12 Pages | P20

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

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Displaced Maranaos must prove they own the land: Mayor T

he mayor of Marawi City declared last Friday that the State’s power of eminent domain allows it to expropriate any land that it needs for the development and rehabilitation of the city. This was Mayor Majul Gandamra’s response to accusations that the local government was engaged in land grabbing or illegally confiscating privately-owned land in the city’s former commercial area. (FULL STORY ON PAGE A2)

Marawi City immediately after the Siege. (File photo)

Forgiving acts, pleas for piety, food sharing mark 2021 Eid’l Adha in PH

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OTABATO CITY – Muslims and non-Muslims alike have joined this year’s observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, one two most celebrated and important events in Islam marking the day Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) passed the test of The Almighty Creator (Allah) almost sacrificing the life of his Ismael in piety.

A3 Across BARMM

A4 Across PH

LGUs harmonize projects South China Sea and the with BARMM priorities Philippines EEZ

Constituent local government units (LGUs) have started harmonizing their development projects with the priorities of the Bangsamoro autonomous administration in what facilitators described as a bold step to curb instances of contrasting thrusts and undue duplication in fiscal expenditures.

When China started building artificial islands and made it later as their military base... to assert its sovereignty over those shoals, reefs and islets as part of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ, the Aquino administration called it the West Philippine Sea. Unfortunately, other ASEAN countries… did not recognize the remaining of the SCS as West Philippine Sea.

After declaring July 20 as a regular national holiday for the event observance in the Philippines, President Duterte led non-Muslim key officials in joining Islam followers in the celebration, appearing in television to convey his greetings. (FULL STORY ON PAGE A7)

A6 World Round-Up

A9 Tourism

Muslims worldwide fete Eid’l Adha amid pandemic grips

Issues, Concerns and Challenges on the TawiTawi Seaweed Industry

Muslims across the globe will celebrate on July 20 the annual Feast of Sacrifice or Eid’l Adha, one of two most celebrated days in Islam. In the Philippines, Asia’s lone Catholic nation, President Duterte has declared under Proclamation NO. 1189 the date a nation-wide regular holiday, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan said.

My previous written articles on seaweed farming and the industry as a whole described the rosy picture that it brought to the hundreds (30k or more) of Tawi-Tawi coastal dwellers and the ‘upward supply-chain’ comprising the local buyers, middlemen, traders, labor sectors, big-time buyers till it reached its external recipients responsible for its export to foreign lands like the USA, France, Japan and China to name a few.

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The Bangsamoro

Lanao Sur town eyed as eco enterprise model By ALI G. MACABALANG

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

Displaced Maranaos must prove they own the land: Mayor By INTERNATIONAL ALERT PHILIPPINES

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he mayor of Marawi City declared last Friday that the State’s power of eminent domain allows it to expropriate any land that it needs for the development and rehabilitation of the city. This was Mayor Majul Gandamra’s reAn online-derived photo of Taraka, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nashiba Sumagayan and MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol in a huddle on July 14 at the foreground of the town’s solar panels that will power six irrigation and waterworks systems.

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OTABATO CITY — Two lawmakers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have filed a bill pushing for the protection of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) communities in the region. TARAKA, Lanao del Sur – Collaborating government officials are eyeing this town to become the nation’s model of economic enterprise and inspire other Bangsamoro-ruled towns to transcend from decades of reliance to internal revenue allotment (IRA) in their administrative operations and service deliveries. Enabling steps for the prospect will peak next month with the initial operation of six solarpowered irrigation system (SPIS) units and a huge solar-powered waterworks system (SPWS) to irrigate 700 hectares of farm lands and end the residents’ old risky use of river water for cooking and drinking, according to Taraka Mayor Nashiba Sumagayan. Sumagayan, a former university professorturned-politician, said her constituents, especially farmers “are so eager” about the feasibility of the vision, citing the consistent backing of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol said he and DBP President Emmanuel Herbosa will return to this town on August 10 and administer the inaugural operations of three of the SPIS units to start irrigating at least 300 hectares initially. Secretary Piñol he would be bringing along engineer-turned-successful farmer Danilo Bolos to orient Taraka farmers on the modern hybrid rice farming technology that earned for him the accolade achieving 17 tons of produce every hectare per harvest – the biggest volume ever recorded in the Philippine agriculture history. Bolo, a former overseas Filipino worker from Sat. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, has agreed to come and share with farmers here his secrets in reaping unprecedented magnitude of harvests that made a great difference for his family, he said. Sec. Piñol came here for the nth time on July 14 and presided a consultative meeting with Taraka officials led by the lady Mayor and cluster leaders of farmers, who agreed that “only premium rice varieties with good eating quality will be planted in the area” to be irrigated by the six SPIS units, MinDA Media Relations Chief Dr. Adrian Tamayo said. “Maranaos are known to be very particular about the eating quality of rice they buy,” Pinol said, adding that SPIS-served farmers agreed to initially sow US 88, a hybrid premium rice variety, and NSIC RC 160 in the last planting season this year. Simultaneous with planting activities, MinDA and Taraka officials will put up a rice varietal trial area here to determine what other premium rice varieties will perform well in this town, he said. LANAO SUR | A10

Marawi was thrown into ruin and its residents displaced after violent extremists seized control of the city in May 2017. The full-scale military response led to the destruction of the Islamic City and its many historical and cultural treasures. In Friday night’s “After the Fact” cable TV and radio show on ANC, Gandamra warned those entering the most affected area of Marawi that they shouldered the burden of proof in asserting their ownership of the land, said IAP. “Hindi pa naman nadetermine kung meron talaga tinamaan na private properties, so that it is the burden of these claimants to prove that indeed this property belongs to them,” he was quoted as saying. The controversy erupted after many displaced residents complained to the local government and social media that local tax authorities were refusing to accept their tax payments and landowners were being denied building permits for properties that would be sequestered by the National Housing Authority.

Displaced residents who were denied entry into their properties for more than three years decried the lack of transparency and deplore the fact that they were duped by the government. “We had no choice but to wait despite the slow pace of rehabilitation and now it turns out that they were planning to “take” properties without our knowledge and without consultation with those directly affected,” said one resident who did not want herself to be identified. The properties in question were described by the Marawi Mayor as part of the previous reclamation area in the city. However, mapping expert Jorge Golle of International Alert Philippines showed geographical maps overlaid with land titles and claims made by the group that indicated these areas as beyond the reclamation area. “More than 11,000 individuals will lose their prime areas if they proceed with the sequestration of the properties,” Golle said. “We are long-time

sponse to accusations that the local government was engaged in land grabbing or illegally confiscating privately-owned land in the city’s former commercial area.

Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra. (File photo) occupants of these properties with legitimate certificates of land title, and we cannot be dispossessed of our land without a proper court hearing and an order from the court. This is in violation of all existing jurisprudence about private property rights,” said Atty. Mimbalawag, a leading oppositor of what he calls a government-led yet illegal expropriation of their properties. Mimbalawag’s family is among those who will lose their properties due to the State takeover of these lands. “Might is not right, and silence does not mean our agreement,” Mimbalawag said. Gandamra, however, insisted that he is prepared to revoke any previous agreements or concessions given by previous governments to the claimants whose

properties are situated in the reclamation area. The mayor kept silent when asked about whether they were willing to pay compensation for the properties. “Our homes, our private properties, our mosques, and our cultural and historical heritage were all destroyed during the Marawi Siege. The government has not even passed a compensation bill for the reparation of our damaged houses and private properties. Now the local government is unlawfully “taking” our properties without just compensation and tells us to our face that we can no longer go back to our titled lots to rebuild our houses. I assure you that we shall continuously oppose this illegal confiscation, along with the other IDPs affected,” Mimbalawag declared. (PR)

Marawi still lacks fire truck while 6 fires hit city this year COTABATO CITY – Six fires have struck the Marawi City this year alone but residents could just watch structures gutting down because the war-torn “Islamic” community has no fire truck yet despite reported release in 2018 of P96-million national fund for fire prevention facilities, according to Philippine Muslim Today news sources. The 6th fire incident happened last June 26, according to Aslani “Toti” Cabugatan Montila, chairperson of

By Ali G. Macabalang

a makeshift Marawi fire station with an ambulance and Hazmat shuttle vehicle in Marawi City. (File) Siyap ko Pagtaw Inc. and concurrent spokesperson of Development Assistance Team, Independent Monitoring Group for the Marawi

rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Montila did not provide details on the specific location of the 6th conflagration and its

damages or possible casualties, hinting only that the incident raised further alarm about the absence of fire trucks in the city. Last Feb. 18, a school building near the temporary shelter camp at barangay Sangonsongan for some of thousands of residents displaced in the infamous May 23, 2017 Marawi siege was gutted down fully while responding residents could just the flame helplessly, Montila said. MARAWI | A10

Across Bangsamoro

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

LGUs harmonize projects with BARMM priorities By ALI G. MACABALANG

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OTABATO CITY – Constituent local government units (LGUs) have started harmonizing their development projects with the priorities of the Bangsamoro autonomous admin-

istration in what facilitators described as a bold step to curb instances of contrasting thrusts and undue duplication in fiscal expenditures.

BANGSAMORO GOVERNANCE PRE-SUMMITS: BARMM Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, left, Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua, below, and Gov. Sakur Tan, Ministers Eduard Guerra and Abuamri Taddik, right, addressing virtually and physically the pre-summit participants from Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu, respectively. (Photos supplied) The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officialdom held pre-summits on July 13, 15, 16 and 17 in Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Sulu, respectively, for municipal and provincial officials to draw up security and socioeconomic programs and projects for funding by the regional government, organizers said. They said the presummit leg in Tawi-Tawi will be held before the conduct of a regional summit proper here where all harmonized proposals would be collated and finalized in prelude to deliberations by the cabinet and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament for funding in 2022. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim partly presided and addressed via zoom the Basilan event, with Senior Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo and Minister Ed Guerra leading the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Sulu episodes, it was learned. Brainstorming sessions among provincial and municipal officials

with representatives of BARMM ministries and line agencies characterized the four presummits, organizers said, hinting at applying the same processes for Tawi-Tawi. Minister Naguib Sinarimbo told reporters Saturday the provincial engagements were necessary for a “summit proper” here on July 23 where precharted security, social welfare, education and other pro-people programs will be collated for harmonious planning and implementation in the autonomous region. “The summit proper will enable us to converge together the programs of the region and those of the local government units so that there would be a common development thrust for all (of us) to pursue,” Sinarimbo said. The 27-month old BARMM governance

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replaced the 29-year Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019, and is now covering the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi, Lamitan and Cotabato as well as 63 autonomy -opting barangays in North Cotabato. Unlike in the ARMM government’s troublesome plights in defending yearly its regional budgets before Congress, the new BARMM administration receives an annual block grant and other national funds sans Congressional grills. The BARMM cabinet led by Chief Minister Ebrahim decides on regional-impact projects, and proposes corresponding appropriations for approval by the regional parliament. Sinarimbo said closer cooperation and cohesion on peace and development initiatives among mayors, governors and regional ministries can hasten the pace of the regional growth and do away with duplicated funding of projects. He lauded the hosting of the pre-summits

by Governors Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Jim Salliman of Basilan and Sakur Tan of Sulu, who reportedly required the attendance of their respective mayors. The episode in Maguindanao was led by Senior Minister Macacua, he said. In Lanao del Sur, senior leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front like Deputy Chairman Alem Solaiman and field commander cum Parliament Member Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar actively participated in the brainstorming session, he said. Sinarimbo, who has direct supervision over all LGUs in the region, has earlier launched unprecedented initiatives for all 2,590 barangays, 118 towns, three cities and five provinces. His ministry had recruited young local government operations officers from rigidly trained incumbents and applicants for assignment in the provincial and lower government units, and programmed the building of uniform municipal and barangays halls across the region. The same ministry has also purchased ambulance vehicles, fire trucks, and police patrol cars that were distributed to deserving LUs in the region, Sinarimbo’s informational officer Valerie Lambo said. (AGM)

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2 BTA Parliament members allot P5.5M for 7 school buildings By ALI G. MACABALANG COTABATO CITY – Two members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament have allocated P5.2 million from their development impact funds for construction of seven school buildings in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. In a statement emailed to the Philippine Muslim Today news, the BTA’s Publication and Media Relations Division (PMRD) said Parliament Members Aida Silongan and Ali Salik allotted a P2.5 million and P2.7 million, respectively, out of their shares from Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF). The TDIF is the BTA’s counterpart or version of countryside development funds allocated for members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for projects of their choice. The PMRD said Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal has joined MPs Salik and Silongan in the conduct of a symbolic groundbreaking for the construction of the seven TDIFbankrolled school buildings. The date of the ceremony was not given. It said the schools that will benefit from the two MPs’ allocations are: · Sapakan Elementary School with one-storey building, flagpole and handwashing facility and rainwater collector; · Buliok Elementary School with one-storey building; · Datu Pinguiaman Elementary School Annex with one-storey building; · Dagadas Elementary School with one classroom; · Nasapian Elementary School with two classrooms; · Sambulawan Elementary School with two classrooms; and · Endaila Silongan Central Elementary School with two classrooms 2 BTA | A10

BTA installs solar lights, builds playgrounds for kids in Maguindanao to enjoy amid pandemic COTABATO CITY - The children in various municipalities in Maguindanao though on pandemic will enjoy the amenities provided for them like the installation of solar-powered street lights and the construction of children's playgrounds. Member of the Parliament Sittie Shahara Mastura held a series of groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects that will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) using the Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of the members of the Parliament. “Ensuring the welfare of BARMM's people is my priority, and I am happy to carry out projects they deserved,” Mastura said. The municipalities of Buldon, Sultan Kudarat, North Upi, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Northern and Mother Kabuntalan were among the beneficiaries of the infrastructure programs. Datu Salaban Diocolano, mayor of Northern Kabuntalan, expressed his gratitude to MP Mastura that the residents of Kabuntalan who asked for a children's park, and today, the Member of Parliament granted their wish. Aside from installing street lights and building of children's play parks, Mastura also proposed the improvement of the province's unpaved roads. Both the solar-powered lights and the road improvements, according to North Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, would aid and protect the safety of vehicles that go through their area, particularly at night. Mayor Piang said these initiatives give people in Maguindanao well-lit streets as well as alleviate traffic hazards. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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Opinion/News

Lopsided priorities in Marawi rehab

SPECIAL REPORT

South China Sea and the Philippines EEZ

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here is a saying that “any wrong step always ends up wrong.” This is in reality apt in the case of the snail-paced rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in war-torn Marawi City. As I look at it, hereunder is a litany of some perceived wrong steps before, during and after the Marawi siege: Palliative combat solution – Sages Punchline (scholars) say that killing some rats infesting a home should not in any way entail burning down the entire house. A retired 3-star general friend of mine once told me that President Duterte should have ordered hundreds of military and police snipers to engages the fewer Dawla Islamiya (Maute) and Abu Sayyaf militants to avoid indiscriminate casualties and save Marawi from mass destrucALI G. MACABALANG tions; Skewed rehab planning – After the so-called “liberation” of Marawi from the marauders, the government created the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) to plan and execute rehab and recon efforts. In the planning of debris clearing and road-network construction, a high ranking official of DPWH – a key TFBM memberagency – conveyed to me his dismay over the non-participation of “genuine” leaders of IDPs in the planning stage, calling the glitch “irregular;” Habitual lies – When Malacañang was in the frontline of providing updates, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a televised announcement that he would conduct a weekly media forum, possibly in Marawi City, to update the public on the state of rehab efforts in the city. No single weekly media forum by him happened in the city. TFBM Chair Sec. Eduardo del Rosario replicated the same lies repeatedly about the dates of Ground Zero residents homecoming; Flimsy Contracts awarding – Contrary to the state policy of harnessing in community engineering works qualified local contractors, the TFBM commissioned the NHA-blacklisted Edd Mari Construction to undertake the P2.3-billion debris and UXO clearing, P1.7-billion Ground Zero road project, and another P700-million road building in MAA. Barangay chairmen were allegedly allowed by the city government to contract the building of the barangay halls in the GZ at P17million each. In comparison to the P3.8-million for construction of a two-floor barangay hall by the BARMM government, Marawi’s version is in excess of P13.2 million. Ironically, some critics accuse BARMM of corruption. Fund misspending – The national government had released the P96.4-million funds in the 2018 special allotment release order (SARO) for the purchase of Bureau of Fire Protection facilities (P7.3M), installation of fire hydrants (P3.5M), and purchase of BFP equipment, supplies and materials (P85M). But no fire-truck was purchased, putting Marawi in stark irony after six fires hit the city this year alone. The BFP, city government and TFBM are reportedly “waiting” for the donation of three or four fire-trucks promised by China. What if China reneges on the promise and another fires the city, will the residents again watch the flame to eat up their properties? MACABALANG | A8

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he Philippine Muslim Today is published every Friday by Philippine Muslim Today Inc. with main offices at Mercury and Pluto Streets, Rabago Subdivision, Villa Verde, Iligan City 9200 PH. Phone: +63 63 2290965 (PLDT); +63 9152184388 (Mobile) Email: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com Portal: Https://philmuslim.today/

NCR SATELLITE OFFICE: ADDRESS: 9052 Viscarra Compound, Molino 3, Bacoor City 4102 Cavite Province PHONE: +639778430218 | +639353138549 Email: julmunir1845@gmail.com | managingeditor@philmuslim.today Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today nor of its management.

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

By GERRY SALAPUDDIN

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n the internationally recognized world map of the sea from the east of the Philippines and its Southwest Asian neighbors is called South China Sea or SCS. When China started building artificial islands and made it later as their military base, during the Aquino administration, to assert its sovereignty over those shoals, reefs and islets as part of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ, the Aquino administration called it the West Philippine Sea. Unfortunately, the other ASEAN countries that also have overlapping claim in the South China Sea, did not recognize the remaining of the SCS as West Philippine Sea or WPS to protect their claims over some islets and reefs which they are claiming too. Why and what drives China to lay claim on those islets, shoals and reefs? China's western front in the South China Sea is open and vulnerable to any invasion in case of war with any foreign powers. So she decided to not just claim but build artificial islands and fortified it with all its advanced military defenses. China is also eyeing the reported and verified presence of huge deposits of oil and natural gas, aside from being a rich fishing ground. With her industrialization coupled with technological advancement, she needs the huge deposits of oil and natural gas to feed her industries in order to sustain her economic growth. Being the most thickly populated country with more than 1.4 billion population to feed, their fishing industry needs rich fishing ground like those areas they claim in the SCS. In fact, their fishing boats go as far into the EEZ of Indonesia, where at times the Indonesian Coastguard or Navy apprehended or even shot to pieces the Chinese fishing boats. There was even a time, no less than Indonesian President Joko Widodo took to the sea on board their Navy ship to demonstrate their no nonsense defense of their rights over their EEZ. But unlike the Philippines which is in the neighborhood of China in the SCS, Indonesia is a bit far. The US Gameplay After the massive explosion of Mount Pinatubo in Pampanga, Luzon, and by virtue of the provision of the 1987 Constitution which strongly prohibits the presence of any foreign military bases on Philippine soil, finally, two of the largest military bases of the US outside the US mainland located in Clark, Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Subic Bay, Olongapo City were closed down. That provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is part of the socalled "nationalist provisions" of the fundamental law of the land, just like the 60-40% provision as far as foreign investment is concerned, in favor of the Filipinos. After the closure of those two military bases in the Philippines, strategically, the US position and influence in Southeast Asia was in the decline. With the growing economic power and technological advancement of China, that void left by the

US was filled by China through massive trade and investments with the Southeast Asian nations. In order not to be totally overtaken by the growing might and influence of China, currently the world's number 2 economy, the US negotiated with the Philippine government the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA. Incidentally, as a Member of Congress that time in my first term, I delivered a privilege speech on the proposed VFA, where I was interpellated by my colleagues for hours, especially coming from the nationalist and communist bloc members of the House of Representatives. And since it was claimed as mere Executive Agreement between the Philippine Department of National Defense and US National Defense, not as a treaty between two sovereign nations, it did not necessitate any ratification of the Philippines and US Senates respectively. And so the VFA was approved and operational between our two countries, allowing joint military exercises between the US Armed Forces and the AFP, which in effect allows the presence of American troops in the country.

The US currently maintains military bases in some countries in Asia specifically in Okinawa, Japan; South Korea; Guam; Hawaii; Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean and in other countries in Asia. Stationing troops and military assets in many countries around the world by the US is part of maintaining their strategic and tactical advantage in case of war. How did the Philippines fail to protect her rightful claim in its EEZ? The EEZ Concept was a concept formulated during the Marcos government as part of the Philippine archipelagic doctrine, which the UN adopted, that led to the enactment of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Season (UNCLOS) and the creation of the International Tribal on the Law of the Seas or ITLOS, where the Aquino administration lodged and won its petition against China. The EEZ area is not considered a territory but it gives us exclusive right to fish and exploit the natural resources located in it. In some instances, the 200 natural mile EEZ right of one or more countries overlaps with another nations. Unfortunately, even if the Philippines won against China in the ITLOS, the Aquino government authorized Sen. Antonio Trillanes III to make a back chanelling neSOUTH CHINA | A8

Opinion

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

DUTERTE, PACQUIAO AND GRAFT AND CORRUPTION (2)

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ope: Is there hope to end graft and corruption in our country? Of course, there is hope! As they say – when there is life, there is hope. But hoping is not enough. I am like the high school boy in a story that ends every essay with the famous line of Patrick Henry – “Give me liberty or give me death!” His teacher befuddled by the boy’s obsession with Patrick Henry and the wellremembered line tried hard to think of a subject of an essay in which the boy could not invoke the sacramental line. The subject was – The Brown Cow. To the great surprise of his teacher, the young boy wrote a beautiful essay on the brown cow ending with these lines – “The cow is lazily grazing in the garden. This cow gives us milk but as for me – ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’” And his teacher almost died laughing.

As of this moment, I am like that boy in high school obsessed with an idea – not just of liberty but system change. 2022 is another opportunity for system change. This is probably the last opportunity of this decade. I think we all should grab this opportunity by the forelock – by electing someone a visionary, revolutionary, brilliant with balls in his brains and brains in his balls, disciplined and focused with character and integrity with the right values, mean what he says and do what he must for God, country and people. Don’t laugh at me as you think it is impossible. As I keep it on repeating, the impossible is only in the mind. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Fitzgerald did it in the United States of America. Winston Churchill did it in Britain. Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin did in Russia. Mao Tse Tong, Chou-

Diliman Way

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA En-Lai, and Chu Teh did it in China. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara did in Cuba. Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap did in Vietnam. Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin and Moshe Dayan did in Israel. Moammar Khaddafi did it in Libya, etcetera, etcetera. We can do it this country – if we try. As President Fidel Valdez Ramos used to say with his thumb up sign – “Yes, we can.” Even if he was not able to do all that he wanted. I dare say for tomorrow, if we march behind the right leader – Yes, we can! HAA

An opportunity for Arabic teachers in BARMM

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eing Asa’tidz or Arabic teachers in our society is, for me, a suicidal decision to take for aspirant ones, given that there’s no clear future awaits, or it can be described as “suntok sa buwan” Journey. The irony of this struggle is that they also need at least to cope with basic necessities like others, but their earnings though it’s not also permanent are too far behind compared to DepEd teachers. In fact, it’s still fresh in my mind when I was teaching in Arabic that our monthly salary was ranging from 500 1000 Php, and I firmly believe that some of our Arabic schools today are still living in this sad reality. That was the time when we were still Murits or Arabic students in Marawi that we had to pay our monthly room-rents, our fares, and other needs fairly like other students had to do back then. That was the time that we used to sleep on

many WHYs and again to wake up on endless HOWs. Alhamdulillah! If there’s one thing we dearly pray to witness in our Bangsamoro Government is to see the laws - Insha Allah or at least programs that would confront the plight of our Arabic teachers for a long time since, for a government like ours that practices the separation of church and state, it’s understood by nature that they are less fortunate to land professional jobs - professions that would help secure a decent life for their loved ones - corresponding to their Arabic educational attainments, precisely because they are not CHED-recognized in a sense that they can’t be used for professional licensure exams even some are capable to take up academically, except for Special Sharia Bar Exam that recognizes college graduates from Arab coun-

Chatting with the Wrong DOLE’s Bello could have led to scam

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hanks Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for accepting my Friend Request at the Facebook. Thinking that he is the real, authentic and legit Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), I expressed my thanks to him for accepting my FB Friend Request. Then conversation started smoothly at Facebook Messenger where his first question he asked for my identity. Naturally as a new Facebook friend, I need to be candid in introducing myself when he asked: “ Sino to ano work mo?” After introducing myself that I am the relative of his fraternal brother in his fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO), his follow up question: “Any concern.” Then my QR or Quick Reply: “Wala naman po Sir. I am glad that I am just an ordinary Filipino Journalist

tries and from our local Arabic Institutions, provided that other necessary documents are complied with. Indeed, we are grateful to BARMM through the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education MBHTE that there were 5,097 applicants who simultaneously took qualifying exams on July 7th, 2021 for Islamic Studies and Arabic Language ISAL as a second batch. Although we understand that not all will be accommodated, it’s noteworthy that this encourages them further to aim higher to be competitive out of their comfort zone as it's DIMAO | A8

but you have accepted me as a Friend at the Facebook.” Then this Bello to my astonishment if he is the real or legit one told me “Namimigay ako sa may malalaking group ng bigas.” Then immediately he sent me a screenshot of thousands of bag of rice stocked in a warehouse to substantiate what he said. Then I told this Bello that I don’t have big group here in Manila except in Mindanao. He said he is giving the 1,000 sacks of rice but I will just take care of the trucking of the rice where these are stored in a warehouse in Isabela. Then although I offered to take care of the trucking after I coordinated with National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Commissioner Yusoph J. Mando who also heads the group of “Yes For Peace,” where he likewise coordinated with

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL one of his members in the north adjacent to Isabela who has a trucking business, I immediately informed this Bello whom I thought he was the real Bello. But then he insisted and offered also to hire their trucking that would cost P40,000 to haul the 1,000 bags of rice from Gattaran, Cagayan. As I write this Column, I looked back at the Facebook Profile of this Bello and as I read I found out that he lives in Gattaran, Cagayan. Hence, there is a likelihood that his personality has the legitimacy as the labor Secretary. JANNARAL | A8

Honoring the Sacrifices of the MNLF 1st Batch the 90 and the 300

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IMADODIN BASAR DIMAO

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little over two months from today, on October 1-6, 2021, will be the scheduled filing of candidacy for the synchronized national and local elections. By that time, we'll get to know who'll be running for President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives and the local officials of all the LGUs throughout the country. I would like to commend the honorable members of parliament (MP) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for trying to pass a bill to honor the great sacrifices of the First Batch or the 90 and the 300 as the unsung heroes of the Moro struggle. However, it is unfair if the role of the Third Batch of Foreign Trained Cadres better known as The Bombardmen or Support Battalion because it was this batch that saved the day when most of the First and Second Batches re-

joined government in the late '70s. If not for the 3rd Batch, the revolution should have totally collapsed and failed. Among the rank of the 3rd Batch are Yusoph Jikiri, who rose to become the Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Army and later as Chairman of the MNLF Executive Council. The incumbent Provincial Chairman of Lupah Sug Revolutionary Comiittee Brother Kaid Ajibon is also from the 3rd Batch. In Tawi-Tawi, Laurel Tahil, was is also from the 3rd Batch, who also became the Provincial Chairman, who succeeded Damming Hadjirul of the Second Batch. In the Province of Basilan, when the then Provincial Chairman Hadji Hudan Abubakar rejoined the government, taking with him almost all the foreign trained cadre officers from the 1st and 2nd Batches with all their

Southern Frontier

GERRY SALAPUDDIN firearms, including the Provincial Chairman of the Islamic Court and many civilian leaders, I was left with my batchmates from the 3rd Batch Bombardmen to reorganize and revitalize the Bangsamoro struggle. By the guidance of Allah, we in Basilan, against all odds, gradually managed to resurrect the struggle in Basilan and managed to wage significant military battles against the government troops. There were also other batches of foreign training that followed the 3rd Batch like the 4th Batch Operation SALAPUDDIN | A8

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News

2nd Mindanao Balik Probinsya model village rises in Zambo ex-rebel lair By ALI G. MACABALANG

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IDAPAWAN CITY – The national government’s Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program (BPBPP) has continued to gain ground in the southern, focusing on a former lair of bandits and rebels in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte as a second model village in Mindanao. National officials led by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, BPBPP principal initiator, and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada are expected to visit Kalawit soon to launch formally the second BPBP village in the town, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Manny Piñol announced Wednesday. Secretary Piñol visited early this week the prospective second village model site, where initial construction works began “less than a year” after Kalawit, one of the newest towns of Zamboanga del Norte, was chosen as host area by Governor Alberto Uy and Mayor Salvador Antojado. Mayor Antojado had helped clear his town of rebel and bandit elements before retiring from the Philippine Marines corps and joining politics, Piñol said. National officials led by Senator Go initiated the BPBPP in early 2020 as one of the principal measures aimed at inspiring migrants in urbanized areas to return to their points of origin and spur human decongestion in metropolitan cities. In 2020, collaborating officials launched works in barangay Tacub, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte after it was chosen as the first BPBPP model village in Mindanao. Ongoing construction works for 200 housing units are expected for completion before the end of this year, during which BPBPP beneficiaries would occupy the edifices in formal ceremony, MinDA Media Relations and Public Affairs Chief Dr. Adrian Tamayo said. MINDANAO | A12

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio boosts morale of C-130 mishap survivors in Sulu

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AMP NAVARRO, Calarian, Zamboanga City — Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio visited the survivors of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft confined at Camp Navarro General Hospital inside the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) recently. According to Col. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, WestMinCom spokesman, the mayor was accompanied by WestMinCom Chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, Joint Task Force Zamboanga Commander Col. Randolph Rojas, Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle ClimacoSalazar, House Speaker Lord Jay Allan Velasco, and Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista. “We are very much elated with the overwhelming support the armed forces, most especially the victims of the tragic incident, receive from the different sectors and agencies, and the generous people of this country,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. Mayor Sara distributed goods to the soldiers. Meanwhile, the soldiers expressed their gratitude to all the people who help them ease the physical and emotional trauma they incurred during the crash-landing of the Hercules C-130 aircraft with tail number 5125 on July 4, 2021. It can be recalled that the survivors were also visited by their rescuers on July 14. On the said occasion, the rescued victims were able to express their gratefulness to the first responders especially the Tausug of Barangay Bangkal in Patikul, Sulu. JIJ JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

SPECIAL REPORT

Muslims worldwide fete Eid’l Adha amid pandemic grips By ALI G. MACABALANG

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uslims across the globe will celebrate tomorrow, July 20 in varying intensity the annual Feast of Sacrifice or Eid’l Adha, one of two most celebrated days in Islam. In the Philippines, Asia’s lone Catholic na-

tion, President Duterte has declared under Proclamation NO. 1189 the date a nation-wide regular holiday, according to National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan.

HAJJ THEN AND NOW: An online-derived photos of hajj performance this year and before. In Cotabato City, the seat of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, the holiday declaration has been echoed by the office of Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim to his constituents as an opportunity for Islamic faithful to promote the sense of sacrifice, forgiving and understanding in submission to Allah (subhannahu wa taala). Eid’l Adha is one of two major festive moments in Islam, the other being the Eid’l Fitr marking the end of the annual fasting in Ramadan. Both festivals are being revered annually by over two billion Muslims all over the world. It falls on the 10th of Dhu’l Hijjah in the Hijrah Calendar and marks the culmination of Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Hajj, like Ramadan fasting, is one of the five pillars of Islam. The advent of the COVID-19 has substantially reduced the intensity of observing both Ramadan fast and the annual hajj since last year. With the pandemic’s aggravation by the so-called Delta variant, Islamic convergences become doubly limited. Last year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suspended the performance of hajj. For this

year, the monarch government allowed all performances by Saudi nationals only, but limited the pilgrims to only 60, 000. Under normal circumstances, the kingdom used to host not less than 2.5 million pilgrims. The Al Jazeera news network has described this year’s hajj as “restrictive” and expensive” because the host Saudi government would not want to make the kingdom a hotspot of the pandemic. For every 20 pilgrims, the Saudi government assigned one health officer to monitor their health status 24/7, Al Jazeera said. Eid’l Adha is in remembrance of Prophet Abraham’s (peace be on him) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismael, just to please God in his bid to build kaaba, where pilgrims perform hajj nowadays in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Before Prophet Abrahim could slit the neck of his son, angels on order of Allah (s.w.t.) replaced Ismael with a sheep, according to Islamic narratives. Muslims, especially those performing hajj, have since obliged themselves to offer sheep, goats, cows, camels and other halal animals for slaughter and sacrifice during Eid’l Adha. In Metro Manila, popular action movie star-turned-Muslim revert Robin Padilla and

his supporters have slaughtered cows, cooked the meats in varied menus, and distributed to dozens of Muslim households since July 18. Video footage showed Padilla personally delivering the cooked meat packages to an apartment on July 19. Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who is a namesake of the Prophet’s son and celebrates Eid’l Adha yearly

with distribution of roasted cow meats, urged his constituents and supporters to promote utmost concern for humanity, understanding and forgiving in submission to the Almighty creator. Calls for utmost patience applied most to Muslim in Palestine and Uighur in China where Israeli and Chinese police forces have been ostensibly repressive against them. (AGM)

Delta variant accounts for 83% of US Covid cases as deaths rise CHICAGO, United States – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that the Delta variant of the coronavirus accounts for 83 percent of new cases, up significantly from two weeks ago as deaths spike. As of July 3, the variant, considered more easily transmissible and virulent than the original coronavirus, accounted for 50 percent of new cases. "This is a dramatic increase," said CDC head Rochelle Walensky in an update to Congress. "In some parts of the country, the percentage is even higher, particularly in areas of low vaccination rates." Walensky said the average daily death count has climbed to about 239 per day, an increase of nearly 48 percent from the previous week. "Each death is tragic, and even more heartbreaking when we know the majority of these deaths could be prevented with a simple, safe, available vaccine,” she said. Hospitalizations are on the rise in 37 states, and Walensky said it was the goal of the Biden administration to reach populations where resistance to the vaccines is highest, in communities of color and rural communities. Testifying alongside Walensky, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist and top health advisor to President Joe Biden, got into a heated exchange with Republican Senator Rand Paul. Paul claims the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded so-called "gain-of-function" research at the Wuhan laboratory that is suspected of playing a role in the coronavirus outbreak. Gain-of-function research could theoretically be used to make the virus more transmissible. Fauci had previously testified to Congress that the NIH never funded that kind of research but Paul accused Fauci of lying. "Senator Paul," Fauci shot back, "I have never lied before the Congress and I do not retract that statement." The two talked over each other, with an exasperated Fauci saying, "Senator Paul, you do not know what you are talking about ... I resent the lie you are now propagating. If anyone is lying here, it is you." (Anadolu)

News

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

Forgiving acts, pleas for piety, food sharing mark 2021 Eid’l Adha in PH

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BIAF-MILF assembly echoes call for BTA lifespan extension By ALI G. MACABALANG

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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OTABATO CITY – Muslims and nonMuslims alike have joined this year’s observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, one two most celebrated and important After declaring July 20 as a regular national holiday for the event observance in the Philippines, President Duterte led non-Muslim key officials in joining Islam followers in the celebration, appearing in television to convey his greetings. “I join our Muslim brothers in the observance of Eid’l Adha. I hope this year commemoration… we hold during these difficult times will continue to inspire all of us to find the true meaning of sacrifice in your own endeavors, especially in sharing life’s bounty among the poor and the needy,” the President said. “May this occasion like strengthen your bonds with your families, friends and loved ones, especially as we navigate from uncertainty to recovery,” he wished Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlos Galvez Jr. and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, both popular Christian dignitaries, took their turns greeting the Muslim brethren. They both wished that the essence of Eid’l Adha on the promotion of patience and selfsacrifice would remain high in the hearts of Muslims in fostering togetherness with fellow Filipinos in facing the challenges of the prevailing health emergency, known more as coronavirus pandemic. For Islam followers across the nation, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan led NCMF offices regional and local levels in praying for promotion of “love, compassion and mercy” as an imperative stride to overcome “pass through these extraordinary tribulations and economic difficulties”

events in Islam marking the day Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) passed the test of The Almighty Creator (Allah) almost sacrificing the life of his Ismael in piety.

MORO ARMED FORCES REVERBERATE CALLS FOR BTA EXTENSION: Hundreds of BIAF-MILF members lined up before the start of the July 17 assembly in Parang, Maguindanao. (Photo Supplied)

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RENEWED CALL FOR BTA EXTENSION: Bangsamoro Organizations stage prayer rally at a mosque foreground renewing call for the extension of the Bangsamoro transition period. (Supplied photo) wrought by the global pandemic. Pangarungan prayed for Allah (s.w.t.) to “guide our President and the country’s leaders to have firm faith and health as they lead the nation into continuing progress, protection from disease, and liberation from fear and disunity.” In Maguindanao, some residentcelebrants joined 2nd District Congressman Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu in the Eid prayer in Buluan town in the early morning and later received raw and roasted meats from four calves slaughtered by his family members for the celebration. The lawmaker, a namesake of Prophet Ibrahim’s son, offers roasted cow meats for need and less -affluent constituents during important events in Islam yearly. In this city, Muslim members of the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) celebrated Eid’l Adha in prayers at selected big mosques and later staged brief peace rallies renewing pleas for the President to reconsider his neutral stance and push in Congress the passage of a bill postponing the 2022 regional parliament election and extending the transitional lifespan of the autonomous government. At the famous Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah grand

ABOVE: BARMM-MILG’s relief foods for needy residents including families of fire-affected families. BELOW: The July 19 fire. (Photos supplied)

masjid here, mosque goers signed a tarpaulin prepared by the LBO that contains bold phrases praying for a Presidential urgent certification of the enabling bill. The Office of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) lauded the BLO consistent support, even as the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) through its Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READI) program dispersed relief goods for dozens of poor families here, despite the city leadership’s open opposition to call for extension in the BARMM’s transitional period.

The READi also distributed relief goods to dozens of families affected by a fire that razed to the some 50 business stalls at the Supermarket area here on July 19. Observers appreciated the BARMM government’s humanitarian service in awe, noting that some residents (likely including some of the fire victims) had staged twice street rallies wearing uniform Tshirts bearing the bold words that read: “No to BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) extension.” MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, serving also as BARMM government spokesman, told reporters that the regional officialdom shuns vindictive and discriminatory acts and is pursuing its avowed policy for “inclusive” public service. (AGM)

OTABATO CITY – Field members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have taken turn in echoing multi-sector calls for the Duterte administration to defer the 2022 first polls for regional parliament members and extend the lifespan of the Bangsamoro Transtition Authority (BTA) to 2025 in pursuit of bilateral vision for more meaningful autonomy and stable peace in Muslim Mindanao. Hundreds of members of the BIAF-MILF’s 9th Brigade Expeditionary Mission staged their peaceful assembly at their base in Parang, Maguindanao on July 17, and conveyed the sentiments in relations to a popular clamor for President Rodrigo Duterte to certify urgent a bill postponing the regional polls and extending the BTA operations period. Leaders of the BIAF field base and the MILF’s Information Committee and Committee on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) took turns in delivering speeches in vernacular to brief their assembled countryside forces on the implementation status of the mandates in the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) and R.A. 11054. In the separate messages, base Commander Bashir Ampat, CCCH Chair Butch Malang and other MILF field officials appealed for more patience among their ranks and file amid perceived glitches in the implementation of normalization and political tracks envisioned in the CAB and R.A. 11054 or Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The July 17 assembly was the latest in the series of manifestations – including provincial and regional resolutions, three huge motor caravans in Mindanao, and convergences in Metro Manila – meant to elicit a Presidential urgent push for the passage of the enabling bill by the 18th Congress. On Monday, meanwhile, the League of Bangsamoro Organizations Inc. (LBO), which helped stage the three major caravans in recent weeks, announced that it would lead also the conduct of congregational but pandemic protocols-compliant prayers in selected mosques for the observance of Eid’l Adha on Tuesday to reiterate pleas for possible reconsideration of President Duterte’s neural policy in the quest for BTA lifespan extension. LBO spokesman Abdulbasit Benito, in a media advisory, said the Civil Society Organizations Movement for Moral Governance (CSO MMG) in partnership with the Daawah Committee will stage the brief rally-prayers at the Grand Mosque Bobong, Al Borhan Mosque RH 4, Al Nor Mosque, Em Manor Mosque, Mabini Mosque, Al Motairi Mosque, Alil Amir Mosque, Maahad Mosque, Blue Mosque, and Doton RH 3 Mosque, all in this city. The BIAF-MILF’s 40,000 members are principal beneficiaries under the normalization track, which seeks to transform them to peaceful and productive civilian life with enabling socioeconomic enhancement packages worth one million pesos each after undergoing decommissioning in phases. BIAF | A10

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Vol. II, No. 04 | July 9-15, 2021 (Dhu’l Qidah 29-Dhu’l Hijjah 5, 1442)

JANNARAL | from Page A5

Chatting with the Wrong DOLE’s Bello could have led to scam But the way he chatted with me he sounded so drastic and I was still confused if he was the real Bello since my belief is that a Cabinet Member of Duterte administration must be always observing a proper decorum or good taste in conduct or polite behavior. I am used to deal or talk to another Cabinet Member of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Incidentally he is my Alpha Sigma Phi-1845

fraternity brother in the name of Secretary Wendel E. Avisado of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). He is a soft-spoken Cabinet Member and perhaps he was used to deal with ordinary citizens being the long-time former City Administrator of the then Mayor Digong in Davao City. Then this Bello though I have an element of doubt on his legitimacy urged me

also to send the trucking fee through known money couriers like the Palawan and Cebuana Lhuillier. He said the 40K trucking fee should be addressed to the one by the name of Myra Fuerte in Gattaran, Isabela with cellphone number: +63 960 8643765. However when we double checked this number it doesn’t work and cannot be reached. He further instructed me to send at once the

40K trucking fee so that the 1,000 bags of rice can be loaded already and then by the following day these will be unloaded already in the area of destination that I preferred. Sarcastically he added, “the trucking fee of 40K is all what you sacrificed vis-a-vis the help given to your group.” Then I pleaded that to do away with 40K trucking fee I negotiated with this “Bello” that

instead we will utilize our own trucking in hauling the 1,000 bags of rice. However, the way he answered me it is definite that their trucking with a 40K delivery fee must be the one to haul the bags of rice. To cut the never ending conversation he made a coup de grace by saying, “I am not forcing you, and it is for the group. Sige pa cancel ko na lang sa inyo.” Then I said thinking

his heart will soften knowing that most likely he will run for the Senate in 2022 national elections, I said, “OK Sir kung hindi mo kami mapagbigyan na kami na ang kukuha ng rice.” Then he shut off the conversation by sending a Thumbs Up sign meaning, “No Way.” For your Comments/Suggestions, please send an email to: julmunir1845@gma il.com

2000s. It was a win-win solution for our Asa’tidz that addressed the nightmare of the former Arabic teachers under the defunt ARMM, who expected to become teachers, but the reality is not or impossible without LPT qualification. The said program had passed the ball to Arabic teachers, who were able to complete and get certified with the ATEP Program, to pass the LET. I know a few who are now part of DepEd teachers from

the program. In fact, the program was no longer existing, but it laid out the way on how to turn impossible into possible strategically that can be referred to when the going gets tough. One of the reasons why some initiatives didn’t prosper in our community is because there’s part of it to be filled by our Asa’tidz and Ulama that was unfortunately overlooked or left empty. (IBD)

DIMAO | from Page A5

An opportunity for Arabic teachers in BARMM common perception among us that Asa’tidz and Ulama are limited to Mosques and Mada’ris; and they are often remembered when there’s prayer to lead or death. In light of this, I want to share two historic initiatives sponsored by a few visionary leaders whom I personally look up to not because of their political engagement or affiliation but of their vision that made change in our Asa’tidz and later on became a

legacy - I do believe there are also many leaders or even individuals that did the same I might not be aware of. First, The Certificate of Proficiency in English Language (COPEL), a Four Semesters special courses dedicated to Arabic teachers every Saturday and Sunday, started in 2004 at Jamiatu Muslim Mindanao JMM, Matampay, Marawi City and lasted for almost three years. The program has existed

even before in the said institution but meant for all who would be interested in it. Had it not been for the then Marawi city Mayor Solitario for his financial support through his Ulama Council, it would not have succeeded in bringing competitive professors from MSU Marawi with the partnership of JMM Faculty and Staff - English Departments. It was a once in a life-time opportunity that Arabic

teachers were tasked to speak and write English despite the fact that some of them never went to schools and only relied on life experience. Second, The ATEP or Accelerated Teacher Education Program for Arabic teachers in collaboration with renowned universities like MSU under the pilotship of one of Bangsamoro great minds, Dr. Manaros Boransing from DepEd in early

SALAPUDDIN | from Page A5

Honoring the Sacrifices of the MNLF 1st Batch the 90 and the 300 Commander Zapata (OCZA) and the 5th Operation Commander Palmata (OCPAL). But these later batches did not already see much

action when the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) was already negotiated and later implemented with the appointment of Chairman

Nur Misuari as Chairman of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) and later as Regional Gover-

nor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). I therefore suggest to the authors and coauthors of the bill to

invite responsible living MNLF leaders and authoritative resource persons, who can share real and truthful insights on this matter of

great historical importance, in order not to cause injustice, bias and prejudices, so that honor is given rightfully. (PMT)

is primarily responsible for the tracking of IDPs. No specific answer was given. Parts of the huge funds allocated for Marawi rehab and mostly passing through TFBM should be awarded to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to do

the tracking. NCMF has a nation-wide network of field offices that can comprehensively find the locations of IDPs and help persuade them to return home in due time. There are several other untold glitches involved in the Marawi rehab and recon efforts. But suffice it to

say that in the aforementioned instances, the presence of LOPSIDED PRIORITIES is as clear as the midday sunlight. If I am asked for my suggested solutions to the cited problems, I will just invoke the application of the opposite of all narrated gray areas. (AGM)

ceived that while the Philippines' right hand filed a case against China in the ITLOS and won, but its left hand, through Sen. Trillanes, negotiated secretly with China. What was the agenda in the negotiation and what was concluded or agreed in that

clandestine negotiation, despite they were discussing about the interest of our country, was never made known. On the other hand, unlike China, we did not build any infrastructure in our EEZ. It was either due to lack of foresight, lack of funding or not just part of the national security priority or what-

ever. On the part of China, as part of its security and economic priorities, she did not claim but she built infrastructures to assert her claim and installed military defense system on those artificial or reclaimed islets she built. That's the big difference between us and China. (PMT)

MACABALANG | from Page A4

Lopsided priorities in Marawi rehab Tourism orientation – Construction of structures for tourism industry development is essential during peacetime. But this orientation as exemplified by the current construction of mega central market center, memorial park, and other intensive structures at the Ground

Zero is inappropriate when there is no prior tracking yet for the whereabouts of IDPs still scattered across the country in miserable life. Some IDPs could be selling shabu for survival. Buildings are useless without people such as the IDPs. At-

tracting tourists prior to bringing evacuees home is as bad as hellish priority. No IDPs tracking – In a media briefing via zoom by TFBM and MSU officials concerning COVID-19, I asked the guests – one of them Undersecretary Felix Castro – on who

SOUTH CHINA | from Page A4

South China Sea and the Philippines EEZ gotiation with China. By authority of President Benigno Simeon Aquino, Senator Trillanes went to China secretly 16 times to talk to his counterpart, according to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was then the Senate President that time. When he in-

terpellated Sen. Trillanes on the floor, he refuses to answer and instead left the floor. What happened and whatever was concluded in his back chanelling negotiation was never made known to the public. Presumably, he only reported to

President Aquino. We can only surmise what could have been taken up and agreed between Sen. Trillanes and his counterpart. Even the Philippine Ambassador to China was kept in the dark on Trillanes mission. It can be per-

JRL)

Tourism & Culture

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

Issues, Concerns and Challenges on the Tawi-Tawi Seaweed Industry By JOHNNY R. LEE Ph.D.

Asam Pedas Fish, a Classic Malaysian Dish BANGSAMORO HALAL DISH

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With Maria Fhebie Ortil

an the Tawi-Tawi seaweed industry bring back its old glory years when things are back to normal?

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y previous written articles on seaweed farming and the industry as a whole described the rosy picture that it brought to the hundreds (30k or more) of Tawi-Tawi coastal dwellers and the ‘upward supply-chain’ comprising the local buyers, middlemen, traders, labor sectors, big-time buyers till it reached its external recipients responsible for its export to foreign lands like the USA, France, Japan and China to name a few. Seaweed derivatives known as ‘carrageenan’ has been mentioned previously as an important export commodity that has ‘thousands of uses’ as additives in food production, pharmaceutical products, health and wellness components, etc., has an underlying sideeffects and future ‘environmental burden’ to the overall ecological system of the area where hundreds of hectares are being utilized for farm plots to produce the thousands of tonnage of seaweed products. Ecological study suggests that the sea or the ocean, which has been previously thought as inexhaustible and never ending source of food and convenient dumping ground, can be breached if heavily exploited and has a limit if constantly pressured to its capacity. This writer, who has a keen background as a graduate of fishery biology and marine science, has always thought that in the foreseeable future

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if the seaweed industry is left at its current pace of production without interventions from concern government entities like the Bureau of Fisheries and other Environmental bureaucracies, may one day find that the industry which provides the people a good source of in-

come and ‘blessings’ will totally disappear and collapse because it is poorly managed and regulated! This writer does not predict a ‘grim scenario’ to dishearten the thousands of people who depend their livelihood on the seaweed industry but instead will try

to ‘educate’ them on the long term ‘illeffect’ if the so-called ‘sustainable development’ will be overlooked. Will discuss factors and ‘what-todos’ to counter the impending destruction that would come in my upcoming write -ups. (JRL)

ow let us take time out featuring the Bangsamoro Halal Cuisine after this culinary column has been in existence after more than a year already. Hence, with this Vol. 2, No. 6 issue of Philippine Muslim Today, I will start discussing the Halal Cuisine of our neighboring Muslim country like Malaysia. For the start, I will start featuring the Asam Pedas Fish - Classic Malaysian dish that's sour, fiery hot, and tastes extraordinarily satisfying. Everyone has their own interpretation for this favorite dish and there are endless adaptations; suffice it to say, as cited earlier it’s sour, fiery hot, and tastes extraordinarily satisfying. Asam pedas believed comes from Minangkabau cuisine of West Sumatra, Indonesia and has spread throughout to the islands of Sumatra (inc. Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra), Borneo (West Kalimantan) and Malay Peninsula. The main ingredients in asam pedas are usually seafood or freshwater fish. They are cooked in asam (tamarind) fruit juice with chilli and spices. The cooking process involves soaking the pulp of the tamarind fruit until it is soft and then squeezing out the juice for cooking the fish. Asam paste may be substituted for convenience. Vegetables such as terong or brinjals (Indian eggplants), okra and tomatoes are added.

Fish and seafood—such as mackerel, mackerel tuna, tuna, skipjack tuna, red snapper, gourami, pangasius, hemibagrus or cuttlefish — either the whole body or sometimes only the fish heads are added to make a spicy and tart fish stew. It is important that the fish remain intact for serving so generally the fish is added last. INGREDIENTS 1 pomfret, 1/2 pound to 1 pound (200 g-400 g) 10 small okras 1 tomato, cut into wedges 1 teaspoon of fish curry powder 2 sprigs of daun kesum, Vietnamese mint/ Vietnamese coriander 5 tablespoons cooking oil 1 tablespoon palm sugar/sugar Salt to taste ORTIL| A10

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News

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

MARAWI | from Page A2

Marawi still lacks fire truck while 6 fires hit city this year Fire Officer 2 Daud M. Macabantog, fire and arson investigator of the Marawi City Fire Station, said the Sagonsongan blaze preceded four fire incidents in the Sarimanok, Maxine, Basak Malutlut and Kilala areas in the city earlier this year. Macabantog, alias “Gen Sui,” was the first local authority to surface and respond to a post in the “Mindanao Tapatan Lane” Facebook page about the whereabouts of P96.4-million funds indicated in the 2018 special allotment release order (SARO) for the purchase of Bureau of Fire Protection facilities (P7.3M), installation of fire hydrants (P3.5M), and purchase of BFP equipment, supplies and

materials (P85M). A photo of the 2018 SAROs were posted by Montila in the Facebook page ostensibly to elicit clarification from Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) officials and other authorities. “Based on information, the P85M was used to purchase 2 Hazmat (shuttle) trucks, 1 rescue vehicle and 1 ambulance unit,” Montila said, expressing wonder why no fire truck was included when Marawi City has no fire truck since 2017. According to past reports, Marawi used to have four fire trucks, but the invading ISISinspired rebels commandeered one unit and torched the three

others along with the old city’s fire station building. Montila believed the P96-M fire prevention facilities-intended funds were coursed through the TFBM, being the lead entity for all rehabilitation efforts in Marawi. The Philippine Muslim Today tried but failed to get reactions from the city government and the TFBM, to which the “Mindanao Tapatan Lane” post was principally meant to comment on. Macabantog said the TFBM earlier announced an upcoming donation of four fire trucks from China, something he believed to be a reason why the Task Force did

not purchase a fire truck out of the P85M fund. He said the city also has no fire hydrant yet despite the 2018 P3.5M fund allocation for installation of such facilities, adding that the hitch was spawned by the absence of main water pipelines in the city. Montila posted another e-copy of 2018 SARO amounting to P174.5-million intended for the rehabilitation of the city water district. The P174.5M is broken down as: Operations reactivation of the Marawi City Water District (P8.7M); Replacement of defective pipelines (P8.9M); purchase of tools and equipment and repair of defective pipelines (P5.2M); ex-

tension of pipelines system ((P7.1M); provision of water supply for temporary IDPs’ shelters (P59M); provision of water supply for permanent shelters (P15.2M); and provision of sewerage system for collection of and treatment tank overflows at Saronsongan transitional shelter (P70M). Montila hinted no implementation yet of projects programmed under the P174.5M SARO, citing in particular the case of the P70-M sewerage system in Sagonsongan transitional shelter camp. In a separate post shared in the “Mindanao Tapatan Lane” page, Montila announced that BFP Regional Director for Bangsamoro region

Chief Supt. Victor Vibares directed on Feb. 23 the provincial BFP office to lend one fire truck for Marawi City pending acquisition of its own fire truck(s). But the order was never implemented, said. Montila posted lately a message, conveying his “appeal in strongest possible that a temporary unit (fire truck) from outside Lanao del Sur be assigned to Marawi City while waiting for delivery of donation (from China) thru the TFBM that will be permanently owned by Marawi City.” “We are in a race against time and fire incidents while waiting for the donation,” he said. (AGM)

twice a year,” Piñol said. The introduction here of the solarpowered irrigation and waterworks systems are coupled with equally MinDA-aided livestock raising, vegetable farming and other life enhancing packages, Dr. Tamayo said. Taraka is one of the oldest towns in the provinces where most if not all local government units have been de-

pendent principally on IRA subsidies for decades. Less affluent resident families have also been sourcing out drinking water from the Taraka River, a practice exposing in-takers to higher tendencies for diarrhea and other related ailments. For one, such inadequacies are expected to end upon the operation of the SPIS and waterworks systems. (AGM)

LANAO SUR | from Page A2

Lanao Sur town eyed as eco enterprise model Value chain concept Piñol said the MinDA has introduced the complete value chain concept in Taraka’s rice production program that will involve stakeholders from planting to processing and marketing as a stepping stone to making this town a paragon of Muslim premium rice enterprise model in the country. The Philippine Rice Research Institute, the

Ministry of Agriculture of BARMM, the Northern Mindanao Office of the Department of Agriculture and PhilMech are supporting the project, he said. Since Taraka does not have a rice processing facility yet, its produce will be brought to a modern rice mill in nearby North Cotabato where it will be packed with proper branding, he said. The packed Taraka

premium rice will then be shipped back here for sale to Maranao consumers in Lanao del Sur and other areas of the country, notably in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Sec. Piñol said. “Hindi na kami aasa sa imported rice. We will plant and eat our own premium rice, and the rest will be sold outside,” Piñol quoted Mayor Sumagayan as

saying. The six SPIS units and huge solar-powered water system.to produce potable water are funded by the DBP under the MinDAWater Program of MinDA in partnership with the state bank and the DILG, he said. “Taraka is the first local government unit in the country to fund the establishment of SolarPowered Irrigation Systems which would enable its farmers to plant

2 BTA | from Page A3

2 BTA Parliament members allot P5.5M for 7 school buildings The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) “will determine other schools in the region that need development and as-

sistance,” the PMRD statement said. MBHTE Minister Iqbal was quoted as saying that the construction of school buildings – either fund-

ed under the TDIF or regular ministry funds – would be consistent with the 12-Point Priority Agenda of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Min-

danao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim. One of the 12-point agenda prescribes for the promotion of access to quality education and

developing schools as a safe environment for learning and growth. The same thrust is also pursuant to the Bangsamoro Education Code enacted by the

BTA in May. The code seeks to enable the MBHTE in ensuring that “No Bangsamoro child shall be left behind (in educational uplift).” (AGM)

BARMM | from Back Page

‘All systems go’ for BARMM summit on harmonized thrusts “The regional interventions should translate into uplifting the lives of our people. This goal can be achieved mainly through harmonious planning and execution of convergent regional, provincial, municipal, city and clustered villages’ projects,” Sinarimbo said at the Lanao del Sur pre-summit. “Whether it is about

creating road-networks or directly providing medical assistance to our constituents, at the center of that is the plight of our constituents,” he added. The 27-month old BARMM governance replaced the 29-year Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019, and is now covering the five provinces, three cities and 63 au-

tonomy-opting barangays in North Cotabato. Unlike in the ARMM government’s troublesome plights in defending yearly its regional budgets before Congress, the new BARMM

administration receives an annual block grant and other national funds sans Congressional grills. The BARMM cabinet led by Chief Minister Ebrahim decides on

regional-impact projects, and proposes corresponding appropriations for approval by the regional parliament. Sinarimbo said cooperation and cohesion

on peace and development initiatives among LGUs and regional ministries can hasten the pace of the regional growth and do away with duplicated funding of projects. (AGM)

YOUR ONE-STOP USED RTWs SHOP ADDRESS: Consunji Street (front of Emcor), Poblacion, Iligan City 9200 PH. Tel: 63 228-3454

Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

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U.S. provides PH over 3.2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines M ANILA, July 19, 2021 – On July 16 and 17,the United States delivered a total of 3,240,850 one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines to the Philippines as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19. This is the first time the Philippines has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a safe, trusted, and easy to store shot widely used in the United States. The shipment was provided directly to the Philippines by the U.S. government, with delivery via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires John Law and Acting USAID Mission Director Sean Callahan joined Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr., Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III, IATF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority Karl Chua, and other stakeholders at Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines on July 16 and 17. “This U.S. donation of vaccines from our domestic supply to the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, demonstrates our close and abiding relationship, and how important this partnership is to us. This one-shot, easy to store vaccine will protect millions of lives

PH RECEIVES FROM THE U.S. JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES: U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law joins Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III (left photo) and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. (right photo) and other officials to welcome the U.S. government’s delivery of over 3.2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines to the Philippines. (Supplied photo) across the country,” said Chargé d’Affaires Law. The Philippines has previously received more than 7 million vaccine doses through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a global initiative run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The United States is the largest monetary contributor to Gavi,

having already donated over Php100 billion ($2 billion) to the Alliance. The United States has worked closely with Philippine stakeholders throughout the pandemic to protect public health and support the local response to COVID-19.To date, total U.S. government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines amounts to over Php1.38 billion ($27.5 million). – U.S. Embassy

BIAF | from Page A7

BIAF-MILF assembly echoes call for BTA lifespan extension Only more than 120,000 of MILF members have been decommissioned alongside their firearms in the first two phases. The third phase has been delayed due principally to the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted stiff social movement restrictions and the government’s diversion of

corresponding fiscal resources to facing the health emergency. The political track, on the other hand, prescribes for the implementations of efforts to build a robust parliament-type bureaucracy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with the legislation of basic ena-

bling laws and codes on education, administrative, civil service, electoral system, local government, and revenue, among others. The staterecognized delays in the normalization and political tracks have prompted various quarters including the BTA to pass formal manifestations urging President

Duterte and the 18th Congress to defer the 2022 first election of 80 regular parliament members and extend the BTA lifespan to 2025. Senators Koko Pimentel and Dickk Gordon had originally authored separate bills for the purpose, but the Senate has opted to substitute the measures

with the version of Senator Francis Tolentino. The substitute bill was due for second plenary reading in the Senate before the June 3 adjournment sine die. In the lower Chamber, four enabling bills are pending on committee level. They were authored by Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto”

Mangudadatu, Deputy Speakers Loren Legarda and Isidro Ungab, and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez. A fifth bill was authored by Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo, but it seeks to hold the polls on schedule and extend the transitional operations of the BARMM government to longer years. (AGM)

the spice paste for 2 minutes or until fragrant. 7. Add the tamarind juice, fish curry powder and bring to boil. 8. Add the tomato wedges, okras and daun kesom and bring

to boil. 9. Add the fish, salt, and palm sugar/sugar. 10. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes or until the fish is cooked. 11. Serve hot. (MFO)

ORTIL | from Page A9

Asam Pedas Fish, a Classic Malaysian Dish SPICE PASTE: 1 clove garlic 1 stalk of lemongrass, white part only 4 shallots 8-10 dried chillies, depends how spicy you

like 1/2 tablespoon belacan, prawn paste TAMARIND JUICE: 1 1/4 cup water Tamarind pulp, size of a small ping pong ball

INSTRUCTIONS 1.Pound the spice paste with mortar and pestle or grind them in a food processor. 2.Set aside. 3.Soak the tamarind pulp in warm water for

15 minutes. 4.Squeeze the tamarind pulp constantly to extract the flavor into the water. 5. Drain the pulp and save the tamarind juice. 6. Heat oil and fry

MINDANAO | from Page A6

2nd Mindanao Balik Probinsya model village rises in Zambo ex-rebel lair Officials of Lanao del Sur and Kauswagan chose barangay Tacub as the first BPBPP site in Mindanao because of its significance to local unification and reconciliation efforts. Barangay Tacub had

grabbed media limelight on October 24, 1971 when 40 to 60 Moro villagers were massacred by Visayan settlers allegedly backed by soldiers, according to Wikipedia. The second BPBPP

model village in Kalawit covers a former Pagkain ng Bayan production area that was abandoned years ago because of the presence of armed bandits, according to MinDA. The Kalawit model

village sits on a 200hectare area that can accommodate 200 families and enable them to engage in farming and entrepreneurial activities upon return from Metro Manila, Sec. Piñol said. In the Kauswagan,

Lanao del Norte BPBP village, returning residents will be involved in poultry raising and vegetable production because of the smaller area of six hectares, he said. Among the products

identified for adoption by returning families is the planting of high value coconuts, especially the Sweet and Aromatic variety, for the high-end market and for export, the MinDA chief said. (AGM)

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Vol. II, No. 06 | July 23-29, 2021 (Dhu’l Hijjah 13-19, 1442)

‘All systems go’ for BARMM summit on harmonized thrusts By ALI G. MACABALANG

Mohaider weds his long time fiancée the “beauty and brain” former Miss MSU-Sulu By Abdulhan Nassaie Jannaral

J

BARMM Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo.

C

OTABATO CITY – It’s “all systems go” for the Bangsamoro officialdom hosting this Friday, July 23 here of the regional summit designed for constituent-local government units (LGUs) to harmonize their development project proposals with the regional priorities and curb usual instances of duplication or double funding in program works. Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Bangsamoro government’s Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), said the regional summit will collate proposals presented in the field pre-summits held earlier in Lanao del Sur (including Marawi City), Maguindanao, Basilan (including Lamitan City), Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces. Similar pre-summits have also been conducted for priority proposals from the city government here and the cluster of North Cotabato’s autonomy-opting 63 barangays, Sinarimbo said, noting the successes of the field meetings. Friday’s regional summit is slated inside the huge compound here of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governance, Sinarimbo said, adding that the event will be open to media coverage to ensure a wide propagation of corresponding information. The MILG facilitated the pre-summits on July 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 in Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, respectively, for municipal and provincial officials to draw up security and socio-economic programs and projects for funding by the regional government, organizers said. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim partly presided and addressed via zoom the Basilan event, with Senior Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, Minister Sinarimbo, Minister Eduard Guerra and a composite regional team leading the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi episodes, it was learned. Provincial and municipal executives led by Governors Bombit Alonto-Adiong, Jim Salliman, Satur Tan and Ysmael Sali brainstormed with BARMM government representatives at the field pre-summits, and are expected will finalize the final converging their priorities with the regional thrusts at Friday’s regional summit proper here, organizers said. “The summit proper will enable us to converge together the programs of the region and those of the local government units so that there would be a common development thrust for all (of us) to pursue,” Sinarimbo told reporters. BARMM | Back to A10

OLO, Sulu — The 25-year old alumnus of the Mindanao State University in Sulu is all set to tie the knot with his long time fiancée in a holy matrimony to be officiated by an Imam on Saturday the 24th of July 2021 (14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1442) in a traditional rites to be held at the Phase 1 of Hassiman Subdivision in Tanjung, Indanan, Sulu. The groom Mohaider “Yummie” LEFT: The BeMedalled Yummie graduated as Cum Laude of Bachelor in Secondary Education Jannaral Kairan is from the MSU-Sulu. Beside him is the author and his uncle Abdulhan Nassaie Jannaral, who the son of Hadji Kair- is also a professor of the Mindanao State University. RIGHT: CROWNED MS. UNIVERSITY: To an Mohammad prove that she possesses “beauty and brain,” Kaye who is a Cum Laude graduate of MSUSuhaili and Dr. Radz- Sulu is crowned as Ms. University besting other equally gorgeous and beautiful 15 candidates in the Beauty Pageant conducted in 2013. ma Jannaral-Suhaili, years. the former Vice Chancellor of MSU-Sulu. Just like Yummie, Kaye is also a Certified LET The 24-year old bride, Khar-Diya “Kaye” Alfad Passer. Abbas is the daughter of the late Jumala Jadi AbShe finished her primary schooling at the bas and Nur-Aina Alfad-Abbas of Kasanyangan Kasanyangan Elementary School in Jolo, Sulu. Village, Jolo, Sulu. She is the 4th child among the 6 Kaye obtained her High School diploma from children and was born on 18th of June 1996 to the the Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls in Academic Year loving Abbas couple in the above village. 2012. Both groom and bride are educationally, spirituBy having a beauty and brain, Kaye was ally, and emotionally prepared to raise a happy crowned as the first ever Ms University 2013 during family. the search held at the Mindanao State University Cum Laude loves Cum Laude on February 28,2013 Yummie graduated besting 15 others Cum Laude with the equally gorgeous ladegree of Bachelor of dies during her freshSecondary Education man year. from the Mindanao She was a consistent State University-Sulu. student writer for 4 He was born on the years of the COED 14th of June 1995 at Gazette Publication, Camp Asturias, Jolo, Official Student PubliSulu. cation of the College He is a Certified of Education. Licensure ExaminaLove Affair in Retrotions for Teachers spect (LET) passer in 2017. Just like any other coYummie is one of ed Yummie and Kaye the achievers of had also love affair to reckon with. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language It was during their 2nd year in College at the (TESOL) eligibility and became an International College of Education in MSU-Sulu when eyes met Online teacher for Chinese students. the eyes. He also handled a Summer Bridging Program to However, the love affair has blossomed on their Polythecnic University of the Philippines (PUP) stu3rd year in College until they finally graduated both dents at MSU-Sulu. with high honors. He is likewise one of the lecturers in LET ReBack during their freshman year, as cited earlier view Classes at the College of Education (COED), it was just eyes met the eyes. In other words it was MSU-Sulu. merely getting to know each other’s first. Yummie attended his Kindergarten schooling at Finally their fates have crossed one another, the Notre Dame of Asturias and his grade school at until finally on Saturday the 24th of July 2021 or Notre Dame Walled City in Jolo, Sulu. equivalent to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1442, the Imam will Yummie has obtained 42 units in Bachelor of pronounce them as “husband and wife.” CongratuLaws (LlB) from the Western Mindanao State Unilations Yummie and Kaye as you walk along the versity (WMSU) College of Law in Zamboanga City. path of Roses where both your parents are so hapOn the other hand, Kaye graduated Cum Laude py and proud that you finally take the road to hapwith the degree of Bachelor of Science in Educapiness and prosperity in life as well as bonded hustion, Major in English. band and wife until forever! Yummie is also a good writer where he served (PMT) as Editor-in-Chief of Gazette Publication for 2