Mindanao Daily Set B (October 10, 2016)

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Duterte gets ‘very good’ rating in SWS survey cheng ordoÑez, Section Editor

web portal: www.mindanaodailynews.com

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE has gotten a “very good” rating in the latest Social Weather Station Survey (SWS) as 76 percent of those polled said they were satisfied with his performance.

Duterte’s rating made him next only to former President Fidel V. Ramos among presidents in the post-EDSA era, according to a story published Thursday in BusinessWorld, SWS’s media partner on

polling given the right of first publication.

Duterte scored best in Mindanao, with 88 percent of those polled saying they were satisfied.

Conducted Sept. 24-27 via face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide, Duterte yielded a “net satisfaction rating” of +64, which is the percent of those satisfied minus the percent of those dissatisfied, rounded off.

Mr. Ramos’s net rating

Monday

October 10, 2016

was +66, which is also classified as “very good,” as only those with rating of at least +70 are classified as “excellent.”

Other post-EDSA presidents’ rating: Benigno C. Aquino, +60, very good; Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, +24, moderate; Joseph E. Estrada, +60, very good; and Corazon C. Aquino, +53, very good.

Duterte’s net satisfaction rating in Mindanao, his bailiwick, is “excellent”

at +85 (88% satisfied minus 4% dissatisfied, rounded off ). He was “very good” elsewhere: +62 in the Visayas (75% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied, rounded off), +58 in Metro Manila (74% satisfied, 16% dissatisfied) and +57 in “Balance Luzon” (70% satisfied, 13% dissatisfied).

The president got “very good” net ratings in both urban (+63) and rural (+67) areas, and also “very See survey, page B7

Pres. Duterte

Lawmaker gives Pres. Duterte a ‘9’ rating CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A lawmaker rated the first 100 days of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration a “9” on a scale of 1-10.

Rep. Maximo Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro City said that the country saw the decline of crime volume for the whole country during the first 100 days of Mr. Duterte in office.

He said that illegal drug activities have also been reduced and the Filipinos were provided the true picture of the drug trafficking and crime situation.

Rodriguez said that President Duterte also signed the Executive Order on Freedom of Information Back in Oslo. The peace panels of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front resume their negotiations on Thursday (OctoSee gives, page B7

ber 6, 2016) in Oslo, Norway to tackle social and economic reforms and mechanics for a bilateral ceasefire. photo courtesy of edwin espejo/OPAPP

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Monday, October 10, 2016

Weak peso seen good for PH

Foolish to link peso drop to President’s outbursts vs. Western powers, says solon The peso’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar is positive overall for the Philippines, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House economic affairs committee, said over the weekend.

“A weak peso is good for our exporters who earn in dollars. It is also beneficial to our overseas workers and their families here. It is likewise helpful to our booming and highly laborintensive outsourcing sector that generates income in dollars,” Pimentel said.

“As long as the peso’s decline is driven by market forces, and the drop is not too big and not too sudden, it is generally favorable to the country,” he said.

The peso is now hovering at seven-year lows, closing Friday at 48.23 to a greenback.

“It is foolish to attribute the peso’s recent weakness to the purported political volatility created by President Duterte’s outbursts against Western powers,” Pimentel said.

The lawmaker pointed out that two weeks before Duterte assumed office, the Duterte in Laos. President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at Wattay International Airport in Sikhodtabong District, Laos People’s Democratic chief economist at the Bank Republic on September 5 to participate in the ASEAN Summit. TOTO LOZANO/PPD

See link, page B7

Davao mayor says arrest of suspected Night Market President Duterte spends bombers must lead to distmantling of terror group 99th Day in office in Caraga DAVAO CITY -- Presidential daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio commended the authorities for the arrest of four suspects in the Roxas Night Market explosion but stressed that “their arrest must lead to the distmantling of the terror group.”

The mayor issued the statement following the arrest of three alleged members of the Maute terrorist

group based in Lanao Del Sur, and reportedly aligned with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The three are among the suspects in the September 2 explosion at the Roxas night market that killed 15 persons and wounded 69 others.

The three suspects were presented at Camp Aguinaldo Friday. They were arrested during a checkpoint operation last October 4 in Cotabato City, reports said.

Militar y authorities seized from them a machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, assorted bomb-making components, cellular phones and a video clip of the actual bombing attack which he claims the terrorists are turning into a propaganda video to get support from the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) terrorists in the Middle East.

“The arrest of the suspected perpetrator of the September 2 bombing in

Davao City is a welcome development to the operations of our law enforcers for their immediate capture,” Sara said in a statement released to the members of the media.

While such development is commendable, the mayor vowed to expeditiously give justice to the 15 victims who died and the 69 others who were wounded in the blast.

Sara, however, emphasized on the importance

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- To promote public awareness and appreciation of the federal form of government, a movement of federalism advocates conducted a symposium in Marawi City.

The People’s National Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED), a private sector which advocates the shift to a federal form of government, organized the first symposium on federalism in the province on October 1 in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Mindanao State University (MSU).

The advantages of a federal

form of government were tackled during the symposium with the theme “Federalism For United Philippines.”

It was attended by the university officials, students, teachers from the Department of Education in the province, and stakeholders from the different sectors.

“Nakita ko na kailangan ng immediate development dito sa inyong lugar. Kapag naging federal form of government na tayo, mapapakinabangan niyo na ang inyong sariling natural resources,” (I saw the need for immediate development in your area. You will benefit from your own resources

when we shift to a federal government), PENAMFED Vice President Martin Diño explained to the people of Lanao del Sur. He said federalism is the key to finally achieve peace and bring economic growth and prosperity in Mindanao.

Local advocates also expressed their support to President Duterte during the program.

The symposium concluded with the attendees raising their fists, as a gesture of support, and pledged that they will back the President’s advocacies to rid the country of criminality and corruption, to eradicate poverty,

and bring about change from unitary to federal of government.

“We believe that it could be done through a shift from a unitary form of government to a federal one, which will lead us to economic prosperity for all, and this is the ultimate change we want and dream of,” they unanimously uttered.

PENAMFED has recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the DILG to embark on a massive education and information dissemination to promote awareness and understanding on the overall benefits of federalism.

(APB/PIA-10)

By Lilian C. Mellejor

See arrest, page B7

Federalism advocates hold symposium in Lanao del Sur

By Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte spent the 99th day of his first 100 days in office on his first official visit to the Caraga region.

The President and his party arrived at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, the Police Regional Office 13 headquarters here past 4:00 p.m. Thursday, where he was welcomed by the top officials and personnel of the Caraga Philippine National Police (PNP) headed

by Director PCSupt. Rolando B. Felix and the military forces headed by 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division Commander MGen. Benjamin Madrigal.

The President then proceeded to a closed door command conference with the police and military top officers operating in the region right after his arrival.

Among the highlights of his visit here in Caraga was the awarding ceremony for the four best performing units and officers of the PNP. The outstanding units received plaques of dis-

tinction and the police officers, their medals and cash incentives.

During his “Talk To The Men”, the President hailed the police as well as the military here in the region for maintaining the peace and order as well as for their relentless campaign against illegal drugs, all forms of criminality and activities which may disrupt peace and order.

He admitted in his message that the country’s war against illegal drugs had drawn “flak” both in the international and local fronts. But he said there is nothing wrong for the police and the military to undertake measures which may protect its citizens. It is an act of self-preservation, the President said.

He called on the police and the military to clean their ranks of scalawags and misfits, to be loyal to the flag and to the Constitution, to serve the citizenry and to protect the country against the threats of narco-politics, graft and corruption, all forms of criminality and illegal activities and terrorism. (PNA)

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Monday, October 10, 2016

Gov hails reduced crime volume during President Duterte’s first 100 days CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The crime volume in the country significantly reduced during the first 100 days in office of President Rodrigo Duterte, Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano of Misamis Oriental, said Friday.

Emano issued the statement Friday as the Chief Executive marked his 100th day in office since he assumed the Presidency last July 1 after a landslide win in the May 2016 presidential poll.

The governor said that Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug trafficking in the country has reduced the occurrence of crime in the provinces, especially in Misamis Oriental.

Before the anti-illegal drug campaign, people felt insecure of their safety while walking along the streets or being away from their homes, Emano said.

He cited the case of Gingoog City, a component

city east of Misamis Oriental, where crimes occurred almost daily prior to the serious anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration.

Emano recalled the unsolved shooting of a senior provincial government official a year ago in Gingoog City, which alarmed provincial officials.

However, with President Duterte’s drug war, killings in Gingoog City stopped and residents in that city are now enjoying a stable peace and order situation, he said.

“No doubt, the illegal drugs that drove millions of the Filipinos into addiction were now known as the major cause of many crime incidences in the country,” Emano said.

Most crime incidents reported were robbery, rape, homicide, and murder.

The regional police See hails, page B7

President Duterte awards outstanding police units, officials BUTUAN CITY -- Among the highlights of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first official visit here in the region was the awarding of four Philippine National Police outstanding units and three police officials for their outstanding contribution to the success of the implementation of the PNP’s “Project Double Barrel” here.

The President, assisted

by Caraga PNP Director PCSupt. Rolando B. Felix, handed the awards as well as the corresponding cash incentives to the awardees in a ceremony held at the regional headquarters grandstand here, Thursday evening.

Awarded as the “Best Performing Police Provincial Office In The Implementation of Project Double Barrel” was the Agusan

del Sur Police Provincial Office. The unit received a plaque of distinction and a PHP250,000.00 cash incentive from the President.

The “Best Performing City Police Station in the Implementation Of The Project Double Barrel” was the Surigao City Police Station. They also received a plaque of distinction and a PHP250,000.00 cash incentive.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Municipal Police Station of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur was awarded as “The Best Performing Municipal Police Station in the Implementation of the Project Double Barrel” and was awarded a plaque of distinction and PHP250,000.00 cash incentive.

The “Best National See awards, page B7

COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (September 22) afternoon turns on the ceremonial switch-on signifying the formal opening of the FDC Misamis Power Corporation, which operates a 405-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the town of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Mindanao Daily photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Duterte switches on 405mw power plant

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental--President Rodrigo Duterte graced the switching-on of the biggest base load power plant in Mindanao during the inauguration ceremony held Thursday (September 22) at Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental.

This is the first power plant in the country to be commissioned under President Duterte’s administration.

Envisioned to end the recurring power crisis that

has plagued the region for decades, the power plant has a combined capacity of 405 MW (3 X 135 MW) and is owned and operated

by FDC Misamis Power Corporation, a subsidiary of FDC Utilities, Inc. and a member of the Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC).

All three units have already been synchronized to the Mindanao Grid.

Since the start of synchronization, the power plant’s commissioning power has greatly contributed to the stability of the

Mindanao grid.

Long term contractual commitments have been secured for more than 85% of the project’s net capacity with various distribution utilities and large industrial customers covering 205 municipalities and barangays in Mindanao.

Joining President Duterte were Mindanao Development Secretary Datu Abul Khayr D. Alonto, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano, Misamis Oriental and 2nd District Represent Julieth Uy, among other local executives of Misamis

Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City.

FDC, the holding company of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Group, is one of the Philippines’ leading conglomerates with interests in property development, banking and financial services, hotel and resort management, power generation and the sugar industry. As of June 30, 2016, FDC had assets valued at Php 448.56 billion with stockholders’ equity at Php100.54 billion.

“We want to help this administration by providing See switches, page B7

2 of 3 Davao blast suspects presented were reported abducted last week COTABATO CITY -- Two of the three persons presented Friday in a press conference in Quezon City as the perpetrators of the September 2 bombing in Davao City were reported to have been abducted at gunpoint here on Tuesday last week.

Presented in a press conference at the Department of National Defense were suspects TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendell Apostol Facturan, and Musalli Mustapha. They

were allegedly nabbed in a checkpoint on October 4 in Cotabato City.

Macabalang and Facturan were reported abducted here Tuesday.

In Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte said the arrest of the suspects behind the blast htat left 15 persons dead and 69 others injured is a “welcome development” but added it must lead to the dismantling of terror groups.

Defense Secretary Lorenzana said the suspects

had “direct participation in the September 2 Davao night market bombing.”

TJ Macabalang, the alleged triggerman allegedly made the phone call that detonated the improvised explosive device, Facturan, alleged bomb courier, sat on the massage chair, put the backpack containing the IED while Mustapha allegedly took a phone video of the bombing.

Lorenzana said recovered from the suspects were bomb-making materials, a

machine gun, caliber .45 pistol, motorcycle, cellular phones, and a video recording of the actual bombing at around 9:50 p.m. on September 2.

The video footage, aired by national TV networks, opens with a view, although from a distance, of the massage area of the night market, followed by an explosion and in the dark, voices of people shouting “tabang, tabang” (help, help). It ends with a phone ringing and the person who took the

video replying to the caller, “paalis na kami” (we’re about to leave).

L orenzana s aid t he bombing was meant to divert attention from military operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and to avenge heavy casualties of the Maute group in Butig, Lanao del Sur and the capture of eight of its members in the province on August 22.

Heavily-armed members of the Maute group stormed the Lanao del Sur provincial

jail in Marawi City five days later and freed all eight of their companions while several other prisoners escaped.

Raid, Abduction In Cotabato City also on Friday, police raided the house of Macabalang’s father, at dawn and seized materials for the assembly of two high-powered explosives, several firearms and ammunition.

Chief Inspector Allan Uy, spokesperson of the See abducted, page B6

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Monday, October 10, 2016

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Group hails Duterte’s openness to clean energy

Monday, October 10, 2016

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental--The Climate Reality Project Philippines (Climate Reality), a global movement founded

by Nobel laureate and former United States vice president Al Gore, lauded the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte on renewable energy potentials of the countr y during the recent inauguration of coal thermal plant in Misamis Oriental.

“We are glad that the president recognizes the importance the availability and potentials of renewable energy in the country,” Rodne Galicha, country manager of Climate Reality

Duterte: ‘I have no plan to be a dictator’

and director of Ecoteneo of the Ateneo de Davao University.

In his speech, President Duterte stressed that there is still a need to utilize coal for energy for the country to catch-up with other countries to develop, however, he also emphasized that the “second and third generation will suffer would still suffer if we are not really able to utilize, what I would say, the solar and the wind...”

“If we want to industrialize our country because we were left behind by so many generations, you have to keep up with developments and... right

now is to use coal, cheap, it’s available although it is maybe deletorius to the whole of the climate of planet Earth,” said Duterte.

President Duterte further explained that there is a challenge to stabilize electricy requirement and that in due time available renewable energy sources such as solar can be utilized with better technology and quick return of investment.

“But more or less, it should be stabilized for now. But we never thought that Mindanao would develop so fast that in a few years, we would be starting again to tinker with, maybe, in the fullness of

God’s time, we would have something like solar or better technology but not expensive. There’s no question, they are available.” said Duterte.

According to Gailicha, the statement of the President Duterte may be viewed in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances. This is one of the highlights of the Paris Agreement on climate in which, the Philippines with very minute carbon emission, is asked to determine and act on its greenhouse gas emission reduction

contribution depending on its own realities.

“It must be clearly understood that President Duterte’s statements mainly echoes what our Philippine delegation fought for during the Paris negotiations last year especially on loss and damage mechanism, finance and technology, said Galicha.

He further said that the President’s call is also our call for climate justice which requires developed countries to act on climateaffected nations for loss and damages and provide finance and capacity building, support and facilitate technology de-

velopment and transfer for our mitigation and adaptation efforts. Our commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions is conditional and we are not obliged to do so. It is dependent on external financial and technical assistance which the Paris Agreement assures. The way forward for a sustainable Philippines is to start a just and equitable transition to renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal and we hope that the President and the Senate shall collaborate as soon as possible to look at the benefits of the climate deal. (Climate Reality)

By Jelly F. Musico of PNA

P resident R o d r i g o Duterte assured Wednesday that he will not follow in the footsteps of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“I have no plan to be a dictator. I’m a lawyer. My mother was a Yellow Friday leader in Davao. They said, I will be like Marcos, far from it,” Duterte said in a speech as he met 129 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from Saudi Arabia, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

President Duterte explained that he is just doing his duty as the country’s 16th President elected by more than 16 million Filipinos in the last May 9 national elections.

“I am just doing my duty, or else I will compromise our next generation,” he said.

Living up to his election campaign promises, President Duterte has launched a war on the drug menace that has prompted more than 600,000 drug dependents to surrender themselves to the authorities.

Police have reported that close to 800 drug pushers and users have been killed in legitimate police See plan, page B7

President Rodrigo Duterte presides the 7th Cabinet Meeting in Malacañan on October 3. EXEQUIEL SUPERA/PPD

Abducted... from page B3

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said they found rounds of 81mm mortar and rocket-propelled grenade, a detonating cord, hand held radio, improvised switch circuit, cellphone,

blasting cap, and a plastic ice cream container in the house of businessman Teng Macabalang along Rosary Heights.

The elder Macabalang said he “cannot control” his son anymore. “He is no longer listening to my advice. I’ve heard he met and joined this group called ISIS not too long ago,” he

said. The Maute Group reportedly has links with the ISIS. (See related story) His son, TJ, in his 30s, is engaged in sticker and tarpaulin printing and buyand-sell of vehicles, and his worker, Facturan, were abducted at gunpoint along Governor Gutierrez Avenue, in front of Landbank last Tuesday afternoon, while

meeting a client for a motorcycle deal.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer report on October 5 quoted the father as saying his son was to meet a prospective buyer of a motorcycle around 3 p.m. when they were forced into a Toyota Innova.

The PDI said the police learned about the abduction

at around 6 p.m. when the father reported the incident to Police Station 2.

According to Philippine Star on October 5, witnesses reported seeing TJ and Facturan herded into a “parked van without license plates, which sped away towards an interior area nearby.”

“Three of their See abducted, page B7

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Monday, October 10, 2016

Survey... from page B1

good” across socioeconomic classes: +65 each in classes D, or the masa, and E, and a lower +56 among those in ABC. G e n d e r - w i s e , M r.

Duterte scored an “excellent” (+71) net rating among men and “very good” among women (+58).

In terms of educational attainment, the President is liked most by high school graduates with an “excellent” rating (+71). He earned “very good” among college and elementary graduates, and even those who did not finish elementary.

Mr. Duterte scored an “excellent” in two respondent age groups: +73 among those aged 25-34 and +71 in the 35-44 group.

He got “very good among the rest.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a statement, said that the results of the SWS survey “shows very clearly that the majority of the Filipino people approve of his performance in his first three months in office.”

“This is not surprising at all as the President was overwhelmingly elected in the May polls on the strength of his platform of ‘tunay na pagbabago’ or real change anchored on a strong anti-drugs, anticrime and anti-corruption agenda,” he added. (MindaNews)

Gives... from page B1

(FOI), which significantly reduced corruption in the government service and regained the confidence of the business sector.

According to Rodriguez, the first 100 days of President Duterte in office also resulted in increased tax collection, an important element of the government’s program to ameliorate the social status of the poor.

“With the increase confidence in the government, it is expected that the next 100 days of Duterte’s administration would provide a brighter future for the country and the improvement of the living standard of the Filipino people,” Rodriguez said. (PNA)

Link... from page B2

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) actually released a report projecting that the peso would likely hit 50 to a dollar before the end of 2016, as the U.S. Federal Reserve prepares to start raising interest rates.

The BPI report was widely published in local newspapers.

“Actually, the peso is not fundamentally weak. The dollar is simply gaining relative strength because there

is growing expectation that after years of zero interest rates, the U.S. Federal Reserve will soon start raising rates,” Pimentel said.

He said the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to start jacking up interest rates shortly after the Nov. 8 presidential elections in America, or before the end of the year.

“Owing to this anticipation, investors around the world, including Filipinos by the way, are starting to park some of their money in dollar-denominated assets, thus, the rising need for dollars. And as the demand for the dollar increases, its value also climbs against other currencies, including the peso,” Pimentel said.

The lawmaker said the peso’s depreciation would provide multinational business process outsourcing (BPO) firms operating in the Philippines additional incentive to expand their operations here and step up hiring of Filipino staff.

Like exporters, BPO firms in the country sell their services to overseas clients. They generate revenues in dollars, but spend for their operations here, including the wages of their employees, in pesos.

Philippine exporters of merchandise goods as well as BPO firms have gained progressively because of the peso’s steady decline against the dollar over the years.

Based on Philippine Dealing System figures, the peso averaged 42.44 to a dollar in 2013; 44.39 to a dollar in 2014; and 45.50 to a dollar in 2015. From January to September this year, the peso has so far averaged 46.95 to a dollar.

Pimentel played down the potential domestic inflationary impact of a weaker peso.

“Fortunately for us, crude oil and energy prices in general are still somewhat depressed, so even in our fuel suppliers have to spend a bit more pesos to buy every dollar they need to import petroleum products, the impact on local pump prices is negligible,” he said.

crime index in Northern Mindanao has reduced by 40 percent during the first few months of the anti-illegal drug campaign starting July this year. (PNA)

Awards... from page B3

Separate Unit in the Implementation of the Project Double Barrel” was awarded to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 13. They also had their plaque of distinction and PHP250,000.00 cash incentive.

The awardee police officers were PCInsp. Rommel B. Villamor as “Top Performer of PRO 13’s Antiillegal Drugs Campaign,” PCInsp. Christian Rafols II who has the “Most Number of Arrested Drug Personalities in the Implementation of Project Double Barrel” and PSInsp. Arvin E. Hosmillio, with the “Most Number of Illegal Drugs Confiscated in the Implementation of Project Double Barrel.”

Each got a “Medalya Ng K a g a l i n g a n ,” a n d PHP200,000.00 cash incentive from the President.

(PNA)

Switches... from page B3

power at the most affordable cost and in the most reliable way with technology that protects the environment,” according to FDC’s President and CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap. The power plant is a multi-billion peso investment by FDC Misamis that will use the latest in clean coal technology: the circulating fluidized bed boiler technology. Considered as the cleanest process to burning coal, the technology removes more than 95% of sulfur emissions. It creates negligible nitrogen oxide levels while generating useful by-products such as calcium sulfate for cement production.

“Aside from being the biggest investment of the Filinvest group, it is the realization of the dream of our founder, Andrew Gotianun, Sr. to help in empowering Mindanao,” stressed Gotianun Yap. Durfrom page B2 ing the program, the power of the arrest in leading to plant was dedicated to the the dismantling of terror groups or result in the failure of more senseless acts of violence and extremism.

“We also need to remember that this does not end our desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism on the night of September 2 in our beloved city,” the mayor added.

She asked the people to be vigilant and “show the world that we do not surrender to fear nor do we allow terrorism to cripple our humanity and undermine our values.” (PNA)

Arrest...

Hails... from page B3

command in Cagayan De Oro City reported that, compared to last year, the

late founder of the Filinvest Group of Companies.

Jonathan Gotianun, Chairman of FDC said, “The Filinvest Group has invested in Mindanao for decades and we continue to place our confidence in the region because the country’s development can happen only if we make sure Mindanao grows alongside the rest of the country.”

Mindanaoans looked at the switching on of the FDC-Misamis power plant as embracing a new era of change leading to economic booms.

Duterte, in his speech, however, did not dwell too much about the circulating fluidized bed-coal thermal power plant, but lambasted the United States again on its comments on the extra-judicial killings in the country.

FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Filinvest Development Corporation, is committed to continuing the Gotianun tradition of making a difference in the lives of Filipinos. As one of the Philippines’ leading conglomerates, with significant investments, experience and expertise in real estate, banking, hospitality and sugar, the Filinvest Group attempts to diversify its businesses and further its reach through FDCUI to make an impact on a very critical sector: infrastructure and utilities.

FDCUI is the Filinvest Group’s re-entry into the power market. The Filinvest Group has accumulated experience in the power industry since 1995 through the ownership of East Asia Power Corporation and, eventually, the Cebu Private Power Corporation in 1998 until 2000.

Backed by this experience along with a strong management team with a proven track record, FDCUI is headed by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jesus N. Alcordo, with Mario R. Pangilinan as President and Chief Operating Officer.

FDCUI aims to bring electricity and water to potential growth circles in the Philippines. It aims to spur or further enhance development in commu-

nities all over the country while enhancing synergy among the subsidiaries of the Filinvest Group.

The company aims to put up multiple power generation projects in the next five years across the Philippines.

FDCUI was also awarded a 40MW independent power producer administrator contract for Unified Leyte’s geothermal power plant’s contracted capacity. It also recently won the bidding for the right to manage around 100MW from the Mt. Apo geothermal plants.

Abducted... from page B6

abductors also hurriedly left using a Toyota Innova parked few meters away from the scene,” the report said.

The next time the two were seen were in Friday’s press conference in Camp Aguinaldo, along with Mustapha.

In September last year, TJ’s worker named Micky Imam Glang, 27, was abducted by armed men and was found dead 20 days later.

Justice In Davao City, Mayor Duterte commended law enforcers for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

“It is, however, important for us to remember that the arrest must ultimately lead us to the dismantling of terror groups in our midst or result in the failure of more senseless acts of violence and extremism,” the mayor said.

She also emphasized that the arrest “does not end our desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism on the night of September 2 in our beloved city.”

“Let us continue to be vigilant and show the world that we do not surrender to fear nor do we allow terrorism to cripple our humanity and undermine our values,” the mayor said.

Last month, the city government offered a P3-million reward for the information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. Nine suspects were charged with multiple murders and frustrated multiple murder in connection with the bombing. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews; with reports)

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from page B6

operations and more than 10,000 drug addicts have been arrested.

“I’m trying to catch up with time,” President Duterte said.

He said the more than three million Filipinos addicted to drugs is enough proof that there is a crisis in the country, requiring drastic actions from the government.

President Duterte told the repatriated OFWs to avoid drugs and instead help him fight the menace, along with graft and corruption, and criminality.

“Avoid drugs at all costs because it could cost your life too. That’s the reality because we have three million plus affected. That is a crisis for the country,” Duterte said.

To help the OFWs displaced by the financial crisis, President Duterte said the government has shouldered their plane tickets and is handing them PHP5,000 each. The government will also enroll them temporarily in the 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

President Duterte was joined by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay in welcoming the repatriated OFWs. Bello told the OFWs that they will be provided with lawyers who will help them obtain their unpaid wages and benefits and other legal claims from their respective employers in Saudi Arabia.

Yasay said it was President Duterte who instructed them to do their best to help the almost 9,000 stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

President Duterte said the government is working also to hasten the repatriation of the remaining stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

“Actually our economy is that so bad. Just give a little time, I will fix our economy and to give you opportunity to work here. We are not really exceeding the expectations but we are on target in our growth,” he said.

The President said the Department of Trade and Industry is working to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs)and the “Go Negosyo” program that will provide loans to small business entrepreneurs.

(PNA)

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Monday, October 10, 2016

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