Mindanao Daily Set A (May 10, 2017)

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. 280

Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com

Wednesday

P15.00

May 10, 2017

Climate change, plantations threatened Liguasan Marsh L

By Antonio L. Colina IV of MindaNews

iguasan Marsh in Southwestern Mindanao is facing threats caused by climate change and chemical pollution owing to the growing number of pineapple, banana and oil palm plantations, a retired general turned environment advocate said.

Screen grab photo of the Liguasan Marsh from this youtube.com, a video-sharing website, post of Raffy Tima of GMA Network two years ago.

On Tuesday, the first day of the “Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Mindanao: A Roadmap for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development” at the Grand Regal here, Climate Smart Network convener retired general Victor Corpus said the threats, if not addressed at once, will affect the rich biodiversity and the communities that depend on the marsh for livelihood.

He said the marsh can provide livelihood opportunities for the people if the right development programs are put in place.

He said the marsh is surrounded by nine watersheds with 16 rivers flowing to it.

“Almost no forest left in the nine watersheds. When it rains all top soil in uplands are washed to different 16 rivers causing heavy siltation of the rivers. When rivers are silted, it easily See MARSH, page 7

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

Wednesday

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May 10, 2017

Clergy: Napoles’ acquittal only adds to people’s mistrust in courts Members of the clergy said the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision to acquit Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged brains behind the PHP10billion priority development assistance fund scam, only fuels suspicion that PDAF money talks.

“Also, it just adds to the mistrust of our people in our courts, (that) only the poor, the unknown

and has no connection are convicted,” said Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos.

“We are waiting to see the moneyed and those in higher ups to be convicted by courts.”

For his part, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the PhilippinesPublic Affairs Committee (CBCPPAC) executive secretary, Fr.

Jerome Secillano, expressed hope that the CA decision would not affect Napoles’ other cases.

“Let’s just hope that the acquittal would not have an impact on her other cases. If it does, then it is going to be the ‘mother of all injustices’,” Secillano said.

“With all the bogus foundations she put up, I guess those are

overwhelming indications not only of an intent to steal from government coffers but of thievery itself with the connivance of some unscrupulous politicians.”

On Monday, the appellate court reversed the decision of a Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Napoles in the criminal case filed by Benhur Luy, who

had accused her of locking him up inside a subdivision in Makati City to prevent him from exposing the PDAF racket.

In 2015, the Makati RTC sentenced the alleged PDAF scam mastermind up to 40 years in prison for illegally detaining her cousin. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/ PNA)

4 Rajah Buayan cops injured in roadside blast

By Ferdinandh B. Cabrera of MindaNews

COTABATO City--Four policemen from the municipal police station of Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao were injured when an improvised bomb exploded as they were passing between the Mamasapano Elementary School and the public market in Mamasapano town.

Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan said the roadside bombing “alarms our people” as he noted that “the usual target has been Army vehicles.”

“The police has not been a target, which indicates that there is a new

dimension to the peace and order situation in the area. While the site of bombing is in another town, we hope that this will not jeopardize the security of our people,” the mayor said.

Ampatuan identified the injured policemen as SPO2 Mohammad K Ampatuan, PO3 Ali Ibrahim Malok, Harim G Ampatuan and PO1 Norudin E Olympain.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, provincial police chief of Maguindanao said the policemen were on their way to a conference he called for against illegal drugs and annual fiscal examination when the bomb exploded.

The policemen were rushed to the provincial hospital in neighboring Shariff Aguak town. The vehicle was riddled with shrapnel.

No groups has accepted responsibility for the bombing but the mayor said” I sense this is a reprisal” against the police operations against illegal drugs in Rajah Buayan last week.

A mother and her two children were killed while her two younger children were injured when the suspected drug personalities reportedly fired at the policemen who were about to serve warrants of arrest in Barangay Panadtaban, Rajah Buayan early afternoon of May 2. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews)

Fragments from the improvised explosive device that went off in Mamasapano town , Maguindanao Tuesday afternoon, 09 May 2017, injuring four policemen from neighboring Rajah Buayan town. Photo courtesy of Mayor Ampatuan

Letters from Davao

Gina is Mine alone

By Jun Ledesma Posted in PNA

Activists from Greenpeace Philippines blockaded the gates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) head office in Quezon City to protest the continued control of the Philippine government by big business interests, and as a failure of the current administration to stand by the reforms it is pursuing. Greenpeace locked the gates of the DENR and eight activists, wearing orange jumpsuits and with tube locks connecting their arms, occupied both front gates of the agency, impeding access by visitors to the compound. A long banner that read ‘DENR: Not open for Business’ was hoisted outside the compound.

1-year appointment ban for May 2016 poll losers ends Wednesday As the one-year ban ends on Wednesday, candidates who lost in the May 2016 national and local elections may be appointed to government positions starting on May 10.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution states that candidates who lost in an election cannot be appointed to any government post within one year after the election.

The last national and local elections in the country was held on May 9, 2016.

Article 9 (B), Section 6 of the Constitution states: “No candidate who has lost in any election, shall

within one year after election, be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporation or in any of its subsidiaries.”

See LOSERS, page 7

Stonewalled in the din and rankle whipped by the rejection of the appointment of Gina Lopez as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are issues which were not brought to the fore. It is vital as it defines what DENR will be under Gina had she won the nod of the Commission of Appointment (CA).

Sad that the heated exchanges focused solely on the incendiary issues of conflict of interest of members of the CA but even that, had it been impartially scrutinized, would reveal whose interest was really at work and why.

We have heard it all. The passionate repartee of Gina including her swan song “I believe I can fly”.

In the faraway nook in Mindanao, I listened to the speeches and watched the unfolding drama following the verdict of the CA. I cringed each time mouths wag in an outburst of emotion and condemnation why Gina was rejected.

The social media was up in

smoke. Gina is a personification of an environment guardian and a nominee of President Rodrigo Duterte so why reject her as DENR Secretary?

Amidst the furor I had wanted to raise some issues of concern but, apprehensive I will sound irrelevant to the popular outcry, I hedged.

In the first place President Duterte had been rooting for her. Now that the dusts had settled and the noise is but a whimper allow me to bring these matters out.

I have been receiving some disturbing information shortly before and after the CA made their final deliberation on the fate of Gina. Please check these out: Is it true that then Secretary Gina Lopez granted authority to San Roque Metals Inc. (SRMI) to continue with their mining operations in Tubay, Agusan del Norte?

The mining firm, which is classified as small scale obviously to skirt some mining laws and regulations, was facing a number of cases for enumerable violations and even caught the ire of candidate Rodrigo Duterte.

Being small scale it can See ALONE, page 7

In Focus

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

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Anti-drug drive in North Cotabato town gaining ground: mayor KABACAN, North Cotabato-The war on drugs waged since July last year has been gaining ground in this town, a known transshipment point of prohibited drugs from Maguindanao and Bukidnon provinces and Cagayan de Oro City, the town mayor said.

Mayor Herlo Guzman, Jr. also denied reports that a shabu laboratory exists in his town.

Kabacan, with a population

of 82,000 as of the 2015 census, is the crossroad of highways going to Bukidnon, Maguindanao and North Cotabato, thus illegal drugs are dropped here from the surrounding provinces, the mayor said.

Guzman said the intensified and massive police and military anti-drug operations led to the arrest of 82 individuals, including non-residents, since last year.

The latest successful operation was carried out Monday with the recovery of PHP75,000 worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and the arrest of nine suspected drug peddlers and users.

On April 30, close to PHP1 million worth of suspected shabu was also seized by joint anti-narcotics operatives and police in the town.

Kabacan serves as the “bag-

sakan” (trading place) of shabu from northern Mindanao, Central Mindanao and autonomous Muslim region before these are distributed to other areas, including the cities of Davao, Digos and General Santos. Guzman vowed that his administration will continue to collaborate with the police and Army to cleanse the town of illegal drugs.

While he vowed to enforce the law at all cost, Guzman

Misor turns over P3 million for ‘Brigada Eskwela 2017’ raising ceremony at the provincial capitol.

He said the cash assistance would be distributed to the various public schools in Misamis Oriental in order for parents and teachers to prioritize the needs of the school. ”Small public schools would be extended P5,000 while medium-sized public schools would get P10,000.

The big public schools would be entitled to P15,000 cash assistance,” Emano said.

He said the provincial government decided to extend cash assistance “to unburden the parents from donating money intended for the minor repair of public schools.”

Emano said that the amount could be used for the repair and painting of classrooms or the construction of pathways and canals in preparation for the rainy days during the opening of classes in June. (Nicole Roa Managbanag/PNA)

Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, entitled “Appointment of elective and appointive local officials; candidates who lost in an election:” from page 2 “Except for losing candiThe same provision is dates in barangay elections, stated under Section 94 (b), no candidate who lost in

an election, shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries,” the law added. (Ferdinand G. Patinio of the Philippine News Agency)

THE provincial government of Misamis Oriental has turned over P3 million for 349 public elementary schools and 81 secondary public high schools in the province for their “Brigada Eskwela 2017” activities next week.

Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said that Maylinda Vequezo, district supervisor of the Department of Education in Northern Mindanao, accepted the check during Monday’s flag-

Alone... from page 2

only mine not more than 50 tons of ore monthly. The area being located in an ancestral domain, SMRI is supposed to give the Indigenous Peoples their share. Eric Gutierrez, the owner and his partner Congressman Egay Erice are all familiar names. It is also known that they provide the jets needed by Liberal Party Presidential bet Mar Roxas, so we were told.

An insider told me last week that SRMI actually exports four Panamax shipload of nickel every month. In the miners lingo one Panamax ship loads about 50,000 to 55,000 tons of nickel ore. At the height of its operations during the Aquino regime, the price of Nickel was at 5 per ton. Nickel demands and value during Aquino administration were that high because Indonesia imposed a ban on nickel ore exports.

If you think that is huge, it is actually a pittance compared to a virtually unknown nickel mining operations in faraway TawiTawi. Al Tawi-Tawi Nickel Corporation is allegedly owned by unknown Filipino Chinese. The mine site, is in Langguyan, Tawi-Tawi.

ATNC production output is not less than 600,000 metric tons per month. The Nickel content is high-grade at 1.8. By simple math, that’s 2-million annually. SRMI averages about 6-million per year.

The operations of ATNC dated back during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when Lito Atienza was DENR Secretary. The MPSA was awarded to the Sali family who later farmed out their concession the current operators who in turn

facilitated the processing of Environment Clearance Certificate. ATNC enjoyed the same extra-ordinary privilege when President Benigno Aquino III took over. Anybody who was/is somebody enjoys the bonanza so nobody complains.

When she assumed as DENR Secretary, Gina Lopez surprisingly hired a confidant, Engr. Leo Jazareno, a close ally of Aquino and Roxas. She also hired 50 consultants along with Jazareno. Known as “LJ” in the mining circle, he was appointed National Director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) by then DENR Secretary Ramon Paje. It was during the regime of Aquino that MGB under LJ and Paje removed from the local government the authority to issue Ore Transport Permit (OTP) and Mineral Ore Export Permit (MOEP). With that consolidation of power one can just imagine what the “Daang Matuwid” had achieved. It is mind-boggling and my poor-man’s standard and cheap calculator cannot handle that.

Gina had every student activist and environmental NGOs (non government organizations) under her spell. She flew over mining area with a coterie of reporters and backed up by … of course ABS-CBN. When she return to her office she issued, left and right, suspension and closure orders that alarmed Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez! Her reason was that it is her prerogative to do so.

But mystery of mysteries, not only was SRMI given authority to continue operating, Gina, I recalled, even referred to SRMI as a model mining company. ATNC does not need that accolade,

it is comfortable with its anonymity. I learned there was a perceptible attempt on the part of the owners to wiggle its way inside the Duterte Santo Santorum but this was rebuffed. Another information I got was that ATNC, during the Aquino regime, wanted to buyout AMCOR interest in Mati, Davao Oriental but this was pre-empted when the World Heritage declared Hamigitan Mountain Range as a World Heritage Site.

From these enumerations one can only deduce why the Liberal Party members of the CA to the man voted in favor of Gina. The two mining firms were footing the bills not only for Mar’s campaign but for the entire LP political machinery. Could this be the reason why Greenpeace is so enamored with Gina they locked themselves in the gates of DENR? Certainly, contrary to the emotional mantra that Gina Lopez is the passionate fighter for environment, there are others who can better serve the government as DENR secretary. Besides, DENR is not about mining alone.

My gosh, a senator and a congressman may have ties with miners but hardly do we know that a cabinet member and the pillars of the Liberal Party were protecting the interest of the worst violators of our mining laws. All this because she thought it was her prerogative. In hindsight, when President Duterte hinted that “money influenced” the decision of the CA he is actually telling us the bald truth.

You heard Gina sings “I believe I can fly”? It’s time to listen to Johnny Mathis “Gina” that aptly ends with “Gina is mine alone”. (Mr.

appealed to drug personalities to peacefully surrender and be rehabilitated to become productive citizens.

Guzman attributed the success of the anti-drug drive to the cooperation of residents, who provided tips to law enforcers involving drug personalities.

“Continue helping authorities, we are doing it for the sake of our children, your children,” he urged residents. (EOF/PNA)

Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City and comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Opinion

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Have my say TThe Mindanao Daily is pubished by MINDANAO DAILY NEWS PUBLISHING CORPORATION. It is Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Reg. No. CS201531735. With Business Plate No. 201703518, Under Business License Certificate No. 2017-02949, BIR-TIN No. 464682-324-000. Main Business address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa St., Brgy. Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. Tel. Nos: (088) 856-3344, 0917-7121424, 09478935776 E-mails: Advertising:mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com, Editorial: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com DANTE M. SUDARIA Publisher and President TERESA ZAFRA PELONE Comptroller melanie rivera SAIRA E. GUMISING Advertising

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Global environment voices

If I meet people fighting for our clean environment, you might find me at their site. Activists have started a eight-day push to get individuals and institutions to divest from oil, gas and coal corporations.

Investing in the fossil fuel industry equals pumping money into climate change, they say.

Fossil fuels seem to be losing their unquestioned position as the world’s primary source of energy, particularly after the Paris climate agreement. Even so, governments and private investors continue to support fossil fuel businesses worldwide.

The Global Divestment Mobilization (May 5 to 13, 2017) will draw together thousands of people from across 39 countries on six continents to push forward divestment from fossil fuels, in favor of renewable energy. In other words, to convince investors to withdraw their financial support fossil fuel companies - and in doing so,

Member: ORO CHAMBER Philippine Press Institute

want the Vatican to react as a great moral authority - and a great investor.”

And the movement has also been very successful, Mattauch said, pointing to its growth. More than 700 public institutions worldwide have already committed to divest, including educational institutions, philanthropic foundations and governments. Just last week, the German city of Göttingen has become the fourth German city withdrawing investment in coal, oil and gas companies. As German citizen I am happy to learn about it.

Faith-based organizations represent around 20 percent of the total divestment reached yet.

“C h r i s t i a n s i n t h e Church have a particular moral and religious obligation to speak out on climate change,” a spokesperson from the Christian Climate Action group told German media. She didn’t want to be named, out of professional reasons.

This is indeed all about

Klaus Doring

raising awareness and making pressure.

Some accuse fossil fuel companies of only surviving thanks to governmental subsidies. Oil Change International issued a 2015 report that G20 governments provided more than $400 billion (360 billion Euro) per year to fossil fuel production, including some of the world’s most carbonintensive and polluting ones. Let’s face it: unless governments stop propping up fossil fuel companies, divestment will be limited, even with clean energy becoming ever cheaper. +++ Email: doringklaus@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin or visit www. germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com

For art’s sake

The importance of mastering one’s native language

MANY Filipino parents want their children to MARK FRANCISCO speak the English lanLifestyle Editor guage in that they enroll them in exclusive schools.

GILBERT Y. CHAO gerry lee gorit Without them knowing

Motoring Editor Photo Journalist it, they have become easy

PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN preys of the highly com Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao mercialized Philippine

Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING educational system. But Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor becoming themselves gullible to the demands of these

AL JACINTO JOE FELICILDA exclusive schools they do Regional Editor-WestMin Editorial Consultant not mind. It’s because they feel a certain degree of

RODRIGO B. SEVILLA JOE PALABAO pride seeing and hearing Regional Editor-Davao Feature Editor their kids speaking like ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI birds!

NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE In Cagayan de Oro City CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 where I live, there are a CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY number of exclusive preLegal Counsel schools run either by religious groups or enterprising --------------------------------------------------------------educators. bureau and mktg staff And while in a public candy macabale - 09161326483 utility jeepney, I seldom RIZA O. ARES - 0915-9753-277/0926-2242-653 hear these children of wellMISOR - LOLONG NABONG - 0906-875-8650 to-do families speaking GINGOOG CITY-MANNY ANSIHAGAN-0936-287-7788 these lines: “Where man North Buk. - DAHLIA S. BENEMERITO-0955-150-6602 VALENCIA CITY - PHILIP PHIL CALUMBA-0905-652-5407 ta mag-watch og movie?”

MARAMAG - roFINA CUALES - 0926-336-1585 or “Mommy, when man quezon, buk. - ROSE GENON diay si Daddy mouli?” or Iligan City - JEFFREY OPONDA-0936-1174378 “Mommy, ingon si teacher, tangub city - bobby mag usara bad baya ang mangaway OROQUIETA CITY - PJ TREMEDAL-0919-3452375 ARMM - Sony Sudaria-0947-4810371 cotabato - ANALISA ESPAÑOLA-0916-9351714 KORONADAL CITY-FREDIE SOLINAP-09557161873 davao - tom a. caballero-09756023684 davao - tomas canoy avancena jr.-09177017010 davao del norte - sarah castor - 09263988293 digos city, dvo sur & kidapawan - romeo d. sanchez davao city - rene s. arias (Photo Journalist) DAVAO CITY - RUEL LIGONES COMVAL PROVINCE AND DAV. OR. - Rhodel javier butuan - PAT SAMONTE-0912-8091093 san frans - CRIS PANGANIBAN-09277974193 San Francisco - deding PANGANBAN-0927-7974193 Pagadian City - GRACE FRANCISCO -0912-8484037 ZAMBOANGA - AL JACINTO - 09177103642

protect the climate.

Environmental activists and concerned individuals ask for an immediate freeze of any new investment in coal, oil or gas companies.

The movement has spread across the world over the past five years. It’s based on the argument that investing in fossil energies fuels the climate crisis.

As a project of the environmental nonprofit organization 350.org, the Global Divestment Mobilization started in United States universities in 2012. But the movement has now reached global dimensions.

“Everything is growing very rapidly,” Melanie Mattauch, Europe communications coordinator told international media.

The network includes now countries from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

The development of the movement in Brazil, for instance, has been particularly exciting for Mattauch.

“There, many bishops and Catholic groups are engaged,” she said. “They

og baby.”

From those who are in exclusive colleges and universities, these lines are quite familiar: “Mag-faster ta oy kay hapit na baya ang time!” or “Pa-borrow og money, please. Mo-pay ko tomorrow” or “Nag-eat naka?” or “Mag-buy tag food.”

What language is that?

Certainly, it is neither English nor Cebuano.

Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada, of UP in the Visayas, said: “The greatest evil in the Philippine educational system is the use of English as the language of instruction in the classroom. The greatness of the Filipino is preserved in the various languages of the country.”

“We must teach in the language of the learner,” he urged writers, teachers and educators in his keynote speech during the 2005 National Conference of the Philippine Center for International PEN held in Iloilo City on December 3, even as he challenged

them to master their own languages before they master another’s.

For his part, former UP President Francisco Nemenzo Jr. said: “Filipinos should not abandon their regional tongue but must also develop it.”

In his visit to Romblon, the first and only place he knew, NVM Gonzalez asked a faculty from the English department whether she enjoyed teaching English.

The teacher replied: “I have no regrets, even though it’s a second language.”

Gonzalez retorted: “You have an English department and a Filipino department.

But Tagalog is a second language and English a third.

Don’t you want a Romblon department? Your language defines your world, including the history of our enslavement by the English.”

On one hand, Gonzalez had regrets that English became the official language of the Philippines.

“The learning process could hardly be called slight; we

Raul G. Moldez

had to do everything in a received language, every single word truly an alien presence,” he said, describing his difficult foray as a young writer using the “borrowed language.”

On the other hand, Dr. Macario Tiu, of Ateneo de Davao University, castigated those self-proclaimed pundits when they insist that students’ poor English is the culprit why most of the college graduates are jobless.

The solution to unemployment problem, according to Tiu and which I fully agree, is not to improve the ability of the students and graduates to speaking English but the opening of more businesses and industrial plants that will provide them jobs. **** Email me at rgmoldez@ gmail.com

Daily inspiration

Be thankful today

Nature in all its splendor is beautiful.

The power of water carving out the Grand Canyon, the vast and countless varieties of birds, the neverending tide of the ocean, or the beauty of a sunset, each is glorious.

They were all created to serve a purpose to point out Gods eternal power. We can look around us and see God. Its important to not get caught up in the creation and miss out on the Creator.

When you hear the birds chirp today think of it as a

song of praise to God and say THANK YOU! “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.

Juvy Sarraga Through everything God made, they can clearly see nature. So they have no his invisible qualities--his excuse for not knowing eternal power and divine God.”Romans 1:20

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Opinion

Beware of bogus K-9 providers buildings, sources of water supplies are considered sensitive areas that have to be secured at all times.

However, for the management who have little or limited knowledge about security, these areas are often left unattended.

While hiring the best and highly trained security team – government or private – is one of the deterrent factors to preempt possible breach of security, the inclusion of the K-9 units could not be taken for granted. There is a notion that a highly- trained K-9 is incomparable to other security personnel.

Illegal drugs and explosive detections are the primary function of a K-9 unit. With a certified and a trained handler, a K-9 could deliver the best beyond expectation. There is an emphasis on the need to have a qualified handler who would be tasked to handle a K-9 unit. The relationship of the K-9 and the handler is a very critical factor in establishing an efficient and effective K-9 unit.

Thus, the RCSU was very clear in its directive that only the accredited K-9 providers should be authorized to deploy the K-9 security unit. An accredited K-9 provider, means that

the handler and the K-9 unit had undergone a rigid proficiency examination.

It is not only the K-9 that matters, the handler is also a critical factor because the K-9 draws its strength and loyalty to its handler.

Aside from the established relationship of the handler and the K-9, the status of the K-9 at the time of the examination or proficiency test also be considered. One should understand that any physical or emotional destruction would also disturb or affect the efficiency of the K-9.

An examiner should be keen on taking the environment and the physical condition of the K-9 at all times because even the highly-trained K-9 would falter under emotional and physical stress. For instance, a female K-9, on its monthly visit, might also affect the behavior of the male counterparts. It is, therefore, necessary that a female K-9, on its monthly visit, be isolated from the K-9 unit or, better still, be left in their cage alone and away from other K-9s.

With the imposition of the K-9 security unit as part of the preemptive measure to deter possible breach of security, there is the fear that some unscrupulous

Daily Express closure, a curse that haunted Cory govt Cris Diaz

individuals might come around to offer services.

In fact, the RCSU regional command is aware that some enterprising individuals are now offering K-9 services even without “accreditation and authority.”

The CYNOSURE even learned that some policemen reportedly own K-9 units without accreditation and authority from the RCSU and SOSIA in Camp Crame, Manila. Granting that the police officer owned a highly-trained K-9, the fact he has not obtained an accreditation means that the deployment of the K-9 to any commercial establishment is deemed illegal.

The businessman should, therefore, demand an accreditation papers before considering any proposal on K-9 security service from any law enforcement. One should be aware that the major command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has an organic K-9 squad that are not intended for “commercial purposes.”

The striker

The best of things

MANY people in Cagayan de Oro never realized the good things around them that could battle the extreme heat of the summer sun. I have not been there for so long and I don’t know what happened to the beautiful Lawndale spring/swimming pool in Taguanao, just few miles from the city proper.

It was then city mayor Nene Pimentel, who developed the area and from a cold natural flowing spring, surfaced what was then a real attraction for Kagayanons. The name Lawndale is actually a city in southern

California, where the first batch of exchange of visitors came. The city mayor of Lawndale and several others came to Cagayan de Oro and swam around the pool. Months later, a delegation from our place left for Lawndale to return the visit. The exchange of visits promoted tourism benefiting the two cities.

Lawndale spring was the favorite of my family and hundreds other local residents. We always spend our spare time on Saturdays and Sundays for picnics and swimming lessons for

my growing kids. I enjoyed the place because the water is fantastic and really nice for swimming. It is flowing night and day, thus making the pool extremely clean and cold beating the hot sun.

If the place was maintained by the city government, it must be a nice place to this day. I am just wondering if public funds were flowing too for its cleaning and removal of shrubs and small trees that could destroy beauty. I hope our present city officials will investigate if the place is still usable otherwise it

5

Co-op Nation

The CYNOSURE

THE directive of Supt.

Rowen R. Pornobe, the group commander of the Regional Civil Security Unity (RCSU), to “highly vulnerable establishments” in Northern Mindanao about the hiring of the K-9 security services showed the police serious consideration of threats by “bandits” masquerading as “terror groups.”

For establishments that pour in millions or even billions of financial investment and resources, a K-9 security service is not only a necessity, but a priority.

Highly vulnerable establishments are those engaged in hotels, food establishments, mall and shopping centers and other forms of business that becomes a convergence places of people of all walks of life.

Aside from the convergence places, there are other sensitive areas that a K-9 security service is equally necessary. Considered as highly vulnerable establishments is power sources, financial institutions, port areas, communication facilities and government buildings, too.

Power sources and the communication facilities are the primary object of destabilization, whether on a short term or on a long term. Government

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Ben Emata Jr.

should be reincarnated for the pleasure of the residents and visitors from nearby places. I swear it is really beautiful and cold natural spring.

During my time, I usually take my family to Bonbon, Bayabas or Opol beach to have the fresh air from the ocean and swim the deep See BEST, page 7

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…” (Galatians 5:1, the Holy Bible).

-oooDAILY EXPRESS, BRUTALLY CLOSED DOWN

BY CORY IN 1987, CELEBRATES 45TH YEAR: Daily Express, the very first newspaper I worked for after I got out of journalism school at the University of the Philippines in 1977, would have been 45 years old on May 07, 2017, it having been first printed on May 07, 1972 (I was just a senior high school then in Paniqui, Tarlac).

Unfortunately, it was brutally closed down in 1987 by President Corazon Aquino, simply because the Express was then branded by many Aquino allies as a “Marcos newspaper”, and was viewed by them as a tool of the Marcos dictatorship. I say brutally because with the closure of the paper, some 300 or so employees who had nothing to do at all with Marcos lost their only source of income, making life greatly difficult for them!

Yet, on May 07, 2017, former editors, columnists, reporters and other administrative bigwigs and staff of the newspaper led by its former Executive Editor, now 94 years old Enrique “Pocholo” Romualdez, and by its former Finance Officer, now San Fernando City, La Union Mayor Mary Jane Ortega, gathered at the Aristocrat Restaurant in Roxas Blvd., Manila, and celebrated its 45th year.

-oooDAILY EXPRESS WAS A FAMILY TO ITS OFFICERS AND STAFF: It was, I would say, a grand celebration. But it was more than merry making,

Atty. Batas Mauricio

as Ortega announced in her speech. She said: “Thirty years have passed since we were closed down by the PCGG (or Aquino’s Presidential Commission on Good Government), but the feeling of belonging to the Daily Express Family remains to this day.”

Ever the caring boss of the Express family, Ortega also stressed: “We like to see each other, get updates on our lives after Express, we mourn when we lose the members of our family, we pray for those who need it, we extend a carrying hand to show that we still care.

They say, blood is thicker than water. Printer’s ink is like blood that flows in our veins.”

That explains why many came to join the paper’s foundation day, long after it is gone. While its former executives and employees have lived separate lives after it was shut down by a vengeful president, everybody felt and continue to feel that they belong to one big family that one day would be united all over again (see photos of this at www.facebook.com/ attybatas)!

-oooEXPRESS CLOSURE CONSTITUTED A CURSE TO CORY GOV’T: Yes, the first issue of the Daily Express came out on May 07, 1972, and shortly thereafter, it was the only newspaper that was allowed to operate in the country after martial law was declared

by President Marcos.

See curse, page 7

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6

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Republic of the Philippines IN THE THIRD MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT SINDANGAN*SIAYAN*LEON B. POSTIGO*JOSE DALMAN 9th Judicial Region Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte

CONSUELO LIRA CALAGO, CIVIL CASE NO. 921

Plaintiff,

-versus- -forJOSELITO LIRA and JOHHNY LIRA,

Defendants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

“FORCIBLE ENTRY with DAMAGES”

SUMMONS

On June 27, 2016, the above-named plaintiff through counsel, filed a Complaint for Forcible Entry with Damages against Joselito Lira and Johhny Lira, alleging inter alia as follows: COMPLAINT

COMES NOW THE PLAINTIFF, thru the undersigned counsel, and unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully states:

I. –

That the plaintiff is of legal age, Filipino, widow, and presently a resident of Lira Compound, Barangay Poblacion, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, where she may be served with notices and other processes of this Honorable Court; II. – That the defendants are likewise both of legal age, Filipinos and residents of Barangay Maras, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, where they may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court; III. – That the plaintiff and the defendants herein have legal capacity to sue and be sued; IV. – That the plaintiff is the absolute owner and lawful possessor of a real property more particularly described as follows: “A parcel of land (Lot 10) of the subdivision plan, Psd-09-026858, being a portion of Lot H-79934, LRC Rec. Cad. No., situated in the Barangay of Talingan (now Maras), Municipality of Sindangan, Province of Zamboanga del Norte, Island of Mindanao; bounded on the Nw., along line 1-2 by Lot 2, on the NE., alone line 2-3 by road Lot 13, on the SE., along line 3-4 by Lot 9, on the SW., along line 4-1 by Lot 1, all of the subdivision plan; containing an area of FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE (4,325) square meters; covered by TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (TCT) NO. T-58767 registered under the name of CONSUELO R. LIRA.” a certified photocopy of the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) is hereto attached as ANNEX “ A ” and made an integral part hereof; V. – That the aforementioned parcel of land is assessed at Php4,580.00 according to the DECLARATION OF REAL PROPERTY (Tax Declaration No. 22-0034-00134) issued by the Municipal Assessor’s Office of the Municipality of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, a certified copy is hereto attached as ANNEX “ B ” of this instant Complaint; VI. – That the land in question is agricultural and for many years had been utilized as a ricefield by the plaintiff; VII.– That sometime last December 2015, the herein defendants entered the aforesaid parcel of land of plaintiff thru strategy, stealth and intimidation, and thereupon constructed a fence thru their hired persons; VIII. – That aside from the fence that was constructed on the perimeter of the parcel of land, the defendants and their workers started cultivating on the property without the permission and against the will of the plaintiff; IX. – That the plaintiff confronted the defendants but was surprised by the latter’s curt reply that they have a right to possess and enjoy whatever they wish with the property because they already bought it from REGINALDO CALAGO, the plaintiff’s son; and that the defendants insist that will never vacate the property and thru force will defend their new possession; X. – That because of the actuations of the defendants and their workers, the herein plaintiff was unlawfully deprived of possession of her above-mentioned parcel of land; XI. – That the plaintiff demanded from the defendants to stop cultivating and introducing improvements on her contested land and vacate the property in question but the defendants failed and refused and still fail and refuse to do so despite repeated demands until now; XII. – That the plaintiff, even in her old age, exerted earnest efforts towards a peaceful solution of the situation because defendants bear the same family name as plaintiff’s maiden surname, although they are not closely related; XIII. – That the plaintiff even referred the matter to the Barangay Authorities of Maras, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, where the property in question is located for confrontation and conciliation, but no settlement was reached by the parties as evidenced by a certification to file action dated January 11, 2016, a certified photocopy of which is hereto attached as ANNEX “ C ” of this Complaint and made an integral part hereof; XIV. – That the recent entry, possession and the enjoyment by the defendants of the parcel in question against the will and consent of the plaintiff are illegal; XV. – That the defendants have no right to enter, possess and enjoy the property in question because the same belongs absolutely to the plaintiff; XVI. – That the defendants, in the exercise of their rights, and in the performance of their duties, did not act with justice; they did not give the plaintiff her due,and they did not observe honesty and good faith; XVII. – That the defendants have, contrary to law, willfully caused damage to the plaintiff and so they shall indemnify the latter for the same; XVIII. – That the defendants have willfully caused losses or injuries to the plaintiff in a matter that is contrary to morals, good customs or public policy and so they shall indemnify the latter for the same; XIX. – That because of the groundless, unlawful, unjustifiable and unwarranted actuations of the defendants, done with malice and utter bad faith, the plaintiff suffered sleepless nights, emotional anxiety and loss of appetite, and for such has suffered moral damages in the amount of P100,000.00; she was forced to litigate and was compelled to engage the services of her counsel in the amount of P50,000.00, and she will be spending about P25,000.00 for actual and litigation expenses.

RELIEF

WHEREFORE,premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed before this Honorable Court that judgment be rendered for the plaintiff and against the defendants, as follow:

(a) - Ordering the defendants, members of their family and/or any person or persons acting in their behalf to stop cultivating and introducing improvements on the contested parcel of land;

(b) - Ordering the defendants, members of their family and/or any person or persons acting in their behalf to vacate the parcel of land in question and surrender the same voluntarily to the plaintiff;

(c) – Ordering the defendants to pay, jointly and solidarily, the plaintiff the amount of P100,000.00 for moral damages; P50,000.00 as attorney’s fees, and to set as an example for others not to emulate the illegal actuations of defendants, an amount of P25,000.00 as exemplary damages; and another P25,000.00 for actual and litigation expenses and to pay the costs of these proceedings;

The plaintiff further prays for such order reliefs and remedies which this Honorable Court may deem just and equitable in the premises.

Dipolog City (for Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte), Philippines, June 27, 2016.

(SGD.) ULDARICO M. MEJORADA II Counsel for the Plaintiff Extension Office : Judge Aricheta Bldg., Poblacion, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte (Mobile No. 0909 755 3333) PTR NO. 521 2320 - January 13, 2016 Issued at the PTO, Zamboanga del Norte IBP Lifetime Membership No. 05972 Zamboanga del Norte Chapter ROLL OF ATTORNEY NO. 45665 MCLE Compliance Certificate No. V-0003542 Sept/08/2014

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SINDANGAN ) S.S. PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE ) X-------------------------------/ VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATE OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING

I, CONSUELO LIRA CALAGO, of legal age, Filipino, widow, and presently a resident of Lira Compound, Barangay Poblacion, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, hereby state that:

I am the Complainant/Plaintiff in this Complaint;

I have caused the preparation of this Complaint and have supplied all the allegations contained therein;

I have read the contents and/or allegations contained in this Complaint which are all true and correct to our own knowledge and/or based on authentic records;

I hereby certify that I have not commenced any action or proceeding involving the same issues raised in the Complaint in the Sumpreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency;

To the best of my knowledge and belief, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency;

If I should learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to the Court where such initiatory pleading has been originally filed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my signature this June 24, 2016 in the Municipality of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

(SGD.) CONSUELO LIRA CALAGO Affiant

Senior Citizen ID No. SIN-05-645

Issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA)

Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this June 24, 2016 at Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, Affiant exhibited to me her Senior Identification Card for identification.

(SGD.) ULDARICO M. MEJORADA II

Notary Public

For the Municipalities of Jose Dalman,

Sindangan Siayan and Leon B. Postigo,

All in Zamboanga del Norte

Until December 31, 2016

PTR NO. 521 2320 - January 13, 2016 IBP Lifetime Membership No. 05972 Zamboanga del Norte Chapter Roll of Attorney No. 45665

DOC. NO. 38; PAGE NO. 08 ; BOOK NO._VII; SERIES OF 2016.

That defendant Joselito Lira could not be served with summons through personal or substituted service hence, plaintiff filed a Motion for Leave of Court to Effect Service of Summons by Publication which was granted by the Court pursuant to Section 15, 16 and 17, Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure in its Order dated December 6, 2016.

NOW THEREFORE, defendant is hereby summoned and required to file his answer within sixty (60) days from the date of the last publication of this Summons with the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Sindangan-Siayan-Leon B. Postigo-Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte, and in the event he fails to do so, plaintiff will take judgment against him and demand from this Court the reliefs and remedies prayed for in this Complaint.

Let this summons be published by the plaintiff at her expense in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Zamboanga del Norte for three (3) consecutive weeks and a copy of the summons and order of the court be sent by registered mail to the last known address of the defendant.

WITNESS the Hon. NIMFA B. CARREON-PADAO, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 30th day of January, 2017 at Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines.

RAMON P. GARCIA Clerk of Court II

MDN: May 3, 10 & 17, 2017

TEMPERED GLASS BASKETBALL BOARD TURN-OVER AT BARANGAY TUBAJON, LAGUINDIGAN – VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ and PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER JIGJAG J.PELAEZ led the turn-over ceremony of tempered glass basketball boards with 2 basketballs through BARANGAY CHAIRMAN TERRY M. DAROY at Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental. Present also during the turn-over were Barangay Officials and residents of Barangay Tubajon.

This continuing initiative of the Vice Governor aims to engage both young and old to sports and recreation.

NGCP issues statement on TransCo claims regarding fiber optic network

By PAT SAMONTE, Contributing Editor

BUTUAN City--The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), through its spokesperson, Atty. Cynthia D. Perez Alabanza, NGCP Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department, has issued the following press release on the issue of fiber optic network: “Since NGCP took over power transmission services in 2009, it has always been transparent with its operations.

It is unfortunate that TransCo chose to bring the issue on the use of the fiber optic network for the national broadband program directly to the media rather than

talking to us first. NGCP reiterates that it does not earn anything from existing fiber optic facilities. The main purpose of the network is for the delivery of efficient power transmission services. However, NGCP remains open to transactions with any entity who is interested to develop the national broadband network with the national government as our priority.

NGCP remains committed to its mandate as transmission service provider with the full awareness of its nature as a public utility, and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the regulator, and existing laws governing its transmission operations.”

3M voters register for brgy, SK elections Close to 3 million individuals have registered in the recently concluded voters’ registration for the October Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez revealed that initial figures show a total of 2,764,745 applications for registration were filed before the Offices of Election Officers (OECs) nationwide.

“As of April 29 (not final figures though), there are a total of 2,764,745 registrants nationwide,” he said.

Ji mene z note d t hat Region IV-A (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) has the most number of registrants at

410,397.

Of the figure, a total of 705,570 are registrants for the SK polls, age ranges from 15-17 years old.

“The figures are registrants. Some Election Registration Boards (ERBs) are still working so number of ‘approved registrations’ is still moving,” the poll body official explained.

With this, Jimenez admitted that the figure has exceeded their expectations. “Yes, we expected

READ MINDANAO DAILY NEWS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.mindanaodailynews.com

only about 2.5 million.”

He attributed the positive response of registrants to the satellite registrations, which were held in barangays.

“Satellite registrations helped a lot, both in terms of awareness and in actual registration turnout,” Jimenez said.

He added: “I would give our field offices, officials, and personnel, the lion’s share of the credit for this successful registration period.”

The nationwide voter registration started last November 7, 2016 and ended on April 29. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)

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Agree or disagree Even before the birth of Jesus Christ, history has told us that political conspiracy were also prevalent during those time, for example: Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and sentenced to die; the assassination of Julius Caesar was politically motivated, a glaring power grabbing.

He was stabbed at his back by his uncle Brutus. Feeling the stab wounds on his back, he said, e to Brute, why Brutus? The nailing of Jesus Christ in the cross was also politically motivated.

In modern times, we have Nelson Mandela who was incarcerated for political conspiracy and Celso G. Regencia, to name few.

We, the people of Iligan, know for sure that the political landscape of Iligan city, since time immemorial, has been peaceful. After election, the losers will congratulate the winners with an embrace, and during oath taking ceremony they were all invited to witness the occasion, and all of them were present despite their losing the election. But, with the entry perhaps of the two (2) politicians, namely: Vicente Belmonte Jr. and Ruderic Marzo, the city’s political landscape was in chaos. Why in chaos? Simply because the one being elected as City Vice-Mayor in the political skirmishes would attempt to grab or have succeed in grabbing the power of the City Mayor elect for some ignoble purpose(s), may be to camouflage the wrong doings perhaps like the alleged ghost employees, within which the Ombudsman of the case filed on ghost

Marsh... from page 1

overflows, flooding the nearby communities and cause misery to the people living in the marsh land,” he said.

These threats, Corpuz said, will drive away even the migratory birds that use the marshland as a habitat.

“Some plantations even use planes to spray chemical pesticides on crops that end in the river,” he said.

To address the social and economic needs of the people, Corpus said the marsh can be developed into an ecotourism destination.

“The marshland itself will be good for bird watching while manufacturing can be done elsewhere so we can protect the marshland proper, and give additional livelihood for the people,” he said.

He suggested to the government and its development partners to empower the communities in recycling the water hyacinths because “it clogs the rivers” and causes flooding.

He said the farmers can profit from water hyacinths by converting the plants into

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Great political conspiracy

Demosthenes P. Maglasang Sr.

employees against the 15th City Council has not as yet been acted upon up to now, which is believed to have already gathered dust in the Ombudsman-Mindanao bodega, for reasons that the city officials that filed the case never know.

There were s e vera l feeding programs of City Vice Mayor Marzo that cost millions which ought to have been looked into by competent auditor(s), which some of them never existed like the feeding program after election in 2013, say June 28, 2013, a couples of days before the turn over ceremony to the new elected city government officials, and some could have been overpriced, as so also alleged. Subject allegations have to be confirmed its authenticity with the promulgation of a decision perhaps by the Ombudsman, which is believed to be forthcoming or not at all, like a song, “Gone with the Wind.” Why the Ombudsman never did act on that case up to now may have invited gloomy anticipations or suspicions either on why that prestigious Office, the Ombudsman-Mindanao, should not have acted with resolve for so long a time.

There may be a thousand reasons on why they have organic fertilizers.

He said the local government units may rehabilitate the marsh, including the surrounding nine watersheds as “carbon sink.”

“This involves rehabilitation of nine denuded watersheds using assisted natural regeneration in the upper portion while agro-forestry development in the lower portion. We can use bamboo and moringa to prevent soil erosion along riverbanks, which can give livelihood to the people. The reforested areas can serve as carbon sink in a combating climate change, de-silt the rivers and make the rivers deep enough to serve as source of irrigation,” he said.

The farmers, he said, can benefit from the marsh by tapping the 16 rivers for irrigation canals.

“If we do that we can free more than then 200,000 hectares of very rich organic farmlands that are favorable for organic farming.

This can be converted into organic farming area, which can become the biggest area devoted for organic farming,” he said.

He said about 4 million jobs can be generated for

7

not acted as yet.

The issue of power grabbing could have something to be clarified for the Iliganons to know about. How did they grab the power of the City Mayor who have not erred in performing his duties as chief executive? It was politically motivated through the political influence of their party-mates, the former President Pnoy, Leila De Lima, the Secretary of Justice and Mar Roxas, the DILG Secretary by filing a case that was devoid of legal propriety, a case of Usurpation of Authority and was approved en toto

by Secretary Ochoa, the alter ego of the President.

They were magnifying the Memorandum issued by City Mayor Celso G. Regencia that he will be the one to sign the Job Order Requests for casual employees.

If we based the accusation on the provisions of Republic Act 7160, it was devoid of legal propriety, specifically under “Section 77. Responsibility for Human Resources and Development – The Chief Executive of every local government unit shall be responsible for human resources and development in his unit and shall take all personnel actions in accordance with the Constitutional provisions on the Civil Service Commission may establish: Provided, the local chief executive may employ emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis and hired through job orders for local projects authorized by the Sangguinang concerned without need of

the approval or attestation by the Civil Service Commission: Provided, further, that the period of employment of emergency or casual laborers as provided in this Section shall not exceed six (6) months. The subject Section pertains to employment where there is no employer-employee relationship which are under Commission on Audit Laws, Rules and Regulations. Thus the City Vice Mayor may appoint casual and or contractual employees for his Office and the Sangguinang Panlungsod whose appointment is covered by the CSC Rules, Law and Regulations, but he cannot employ emergency or casual employees or laborers hired through job orders and/or contract of services whose manner of employment is governed by the COA Rules, Law and Regulations, where there is no employer-employee relationship because that is reserved for the Local Chief Executive.

After the six (6) months suspension, he was accused again of a heinous crimes, imagine, three (3) counts of murder and four (4) counts of frustrated murder that catapulted his incarceration for more than one year time. Such accusations were only fabricated by his arch political enemy, former Congressman of the First District of Iligan City. He was accused as master mind of the ambushed of Congressman Vicente Belmonte.

But by the turn of events, his accusations, his cruelty and his many attempts to destroy City Mayor Celso G. Regencia’s life was a

great failure, because the concerned Iliganons had protected him in the noon day sun and the bleakest watches of the night. Those attempts of his precious life was a great failure. Precisely, no tendency of reason can alter the truth, for the truth will always prevail in the end after more than a year in humiliation in jail. A lie cannot be made true by another lie. And no amount of lying can stand to the truth that one proclaims by a good life.

The three (3) counts of murder and four (4) counts of frustrated murder were dismissed by the Department of Justice by recalling and set aside the previous “Information” issued by the previous prosecutors.

It was also reinforced by the landmark decision of Judge Ferdinand C. Baylon of Regional Trial Court, Branch 77 of Quezon City, exonerating City Mayor Celso G. Regencia.

Yes, the harder he persevered he ought to triumph gloriously. He triumph for a while only because another case was filed against him.

He was accused of “Grave Misconduct” again by Ruderic Marzo, the defeated candidate for City Mayor in 2016 election, the former City Vice-Mayor, the power grabber. His accusation was considered by the Ombudsman and meted to perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

However, the lawyers of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia have already on the move for some legal remedies.

We only hope and pray that the devil’s attempt to

disqualify City Mayor Celso G. Regencia may loss its luster and wither like a flower that once has bloom forever dies. We also hope and pray that all the legal remedies being made by his lawyers will prosper as it should, as based on truth, legal aspect, moral compass and the voice of the people.

I am reminding the political enemies of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia of this dictum, if indeed, you are professing Christians in name and in deed: “Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

Remember this also: “City Mayor Celso G. Regencia is a peace loving person. He does not like to go to a conflict. If he have been provoked to a point where he is compelled to grasp a sword, he will not forgive his enemies for having produced the situation.

The fact of provocation then becomes itself the issue. City Mayor Celso G. Regencia shall fight in anger with great intensity and with the furiouscity of an angry lion.

The fact of provocation then becomes itself the issue.

He shall fight for the very reason that he was forced to go to a conflict.

How I wish that, we, the concerned Iliganons, will not allow the devil to wreak havoc on our prospering City under the leadership of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia. God bless Iligan City and all its elected city government officials. (City Information Staff, Office of the City Mayor, City of Iligan).

organic farming alone and can eventually encourage use of organic fertilizers instead of chemicals. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

that is also fresh and very clean. It is the Cabulig river and I had been there many times just to have a swim. We drink water direct from the river as it is pretty cold and tasty.

Misamis Oriental is a coastal province and certainly people enjoy the beaches, but rarely are springs around except of course Camiguin province where cold and hot springs as well waterfalls exist. The largest of the swimming pool I have swam to is in Camiguin.

It is nice and very pleasant to while away time. One time I spent with my family one week in Camiguin enjoying the bounty of nature. You name it, the island has it.

I am definitely a lover of rivers and lakes for swimming purposes. If there is a way sometimes, I would catch fish and small shrimps that I would throw in my mouth while alive.

Shrimps are sweet to eat alive. At times, I think I can survive for months in the mountain ranges as long as there is a river or lagoon to swim around and play with nature.

Curse...

and troubled presidency for her. May the lesson of the Daily Express serve as a stern warning to tyrants and crackpots who may someday find their way into power once more in the Philippines.

-oooWATCH “ANG TANGING DAAN”, “KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS”, AT FB LIVE: Please watch “Ang Tanging Daan”, a roundthe-clock Bible Exposition and prayer session at www. facebook.com/angtangingdaan; and “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas”, a legal counseling and news commentary program at www.facebook. com/kakampimoangbatas.

Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Best... from page 5

blue sea Then we would go to Taguanao for the finishing touches like taking our lunch and everything. Spending hours at L awndale pool only showed how inviting the place, especially for kids who were learning how to swim.

There is also a cold, natural spring in Sapong, Lagonglong town, but it is quite far from our city Of course, for people in the eastern area, it could be a wonderful and pride to defeat the biting heat of environment. Another nice swimming spot is in Timoga, Iligan City and surely it is for the people in Lanao. Also in Jasa-an is a natural wonder of deep river but the matter was never developed and it remained not so inviting to residents. Speaking of rivers, there is a nice swimming place in Bobuntogan, Jasa-an, Misamis Oriental

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Marcos’ law classmate, from UP Law Class 1939, Rob er to S. B ene dic to, opened the newspaper in support of Marcos.

Calling it as a Marcos newspaper, President Corazon Aquino closed it down after EDSA I, despite the advice of her lawyers that the paper’s closure amounted to suppression of press freedom, and was in fact violently contrary to her pretensions then as a democratic icon.

This one single act of C or y marked the suppression of many other freedoms of the Filipino people during her term, constituting a curse that ensured an ignominious

MINDANAO DAILY BUSINESS | ARTS & CULTURE | HEALTH TRAVEL & TOURISM | PEOPLE | REALTY | EVENTS

GILBERT Y. CHAO - Motoring Editor

motoring

Wednesday

May 10, 2017

8

Elevate the journey with the new Nissan Urvan Premium

Nissan Philippines enters the premium van segment this 2017 MANILA, Philippines (19 April 2017) – Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) continues on its growth momentum as it closes off the first quarter of 2017 with a record 5,277 units sold, the highest performance for the brand since the year 2000. To sustain this performance, NPI enters a new segment this 2017 with the launch of the new Nissan Urvan Premium.

“The past year has truly been phenomenal for the brand. And we have been able to continue this performance, beating our own sales record in March, by selling 2,094 units. Our core models have also performed well in the past quarter, especially the sales of our NV350 Urvan.” said Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI president and Managing Director “The NV350 Urvan sold a total of 1,651 units, accounting for 31% of our sales for the first quarter of the year. And now, we continue to grow the business by entering a new segment, with the launch of the Nissan Urvan Premium.”

Sophisticated Design At first glance, the new Nissan Urvan Premium gives off a striking appearance.

Design features such as a V-shaped angled strut grille, sharper head lamps, and dynamic character lines on the front and side adds to the stylishness of the new Nissan Urvan Premium. The modern look of the vehicle is enhanced by the elimination of the side roof drip channel, as well as the rich surface expression around the wheel opening, coupled with a longer wheelbase, and a shortened overhand.

Inside, suede-like tricot fabric cover the new, individually mounted seats. Adding a touch of class to the new Nissan Urvan Premium is the improved headlining fabric that comes in gray,

suede-finished material.

Complementing these premium design touches is a two-tone dashboard that give the impression of a wider, roomier front cabin.

Premium Comfort The new Nissan Urvan Premium is designed with the comfort of both passenger and driver in mind. Its wider and higher body, measuring at 5,230mm in length and 2,285mm in height, allows customers to take on long drives with ample leg and head room.

A new seating configuration, which features four rows of seats in the rear cabin, also makes the new Nissan Urvan Premium capable of carrying up to 15 passengers, while still having enough space to store luggage. And to keep everything cool and comfortable, 14 individual air conditioning vents are positioned along each seat of the new Nissan Urvan Premium rear cabin.

Enhanced Convenience Entering and exiting the new Nissan Urvan Premium has also become easier for passengers, as it features an extended sliding door opening height of 1,580mm, as well as a Door Closure Assist. The Door Closure Assist allows passengers to close the vehicle firmly without exerting too much effort. Adding to the convenience are a rear step board, rear ingress/egress grips and a hand rail upon entering the vehicle.

Powerful Drive Powering the Nissan Urvan Premium is a high-torque 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine engine, the same powerplant used in the award-winning Nissan Navara pick up. With a torque of 356 Nm, this leads to a faster, smoother take-off and acceleration and greater power on tap. Enhancing the ride are safety features such as dual front airbags and seat-

belts, load tensioning valve, anti-lock brake system, brake assist, child safety lock, and front fog lamps.

Convenience in Ownership Aside from design enhancements, the convenience of the new Nissan Urvan Premium extends to ownership. The new Nissan Urvan Premium’s cost of maintenance is significantly lower than other vans in the same segment. It is also the first in the industry to offer warranty coverage for business use, allowing customers to have their vehicle serviced for the first 3 years, or 100,000kms whichever comes first, at no additional cost.

Designed with an eye for comfort, convenience and stylish good looks, the new Nissan Urvan Premium promises to take every journey higher.

The new Nissan Urvan Premium will be available in

Manual transmission by June 2017, in all Nissan dealerships nationwide. It will be available with an SRP of Php 1,650,000 and will come in Alpine White, Black Obsidian, and Tiger Eye Brown. For more details, visit www.nissan.ph.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2014, the company sold more than 5.3 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.3 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world’s bestselling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: Japan, ASEAN & Oceana; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500, and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault under the Renault-Nissan Alliance since March 1999.

About Nissan Philippines, Inc. Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) is the sole national sales company of Nissan in the Philippines. Since it began operations in 2014, NPI has become one of the fastest growing automotive companies in the Philippines, closing Fiscal Year 2016 with a 48% growth versus the previous Fiscal Year.

NPI is committed to delivering Innovation that Excites to the Philippines market, through the introduction of new and exciting vehicles, innovative customer programs, and excellent customer service.

For more information on our products and services, visit our website at www. nissan.ph.