the victim’s death due to fraternity hazing.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family, classmates, and friends of the victim. We call on the authorities and all con-

cerned parties to swiftly and decisively act to bring to justice the perpetrators of this most heinous of crimes.”

“We renew our call on all student organizations and associations, especially all fraternities, to discard the usage of brutal, violent, and fatal hazing. Instead, student organizations should devote their time and efforts to providing community service, especially to the communities of the marginalized and the poor in urban and rural areas.

We direct this proposal to all universities and academic communities across the country,”

Vencer Crisostomo, the group’s national chairman, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Crisostomo also called on the fraternity’s alumni, as well as those of other fraternities, to help in ending the barbaric tradition of Greek-lettered societies, once and for all.

“We call on the authorities to leave no stone unturned. Identify, arrest, and prosecute the suspects of this dastardly crime immediately. How many more will have to die before the authorities act decisively?” he asked.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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10 reasons, why photographers are expensive

Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos, Jr., new commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur province, is welcomed upon his arrival at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Labangan town in this photo by the Philippine Information Agency in Western Mindanao.

Bemedalled general takes over 1st Infantry Division PAGADIAN CITY – Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos has formally assumed as commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines.

Barrientos, who was the assistant commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City in northern

Mindanao, replaced Major General Virgilio Trinidad, who now heads the Northern Luzon Command.

Philippine Army acting chief Major General Romulo Cabantac, Jr. presided over the change of command held at the division headquarters at Camp Major Cesar Sangan in Labangan town.

Barrientos, a

bemedalled army officer, was among 48 generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, promoted in March along with newlyappointed Philippine Army chief Major General Hernando Iriberri.

He previously commanded the 102nd Infantry Brigade in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

(Mindanao Examiner)

LETS START here, you’re not just paying for the actual photograph ; you’re paying for time, gear and expertise.

Most of the people having this question in mind, think that it’s just about spending few hours & pressing few buttons. But that’s far from the reality. The work which you see as a 2 hour assignment, is stretched far beyond that. Let’s breakdown factor involved which makes professional photography expensive.

1. Time - You might see it as a 2 hour assignment.

But what you may ignore is the Travelling time to reach the location, the set up time, time spent talking to the clients at venue, time spent in negotiations before the shoot, the actual shoot, transferring and backing up the data, post processing, reviewing with clients, delivering the photos or scheduling a pick up. And we are not even going into time spent building relationship with client, marketing and office hours. Post processing itself may take over a day or many depending upon the number of photographs. Especially in case of wedding Photographers.

2. Gear - Professional photographers don’t compromise with the quality of their gear. They buy professional equipment. They spend thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars getting multiple camera bodies, the finest lenses,

flash equipment for every situation, tripods, light stands, backdrops, props, carrying and storage cases.

Not only this, they buy professional licenses for software and different cloud back-up storage solutions and many other things.

3. Premium Services Pro Photographers join communities to further learn and explore new dimensions. They have to pay for their membership to different premium photography communities. They pay for a premium account on photography services like Flickr, 500px and others.

They pay for maintenance of website. They even need consultation with lawyer sometimes. Premium services may also include office and studio rent, electricity and phone bills etc.

4. Skills - Apart from being a good photographer, they have to be CEO, marketing manager, financial manager, salesperson, production worker, buyer, negotiator, driver, networker, organizer etc. That’s the kind of skill-set of Professional Photographer.

5. Compromise - Professional Photographers don’t compromise. They will give you the best they can. They don’t back off from tough assignments. They would travel to any possible location and will shoot to the best of their ability. They give you their valuable time.

They don’t run for multiple

assignments within a day.

They would rather do one quality assignment.

6. Technology - Pro Photographers keep themselves and their gears up to date with the rapidly evolving technology.They find things that perfectly match their clients taste. Their equipment are not of a hobbyist. They will be using the best technology available.

7. Experience - Experience is the one thing that may beat everything. And the Professionals are vastly experienced. They can advice you over a number of thing which you would not be able to decide. They know whats right and what could go wrong.

8. Uniqueness & Quality - Professionals have their unique style yet every shoot will look different. They know how to infuse freshness. The quality of photos are supreme.

9. Returns - The truth is that you get what you pay for. You will get photographs worth the money involved.

And you know that there are no second chances.

10. Assistants and Help - They may have a small team working with them either on location or back in studio. The Photographer pays them for their work from his income.

So next time if you think a Photographer is charging more, do consider the above points. (http://pixelpluck .com)

7 Basilan folks get food donation from Turkish group The Mindanao Examiner

July 7-13, 2014

BASILAN – Members of a Turkish non-governmental organization have braved Basilan province in southern Philippines to distribute food packages to Muslim beneficiaries.

German Kemal Sagdic, together with Orhan Atakhan, of Australia; and Abdulvasih Seydauglo, from Turkey of IGMC and Hasene, led the distribution of food packages last week in the cities of Isabela and Lamitan, and in the town of Maluso.

Sagdic said the project was part of “Ramadan Food Package Distribution” aimed at feeding poor communities and those affected by man-made and natural calamities in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Hajja Napsa Jimlani, village head of Upper Holand in Maluso town, praised the foreigners for their humanitarian mission in the province. (Ely Dumaboc)

The humanitarian mission by a Turkish group in Basilan province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Ely Dumaboc)

4 people fall in police drug sting in Tacurong City POLICE raided a boarding house and arrested four

Kuha ni Rose Muñeza

people who were allegedly engaged in illegal drugs in

Sultan Kudarat at the forefront of reforestation program TACURONG CITY – Two towns in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat have already reached at least 80% of its reforestation target under the government’s National Greening Program, an environment officer Jerry Dalauta said.

Dalauta, of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the towns of Columbio and Lutayan were in the forefront of the reforestation program. He said a huge part of the towns are planted to rubber trees which also serve as livelihood to many beneficiaries.

He praised the residents and local government officials to the success of the reforestation program.

Just last month, Dalauta said at least 23 cooperatives and women’s organizations pledged their support to National Greening Program in Sultan Kudarat province.

He said the support was important to the success of the program, which is also being supported by Sultan Kudarat Congressman, Datu Raden Sakaluran and Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Suhar to Mangudadatu, and the local mayors.

Dalauta also praised the active support of Di-

rector Tungko Saikol, of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 12, and its provincial counterpart Renato Domingo in realizing different programs alongside with their strict implementation of laws against illegal logging activities.

Dalauta said the program, launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is aimed at rehabilitating forests. As a strategy, it aspires the planting of some 1.5 billion trees in around 1.5 million hectares of public lands for six years, starting 2011 to 2016 and seeks the attainment of sustainable human development, and economic and ecological security.

Aside from being a reforestation initiative, it is also seen as a climate change mitigation strategy as it seeks to enhance the country’s forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.

It is also designed to reduce poverty, providing alternative livelihood activities for marginalized upland and lowland households relating to seedling production and care and maintenance of newly-planted trees, according to the DENR. (Rose Muneza and Deanna Diaz)

Police Inspector Roel Abejero, left, with two of four arrested drug suspects Coi and Nasrudin Alagasi. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Rose Muñeza)

Tacurong City in southern Philippines, officials said.

Superintendent Junny Buenacosa, the local police chief, said the boarding house in the village of Canios is also being used by drug addicts as rendezvous or venue for their pot session. He said two of those arrested were drug dealers and the two others were drug users.

He identified those arrested as Coi Alagasi, 28, and his wife Sittie, 35, who are natives Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province; and Nasrudin Alagasi, 31, and Jeffrey Villadar, 37.

Police Inspector Roel Vallena Abejero said the suspects were arrested in a drug sting. The house owner, Felipe Pantorilla, denied involvement in the illegal activities, saying, he was not even aware that his house is being used in the illegal drug trade by his boarders.

Buenacosa said policemen seized suspected shabu in one of the rooms in the house, including the marked money used in the drug sting. (Rose Muñeza and Deanna Diaz)

Davao doble-alerto na dahil sa terorismo DAVAO CITY – Inilagay na ng militar sa mataas na alerto ang Davao City at iba pang mga kalapit na lugar nito matapos na pulungin ni Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ang mga awtoridad dahil sa umano’y banta ng terorismo.

Inamin ni Duterte na mismong si Pangulong Benigno Aquino ang siyang nagbigay sa kanya ng babala ukol sa banta. Hindi naman agad mabatid kung bakit si Aquino pa ang nagpasa ng impormasyon kay Duterte at hindi ang pulisya o militar.

Subalit sinabi naman ngayon Sabado ni Capt.

Alberto Caber, ang

tagapagsalita ng Eastern Mindanao Command, na bago pa man umanong sabihin ni Aquino kay Duterte ang ukol sa banta ay naka-alerto na ang militar at pulisya.

Hindi naman sinabi nito kung ipinasa ba nila kay Duterte ang anumang impormasyon ukol sa banta ng terorismo.

“The AFP and PNP units here are on the alert always even before the report of the President was announced.

We have more than enough forces to secure Davao City and its neighboring towns and communities. Task

Force Davao and the PNP are in charge of the security of the City and its people.”

“We have the support of the civilian and the rest of stakeholders. The local government unit and the military enjoy mutual cooperation in the pursuit of peace and stability of the City.

Threats to the thriving City and its communities are always a daily challenges that your AFP and PNP in Davao are always ready to respond to its occurrence,” ani Caber sa ipinadala nitong pahayag sa Mindanao Examiner.

Samantala, sinabi naman ni Lt. Gen. Ricardo

Rainier Cruz III, ang hepe ng Eastern Mindanao Command, na ipinag-utos na nito sa mga military intelligence units sa kanyang nasasakupan na beripikahin ang naturang banta. “The PNP Intelligence units are also doing the same efforts.

We are working jointly with the PNP,” wika pa ni Cruz.

Hindi masabi ng militar at pulisya kung sino ang nasa likod ng banta o kung may kinalaman ba ang Jemaah Islamiya o Abu Sayyaf dito.

Ilang beses na rin binomba ng Abu Sayyaf ang Davao City sa mga nakaraang taon.

(J. Magtanggol)

8

The Mindanao Examiner

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July 7-13, 2014

Prices of medicines in Philippines most expensive in Asia MANILA - The local Consumers’ Action for Empowerment or CAE has accused transnational corporations of controlling the entire essential drug production chain in the Philippines from manufacturing, distribution and retail resulting in expensive medicines.

It said the Philippines now ranks among the top countries in Asia where medicines are most expensive and these corporations dictate the high prices of medicines.

Dr. Julie Caguiat, convener of CAE, said given the monopoly control, the Cheaper Medicines Law cannot make any significant change in reversing the inaccessibility of essential medicines for the people.

She cited (Nifedipine) Adalat Retard (20 mg) manufactured by Bayer pegged at P43.45 per tablet in most drugstores in the Philippines based on 2010 prices while the

same brand and preparation can be bought in India at P1.44 per tablet.

The same is true with (Mefenamic Acid) Ponstan (500 mg) manufactured by Pfizer which is bought in the country for P25.77 and the same drug can be bought in India at P2.96.

"Why are the same brands of medicines cheaper in India? It is because, unlike our government which succumbs to the dictates of these TNCs, India imposed strict regulations, decisively curbing the control of TNCs in its drug industry," Caguiat explained.

She said the poor families bear the burden of expensive medicines and that a 2012 research done by Ibon Foundation reported that the average family spent P7,018 for health whereas the government allotted a measly P912.50 per person that year; the bottom half of the households spend an

average of 49% of their total health expenses for medicines; there is no capitation for primary care and 80% of pharmacy sales are on outpatient.

"The government cannot argue anymore that there is no sufficient fund for health or medicines for that matter. The Aquino government reeks of systemic corruption," Caguiat said.

"We call on the government to undertake immediate measures to make essential medicines accessible to the people: remove the monopoly control of TNCs in medicine prices; remove 12% of VAT in essential medicines; ensure free essential medicines in public hospitals; abolish the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and allocate bigger budget for health including providing for free essential medicines for the poor," she added.

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Ramadan ginulo ng pagsabog sa Cotabato City COTABATO CITY – Patuloy ang imbestigasyon ng pulisya sa pagsabog ng granada sa Cotabato City at naganap ito ilang araw pa lamang sa pagsisimula ng holy month of Ramadan.

Walang umako sa pagsabog at kinumpirma ng pulisya na isang granada ang sumambulat

sa Purok Sampalok sa Barangay Bagua matapos na mabawi ang safety lever nito. Sinabi ng pulisya na walang nasaktan sa pagsabog at maaaring panggugulo lamang o pananakot ang motibo nito.

Naganap ang pagsabog kasabay ng bagong banta ng terorismo sa

ilang lugar sa Mindanao, kasama na ang Cotabato City, Iligan at Zamboanga.

Naunang sinabi ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino na may banta sa Davao City kung kaya’t agat naghigpit ng siguridad si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. (Mark Navales and J. Magtanggol)

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 7-13, 2014

Magpaliwanag po 2 NPA rebels yield to military in Zambo Norte kayo sa Sambayanan ni Leo Diaz Nang unang ibulgar ni Senador Jinggoy Estrada ang aniya ay 50 milyong pisong suhol sa mga mambabatas para sa pagtatanggal o "impeachment" ni dating "Supreme Court Chief Justice" Renato Corona; kung saan sinabi nito na nanggaling sa "Disbursement Acceleration Program" (DAP) ng mismong si Pangulong Pnoy kasabwat si kasalukuyang "Budget Secretary" Butch Abad.

Nang sumagot ang Malakanyang sinabi nila na ang naturan ay hindi totoo at ang DAP ay naa-ayon anila sa batas o konstitusyon. Totoo rin umano ayon sa ilang mga mahuhusay na malaki ang naitulong ng DAP sa aspetong pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya at nabigyang pansin at pagtuon ang maraming programang inilaan ng administrasyong ito sa sambayanang pilipino.

Papaano po iyan ngayon at mismong ang Kataastaasang Hukuman na ang nagsabi o nagbigay ng "ruling" sa botong 13-0 na ang DAP ay labag sa konstitusyon at hindi rin naa-ayon ang mga sinasabi ng Malakanyang at mga kaalyado nito sa legalidad nito?

Nakasaad o napapaloob sa mga probisyon ng "General Appropriations Act" (GAA) na batay na rin sa sinabi ng nasabing hukuman na ang anumang "withdrawals" o maging ang "transfer" o pagsasalin sa ibang ahensiya labas sa ehekutibo ng anumang laang pondo o kaya ay badyet ay labag sa saligang batas o konstitusyon maging ang anumang kaugnay na deklarasyon o batas na sinasabi ng ehekutibo.

Hindi rin anang Kataas-taasang hukuman na bigyan ng pondo ang anumang proyekto, aktibidades at mga programang hindi saklaw ng General Appropriation Act maging ito man ay kalabisan o "savings" pa kung walang sertipikasyong ipinagka-kaloob ng "National Treasury" o ang mismong may kontrol sa kaban ng ating bayan.

Sa kaugnay; sinabi rin ni Senadora Mirriam na noon pa man ay tiyak na labag sa batas ang DAP at malinaw aniya na ang pera o pondo mula sa "Budget Department" mula sa naturan ay hindi nakasaad sa aprobadong badyet noon pa mang 2011-2012.

Sa pananaw ng Tagapagsalita ng Kataastaasan hukuman at ng ilan pang may kaalaman sa nasabing batas; malinaw umano ni nilabag ni Pangulong Pnoy ang "Section 25 (5) Article VI ng ating Konstitusyon at ang doktrina o aral na napapaloob sa "Separation of Powers" kaugnay sa pagpapatupad ng "Disbursement Acceleration Program" (DAP).

Sa puntong naturan; sinabi ni Senador Jinggoy na dapat ay magbitiw na si Kalihim Butch Abad kasabay ng pagsuko ng lahat ng mga "records" sa kinauukulan meron sa kanyang Tanggapan kaugnay sa nasabing usapin.Iyan ay sa husga ng nasabing kagalang-galang at pinaka-mataas na hukuman na "unconstitutional" ang "Nationa Budget Circular 541 kasama ang mga kaugnay na ipinalabas hinggil sa usapin ng DAP. Tila may naulinigan tayong magsasampa ng "Impeachment" laban kay Pangulong Pnoy subalit sa isang ulat naman; sinasabi ng isang Ben Evardone na isang mambabatas at isa pang noon pa man ay "kaalyado" ni Pnoy na hindi anila nararapat ang naturang hakbang.

Bakit? Kung ang isyu nga o usaping "Plunder" na wala nga linaw at sinasabi ng ilang "Associate Justices" ng Sandigan Bayan ay minadali umao ng Ombudsman ang pagsasampa ng reklamo at lumalabas ngayon na mahina o kaya"may puwang" ang kaso pabor sa depensa; papaano kaya ang usapin ng Pangulo at kaalyado sa DAP? Ito ba ay ating hahayaan na lamang na lumampas at magkibit balikat tayo dahil lamang sa maaring maganda ang natungong daan subalit labag naman pala sa Saligang Batas o Konstitusyon?

"TUWID NA DAAN", Kalihim Edwin Lacierda ngayon po kayo sumagot sa usaping iyan at bigyang linaw ang isyung ngayon ay mismong ang Kataastaasang Hukuman na po ang humatol! Hindi po ba kayo ang dapat na maging huwaran at kung kinakailangan ay hindi lamang ang tatlong (3) senador ng Bayan ang hayan at lantarang haharap sa inyong akusasyon. Papaano naman kayo? Libre na lang?

"Uhaw at Gutom" na po ang sambayanang pilipino ng makatuturan, makabuluhan at naa-ayong pagbabago ng ating sistema sa bansa. Ito marahil ang panahon upang ang sambayanan ay manindigan sa ngalan ng dangal ng bansa. Malinaw na malinaw na po sa akin kung ako lamang ang inyong babalingan ng tanong ang itinatakbo ng mga maseselang pangyayari at malinaw na kapag medyo "umaalsa na ang sambayanan" ay siya namang lihis ng kinau-ukulan sa usapin.

Makukulong o magpapakulong din kaya ang mga ito oras na sila naman ang haharap sa prosesong legal?

May "gugulong bang ulo" o di kaya ay kusang magbibitiw sa tungkulin sa mga sangkot? ABANGAN! ANG TUWID NA DAAN! VOW! Hanggang sa muli at naway nabigyan ko naman kayo ng isang bagay na magpapangiti ng inyong araw kasabay ng aking bati ng isang maganda at maka-Diyos na araw sa lahat! (leorose45@yahoo.com.ph) DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions 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.

DIPOLOG CITY – Two New People’s Army rebels have escaped from their group and surrendered to the military in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, officials said.

Capt. Franco Suelto, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said cousins Jerry Lumangcag, 19, and Arnel Lumangcag, 25, also surrendered their AK-47 assault rifles to Lt. Col. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, in Guipos town.

Suelto said the duo sur-

rendered following a successful campaign by Luzon of the military’s Gun-forPeace program which aims to lure rebels back into the society. Under the program, the military also pays for each weapon the rebels surrender on top of various livelihood programs and government aid to assist them in their new life.

He said the military will pay P58,000 each for the two rifles the rebels – who are natives of Misamis Occidental - surrendered to Luzon. “For the AK-47 rifles, the two rebels will receive P58,000

each for their surrendered firearms. This will help them to start anew and return to their normal and peaceful lives,” Suelto said “This is another testament of the effectiveness of the AFP Gun-for-Peace program as a transition program for former rebels. The remnants of NPA in Zamboanga Peninsula and Misamis Occidental are abandoning the armed struggle and taking advantage of the government's integration program,”he added.

Col. Aminkadra Undug,

the acting division commander, commended Luzon’s group on the surrender of the rebels. “We will ensure the safety and wellbeing of the NPA rebels who will lay down their arms.

This is an opportunity for them to live peacefully and return to the comforts of their families. We are Filipinos and we all aspire for a peaceful country,” he said.

The rebel group has been fighting for decades now in an effort to put up a separate communist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Good business climate attracts investors in Zamboanga del Sur PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry said the bullish business climate in Zamboanga del Sur, including its capital Pagadian City, has generated an increase in investments resulting to more job opportunities and an improved economy.

It said for the month of June alone, it has registered over 1,000 new business names. “We have already accomplished 82% way above the 50% we are targeting and we hope to double this accomplish-

ment before end of this year,” said DTI Provincial Director Maria Socorro Atay.

She said the increase in business name registration was due to the participation of local governments through the Business Permit and Licensing System or BPLS which was in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

BPLS refers to the procedures followed by cities and municipalities in processing business permits

which must be secured by business owners so they can operate legally in a locality.

It also aims to help local governments improve revenue generation and reduce time and resources spent in business processing. It provides complete information base on business enterprises in the localities and at the same time reduce graft and corruption and promote good governance.

“Under the BPLS, local government units will not

issue business permits without DTI business name registration. It is one way also of helping the local governments in streamlining the system of business permit to legalize the existing business establishment in their locality, including those who are planning to engage in business,” Atay said.

She said those who are interested to put up a business can also register their trade name through DTI’s Online Registration System. ( Jong Cadion and Ely Dumaboc)

Small companies urged to integrate family welfare, safety and health programs in jobs DAVAO CITY - Observe labor standards; integrate family welfare program; and craft safety and health programs to improve productivity - those were the core messages of the labor and employment management forum held recently in a hotel in Davao City to promote better working environment and productivity among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The inter-agency convergence led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – Davao Region in coordination with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board , and the Employees Compensation Commission gathered some 40 employers and employee representatives in a forum aimed to promote harmo-

nious relations between labor and management.

“We encourage you to institute these mechanisms in your respective enterprises to help employees and the business become more productive in a good working environment as we bat for better labor relationship,” DOLE Davao regional director Joffrey Suyao said.

The forum discussed the DOLE and other laborattached agencies programs on conciliation and mediation, family welfare program (FWP), occupational safety and health (OSH), Employees Compensation benefits, the new Labor Laws Compliance System and even Kasambahay Law. "The DOLE stands ready to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises improve their productivity so they can be

competitive. This year, we seek to nurture, develop, and build the capacity of 11,000 MSMEs all over the country to become productive and competitive," Suyao said.

Among the programs, Suyao cited the adoption of the FWP as element to help boost employees’ well-being. DOLE identified 10 FWP dimensions which companies could start on including reproductive health and responsible parenthood; education, gender equality; spirituality, values formation; income generation, livelihood, cooperative; medical, health care; nutrition; environment protection; hygiene and sanitation; sports and leisure; and housing and transportation.

“You might be applying these dimensions already without knowing

that indeed they are mandated by labor law,” Suyao said.

Also, he emphasized on the importance of occupational safety and health to be more productive and competitive.

Suyao said that DOLE is serious in promoting OSH. ‘In fact, we already issued few stoppage orders this year to companies which were found to have violations on OSH.” "Since 2010, the DOLE has laid down institutional reforms in labor law compliance, dispute prevention, settlement, and case disposition that have been very successful. It continues to fine-tune these reforms to attain inclusive labor justice and to promote industrial peace that contributes to an economic environment conducive to investments,” he said. (Sherwin Manual)

Philippines suspends deployment of newly-hired OFWs in Yemen THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs said the deployment of newlyhired overseas Filipino workers remains suspended in Yemen and only those with existing work contracts will be allowed to go back there as the Middle East state remains under the Philippine government’s alert level 2 warning.

Under Alert Level 2 or restriction phase, only Filipinos with existing

labor contracts may return to Yemen, the DFA said in a statement.

Manila has banned travel and labor deployment to Yemen in December 2013 after seven Filipinos were killed in deadly attacks in the country’s Defense Ministr y complex by AlQaeda-linked terrorists.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh stressed that Yemen remains under Alert Level 2 because

of the current political and security situation in that country.

T h e D FA s a i d t h e Philippines has no dipl o m a t i c p re s e n c e i n Yemen but its embassy in Saudi Arabia has jur i s d i c t i o n ov e r t h e country.

“A l l Fi l i p i n o s i n Yemen are therefore advised to restrict non-essential movements and avoid public places,” it said, adding due to the

volatile security situation in Yemen, Filipinos there are advised to update their registration with the embassy or contact the office of the P h i l i p p i n e Ho n o ra r y Consul in Sana’a.

“The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh continues to monitor the situation in Yemen and will provide further advisories to the Filipino community as may be necessary,” the DFA said.

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July 7-13, 2014

Local governments now to handle pension program for indigent senior citizens

T

he Department of Social Welfare and Development said it will transfer funding for social pension for indigent senior citizens to the local governments.

The local government units shall distribute the stipends to the beneficiaries whose names are listed on the consolidated order of payment provided by the DSWD. DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat said the new scheme is aimed at hastening the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries. "DSWD introduces this new scheme in order to fast-track the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries," she said.

Jabagat said the new scheme will entail an additional task for local

government units. "We are grateful for their (local governments) continued support in accepting the new challenge," she said.

At present, there are at least 59 local governments out of the 132 in Region 7 that are qualified for the fund transfer. But in order for the local governments to have the fund transfer, it needs to prepare and submit the required documents such as the project proposal, a Sangguniang Bayan resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with DSWD which shall be signed by the chief executive and representative of the DSWD. The Department of Budget and Management has allocated more than P208 million for some 34, 792 beneficiaries for Region 7. Both the local governments and the DSWD will monitor the imple-

mentation of the program with social workers and field office representatives witnessing the pay-out.

The pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides P500 monthly stipends for indigent senior citizens.

Those that are qualified for the program are 77-years old and above, frail, sickly, or have disability; not receiving pension from Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System or Veterans Pension and do not have permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.

The monthly financial assistance aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens to help them in their needs such as medicines and food. ( Juju Empuerto)

Who killed ex-US Special Forces man?

P

olice are still investigating the murder of a former member o f the elite US Special Forces who was shot dead in an attack by motorcycle gunmen in the central Philippine province of Cebu.

Reports identified the victim as American

Stephen Ray Gornto, who was shot in the village called Balud in Dalaguete town. His Filipina wife, Dahlia, said they were just waiting for a car mechanic when the gunmen appeared and shot Gornto without provocation.

Radio station dzMM quoted Inspector Rico Emperua, of the local po-

lice force, as saying that the Gornto couple had been involved in a trouble on June 28. Emperua said the incident was recorded in the police log.

No other details were made available by the police about the former US soldier or the progress of the investigation. (Cebu Examiner)

The Mother Mary Shrine in Sitio Upper Lindogon in the village of Simala in Sibonga town is a favorite tourist attraction in Cebu province. (Cebu Examiner Photo - Nicole Priscilla)

ARMM

Southern Mindanao

Davao

The zip line at Papa Kit's Marina and Fishing Lagoon in Silot Bay in Liloan town in Cebu province. The place is also one of the many tourist destinations in Cebu province. (Cebu Examiner Photo - Nicole Priscilla)

Cebu calls for unity on disaster preparedness

T

he Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council called on the public to share efforts and be responsive to measures installed to reduced risk during disaster.

In a recent "Post Yolanda Disaster Rehabilitation Phase: Press Briefing," Cebu PDRRMC and Task Force Paglig-on chief Baltazar Tribunalo said the public, government, and other stakeholders have to consider response and preparedness as one of the factors that need to be prioritized amid disaster.

Tribunalo said that disaster risk reduction and preparedness must be shared by every part and sector of the community. "We have to engage academe, religious and business sector and the media in disaster risk reduction and preparedness," he said, noting that the media must also be well-informed on the plans crafted by the government on disaster preparedness.

Tribunalo said all the plans crafted must be risk reducers. "It is now the right time for the attitude and perspectives of the Filipinos to be changed towards disaster

risk reduction and to focus on mitigation and adaptation," he said.

He also stressed the importance of the government’s initiative in the integration of disaster risk reduction in identifying good governance among local government units and government agencies.

Tribunalo identified the integration of risk reduction in the academe and the putting of knowledge to the youth as one of the factors seen to be effective in disaster risk reduction and mitigation.

(Amorganda Saludar)

NGO nakadasig pagmugna og mga organisadong grupo sa Leyte

U

sa ka lukop sa kalibutan nga n o n - g ov e r n mental organization ning lalawigan ang naka-agni pagpalihok og mga pundok sa katawhan para mahimo kini sila nga mga malambuong komunidad sa ilang mga kaugalingon para ra sab sa ilang kaugalingong mga kaayohan ug mga intereses.

Ang PLAN International, kansang lima-ka lungsod nga ginsakupan naglangkob sa upat ka lungsod sa Panaon Island, sa Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, ug ang Libagon, naka-aghat pagtukod sa kapin sa dosena nga mga Barangay Water Sewarage Associations (BAWASA) ug mga money savings groups, nagkanayon si Jennefer de la Cruz, PLAN Unit Manager sa probinsiya.

Kining mga grupoha naugmad ug napalambo sa paglabay sa panahon aron pagtubag sa tino nga panginahanglan, dugang pa sa mga inisyatibo sa PLAN nga napahimuslan sa

katilingban diin gitutokan niini ang kaayohan sa mga 4,000 ka mga bata nga ilang mga sponsored children, si Dela Cruz miingon.

Matud niya nga ang padayong presensiya niining maong mga pundok magsilbi nga maoy ilang kabilin karon nga taligawas na sila sa lalawigan gunad sa Hunyo, 2016. Niya pa nga sa Mindanao na ang sunod nilang assignment, apan wala pay tino nga detalye pagka karon.

Si Leah Payud, PLAN Area Supervisor, namahayag nga gawas sa pagbiya sa mga na-organisar na nga mga grupo, gikalipay sab nila nga sukad sa 1998 kanus-a unang na-establisar ang PLAN sa lalawigan, ang naasoy nga NGO nakatandog nag ubay-ubay nga mga kinabuhi, ug nakatabang pagtisok sa mga bililhong birtud ug mga values diha sa ilang gipangsponsoran nga mga kabataan.

Gitumbok niya ang mga nanagko na nga mga kabataan nga giamuma sa

Western Mindanao

Cebu

PLAN nga karon mga young professionals na, ug kini sila nga mga batan-on na karon nanaad nga padayonon nila pagpakaylap ang ilang nakat-onan ubos sa PLAN, sama sa pagtudlo sa mga batakan nga mga pribilihiyo ug mga katungod sa usa ka bata, sa iyang protection ug edukasyon.

Sa mosunod nga duha ka tuig nga nia pa sila sa pobinsiya, padayon ang PLAN sa naandan niining mga gimbuhaton sa mga programa ug mga proyekto nga nagtumong alang sa kabulahanan sa mga kabataan ug sa mga komunidad diin kini sila nagpuyo, saysay pa ni De la Cruz.

Duha ka mga infrastructure projects ang gilaraw na, una mao ang usa ka Day Care Center sa Pintuyan, ug lain pa mao ang classroom sa bag-ong Libagon National High School, si De la Cruz usab miingon.

(Marcelo Pedalino)

Manila