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Zamboanga Peninsula
Dad reports rampant abuse by brgy execs VOL. I
No.238
Zamboanga City
June 29-July 5, 2013
ZAMBOANGA City––The City Council has reported rampant abuse of authority or of abusive barangay officials in this city, with most of them facing administrative cases or with cases pending for further investigation. C ou n c i l or R e y n e r i o Candido, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Good Government, disclosed that he was able to dispose of several complaints of residents against barangay officials in this city. Candido declined to identify the barangay officials because their cases are still under investigation. This city has a total of 98 barangays including four zones in the city proper considered as barangays with complete set of officials from barangay chairman, six ba-
rangay councilmen, barangay treasurer, secretary as well as tanods who are also armed. Candido said some of the complaints end up with conciliation, dropping off complaints while a few will be charged with administrative cases that will result in the removal from office of the respondent barangay officials. Candido, who is ending his third term as city councilor, said he will turn over the documents of these cases to whoever will be the reports| page 11
Villar Foundation extends help to sex-for-flight victims - The Villar Foundation, through its managing director, Senator-elect Cynthia Villar, personally handed the sari-sari store showcase to the three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were victims of sex-for-flight. Villar also gave cash assistance to cover the travelling expenses of the OFWs in going back to their respective families. With the ordeal suffered by the three, Villar stressed there is more reason for the coming 16th Congress to push for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW)
P10.00
Sun Cellular cracks down on fraudsters Sun Cellular has conducted entrapment proceedings in Sun Shop outlets following reports that some individuals have been submitting fraudulent applications for cell phone subscriptions. Since the start of the year, Sun Cellular has filed several cases against suspects who tried to file dubious subscription applications in an attempt to get handsets and free network usage attached to these subscription plans. “We are serious about bringing these fraudsters before the courts of law, not just because of the business losses that we incur with each fraudulent application, but also to make sure that the postpaid subscriptions they get from us will not be used for any other fraudulent activity,” said Reuben Pangan, Official Spokesperson of Sun Cellular. Pangan explained the suspects usually use falsified documents to avail of new plans, and some even present stolen credit cards to sun | page 11
Sen. Villar pushes gradual yet sure clean-up of Laguna Lake CALAMBA City, Laguna -– Senatorelect Cynthia Villar disclosed that the government has conducted an extensive study to address the problem of flooding in the Laguna lakeshore towns and coastal areas brought about by rise in water level of the Laguna Lake. In an interview with newsmen here after the main program celebrating national hero Dr. Jose
Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary, the newly-elected senator expressed her support to whatever possible alternatives resulting from the studies to ease flooding in the lake’s coastal towns and cities. Of Laguna’s 25 towns, four component cities and a science and nature city of Los Baños, 19 localities were flooded at the onslaught LAKE | page 11
CSC sets exam for meat inspectors in Oro, Quezon PNoy swears in new senators - Senators-elect Cynthia Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV of the Nacionalista Party, along with Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino of the Liberal Party, take oath on Thursday before Pres. Benigno Aquino III in a formal event at Malacanang Palace. Newly elected house members were also sworn in during the ceremony.
ZAMBOANGA City––The Civil Service Commission has scheduled an examination for meat inspectors in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Quezon on August 11. In a statement released at its regional office in Pagadian City, the commission said its field offices
have started accepting applications since last week and will do so only until July 12. Acceptance of applications for the 2013 Meat Inspection and Safety Examination will be on a “first-come first-served” basis as no quezon | page 11
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Bad News Mindanao Star non-teaching staff poised Mindanao Star Teachers, to strike vs. Davao Catholic college
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Mindanao STAR , Door 3, Tanleh Bldg, Abellanosa St., Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Certififcate No. 01787396. and with Business Permit No. 2013-10945, TIN No. 311-832-910, Telefax Nos: (088) 857-8447, Cell nos.: 0917-7121424, 09478935776 Editorial E-mail: mindanaostarbalita@gmail.com website: www.businessweekmindanao.com MARKETING OFFICE: Mindanao STAR Zamboanga Peninsula Mindanao Examiner Unit 15, 3F Fair Land Bldg., Nunez Extension Zamboanga City Phone & Fax (062) 992 5480 Email: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com WEBSITE: mindanaoexaminer.com mindanao star balita PUBLISHER ruel pelone Editor In-Chief Al jacinto Regional Editor Zamboanga Peninsula rolando sudaria Managing Editor clifford santillan Online-Editor
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By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA of Davao Today
DAVAO City––Labor unrest has stepped up in a college run by the city’s Catholic Archdiocese as both its teachers’ and nonteaching staff unions have filed notices of strike due to the school’s “unfair labor practice” and deadlock in negotiations, respectively. Marlon Mendoza, President of the 30-year old Holy Cross of Davao College Employees Association (HCDCEA), told davaotoday.com that they held a referendum vote Tuesday (Jun. 25) to affirm the Notice of Strike they filed last May 31. Of the 88 members, 79 have voted yes to hold the strike. Although the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) did not provide for closed shop provisions wherein union membership is automatic for all employees, Mendoza’s group cried foul when the school barred them from accepting eight new members. “The management interfered with an exclusive affair of the union,” he said citing that the management’s legal counsel, submitted an “omnibus motion to intervene,” at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
PHOTO FROM HCDC WEBSITE
Mendoza pointed out that they have no choice but to take action “to protect the interest and welfare of the general membership.” Based on the law, the NOS must be submitted to the NCMB of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) at least 15 days before the intended day of the strike. Majority of the members of the union must vote to approve the strike and furnish the results to the NCMB at least seven days before the strike. “Our notice has already expired and we will conduct the strike anytime if the NCMB fails to mediate,”
Mendoza said. He added they postponed the strike because they have entered into mediations with the NCMB, the latest of which was 2 PM on Wednesday (Jun. 26). Mendoza noted that so far, no conciliation agreement was inked. Ironically, while the nonteaching staff union accused the school management of unfair labor practice, the management accused the same to the teachers’ union. The HCDC Faculty Union (FU) is currently engaged in CBA negotiations with the management. In a statement, HCDC President Rev. Msgr. Julius Rodulfa scored the union
president for having publicized the ongoing mediation. “By coming out in public regarding the details of the ongoing conciliation and mediation proceedings before the NCMB, the HCDC-FU has engaged in Unfair Labor Practice for not having bargained collectively in good faith,” he said. Labor Code’s Article 250 (d) states that “(D)uring the conciliation proceedings in the Board, the parties are prohibited from doing any act which may disrupt or impede the early settlement of the disputes.” See college, page 11
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GCASH pioneers payment for Pag-IBIG via mobile phone
JUNE 29-july 5, 2013
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A breakthrough service that allows easy payment of contributions and housing loans via GCASH
Globe Telecom subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the operator of mobile commerce service GCASH, was recently tapped by Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or the Pag-IBIG Fund, to allow its over 12 Million members to transact with Pag- IBIG via GCASH, making it easy and more convenient for them to facilitate their Pag-IBIG transactions. With the tie-up, Pag-IBIG members can now pay for their monthly mandatory savings and housing loans anytime, anywhere using their GCASH wallets linked to their Globe or TM phones, eliminating the need to go to a Pag-IBIG office or an accredited PagIBIG payment center. “Our partnership with GCASH is truly a milestone for Pag-IBIG. Using GCASH as a safe and secure payment channel, we expect to grow our membership base further as well as the volume of our membership savings premium payments as it gives our members an alternative, especially the Kasambahays, an option to send in their monthly mandatory savings and loan payments minus the hassle of queuing,” said Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pag-IBIG Fund. “We hope that this new service will provide our kababayans especially those in the low income bracket like househelpers or their employers a more convenient way of paying their Pag-IBIG contributions,” Berberabe added. GXI President Paolo Baltao is likewise excited to venture into another relevant use of mobile money and technology to deliver public service. “This validates and strengthens our thrust to make the lives of Filipinos easier by providing access to a hassle-free and secure payment technology via the mobile phone. Using GCASH, subscribers can conveniently remit their Pag-IBIG monthly mandatory savings and pay their housing loans in seconds without having to leave their homes or travel distances just to pay Pag-IBIG. As long as they have enough funds in their GCASH wallets, payments will be swift and easy, something that’s very apt for the mobile and dynamic lifestyle of business owners, kasambahays or their employers.” In order to get GCASH, a subscriber just needs to dial
*143# and select ‘GCASH’ then choose ‘Register’ using their Globe or TM SIMs. Converting cash to GCASH wallets is equally easy. Funding may be done via online bank transfers (www.globe.com.ph/ gcash), mobile banking with BPI (by dialing *119# after enrollment) and Unionbank, BancNet ATMs with minimal fees or through any of more than 7,000 GCASH outlets nationwide FREE of service charge. To remit Pag-IBIG payments, members can pay either P100 (Monthly Mandatory Savings) or P500 (Modified Pag-IBIG II) by dialing *143# on their mobile phones, selecting ‘GCASH’ and choosing ‘Pay Bills’. For housing loan, just include the 20-digit payment reference number. Members can also pay using their smartphones via the GCASH Mobile App available on iTunes, Google Play, and Blackberry World. All PagIBIG payments are processed within 2-3 banking days. Paying Pag-IBIG contributions and housing loans via GCASH is FREE of charge up to December 18, 2013. A minimal service fee of P5.00 will be charged per Pag-IBIG transaction via GCASH afterwards. To know more about PagIBIG, visit their website at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph or call their 24/7 hotline at (02) 724-4244 (Pag-IBIG). To learn more about GCASH, enjoy free browsing access to www. globe.com.ph/gcash using your mobile phone. About Pag-IBIG Fund The Pag-IBIG Fund, established by the Philippine Government in 1980 as a provident fund for Filipino workers, focuses on its twin mandates of provident savings and home financing for its members, the Filipino workers. Its name signifies synergy among different stakeholders – Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya, Gobyerno [Working towards the future: You (members and partners), Banks (and other financial institutions), Industry (including real estate, business), Government (central government, local government, government agencies)]. The Fund received a boost in its membership when its new charter was signed into law last July 2009. Republic Act No. 9679, or the “Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009,” mandates the
universal membership of all Filipino workers, whether they are located within the country or overseas, whether they belong to the formal or informal sector, whether they work in government or in the private sector. Basically, starting January 1, 2010, all Filipinos earning at least PhP 1,000 a month are mandated to register as PagIBIG Fund members. One of the remarkable effects of the universal coverage of Pag-IBIG membership is the inclusion of informal workers such as household service providers, transportation workers, market vendors, and other minimumwage earners into the Fund. As Pag-IBIG members, the Filipino workers receive access to the Fund’s savings program and loan programs. The loan programs include housing loans for retail buyers and institutional loans for partners such as developers, local government units, employers, employee associations, and other member associations. Housing loan proceeds can be used by retail borrowers to finance the purchase or repair of their chosen residential unit or lot property. Institutional housing loan borrowers may use their loan proceeds in the development of a housing project for their chosen market or beneficiaries. A second loan program, the short-term loan program, includes multi-purpose loans and calamity loans. Multipurpose loan proceeds can augment the finances of the members and can be used for education, health and wellness, business capital, among others. Calamity loans are released among member-borrowers residing in areas affected by calamity such as typhoons and earthquakes. The Pag-IBIG savings program requires the memberworker to remit a monthly savings worth PhP 100 and the member’s employer to remit an employer counterpart of the same amount worth PhP 100. Self-employed members may shoulder the employer counterpart, to maintain the total monthly savings of PhP 200. The monthly savings may also be higher than the minimum, as desired by the members and their employers. The monthly savings add up throughout the membership period of the members and comprise their Total Accumulated Value or TAV. The TAV determines the
amount to be loaned for the short-term loans and the dividend amount to be credited at the end of each year a Filipino worker is an active Pag-IBIG member. The Pag-IBIG Fund, with current membership level numbering to 12 million Filipino workers worldwide, recently updated its Vision and Mission to be more attuned to the changing needs of its members and partners. Guided by its Vision – “For every Filipino worker to save with Pag-IBIG Fund and to have decent shelter” – and Mission – “To generate more savings from more Filipino workers, to administer a sustainable Fund with integrity, sound financial principles, and with social responsibility, and to provide accessible funds for housing of every member” – the Pag-IBIG Fund exemplifies a government agency which has maintained its sustainability throughout its 33-year history. About G-Xchange, Inc. and GCASH G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) is a pillar in m-commerce and a fully-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, which is a leading full service telecommunications company in the Philippines. GXI pioneered the mobile commerce service called GCASH which was launched in the Philippines in October 2004. GCASH is an internationally-acclaimed mobile commerce service of G-Xchange, Inc. which allows Globe and TM subscribers to send and receive cash conveniently anytime and anywhere. It delivers over one single platform the three major cash transactions made by consumers today: purchase and payments, person-to- person or P2P transactions, and domestic and international remittances. Globe Telecom recently sealed a deal for a $700-million mobile network modernization program to further improve its services, including its mobile commerce product GCASH. The modernization program, considered the most significant Globe Telecom investment in the last two decades, includes an all-IP infrastructure, pervasive 3D coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4D and LTE readiness, and overall quality and resiliency. The program will be rolled out nationwide within the next five years. Visit www.globe.com.ph for more information.
Three workers - who wear no safety harness - dangerously take down a huge billboard in anticipation of a brewing storm in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. mindanao star zamboanga
Mining firm carries out Balabag metallurgical tests
PAGADIAN City––The TVI Pacific Inc. announced that its affiliate in the Philippines––TVI Resource Development Inc.––has established a pilot plant at its Canatuan mine site in Zamboanga del Norte province to carry out metallurgical test work on samples of the different types of mineralization at Balabag. It said the establishment of a pilot plant marks another key step forward for the Balabag project in Zamboanga del Sur’s Bayog town, about 75 kilometers east-northeast of TVI’s Canatuan copper-zinc mine. The Balabag epithermal gold and silver project is located within an area covering approximately 52 square kilometres (20 square miles). The principal objectives of the pilot plant test work are to confirm the results obtained in previous laboratory cyanide leaching tests, optimize the metallurgical processing under an environment that more closely resembles actual operations, provide design parameters for engineering, and to start training personnel in operations and metallurgical process control. Initial results from the first 30 tonnes of sample material grading 4.8 g/t Au and 212 g/t Ag indicated average overall recoveries of 93% for gold and 90% for silver after 36 hours leach time. The sample material analysed represents different types of vein mineralization distributed throughout the deposit. The results to date validate Balabag test material’s amenability to leaching as determined from prior laboratory scale tests. TVI said the results also demonstrate the effectiveness of carbon-in-leach over both carbon-in-pulp and Merrill-Crowe recovery processes in processing the test material. The one metric ton-per-day pilot plant initially had been operated for 21 days simulating CIP plant operations. After some reconfiguration in the circuit, it was operated for three days simulating actual CIL plant conditions. The amenability of CIL over CIP processing could translate into a lower capex due to shorter leach times and elimination of the unit operations associated with the Merrill-Crowe section of the planned plant. It said pilot test work will continue to produce sufficient loaded carbon for design purposes while evaluating variabilities of potential ore grades and further optimizing the process efficiencies. “These initial metallurgical test work results are very encouraging,” Cliff James, Chairman and President of TVI Pacific Inc. said in a statement. “Confirmation of metal recoveries in this larger-scale pilot plant will help establish the recoveries of gold and silver that can be achieved in a commercial process.” The results from this test work will be incorporated into the detailed planning for the construction of the plant, which is expected to commence as soon as an Environmental Clearance Certificate is granted by the Environmental Management Bureau and approval is received of the Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility, by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.
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THEY ARE PNOY’s BOSSES! PNoy urged to make PH torture-free Beggars ask for alms outside the Mindpro Mall in Zamboanga City. The lack of government facilities to house beggars or livelihood programs for the poor is adding to the mendicancy problems in Zamboanga. (Mindanao Star Zamboanga)
Torture, human rights violations still rampant PAGADIAN City––A Filipino human rights group has condemned the widespread use of torture and human rights violation perpetrated by state forces in the Philippines. “No matter how the Aquino government denies the use of torture, state security forces in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police resort to and apply it to their victims, inside and outside prison,” Marie Enriquez, chairperson of the group called Karapatan, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Star Zamboanga. She said for the first three years of the Aquino government, Karapatan has documented at least 76 cases of torture, more than half of the 128 cases under the nine years of the Arroyo administraion. “The Anti-Torture Law, enacted in 2009, has not prevented the government to use torture to extract information from detainees or abducted persons. The government violates its own laws,” Enriquez said. She said foremost among these cases is the torture of security guard Rolly Panesa, who was mistaken to be a top-ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Panesa was badly beaten during interrogation inside a military camp, according to Enriquez, adding photos of the man’s bruised and swol-
len face, including medical certificates, proved what he went through. She said Panesa is still in jail for nearly eight months now. She said in Samar in central Philippines, soldiers from the 87th Infantry Battalion, also tortured Richard Oblino, 25, and his teenage nephew on February 28 after they were ordered to surrender their guns. Richard had a bolo with him which he used for farm work and soldiers forced him to the ground and took off his shirt and used it to blindfold him. Then they stomped on his legs and stomach; they poured water in his mouth, Enriquez said. She said another group of soldiers also tortured Richard’s nephew - they wrapped his head with a plastic bag as they kicked him on the legs and punched him. She said the soldiers inserted bullets between his fingers and pressed hard. A soldier fired his gun near the teenager’s head and shouted “Surender n’yo armas n’yo! (Surrender your gun!)” to which Orlan replied, “Waray ako armas, sir (I have no gun, sir.)” On May 29, 2012, Cesar Graganta and his two friends were walking in Villa Hermosa village in Macalelon town in Quezon province when he and his two companions passed by a group of soldiers who are members of the 85th Infantry Battalion. The soldiers fired a
shot prompting Cesar’s companions to run. The soldiers took Cesar and tied him to a tree for one and-a-half hours while they interrogated him. Soldiers punched and kicked him, put a bolo against his neck, hit him with a piece of bamboo, put sharp sticks into his ears, tied a rope around his neck and pulled at it, pinched his nose with pliers and poured ants on his body, Enriquez said. “The government cannot fool the people by simply dishing out pro-human rights hype in media. What happens on the ground will humiliate the Aquino government. Aquino cannot dismiss the torture victims as isolated cases, and not a government policy, because torture is resorted to all over the country as a component of its Oplan Bayanihan,” she said. Enriquez feared the next three years of President Benigno Aquino will be marked by continuing, if not worsening human rights violations like his predecessors resort to the continuing use of Oplan Bayanihan, the code name of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign. “The people must remain ever vigilant of the intensification of fascist attacks by this government just like the struggle the people waged against the fascist attacks of the former dictator Marcos,” she said. (Mindanao Star)
DIPOLOG City––Human rights advocates have called on Philippine President Benigno Aquino to make the country a “torture-free” zone. To make the Philippines a torture free zone, the United Against Torture Coalition-Philippines said there is a need to ensure that all authorities, including jail staff, are fully aware of the Anti-Torture Law and to report violations instead of tolerating it. “While we laud the government on the enactment of the Anti-Torture Law or Republic Act No. 9745 in November 2009, but it has so far been implemented without diligence and effectiveness since many torture allegations have not been effectively investigated by authorities and detainees who are in custody do not have immediate access to legal and medical services,” Ernesto Anasarias, Executive Director of Balay Rehabilitation Center and UATC spokesperson, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. He said while noting that many government agencies have a mandate to investigate complaints of torture and ill-treatment, the UATC is concerned at the high number of complaints of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, the limited number of investigations carried out by the government in such cases, and the very limited number of convictions in those cases which are investigated. The group also reiterated its concerns on the increasing complaints in relation to the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law which has revealed various different deficiencies from See URGED, page 11
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PrimeNews 5 Unabated killings, fears grip Zambo City JUNE 29-july 5, 2013
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ZAMBOANGA City––Fear now grips Zamboanga City because of the unabated killings perpetrated by guns-forhire who are actively operating here. Just last week, some 200 university students held a prayer rally and demanded justice for a slain alumnus of the Ateneo De Zamboanga and other victims of gun attacks and senseless killings here. The interfaith rally, attended by Ateneo students and faculty members, held prayers and lighted candles outside the university campus in memory of Justine Raphael Wee, 22, who was fatally shot at close range in Zamboanga City. Father Salvador Wee led the prayers. Students held black streamers with writings “Justice for the senseless killing of Justine Raphael Wee.” Others carried white papers with writings calling for a stop of the unabated killings and gun attacks in Zamboanga. “Let’s pray for justice for Justin and other victims of senseless killing here in our City.” The rally also called for the safe release of two former Ateneo de Zamboanga students and filmmakers - Muslim sisters Linda and Nadjoua Bansil - who were seized while filming in Sulu province on June 22. It also called for the safe release of Professor Al Rojas, of the Western Mindanao State University, who was abducted on June 22 in Zamboanga City by armed men in military uniform. “The Ateneo de Zamboanga University mourns and sends our condolences to the family of Justine Raphael Wee, 22 years old, one of our very promising graduate students. We also pray and beg the authorities for the immediate solution to this senseless killings and justice for Justine,” reads one notice circulated on the social media network Facebook. Wee, scion of a wealthy Chinese family, was shot June 22 in the head by a lone gunman wearing a motorcycle helmet at a roadside eatery along Veterans Avenue. No individual has claimed responsibility for the killing. Wee’s Facebook account was flooded with sympathy messages from friends. “A very dear friend was shot! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! He was such an awesome kid with so much ambition and full of dreams! Justice for Justine See FEARS, page 11
CRYING FOR JUSTICE. Murder of Ateneo alumnus Justine
Raphael Wee; senseless killings in Zamboanga City spark rally calling for justice for murder victims. (Mindanao Star Zamboanga)
Malaysia rescues 10 Pinays in Sarawak bar ZAMBOANGA City––Malaysian authorities rescued 10 women from the Philippines who were forced to work at a karaoke bar in Sarawak, Filipino officials said, adding the club’s owner was also arrested. Officials said the women, who arrived in Malaysia on February 6, were victims of human trafficking. They were recruited to work as service crew in Baila Me Karaoke bar in the coastal town of Bintulu, but ended up working as guest relations officers. “The Filipinas were forced to work beyond regular working hours without regular salaries and only earning from the commission they receive on drinks offered
to customers,” Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya said. He said upon representations of the Philippine Embassy’s Police Attaché Charlo Collado, the Royal Malaysian Police raided the bar and rescued the women. The arrested bar owner is being investigated under Section 13 of the Malaysian Anti-Trafficking in Persons and AntiSmuggling of Migrants Act of 2007. Malaya said a Malaysian citizen, who was concerned on the plight of the women, emailed the Philippine Embassy to report the matter and even provided the phone number of one of the victims.
He said they were able to secretly contact the women and informed the Malaysian police about their plight. “We are grateful to the Malaysian police authorities for their immediate action on our request. Cooperation between police and other authorities, as well as vigilance among the general public, is essential in combating human trafficking,” Malaya said. He said the women are currently staying at a shelter home, pending the investigation of the case. After their testimonies are taken, the Philippine Embassy will work for their immediate repatriation. mindanao star-zamboanga
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Kakampi mo ang batas Atty. Batas Mauricio
Here’s proof of PCOS tampering, padding LIFE’S INSPIRATION: “… `and the truth shall set you free’…” (Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, in John 8:32, the Holy Bible). -oooPROOF OF PCOS TAMPERING AND MANIPULATION: If the Commission on Elections is looking for proof that the results of the May 2013 elections may have been manipulated through the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, it should act speedily and with dispatch on the case filed with it by a group of Pasay City residents who showed in their petition that the votes in about 300 precincts in the city were tampered with and clearly padded. Our readers here will please pardon my referring to this case because I happen to be the lawyer of the Pasay City residents, but then I could not help but bring this out, in reaction to the published refusal of Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and of Malacanang to conduct a manual recount of the votes for the 2013 elections, as requested by various civil society groups, allegedly because there is no proof of any pre-programming or manipulation of the votes. With due respect to Brillantes and to Malacanang, the manipulation and pre-programming of the poll results are very much evident from the statement of votes which came out from the very PCOS machines that were used in Pasay City, according to the petition that the city residents filed with the Comelec last Tuesday, June 25, 2013. In fact, in that petition, the residents specifically identified the 300 or so precincts which showed this manipulation and pre-programming. -oooPASAY CITY RESIDENTS RAP PCOS RESULTS: Here are some parts of that petition which also contained an urgent prayer for a manual count of the votes, at least in Pasay City: “Legally, Petitioners, as residents and registered voters of Pasay City, are entitled to know who among the four mayoralty candidates in their city---Wenceslao Trinidad, Antonio G. Calixto, Jorge del Rosario and Romulo Marcelo---really won as their mayor during the May 13, 2013 elections… “Based on what they personally witnessed, experienced, came to know of, and discerned on election day, it is clear to the Petitioners herein that while Respondent Antonio G. Calixto got proclaimed as the duly-elected mayor of Pasay City, that proclamation was null and void, as there was a failure of election in the city… “Why are Petitioners saying that there was a failure of elections in Pasay City during the May 13, 2013 elections? The first reason is that, the results that led to the proclamation of the Respondent (Calixto) as mayor-elect were statistically and mathematically improbable, and appeared to have been the product of massive electronic and automated fraud arising from glaring, blatant and deliberate violations of Republic Act 8792, which is otherwise known as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000… -oooMISMATCH OF ELECTRONIC POLL DATA: The petition went on to explain that an “examination of the official statement of votes which (Petitioners) gathered initially from 300 precincts in the city showed that the electronic data reflected in those statement of votes and produced by the PCOS machines in those precincts did not match with one another... “To show this in more concrete form: In Clustered See proof, page 11
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The greatest job
THINK a minute. The Greek philosopher Diogenes said that when a son does wrong or behaves badly, it’s the father who should be punished since he’s the one who failed to do his job. Many men are successful in their public career and job, but failures in their most important job: being a father. One of the richest men in the world was the German Friedrich Flick. When he died, his personal fortune was $1 ½ billion. That’s 1 thousand, 5 hundred million! He owned 300 different companies and was respected as one of the smartest businessmen in the world. He seemed to make all the
SPECIALLY this past summer, it was a repeated event, a frequent sight, a regular news item: Burning of houses and destruction of belongings, not to mention pitiful cries of people heard and a number of lives lost even. Gas leaks, bad electric connections, candles left burning and the like—such were the usual causes of such family loses and neighborhood disasters. But nothing really extraordinary was done by big-time public officials on the occasion of such big and repeated devastating phenomena. They were looked upon as but common occurrences, standard events that came about fast and likewise fast
right moves. Yet with all of his world-class success, wealth, and power, he could not control his own children. He could put big companies together, but he could not put his own family together. So after he died, his children fought for years over his money; and all the experts tried to clean up the big mess of broken pieces Flick left behind because of his failure as a father. So he actually died a poor man and failure at his most important job. The famous army General, Douglas MacArthur, is thought by many to be one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He led the Allied armies to victory over the Japanese in World War II.
Later he was the leader of the United Nations forces in Korea. Yet even though he was such a great success as a military leader, MacArthur did not think it was his most important job or success. In 1942 he said this in a public speech: “By profession, I am a soldier, and take great pride in that. But I am much prouder, to be a father. It is my hope in life, that when I am gone, my son will remember me not from my victories on the battlefield, but from my leadership and example in the home.” In World War II, every morning General MacArthur read his Bible and prayed this prayer: “Lord, help me teach my son to
Now it can be asked Views and points Abp. Oscar V. Cruz, DD forgotten. The usual response and customary reaction to such human miseries are the exactly the same and predictable. Some firemen come with their big trucks and a lot of fire hose—but little water. Women and children are seen crying and running around—without really knowing whom to call and
where to go. Some men are noticed carrying some of their little family belongings, without being certain where to run to and what to do next. When a devastating fire is over after a couple of hours, there are the usual groups of charitable people that come with their donations of some food, used clothing, and the like.
Think A Minute
Jhan Tiafau Hurst be strong enough to know when he is weak. A son who will be honest and brave when he loses, but humble and kind when he wins. Help me build a son who is strong in hard times, and has compassion for those who fail. Help me build a son See JOB, page 11
During such occasions, though not always, there could this or that local public official who would make his appearance—such as the Barangay Captain— in order to show himself in public, to shake the hands of the fire victims, express his sympathy to them and that’s it. The explosions and destructions come to pass. The burning of houses and properties is forgotten. The loss of lives and limbs become “yesterday’s news.” But lo and behold! There was but one explosion in a place of the wealthy and the famous. There was but one condo unit that was destroyed. Yet, lo and See asked, page 11
BSP checks on stock market, property sector Two sectors very closely watched by the Bangko Sentral, as it performs its price stability mandate, are the equities market and the real estate sector. For good reason. Historically, these two sectors have experienced major swings in prices, causing economic and financial imbalance. For this purpose, the BSP periodically holds Environmental Scanning Exercises (ESE) with key players from the public and private sectors to discuss trends in these important areas. One such ESE was conducted early this month with Atty. Roel Refran of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE),D avid Young of Colliers International Philip-
Speaking Out Igancio Bunye pines and Prof. Enrique Soriano III of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, as resource speakers. Invited as reactors were Mr. Claro G. Cordero, Head of Research, Consulting and Valuation Advisory Services Department, Jones Lang LaSalle; Ms. Ma. Theresa M. Javier, Head of BPI’s Asset Management and Trust Group and Mr. Justino Juan R. Ocampo, SVP of the Investment Banking Group
of First Metro Investment Corporation. The forum was held against a backdrop of rapidly rising stock prices, fueled mainly by foreign portfolio investments, and higher value rates for land, capital and rent during the first quarter. These developments were beginning to be a source of concern. Why worry, one may ask, if all seems to be going well. The short answer is that
these markets are really unpredictable. Gains now may become losses tomorrow. The transitory nature of the foreign portfolio investments made in the stock market, for instance, makes the equity market vulnerable to reversal of flows as what is happening now as we write. It is not without good reason that such investments are also referred to as “hot money”. Lessons should also be learned from the 2007 U.S property market meltdown. Here are some of the insights shared during the recent ESE, which was attended by BSP Gov. Amando M. Tetangco Jr., Monetary Board Members (MBM) Alfredo C. Antonio, Peter See SECTOR, page 8
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Group praises US Supreme Court approval of marriage equality ZAMBOANGA City––The Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay) praised the US Supreme Court decision bestowing equal rights to American same sex couples in 12 states, including the District of Columbia. It said much remains to be done before full equality can be guaranteed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens in other states where there is still no legal rights to marry. The decision to honor family rights to same sex couples by declaring the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional is historic and auspiciously timed with the 44th anniversary of the
Stonewall Uprising of New York City, it said, referring to the LGBT community’s watershed event in the street battles for gay rights. DOMA was passed 17 years ago by Congress under the presidency of Bill Clinton and defined marriage as a union of a man and a woman. “The Supreme Court rulings can inspire LGBTs and their allies in many countries around the world to advance human rights,” Clyde Pumihic, spokesperson of ProGay, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. He said the Supreme Court also dismissed Proposition 8 or California’s same-sex marriage ban which reinstates marriage equal-
ity for 18,000 couples wed in 2007 and all other couples who plan to marry. Both rulings, he added, provide many legal benefits including tax breaks, hospital visitation rights, and parenting choices. ProGay also congratulated the American LGBT community
as same sex couples can have more legal basis to repeal unequal laws in 50 states, especially California, which can now marry gays next month. “Marriage equality will not ruin heterosexual marriages and family, and in fact will even strengthen marriage,” it said in the same statement, but it also expressed regret that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is exerting political influence in getting a popular
FCT controversy: my stem cell therapy story Over the last few days, Fresh Stem Cell Therapy (FCT) got into the headlines due to some controversy involving alleged deaths and complaints mentioning prominent names blaming stem cell treatment for their alleged negative effects. Naturally, just like any controversy, the stories unduly put under cloud this innovative and pioneering science of “regenerative medicine” that is reputed to treat illnesses, bring well being and rejuvenation. MY FRIENDS --The current news reports caught public attention and went viral. Many friends who were following Beth’s FCT experience and who were planning to also undergo FCT were calling. They were bothered by the reports. I was myself personally disturbed because all of them who were mentioned as having experienced negative results, I knew in person. Congressman ERICO AUMENTADO of Bohol and Camiguin Congressman LOLOY ROMUALDO both were my close friends and whom I worked with when I was with the government. And the ‘controversy’ all the more struck me because I and my wife Beth saw and experienced for ourselves the positive -- NOT NEGATIVE -- results of FCT seven months after treatment at VILLA MEDICA in Germany. Let me trace back. I knew Congressman Erico well even when he was still Bohol Governor. His successful efforts in clearing his
Advocacy Mindanao Jess Dureza province of armed insurgency gained national attention. When I was Malacanang Presidential Peace Adviser, I used the Bohol experience as example of a success story. So, when initial reports surfaced about FCT having caused his death, I sat up and took special attention. Later, his son came out publicly DENYING the story saying his father died of pneumonia and NOT due to FCT. He said his father’s lungs were already in serious condition but after getting a first infusion of FCT, his condition suddenly and dramatically improved and he was hitting the election campaign trail like “superman”. In fact they were preparing to again return to Germany for another infusion encouraged by its initial favorable results when death intervened. And overtook events. The other prominent name mentioned with FCT was former Congressman “Loloy”. We were together as colleagues in Congress. The Romualdo family had dominated politically the Camiguin island province for a long time up to the present. The circumstances of his undergoing stem cell treatment , however, are not yet clear. My cursory check results showed that
he did NOT get FCT from Villa Medica in Germany. This will have to be further validated though. The other prominent name was former Customs official (and now with Dangerous Drugs Board) ANTONIO ‘BEBOT’ VILLAR. We were together in the Arroyo administration. He said he and his wife had FCT in a 5-star hotel in Metro Manila, by German and Thai doctors but NOT in Germany. His condition allegedly worsened after the treatment. MY OWN STORY -- I will not venture to further deal on those incidents simply because they are now subject of further close look by the authorities. And I am not privy with the true facts surrounding their cases. But I will deal on some information that are of my own personal knowledge and the personal experience I and my wife BETH can competently attest to. As I have written previously, I and my wife Beth traveled all the way to EDENKOBEN, GERMANY last November, 2012 some seven (7) months ago for FCT in the VILLA MEDICA (VM) clinic facilities as an alternative remedy to her deteriorating kidney
gay-themed soap opera “My Husband’s Lover” suspended by the country’s television review board. “Our dear bishops should appreciate that the moral of that TV show is about letting gay men make correct decisions to love their fellow gay men and not be forced into loveless marriages enforced by culture,” it said. Philippine LGBT rights activists have been fighting for two decades now for legal rights, and has been pushing for the enactment in Congress of a law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. mindanao examiner
The financial doctor
conditions. We were NOT assured that there would be positive results by VM representatives but we took the chance after I made extensive research and consultations with doctors and experts. We even traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to make further inquiries. We were encouraged by reports of well-being and regenerative effects on vital organs. And we took efforts to talk to those who themselves underwent the procedure. We gathered that VILLA MEDICA and its FCT, using fresh stem cell from the fetus of clinically controlled and raised sheep had been recognized, authorized, licensed and closely monitored by stringent standards imposed by GERMAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES of the German government. VILLA MEDICA, founded in 1963 had also a long track record of about 50 YEARS. Fresh cell therapy was pioneered by Dr PAUL NIEHANS in 1931. Another doctor in 1980, GUNTER BIOBEL scientifically dissected the technology and was awarded in 1999 the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. After some soul-searching and weighing our options, we decided and took the trouble of traveling to Germany at some cost even when we were told that there were stem cell treatments also being done in the Philippines, at more considerable costs, although still in their infancy stage. We had no way of verifying the reliability of local Philippine See story, page 8
Dr. Adonis Agcopra
Break Parkinson’s Law! In 1955, British author and historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson first made the observation in The Economist that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” This became known as Parkinson’s Law. An important economic corollary to this law goes: “The demand upon a resource tends to expand to match the supply of that resource.” Stated much simpler for the layperson, “expenses rise to meet income.” Such occurrence is so commonplace that not doing so may be tantamount to avoiding the bandwagon. However, if somebody would say that indeed, some laws are meant to be broken, then this law should be at the topmost! If financial security is summarized by learning the appropriate cycle of earning, saving, investing and protecting your wealth and assets (the E-S-I-P paradigm), then ascribing to Parkinson’s law may be taken as one of the biggest culprits responsible for breaking this cycle. Someone gets overjoyed getting a raise. And with that raise comes the hope of expecting a much bigger breathing space, with money not anymore limited just “to make ends meet.” Life seems to get a little better but a few months later, it’s all back to basic and budget gets tight as how it used to be. A very common story that befalls almost every Tom, Dick and Harry. We might ask the big “why”? Why did it happen? Where did all the extra money go? But as science would say, “nature abhors a vacuum.” Psychology and human nature kicks in. When funds are lacking, needs are needs and wants are wants. But when some extra funds come in, new expenses are created and wants become sugarcoated “needs.” With the extra money, many people would get the immediate urge to say: “Let’s burn it!” So long as there’s money in their pockets, there is always a thousand and one ways to spending it. Discipline is an often used word. But when it comes to money, the temptation to enjoy short term gain easily erodes the value of discipline. Attaining long term security and stability gets pushed aside when the icing on the cake seems more luscious than the cake itself. But people often get a hazy vision of their future when long term gain is blurred by the sparkle of what’s fun and easy now. Delayed gratification can be a conscious choice of looking forward to a life of long-term gain with less worries while initially sacrificing with short-term pain. See LAW, page 11
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German government. These regulations even cover the growing and maintenance of donor sheep and the harvesting of stem cells from 18-week old fetus under clinical control and conditions. And specific success stories were many. And more importantly, we were in a “desperate” mode due to the continuous decline of Beth’s kidney conditions. As preparatory steps, Beth went through a series of tests which were screened and studied by her doctors in Manila and even through German doctors in Villa Medica in Edenkoben who had to make the final decision whether she was qualified to get the treatment. Even her Nephrologist who happens to be also a family friend and a known kidney transplant surgeon at the National Kidney Institute recommended that we try FCT. That sealed our decision. So, off we went to Germany last November, 2012. Of course at great expense. (Treatment costs EURO 15,000 or about 830,000 PHP ) But nonetheless. AFTER 7 MONTHS --Today, seven months after the treatment, and in contrast to the sketchy stories surrounding the cases of my friends ERICO, LOLOY and BEBOT as reported in the media, our own testimonials of the FCT at VILLA MEDICA are a bit different from those “horror stories”. I also personally met and discussed with others who themselves went to the German facility for
FCT and our testimonials coincided. In brief, in the case of my wife Beth, the post- FCT tests and clinical results on her ailing kidneys seven (7) months after were very encouraging. Significantly, the continuous decline of her kidney filtration rate (medically referred to as “GFR”) was not only stopped BUT THE DECLINE WAS REVERSED. Her low GFR which stood at ‘19’ when she got the treatment went up to ‘26’ in her latest tests done at St Luke’s in Quezon City. Our doctors told us a drop to “15” would mean she will be a candidate for dialysis or kidney transplant -- a situation we were frantically trying to avoid. Her problematic createnine and uric levels that measure the kidney conditions have considerably improved. Even her chronic migraine that had been with her since childhood just totally disappeared. She is energized. She looks -- and feels-- younger. However, she is still nursing her recurring cartilage pains in the neck area and shoulder up to now. We plan on going back to Villa Medica in Germany when the circumstances warrant. ANOTHER CASE --Another case in point. A Dabawenyo friend who was getting slight tremors with the onset of early stages of Parkinson’s disease and had to be assisted to get up and walk, is now up on his feet moving about unassisted. After three months of FCT in Germany, I saw him in an appreciation dinner in
Makati Shangri-La spritely moving around the buffet table. I was looking for his wife who used to be always by his side to assist him. She was left at their table chatting with some friends. Beth was one of those who encouraged the couple to try FCT. UNFORTUNATE --The recent negative reports in the media are understandable, although unfortunate because this will temporarily dampen the interest of some -- and even scare -those who have considered trying this innovative and pioneering treatment that will revolutionize traditional and orthodox medicine. The announced plans of the Department of Health and Philippine Medical Association to look into this hopefully will yield good results as there is now a proliferation of stem cell “providers” and unscrupulous offerors who will take advantage of the growing popularity of this new science. I heard the story of a mother from Davao, suffering from advanced kidney ailment, got what the Chinese providers claimed were stem cells. The procedure was done in a house converted into a “clinic” somewhere in Rizal in Metro Manila, the next shot in a coffee shop in Serendra in Global City and the succeeding doses to be done by them on their own, having been handed the “injectables” to take home. (I sure hope and pray the procedure helped her somehow.) Today, I
even see “stem cell” tarps in downtown streets and everywhere proclaiming cosmetic and health benefits for clients. CAUTION -- But there is a word of caution in this sudden surge of investigative appetite, especially by the medical profession which is obviously being threatened by this new breakthrough. As in any activity or endeavor, there are the upside and the downside factors. Care must be taken that we do not imprudently squander the gains of this new development of healing just so we selfishly preserve and protect existing turfs and promote narrow interests. I have to say this because I am sensing that the discourse in this recent controversy is tending towards putting under cloud a promising and proven innovative process of stem cell therapy using nonhuman donors -- which we went through with positive results. I hear some Manila doctors and authorities professing to the safeness ONLY of human donor procedures. And issuing danger warnings on use of non-human stem cells without any modicum of effort of first educating themselves about the matter. The least they could do, I sincerely suggest, is to just remain quiet first on areas they have the least of knowledge about and come out only when they are adequately educated and informed to allow considerate exercise of judgment on topics or
issues whereof they speak. Let’s be wary and prevent these investigations from eventually spinning into a conspiratorial effort of promoting stem cell treatment done locally which obviously will benefit the local medical players. To do so will deprive Filipinos and human-kind the opportunity to avail of this revolutionary method that Germany has pioneered since as early as 1913. WAY FORWARD --Regenerative medicine, which simply means regenerating aging human organs, is the way into the future. Fresh cell therapy is the way forward. There will be those whose interests will be adversely affected by this innovation. There will be doubters or those not convinced. Or even scared to try. It’s not a cure-all kind of thing. The result or effect may vary from person to person. Situations like status of illness and enabling environments, lifestyles and other factors can be different and varied. Results may vary. We must all understand and accept this reality. In our case, Beth and I will continue to give our testimonials, including even the negatives if they so take place, so that others may benefit from what we went through. Our story is still work in progress. While we acknowledge that FCT somehow helped improve her condition up to this point in time, Beth however insists and swears that PRAYERS did it all!
Sector... from page 6
same as in those years leading to the property bubble burst in 2007. Atty. Refran then presented the efforts of the PSE to improve the market, including new projects (e.g. offering an online trading platform for retail brokers, having its own depository, establishment of a new issuer disclosure system to improve provision of data to investors, as well as implementing short selling locally) as well as offering new products to expand the menu of investment choices for investors (e.g. exchange traded funds or ETFs, PERA accounts, and
having index options and futures contracts similar to that in Singapore). In his presentation, Mr. Young of Colliers gave the participants a view on the recent developments in the property market. Generally, Mr. Young thinks there is no property bubble yet. For him, asset price bubble is characterized by rapid price increase. The market is unsupported by affordability hence demand is increasingly speculative. Clearly, there is no office supply bubble. There is low vacancy rates which is driven by supply shortfalls.
As far as prices are concerned, rental rates are seen to grow by 5-10% in 2014. Lastly, office rental rate in Manila is still the cheapest in Asia, signifying that we have not been re-rated yet by market players, which is an indication of the absence of a bubble. Also, Mr. Young said it is not accurate to say that foreigners are to blame in the perceived build up of the property bubble, since foreigners play a very small part in the Philippines commercial property market. In the latter part of his presentation, Mr. Young
shared how other countries intervened to prevent bubble build up. Most interventions, he said, were in the form of taxation of properties and transfers of properties to discourage speculative purchases. Prof. Enrique Soriano III of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business also said there is no cause for panic at the moment in the property sector. However, supply of mid-rise and high-rise building should be monitored. He said the challenge now is in sustaining the momentum, and this can
be done by extending the development beyond Metro Manila, ensuring those who borrow from banks fully comply with real estate requirements, and monitoring of new borrowing by inexperienced property builders/developers. True to its mandate, the BSP will continue to conduct similar exercises with concerned sectors and stakeholders. Maintaining price stability is - and should be - a group effort. •• Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@ gmail.com
FCT providers due to their fairly recent track record. When I checked with St. Luke’s Hospital Regenerative division at Global City, the division chief told me they were into this procedure: harvesting human stem cells from the patients themselves, usually from the bone marrow, churn them for 2 weeks in the laboratory using German-made machines and injecting them back to the patient over a 12 month period. However she declined to cite or give an example of a success story simply because they had been into the procedure fairly recent. Also, we were informed that to achieve optimum results, fresh stem cells must be injected (in the buttocks) within two hours from its harvesting from the donor fetus. So getting the FCT infusion right there in the clinic in Germany was far better than having the injectables flown from Germany or elsewhere and get the infusion in Manila, travel time obviously reducing the stem cells’ efficacy or potency. More importantly, seven months ago, there were NO clear Philippine regulations yet governing FCT, due to its infancy, to give us some level of reasonable comfort and assurance. On the other hand, the procedure in Germany we were told adhered to strictest German standards imposed by the
Favila, Dr. Felipe M. Medalla, and Atty. Armando L. Suratos, BSP Deputy Gov. Diwa C. Guinigundo, and former MBM Dr. Vicente B. Valdepeñas. Atty. Refran of the Philippine Stock Exchange talked about the stock market, recent developments (e.g. PSEi levels, market capitalization, capital raised, alternative investments, etc.). Atty. Refran’s message: the current economic and market situation are not the
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Atake sa marine camp sa Cotabato City ikinababahala ng publiko
COTABATO City––Ikinababahala ngayon ng mga residente at negosyante ang atakeng naganap sa kampo ng Philippine Marines sa sentro mismo ng Cotabato City sa Maguindanao province. Pinasabugan nuong nakaraang linggo ng mga dikilalang salarin ang nasabing kampo sa dating gusali ng City Hall, ngunit wala naman nasugatan o nasawi sa atake. Subali’t malaki ang pangamba ng publiko dahil posibleng madamay ang
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Isang checkpoint sa Maguindanao province. Mindanao Examiner photo by Mark Navales
mga sibilyan at negosyo sa anumang tangka o karahasan kontra sa marines dahil mismong sa sentro pa ng Cotabato ito nagkakampo ngayon. Hindi naman mabatid kung sino ang nasa likod ng atake at walang inilabas na pahayag ang pamunuan ng militar ukol sa pagsabog. (Mindanao Examiner)
JUNE 29-july 5, 2013
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SP Dipolog mihangyo ni Mar Roxas nga hatagan ug fire trucks DIPOLOG City––Usa ka resolusyon na usab ang gipangamahanan ni kanhi konsehal ug karon Vice Mayor-Elect Horacio Velasco diin gihangyo niini si Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas nga mohatag ug fire trucks, lakip na ang kompletong ekipo sa pagsumpo sa sunog aron adunay hinanaling magamit ang Bureau of Fire Protection. Mao kini ang nasayran sa buhatan sa Impormasyon atol sa pagpahigayon sa Regular Sesyon kaniadtong semana, sulod sa SP Session Hall, ning dakbayan. Matud pa ni Velasco nga mipasar siya ug laing resolusyon tungod kay dili sigurado nga nadawat ni kanhi DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo ang iyang nahaunang resolusyon nga nagahangyo sa naulahi ug dugang firetrucks alang dinhi sa siyudad gumikan kay dauton na ang existing firetrucks nga gigamit karon sa mga personahi sa BFP. Dugang pa nga nakadawat usab siya ug feedback gikan sa kauluhang Manila diin matud pa adunay 30 ka mga bag-ong firetrucks ang miabot karon sa buhatan sa DILG aron iapod-apod kini sa mga nanginahanglang lokalidad. Tungod niini, giaprobahan gilayon sa hawanan sa konseho ang maong gipadas-ug nga resolusyon aron masiguradong mahatagan usab ang dakbayan ug mga bag-ong firetrucks ug ekipo sa panahon na unya nga iapod-apod na sa maong buhatan kining maong mga ekipo. Kahibaloan nga alayon ang pag-upgrade sa mga kahimanan sa BFP sa programa ug vision ni Mayor Evelyn Uy. (ACA)
Tila walang pakialam ang isang lalaking ito habang sakay ang kanyang pamilya sa motorsiklo sa Zamboanga City. Mahigipit na ipinagbabawal ng batas ang ganito ngunit marami pa rin ang lumalabag. (Mindanao Star Zamboantga)
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ANALYSIS
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Suduko
How to play the game? Fill in completely every rows, columns, and diagonals of each puzzle without repitition of the same digit.
Your Lucky Stars Aquarius: If you have the answer to a problem at work, make sure you tell the right person so nobody else takes credit for your genius idea. Chances are it could be a lucky break that propels you into the success–circle. With love, take a chance and surrender to a romantic moment, you just never know where it may lead. Numbers: 3 21 8 19 30 7 Pisces: Love is all around you, but you need to make a conscious decision to invite it into your life. When love knocks at your heart, be open and reveal your heartfelt feelings to take love to the next phase. Your family and home life is important, you can make huge changes in this area over the next year, starting now. Fate will take its course, but don’t rely on serendipity only to play a role, be proactive. Numbers: 2 3 31 33 34 6 Aries: Recent moon activity will have provided the energy to come to conclusions at work and prompt you to think about rearranging your life on more than one level. It’s now time to put your thoughts into action. Discussions and change on the work front can also affect your home life. Numbers: 18 17 16 5 24 21 Taurus: If love and money prove to be a hazardous mix in your relationship, you are best to set boundaries and keep separate accounts. Even if you are in a solid partnership, it doesn’t mean your bank balances need to be combined. If your life has gone into a spin because there is so much happening, spend time alone to regroup and get back on track. Numbers: 1 40 41 3 33 8 Gemini: With love, you have the power of attraction, but keep in mind you need someone in your life who is an intellectual match. A love–mate you can have a good conversation with will get your attention. When solving a money matter, use a common sense approach to find a successful solution. Numbers: 6 19 20 40 31 38 Cancer: With Jupiter’s influence moving into your sign, Lady Luck is on your side! Life enters a busy and productive phase, and you need to tighten your time management skills to keep up. Venus transits to your money zone this week, and will help you approach a discussion around finances. Numbers: 18 19 23 20 1 2 Leo: A combination of knowledge and wisdom is powerful. Learn who’s on your side and who’s not before revealing your intentions. If you don’t have all the information you need at your finger tips, trust your instincts. With finances, don’t make the mistake of taking someone for granted. Numbers: 8 6 17 13 14 5 Virgo: Take charge of your career, and make your own path to success. Influential friends can help you make headway at work. A creative project on hold gets a boost of energy. Choose a love–partner you can be friends with and is intellectually compatible. Numbers: 4 1 17 16 31 32 Libra: There is a new start in your career life! When you feel in tune with life, anything is possible. With Jupiter the planet of abundance moving to your career zone, anything is possible now. Introduce passion into your relationship to rekindle the flame. Numbers:15 11 25 15 32 41 Scorpio: With love, don’t get infatuated, everyone has irresistible and irritating qualities; see someone for who they really are. Jupiter the planet of abundance has a hand in sending financial news your way. Resist the temptation to takeover at work, other people also need to have their say. Numbers: 2 4 6 8 9 41 Sagittarius: To be charismatic, think like a romance novelist. However, when it concerns love be careful of double standards, saying one thing and doing another will not win someone’s affections. It is now possible to make inroads with work and with money, but not every decision will be within your control. Numbers: 8 7 16 4 41 21
12. Thick sauce 14. Sum 16. Absorbent fabric 18. Light beer 19. Craze 20. Private teacher 22. Subsequently 25. Smallest possible
27. Thai or Cambodian 29. College official 30. Exceedingly 32. Definite article 34. Thousand 36. Carry out
CAPRICORN: Your career life is on a roll! It’s important not to be limited by your own thoughts, think big and be optimistic about your future. Don’t worry too much about how everything will come together or the financial return, be patient and it will work out. An adjustment to your daily routine can free up much needed spare time for R&R. If you want to invite love into your life, get out and start socializing. Numbers: 2 5 25 28 16 8
Mindanao Star
JUNE 29-july 5, 2013
Your Community Newspaper
Reports... from page 1 chairman of the Committee on Good Government in the new set of city councilors by next month. He attributed these abuses of authority by barangay officials to the understanding that they are the lead officials in the community and are supposed to be agents in authority. Unfortunately, he said, they do not know that there are limits to their behavior towards their constituents. The abuses include unauthorized use of official vehicles and disbursement of barangay funds, arrogance of some barangay officials or just plan “abusive” attitudes, Candido said. philippine news agency
Sun... from page 1
avail of promotions. Some apply in multiple Sun Shops and present themselves as different individuals, with different sets of falsified proof of identification and proof of income. Apart from fraudulent applications, Sun Cellular mentioned that unidentified parties have been circulating messages aimed at extorting load credits from their subscribers. “We advise the public to be especially vigilant as scammers keep coming up with new schemes aimed at extorting load or money from unsuspecting mobile subscribers.” Pangan said. While these types of scam has been going on for years, Pangan said that in recent cases the scammers introduce themselves as representatives of Sun Cellular, stating that the receiver has ‘won’ some sort of promo that make the potential victim eligible to avail of free items such as load, cash or service fee exemptions and discounts, among others. The message would then require a series of numbers to be sent to 2292, which causes the receiver to unintentionally send a specific amount of load to the scammer’s prepaid number. The set of numbers “2292” is the short-code number for Sun Cellular’s “Give-A-Load”, which is a tool Sun Cellular subscribers use to send load credits to whomever they choose, usually relatives, friends or co-workers. Another modus operandi of text scammers is to pretend to be relatives of a certain subscriber claiming to be in an emergency or accident, or badly needing load credits.
“Some may even pose as employees from our billing and collections department,” Pangan added. “We advise that these instances be immediately reported to Sun Cellular or to the NTC,” Pangan says. “Sun Cellular and the NTC are both working together to curb, if not totally eliminate all these prevalent fraudulent practices,” Pangan concluded.
Quezon... from page 1
application will be accepted after the July 12 deadline. The CSC has set a target number of examinees who will take the examinations in these two venues--Cagayan del Oro and Quezon Cities. Qualified to take the examinations are meat inspectors and those interested to join the meat inspection service. The Quezon City testing center will accommodate examinees from the Luzon and Visayas areas while the testing center in Cagayan de Oro City will be for those applicants from Mindanao and also from the Visayas. The applicant must be a Filipino citizen, with good moral character and must be mentally and physically fit. He or she must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude, or of disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness, or addiction to drugs. Those dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in government need not apply for the examination. Applicants must also have at least 72 units leading to a bachelor degree course and must be at least 18 years old at the date of filling the application for the test. Application forms may be downloaded at the CSC website (www.csc.gov.ph.) or originals can be reproduced in legal sized bond paper following the format of the forms. philippine news agency
College... from page 2
FU’s Socrates Ruel Luayon defended his earlier interview with a local daily paper saying that “(W)e need to popularize this issue and to let the other stakeholders know and understand it. We are not hiding anything in the negotiations, why keep it in secret? The students and the parents are part of it,
they must understand it,” he said. He said they have not abandoned negotiations with the management. “We did not give-up. We know the wisdom behind the negotiations,” said Luayon, a Religious Studies instructor for 26 years. The management and the HCDC-FU have deadlocked in their CBA negotiations since May 23 when the school refused to grant the union’s demand of claiming 26 percent allocation from the 80 percent in tuition fee increases for their wages and benefits. Rodulfa said that “while it is true that there was a previous agreement in the CBA that 26 percent of the 80 percent of the total incremental proceeds from tuition fee increase would go to the basic salaries of the HCDC-FU, the same agreement was superseded and abandoned by the parties when they renegotiated the economic provisions of the CBA which became effective on June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2012.” Rodulfa said that old CBA was “superseded” by the “new CBA approving the Job Evaluation and Salary Structure (JESS)” and that “the absolute amounts that the HCDC-FU has been getting by way of salary increase upon the implementation of JESS are more than the previous HCDC-FU’s share in the incremental proceeds.” The HCDC-FU held a strike vote last Monday which yielded 122 yes votes, 16 no votes, two abstentions and 1 spoiled ballot. A total of 141 casted their votes from the more than 200 workers comprised of faculty members from kinder to graduate school. NCMB Regional Director Paciano Murro told davaotoday.com that a “marathon conference” is being held to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, Mendoza said that they have to see “a light at the end of the tunnel,” as he hoped that as a religious institution headed by priests and sisters, “a true settlement would be achieved.” For Luayon, he sees the situation as a “clash of principles” and “not a good picture” for a Catholic institution. “When we talk of service, it promotes the welfare of all. I just hope the data they presented to us are genuine,” he said. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/ davaotoday.com)
Lake... from page 1
and character? He will help you to start becoming the strong, loving of the southwest monsoon and successful father your children need. Habagat last year. Just Think a Minute. Owing to the botched dredging project in the Laguna Lake, Villar said “in the meantime, w have to do from page 6 Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, whatever little ways to solve 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, the problem on flooding.” President Benigno Aquino 25, 27, 28, 46, 47, 48 and 49 III scrapped the dredging under District 1 of Pasay project following reports City, the total number of that the multi-billion con- ballots that were allegedly sortium by the foreign firm counted by the PCOS mahas put government spending chines… amounted to only 7,547, but, the total number to waste. Reports have it that the of all votes credited to all excavated and dredged earth the four mayoralty candiand silt that are dumped along dates totaled a whooping the Laguna Lake coastlines 9,045… Clearly, there was are deposited back to the here an inexplicable, and lake bed by run-off waters therefore, greatly fraudulent, mismatch of electronic and erosion. Pending the results of the data… which showed an flood control study on the excess of 1,858 votes that Laguna Lake, Senator-elect the PCOS machines supVillar proposed for a cheaper posedly counted… “ The s ame massive alternative yet the gradual “extrication by backhoes” mismatch and incapacity and excavation process to of being authenticated of lessen the impact of flooding electronic data are also manifested in Clustered in the areas. Although mulling for Precincts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, Senate’s legislative measures 16, 17, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, related to the Laguna Lake 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 50, concerns, Villar opted to 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56, take a “slowly-but-surely and (in Clustered Precincts 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, approach” to the problem. She shared her experience 148, 149, and 150)…” Now, on the Las Piñas River reha- can anyone really explain bilitation project undertaking how these discrepancies where they used the backhoe came about, except to say and other equipment to un- that the results were maclog and clean the waterway nipulated and padded? This with the water lilies and revive is the proof that Comelec perhaps needs. I will print the river. Villar also told media the other portions of the here their optimism that the petition next issue. -oooSupreme Court will grant REACTIONS? Please call their petition to save the Las Piñas bird sanctuary from me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 damage in the wake of the 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. proposed Manila Bay recla- Email: batasmauricio@yamation project. philippine hoo.com, mmauriciojr111@ gmail.com. news agency
Proof...
Job... from page 6
Asked... from page 1
whose character is right, and whose standard is high. A son who masters himself, before he tries to master others. Lord, give him humility and true strength, and an open mind to learn wisdom. Then I, his father, will dare to say ‘I have not failed in life.’” So dad, never forget: your child’s life will be determined by how hard you work…at being a father! And the only One Who can give you the strength, wisdom, and love you need to succeed at your most important job is your own Father in heaven. So today, won’t you ask God to forgive you, and to take charge of your heart
behold, nobody less than the President of the Philippines went to the site in order to see for himself what took place. Why? And there came also the elite government investigative agencies—with their well trained canine brigade—to inspect the place diligently and intensely and from top to bottom. Why? And weeks even went by in order to ascertain what, when, and how the explosion took place. Why? There must be a pretty good and interesting reason for such a big and lasting preoccupation under the baton of the Commanderin-Chief himself—with all personnel resources and
11
their costs at his command. What? He must have a big personal interest and preoccupation about the matter. What? There must be something in that specific condo unit blast that worried and disturbed him much. What? •• Question, questions, and more questions.
Law... from page 7
pain. When rewards are genuine, they necessarily come later. Be a lawbreaker for once. Doing so perhaps can even help you avoid spending a life of long-term agony and pain because of the shortterm gains you’ve opted to prioritize early on. Break Parkinson’s Law. Do it now! ----(Dr. Adonis Agcopra, MBA, CIS, RFC® is with the IARFC and is portfolio director of AFIC Meridian Consultants. URL: www. aficfinancialconsultants. com. Email: aficfinancialconsultants@outlook.com.)
Fears... from page 5
Raphael Wee!,” one of Wee’s friend wrote in a post on his Facebook wall. Others cannot believe the bad news that befell Wee, whose mother is now in the United States. Some of his siblings are in Manila and that Wee was living alone in Zamboanga City. Gun attacks are not uncommon in Zamboanga City where hired killers are actively operating. Most of the murder cases in Zamboanga remain unresolved and police and local government officials usually blame the killings to either family feud or grudge. (Mindanao Star Zamboanga)
Urged... from page 4 documentation, investigation to prosecution of torture cases, which embolden perpetrators in doing acts of torture. “The authorities’ partiality not to comply with the Anti-Torture Law runs in the institutional impunity we have right now. Take the recent case where Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, including a senior police officer, interrogated a rape suspect in full view of the public, as Mayor Lim extracted a confession and forced the suspect to admit he had raped a woman, clearly violated the Anti-Torture Law,” Max de Mesa, Chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, said. He said there is a necessity for the Aquino government to publicly announce a clear policy of total elimination of all acts of torture.
When your in Butuan City and any part of Caraga Region, read...
Mindanao Daily Your Mindanao-wide Newspaper
CARAGA
12
JUNE 29-july 5, 2013
M indanao S tar PrimeNews
Your Community Newspaper
Mindanao Daily Caraga team is flanked by PIA-Caraga personnel during the conduct of PIOs-Mindanao Daily Collaborative Forum 2013 held at PRO-13 Conference Hall, Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad, Butuan City. From left, Gerie Mae Coco, Robert Roperos, Jennifer Gaitano, Nora Molde, DRD Fryan Abkilan, Arjay Felicilda, RD Abner Caga, Ruel Pelone, PSupt Martin Gamba, Robespierre Tradio, Cheng Ordonez, Joe Felicilda, Richard Atillo. Seated from left, Nida Grace Tranquilan, Johny Natad, and Susil Ragas.
UP Pep is driven to excel
WAR REFUGEES. Photo released by the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center show the teenagers shortly after their release in Sultan Kudarat province in southern Philippines. They were among 8 war refugees arrested by the military on suspicion they were rebels. (Mindanao Star Zamboanga)
Govt troops arrest war refugees on suspicion they are Moro rebels ZAMBOANGA City––Authorities have freed three teenagers who were arrested along with 5 men, mostly war refugees, on suspicion they were rebels. The Mindanao Human Rights Action Center or MinHRAC reported that the teenagers had been released by the police last week in Sultan Kudarat province. They were seized by army soldiers on June 23 while trying to get their belongings in the village of Kulasi where rebels and soldiers had clashed. It said those arrested were villagers who fled the fighting, but the military said the group was carrying explosives, an accusation strongly denied by the victims. Zainudin Malang, MinHRAC executive director, said those arrested were innocent civilians displaced by the fighting in the village and that they were taken by soldiers while on their way to briefly go to their homes to salvage their belongings. “The men were asked by their families to take advantage of a lull in the shelling and get direly needed basic living supplies from their homes which they earlier evacuated to escape the shelling. The men carried with them a white flag to indicate they are not combatants,” he said. Malang said the freed minors were reunited with their parents and guardians. He said they held off the announcement of the release of the minors on Monday hoping they can secure the freedom of the 5 others. “The release of the 5 did not push through and they were brought to the fiscal’s office this morning. The team accompanied them throughout the trip from the PNP Precinct in (President) Quirino (town) until they reached the Provincial
Prosecutor’s office in Isulan (town), Sultan Kudarat,” he said. He said the arrest of the villagers is a serious human rights violation. He said: “We ask civil society groups to express their condemnation at yet again another violation of human rights in the Bangsamoro. Displacement is already a violation of one’s rights. When displacement is followed by arbitrary arrest, then that is simply cruelty,” he said, adding, it was not the first time this has happened in the displaced communities of Mindanao and it would not be the last unless and until the people learn to express their disgust.” “As we have seen in the past, silence merely encourages impunity, only encourages perpetrators to continue violating our rights,” he said. Malang said authorities have filed criminal charges against the 5 men for illegal possession of explosives. “The irony is this - per interview by my colleagues, they had in their hands not bombs, rifles, or grenades. What they had were bamboo poles at the end of which is a piece of white cloth to indicate they are not combatants.” “They even approached the soldiers, under the mistaken impression that nothing would happen to them - “sibilyan po kami.” The soldiers then assured them “Ganoon ba? Walang problema. Halika kayo, sama kayo sa amin para maalagaan kayo.” or similarly comforting words. They went with the soldiers and it was only when they reached the battalion camp (of the 33rd Infantry Battalion) that they learned to their shock that they were being detained,” Malang said. mindanao star-zamboanga
The UP Pep Squad has been in the headlines recently after receiving accolades in the latest local and international competitions that they’ve participated in. From a number of awards in the 7th Cheerleading Asia International Open Championships in Japan to a clean sweep in the 2013 Philippine National Games Cheerleading Competition, the UP Pep Squad is truly inspired and driven towards excellence. The UP Pep Squad sees their partnership with Sun Cellular as a strong testament to the trust and credibility that the team holds. “The mere fact that Sun could place their trust in our team to be their brand ambassadors is a big responsibility. It reminds us that we should always strive to be better. Apart from striving for excellence for our University, it’s also striving for that excellence because of our partner, Sun Cellular,” says UP Pep Squad coach Lalaine Pereña. Sun Cellular has also been helpful in touching base with fans and followers. Assistant Coach NJ Antonio shared, “Ngayon ang ginagawa naming announcement, hindi nalang verbally. We also use our mobile phones. Also, through the internet, naka-
kapost kami. Ilalagay mo na sa Facebook, makikita na ng lahat. Mas napapabilis yung dissemination ng information namin. Malaking bagay yun.” The team also sees the importance of staying connected with their families, especially when they were away for the competition. UP Pep Captain Lian Melegrito recounts how her connectivity enabled her to give her parents peace of mind. “Syempre sobrang important na palagi kong ina-update yung parents ko – kung anong oras kami matatapos, nasan ako exactly, kung tapos na ba yung training, pauwi na. Kahit nung nasa Japan kami, kailangan natetext ko sila or nachchat. So for me, importante na, kinikeep
in touch ko sila kahit gaano ako kapagod, alam pa rin nila kung anong nangyayari sa training ko at sa acads ko.” With the virtues of discipline, dedication and excellence, the UP Pep Squad stands to be a Good Choice as one of Sun Cellular’s brand ambassadors to the youth. “We are happy to have them as our brand ambassador as they exemplify the values that we believe the youth should have. And with our products and services, we believe that the youth will be able to do just that – much more easily,” says Sun Cellular Assistant Vice President for Marketing Services Jocel Adorable. Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDT Group.