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Masonic Districts hold open golf tourney
DOLE to help displaced workers
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northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper
Volume II, No. 090
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Friday
September 20, 2013
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Bangsamoro - Family Int’l link to assist communities D
AVAO City––The Bangsamoro Development Agency and the Community and Family Services International formally forged a partnership agreement highlighting the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program’s support for the operations of the project management team. SEE FULL STORY/p.10
Gov’t committed to rebuilding Zambo after standoff: Palace MALACANANG assured on Wednesday that the government is committed to helping Zamboanga City residents in rebuilding their city, particularly those who lost their homes. The Aquino administration is ready to provide the victims of the Zamboanga City violence especially people whose homes were destroyed by the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF). “Certainly, itong nangyari sa Zamboanga, in general, kailangan nila ng ating tulong, ng ating national government. At tayo ay handang tumulong sa kanila,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
LANAO DEL NORTE -- As of August 31, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 10 through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has released informed by DFA Secretary P4,640,000 to 908 benAlbert Del Rosario that 87 eficiaries in the municiFilipinos remain on death palities of Matungao, Lala, row. Del Rosario said majority of the convicted felons are jailed in Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, for commission of Only a capital offense, including Php12.00/capsule (500mg) murder, and in China for or drug cases. Php840/box (70 capsules) DelRosario also told Contact: Villar during the hearing on LYNEI G. MORDENO DFA’s proposed P12.1 billion
Salvador, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo all in Lanao del Norte province. The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of DSWD is a communitybased program which provides capacity building to improve the socio-economic
U.S. RELIEF OPERATIONS IN ZAMBO. Police officers in Zamboanga City help load thousands of relief packages provided by the U.S. Embassy in response to the immediate needs of citizens displaced by the on-going conflict in the area. The U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) procured and delivered 16,000 blankets, 17,300 sleeping pads, toiletries, food items, four 500-gallon water tanks, and construction materials for 80 portable toilets to improve sanitation in evacuation centers. The U.S. Government allocated Php26.4 million ($600,000) for its relief operations in the city. USAID-GEM/Sarah Matalam
Masonic Districts RX-A, RX-B hold open golf tourney By Irene Joy B. Dayo
The Masonic Districts RX-A and RX-B under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines hold the second MW Peter U. Lim Lo Suy Open Golf Tournament. The tournament is SEE tourney/p.11
908 Pantawid Pamilya grantees enjoy DSWD’s livelihood program
Villar to DFA: Exhaust all means to save OFWs on death row
Senator Cynthia A. Villar yesterday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to check on the status of the cases of 87 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Overseas Filipinos who are on death row in different countries. “The Philippine government should look into the cases of our Filipino workers who were doomed to die and exhaust all means to spare them the death penalty,” said Villar after being Senator Villar
SEE villar/p.11
SEE zambo/p.11
09088659793
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EDITOR: RUEL PELONE, ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com
METRO CDO
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY l MISAMIS ORIENTAL
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Prices of sardines, goods remain stable despite closure of Zambo manufacturers By Cheng Ordonez Executive Editor
Misamis Oriental Telephone manager Fernando Vincent Dy studies billings of the telco as they streamline their operations for this year. Dy said their biggest problem is cable theft, which he blamed for the recent loss of internet connection among Misortel subscribers. Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry L. Gorit
Cable thefts hound Misortel By GERRY LEE GORIT, Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro City––Thieves who steal cable wires are the biggest problem of the the Misamis Oriental Telephone company, according to its manager. Fernando Vincent Dy said it was cable theft that recently caused the loss of internet connection and long distance calls among Misortel subscribers. “Bayantel did not disconnect our lines,” Dy said, in answer to allegations that Misortel has not paid its bills to Bayantel. He said Misortel owes Bayantel P3,188,534.34 but that the two companies already have an agreement whereby Misortel makes a monthly payment of P159,426.72. He added that Misortel is up-to-date in its monthly payments. The more than P3-million owed by Misortel has been around since December 2011. Dy said the remaining amount to be paid by Misortel is P1,551,648.18 and will be fully paid by June 2014. “Cable theft is a problem of almost all telephone companies,” Dy said. He said he has sought the help of the city government of Cagayan de Oro and the Philippine National Police. Dy said he believes the cable thefts are for “economic sabotage”. “This is a big problem,” he said.
CAGAYAN de Oro––Despite the reduced, if not lack of, production by sardine factories in Zamboanga Peninsula due to the ongoing conflict in Zamboanga City, prices of sardines and other canned goods in Northern Mindanao remained stable, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province said. There have been enough inventories of canned sardines in Misamis Oriental despite the siege on the “Sardines Capital of the Philippines” – the now beleaguered City of Zamboanga, DTI - Misamis Oriental declared. DTI was responding to several queries whether the Zamboanga stand-off has affected the prices of sardines in the province. DTI Misamis Oriental head Ma. Eliza Pabillore said prices of sardines in the province remain stable since last week despite the conflict in Zamboanga City. Pabillore said DTI’s monitoring revealed that the prices of regular canned sardines remain at P14 to P15 a piece. Pabi l l ore ma d e t he statement to allay fears that prices of canned foods would likely increase since most canned factories were based in the strife-torn City of Zamboanga. Some residents have expressed the fears that prices of canned sardines might increase due to the
Monitoring of one of Cagayan de Oro’s popular dry-market place, Super Kei Shoppers, shows enough canned sardines in its shelves despite the stand-off in the country’s Sardines Capital -- Zamboanga City. Photo by Cheng Ordonez
sporadic fighting between government troopers and members of the Moro National Liberation Front, and any price increase of the basic commodities particularly canned sardines would certainly affect the poor. Residents were also worried that any price increase of canned sardines would signal the price hike of other basic commodities such as rice, fish, and meat. Pabillore said the DTI is continually monitoring the prices of Zamboanga-based
canned sardines, but since last week there have been no movement of prices of canned sardines. She said, at the moment, there is nothing to worry since the prices of canned goods and other basic commodities here and in the region remained stable. Reports from Manila re aching t he province indicate a hiccup in the prices of, if not a temporary shortage in, canned sardines after the sardine capital of the Philippines shut down amid violent
clashes between government troops and a rebel group. In a bid bulletin, the DTI said all canned sardine manufacturers in Zamboanga City have stopped operating. The city produces 75 percent of all canned sardines in the country. DTI’s Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group has yet to determine the number of workers displaced by, as well as the losses resulting from the temporary work stoppage.
Labor department to promote culture of voluntary compliance By IRENE B. DAYO Staff Reporter
CAGAYAN de Oro City–– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Northern Mindanao a new labor law aimed at promoting the culture of voluntary compliance here. A l an M . Ma c ar ay a , DOLE regional director, said on Thurs day that the new Labor Law Compliance System (LLCS) would be implemented next month under Department Order No. 130-13. He said that the LLCS was the integrated framework for voluntary compliance and enforcement of labor laws and social legislations issued pursuant to the rule-making and visitorial and enforcement power of the Labor Secretary.
“It is to promote the culture of voluntary compliance with the labor laws,” Macaraya said in a talk to the local press here. He said that the LLCS also ensure fair, expeditious and non-litigated settlement of disputes, encourages t he us e of settlement in all labor cases and strengthen tripartism among employees, employers and the government. According to Macaraya, there are no more inspectors in DOLE. Instead, individuals called Labor Law Compliance Of f icers (LLC Os) w i l l be tasked to assess private establishments to be compliant with the law and the standards. Macaraya also reported that President Benigno S. Aquino allowed 372 posi-
tions for LLCOs. In the region, assigned LLCOs are currently undergoing a series of seminars for the purpose of quality implementation of the new system. The LLCOs is far more better than the Sanction Approach conducted by Labor Inspectors under Department Order No. 57, series of 2004 or the so-called Labor Standards Enforcement Framework because the approach is more on voluntary compliance, Macaraya said. He said that the implementation would flow in three modes. First is the Joint Assessment where LLCOs will assess establishments employing 10 or more employees, country’s registered ships or vessels engaged in domestic shipping, sea and land-based manpower agencies that
are engaged in hazardous work, contrac ting and sub-contracting arrangements, and employing child employees. Second is the Compliance Visit. In here, LLCOs will process from request for assistance in the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) and found complaints for labor standards violation. Third is the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Investigation. In this, on the other hand, covers instances for imminent danger, dangerous occurrences, and accidents resulting to disabling injury. Included in this also are OSH violations committed in plain view or in the presence of the LCCO. The new system was drafted on June 2012 where the DOLE’s Joint Review Committee was created.
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Caraga News
friday | september 20, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com
AGUSAN DEL NORTE l AGUSAN DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL NORTE
Farmers get land titles, finally, from govt agency B U T UA N C i t y – – T h e Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte has recently distributed 136 hectares of farmlands in Barangay Aclan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to 75 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) held at Aclan covered court on September 13. Nasipit Mayor Enrico R. Corvera handed out the Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) assisted by Aquino W. Gambe, on behalf of Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba; DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Andre B. Atega; Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Lolita V. Empanado, and Aclan Barangay Chairman Bobby L. Nanol. Atega congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries and encouraged them to take care and work hard to progressively develop the land they now owned. Meanwhile, Mayor Corvera commended DAR for intensifying land distribution and congratulated the new landowners and urged them to fully develop the land and pay their obligation to the local government. Nanol, meanwhile commented that farmer-beneficiaries were very grateful for the land that they have been cultivating are now their own. PIA-Caraga
Use of ‘LED lights’ in Surigao City questioned S By Roel N. Catoto of MindaNews
URIGAO City– –A councilor here has questioned the city government’s use of light-emiting diode (LED) lamps for street lighting, saying these pose a risk among motorists because these are not as bright as the sodium bulbs being replaced.
C ou nc i l or B a lt a z ar “Batang” Abian, an electrical engineer who chairs the council’s committee on general services, said using LEDs along the national highway and city streets is dangerous, although he pointed out that it is okay to use LEDs along the city boulevard because the lamp posts are close to each other. Abian told MindaNews that he is contemplating to call an before the city council to shed light on the issue.
LED lights have gained popularity as street lights in many parts of the world because of their low power consumption and supposed longer life. Felipe T. Sulapas, officerin-charge of the City General Services Office, said they are replacing the old street lights because sodium bulbs are expensive to maintain. He said the sodium bulbs are rated at 250 watts, which consume electricity almost six times as the LEDs that are only 42 watts. Sulapas admitted though that the 42-watt LEDs is not as bright as the sodium bulbs but stressed the savings in terms of power cost, noting that the city government pays the electric bill. He said that LED lights are better than no lights at all. Tricycle driver Ben Contreras has noted that the the LED lights are not quite as bright as the sodium bulbs and thus affect the visibility. SPO2 Ariel Cavite, traffic investigator at the city police office, said that poor lighting can contribute to vehicular accidents.
GRIEF OVER BROTHER, LUMAD DEFENDER
Sister of Benjie Planos, slain leader of the Agusan Manobo group, wails and clings to his body during his burial on Tuesday. Planos’ murder comes weeks after the Manobos returned to their community after an agreement to stop militarization in their community in Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The Manobos pin his murder on paramilitary and soldiers. Davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza
Another wave of relief goods sent to Zambo BUTUAN City––The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Field Office 13 sent its second wave of augmentation support to the victims of conflict in Zamboanga City. In a press statement here Wednesday, Leah Quintana, DSWD Regional Information Officer, said that DSWD Caraga Regional Director Minda Brigoli instructed the sending of the second wave of augmentation support on Monday. The relief supplies from DSWD Caraga included 3,000 family food packs worth P825,000; 1,000 pieces of blankets, P175,000; 1,000 pieces of plastic mats, P214,000; and 200 mosquito nets, P34,000. Quintana said that the second wave of augmentation support to Zamboanga City is worth P1,248,000. Last week, DSWD Caraga had also sent P1.9 million worth of relief supplies to Zamboanga City as its first wave of augmentation support.
Save Mount Mayapay advocacy gains support from FSUU alumni By Johny S. Natad of PIA-Caraga
Tesda officials in Caraga region turn over 4,500 armchairs in Surigao del Sur By Robert E. Roperos of PIA-Caraga
BUTUAN City––Officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Caraga Region recently turned-over 1,100 armchairs in Surigao del Sur. TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Florencio Jr. underscored the collaborative efforts of the public and private agencies and organizations in the realization of the project. Dr. Sunico also acknowledged the support extended by the provincial and municipal local government units by utilizing their local resources in transporting the chairs from the production site in Agusan del Sur to Surigao del Sur. The official said the project will benphilippine news agency
efit school children in the province who are the future leaders not only of the province and the region, but the whole nation as well. “The real beneficiaries of this project are our schoolchildren who are the future leaders of our nation,” Sunico said. Sunico further stressed, like the other projects implemented by all government agencies, the PNoy Bayanihan project is a triumph of convergence since different sectors of society are involved from planning until its implementation. “… and with the success of its implementation, we are all victorious,” he added. For her part, Surigao del Sur Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Teofila Cabatuan expressed her gratitude for this noble project of the national government.
BUTUAN City––Members of Father Saturnino Urios University High School Alumni Association (FSUU-HSAA) have pledged to support the environmental advocacy to save and protect Mount Mayapay. FSUU-HSAA President Minnie Mary Rose Tiu Dumanhug said the alumni strongly support the ecological conservation of Butuan’s world and natural heritage, the Mount Mayapay. “We commit ourselves to support the environmental advocacy of PIA-Caraga to save Mount Mayapay. As part of our commitment, we will be organizing a signature campaign in cooperation with other concerned environmental groups,” Dumanhug declared. She said that the environmental signature campaign supposedly started last September 11 during a university celebration, which was attended by both college and high school alumni, has been postponed. “We will be talking again with alumni officials and
other environmental groups to finally set schedules and needed preparations for the environmental signature campaign to save Mount Mayapay soon,” she added. Me a nw h i l e , F SU U HSAA Member and Samahang Magdalo Caraga Regional Coordinator Michael Leo Torralba asserted the urgency to save Mount Mayapay. “We cannot wait for another devastation like what happened in Ormoc and Legazpi and just let our tears do the talking when the time comes,” Torralba pointed out. He added: “The status of Mayapay is a clear and imminent danger if quarrying operations as well as other environmental destruction will continue.” “All these must come to an end and we shall all help campaign for this cause otherwise the destruction will bring us deeper than 6 feet way down under,” Torralba said. Torralba encouraged fellow alumni, people of Butuan and Agusan to support the advocacy and action to save Mount Mayapay.
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KASALIMBAGO Movement pays tribute to Brigadier General Lucero
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By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN
ARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- Members of the KASALIMBAGO Movement gathered in Marawi Resort Hotel Sunday, September 15, to pay tribute to the late Brigadier General Daniel A. Lucero.
Lucero, who reportedly suffered a heart attack while on scuba diving in June this year, served as the commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Kampo Ranao, this city, before he became the Division Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army. During his stay as 103rd Brigade Commander, Lucero partnered with various stakeholders in the province and conducted massive operation against lawless groups that resulted to the recovery of 56 high powered firearms and 82
low powered firearms as well as confiscation of more than 100,000 illegally cut lumbers. He supported the law enforcement agencies in the eradication of illegal drug activities and kidnapping in the province. Lucero further initiated several human rights seminars and culture sensitivity education among military troops operating in the province which earned the respect of the local populace. The 103rd Infantry Brigade, under his leadership, was also able to donate more than 600 armchairs to the different Ma-
SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS:
End of the road for Misuari? By H. MARCOS C. MORDENO
MALAYBALAY CIT Y – From a University of the Philippines professor, Nur Misuari became the founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which fought a bitter war of independence against the Marcos government starting in the early years of Martial Law. The 1968 Jabidah Massacre in Corregidor Island where 68 (the number varies) Moro recruits to the Philippine military were killed for reportedly refusing to be part of Oplan Merdeka, a plot to seize Sabah from Malaysian control, provided the spark for the uprising. Sabah is historically part of the Sultanate of Sulu whose heirs recently staged a failed attempt to regain it. For leading the war of independence, Misuari earned for himself a place in history and in the hearts of the Moro people and Muslims in other parts of the world. In fact, in 1977 the Organization of Islamic Conference (now Cooperation) granted his group an observer status in the panIslamic body. Things soured for the MNLF however after a series of military setbacks aggravated by the capitulation of many field commanders to government. Nonetheless, the MNLF and Philippine government forged the 1976 Tripoli Agreement which essentially committed Misuari’s group to drop secession and opt for autonomy covering 13 provinces including Palawan. The autonomous region was only realized in 1989, but was reduced
to just four, and later five, provinces. After Tripoli, dissensions wracked the MNLF resulting in a split from which sprang the MNLFDimas Pundato faction and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by the late Hashim Salamat. Pundato’s group eventually faded away from the scene, while the MILF grew in strength, resumed the war for secession and made it clear that it intended to build an Islamic state in contrast to Misuari’s more secular ideology. Yet while the factionalism appeared to have been caused by differences over strategy and ideology, it also seemed to have been drawn along ethnic lines, according to my professor in Islamic and Arabic Studies in college. Pundato was a Maranao, Salamat was a Maguindanao and Misuari is a Tausug. If this was partly the case, then it can be said that the individual egos of the leaders were to blame too for their parting of ways. Regardless of what the biggest reason for the split was, Misuari, although able to maintain the loyalty of the MNLF in his home province, had been eclipsed by Salamat’s ascendancy. Compared to the MNLF, the MILF was – and still is – the bigger threat to government, its vision of creating an Islamic state after independence serving as a potent political motivation. If Misuari was able to keep his political nose above the water, it was mainly because of OIC backing.
drasah schools in the province. Moreover, he distributed more than 2,000 sacks of relief goods to 18 barangays in the municipality of Tagoloan and 13 barangays in Kapai after the onslaught of typhoon Sendong in the province. Lucero also became instrumental in the formulation of a support call for the electoral reforms in the province. With a series of seminars and meetings, he held a peace caravan together with different radio forums and civil society organizations (CSOs) to campaign for a clean and peaceful voters’ registration in the province. He became a member and adviser of the Lanao del Sur Peoples' Council in January 2012 and later on organized, together with CSOs in the province, the KASALIMBAGO (reform) Elec-
tion 2013 Summit which later transformed into Task Force KASALIMBAGO and now the KASALIMBAGO Movement. Aside from the members and officers of the KASALIMBAGO Movement, the tribute ceremony was also attended in by officials and members of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, CSOs representatives and media practitioners. Meanwhile, Connie Lucero, wife of the late BGen, expressed appreciation to the KASALIMBAGO Movement for the tribute ceremony. She said her husband led the 103rd Infantry Brigade not with an iron hand but with a heart of gold and his humble openness and utmost concern for the well-being of Marawi and Lanao del Sur is one of the best legacy he has ever left. (APB/ PIA-10)
PLDT-Philcom upgrade in Bukidnon loses interconnection with Sotelco MALAYBALAY CITY – The PLDTPhilippine Global Communication (Philcom) and the Southern Telecommunication Company (Sotelco), the two landline telephone companies operating in Bukidnon, are no longer interconnected as of the second week of August. Bobet Parrado, PLDT-Philcom Malaybalay business center office in-charge, said the disconnection is due to his company’s migration to new equipment. He cited the incompatibility of his firm’s new main switch and the device used in interconnection. Republic Act 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Act of 1995 mandates the National Telecommunication Commission to ensure “fair and reasonable interconnection of facilities of authorized public network operators” and other providers of telecommunications services through appropriate modes of
interconnection and at a reasonable and fair level of charges. The interconnection policy was meant to promote telephone density and provide the “most extensive access to basic telecommunications services available at affordable rates to the public.” Sotelco service areas include the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia, and the municipalities of Don Carlos, Quezon and Damilag-Manolo Fortich; PhilCom, on the other hand, also has service areas in Malaybalay and Valencia and in the municipality of Manolo Fortich. PLDT bought Philcom in 2009. Parrado said the disconnection is only temporary but they have not set the time when it will be fixed. “Engineering work is ongoing to address the problem,” he told MindaNews via telephone Wednesday. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)
By RUBY LEONORA R. BALISTOY
five kilograms of the standard weight; and must be physically and mentally fit for cadetship training. Dela Torre said examination passers will be admitted to the Academy on April next year. Qualified applicants could secure forms from offices of the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, PNPA Registrar’s Office, Philippine Public Safety College regional training schools, PNPA Alumni, and from selected universities nationwide, he said. They can also download forms at www.pnpa.edu.ph . High school valedictorians, salutatorians, and college cum laude, magna cum lade and summa cum laude are exempted to take the PNPACAT if he or she shall apply and submit the application form with certification of honor to the PNPA Registrar before the September 28 deadline. For more information and details on PNPA admission, place of examination, test requirements, and cadetshiptraining program, you may visit www. pnpa.edu.ph (RLRB/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
PNPA cadet admission test on Nov. 10 MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon -- The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) announced the holding of its annual Cadet Admission Test (CAT) on November 10, in 25 testing centers nationwide. Police Senior Superintendent Glenn dela Torre, Bukidnon police provincial director, said successful cadet applicants are considered government scholars entitled to monthly training allowances. Graduates are also assured of employment with the rank of Inspector in Police, Fire, and Jail services of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). To qualify for the cadetship program, one must be a natural born Filipino citizen; must be 18 to 22 years old at the date of appointment; single with no parental and financial obligation; high school graduate upon application; and must be at least 5'4 for male and 5'2 for female. Weight must also correspond to the applicant's height, gender and age; not to exceed or lower than 11 pounds or
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Rechannel ‘pork’ funds to LGUs, social services VALENCIA CITY – All forms of pork barrel funds should be abolished and should be rechanneled to direct services with local government units, a former city councilor here said. Glenn Peduche, a farmer by profession, briefed causeoriented groups and churches attending the “Usapang Baboy: A Forum on Pork Barrel” forum here Tuesday about how the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) came into the system of the government. The forum ended with a plan to hold a multisectoral interfaith prayer-rally against PDAF on Saturday. Peduche said it is quite unfair that a big chunk of the national budget is left to the discretion of a few officials, who spend most of their time in Manila. He added that many politicians are overeager for public office because of the pork barrel. “The fund should be redirected to the local government units, especially the barangays who know best the needs of their villagers,” Peduche told MindaNews at the end of the forum held at the United Methodist Church. Peduche, who lost in his congressional bid for Bukidnon’s new fourth district last May, said farmers and the rest of the poor are among the hardest hit by the PDAF plunderers because people in the countryside were duped. “Additional funds should be channeled to people on the ground directly, not the leftover funds (like the way PDAF was ran),” he added. Now back into farming vegetables, Peduche said he will not take his eyes away from the issue even if he is back to being full time citizen. Peduche said he has strong reason to believe that many of the hand-me-down agricultural programs coursed through the Department of Agriculture and its sub-agencies are sourced through the questionable scheme in the PDAF. “This should be investigated further,” added Peduche. The forum, backed by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), was a followup to the protest held by the group and allies in Malaybalay City’s plaza Friday last week calling for the abolition of the pork barrel. It was the first of its kind in the province since the investigation of Janet Lim-Napoles’ connection to the P10-billion pork barrel scam involving the channeling of government funds to bogus non-government organizations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) this week charged Napoles, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., and former House members Rizalina SeachonLanete and Edgar Valdez, with allegedly siphoning their PDAF into ghost projects. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)
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Stop tuition fee increases A group of lawmakers pushing for the imposition of a three-year moratorium on increases in tuition and other school fees is a very laudable move. Giving respite to the unending yearly increases of tuition and other school fees even just for three short years is already a sigh of relief. This will alleviate the burden of the already suffering families who have none or very low income. The lawmakers who authored House Bill 354 must be congratulated. Their measure will prohibit schools, public or private, from imposing increases in tuition and other miscellaneous fees for to students such as medical and dental, library, laboratory, publication, and athletics. Under the bill, only schools who have severe losses in the previous year may apply for an increase but such losses should be reflected in the complete annual financial statement, a copy of which shall be submitted together with the application for tuition hike. The law once enacted will punish schools who impose unilateral
increases. They will be fined of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 or suffer six-year imprisonment of their officials or both at the discretion of the court. In filing the bill, the authors said that Filipino families put premium on education that they forego other needs. However, they still cannot cope because of the “meteoric and unchecked rise” of school fees in private and public educational institutions. The unabated tuition increase is a result of the defects in the deregulated education and the lack of proper guidelines on school fee increases. The deregulation policy mandated by Batas Pambansa 232 turned private schools into a very profitable business with its number of institutions increasing from 637 in 1991 to 1,523 in 2008. These private education ventures have been included in the Top 1,000 corporations of the country. The top five schoolcorporations earned, in a span of six years, P15.43 billion in gross
Editorial
Acquitting the guilty, condemning the innocent LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others…” (Philippians 2:3-4, the Holy Bible). -ooo PEOPLE CRY OUT VS. INJUSTICE: I am extremely glad that many people from across the country took their time out to inform me that they were pleased with our column which contained Biblical injunctions for justice to be maintained in the courts, with most of them saying that all those who have a hand in the justice system in the country must pay attention to what the Bible is saying about justice and see the need to apply it equally to all. If the reaction to that column is an indication of how Filipinos view the way justice is dispensed with in the country today, it could be safely said, without any fear of serious contradiction, that many of our people are convinced, just like us, of the urgent necessity to “maintain justice in the courts”, as Amos 5:15 of the Bible is saying. I suppose that the people in government who have a hand in the country’s justice system must pay close attention to this perception of the populace, lest the sentiment against injustice may become similarly fanned and then go out of control, in much the same way that the sentiment against pork barrel allocations of our lawmakers was fanned and later on went out of control. -ooo INJUSTICE IS PUNISHED BY GOD: Injustice---or the act of setting a guilty person free or convicting and
revenues and P3.45 billion in net income. Why have the concerned government agencies failed miserably to protect the public against schools that engage in profiteering activities? As a result, increases in tuition, miscellaneous and other fees, some of which are collected redundantly, continue without regard to the suffering students and their parents. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved 354 or 78% of tuition increase petitions in 2013 while the state universities and colleges were mulling the possibility of imposing a tuition moratorium following the suicide of a cash-strapped University of the Philippines student. On top of these are various miscellaneous and other school fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of pesos. These include exorbitant, redundant fees like power charges, installment fee, copier fees and infrastructure maintenance fees. The proposed measure will give of relief to parents who are suffering for their children’s education.
Kakampi mo ang batas Atty. Batas Mauricio punishing the innocent---is detested, disliked, and muchhated and is sure to be punished by God, as shown by many-passages of the Bible on the matter. Let’s list down these passages here, for the information of all concerned: Exodus 23:7-8: “Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent… Deuteronomy 16:19: “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.” Psalm 94:21: “The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death…” -ooo ACQUITTING THE GUILTY, CONDEMNING THE INNOCENT: Proverbs 17:15: “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both.” Proverbs 17:26: “If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.” Proverbs 18:5: “ It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.” Proverbs 24:24-25: “Whoever says to the guilty, `You See batas, page 9
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Opinion
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Re: PDAF Complaints Senators-plunder-Enrile-Estrada-RevillaAfter the conduct of its investigation on the Napoles PDAF Scam, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) finds sufficient evidence for the filing of complaints for plunder against five (5) lawmakers, and for malversation, direct bribery, and graft and corrupt practices act against three (3) other lawmakers. Also recommended to be charged in the complaints filed by the NBI and Atty. Levito D. Baligod, as private complainant, with the Ombudsman are some of the lawmakers’ chiefsof-staff or representatives, the heads and other officials of three implementing agencies, and the several presidents of the NGOs set up by Napoles. The lawmakers found to be involved in plunder are the following: 1. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile 2. Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. 3. Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada 4. Former Congresswoman Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (now Governor of Masbate) 5. Former Congressman Edgar Valdez (APEC Party-list) Those involved in malversation, direct bribery, and other graft and corrupt practices are: 6. Former Congressman Rodolfo Plaza (Lone District, Agusan del Sur) 7. Former Congressman Samuel Dangwa (Lone District, Benguet) 8. Former Congressman Constantino Jaraula (Lone District, Cagayan de Oro) The chiefs-of-staff or representatives of the lawmakers charged along with their superiors are: 9. Atty. Jessica Lucila Reyes – COS, Enrile 10. Atty. Richard Cambe – Staff, Revilla 11. Ruby Tuason – Representative, Enrile/ Estrada 12. Pauline Labayen – Staff, Estrada 13. Jose Sumalpong – COS, Lanete 14. Jeanette dela Cruz – District Staff, Lanete 15. Erwin Dangwa – COS, Dangwa 16. Carlos Lozada – Staff, Dangwa The Heads of Agencies charged for either plunder or malversation, bribery and graft and corrupt practices are: 17. Alan Javellana – former President, National Agribusinees Corp. (NABCOR) 18. Gondelina Amata – President, National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) 19. Antonio Ortiz – Former Director General (Technology Resource Corporation (TRC) 20. Dennis Cunanan – Former Deputy Director General (now Director General), TRC 21. Salvador Salacup – former President, ZNAC Rubber Estate Corporation (ZREC) (now Assistant Secretary Department of Agriculture) The Napoles NGO Presidents also included in the complaint on charges of plunder as well as malversation are: 22. Jocelyn Piorato – Agricultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation, Inc. (APMFI) 23. Nemesio Pablo – Agri and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation, Inc. (AEPFFI) 24. Mylene Encarnacion – Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation, Inc. (CARED) 25. John Raymund De Asis – Kaupdanan Para sa Mangunguma Foundation, Inc. (KPMFI) 26. Evelyn Deleon – Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI) 27. Ronald John Lim – Ginintuang Alay sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (GAMFI) Lastly, the implementing agency officials and employees largely involved in plunder or malversation, bribery, or graft and corrupt practices by conspiracy are the following: 28. Victor Cacal – NABCOR 29. Romulo Revelo – NABCOR 30. Ma. Ninez Guanizo – NABCOR 31. Julie Johnson – NABCOR 32. Rodhora Mendoza – NABCOR 33. Alexis Sevidal – NLDC 34. Sofia Cruz – NLDC 35. Chila Jalandoni – NLDC 36. Francisco Figura – TRC 37. Marivic Jover – TRC Finally, also included in the complaints for plunder, malversation, and corruption of public officials is the owner of the JLN Group of Companies and mastermind of the PDAF Scam operations: 38. Janet Lim-Napoles. BACKGROUND The NBI investigation started with the rescue of Benhur Luy by NBI agents from Reynald Lim at Napoles’ residence in Taguig City. Benhur was apparently being held by Napoles in order to prevent him from coming out and exposing what he knows about the PDAF Scam operation being conducted by Napoles through the JLN Group of companies and fake NGOs. Benhur had knowledge of this operation as a trusted employee and relative of Napoles. Because of Benhur’s revelations, the NBI conducted an investigation on the Napoles PDAF Scam Operations. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE During the course of the investigation, the NBI was able to gather its evidence from the following sources: The testimonies and documentary evidence of the whistleblowers who are former employees of JLN led by Benhur; Documents gathered from the COA, DBM, SEC, and Implementing Agencies of the PDAF projects such as Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs), memorandum of agreements (MOAs), Notice of Cash Allocations (NCAs), legislator’s endorsement letters, project proposals, project activity reports, project profiles, inspection and acceptance reports, disbursement reports, disbursement vouchers, accomplishment reports; acknowledgement receipts, delivery reports, certificates of acceptance, photocopy of checks issues by NGOs, official receipts issued by NGOs; and COA Special Audit Report. MODUS OPERANDI From this evidence, the NBI came out with a detailed picture of the modus operandi used by Napoles in order to corner a huge share of the Lawmakers’
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Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE, Email: amediante@yahoo.com
Executive Summary by the NBI regarding the PDAF complaints filed against Janet Lim-Napoles, et al. ON DISTANT SHORE By Val G. Abelgas
Mindanao Daily NEWS
PDAF allocation. The scheme starts with an agreement between Napoles and the Lawmaker where the latter promises to designate Napoles’ NGOs as the recipient of his PDAF fund for purposes of supposedly implementing projects authorized in the DBM menu of projects that can be financed with the use of the Lawmakers’ PDAF. In exchange for selecting the Napoles NGO, the Lawmaker in turn will receive from Napoles 40-60% of the cash value of the project as kickback. The Lawmaker first submits a list of projects to the DBM. The DBM in turn issues a SARO to the lawmaker who then endorses a selected Napoles NGO to the implementing agency. The implementing agency, in turn, without any public bidding, enters into a memorandum of agreement with the NGO for the implementation of the project. After all the documentation is completed, the DBM issues a Notice of Cash Allocation to the implementing agency. Upon receipt of the NCA, the implementing agency issues a check to the Napoles NGO which is deposited by JLN employees and the cash withdrawn and delivered to Napoles. Along the way, the kickback of the Lawmaker is already paid in advance, first upon submission of the project list to DBM, second upon release of the SARO. The chief-of-staff of the lawmaker or his representative who facilitates documents and follow ups with agencies for the Lawmaker and Napoles also gets 1-5% of the project cost, also as kickback. Finally, Napoles gives 10% of the project cost to the head of the implementing agency, also as kickback. The rest is pocketed by Napoles after deducting the cost of overpriced supplies such as agricultural kits and training materials procured from a supplier enterprise which is owned by her, or the full remaining amount if there is no delivery at all. FAVORING NAPOLES NGOs The 10 NGOs used as conduits for the scam were ordered to be incorporated by Napoles through employees and other individuals associated with her such as relatives, house helps and drivers. These NGOs have interlocking incorporators, common auditors, and notaries public in their SEC documents. The projects are awarded to these NGOs by the implementing agencies as endorsed by the Lawmakers without any corresponding appropriation law or public competitive bidding, in violation of government procurement rules. The Napoles NGOs are not even shown as qualified to bid for government projects costing millions of pesos. The MOA entered into by the implementing agency and the NGO also deliberately does not include provisions on control and management of funds and monitoring of project implementation that only proved convenient to the parties insofar as transparency and accountability are concerned. DELIBERATE FAILURE OF CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, MONITORING As a result, indicators of anomalous project implementation were ignored, such as recurring beneficiaries of the same or similar training, overpricing, ghost beneficiaries, or simple non-delivery of the NGO on the project. What is given priority is complete submission of liquidation documents on overpriced supplies or ghost delivery of supplies and lists of bogus beneficiaries, without any validation of the same through ground monitoring in the community supposed to be benefitted by the project. In the end, there is really nothing to monitor, because all the funds that were supposed to be used for the project had in reality already been pocketed by the lawmaker, Napoles, the head of the implementing agency, the lawmaker’s chief of staff, and probably other officials whose signatures were needed to facilitate the scam and are bribed to look the other way. This is the very reason why no one among the actors, who are all responsible for ensuring the legitimate use of public funds through the actual implementation of projects at full cost of the funds released therefor, take no action or interest whatsoever in performing this obligation. PLUNDER, MALVERSATION, BRIBERY, GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES The five (5) lawmakers committed plunder in conspiracy with Napoles and officials of the implementing agencies when said lawmakers each accumulated more than P50 million through a series of transactions over time through misappropriation, conversion, misuse, and malversation of the cash value of the project cost allocated from the lawmakers’ PDAF and through their acceptance of kickbacks or commissions. The amount of plunder accumulated by each lawmaker representing the kickbacks received from Napoles is as follows: 1. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile – P172,834,500 2. Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. – P224,512,500 3. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada – P183,793,750 4. Former Cong. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete – P108,405,000 5. Former Cong. Edgar Valdez – P56,87,500 On the other hand, the three (3) Congressmen involved in malversation, direct bribery, and other graft and corrupt practices and the amount of kickbacks they received from Napoles are as follows: 6. Former Congressman Rodolfo Plaza (from total PDAF allocations of Php79,500,000.00) – Php42,137,800.00 7. Former Congressman Samuel Dangwa (from total PDAF allocations of Php54,000,000.00) – Php26,770,472.00 8. Former Congressman Constantino Jaraula (from total PDAF allocations of Php50,500,000.00) – Php20,843,750.00 The crimes of plunder, malversation, bribery, and other graft and corrupt practices were thus committed when said lawmakers received from Napoles kickbacks amounting to 40-60% of the cash value of the project cost for every project endorsed by the lawmaker to a Napoles NGO. These kickbacks are the lawmaker’s bribe for giving undue favor to a Napoles NGO, or represent his illegally contracted share from a malversation scheme designed to misuse and misappropriate public funds entrusted to him, and which he appropriates instead for private gain rather than the public benefit intended by law. In order to accomplish all this, the lawmakers took advantage and abused their official position and authority as Senators and Congressmen of the Republic, thereby unjustly enriching themselves at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the people and the Republic. The acts constituting the offenses were performed willfully, deliberately, and maliciously with the legislators knowing fully well that their act of receiving the large amounts of cash from Napoles for their private use resulted in the corresponding diminution of the funds actually expended for the public purpose intended by law. RECOMMENDED OMBUDSMAN ACTION The NBI recommends to the Office of the Ombudsman that the respondents named in the transmittal letter-complaints be subjected to the corresponding preliminary investigation for purposes of filing the corresponding charges before the Sandiganbayan. It, however, remains the prerogative of the Ombudsman after an evaluation of the complaints and their attachments whether or not to conduct further fact-finding investigation on the complaints instead of immediately setting the same for preliminary investigation.
Biblical reflection Bro. Edcel L. Closas
Great love of Jesus F resh G ospe l of the da y : L u k e 7 : 3 6 50(September19, 2013-Thursday) Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven: In this gospel we can discover the big and “great love of Jesus” to all sinners. The woman is a representative to all human beings who are committing sins constantly. In Romans 3:10-As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. But despite of this truth, God is forgiving us also always. Isaiah 1:18-Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. In Jeremiah 31:3-The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Take note, James 2:13-For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Do you have sins? Come to God in the sacrament of reconciliation: SPONSORED:Neneth Bobong Balino- Dr. Edith, PhD- Tony Jordan - CDO. St. Peter Calungsod, pray for us! Listen: Radio Ultra AM-1188-3:30 PM - Sunday: #0928414949009266607505: Question – Prayer request
Ombudsman asked to show transparency
The Abolishpork Movement welcomed the filing of criminal charges by the Department of Justice against Janet Napoles and several lawmakers but warned of a possible “cover up” of the entire pork barrel system. The group will hold nationwide protests on September 21, Saturday, the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. The group also said that the gag order issued by the Ombudsman on the legal complaint filed by the justice department is a “violation of the people’s right to information on such a crucial issue of government corruption”. “The plunder case only covers the years prior to 2010. We understand that heads should roll for the corruption under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This, however, should not cover up for the continuing graft of public monies by government officials under Aquino,” Fr. Joe Dizon, one of the convenor of the group said. The group held last Friday a protest rally and concert at Luneta, the third of a series of protests, to call for the complete abolition of the pork barrel system including the presidential discretionary funds. More than 10,000 joined the action, coming mainly from students, religious groups, artists and cause-oriented groups. “The Aquino government has yet to prove that it is not engaged in selective prosecution and that all those involved in the PDAF scam would be held accountable. Remember, the Napoles NGO’s only account for 8 out of 82 NGO’s that were believed to have questionable transactions according to COA. This means
many more solons and NGO’s are likely involved,” Fr. Dizon said. “We urge the good Ombudsman to lift the gag order and provide full disclosure of its proceedings to the media and the public. What is the timeline for the preliminary investigation? Why are details of the complaint filed against the government officials? Insisting on a gag order would open the issue to speculation and suggest a whitewash of the case,” Fr. Joe Dizon, convenor of the movement, said. Groups are again expected to converge at Luneta at 9am for a program, but this time groups are expected to “level up” their call with a colorful “Pork Parade” towards the Don Chino Roces Bridge in Mendiola in the afternoon. Apart from being the anniversary of Martial Law, the rally on September 21 will come a few days before the last session day of Congress on September 21, where it is expected to pass on second reading the proposed budget for 2014. According to #Abolishpork, while the proposed budget will no longer have the lump-sum item known as PDAF, and that the funds will be placed in various agencies, lawmakers will still have a say in what projects to undertake and where these will be undertaken. “This itemized pork system will perpetuate patronage politics. That has been the intention of Aquino from the time he made his announcement that the PDAF system will be abolished. It’s simply not true. Pork is still there and the lawmakers are finding creative ways to access this fund,” Dizon said.
From the Mails
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8 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper
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ZAMBOANGA l SULU l PAGADIAN l DIPOLOG l SIPIL l COTABATO l GENSAN l KORONADAL
Rebels kill army commander in besieged city of Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA City–– Rebel sniper killed an army commander and wounded 2 soldiers as troops on Thursday try to clear a village in Zamboanga City devastated by separatist fighting the past 11 days.
Fifteen rebels also surrendered in Santa Catalina village where sporadic clashes erupted. “They surrendered to us. They ran out of ammunition and they said they are hungry and tired. We have a coordinator in the area and this resulted to the surrender of the rebels,” said Police Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, adding criminal charges await the rebels. The rebels, their hands bound, were taken to the police headquarters where they are being interrogated. The death of the army commander raises the casualty toll on the military side at 12. Security officials said at least four policemen and more than 80 rebels were also slain in the fighting. The military said “con-
striction” operations are going on in villages where about 70 rebels and over a dozen hostages are still holed out. No rebellion Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the violence in Zamboanga cannot be considered as rebellion or terrorism. “What was done in Zamboanga, which was an attack taking civilians as human shield, does not in any way I understand rebellion. That kind of action is not a legitimate act of rebellion.” “Rebellion is you fight the combatants; you fight the combat unit of government because you don’t accept the authority of the government this is whom you go to. What has happened and (from) what we are hearing from the civilians and that they are now being rescued is that they were really used as human shield. It’s difficult to use terrorism, but it has terrorized the communities,” she told a television interview. The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday cautioned security forces
from conducting “stop and frisk arrest” method in Zamboanga to avoid wrongful arrest. “The probable cause is the only legal basis to apprehend violators, covered by warrantless arrest. Arbitrary, illegal or unlawful arrest will lead to violation of Right to Liberty and Security,” said Commissioner Manuel Mamauag told the Mindanao Examiner. Civilians freed Some 226 civilians, who were arrested by the military in Zamboanga City on suspicion they were rebels, had been finally freed and now security officials insisted all those villagers were actually rescued. The civilians, who were on 11 motorized boats, were fleeing the fighting between security forces and Moro National Liberation Front rebels in the coastal village of Mampang on Tuesday when a navy patrol intercepted them. The village chieftain of Tictabon, Nur Mohamad, managed to secretly phone a local radio network dxRZ Radyo Agong to say that they were arrested by the military.
Mohamad sought assistance saying they were being held against their will despite telling the military that he is a village official and that he was leading the evacuation of civilians away from the clashes between troops and rebels. The media on Wednesday afternoon told the Crisis Management Committee headed by Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas- during a news conference - about the ordeal of the civilians and Mohamad in the hands of their military captors. And later on the day, the Philippine Navy, in a statement sent to the media, said the civilians had been rescue at sea. It made no mention about Mohamad, who allegedly claimed he was tied by soldiers. “Naval assets in the vicinity immediately conducted naval blockade and intercepted the said motor bancas. The passengers were then brought to BRP Bacolod City LC 550, a cargo vessel, for further questioning.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Labor dept to help displaced workers ZAMBOANGA City––The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has pledged to make available some P4 million for emergency employment of the displaced workers in the city, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar disclosed. She said displaced workers will be utilized for the upkeep and maintenance of the evacuations centers, food distribution and the like. The City Social Welfare and De-
velopment Office (CSWDO) through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) has been tasked to initiate ways on how to come up with the list of those that will be hired. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman assured the city government that the support services would continuously be available to include water and sanitation, women and children protection and food distribution
among others. “Support packages will also be made available for the small and medium enterprises (SME) for them to engage in livelihood activities,” Soliman added. Cash for work scheme will be made available for members of each household or family affected by the conflict, she added. A report from Claro A. Lanipa of PIA-Western Mindanao
OUT OF HARM’S WAY. Children are watched over by their grandmothers in a small corner of an evacuation
center in Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City. A sleeping pad–one of the 17,300 provided by the U.S. Embassy— serves as their home until clashes between Philippine forces and MNLF rebels subside. The U.S. Government allocated Php26.4 million ($600,000) to respond to the immediate needs of thousands of citizens displaced by the on-going crisis in the area. The U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also procured and delivered 16,000 blankets, baby diapers, toiletries, food items, four 500-gallon water tanks, and construction materials for 80 portable toilets to help improve sanitation in evacuation centers and provide residents with access to potable water. Photo courtesy of Sarah Matalam of USAID-GEM
Let peace reign over Zamboanga By Franklin P. Gumapon of PIA-WestMin
DIPOLOG City––In between sobs a grandmother related that her two-yearold grandchild was hit in the head by a stray bullet in a gun battle between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters and government forces in Zamboanga City. “Hours before he died he was singing the national anthem and the Zamboanga City hymn,” the grandma recalled. Scenes like this could be heart-wrenching, evoking sad emotions of sort. How many more lives have to sacrifice to end this strife? The Zamboanga crisis came at the height the region’s economy registered a record growth of more than 12 percent in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As Zamboanga Peninsula’s commercial center, the city is the main contributor to the GDP growth in the region. Presently, the number of evacuees continues to grow. Statistics released the other day by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) revealed that more than 81,000 individuals are presently housed in 24 evacuation centers and most of them are placed at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex. A good number of evacuees are now also staying with their relatives and friends. End the crisis People from all walks of life are calling to end the gun battle in Zamboanga City, contending that in war the civilians are always at the losing end. Since the start of the MNLF raid last week, some 87 people were confirmed dead. A school principal of the Zamboanga del Norte schools division said: “The continued existence of the Moro rebels will always pose a threat to our security. Crush them before they can regroup and recover. No to ceasefire!” Seeing no signs for the MNLF fighters to surrender, Mayor Flora Villarosa of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte suggested: “Declare the affected barangays ‘no man’s land,’ paalisin ang lahat na civilians para mabilis makagalaw and AFP (let all civilians leave the place so that the soldiers can freely move around).” Zamboanga del Norte Press Club President Rosemarie P. Miranda fully supported the calibrated action adopted by the government. She said: “We will just abide with the government’s decision on how to resolve it with the least sacrifices, expenses and if possible, no bloodshed. But the government must do it in such a way that the people will
n The Zamboanga crisis came at the height the region’s economy registered a record growth of more than 12 percent in its Gross D o m es t i c P ro d u c t (GDP). As Zamboanga Peninsula’s commercial center, the city is the main contributor to the GDP growth in the region. know who has the upper hand. The government must win it to stop the sufferings of both sides.” Influx of relief goods Aside from the relief goods distributed by the government agencies, wellmeaning individuals and organizations from all over the region have also donated food supplies, clothing and medicines for the evacuees. In Zamboanga del Norte, drop-off centers for relief good have been set up at the following places/institutions: Andres Bonifacio College Alumni Hall, Hans Marketing, Narvel Marketing, dxAA and Energy FM all of Dipolog City, Charm FM and the St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte. Four truckloads of relief goods for the evacuees were brought to Zamboanga City last Sunday and the second batch of goods was sent the following day. The third batch of goods is scheduled to be delivered to the evacuees on Thursday. For deployment Dr. Mark Ian Llagas, Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) coordinator of the Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City, said that his group is now awaiting deployment order from the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH)-IX to assist in the medical needs of the evacuees in Zamboanga. The group will be bringing along doctors, nurses, medical technicians and first aid responders. “We will also bring with us relief goods and medical supplies,” Llagas added. Spare the civilians A businessman, who asked not to be named, said the war that occurred in Zamboanga would definitely leave, not only millions of losses to the business sector, but also a deep scar in the lives of the civilians who suffered the brunt of the incident. “The peace-loving people should not be made to suffer from this violence,” he said. He, therefore, appealed to the Moro fighters to have pity on the civilian populace and lay down their arms to end this strife.
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Soccsksargen
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Sarangani to set up first tourism enterprise zone
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By Mindanews
ENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 12 is pushing for the development of a portion of the coastal municipality of Glan in Sarangani Province as the region’s first tourism enterprise zone (TEZ).
Nelly Nita Dillera, DOT Region 12 director, said they have identified an area covering around 79 hectares in Glan as a viable site for the proposed TEZ, which is being pushed to complement with the continuing developments along the area’s popular white sand beaches. She said they recently “enrolled” the area with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for its possible declaration as a TEZ. TIEZA, which is an attached agency of the DOT,
was tasked to designate, regulate and supervise established TEZs as provided for by Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009. “TIEZA representatives will be visiting the area next week to evaluate the site and determine whether it qualifies for the program,” she said in a media forum. Dillera said the proposed TEZ mainly covers the town center of Glan and several neighboring communities. The area presently includes a number of private estates but their owners
already signified their support to the plan based on initial discussions with Glan Mayor Victor James Yap, she said. In a briefer, TIEZA said a TEZ “should be at least five hectares and sufficient in size, such that it may be further utilized for bringing in new investments in tourism establishments and services.” TEZs are classified based on their particular purpose, specifically for cultural heritage, health and wellness, eco-tourism, general leisure and mixed-used zones, it said. Glan has emerged as a popular tourist destination in the last several years due to the pristine white sand beaches in the coastal village of Gumasa. The strip, which is touted as the “Boracay of the South,” plays host
every third week of May to the two-day Sarangani Bay Festival that has been dubbed as “Mindanao’s biggest beach party.” Aside from its beaches, Glan boasts of a rich history and culture that dates back about a century ago. The town will celebrate its centennial founding anniversary next year. For the upcoming evaluation, Dillera said the proposed TEZ in Glan will be assessed by TIEZA based on a set of requirements, among them the established road networks, accessibility to the airports and land transportation routes as well as its development plan. “The site has existing road networks and is very much accessible to the General Santos airport. The development plan will be a big challenge but we’re already addressing it and
we’re coming up with a progressive development strategy for the area,” she said. If eventually declared as a TEZ, Dillera said they will immediately push for the entry of investments into the site’s basic utilities like water and electricity. She said these investments may come in through government or institutional grants and joint privatepublic ventures. “Once the basic utilities are in place, we can then start promoting the area for big investments like hotels and other tourism facilities and enterprises,” Dillera said. Under the TEZ program, she said potential locators or investors may avail of a range of fiscal and nonfiscal incentives for their projects or ventures. To avail of the incen-
tives, TIEZA said a minimum investment of US$ 5million, exclusive of land acquisition costs, is required for the TEZ ventures. The agency said enterprises within TEZs may be granted fiscal incentives like a six-year income tax holiday; duty-free importation of capital equipment and goods consumed in the course of services rendered; and tax credits on all locally sourced goods and services. The non-fiscal incentives include employment of foreign nationals in executive, supervisory, technical or advisory positions; special investor resident visas for foreigners who will be hired by locators; and privileges in connection with foreign currency transactions, it said. TIEZA has also laid out incentives for tourism enterprises outside TEZs.
By Allen V. Estabillo
law if it can’t be implemented immediately?” she said in a press conference. Contreras specifically noted the provision on structural standards that set a minimum area or size for fishing boats involved in commercial operations. She said local tuna fishing fleets, especially those employed by fishing companies based in this city, are mostly composed of small pump boats and motorized fishing vessels. ILO Convention 188, which was adopted during the 96th International Labor Conference in 2007, mainly seeks “to ensure that fishers have decent conditions of work on board fishing vessels.” An ILO briefer said the Convention covers the minimum requirements for work on board fishing vessels; conditions of service; accommodation and food; occupational safety and health protection; and, medical care and social security. The Convention, which applies to all fishers and fish-
ing vessels engaged in commercial fishing operations, addresses various subject areas, among them “the responsibilities of fishing vessel owners and skippers for the safety of the fishers on board and the safety of the vessels; minimum age for work on board fishing vessels; fishers’ work agreements; repatriation; recruitment and placement of fishers; and, payment of fishers.”(Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews)
Don’t ratify ILO treaty on Festival Jobs Fair generates employment for Tacurongnons commercial fishing yet, gov’t asked
After five months of jobhunting, twenty-year old Fritchel Jane Makilan of Barangay San Emmanuel has finally found an employer. Makilan was one of the eighty-five applicants who trooped to the city hall compound to register for the Jobs Fair conducted by the city government last September 13, 2013. Makilan said that she started applying for work right after graduation from college in March and that she had submitted applications to more than five employers but none responded positively. “I’m happy I was finally given a chance to be employed through this Jobs Fair,” she said. Hired by KCC Mall of Marbel as warehouse staff, Makilan was also one of the lucky nineteen applicants who were hired on the spot in the said Jobs Fair. Aside from those who were hired on the spot, 51 other applicants qualified in the initial screening of eleven agencies and were advised to be interviewed and undergo the rest of the screening process. The participating agencies for overseas employment were Nonstop Overseas Employment Services
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are innocent,’ will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.” Amos 5:12: “For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.” Isaiah 5:22-24: “Woe to those who… acquit the guilty
and D.A. Rodrigo International, while the local employers included KCC Mall, Kimsan Plaza, Tacurong Fit Mart, MUTI Group of Companies, Credit Basics & Innovations Corporation, Yakult Lactobacillus Corporation, Edjin Pension House, Talakudong Foods Corporation (Jollibee), and Mang Gorio Bahay-Kainan. There were 124 job vacancies posted in the said jobs fair. Of said vacancies, 81 job orders for skilled workers were solicited for overseas employment, and 54 for local employment. The city government, through the Public Employment Service Office, partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sultan Kudarat Field Office in holding the for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.” -ooo REACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com.
Jobs Fair, which was also the second time to be conducted this year. City Councilor Benjamin Fajardo, who sits as chairperson of Sangguniang Panlungsod Labor and Employment Committee, said that the city government will try to hold frequent jobs fairs to give easier access to jobseekers. “I appreciate jobs fairs because jobs are being offered cafeteria-style and applicants are free to choose jobs that suit their qualifications,” Fajardo said. (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Citing the country’s fishing fleets are still largely composed of artisan or small traditional fishing vessels, tuna industry players here urged the national government to defer its ratification of an International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention that sets new international standards on working conditions in commercial fishing operations. Rosanna Bernadeth Contreras, executive director of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc. (SFFAII), said the industry is not yet ready to comply with the provisions of ILO Convention 188 or the Work in Fishing Convention of 2007 as it would require a major overhaul and upgrading of local fishing fleets. “We need enough time to study the implications of the ILO Convention because there are provisions that are difficult for us to comply right now. So what’s the use of the
Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’A CIRCUIT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City ALMITA B. VILLAMERO, Petitioner Civil Case No. 2013-122 - Versus - For Approval and Registration of Divorce. MAKZHAL-UL HAQUE, Respondent. x-----------------------------------------------/ ORDER On September 12, 2013, noting on the Petitioner’s urgent Ex-parte. Motion for Leave of Court to effect service of summons by publication therein that an order be issued allowing the petitioner to effect service of summons by publication to respondent, MARZHAL-UL HAQUE, pursuant to the Rules of Court being suppletory to the Special Rules of Procedures in Shari’a Courts, in view of the Process Server of this Court to effect service of summons on the ground that said respondent is not anymore residing in the given address, nor anybody residing in the address mentioned in the petition and his whereabouts if ever he transferred his residence. WHEREFORE, premise considered, petitioner’s urgent ex-parte motion for leave of court to effect service of summons by publication to respondent MARZHALUL HAQUE is hereby granted Thus, petitioner is allowed to cause the service of summons to said respondent by publication, in any newspapers of general circulation in three (3) consecutive weeks, of this order, and the summons/notice in wihch case petitioner shall send a copy of this Order, the summons/notice and the petition by registered mail to the last known address of the said respondent and is directed to show proofs thereof. Set the hearing of the case on October 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. 9/ffO A-M SO ORDERED. Iligan City, Philippines, September 16, 2013. (Sgd.) HON. OSOP M. ALI Presiding Judge MDN: Sept. 20, 26 & Oct. 2, 2013
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Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’A CIRCUTT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City IN RE: JOINT PETITION TO APPROVE AND REGISTER THE DIVORCE BETWEEN SPOUSES NILO OGA MOLD AND GLENDA C. PACANA-MOLO.
CIVIL CASE N0. 2013-124
NILO OGA MOLO AND GLENDA C. PACANA-MOLO, Petitioners. x----------------------------------------------------------------------/ ORDER Before this court is verified Joint Petition for the approval and Registration of the Divorce filed by the petitioners and alleging among others: That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under Civil rites on May 28, 1977 at Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, they converted to Islam faith, of which conversions to Islam were Registered with this court, both of litem can be served with summons and other legal processes relative to this case at their residence at Kauswagan Highway, Cagayan de Oro City and Mangga, Tuhod, Iligan City, respectively; That said marriage did not last long, due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcilability and they separated for more than four (4) years already, since September 2009, they decided to separately live physically in bed and board thereby executed Divorce Agreement in order to formalize their separation: Since their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other’s affairs; Petitioners seek judicial decree of divorce thereby severing their marriage bond on May 28, 1997 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burden; Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile. WHEREFORE, finding this joint petition to be sufficient Inform and substance set the initial hearing of this case on October 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place, any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in a news paper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan one week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners. SO ORDERED. Iligan City, Philippines, this 19th of September, 2013. (Sgd.) HON. OSOP M. ALI Presiding Judge MDN: Sept. 20, 26 & Oct. 2, 2013
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Davao News
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DAVAO DEL NORTE l DAVAO DEL SUR lDAVAO DEL ORIENTALl COMPOSTELA VALLEY
Agreement forged to assist Bangsamoro communities D
AVAO City––The Bangsamoro Development Agency and the Community and Family Services International formally forged a partnership agreement highlighting the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program’s support for the operations of the project management team.
The PMT was tasked to implement the SAJAHATRA Bangsamoro Program in partnership with the government to deliver education, livelihood and health services to Bangsamoro communities. Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan of the BDA which will be the implementing agency and Vladimir Hernandez of the Community and Family Services International which will be the trust fund recipient signed the program partnership agreement in behalf of their respective agencies. The signing was witnessed by Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of the GPH Task Force on Bangsamoro Development, Matt Stephens, a secretariat member of the Mindanao Trust Fund/ World Bank and Dr. Taugan Kikay, team leader of the Project Management Team. Undersecretary Montalbo said the agreement only shows that the peace talk between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government is very much alive. He said the agreement sends the signal that this government will not waver in its efforts to bring the peace DARING RALLY AGAINST AQUINO Members of the underground Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth), a group allied with the National Democratic process for the Bangsamoro to its fruition. Front, staged a lightning rally in Bankerohan Public Market Wednesday protesting President Aquino’s adminisMontalbo said the joint undertaking of the GPH and tration for the present woes such as the conflict in Zamboanga and corruption of public funds. Davaotoday.com the MILF to bring development projects to MILF- identiphoto by Ace R. Morandante fied beneficiaries through the Sajahatra Bangsamoro puts in place another building block in the solid foundation that will anchor our work on normalizing the various conflict-affected communities in the Bangsamoro. “Through projects on health, education and livelihood, we hope to be able to begin the task of rebuilding the lives of individuals and communities affected by armed conflict, even as the completion of the Annexes leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement continues,” he said. Montalbo expressed confidence that with the agreeTAGUM City––The provinment of working together to bring peace dividends to cial government of Davao the Bangsamoro communities, Bangsamoro men and del Norte and four of its women working in the program would learn governance local government units have and enhance their capabilities in understanding the received a total of P7.5 milintricacies of government bureaucracies, the detailed lion from the Department complexities of government financing and auditing, of Agriculture (DA) for the and the process of obtaining decisions from policy and promotion of organic agridecision makers of government. culture in the province. He said that with the support of the MTF, a core group OIC-Provincial Agriculof Bangsamoro men and women working with on the turist Dr. Anastacia Notarte Program will have hands-on experience on what it will bared the province, including be like to implement government projects. the municipalities of Sto. “Through their interaction with government agencies, Tomas, B.E. Dujali, Kapalong they will understand and learn the ropes in bringing and the city of Panabo were government projects to beneficiary communities. It is INTERRUPTED given P1.5 million each to SPEECH our hope that these learnings will serve well the goal Priscilla Razon, regional director of the Social Welfare Department, almost collapsed establish techno-demo farms in the middle of her State of the Region Address after complaining of dizziness on of putting in place a fully functional and effective new that will showcase natural Wednesday at Almendras Gym. Paramedics attended her while another regional officer political entity in 2016 called Bangsamoro,” Montalbo farming. said. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines) continued her speech. Davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante She said the demo farms are the most effective and efficient way of promoting organic farming among the farmers and the populace. DAVAO City––The Bureau sources in the Davao Gulf Agriculture (DA) and the The Davao Gulf is a those with 3.1 to 20 Gross “Organic agriculture has of Fisheries and Aquatic are in danger of being de- Department of Interior and fishing ground Southeast Tons (GT) for small scale been proven to increase pro- Resources (BFAR) in Region pleted and we are now faced Local Government (DILG), of Mindanao with an esti- commercial fishing, 20.1 ductivity and income, while 11 said Davao Gulf is in with a negative 7 percent banning commercial fishing mated area of 3,087 square GT to 150 GT for medium protecting our environment,” danger of being depleted and fish sufficiency in the Davao in Davao Gulf. kilometer which runs on an scale commercial fishing she said. The original proposal imaginary line from Don and those with more than now facing with a negative Region, she said. Provincial OA focal per- 7 percent fish sufficiency. The consultation, which was for the imposition of a Marcelino in Davao del 150 GT for large scale comson Marilou Runas said the This was announced by was attended by commercial two-year ban of all commer- Sur to Cape Agustin Point mercial fishing. province intends to use the BFAR-11 Regional Director fishing operators, the Aca- cial fishing operators in the in Davao Oriental. “Research shows that the fund to develop more than a Fatma M. Idris during the deme and the Local Govern- Davao Gulf from January 1, Idris said commercial catch per unit effort (CPUE) hectare demo farm adjacent recently conducted three- ment Units (LGUs) within 2014 to December 31, 2015 fishing referred to the “tak- for commercial fishing in to the Provincial Agricultur- day consultation from Sep- the Davao Region, sought to ensure the sustainability ing of fishery species by the Region is declining with ist Office. tember 15 to 18, 2013 on to gather the sentiments of the Region’s tuna and passive or active gear for the exploitation rate for She revealed the diversi- the proposed commercial and inputs of the concerned other fish resources. trade, business or profit major fishes caught going fied OA techno-demo farm of fishing ban and closed sea- sectors on the proposed However, there are sec- beyond subsistence or sports beyond the optimum level the Capitol will grow organic son in Davao Gulf. ban prior to the issuance tors that prefer only a one- fishing. Commercial fishing at 0.50 exploitation ratio,” vegetables, fruit trees, and “All the concerned sec- of joint Administrative Or- year ban plus the closed includes three classifications she said. A report from the upland rice, among others. tors agree that the fish re- der by the Department of season. of fishing vessels including Philippine News Agency
LGUs get P7.5m for organic farming
Fish in Davao gulf in danger of being depleted
Mindanao Daily NEWS
NorthMin
friday | september 20, 2013 Editor: CRIS DIAZ Email: crisguardian@yahoo.com
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Drug trade at Misamis Oriental jail busted He said that those who were arrested while trying to sneak illegal drugs at the provincial jail in the past were subsequently charged and convicted. “Most them have been promoted to the penal colony,” Tagarda said. Tagarda said that jail au-
thorities were now waiting for the result of the crime laboratory examination of the alleged drug substance and paraphernalia seized in the possession of Maningkara. “If the crime laboratory examination prove positive,
we will immediately file the appropriate charges against Maningkara: “In the meantime, Maningkara now found a comfortable corner in the provincial jail while in the custody of the jail authorities,” Tagarda said. (PNA) CD/CD
Dominador G. Tagarda, the provincial jail warden, said that a 36-year-old woman who was visiting an inmate blew the illicit the drug trade that has been an object of intense surveillance by jail authorities in the past years. Tagarda identified the suspect as Simpan Maningkara, 36, married, of Barangay Balamanaw, Marawi City. During the routine body search, Maningkara allegedly turned out 23 sachets containing white substance believed to be the illegal “Shabu, with an estimated street value of P 23,000” Tagarda said. “Shabu” (Methamphetamine), is also known as the “poor man’s cocaine” that had become rampant in the country’s illicit drug trade. Tagarda said that an alert woman jail guard discovered the illegal drugs along with 10 tinfoils concealed in
the woman’s headband and neatly folded hair. “The tin foil is a drug paraphernalia employed during a pot session,” Tagarda added. Provincial Guard Nelfa Nacaytuna who was conducting the routine check asked Maningkara to unfold her hair which resulted in the discovery of the hidden illegal drugs and its paraphernalia. During the initial investigation, Maningkara told the jail guards that she was at the provincial jail to visit a certain Laot Ampaso. Ampaso was facing charges with violation of the anti-illegal drug law docketed under Criminal Case No. 2011-259 and 2011-260, Tagarda said. Maningkara also confessed to jail authorities that it was her sixth to sneak an illegal drug in the provincial jail here under pretext of visiting an inmate, Tagarda
said. He said that jail authorities had seized a total of 64 sachets containing the illegal shabu substance to suspects pretending to be visiting inmates in the past. According to Tagarda, jail authorities were worried some of the clandestine drug trade inside the provincial jail here since 34 per cent of the inmates were facing drug related cases. “At present, there are 75 inmates who are facing drug related cases. Jail authorities are always on guard of drug runners and pushers who always try to breach the security in a bid to ply the illicit drugs even in the noses of hawk eyed authorities,” Tagarda said. Tagarda said that there were suspicions that the illegal drug trade at the provincial jail may have been flourishing for years. “Perhaps, the blood money out of illegal drug trade at the provincial jail or elsewhere in the country’s correctional bureaus might have been lucrative that pushers had the gall to breach security,” Tagarda added.
Zambo...
he said. Pe ople losing t heir homes to the MNLF attack is a real concern for the government, Lacierda said adding that government will certainly address that. On Tuesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has enough disaster funds to sustain the immediate needs of the increasing number of evacuees affected by the standoff in Zamboanga City. The DSWD head office has released additional
P16.5 million standby funds to DSWD-Region IX for purchase of relief goods. And since September 9, DSWD-Region IX has provided P25,501,555 as augmentation assistance to Zamboanga City. The assistance included packed meals, family food packs, hygiene kits, plastic mats, blankets and kitchen utensils. The DSWD said that as of noon Tuesday, total number of affected families is 16,533 families or some 82,106 individuals. (PCOO/ PND/as)
Tourney... being held September 20-22, 2013, at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club (POCC), Cagayan de Oro City. At stake are the following: All-new 2014 Toyota Vios 1.3 J MT, Honda XRM and a total of P200,000 cash prizes. Registration fee is set at P3,500, inclusive of Tommy Hilfiger watch as a giveaway. The awards and raffle night of the three-day tournament will be held at 6:00 pm of the tournament’s last
pants. Recipients are beneficiaries under Sets 1 and 2 of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program whose grants will end on December 31, 2013. “It is expected that these beneficiaries will be selfsufficient by then and will be able to provide the needs of their family members despite the absence of the conditional cash transfer of the national government,” Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, DSWD FO 10 Regional from page 1 Direc tor said.(Manuel status of program partici- M.Borres/RTP/PIA10)
OFWs, we should give our resources to OFWs. It should be the foremost job of DFA to really take care of OFWs since they are in a pitiful situation,” said Villar. “They are singlehandedly supporting our economy especially during bad times so they should be a priority,”
she added. The Villar Foundation, where Villar sits as its managing director, has been helping OFWs for the past several years. Villar also reminded the Foreign Affairs department to constantly check on the Bahay Kalinga, the shelter for
distressed Filipinos abroad, in the light of reported abuses going on there. She related encountering in several visits to Bahay Kalinga runaway OFWs and those maltreated by their employers who can’t go home to the country because they do not have
money to pay for their plane ticket. “There are many people in Bahay Kalinga who have exit permit but they don’t have the money to pay for plane fare. We gave them the plane fare and they were able to go home. We can give you the list of other OFWs with
By CRIS DIAZ, Executive Editor of Mindanao Daily News
MISAMIS Oriental––The clandestine drug trade inside the provincial jail in Misamis Oriental was busted on Wednesday morning, jail authorities said on Thursday.
from page 1
But the government can’t commit at this time on how people could rebuild their homes because assessment has to be done to determine the extent of the damage and the corresponding government support, he said. “I don’t want to commit some agency na hindi ko pa masyadong klaro. But, in general, we have seen the damage caused to the people in Zamboanga City and the national government is prepared to help,”
Villar... from page 1
billion budget that he does not have a breakdown of the gender of Filipinos who were meted the capital punishment. “Since we are getting a lot of remittance from our
VISIT OUR WEB PORTAL
from page 1
day. Sponsors of the activity are Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation, Congressman Peter M. Unabia, Mr. Noel D. Sadava, Mr. Eugene M. Unabia and Mr. Kristoffer Eric D. Abellanosa and his family. Interested parties may contact the POCC front desk for Tee-off Time reservation, through the number +63-88-858-7436 and look for Cathy, Cory or Vic-vic.
Program...
exit permit in the future,” Villar told Del Rosario. “You could share specifically this information with us,” said Del Rosario as he gave assurance that the DFA is very generous in giving repatriation funds when they see the need for an OFW to return to the Philippines.
SUPERTRES II UNLEASHED: THE WINNING GUIDE LET’S PLAY LOTTO. SUPPORT PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE!
N U M B E R A N A LY S I S Mga Higala, SULOD sa duha ka adlaw, maayo nga pasakay ang 9 ug ang mga pares nga 49, 59, 79, ug 89. Maayo sab nga pagka-sentro ang 9 sa Angle Guide karong adlawa. Gawas sa 9, ang 2 ug 1 medyo sandaw sab kay sulod sa 18 ka draws sa Swertres sa PCSO, wala kaayo kini sila manggawas. So, pwede sab diay ang 924, 925, 927, 928, 914, 915, 917, ug 918. HAPPY WINNINGS!!! Supertres team
ANGLE GUIDE
3 1 8 1 2
5 6 9 7 4
4 2 0 3 6
7 5 1 4 7
8 6 2 5 8
PREVIOUS ANGLE
3 4 7 3 1
0 5 8 6 0
2 1 9 2 5
3 4 0 3 6
6 5 1 4 7
T O D AY ’ S H O T
428-528 427-572 204-502 124-512 492-529 T O D AY ’ S P A I R
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ta k e - 1 • ta k e - 2
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1-0
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25+69
6-9
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Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (R) strikes during the UEFA Champions League football match Galatasaray vs Real Madrid on September 17, 2013 at the TT Arena Stadium in Istanbul. afp photo
Six-shooting Real waltz at Gala Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his contract extension by grabbing a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Galatasaray 6-1 in their Champions League Group B opener. Real, who started with world-record signing Gareth Bale on the bench, went ahead in the 33rd
Forward Karim Benzema doubled their lead in the 54th, calmly slotting past Fernando Muslera, before Ronaldo minute against the run netted after 63 minutes of play when midfielder and added his second three Isco’s shot went in off the minutes later with Bale, who had just come on, post.
involved in the build-up. Benzema scored again in the 81st minute, tapping the ball home following a cross from Ronaldo, before Umut Bulut got a consolation goal for the Turkish champions in the 84th. But R ona ldo, w ho signed a three-year contract extension at the Bernabeu this week, completed his hat-trick in added time when he sailed past three defenders before firing a powerful left-footed shot into the net. It was his second Champions League hattrick. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team had started with a lack of confidence. “The result was great but it doesn’t tell the story of the match,” he said. “Galatasaray played very well in the first half. The match was easier after Isco’s goal. Cristiano and Benzema gave a great performance. “It’s an i mp or t ant victor y because when you start well we have an important advantage compared to other teams. It’s important to win away the first game, of course it will be a boost in our confidence.” Galatasaray, who beat Real 3-2 in Istanbul in the Champions League quarter-finals last season but went out on aggregate, had started the match brimming with confidence and had the better chances in the first half-hour. Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo went close in the second minute with
a powerful shot forcing a diving save from Iker Casillas. The Real captain was forced off in the 15th minute after sustaining an apparent rib injury in a collision with team mate Sergio Ramos. Medical staff taped up his ribs but it was soon clear he could not continue and he was replaced by Diego Lopez. Ancelotti said Casillas’s injur y did not appear serious. Lopez was called into action almost immediately, smothering the ball after a close-range effort from Melo and on the halfhour mark he pulled off a stunning save to keep out a header from Melo from a Wesley Sneijder corner. Isco breakthrough Minutes later Real went ahead thanks to Isco, who was making his Champions League debut for Real. He has scored four goals and delivered three assists in nine starts in the competition, eight of them for Malaga. “You’re playing Real Madrid and you can’t afford the slightest loss of concentration. If you make a momentar y mistake they will punish you immediately,” Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim said. Real have now scored at least once in each of their last 26 Champions League games. Only Barcelona have had a longer run, of 29 from 2009 to 2012. Galatasaray suffered a blow shortly before half-time when Didier Drogba, Chelsea’s hero in the 2012 final, came off with a shoulder injury. He
was replaced by Nordin Amrabat in the second half. Terim said he would have hospital tests on Wednesday. The home side had a golden opportunity to drag themselves back into the match in the 47th minute when a cross from Amrabat found Burak Yi l m a z , w ho he a d e d narrowly wide from close range. B enzema punished Galatasaray for the miss seven minutes later, racing in on goal after Angel Di Maria knocked the ball into his path and beating Muslera in a one-on-one. Galatasaray’s hopes of a comeback were shattered in the 63rd minute when Isco found Ronaldo, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net. “It was a heavy defeat but ultimately it means just losing three points. What is important is to keep up morale and spread how we played in the first half-hour over the whole match,” Terim said. Bale, who cost 100 m i l l i on e u ro s ( $ 1 3 3 million) when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur this month, came on as a substitute shortly afterwards and helped his 94-million-euro teammate score his second. Ancelotti said he did not start with Bale because he was not 100 percent ready and wanted to prepare him for Sunday’s La Liga game against Getafe. “Bale, I didn’t want to take a risk because he didn’t have a normal preseason,” Ancelotti said. reuters/gma