MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T
Volume VI, No. 266
Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com
Sat-Sun
April 22-23, 2017
P15.00
Pres. Duterte offers IGACOS: In an island 1M reward for capture of faith healers of Abu Sayyaf bandits Feature
Holy Week Review:
By CHA MONFORTE
Last midnight of the Good Friday, folksy faith healers the locals called as manambalay residing in Samal Island “renewed” their healing powers at the old Babak cemetery. “Without agreement, we will meet midnight of Good Friday at the old cemetery in Babak and we just didn’t mind each other while we never know each other, and we silently recited our respective oracions,” said 60-year-old Datu Tambalan (Doreto P. Palasan in real name), a known faith healer residing in Purok 5, Sitio Balite at Barangay Tambo in Babak district. “For me, I and others whom I don’t know knelled to pray in front of the big cross in the cemetery, others prayed in front or atop niches. It took me one hour to do the oracion, me alone and then I went home at 1 a.m.,” he said in an interview. He said that each time he does the oracion handed down to him by his maternal grandfather every Good Friday midnight, he is re-strengthened once again for another year of faith healing. Datu Tambalan is known to have extraordinary powers that he uses to heal and help people. He healed the dying, people who have given up the cure of the hospitals and doctors, women with breast cancer on terminal stage, those sick of other types of cancer, cast out bad spirits from possessed persons, inflicted thieves to admit their household crimes, reunited separated spouses, let foreigners come to the island to marry their chatmates in the internet by his oracion, lana (oil) and “healing works”. He would also preempt manghiloay (poisoners) and mapikpikay (so-called witches and givers of curses, sudden illness, black magic, bad luck spells), protect folks from various sickness, and even secure soldiers from being hit during ambush with his “habak” (amulet) sealed in a twisted bullet shell and many more wonders. Island of Faith Healers “Dire sa Samal perteng daghana ang manambalay, di malupigan sa kadaghan (Here in Samal there is abundance of faith healers, the island can’t he beaten for having many healers),”Datu Tambalan said. True enough, there was that healer named Kapitan Bali (means broken or fracture) in nearby San Isidro who was famous of healing and reconnecting bone fractures. He already died due to stroke sometime four years ago. But his brother has reportedly assumed Kapitan Bali’s folk healing at the PAL crash site in upper San Isidro. See faith, page 8
P r e sid e n t R o d r i g o Duterte on Wednesday, April 19, said he is offering one million reward for the immediate arrest of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members who are still hiding in Bohol province. “I have a one million offer per person ako. Tip lang ibigay mo sa pulis pati military, no questions asked, do not even give your name, sabi mo lang kung saan sila at gobyerno na ang bahala,” President Duterte told reporters in a chance interview in Tag-
bilaran, Bohol following a security briefing on the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. He said he has ordered the military and police to “finish the game” and hunt down all ASG bandits who clashed with government forces last week. He noted that there are still about six bandits scouring the mountains of Bohol. The Chief Executive also assured the public that his government is doing its best to curb terrorism
and prevent the ASG from reaching other places in the country. “I said we are doing our best. The Army is here, the place is secured. We have more than enough officers to fight for one year if need be. So you are safe,” he said. Meanwhile, President Duterte said all is set to host world leaders for the upcoming ASEAN Summit. “So matagal na ‘yan pinilano. It’s been in the books for --- alam na namin ‘yung mga events na darat-
ing. It has been prepared a long time ago,” he said. As for the plans of the University of the Philippines (UP) to offer an honorary degree for Duterte, the President said he is not inclined to accept it adding that he is not used to accepting rewards. “With due respect sa University of the Philippines, I do not accept even when I was mayor… As a matter of personal and official policy, I do not accept awards. Wala sa pagkatao ko,” he said.PND
GSIS welcomes new chairman Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) executives and employees formally welcomed Dr. Francisco T. Duque III, former chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), as the pension fund’s new chairman in ceremonies held in GSIS Head Office in Pasay City. In his message, Duque said he considers it a privilege to serve the government again, particularly in GSIS, recounting how he personally witnessed its transformation over the last six years. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives the credentials of Union of Myanmar Ambas- He recalled that when sador-designate to the Philippines Win Naing at the Malacañan Palace on April 20, 2017. presidential photo
See welcomes, page 11