Mindanao Daily Set A (March 21, 2017) by Mindanao Daily News

MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T

Volume VI, No. 243

Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com

Tuesday

March 21, 2017

P15.00

Solon moves to amend conjugal asset sharing

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has filed a bill to prevent bitter property feud between estranged couples. It may even deter marriage for money. In filing House Bill No. 5268, Alvarez seeks to amend Article 75 of Title IV of the Family Code mandat-

No civilians will be hurt in govt’s war vs terrorists

ing that in the absence of a marriage settlement---better known as “pre-nuptial agreement”---all properties brought into the marriage, including those acquired during the period, shall be governed by the system of absolute community or co-owned by the couple in

equal shares. Alvarez said that while at first glance, the provision of the law seems to be a testament to the integrity of the Filipino family, it does not address the complicated realities facing marriages or relationships on the rocks. He said: “The State must

recognize that these realities are, in fact, burdensome and detrimental to the relations of less-than-ideal families and marriages. The contestation of property in the face of a growing rift only breeds resentment.” To address these problems, the bill proposes to

replace the regime of absolute community with that of total separation of property. “This system provides that each spouse shall own, dispose of, possess, administer and enjoy his and her own property, without need for consent of the other. Additionally, separate

DAVAO City––President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said military operations against terrorist groups are focused only on “selective targets” because “I will not allow civilians to be killed in the process.” Duterte’s statement came 11 days after a year-old baby girl was killed and an 11-year old boy injured in Basilan during military operations in pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf, for which the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief apologized. At the press conference before departing for Myanmar Sunday afternoon, Duterte said it has taken time for government CALVARY. A loaded “habal-habal” that ferries goods to the barrio gets stocked in a muddy hole at Kilometer 6, to crush the terrorist Abu in Tungao, Butuan City, the other day. Residents in the this remote village of Butuan have difficulties in bringing Sayyaf, Maute group and their farm produce to the market and fetch-back goods for their daily supplies due to bad roads. Photo by Jun Ayensa for Mindanao Daily News the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) because it has “to go into selective targets” and that if they are in the midst of or By GERRY LEE GORIT filed by a former provin- man’s decision, dated Nonear populated areas, “we Correspondent cial government employee vember 11, 2016, was posted just cannot do it.” against him. The post also on Facebook on Saturday. “Matagal na sana itong CAGAYAN de Oro City--A showed the copy of the In his affidavit, Ycaro natapos” (this would have social media post upholding Ombudsman’s order. accused Zubiri of abuse of been finished) if there were the decision of the OmbudsThe case stemmed from authority, conduct prejudino civilians “but just like man to suspend Bukidnon the complaint filed by Car- cial to the best interest of the the communists, every time Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. los Ycaro, a retired worker service, grave misconduct, that they (terrorists) are was meant to misinform his of the Bukidnon Provin- and for violations of RA cornered, they mix with the constituents, said his camp cial Capitol who used to 10154 and RA 6713. the people” and when they over the weekend. RA 10154 pertains to the head the general services do that, “we have to stop According to a Facebook department, who accused early release of retirement operations,” he explained. post, the Office of the Om- the governor of refusing to benefits of public officials, “That is (why) it takes us budsman denied Zubiri’s sign his clearance and his while RA 6713 is the code time to do it because motion for reconsideration request for commutation. of conduct and ethical stanSee hurt, page 7 Gov. Zubiri in relation to a complaint A copy of the Ombuds- dards for public officials

earnings shall be owned by each spouse separately,” the lawmaker explained. The bill retains the provision of the Family Code allowing future couples to enter into a marriage settlement for a “regime of absolute See AMEND, page 7

DOH says 1.1m Pinoys already quit ‘smoking’ THE number of smokers in the country has decreased by 1.1 million from 17 million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015, the Department of Health reported Monday, citing survey results. According to the 2015 Philippines’ Global Adult Survey (GATS), the prevalence of tobacco use among Filipinos 15 years and above has dropped from 29.7 percent in 2009 to 23.8 percent in 2015, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial told reporters during a press conference held at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila. “One million Filipinos have quit tobacco use -- the biggest decline we have seen in Philippine history, and we can do more to stop the suffering caused See quit, page 7

Zubiri slams detractors for misinformation on social media and employees. Last year, the Ombudsman ordered the six-month suspension of Zubiri for his refusal to approve Ycaro’s terminal leave application. But Zubiri said he was not yet the provincial governor at the time Ycaro applied for his terminal leave and pointed to then governor Alex Calingasan as the right person to approve such documents. Also, Zubiri See MEDIA, page 7

MINDANAO DAILY SECOND FRONTPAGE mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE

Tuesday

March 21, 2017

WHAT A ROAD. A motorist negotiates a wood-planked

detour over a canal to pass through a mud-stocked SKW truck at Kilometer-6, Tungao, Butuan City on March 19, 2017. Residents in the this remote village of the city have difficulties in bringing their farm produce to the market and ferry back goods for their daily supplies due to bad roads. Photo by Jun Ayensa for Mindanao Daily

PH-Indonesia to launch RoRo shipping service First of a series

By WALTER I. BALANE of MindaNews

DAVAO City––The Philippine and Indonesian governments will launch next month a roll-on, roll-off shipping service that will link Davao and General Santos cities to Bitung City in Indonesia, an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said. Presidents Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines and Joko Widodo of Indonesia have been invited to grace the launch in Davao City after the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila, MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro said. He said the DGB shipping will fill a gap in transport connectivity, at least between the Philippines and the rest of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Areas and ASEAN itself. If pursued, the shipping service will be the first of its kind in the 50-year old ASEAN grouping and will help boost efforts for economic integration. RoRo carries rolling cargoes and do not require cranes for loading or off-loading as they simply roll on and off the vessel, hence the name. The mode is economical, according to the Asian Development Bank, because it has removed cargo handling costs for labor and equipment, as well as cut the transport time. In 2012, the Japan International Cooperation Agency recommended in a study to set up a sea link dedicated to freight services between General Santos City in Min- Tribal Artists. Members of the Yagongyong ta Impasugong, a tribal band composed of Higaonon youth danao and the Indonesian port of Bitung as the much from Impasugong, Bukidnon perform outside the Culture and Arts Exhibit booth on March 19 to passersby in the See service, 7

Capitol Grounds,, venue of most of the activities in Kaamulan 2017. Yagongyong is Binukid for “vibrations.” MindaNews photo by Walter I. Balane

In Focus

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Military victorious, but... e-mail: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

By Carolyn O. Arguillas of MindaNews

DAVAO City––A series of military victories were announced this week by the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) against terrorist groups Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf but Moro civil society groups maintain the military option is no solution and that President Rodrigo Duterte, a Mindanawon with Moro blood, knows that. In a press release emailed late Saturday afternoon, March 18, the WestMinCom said 47 members of the BIFF, including “foreign terrorists” were “neutralized” — 21 of them killed and 26 others injured — during “a series of deliberate and purposive military operations” on March 13 to 16 in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao. It said Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and the Joint Task Force Central (JTF-C) reported “that 21 terrorists were killed and 26 were wounded in a series of air strikes and ground combat operations” in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao while no casualties from among government troops were recorded. The figure 21 killed is 11 more since late Saturday night, when the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which is under WestMinCom, e-mailed a press release that “at least 10” BIFF members were “believed to be neutralized during the two-day focused military operation” in Datu Salibo and that “a local bomber and a foreign terrorist leader of Jemaah Islamiyah” were among those killed during the operation. It said one military personnel was slightly wounded. The air strikes and ground operation, WestMinCom said, “were to hit the group of Muhammad Ali Bin Abdulrahman aka Muawiyah, a foreign terrorist; Salahuddin Hassan, a local terrorist and bomber trained by Muawiyah, and Esmael Abdulmalik aka Abu Toraype, founder of the Dawlah Islamiyah Maguindanao and an alleged BIFF “brigade commander.” “Validations are being made on the ground on the persistent reports that these terrorists were killed in the well-planned, well-coordinated, and

AN ambulant vendor makes a living out of selling shoes on the sidewalk along A. Velez Street in Cagayan de Oro City. Photo by Gerry Lee Gorit for Mindanao Daily

See MILITARY, page 6

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summer SALE

UP TO 50% DISCOUNT ON SELECTED ITEMS

Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD Region 10 Oroquieta City City of Good Life Telephone No. (088) 564-0734; eMail – sp_oroquieta@yahoo.com EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THIS CITY HELD AT THE SESSION HALL, OROQUIETA TOWN CENTER, CANUBAY, OROQUIETA CITY ON JANUARY 19, 2017 ORDINANCE NO. 673-2017 ANTI-LITTERING AND PLASTIC USE CODE OF OROQUIETA CITY, AND FOR SUCH OTHER PURPOSES. Section 1 . xxxx fined of:

xxxx Section 13. Penalties. Any person, household, or business establishments found violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be

Type 1 (Business Establishment/Wholesaler): First Offense :Php2,000.00 Second Offense :Php 3,000.00 and mandatory seminar Third Offense :Php 5,000.00 and cancellation of Business Permit Type 2 (Retailer): First Offense :Php 1,000.00 Second Offense :Php 1,500.00 and mandatory seminar Third Offense :Php 3,000.00 and cancellation of Business Permit Consumer: First Offense :Php 100.00 Second Offense :Php 300.00 and mandatory seminar Third Offense :Php 500.00 and 1 day community service To encourage reporting of violators, 20% of the penalty fee shall be rewarded to any enforcer who can successfully apprehend any offender of this ordinance. Citizen’s reporting is also hereby promoted wherein the reward shall be divided equally between the reporter and the apprehending officer/enforcer (e.g. 10% each). In case of insolvency or non-payment thereof, violator(s) will be compelled to render community service 1 day per hundred of pesos.

xxxx APPROVED: January 19, 2017

ATTESTED: LEMUEL MEYRICK M. ACOSTA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

CONCEPCION N. MAISLING Secretary to the Sanggunian /mls APPROVED: JASON P. ALMONTE City Mayor

MDN: Mar 7, 14 & 21, 2017

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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Opinion

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EDITORIAL ALLAN M. MEDIANTE Editor-in-Chief

Why people kill others and say it is for their god

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… `the time is coming when anyone who kills you think they are offering service to God’…” (Jesus, our God and Savior who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in John 16:2, the Holy Bible). -oooPEOPLE MURDERING O T H ER S F O R G O D PROPHESIED BY JESUS: People killing other people and justifying their murderous acts by saying they are doing the slaughter of innocent men and women as an offering to their god, just like what a man who seized a policewoman in a European airport very recently, is among the prophecies made by Jesus, our God and Savior who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that has come true. In John 16 of the Bible, Jesus said: “… the time is coming when anyone who kills you think they are offering service to God…” Exactly, that is what is happening all around us now. People are killing their fellow human beings, particularly those whose faith differs from their faith, proudly

ruel pelone Managing Editor

Member: ORO CHAMBER Philippine Press Institute

such things because they have not known the Father or me…” Certainly, what this means is that, the killers are not from God the Father. They belong to a faith or belief that does not recognize the true God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, the giver of life. In other words, the killers are not really believers of God for, otherwise, they would not be killing others. -oooOVERCOMING MURDEROUS PEOPLE: To complete our understanding of this prophecy, let me reproduce here the other pertinent parts of John 16, where Jesus is the one speaking. Thus: “…`All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. “ They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned

you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me…” Jesus then concluded: “… `I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Indeed, the only way by which we can become victorious and untouched by the wrath of God’s enemies is to strengthen our belief in, and our acceptance of, Jesus as our God and Savior, who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. -oooPLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible Exposition and prayer session online, could now be heard 24/7 (24 hours a day), in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan. Phone: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

sities, colleges, or schools are designed for creating intellectuals. The products are the best intellectuals who can make innovation for better future of life. On the contrary, training program can be designed especial for creating the skilled labors for job fields. These training programs must be differently designed from the universities or colleges. The leader of any country together with the politicians should be responsible for the second type of education that is training programs. They should provide the people jobs. They should provide training programs for the people. These training programs are designed in accordance with the real job fields required by the world business. The training programs are prioritized for the people who are merely to find jobs. Blue collars and skilled workers in technical fields. The universities, colleges, or schools are designed for creating the brainy intellectuals for research and science development. The products are the best intellectuals. These intellectuals are intended to be able to create any technology or science. Innovation and technology must be blended into the science that can be studied by the students in universities, colleges, or schools. So far, there has been a

tendency to make the two entities confusing. Universities, colleges, or schools are trapped into making the students only ready for working in any world business. Unfortunately, they are busy by overcoming the unemployment. It is a fact that there is a tendency of the unemployment to increase its number. This is a dilemma for the educators. They tend to get trapped in thinking about how to educate people to become workers not the best intellectuals. There must be effots by the governments in any country. They should make a differnce between education for digesting sciences for its developemnt and the schools for creating workers skilled in working in any world business. Otherwise, all are trapped into pragmatism. ••• Dr. Djuwari Sarkawi is the Head of Research Journal and Publishing Department, STIE Perbanas Surabaya. He is also the guest lecturer at Ottimmo International Master-gourmet Academy, Surabaya; The advisor of Indonesia Association of Press Practitioners/ Journalists in East Java province (HIPSI), Indonesia. He is also the president of the International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors, and Reviewers (IASPER).

Atty. Batas Mauricio

Education for jobs or intellectuals?

THE more sophisticated the technology today, the more complicated the problems in CHENG ORDOÑEZ (on leave) MARK FRANCISCO a country. Not only have the Associate Editor Lifestyle Editor developing countries, even GILBERT Y. CHAO gerry lee gorit the developed ones have the Motoring Editor Photo Journalist same problem for providing the job fields for the people. PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao Even in America, Germany, and other industrialized Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING countries, their presidents Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor are still having problem AL JACINTO JOE FELICILDA about it. Yet, the technology Regional Editor-WestMin Editorial Consultant and information (IT) have developed so fantastically. RODRIGO B. SEVILLA JOE PALABAO It also has consequences. Regional Editor-Davao Feature Editor The consequences are related to the adaptation to ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI its advancement and the NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE strategy to make people CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 employed. CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Universities, Colleges, Legal Counsel or schools in any country --------------------------------------------------------------have been busy with their bureau and mktg staff curriculums and strategies. The strategies are emphacandy macabale - 09161326483 sized more on how to create RIZA O. ARES - 0915-9753-277/0926-2242-653 the best intellectuals. They MISOR - LOLONG NABONG - 0906-875-8650 GINGOOG CITY-MANNY ANSIHAGAN-0936-287-7788 want to make them more North Buk. - DAHLIA S. BENEMERITO-0955-150-6602 on providing the philosoVALENCIA CITY - PHILIP PHIL CALUMBA-0905-652-5407 phy and knowledge about MARAMAG - roFINA CUALES - 0926-336-1585 the fields of sciences they quezon, buk. - ROSE GENON are studying. But recently, Iligan City - JEFFREY OPONDA-0936-1174378 more and more universitangub city - bobby mag usara ties, colleges or schools OROQUIETA CITY - PJ TREMEDAL-0919-3452375 ARMM - Sony Sudaria-0947-4810371 are trying to equip their cotabato - ANALISA ESPAÑOLA-0916-9351714 students with skills. These davao - tom a. caballero-09756023684 skills are intended to make davao - tomas canoy avancena jr.-09177017010 their students quickly work davao del norte - sarah castor - 09263988293 in any field of jobs they are digos city, dvo sur & kidapawan - romeo d. sanchez looking for. davao city - rene s. arias (Photo Journalist,) COMVAL PROVINCE AND DAV. OR. - Rhodel javier However, making the butuan - PAT SAMONTE-0912-8091093 universities, colleges, or san frans - CRIS PANGANIBAN-09277974193 schools become the job San Francisco - deding PANGANBAN-0927-7974193 field preparation will end Pagadian City - GRACE FRANCISCO -0912-8484037 with pragmatism. The pragZAMBOANGA - AL JACINTO -09177103642 matism tends to achieve

proclaiming that they are doing it for their god. Why did Jesus announce this prophecy? He was in fact giving a warning to those who believe in Him as God and Savior, and as God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that persecution and murders would be carried out against them, but these must not be a reason for believers to fall away from their faith in Him. -oooWHY PEOPLE KILL OTHERS AND SAY IT IS FOR THEIR GOD: Let’s read what Jesus said as a warning: “… `All this I have told you so that you will not fall away…” This dovetails what He had been saying all along, which can be read in other parts of the Bible, to the effect that those whose faith in Him will not falter until the end will be entitled to an eternal life in Paradise. Now, why would people considering killing others as their service to their god? Because, Jesus explained, the killers never knew Him or God the Father. Here is His statement, still found in John 16: “…They will do

CRIS DIAZ Executive Editor

Dr. Djuwari

n The univer-

sities, colleges, or schools are designed for creating the brainy intellectuals for research and science development.

the best goal on creating workers. If this is the trend, the universities, colleges, or schools will be trapped in the pragmatics. The danger is the development of science of each discipline. The intellectuals’ number will decrease and even perish from the world. In that situation, there must be a clear demarcation between universities, colleges, or schools and the training programs. Univer-

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CBCP frowns on ‘Biblical argument’ for death penalty THE Catholic Church on Sunday issued a statement objecting to supposed misinterpretations and misuse of the Scriptures to argue for the death penalty. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines did not mention any politician or individual by name but said the use of the Bible to defend capital punishment is unnecessary. “To the people who use the Bible to defend death penalty, need we point out how many other crimes against humanity have been justified, using the same Bible?” the bishops said in a pastoral letter. “We humbly enjoin them to interpret the Scriptures properly, to read them as a progressive revelation of God’s will to humankind, with its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, God’s definitive Word to the world,” they said. ‘First to cast a stone’ According to them, “Jesus was never an advocate of any form of legal killing”. “He came ‘not to abolish the law but to bring it to fulfillment,’” they said. “He defended the adulterous woman against those who demanded her blood

IN a pastoral statement, the Catholic bishops renewed their appeal for lawmakers to reject the bill reimposing the death penalty in the country. Photo courtesy of Roy Lagarde

and challenged those who were without sin among them to be the first to cast a stone on her.” The pastoral statement was read in Masses across the country on March 18, third Sunday of Lent. It is also their second statement, as a collegial body, on the death penalty in less than a year. In September 2016, the bishops issued “ethical guidelines” on the matter.

On several, recent occasions, the country’s more than 90 active bishops rallied the faithful to protest the death penalty reimposition. No guarantee of due process The leaders of Asia’s biggest Catholic nation also lamented how the proposed measure was approved on second reading at the House of Representatives on Ash Wednesday.

It was “ironic”, the prelates noted, that many lawmakers were shouting in favor of death with their foreheads marked with ashen crosses. “Could they have missed out the contradiction between their vote and the crosses on their foreheads, which were supposed to serve as a loud statement of faith in the God who, for love of us, chose See PENALTY, page 7

Letters from Davao

Sheer stupidity By Jun Ledesma of PNA

THE Magdalo boys got a rebuke from House Speaker Bebot Alvarez. The spoiled brats in the House of Representatives filed an impeachment complaint against President Duterte shortly before Congress suspended its sessions. The speaker was not amused. Interviewed by the media on his reaction to the move of Magdalo Partylist representative, Gary Alejano, Speaker Alvarez response was crisp and straightforward. “It is stupidity”. There is no other adjective that can best describe such move. The Magdalos knew that they do not have a Chinaman’s chance knowing that their numbers are so miniscule. The form and substance of the information they filed is a copy-paste version of the fables about the non-existent Davao Death Squad and Extra-judicial Killings (EJKs) recited by perjured witnesses Matobato and Lascañas courtesy of now jailed Sen. Leila De Lima and another Magdalo - Sen. Antonio Trillanes. If you look at this act closely, it is easy to identify that the cabal behind the impeachment plot are putsches, gun-for-hire characters

ORDINANCE NO. 680-2017 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS OF THE PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE URBAN BARANGAYS OF OROQUIETA CITY, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF AND FOR SUCH OTHER PURPOSES xxxx Section 7. Any person found violating the provisions of this ordinance, shall be administratively fined the following: a.) For violations of Section 3: 1st Offense-------------------------- P 200.00 and two (2) hours of community service 2nd Offense------------------------- P 500.00 and four (4) hours community service 3rd Offense--------------------------P1,000.00 and eight (8) hours community service The administrative fine enumerated above shall be paid to the City Treasure’s Office within 72 hours from the date of apprehension. Furthermore, the implementing agency who apprehended the violator shall receive 50% of the administrative fine; the funds generated by the barangay or police office shall be allocated for peace and order purposes, ie. equipment but not limited to. Provided, that in the case wherein the apprehending officer is from the barangay, they are to turn over the offender to the PNP. In addition, the offender which will render community service shall be supervised by the PNP. Provided, further, minors apprehended shall be taken to the CSWD or PNP station. Their parents shall be notified and summoned immediately for disciplinary actions. The offending minor shall not be released without the presence of the parent/guardians. Parents and guardians shall be liable for the payment of the corresponding amount of the offense under Section 3. PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the collection of penalties shall be shared in the following schemes: 50% (fifty percent) --------------------------------- City Government 50% (fifty percent) --------------------------------- Apprehending office/agency Section 8. Failure on the part of the violator to pay the administrative fine as provided for in the immediately preceding Section shall cause the filing of a case in proper court and, upon conviction, shall suffer the following penalties: a.) For violations of Section 3: 1st Offense-fine of Php 200.00 and/or imprisonment of 5 days at the discretion of the court 2nd Offense - fine of Php 500.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 days at the discretion of the court. 3rd Offense - fine of Php 1,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 15 days at the discretion of the court Provided, that in the case falling under Section 7 if after 72 hours a case is not filed with proper Court and the violator opted to pay the administrative fine, the City Treasurer’s Office shall accept the same with corresponding surcharge of five percent (5%) per month. And, if the case has been filed in Court and the accused opted to pay the fine in accordance with Section 8 hereof, the City Treasurer’s Office shall likewise accept the same as an administrative fine, with the corresponding surcharge of ten percent (10%) per month. Provided, further, that in the computation of the fine and the surcharge thereof under Sections 7 and 8, a fraction of a month shall be considered as one (1) month. Approved: February 2, 2017

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

CONCEPCION N. MAISLING Secretary to the Sanggunian /mls

ATTESTED: LEMUEL MEYRICK M. ACOSTA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

CONCEPCION N. MAISLING Secretary to the Sanggunian /mls

APPROVED:

JASON P. ALMONTE City Mayor

JASON P. ALMONTE City Mayor MDN: Mar 7, 14 & 21, 2017

See SHEER, page 7

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THIS CITY HELD AT THE SESSION HALL, OROQUIETA TOWN CENTER, CANUBAY, OROQUIETA CITY ON FEBRUARY 2, 2017

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

APPROVED:

and a frail woman senator who had been hounding Duterte of EJKs and all imaginable crime for over 16 years of sleuthing but has yet to produce a single piece of evidence. This is what is happening in the local or domestic front. In the international arena, Vice President Leni Robredo grabbed the stage in international forums and from a prepared speech recited some death statistics and other prevarications again derived from the same polluted source. Robredo succeeded in two counts. The European Union demanded the release of De Lima from detention underlining their reason that she is a political detainee. Which she is not. She was charged of her involvement in drug syndicates. I would excuse her for her dalliance but getting involved in drugs is another story. VP Leni also succeeded in denigrating the whole Filipino nation. She thought that she had besmirched the image of Duterte. Digong can take it all. What she failed to realize is that by painting the Philippines like it is the EJK capital in the globe and with a horrible record of Human Rights violations she drove

Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD Region 10 Oroquieta City City of Good Life Telephone No. (088) 564-0734; eMail – sp_oroquieta@yahoo.com

ORDINANCE NO. 679-2017 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING NAKED AND HALF-NAKED PERSON ROAMING IN PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE URBAN BARANGAYS OF OROQUIETA CITY, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR SUCH OTHER PURPOSES xxxx Section 7. PENALTY. Any person found violating the provisions of this ordinance, shall be administratively fined the following: a.) For violations of Section 4: P 200.00 and two (2) hours of community service 1st Offense----------------------------------P 500.00 and four (4) hours community service 2nd Offense---------------------------------P 1,000.00 and eight (8) hours community service 3rd Offense----------------------------------The administrative fine enumerated above shall be paid to the City Treasure’s Office within 72 hours from the date of apprehension. Furthermore, the implementing agency who apprehended the violator shall receive 50% of the administrative fine; the funds generated by the barangay or police office shall be allocated for peace and order purposes, ie. equipment but not limited to. Provided, that in the case wherein the apprehending officer is from the barangay, they are to turn over the offender to the PNP. In addition, the offender which will render community service shall be supervised by the PNP. Provided, further, minors apprehended shall be taken to the CSWD or PNP station. Their parents shall be notified and summoned immediately for disciplinary actions. The offending minor shall not be released without the presence of the parent/guardians. Parents and guardians shall be liable for the payment of the corresponding amount of the offense under Section 4. PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the collection of penalties shall be shared in the following schemes: 50% (fifty percent) --------------------------------- City Government 50% (fifty percent) --------------------------------- Apprehending office/agency Section 8. Failure on the part of the violator to pay the administrative fine as provided for in the immediately preceding Section shall cause the filing of a case in proper court and, upon conviction, shall suffer the following penalties: a.) For violations of Section 4: 1st Offense-fine of Php 200.00 and/or imprisonment of 5 days at the discretion of the court 2nd Offense - fine of Php 500.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 days at the discretion of the court. 3rd Offense - fine of Php 1,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 15 days at the discretion of the court Provided, that in the case falling under Section 7 if after 72 hours a case is not filed with proper Court and the violator opted to pay the administrative fine, the City Treasurer’s Office shall accept the same with corresponding surcharge of five percent (5%) per month. And, if the case has been filed in Court and the accused opted to pay the fine in accordance with Section 8 hereof, the City Treasurer’s Office shall likewise accept the same as an administrative fine, with the corresponding surcharge of ten percent (10%) per month. Provided, further, that in the computation of the fine and the surcharge thereof under Sections 7 and 8, a fraction of a month shall be considered as one (1) month. xxxx Approved: February 2, 2017

ATTESTED: LEMUEL MEYRICK M. ACOSTA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

MDN: Mar 7, 14 & 21, 2017

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: Ruel V. Pelone

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Military... from page 3

well-executed massive air and ground operations,” it said. Mauwiyah, who carries a P2 million bounty for his arrest, was earlier reported by the military to have been killed in an air strike in 2012 but the military later retracted its statement. In Lanao del Sur, four members of the Maute Group allegedly “notorious for high crimes” were arrested at 3 a.m. on March 16. Seized from them were three high-powered firearms, a pistol, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drug paraphernalia, WesMinCom said in another press release. Arrested were Pao Pangannga aka Pao Faizal, Alex Arex Bagul, Alisata Tumao Maute, and Saadra Macapanton Madayan, who are reportedly wanted for kidnapping for ransom, carnapping, extortion and illegal drugs in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, and are suspects in the Oct. 2015 ambush-slay of Police Supt. Abner Wahab Santos, then acting Marawi

City police chief. On March 14, WestMinCom also reported that a “notorious sub-leader” of the Abu Sayyaf was killed “after resisting arrest” in his residence in Barangay Panglima Alan in Sitangkai. where he allegedly is “the key facilitator in the illegal drugs trade in Tawi-tawi.” Seized were one M-16 rifle, five speedboats and five outboard motors. Twelve persons, including a high-value target were also arrested in an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by the Army’s 7th IB and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on March 17 in Barangay Dalingaoen in Pikit, North Cotabato where a million peso worth of shabu was seized, along with a cal.45 pistol, three carnapped motorcycles, P28,000 cash; and several cellphones. WestMinCom chief, Major General Carlito Galvez, Jr., was quoted as saying that the military “has dealt a severe blow on the reported ISIS cell in Central Mindanao” and that “their bomb-making capability was seriously degraded if not negated.” “More militarized”

Drieza Liningding, chair of the Marawi City-based Moro Consensus Group (MGC) and an avid campaigner and supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte. told MindaNews Saturday they were hoping for a big change under the Duterte administration but the series of military operations has shown that “mas lalong na-militarize ang Bangsamoro and we did not expect that because the President is a champion of the Moro cause, he has Moro blood so mas of all people, siya nakakaintindi sa problema ng Bangsamoro.” “The military option will never work,” Liningding stressed, adding “there is a solution that is more effective and that is the shift to federalism. “Mr. President, you of all people should know that military solution will never work in the Bangsamoro. It will only worsen the situation and produce more extremists from our ranks,” he wrote on his Facebook wall on March 14. “Looking at what is happening on the ground we could say we are

ORDINANCE NO. 678-2017

ORDINANCE NO. 674-2017 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE COLLECTION, SALE AND USE OF SPIDERS IN GAMBLING, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE SPIDER ORDINANCE”, AND FOR SUCH OTHER PURPOSES.

xxxx Section 7. Enforcement Agency - The Philippine National Police shall enforce this Ordinance together with all barangay officials concerned. Section 8. Penalties. - Any individual person found violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to the following penalties: a) First Offense- A fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) shall be imposed; b) Second Offense- A fine of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) shall be imposed; c) Third Offense- A fine of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00) shall be imposed; d) In case the violator is a minor, the parent/s shall pay the corresponding fine or render the mandatory community service through the City Agriculture & Fisheries Office (CAFO). The minor offender shall be turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for appropriate counseling. For Community Service Required Number of Hours First Offense 16 hours Second Offense 64 hours Third Offense 80 hours Fourth and succeeding offenses- A penalty of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) shall be imposed or thirty (30) days imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court; Approved: January 19, 2017 xxxx

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING MINORS FROM DRIVING ANY TYPE OF VEHICLES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF OROQUIETA CITY, PROVIDING PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS THEREOF, AND FOR SUCH OTHER PURPOSES

xxxx

Section 4. PROHIBITION. a.) It is strictly prohibited to minors who are below 18 to operate/drive any type of vehicle within the territorial jurisdiction of the Oroquieta City. b.) Owners, parents and guardians are hereby liable for allowing minors to operate /drive any type of vehicle. Likewise, the owner, parents and guardians of the minor operating /driving any type of vehicle without their consent shall also be held liable and shall be penalized. Section 6.Any person found violating the provisions of this ordinance, shall be administratively fined the following: a.)For violations of Section 4a and 4b 1st Offense---------------------------------------P 500.00 2nd Offense--------------------------------------1, 000.00 and two (2) hours community service 3rd Offense-------------------------------------- 1, 500.00 and four (4) hours community service The administrative fine enumerated above shall be paid by the owner, parents and guardians of the offender to the City Treasurer’s Office within 72 hours from the date of apprehension and citation of ticket. In addition, the owner of the vehicle and the parents/guardians of the offender under Section 4a 2nd and 3rd offense shall be obliged to render community service supervised by the PNP. In addition, the offender which will render community service shall be supervised by the PNP. PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the collection of penalties shall be shared on the following scheme: 50% (fifty percent) ------------City Government 50%(fifty percent) ------------ apprehending officer xxxx Section 8: Vehicles used in violating Section 4 of this ordinance shall be impounded; it shall only be released to the owner upon payment of administrative fine to the City Treasurer’s Office. Failure on the part of the violator to pay the administrative fine as provided for in the immediately preceding Section shall cause the filing of a case in proper court and, upon conviction, shall suffer the following penalties: (a.)For violations of Section 4a and 4b: 1st Offense - fine of Php 500.00 and/or imprisonment of 5 days at the discretion of the court. 2nd Offense - fine of Php 1,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 days at the discretion of the court. 3rd Offense - fine of Php 1,500.00 and/or imprisonment of 15 days at the discretion of the court. Provided, that in the case falling under Section 6 if after 72 hours a case is not filed with proper Court and the violator opted to pay the administrative fine, the City Treasurer’s Office shall accept the same with corresponding surcharge of five percent (5%) per month. And, if the case has been filed in Court and the accused opted to pay the fine in accordance with Section 8 hereof, the City Treasurer’s Office shall likewise accept the same as an administrative fine, with the corresponding surcharge of ten percent (10%) per month. Provided, further, that in the computation of the fine and the surcharge thereof under Sections 6 and 8, a fraction of a month shall be consider xxxx Approved: February 2, 2017

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

CONCEPCION N. MAISLING Secretary to the Sanggunian /mls

APPROVED:

ATTESTED: LEMUEL MEYRICK M. ACOSTA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

JASON P. ALMONTE City Mayor MDN: Mar 7, 14 & 21, 2017

people and all national minorities.” “Peace for the Moro people and the rest of the nation is eliminating national oppression,” he said. Two new FA-50 fighter jets dropped bombs on the villages of Gawang, Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo town around 2 a.m. on Monday. Hours after, two MG-520 attack helicopters and 105 howitzers provided support to ground troops that entered the villages. Suara Bangsamoro said at least 300 families were displaced. The military operations came barely four days after President Duterte warned governors and mayors from 12 of 27 Mindanao provinces that he would declare martial law if they do not help him prevent violence from “spinning out of control.” The operations were also launched hours before the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) opened the 6th annual Bangsamoro week on March 13, with the theme “Bangsamoro: Revisiting the Past, Continuing the cause.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas /MindaNews)

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THIS CITY HELD AT THE SESSION HALL, OROQUIETA TOWN CENTER, CANUBAY, OROQUIETA CITY ON FEBRUARY 2, 2017

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THIS CITY HELD AT THE SESSION HALL, OROQUIETA TOWN CENTER, CANUBAY, OROQUIETA CITY ON JANUARY 19, 2017

ATTESTED: LEMUEL MEYRICK M. ACOSTA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

civilians” but (has) not truly resolved terrorism nor lessened the menace of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan and Sulu.” Jerome Succor Aba, co-chair of Sandugo told a forum on Friday at the University of the Philippines in Diliman on the 49th commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre that “massacres of the Moro people continue even after Jabidah.” “Today, it is Pres. Duterte’s all-out war which brutally killed Nurmayda Abbi, a one year old girl, Hadji Billamin Hassan and Nuruddin Muhlis on March 8 at Brgy. Tum-os Tabuan Lasa, Basilan.” “We call on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to stop this all-out war. It is a menace to the lives of civilians including children who only want to live in peace. Pres. Duterte should pull out his troops in our communities,” Aba said. Roots of conflict Aba said a just peace “can only be attained by addressing the basic issues and resolving the roots of the armed conflict faced by the Moro

Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD Region 10 Oroquieta City City of Good Life Telephone No. (088) 564-0734; eMail – sp_oroquieta@yahoo.com

Section 1. x x x

more militarized (now) compared to the previous administration,” he said, adding that he continues to support the President and they want to help him “realize your Dream of Peace in Mindanao but not this way. Let us address the historical injustices before asking us to help address terrorism.” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on January 3 urged the public to cooperate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to avoid any untoward incident or injury” as he declared the “all-out operations” against terrorists in Mindanao “in full swing.” “I would like to inform my fellow Mindanaoans and Filipinos that operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the Abu Sayyaf and other local terrorist groups are now in full swing. Your AFP will use its ground, air and sea assets against our enemies and leave them no room for escape,” Lorenzana said. In a statement, Suara Bangsamoro appealed to Duterte to “take back the all-out war policy that has affected

CONCEPCION N. MAISLING Secretary to the Sanggunian /mls

APPROVED:

JASON P. ALMONTE City Mayor

MDN: Mar 7, 14 & 21, 2017

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Penalty... from page 5

to give up his life for our salvation, rather than see us perish?” they added. The CBCP again warned that capital punishment and a flawed legal system are “always a lethal mix”, adding that the poor are likely to get punished more quickly because they cannot afford a good lawyer and a guarantee of due process. Now that the battleground for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature kill bill has shifted to the Senate, the bishops asked the faithful to pray for the senators as they prepare to vote on the measure. CBCPNews

Sheer... from page 5

away investors and tourists. Some of our trading partners will just cut clean. In effect, VP Leni Robredo is a veritable enemy within and in lambasting the Philippines in international forums she effectively deprive Filipinos of future job opportunities. If you have a leader like Leni, you need not look for an enemy. It is a consolation that while we lost friends and trade partners because of sheer stupidity of some lawmakers, Dutere’s avuncular ties with China is yielding dramatic results. While Duterte is building a house, Leni and the Magdalos are like termites gnawing at the structures to destroy it. This has to stop even if it takes Duterte to declare a revolutionary government. Listen to the silence of the majority who are tired of divisive and obstructionist politicians. (Mr. Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City and comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)

Amend... from page 1

community, conjugal partnership of gains, complete separation of property or any other regime.” The proposed amendment provides: “In the absence of a marriage settlement, or when the regime agreed upon is void, the regime of total separation of property as established in this Code shall govern.” Likewise, the same system applies to the property regimes of unions without marriage or under a void marriage. Under Art. 147 of the Family Code the salaries and wages of such couple are co-owned in equal shares. Alvarez explained that in the interest of protecting the family, both spouses shall remain legally bound to provide for the support of the family through their separate properties.

Quit... from page 1

by this epidemic,” Ubial said, pointing out that the reduction means at least a million Filipinos now have a lower risk of developing can-

cer, heart ailments, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She further reported that the number of victims of second-hand smoke at home has dropped significantly from 54 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2015; and in the workplace from 32 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2015. The sur vey however revealed that exposure to second-hand smoke remains high at 86 percent in bars and nightclubs; and at 33.6 percent in restaurants. Ubial said the Sin Tax Law or Republic Act 10351 has made cigarette products inaccessible to the public, especially the poor and the youth. She also said that progress and achievement in tobacco control policies and advocacy should be pushed further by maintaining the unitary tax excise structure for tobacco products. Culled from Philippine News Agency

Media... from page 1

reasoned that Ycaro was not given the clearance due to his alleged failure to account for chairs owned by the provincial government amounting to P3.25 million and the electrification, installation and supply of equipment with a total of P8.1 million, of which P868, 472 was only accounted for. In its recent ruling, however, the Ombudsman upheld its June 7, 2016 decision of ordering the governor’s suspension for “administratively guilty of grave abuse of authority amounting to oppression.” Despite the Ombudsman’s upholding of its previous ruling, Zubiri said he was able to secure legal remedies from the Court of Appeals-Mindanao Station based in this city. “While it is true that the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Governor Zubiri was denied by the Ombudsman, [he] has timely filed a Petition for Review before the Court of Appeals Cagayan de Oro City in relation to the case filed by Carlos Ycaro. In fact, the Governor has secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Writ of Preliminary Injunction, issued by the CA,” said a statement posted by Zubiri’s office on Facebook on Saturday. According to a source at the provincial government on Sunday, Zubiri obtained the TRO and WPI from the CA sometime January this year. The statement added the case filed by Ycaro for violation of RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, against Zubiri was dismissed by the Ombudsman for lack of legal basis, but the case filed by the governor against the former is still pending in the same office. The source said the case filed by Zubiri was in connection with the public funds Ycaro has yet to account before he retired.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Contrary to the social media post by Zubiri’s perceived detractors, “the Governor respects the rule of law and he has high regards and faith to the justice system and its process. Precisely why he filed a Petition for Review at the Court of Appeals. He respects the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman, at the same time, the Governor does not agree with its decision,” the statement said. The statement added it’s Zubiri’s political opponents that have no respect for the process of the law and that they are “misleading and misinforming the people.”

Hurt... from page 1

we try to avoid hitting civilians,” Duterte said, adding that only when the terrorists are “grouped in the mountains and are ready for the offensive and that is where we also marshal our troops and our weapons to challenge them. But once the battle is over and they begin to merge and run to their habitations and houses, the offensive stops and I will not allow civilians to be killed in the process.” “Ano ba namang kasalanan ng bata, pati mga babae, matatanda? (What is the fault of children, women and the elderly?), so it behooves on the government to just lunukin na lang nila yang sayang yung panahon na yun (accept the fact that it was time wasted) because it ‘aint the right thing to do,” Duterte added. Year-old girl killed Reacting to Duterte’s latest pronouncement, Amirah Lidasan, spokesperson of Suara Bangsamoro told MindaNews that Duterte’s “all-out war policy and order of military airstrikes did just that — affected civilians, killed civilians including children.” A year-old baby girl, Nurmayda Abbi, was killed in a military operation on March 8, in Barangay Tumos, Tabuan Lasa, Basilan, purportedly to arrest Abu Sayyaf members with standing warrants. The baby was hit on the right side of her head and “immediately died due to indiscriminate firing,” Suara Bangsamoro said. Bullets also hit the stomach of an 11-year old boy. Suara Bangsamoro said the raid was done early in the morning, right after the Fajr prayer (pre-dawn prayer for Muslims), and targeted Hadji Billamin Hassan, identified by the military as a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) with standing warrant for arson. Another resident, Nuruddin Musaddul Muhlis, 33, was also killed. According to a report of Suara Bangsamoro, Hassan was not an Abu Sayyaf member. It said Hassan “shouted at the raiding team identifying himself as an MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front member) and informing them that children were hit and there were other casualties due to the indiscriminate

firing.” Karapatan in a statement said Hassan was a former Bayan Muna coordinator in Basilan and an MILF member “who advocated for peace and worked for the Bangsamoro Development Agency.” Suara Bangsamoro quoted witnesses as saying Hassan was dragged toward the dock, hands tied behind his back, and his dead body found by relatives “in the military detachment in Brgy. Tabuk, Isabela City.” A press release from WestMinCom dated March 8 but e-mailed to the media evening of March 9 mentioned nothing about civilian casualties. It said four “notorious” members of the Abu Sayyaf, “including the kin of top leader Isnilon Hapilon,” Ustadz Mobin Kulin, a.k.a Mulawin, were killed in the joint conduct of law enforcement operations of the Joint Task Force Basilan and the police in Basilan early morning on March 8. ABS-CBN News quoted Galvez as saying the military was running after a certain Moblin Kulin alias Mulawin, an alleged Abu Sayyaf member who had a standing arrest warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He said Kulin was killed but troops failed to recover his remains. Galvez, the report said, tagged Hassan as a member of Abu Sayyaf, but Hassan’s family denied this. Hassan’s family, along with the relatives of other victims, filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on March 14. Galvez apologized to the parents of the baby girl and the boy. “We are deeply sorry for the loss of the child, that is why we apologize to the family. We will assist the other child in the medication in the hospital,” Zamboanga Today Online quoted him as saying. Galvez visited the boy at the hospital and vowed to cooperate with the CHR in its investigation. Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, said, “sorry doesn’t cut it.” No solution Karapatan said the baby was “the first child killed under the Duterte regime” during military operations. Palabay said soldiers involved in the March 8 incident should be “prosecuted and punished.” Drieza Liningding, executive director of the Marawi City-based Moro Consensus Gorup told MindaNews on Sunday that they welcome the President’s statement and “hope government agents conducting operations will respect basic human rights.” But Liningding, an avid supporter of Duterte, maintains “the military option will never work.” Liningding on March 14 posted a statement addressed to Duterte a day after the air strikes against alleged members of the BIFF in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao that awakened residents at 2 a.m. and forced them to flee.

“Mr. President,” Liningding wrote, “you of all people should know that military solution will never work in the Bangsamoro. It will only worsen the situation and produce more extremists from our ranks.” “There is a solution that is more effective and that is the shift to federalism,” he said. According to Lidasan, Duterte “should listen more to the reports of human rights organizations than his bloodthirsty security advisers and Defense Chief.” She said more civilians will be affected and more cases of human rights violations will be filed against his military and police if Duterte does not lift his “militaristic policy” in dealing with the Moro. The Duterte administration is attending to the implementation of peace agreements with two Moro revolutionary groups — the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the MILF. “All-out war” Duterte in a midnight press conference after a joint command conference in Malacanang on January 29-30 ordered “full press operations” against the terrorist groups. Asked in the same press conference if they were waging an “all-out war” against terrorists, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana replied, “you can say it is an all out war” noting that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and 40 of his people from Basilan were reportedly with the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur “with the intention of organizing the ISIS-connected group.” In a statement on January 31, Lorenzana urged the public to cooperate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “to avoid any untoward incident or injury” as he declared the “all-out operations” against terrorists in Mindanao “in full swing.” He said the AFP “will use its ground, air and sea assets against our enemies and leave them no room for escape.” Duterte is the fifth President since Fidel Ramos to attempt to crush the Abu Sayyaf and the second President to attempt to deal with the BIFF and Maute Group. Before his January 2017 order to go after the terrorists, Duterte in late August ordered the military and police to “seek out the Abu Sayyaf and destroy them.” “Seek them out in their lairs and destroy them… Ang mga Abu Sayyaf destroy them, period,” he said in a midnight press conference on August 24-25, hours after the Abu Sayyaf was reported to have beheaded an 18-year old male resident of Sulu. The son of a court stenographer was kidnapped by the terrorist group on July 16. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

Service...

from page 2 needed maritime connectivity aimed to revive and strengthen trade between Indonesia and the Philippines. The Master Plan of ASEAN Connectivity 2025 cited the need for physical, institutional and people-to-people linkages to help achie ve economic, political-security and sociocultural pillars of integration under the ASEAN Economic Community. Since its launching in 1994, BIMP EAGA cited improvements made in physical connectivity through improved roads and ports. The BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 document, however, noted that most of the projects became “stand alone projects” showing benefits at the national level that “fail to clearly demonstrate sub-regional impacts.” “Only a few projects have accounted for the need to link the two priority economic corridors of BIMP-EAGA, namely the Western Borneo Economic Corridor (WBEC) and the Greater Sulu and Sulawesi Corridor (GSSC),” the document said. For the transport sector strategy of BIMP-EAGA, the goal based on BIMP EAGA Vision 2025 is “interconnected, seamless and safe multi-modal transport.” According to the BEV 2025 project list for 2017 to 2025, aside from the DGB route, other sea linkages were also eyed in BIMP-EAGA, such as Bitung-Tahuna-Gensan, Brooke’s Point-Sandakan-Kota Kinabalo, Brooke’s Point-Bataraza-Kudat and Brooke’s Point-Brunei. For air linkages, there will be flights for the following routes: Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalo, Mulu-Bandar Seri Begawan, Davao-Manado, Pontianak-Bandar Seri Begawan and Balikpapan-Bandar Seri Begawan. Poor transport connectivity Poor sub-regional transport connectivity, as identified in the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 document, is one of its major challenges. It added that uneven economic development has led to different priorities, policies and regulations related to the transport sector. Montenegro said there is greater chance to address connectivity from 2017 to 2025 because a total of $23 billion, compared to only $1 billion in the previous decade, has been earmarked for priority infrastructure projects in the area. Over half of the amount goes to projects identified in Mindanao because the island needs more infrastructures. Also, a big ticket project, the Mindanao Railway System is in the pipeline. The Duterte administration is giving special focus on infrastructure. The DGB, Montenegro added, is strategic for the Philippines, not just for Mindanao because it provides a faster and cheaper access for domestic products to be moved in ASEAN and other parts of the world. Notably, Mindanao is physically separated from the other BIMP members.

GILBERT Y. CHAO - Motoring Editor

Tuesday

motoring March 21, 2017

Isuzu Philippines takes action-packed 4x4 playground to Cagayan de Oro FOLLOWING a highly successful and much sought-after series of events, the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground on March 17, 2017 mounted its last and most exciting round at the Limketkai Mall parking lot in Cagayan de Oro. Organized by Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) in order to demonstrate the four-wheel driving capabilities of the Isuzu mu-X 4x4 LS-A A/T and Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 LS A/T 3.0-liter variants, the event allowed both off-road driving enthusiasts and mall goers a chance to check out in a fun and thrilling manner how Isuzu vehicles cope at traversing extreme obstacles. Serving as guests’ test-drive vehicles during the weekend event were five units of Isuzu mu-X 4x4 and two units of Isuzu D-MAX 4x4, which took to the specially prepared course that was meant to simulate the type of rugged terrain the vehicles are capable of tackling. Assembled on this unique track were obstacles designed to test the limits of the vehicles, which included the slipper slope, articulation ramp and the 40-degree transverse-angle ramp. Of course, the 20-foot Thrill Hill, which has proven to be the most popular obstacle in every staging of the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground,

again served as the centerpiece of the track. “While both the Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX have sophisticated styling and premium interior features, the fact remains that, especially in their 4x4 specifications, these two models are highly capable off-road machines that are designed to traverse extremely rugged terrain. This is the reason behind the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground series — we want to communicate to consumers the capabilities of Isuzu models by letting them witness and experience these first-hand in a controlled environment,” said IPC President Hajime Koso during the event’s opening. “But this year, we plan to further develop this event so the information may reach consumers more efficiently and enjoyably,” Koso added. During the event, the mu-X 4x4 LS-A impressed guests with its combination of upscale features and off-road driving capabilities. The model is equipped with Isuzu’s 4JJ1-TC (HI) 3.0-liter diesel engine that has common rail direct injection, an intercooler and a Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger, allowing it to produce 163Ps at 3,200rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1,800rpm

to 2,200rpm. An available fivespeed automatic transmission that boasts of a sequential shift function can be matched to this engine. For its part, the D-MAX 4x4 LS A/T proved to event participants its rugged looks by ably tackling every obstacle on the track. Powered by the same robust and fuel-efficient engine and five-speed transmission that’s found in the mu-X 4x4 LS-A A/T, the pickup also shares the SUV’s 4WD Terrain Command Select Dial. This proprietary system by Isuzu allows drivers to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive Low mode by simply turning a knob on the vehicle’s console. Drivers may also switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive High mode even while the vehicle is traveling at speeds of up to 100kph. Both vehicles also have ideal approach and departure angles, boosting their performance in all types of terrain. “We at Isuzu Philippines would like to thank everybody who participated in the series of Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground events. Rest assured the next evolution of this experiential information drive will be more thrilling and relevant to consumers,” Koso said.