Mindanao Daily Westmin (September 13, 2013)

12 more typhoons likely to hit PH until December THE government’s weather agency expects between eight to 12 more tropical cyclones (TCs) in the country until December this year.

“We forecast three to four TCs this September, two or three TCs each in October and November as well as one or two TCs in December,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA) Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section OIC Anthony Lucero said Thursday during a climate forum in Metro Manila.

He noted PAGASA also expects one or two TCs in the country in January 2014.

Lucero said PAGASA forecasts rainfall this September to be generally near- to above-normal in most

parts of the country.

For October, he noted the anticipated rainfall is below- to near-normal in Luzon as well as generally near- to above-normal in most parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

Near- to above-normal rainfall is expected in most areas nationwide this November and December,

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Mindanao Daily NEWS See typhoons/p.11

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Govt allots P137m to light remote villages in Socot Volume II, No. 085

web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com

September 13, 2013

G

ENERAL Santos City––The national government has allocated an additional P137 million for the electrification of more remote communities in South Cotabato province within the next four months.

SEE FULL STORY/p.8

UP prof: To abolish pork, abolish political dynasties DAVAO City––A University of the Philippines professor has offered a formula “for a more systematic” abolition of the pork barrel system: abolish political dynasties.

“The abolition of (the

pork barrel system) is as probable as the abolition of political dynasties,” said Prof. Roland Simbulan of the UP Development Studies and Political Economy.

See abolish/p.11

STRANGE SEATMATE. An Army soldier (left) and an MILF fighter share a bench outside a sari-sari store in Barangay Barit, Balindong town in Lanao del Sur Monday, September 9. The MILF has allowed the Philippine Army to search their camps in Lanao del Sur following allegations that they were harboring terror groups responsible for the series of bombings in Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of Mindanao. No terror suspects were found in

MNLF to free hostages after negotiation ABOLISH PORK. Performance artist Nick Aca dramatizes the effects of the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund during a rally Wednesday early evening in Cagayan de Oro City. The rallyists called for the abolition of the Pork Barrel amidst controversies brought about by the Napoles case.

Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Z AMB OANGA City–– Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Commander Ustadz Abdulhabier Malik declared that the MNLF will release the more or less 200 civilians they held hostage since last Monday only after

negotiations have been set with the local government of Zamboanga City.

Speaking through a local broadcast station, Malik stressed that there is a need to discuss settlement for peace first before they will

release the hostage victims.

One of the hostages, Catholic priest Fr. Michael Ufana, who was allowed to speak on air, disclosed that while the MNLF are “willing to release the 200 hostages,” there is a need to place “on

the table cosa el problema” (what the problem is), and that the matter is now in the hands of Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco.

Malik assured the safety of personnel and volunteers See FREE/p.11

Govt won’t hesitate to use force to end Zambo conflict THE government will not hesitate to use force to end the fighting between government troops and followers of Nur Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City, Malacañang warned Thursday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said perpetrators of the Zamboanga City attack-- which entered its fourth day on Thursday-- and similar lawless elements taking advantage of the conflict would suffer the full brunt

of the law.

“The forces of the state are ready to exercise the resolve of the government.

While the government is exhausting all avenues for a peaceful resolution to the situation, let it be clear to those defying

that they should not entertain the illusion that the state will hesitate to use its forces to protect our people,”

See CONFLICT/p.11

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EDITOR: RUEL PELONE, ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com

METRO CDO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY l MISAMIS ORIENTAL

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Refurbishing the city hospital’s tainted image

By CRIS DIAZ Executive Editor of Mindanao Daily News

CAGAYAN de Oro City––The 50-year-old city-owned hospital here is embarking an ambitious P 59 million upgrade in a bid to cleanse its image as the “final resting place” of patients who died mostly of neglect than ailments.

The JR Borja Memorial Hospital in Barangay Carmen here was for many years a dreaded destiny of poor residents who wished to live longer but settle (under protest) for eternal life for lack of medical equipment and highly trained medical personnel.

Lito Reyes, a resident near the city hospital confessed of hearing negative feedbacks from patients

who have been admitted in the controversial hospital that has become a major campaign issue of politicians running for various positions in past elections here.

“Many accompanying patients complained that their patients met an untimely death because of neglect by hospital personnel and the lack of medical equipment,” Reyes said.

Dr. Evelyn C. Perez, JRBMH chief of the hospital, said they would like to erase from the minds of Kagay-anons the negative image that the hospital have had in the past.

“In fairness, the city hospital served the patients well in previous political and hospital administrations but the hospital could only provide the basic health

services due to lack of facilities,” Perez said.

She said that the plan to improve the hospital’s services and the acquisition of modern medical facilities would certainly bring the 100-bed public hospital to a new level of public health care trust.

Dr. Ramon Moreno, the new city hospital consultant hired by the city government, said that he is optimistic that the city council would approve the P 59 million proposed budget for the hospital’s modernization in 2014.

“With an approved P 59 million budget, the hospital intends to acquire a new ambulance, haemodialysis machine, improve the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other building renovations that would transform the hospital to

a 300-bed hospital,” Moreno said.

At present, the Department of Health accredits the 100-bed JR Borja Memorial Hospital as a Level 1 hospital, he said.

“One of our plans is to transform the city hospital into a 300bed capacity hospital so that it would earn a Level III health care hospital with enough medicines, highly trained medical personnel, modern medical equipment and highly improve health services.”

Moreno added.

Moreno said that the city residents want a responsive and competitive city-owned hospital to the health needs of the local populace. “That is what the JR Borja Memorial Hospital wants to attain in the near future,” Moreno said. With reports from LRJ

Oro council to study proposals for barangay to collect garbage CAGAYAN de Oro City–– The City Councilors here would tackle the possibility of allowing the barangays to collect garbage in their own areas in compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. City Councilor Enrico Salcedo said that under Republic Act 9003 of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, said that allowing the barangays to collect their own waste in

an efficient approach in the collection of garbage here.

Aside from effectively segregate garbage at the source, a barangay with two garbage truck collectors would be earning some P 1.2 million a year, Salcedo said.

He said that most urban barangays in Cagayan de Oro City have dump trucks for garbage collection within their own jurisdiction while the city

government could provide one to barangays without dump trucks.

Vice Mayor Ian Acenas said that he has referred the Salcedo proposal to the city council’s committee on environment for further studies.

Garbage has piled up in the city’s urban center here when the “Basura and Iba Pa,” the assigned garbage collection firm ceases operations after

Mayor Oscar Moreno refused to pay the bill for the months of June, July, and August.

Moreno said that the garbage collection firm has over billed the city government which the BAI management vehemently denied.

Complaints dumped the city council as residents criticized at the alleged favored garbage collector firms from the Quezon

City contractor by City Mayor Moreno failed to deliver piles of garbage in and around the city.

Garbage and waste in this seaport capital of close to a million people reached as much as 20- ton daily and any failure to collect the garbage would certainly turn the entire city into the country’s largest landfill. CRIS DIAZ, Exec.

Editor, Mindanao Daily News

4 suspects nabbed in anti-drug drive in Oro CAGAYAN de Oro City––A couple and their visitors were arrested Wednesday afternoon during a buy-bust operations in a suspected drug den in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

Vincent Cecil Orcales, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Misamis Oriental, identified the couple as Samsoden Guro and Rasmiya Guro while the visitors were identified as Jamel Pampa and Fabian Gadiano.

In his report to the PDEA regional office here, Orcales said that the suspects were arrested in a suspected drug den allegedly maintained by the Guros at Block 30, Lot 11 in Vamenta Subdivision in Barra, Opol.

Seized from the suspects were about 10 grams of suspected “Shabu” (Methamphetamine), a poor man’s cocaine, with an estimated value of P 100,000, one Cal. 45 pistols with serial number 223457 loaded with a magazine with three live hollow point ammunition.

PDEA regional director Emerson Margate said that the suspected illegal “Shabu” would be turned over to the PNP crime laboratory for examination which would be used as evidence together with other seized items.

He said the suspects were now temporarily detained at the PDEA regional headquarter’s detention cell as charges with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the “anti-illegal drug laws” were being readied against them.

CRIS DIAZ, EXEC. EDITOR, Mindanao Daily News

Turnover of Electric Patrol Motorcycle in Cugman Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez turns over one electric patrol motorcycle to Cugman Barangay Chair Ricardo Pacheco that will be used for implementing peace and order and in responding emergency call in the barangay. The electric motorcycle which is smoke free costs P35 thousand pesos taken from the congressman’s PDAF. Witnessing the ceremony are City Councilors Enrico Salcedo of the second district; Zaldy Ocon, Candy Darimbang of the first district and Barangay Kagawads Miller Cagatin and Maria Elsie Jandayan. LESLIE

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News in Focus

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EDITOR: RUEL PELONE, ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com

Foreign media to visit Normin tourism sites

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

CAGAYAN de Oro City–– Twenty-six journalists from Korea, Japan and China are set to visit Northern Mindanao beginning on September 16 to check out tourism destinations.

Department of Tourism Region 10 director Catalino Chan III said the foreign media will be toured around Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Bukidnon and Iligan City.

Chan said they will cap their visit at Siargao Island where a game fishing festival will be held.

“Our No. 1 market is Korea,” he said, adding that almost 28% of the total number of tourists who come to Northern Mindanao are Koreans.

ism industry of the region.

In Camiguin, weekly flights have been increased from two to five, new restaurants and bars have sprouted, and there are more hotel rooms.

All this would be in time for the Lanzones Festival on the island next month.

Chan said the lanzones harvest this year is very good.

“We have already issued a travel advisory for the festival which this year will feature more activities,” he said.

The Department of Public Works and HighwaysDepartment of Tourism Convergence has identified a cross-country road and another road to a waterfalls Plans are afoot for char- in Misamis Oriental. to be developed in the isChan has noted recent land province. ter flights from Korea to the Laguindingan Airport developments in the tourChan said a bike lane

Nur disowns MNLF field commander’s action to attack Zambo City

By Teofilo Garcia Jr. of PNA

ZAMBOANGA City–– Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding leader Nur Misuari has disowned the actions of one of his trusted field commanders who is leading the “Misuari-faction” in a standoff since Monday in this city.

This was disclosed Thursday by Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, who said she and Misuari talked over the phone Wednesday night, “hoping that it would pave the way for the peaceful end of this crisis.”

“What is of interest is that, Misuari disowned the actions of Habier Malik, the leader of the hostage-takers with whom I communicated separately,” Salazar said.

The mayor said he was informed

by Misuari that the latter is giving his leaders a free hand “on the matter” that is for the peaceful end of the crisis.

“I expressed my openness to continue communication with Misuari as well as Malik to find peaceful resolution of this conflict,” Salazar added.

Malik is a Sulu-based MNLF commander and one of the trusted and loyal field leaders of Misuari.

The group of Malik is still holed up in the barangays of Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina east of this city and holding hostage more than 100 people including a priest.

Salazar said that she also conducted a dialogue with the Ulamas and religious sectors “who are helping us in this concern.”

will be started in one municipality which will eventually encircle the island when finished.

“These are good signs for tourism development,” he said.

For Misamis Oriental, Chan said they will be working with the provincial government in making a master plan to evaluate potential sites for development.

He said they will make each town a niche market and that development would be from 10 to 12 years so that tourist attractions would be continuous in enticing visitors to return.

The province has potentials for eco-tourism and agri-tourism.

In Bukidnon, the tourism department is develop-

ing a homestay program to augment accommodations because there is a lack of hotel rooms.

“The more they stay, the more they spend,” Chan said of tourists.

A Tourism Framework Plan of the regional office will bring out the “pasalubong” items for each province and city.

Locally, Chan said they are embarking on an annual media trip for Cagayan de Oro journalists to visit other regions in the country as well as promote Northern Mindanao in those regions.

He said a group is scheduled to go to Iloilo in November.

There is a direct flight from Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo City and the two cities are serviced by a regular boat trip.

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Caraga News

friday | september 13, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

AGUSAN DEL NORTE l AGUSAN DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL NORTE

DAR-13 breaks 2013 target as it employs new op’n tool

B

By PAT SAMONTE, Regional Editor

UTUAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform in Caraga announced that it had surpassed its land distribution projection for 2013 as early as August, 2013.

DAR-Caraga Regional Director Faisar Mambuay said his office had turned over to farmerbeneficiaries last month 109 percent of its 9,588 hectares target this year despite the department’s rationalization efforts.

Mambuay made the announcement at the opening and walk-through workshop of a new Land Te nu re Improvement (LTI) operation tool on Tuesday (September 10) which he described “to give more efficiency and effectiveness in LTI datagathering.”

While there will be inconveniences in adjusting to the new operation tool, he assured that “it is designed and developed towards better purposes and results.”

“The customized wetbased application will hasten the delivery of output and treat discrepancies of data in all levels,” he added.

DAR’s land tenure improvement is in tasked with the distribution of lands to landless and qualified farmers. (WITH REPORT BY JOIE CEBALLOS)

PIA bits

11 women die daily BUTUAN CITY - OIC Regional Director Alex Makinano of POPCOM-Caraga bared that there are 11 women dying everyday in the country due to pregnancy-related causes. “That’s why we have to intensify informed choice and volunteerism among couples especially the women in the choice between artificial and natural family planning,” he said.

Assistance to PPP grads readied BUTUAN CITY - DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program financial support will help PantawidPamilya beneficiaries who will be graduating from the Program next year to have another source of livelihood so that education, good health and nutritional condition of children are ensured.

Rebels burn equipment SURIGAO DEL SUR - Two payloaders and a dump truck owned by CBBI Contractor were reportedly burned by 30 fully-armed men in Sitio Sta Cruz, San Miguel, Surigaodel Sur, Monday morning. Report said the contractor has refused to pay the revolutionary tax. Hot pursuit operation is on-going by the Philippine Army.

Bonok-bonok eyed as world-class event SURIGAO CITY - During the opening of 29th Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival,, Vice Gov. Arturo Carlos Egay Jr. expressed high hopes that the activity will become a world-class event as it shows the Surigaonon performance at its best.

ORIENTATION ON NEW LAND TENURE IMPROVEMENT OPERATION TOOL. DAR-13 Regional Director Faisar Mambuay (at the rostrum) addresses personnel during the opening and workshop of the new Land Tenure Improvement operation tool which he expects to give more efficiency and effectiveness in DAR’s data-gathering work. He announced that Caraga’s 2013 land distribution target had been surpassed last August, 2013.

(Photo by Joie Ceballos)

NPAs abandon firearms during fight in Surigao By 1LT JOE PATRICK A. MARTINEZ

BUTUAN CITY --- Twenty NPAs withdrew after a 50-minute fire fight with troops of 30th Infantry Battalion at Brgy Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte, afternoon of September 11, this year.

Said encounter took place while the military was conducting a combat operation in the.

“Before we proceeded to the said area, deliberate planning was done that’s why we succeeded in locating the rebels," said the team leader of the operating troops.

Recovered from the place were an AK 47 rifle, a M16 rifle, two rifle grenades, ten BA30 dry cell batteries with wires used for

detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two back packs with personal belongings, a medical kit, a stethoscope and subversive documents.

Tracks of bloods were found in the area. Civilians said they found the NPAs carrying their wounded comrades as they fled toabandon | page 9

‘Extortionist’ entrapped by authorities

By PO2 Meldy G. Villegas

CAMP RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – On complaint of Esperanza Municipal Councilor Rita S Jaype, a certain Boy Amado Manpinsahan, 21 years old, of Brgy. Mahagsay, San Luis town was caught by the police.

Councilor Jaype, who owns a rice mill, accused Manpinsahan of extorting money from her, while claiming as member of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The suspect was nabbed in an entrapment operation conducted by elements of Esperanza Municipal Police Station, led by SPO1 Valentino Rufano and 26IB, Alpha Coy, PA led by Corporal Julius U. Perol, with Corporal Jimmy Sonot.

The operation was conducted right at the said rice mill in Purok 3, Brgy Crossing Luna, Esperanza, where the Php12,000 extortion money was taken from the suspect’s possession.

Meanwhile, on September 7, three other alleged extortion victims of Manpinsahan came out to authorities.

They were Japeth O. Gilsano, Samuel C. Ongkoy and Elizabeth B. Caubat, all of Brgy Crossing Luna, Esperanza.

Cases of robbery with Intimidation were filed against the suspect at the prosecutor’s office of Bayugan City.

Subject person is now under the custody of Esperanza MPS and soon to be remanded to he provincial jail. (MGV/MMG/asf )

POPCOM-13 calls on the public to care for Mt. Mayapay

By JENNIFER P. GAITANO

BUTUAN CITY – As the Commission on Population (POPCOM) Caraga continues to promote and intensify information, education, and communication on Responsible Parenting, Family Planning, and Adolescent Health and Youth Development in the communities, the commission is also calling on the general public to take responsibility in the protection and preservation of the Mount Mayapay, the world’s heritage.

In his interview over Power FM, Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) radio station in Butuan City, OIC Regional Director Alex Makinano bared that as the population is increasing, the resources – fiscal and manmade are also decreasing.

“The Commission on Population is also engaging programs for climate change, environment, and for Mount Mayapay. We have to be responsible

enough. Trees are being cut in the mountains for building houses and other purposes, and some are just passive, not thinking of the risks that might affect people in the communities,” Makinano said.

Makinano also said that in partnership with PIA, Samahang Magdalo and other sectors, we can be able to influence people

in the grassroots to also join us in this move for a common cause. “Everybody is directly accountable of what is happening in our environment right now,” he added.

POPCOM-Caraga continues to advocate for the protection and preservation of Mt. Mayapay along with their programs. (JPG/ PIA-Caraga)

friday | september 13, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA Email: mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

NorthMin

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CSC, DILG hold forum for elective officials in Misamis Occidental

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By RUTCHIE CABAHUG - AGUHOD

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental -- To raise the level of client satisfaction, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently conducted, here, a Local Executive Forum for elective local officials in Misamis Occidental.

Held in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the forum was aimed at threshing out issues on personnel administration, which are affecting the effectiveness of the government services delivery to the public.

With some 55 officials from Misamis Occidental’s three cities and 14 municipalities in attendance, the

forum served as venue for clarifying some gray areas in law and rules of personnel administration for uniform interpretation, Director Wulfeda G. Tapulgo, CSC Field Officer of Misamis Occidental, said.

Meanwhile, the discussions during the two-day forum included Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions affecting Civil Service matters, as well as the following topics: Current reforms in the LGU and its impact on the constituency and Law and Jurisprudence on reorganization, reclassification and upgrading of positions by Atty. Rene K. Burdeos, Regional Director, DILG, and Atty. Lourdes

Clavite-Vidal, RD, CSC, region 10, respectively.

Also discussed were: Personnel Actions, reassignment, detail, transfer, designation, dropping from the rolls by Atty. Allan R. Alameda and Disciplinary and non-disciplinary cases, jurisdiction, due process, preventive suspension, duration and effects of administrative penalties by Atty.

Cosette Maglasang-Mundo, both of the CSC Legal Services Division (LSD), and limitations, effectivity, approval/ disapproval, prohibitions and protests on appointments which was handled by Director Tapulgo. (RCAguhob/ PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

The first run of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards in 1999 honored Dr. Warlito A. Laquihon with the Ramon Aboitiz Awardee for Exemplary Individual. He pioneered several programs and projects serving countless lives, especially Filipino farmers, by sharing useful and practical knowledge on farming systems and methods. He also shared his faith in Christ and ministered to the needs of the poorest of his fellow Filipinos in the uplands. In photo, Warlito Laquihon poses in front of a tribute painting done by known Davao artist and hotelier Josie Tionko. RAFI is also calling for nominations this year, please check their website at www.rafi.org.ph. (RAFI)

Lanao Norte 613 TESDA graduates in Lanao Sur land jobs hajj pilgrims depa for KSA

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN

Tubod, Lanao del Norte – 404 Muslim pilgrims from Lanao del Norte arrived last September 11, 2013Manila, for their flight to Saudi Arabia to fulfill one of Islam’s five pillars – the Hajj (pilgrimage).

This fast-rising province has been organizing pilgrimage to Mecca and sending its contingent regularly since it started implementing its hajj program last 2002.

The Lanao del Norte hajj contingent is divided into 11 groups with each group lead by a Sheik (Muslim leader).

The first batch of pilgrims will depart for Mecca on September 15, while the second batch will travel on September 20, 2013.

“We are ver y much thankful to Governor (Khalid) Dimaporo for helping us with our pilgrimage. The Hajj program of the province really made this trip easier for us so we can focus more

on fulfilling our religious duties”, expressed Monique Dimapunong of Pantar town.

The annual Hajj is the largest pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

“Governor Khalid Dimaporo gives equal support to the two biggest ethic and religious groups in the province – the Maranaos (Muslims) and the Christians. For the Christian constituents, every month of January Governor Dimaporo is sending a delegation to the biggest fiesta celebration in the country – the Sinulog. The Hajj program is intended for our Muslim residents”, Information Officer Lyndon Calica explained.

Under Lanao del Norte’s Hajj program, pilgrims receive assistance in securing

their passport and other required travel documents.

Enrolled pilgrims are also reserved airline seats for their international flight.

As part of the program, the provincial LGU also help facilitate for the transportation needs of the pilgrims from Lanao del Norte to Manila as well as book their hotel accommodations while waiting for their scheduled departure.

The hajj program is implemented by the Lanao del Norte LGU through its Provincial Community Affairs Office (PCAO).

A number of residents from nearby Lanao del Sur are also availing of this program initiated by the provincial government.

This year’s batch of pilgrims received their required vaccination on August 26, 2013 at Crystal Inn, Brgy. San Miguel, Iligan City. (VNL/ PIO-LDN)

MARAWI CIT Y, Lanao del Sur -- Six hundred thirteen (613) graduates of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) scholarship programs under t he Transit ion Investment Support Plan (TISP) for Autonomous Region i n Mu s l i m M i n d a n a o (ARMM) landed jobs after graduation.

Tesda Provincial Director Tarhata Mapandi announced this during the Provincial Stakeholders’ Meeting on the implementation of TISP-funded programs and projects held on September 8, here.

She said Tesda-accredited institutions handling the scholarship programs reported that 91 graduates of the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (Pesfa), 131 Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) graduates and 391 graduates of Ulama and Youth Program are now employed.

Pesfa, T WSP, Ulama

division chief explained the rationale, scope and criteria of Bagwis Awards including the process to secure recognition, the type of businesses that would qualify for incentives that the city will provide through an ordinance

from the city council.

Aside from the awardees of Bagwis Seal of Excellence, included in the briefing were representatives from Crown Paper & Stationer, Cuadro Ocho, Inc. Davao City Hardware, De Oro Pacific Home Plus, Desmark C orporation, Felisa Furniture Mar t, Full-line Store (Trendline), Iligan Galaxy Xpress Mart, JBC Shoppers Plaza, JVC Super Mart, Krisland Commercial Corporation, Mindanao Solidmark Corporation, Nema Electrical & Industrial Sales, Inc. and Quality Appliance Plaza./eal. (http://www. iligan.gov.ph/)

DTI’s Bagwis Awards back in Iligan

ILIGAN CITY – The Bagwis Awards returned in the Iligan Business Industry with renewed strength.

Bagwis Awards is one of the flagship programs of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that started in 2006 that give a seal of excellence to five (5) establishments in Iligan.

In 2007, eight (8) firms got the award. In 2008, nine (9) establishments got the seal of excellence.

But in 2009, the awardees went down to six (6) and finally to two (2) the following year.

Ruel B. Paclipan, DTI provincial director for La-

nao del Norte conducted a Bagwis Awards briefing with City Councilor Freddie Siao as invited guest held at the conference room of DTI on August 29.

The Consumer Welfare Division headed by Engr.

Elvira G. Redoblado, DTI

and Youth are the three components of the scholarship programs funded by the TISP and implemented by Tesda-ARMM. The TISP was provided in by the national government to the ARMM to improve t he s o cioeconomic conditions in the region.

According to Mapandi, 1,619 scholarship slots were allo cated for the province, 355 of which were s et aside for t he Pesfa, 249 for TWSP, and 1,015 for Ulama and Youth program.

The implementation of the training is already completed and 99.57 percent of the allocation or 1,612 slots were utilized

except for the seven slots on Food and Beverages S er vices which has no takers, she said.

Mapandi further said that 1,311 scholars have graduated from the three scholarship programs with 809 assessed and 463 certified as of September 3.

The number of graduates as well as the number of candidates assessed and certified is expected to increase once we get the reports of the remaining four techvoc institutions in the province, she added.

The TISP was provided in by the national government to the ARMM to improve t he s o cioeconomic conditions in the region. (APB/PIA-10)

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Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE, Email: amediante@yahoo.com

Opinion

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Can we have a new Philippines?

In the encyclopedia of nations, poor is made worse by a lack the following are very clear. of housing, clean water and Rural areas mostly remained electricity, especially in the underdeveloped, thereby leav- urban areas. ing most of the peasant com- President Noynoy Aquino munities to subsist on a hand- has stated he wants to end to-mouth existence. Meanwhile corruption and solve our cripurban areas, especially Metro pling poverty. Yet what must be Manila, cornered major in- done? I say stop oligarchy, a frastructure and huge impediment to social projects, Guest Editorial the progress of the thereby attracting country, and bring most of the investments and back the billions of plundered jobs in the manufacturing and dollars stashed abroad. Remove industrial sectors. thievery and plunder in govern Among the poorest Filipi- ment officials and cronies. nos, most family income is Arrest the crooks, smugderived from entrepreneurial glers and tax cheats. Develop activities such as selling food infrastructure, fund education, on street corners or collect- and create employment. The ing recyclable materials to agricultural and fisheries secsell at the junkyards. Most of tors must be revitalized to halt the poor are lowland landless the migration of poor farmers agricultural workers, lowland to urban areas. small farm owners and cultiva- There needs to be a serious tors, industrial wage laborers, reconsideration of a political hawkers, micro-entrepreneurs, culture that serves itself, not and scavengers. Due to inad- the tens of millions toiling in equate access to community poverty. We need to combat health centers, members of financial greed, opportunism, poor households are not able to and the corruption, scam, plunmaximize health services ben- der, and thievery of politicians. efits, such as family planning, “Occupy Manila” and all cities in resulting in larger families with the Philippines for the economic malnourished and uneducated recovery and moral reformation children. The condition of the of our nation. We must encour-

age the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants. Can this be done?

Do our countrymen have what it takes to make the necessary sacrifices to build a real future for our homeland? Or are we willing to accept the status quo and watch future generations suffer through the unacceptable conditions that haunt the Philippines today? Are we not concerned of global recession that will sweep across the globe?

Well, we have seen the unthinkable happen during the spring revolutions in Northern Africa, resulting in significant political upheaval in brutal dictatorships. We are witnessing different kinds of revolutions at different stages in nations like the United States, Libya, Greece, Egypt and today in Syria.. The world is changing, and it is time our country and countrymen change with it. I say we can seek true and everlasting reform, that we occupy our cities in a nonviolent manner and demand true, dramatic economic and political changes. Can we have a new Philippines begin today?

(Dr. Cesar D. Candari, MD, FCAP Emeritus Henderson, Nevada

Be discerning and circumspect Senator Jinggoy Estrada was right in his protestation but the rationalization of his protest that he and the rest of the senators linked to the alleged Janet Lim Napoles P10 billion pork barrel fund scam had already been convicted in the bar of public opinion.

In the bar of public opinion, Estrada should be reminded, discernment and circumspection are what the people need to render a guilty or not guilty verdict against any public official, elected or appointed, for imputed wrongdoings.

Unlike in the bar of justice where conviction should be anchored on the legal phrase “beyond reasonable doubt,” in the bar of public opinion no such stringent requirement is needed. This is meant so that officials become more discerning and circumspect also in their actuations while in office.

But this expectation is more pronounced among elective officials because periodically they have to face the final verdict of the people through the ballot. It is in the ballot that the people formalize their guilty or not guilty verdict against any elective official whether they have lived up to their expectation of how they ought to comport themselves while in office.

The call for elective officials to be beyond suspicion like Caesar’s wife find meaning in this concept where elective officials are always subjected to trial in the bar of public opinion as they discharge their sworn task.

This is the thing that elective officials such as Estrada miserably failed to comprehend. And because of

A deeper view Jesse E.L. Bacon II that failure he is now protesting that he and others had already been convicted in the bar of public opinion with regard their alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam attributed to Napoles.

If elective officials are allergic to being easily convicted in the bar of public opinion, then they should at all time exercise prudence in every action they make.

And by simply crying out that he, Estrada, had been convicted in the bar of public opinion even before he could be found guilty by a competent court after a fair trial is a misplaced one.

The bar of public opinion always comes out with their verdict ahead of the regular court. This is the compelling reason why elective officials are expected to be always on their toes, always on the guard of committing any wrongdoing because trial in the bar of public opinion bacon | page 7

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Opinion

DR. DJUWARI STIE Perbanas (College of Economics and Business) Surabaya, Indonesia government officials. They tweets some statements dealing with bad conducts committed by the present and the previous political elites. In other words, they have become the whistle blowers. So, the existence of tweeter in Indonesia really makes the elite politicians hearts beat every moment.

All the above information as transmitted by the tweeters can be dangerous for the nations who are not ready yet with the technology development. It was predicted by Alvin Toffler in 1970 that there would be three civilizations. First is agricultural era (it was long time ago). Second, industrial era (it was, and is prevailing now for some nations). Third is information era (the existing era).

Today, it appears to be the third era that is the era of information. This is

indicated by the advancement of technology and its innovation. If this global era with sophisticated technology and information system is not accompanied by the development of human beings’ way of thinking, this will lead to chaos.

Education for the nation concerning political, social, and cultural aspects is required. Otherwise, there will be chaos or riots anywhere in a nation due to the unpreparedness for handling the technological advancement.

Technology and education system should be hand and hand in terms of tackling the effects of the information.

Through tweeters, people can become the whistle blowers. They might communicate the irrelevant and impossible facts as they can.

However, when this is not accompanied by the best way of education on political, social, and cultural aspects, any nation will collapse. It is therefore imperative for the government and national education department to try hard to redesign the system of education. This system of education can be implanted in the curriculum of any school throughout the country.

Fortunately, in Indonesia there has been great effort.

The Minister of Education, with the new curriculum 2013, designs a curriculum in which one of the materi-

als being designed is related to mass media technology.

This curriculum provides the materials or subject dealing with understanding many kinds of information to the schools.

Some information can be from mass media while others can be from social networks. This subject is intended to provide students (pupils) with knowledge about information, facts, and evidence. This is great effort because, nowadays, the people around the country inevitably get in touch with technology, media, and social network like tweeter.

Political education needs a grand design. This grand design should be implanted in the national education system. They should educate their nation with knowledge about the impact of bad news, irrelevant information which can lead them into chaos. It is imperative for all countries to equip their people with knowledge to cope with unexpected impacts of technology development. Tweeter has been proved to be significant for changing the people’s mind throughout the country. It also has bad impact.

DR. DjUWARI is Chair of International Accreditation of Academic Journal (IAAJ) for ASEAN region, director of language Laboratory at STIE Perbanas Surabaya, Indonesia.

A DAVAOENA FOR PRES NOYNOY? (This is a syndicated article by the author who is PresidentChairman of the Philippine Press Institute and released

by Advocacy MindaNow Foundation, Inc.) DAVAO CITY -- Ok folks, enough of the Napoles story for the moment !!

My radar had been picking up for sometime now some not-so-audible signals, about our bachelor PRESIDENT NOYNOY being, yet again, reportedly charmed. And lately by a pretty Davaoena lawyer working at the DILG in Manila. It was being whispered in hushed tones for a while among closest circles. Until I saw it on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol and read a boxed article at the PHILIPPINE STAR a few days ago with a photo to spice it up. To be honest with you folks, it was only when the “tsismis” broke into the news that it caught my fancy.

Well, there’s only one lady lawyer from Davao I know at DILG who fits the description. Her name is MARINESS LEDESMA. Friends call her ‘KIM”. For those of you who have not seen this pretty Davaoena in person, that published picture flashed on TV and in the STAR, in my book, is definitely heading to the trash box. This is one case where we can use that oftrepeated line:” the photo does not do justice to the

subject”. Evidently, that was a photo grab from a file video taken four years ago when the lady participated in a debate ran by ANC called CVC DEBATES in 2009. By the way, the Davao Ateneo Law team trounced the more touted Ateneo de Manila and the University of the Philippines debaters in those encounters. (Oooops sorry for bragging! I just can’t resist it!)

I recall an earlier chat featuring presidential sis Ms. BALSY on TV giving some early hints about brother President NOYNOY “looking inspired” by someone lately. Could she be referring to this same lady?

I dunno!

Anyway, I’m now on a freewheeling chit-chat (call it “tsismis” if you wish) for a refreshing change from those other serious and sordid topics like surrenders, peace negotiations, and PDAF, and who-is-thatlady-again Ma’am Janet, etcetera.

Definitely I don’t have the permission of KIM herself and her family. So my apologies foremost to her father, my brother in the TAU MU Law school fraternity, NESTOR “Butch” LEDESMA in intruding

northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

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Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE, Email: amediante@yahoo.com

Tweeter and Political Education

The existence of social network in internet has affected the people and communication in any nation. Tweeter is one of the social networks whose great impact on the nations’ way of life. The domain which is most often affected is political domain. It has been noted that Egypt reform was allegedly due to tweeter communication that is somewhat-words-ofmouth communication. It was mobilized by the tweeter around the country.

The political tense in any nation can be also triggered by this social network. There are some unidentified tweeters in the internet. These tweeters are tweeting some information dealing with something politically sensitive. They can also tweet some chats dealing with social condition. Even something that is very confidential.

For example, in Indonesia, there have been some tweeters with their unidentified names (nicknames).

They talk about political situation. They always expose the confidential information such as about the towering figures’ bad attitudes. Some talk about the corruption and the corruptors with the amount of money and the “projects” being corrupted.

Other tweeters also expose the old corruption practice by the former

Mindanao Daily NEWS

Advocacy Mindanao Jess Dureza into their personal and private lives by writing briefly about them. But I’ll take my chance. Butch, by the way, was former Davao City Administrator during the mayor ship of another frat brod, LAWYER BEN DE GUZMAN. When I saw Butch on TV Patrol a few nights ago where he was briefly interviewed about the rumor, my instincts prompted me to text him : “ I saw you on TV brod. Can I kol ? Maki “tsismis”. hehe”. His instant and curt reply: “Sorry brod. No comment”. After the story broke on TV with a video clip showing Butch with lovely wife on his side giving a run-around answer, not knowing whether to answer or not the TV reporter’s question about the rumor, obviously Butch could not stand further scrutiny on something he said he does not know anything about --at that moment, at least.

Or intruding into the personal affairs of daughter KIM. By now, I am sure he regretted even allowing

the TV reporter to take that footage because the story will have a life of its own and that footage will keep coming back. Expect other TV channels to do their own chase.

I’ve been in this media business too long to anticipate that KIM, her family and friends, will be stalked, ambushed, trailed and hounded by reporters to get “human interest” angles. For sure we have an already scandal-tired public. A romance story, especially of a bachelor and very eligible head of state will surely eclipse all blaring headlines and again catch the fascination of everyone.

So I suspect BUTCH had been advised by a close friend (was that you, Mayor Ben?) to cool it for a while and elude the media. I can only guess, but KIM must have protested this undue intrusion into her otherwise quiet and simple life. She is the “prim and proper type of a girl”, I was told.

Whether these rumors are See dureza, page 9

Biblical reflection Bro. Edcel L. Closas

Eternal life Special Gospel of the day: John17:20-26(September13, 2013-Friday) John 17:20-26-Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: Jesus Christ prayed for the “unity of the people” because this is the “original plan of God” that after this life, we will live in “eternal life.” 1 Timothy 2:4-Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Luke 5:32-I came not to call the righteous, but “sinners to repentance.” It is very clear that the “mission of Jesus” here on earth when he was born like us was “to find the lost sheep.” In our gospel for today, Jesus asked the Father to “gather His people” in order to save them from evils. In Mathew 6:9-12-Jesus taught us the prayer which is our father and in that prayer, it is emphasized that we must “be protected from evil spirits who are our enemies.”

Ephesians 6:12-For we wrestle “not against flesh and blood,” but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against “spiritual wickedness” in high [places].Take note, devils desire “to divide and separate us from the presence of God” because He wants all of us will be “lost in eternal fire.” The truth is, Jesus wants us “to be united to our Almighty Father” by cooperating to His will.

Philippians 2:12-Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, “work out your own salvation” with fear and trembling. What have you done for your salvation? There are many times that “we neglect the ultimate plans of God” for our salvation because we “never mind of our individual soul.”SPONSORED:Neneth - Bobong Balino- Dr. Edith, PhDTony Jordan - CDO. St. Peter Calungsod, pray for us! Listen: Radio Ultra AM-1188-3:00 PM - Sunday: #0928414949009266607505: Question – Prayer request

Bacon... from page 6

happens every time they are exposed of having committed any shenanigan such as being linked to then Napoles scam.

The son of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile became a casualty of the shenanigans attributed to his father such as the misuse of Senate funds to favor his allies. The son lost in his senatorial bid in the last midterm elections because the father had already been found guilty in the bar of public opinion.

To recall, the Enrile son was in the winning circle in pre-election surveys only to slide down to the non-winning circle when the people made their verdict in the bar of public opinion against his senatorial bid because of the wrongs attributed to his father.

The bar of public opinion is what is making officials most specifically the elected ones to be on the guard because they know it is fatal to their political cause once convicted by the people in that bar. If the bar of public opinion is not that strong, would President Aquino have bent backward by agreeing to the popular clamor for the abolition of the pork barrel fund?

This move of Aquino is very critical in the sense that the legislators are not happy or do not welcome their being deprived of their pork barrel fund that undeniably they have used to the hilt in keeping their relevance to their constituents afloat. It should be understood that

while Aquino needs the support of Congress in pushing for his legislative agenda, his position that is aligned with what the people, his bosses, want is crucial in harnessing the legislators support.

If only for this reason, let us give Aquino our all out support in his move to finally abolish the pork barrel fund. Evil forces will surely pressure him into acceding that this fund should not in reality be abolished. But if the bar of public opinion is overwhelmingly strong supporting Aquino in his laudable move, in all likelihood he will succeed in taming the evil called pork barrel fund.

But the key here is the peoples’ all out support. What is alarmingly surfacing now is the attempt to muddle the whole thing to prevent Aquino from succeeding in his objective of finally writing finis to the pork barrel fund.

We all know that the forces who do not welcome this move will not take this sitting down. They will retaliate as they have now retaliated by even linking the Zamboanga City siege undertaken by the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front as a ploy to divert the people’s attention from the pork barrel fund scam.

Here the people should be more discerning and circumspect as they read all the confusing propaganda aimed at confusing them. Hinaut pa!

(Reactions at jelbacon@ yahoo.com or at jelbaconii@ gmail.com. Read me also at www.raconteurme.blogspot. com)

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8 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

WestMin News

friday | september 13, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

ZAMBOANGA l SULU l PAGADIAN l DIPOLOG l SIPIL l COTABATO l GENSAN l KORONADAL

Nat’l gov’t allots P137M for electrification in remote SouthCot communities

G

By MindaNews

ENERAL SANTOS CITY – The national government has allocated an additional P137 million for the electrification of more remote communities in South Cotabato province within the next four months.

Santiago Tudio, South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I) general manager, said Wednesday the funds were specifically set aside for the installation of additional distribution lines and related structures that will facilitate the connection of 137 sitios to the province’s main power grid.

He said the National Electrification Administration (NEA) recently gave its go-signal to the cooperative to start with the implementation of the projects through the national government’s Sitio Electrif ication Program (SEP).

The agency initially allotted P127 million for the SEP’s implementation in 127 sitios in the province but later approved another P10 million to cover 10 more areas, he said.

“Each project has a budget of P1 million and the implementation phase was set from September to December,” he

said in a media forum.

Tudio said the identified projects areas are located within Koronadal City and in seven other municipalities of South Cotabato, which comprise Socoteco I’s service or franchise area.

But he said most of the projects will be implemented in the province’s upper valley area, specifically in the upland areas of T’boli and Lake Sebu towns.

The national government had tapped local electric cooperatives as the main implementers of SEP, with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NEA as supervising agencies.

The DOE and NEA initially targeted the energization of 6,000 sitios this year but has increased it to 10,000 on instructions from President Benigno S. Aquino III. The President earlier committed a total funding of P33 billion for the program, which

GPH, MILF assure Zambo standoff won’t derail peace talks; condemn Misuari

will be implemented until 2015.

Meantime, Tudio said they are targeting to start the implementation before the end of the year of the proposed P99 million electrification program for Barangay Ned of Lake Sebu.

He said they are presently waiting for the final approval

by Malacañang of the project’s funding and implementation.

Tudio said South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez endorsed the project to the Office of the President last month after the NEA turned down its inclusion into the SEP. “Barangay Ned did not qualify for the SEP since its budget

ceiling is only P1 million per sitio,” he said.

Ned, which is the remotest and biggest barangay of Lake Sebu, has a total of 44 sitios and around 4,000 households.

The area, which hosts several coal mining projects and agribusiness plantation areas, is located near the tri-boundaries of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces.

“Ned is a special case because while it only has 44 sitios, it is largely inaccessible and quite far from our transmission lines. So the funding requirement for its electrification is much higher also,” Tudio added.

Philippines:

Aid for thousands hit by violence in Zamboanga The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned for civilians affected by the outbreak of armed violence in the city of Zamboanga on Mindanao Island.

Together with the Philippine Red Cross, the ICRC is ensuring vital aid reaches evacuation centres where thousands of displaced people are sheltering.

“We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Zamboanga. Fighting is taking place in an area of the city where many civilians may still be living," said Pascal Mauchle, head of the ICRC’s delegation in the Philippines. “Therefore, we call on those involved in the fighting to act with extreme caution to ensure civilian life and property are spared at all times.”

The ICRC is working with the Philippine Red Cross to respond to the needs of those displaced by the fighting, which according to sources exceeds 10,000 people. Parcels containing enough food for 27,000 daily rations were provided to the local Red Cross branch in Zamboanga yesterday. These will be used to feed people sheltering in evacuation centres aid | page 9

DSWD says there are enough food, supplies for Zambo evacuees

By BONG S. SARMIENTO

KORONADAL CITY – The peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have assured the standoff in Zamboanga City would not stall the Mindanao peace process.

In a five-paragraph joint statement issued Tuesday night in Kuala Lumpur, both sides condemned the hostilities allegedly instigated by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Nur Misuari, the group’s founding chairman.

The government and the MILF resumed Tuesday peace negotiations, which would last for 10 days, to discuss the two remaining annexes on power sharing and normalization.

“The perpetrators must be stopped and held accountable for their acts,” the joint statement said.

The standoff in Zamboanga City, which came after MNLF members loyal to Misuari arrived in some coastal villages of the city reportedly for a “peace rally,” entered its third day Wednesday.

Clashes between the government and the MNLF members erupted early Monday, with the former reportedly holding several civilian hostages.

“Those behind the continued acts of violence in Mindanao do not want the current peace process between the government and the MILF to succeed. Their actions intend to derail the [peace] process using violence and disinformation to spread fear and chaos in Mindanao,” the joint statement said.

“The parties remain committed to pursuing the peace process to its just and rightful conclusion, in the belief that it is through partnership that institutions reflective of the true needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro and other peoples of Mindanao shall be installed,” it added.

The joint statement also said “the government will abide by its past commitments. The MILF, for its part,

encourages their Moro brothers and sisters in the MNLF to work together so that the Moro struggle will benefit all. Both government and the MILF agree to ensure the continuity of the peace option so that the peoples of Mindanao can live in unity and prosperity.”

In her opening statement, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer admitted there are groups and leaders who are waiting for the peace process to fail.

“Their leaders’ goal is to lead people back to the path of violence, using misinformation to justify the use of arms and attacks on civilians,” she said.

“Precisely for this reason, we cannot allow this process to fail.

We have to show to one and all that through reason and compassion, through dialogue and cooperation, we can create the process and the institutions that will enable one and all, exercising their free will but refraining from the use of all forms of violence, to rebuild their societies and polities,” Ferrer said.

“By succeeding, we are able to take away the fodder that feeds the fire. We can then focus on the issues, not on the personalities; on the collective grievances, not on the personal vendettas; on the people and the future, over and above tribal and organizational interests and the convoluted past,” she added.

Ferrer said the MNLF elements that occupied some coastal villages in Zamboanga were under Misuari and Ustadz Khabir Malik.

Reports reaching the government peace panel said that nine persons were killed—two from government forces, five from the MNLF and two civilians—and at least 14 others wounded due to the standoff as of 10 a.m. Monday.

Ferrer assured that the government will continue to painstakingly assure | page 9

By DOMINIC I. SANCHEZ

ZAMBOANGA CITY - As the skirmishes here between the Moro National Liberation Front and Government forces continue and more people are fleeing their homes for evacuation centers established in different points in the city, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman has assured that relief food and supplies are sufficient, and that “more are on their way to Zamboanga City.”

“Five thousand family packs are on their way from Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Davao DSWD field offices, as well as big tents,” Secretary Soliman told the media in a press briefing held at City Hall at 1:00 p.m. today.

In addition, Secretary Soliman said that there are incoming mats, water jugs, portalets and other goods amounting to P27 million, courtesy of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The United Nations’ World Food Program and other non-government agencies will also provide food supplements for the lactating mothers in the evacuation centers and additional tents.

“We have adequate resources to cater to the needs of the evacuees.

In addition to external resources, the people of Zamboanga who are not affected with the conflict are continuously sharing their resources for the displaced persons, including the business community, the restaurants and private individuals,” Secretary Soliman said.

Aside from the food and other supplies, students from local schools and universities including the Western Mindanao

State University (WMSU), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) and others have volunteered to serve the evacuees by repacking the goods and other means.

Latest statistics reveals that a total of 14,269 individuals or 2,990 families have moved to the evacuation centers and 8,358 individuals are now at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.

As of this writing (3:00p. mm), government forces are pursuing the fleeing armed MNLF members.

Radio reports revealed that

the exchange of gunfire has reached the city proper, particularly in Barangay Canelar. Residents are very much alarmed and panicked over the situation since the shootings have been persistent for three consecutive days now.

Meanwhile, Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas reiterated that the government is on top of the situation.

He said that the Armed Forces are maintaining a non-aggressive, more defensive strategy in dealing with the situation. (PIA9)

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abide by its past commitments, urging the MNLF, which signed a final peace agreement (FPA) with the government on Sept.

2, 1996, to “take this path with us.”

“This is the only way that this process can find continuity –– continuity through this other, complementary, parallel but also converging

process so that the gaps are addressed, the issues and their resolutions become conjoined, and the Bangsamoro can live more happily than ever before after having been inflicted with decades of man-made disasters known as war or armed conflict,” she said.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, also issued a strongly-worded opening statement on Tuesday’s resumption of the governmentMILF peace talks against the Misuari-led MNLF. “This is an unfortunate twist of development, because first, this is totally contrary to the official pronouncement of MNLF spokesmen that they will not use force to back up their declaration of independence; and second, violence only begets violence.

I don’t think this would help the MNLF any way closer to

their objective of whatever level or form of their aspiration,” he said.

Iqbal said now is the time for all concerned parties to handle the issues of MNLF and Misuari in the most appropriate manner.

“It is not getting simpler as days go by. The declaration of independence and the indiscriminate planting of MNLF flags in many parts of Mindanao, including the attempt to raise the flag at the City Hall of Zamboanga City, are more than symbolic. I do not want to imagine it, but one clear complication, nay a casualty, is that the MNLF or at least Misuari has rendered the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement (GRP-MNLF FPA) of 1996 moot and academic,” Iqbal said.

For all intents and purposes, by the very acts of declaring

Abandon...

leaders "to help us bring our misguided countrymen back to their normal lives."

He added, "the recent clash tells us that violence is not the solution to these problems. In fact, it is a lose-lose situation when we see another Filipino losing his life in this nonsense battle.”

He told to the commander

of the said NPA group, “if you really care for your men, bring your wounded comrades to the hospital for immediate medical attention before it’s too late."

He assured that the 4th Infantry Division is offering its medical facilities "for your men. This is how we should value the lives of every Filipino people in our country.”

He asked the Filipino people to recognize the acts of gallantry of the soldiers.

"They should be awarded for their heroism,” he stated.

(1LT Joe Patrick A. Martinez, commanding officer of 42nd CMO Company, 4CMOBn, 4ID, PA, and member of Mindanao Press Alliance for Sustainable Development/asf)

Dureza...

simply recalled: “When she was my student in law school, all I can remember is that “mahirap hanapan nang mali sa exam” . He even refused to confirm (again another tsismis) that an out-of-town official who appeared “bewitched” by her charm and beauty had been “stalking” her for sometime.

(I hope this disclosure should stop him!) But I am sure that is something KIM does not want to even talk about or even further mentioned here.

So let it be.

Right after taking her oath as lawyer, she joined the Court of Appeals in Cebu City and then moved to Manila at the DOTC then under Secretary MAR ROXAS. Later she transferred to the DILG. Evidently Secretary Mar noticed her outstanding work -- and charm?-- and brought her with him when he took over DILG. Perhaps (and here I am guessing), it was while closely assisting Secretary Mar that our bachelor President must have spotted her. (I say again, I am just guessing, but who knows?)

Okay , okay. I’ll stop here lest KIM and father Butch will consider cutting our TAU MU fraternal ties for my undue intrusion into the personal. I have said more than enough.

People may think I am “pro-

moting” my sorority sister. (But of course, who does not want having an instant presidential frat brod by affinity? Hahaha!

Wishful thinking.) But I do hope that after putting out in public a bit of those intimate information about KIM, that should now stop the snoopy and the prying media and everyone else to STOP on their tracks and respect her privacy.

Yes, I know how tempting it is, especially for our media colleagues to go into a mad scramble to squeeze dry this new storyline for public consumption. I am also tempted to do so, I confess. We are a tele-novela people. But we have seen how previous stories of presidential “interests” have been unduly milked to entertain a fascinated public.

We all have also seen how those previous reported romances transitioned into “history”.

Yes the president is a public figure. He is fair game. But what about the privacy of a private person like KIM? And after all of this dies down and while President Noynoy nonchalantly moves on to another presidential flirtation, she becomes part of the statistics. As what happened to those in past stories. I can exactly predict that after this flurry of stories about her, life

will never be the same for her again.

KIM is someone I was told would not relish this and does not deserve to be branded a “has been” of a presidential interest after the smoke clears.

Other celebrities may relish or benefit from this but definitely not her. So, let’s leave her alone please. And wait for the next and another presidential “romance” story to surface and again catch our fancy.

No doubt, in this frenetic times of bad stories and scandals, we badly need another one of those presidential dalliances to keep us entertained.

And yes, who knows, President NOYNOY may really be on a serious search by now for a life-time lady love. It’s about time, if you ask me. But that’s none of my doggone business some may say.

But for once, shall we all BACK OFF PLEASE and leave them BOTH alone, okay?

from page 8 set up by the local authorities.

The rations consist of basic food items, such as rice, oil, salt, sardines, soya sauce, sugar and coffee.

The ICRC also delivered kitchen utensils and 50 tarpaulins to provide basic shelter for displaced families.

In addition, the ICRC is supporting the temporary medical hospital that has been set up in Western Mindanao State University to care for the wounded and the sick.

As a preventive measure, the organization has furnished it with enough medical supplies to treat 50 weapon-wounded people and provide general care for approximately 1,000 patients.

The Philippine Red Cross has deployed two ambulances

from page 5 ward various directos.

Lt. Col. Vincent Iringan, commanding officer of 30th Infantry Battalion immediately ordered pursuit operation against the withdrawing NPAs even as he called on the NPA families, the church and commuynity

from page 7 not, I can predict her total discomfort -- if not subdued indignance --in being publicly mentioned this way.

Those who know KIM well told me she is someone whom one sits up and listens to when she makes a point on matters mundane or otherwise, has her own mind, brilliant and engaging but simple and demure in her own way.

The last time I saw her was at the airport several weeks ago with her father Butch on our way home to Davao. In fact, while we were collecting our checked-in luggage, I jokingly told Butch: “Why do you have such pretty daughter when you don’t look that good!.” . We had a good laugh together! Yes, KIM is a head turner.

Her former law professor (and my nephew) , ATTY. CEASAR “Jikjik” EUROPA for a while hesitated to even say something about his student KIM lest “awayin ako”. He finally revealed a few tidbits about her after my prodding but fearing that she would take offense on such disclosures.

She was a topnotch student and has a small circle of equally talented close lady friends, mostly her sisters in the TAU MU SORORITY. Atty. JIKJIK

and about 45 volunteers to assist the local population.

Besides setting up kitchens in the various evacuation centres, and distributing hot meals, the Red Cross branch in Zamboanga has installed a water bladder in the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex to ensure the provision of drinking water for the displaced.

Assure... from page 8

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’ A CIRCUIT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City

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Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’A CIRCUIT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City

IN RE: PETITION TO APPROVE AND REGISTER CIVIL CASE N02013-116 THE DIVORCE BET¬WEEN SPOUSES HILARION C. ELECIERTO AND ELM A D. DIDILES

IN RE: JOINT PETITION TO APPROVE AND REGISTER THE DIVORCE BETWEEN CIVIL CASE N02013-120 SPOUSES NILO R. OBINA AND MERYLIN L. RABOR-OBINA.

HILARION C. ELECIERTO and ELMA D. DIDELES. Petitioners. x---------------------------------------------------------------------/

NILO R. OBINA AND MERYLIN L. RABOR-OBINA. Petitioners, x---------------------------------------------------------------------/

ORDER

ORDER

Before this court is verified Joint Petition for the approval and Registration of the Divorce filed by the petitioners and alleging among others: That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under Civil rites on June II, 1967 at Dumangas, Iloilo, they converted to Islam faith, of which conversion to Islam were Registered with this court both of them can be served with summons and other legal processes relative to this case at Purok 8, Barangay Saray, Iligan City That said marriage did not last long, due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcilability and they separated for more than Forty (40) years already, since 1973, they decided to separately live physically in bed and board thereby executed Divorce Agreement in order to formalize their separation; Since their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other’s affairs.

Petitioners seek judicial decree of divorce thereby severing their marriage bond on June 11, 1967 so that they have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burden: Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all prove futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this joint petition to be sufficient Inform and substance set the initial hearing of this case on September 27, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place, any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in a news paper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan one week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED. Iligan City, Philippines this 6th of September, 2013.

Before this court is verified Joint Petition for the approval and Registration of the Divorce filed by the petitioners and alleging among others: That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under Civil rites on September 28, 2001 at Rupagan, Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, they converted to Islam faith, of which conversions to Islam were Registered with this court, both of them can be served with summons and other legal processes relative to this case at Bacayo, Iligan City and Zone Taurus, Suarez, Iligan City, respectively; That said marriage did not last long due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcilability and they separated for more than eleven (11) years already, since April 2, 2002, they decided to separately live physically in bed and board thereby executed Divorce Agreement in order to formalize their separation; Since their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other’s affairs; Petitioner’s seek judicial decree of divorce thereby severing their marriage bond on September 28, 2001 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burden, Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this joint petition to be sufficient inform and substance set the initial hearing of this case on September 27, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place, any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in a news paper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan one week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED. Iligan City, Philippines, this 12th of September, 2013.

(Sgd.) HON. OSOP M ALI

Presiding Judge MDN: Sept 13, 18 & 25, 2013

(Sgd.) HON. OSOP M. ALI

Presiding Judge MDN: Sept 13, 18 & 25, 2013

independence and their military adventurism in Zamboanga City, the MNLF or Misuari has unilaterally “abrogated” this agreement, and, therefore, cannot be invoked anymore, legally speaking, he added.

“Be that as it may, nothing is lost by our people and by our MNLF brothers in this “abrogation”. The best of what is in the GRP-MNLF FPA are already subsumed or entrenched even in the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). Many more will be captured or fleshed out once the MILF and GPH sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), hopefully very soon,” Iqbal said.

He assured the final peace agreement of the MILF with

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the government will be inclusive and would not leave out the MNLF. Iqbal appealed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to consider revisiting its usual approach to the GRPMNLF FPA. He pointed out that Misuari has literally “abrogated” this agreement and to continue factoring this into the current peace talks is causing complications.

“Besides, ‘convergence’ of the two peace processes is simply not attainable or practical because both in forms and developments they are not congruent. The MNLF track has been virtually consummated, while the MILF’s is still a work in progress,” Iqbal said.

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10 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Davao News

friday | september 13, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA • Email: mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

DAVAO DEL NORTE l DAVAO DEL SUR lDAVAO DEL ORIENTALl COMPOSTELA VALLEY

KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOP MALAYBALAY BRANCH

Kimberlite Pawnshop will be having an AUCTION SALE on all items that expired on July 2013 AUCTION DATE: September 19, 2013 Estrada Bldg., Fortich-Don Carlos Sts., Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon congratulates the 38 Tagumeño butchers who are set to work in Australia anytime soon after passing the physical and trade tests conducted by Tey's Brothers, one of the largest meat companies in Australia.

(Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum)

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Agric sector takes centerstage in the Davao Trade Expo 2013

DAVAO CITY - The farmers, farm products and best farming practices will take center stage in the forthcoming Davao Trade Expo 2013 slated on October 17-19 at the SMX Davao Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier.

Architect Agatha Salanatin-Valencia, chair of the DATE 2013 told reporters that the Davao Trade Expo this year will bring a new opportunity for the agriculture sector to produce high quality yield by giving assistance on the agricultural products namely cacao, coconut, coffee, corn and cassava.

Speaking at the Club 888

Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel, she said these crops are in demand both in the domestic and international markets.

“This event shall highlight the golden crops conference covering namely, cacao, coconut, coffee, corn and cassava, agri-trade exhibition, business matching, technical seminars, networking night, agri-eco tours, and a culinary competition which will bring together global and national speakers and specialists who will provide essential ideas, best practices and updates on agricultural standards, emerging markets and build business

relationships among the members of the agricultural sector,” Salanatin-Valencia said.

She also observed that despite its great potentials, the current supply of these products is inadequate to support the demand.

Salanatin-Valencia cited the need to generate more awareness of these products particularly enhancing their global requirements and sufficiency.

She said that in order to make the activity more relevant, a farm-to electronic portal will be launched during the trade expo which will be accessible to the farmers, particularly in

answering their concerns and challenges like expensive farm inputs.

“This is the action we are taking, to get the attention of other businessmen and government,” SalanatinValencia said.

John Carlo Tria, DATE 2013 events and program head said the farm-to-electronic portal will serve as a platform where the farmer will know where to buy cheaper farm inputs since the information highway is already accessible even through the cellular phones.

“Adequate information will surely empower the farmers,” he said. (RGA/ JSD/PIA-XI)

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Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Aniano P. Antalan unveils the Search for Pinakamaanyag nga Gulayan sa Tugkaran for the IGaCoS employees starting September to December 2013 with theme Pag may Gulay may Buhay.Looking on are (from left-first row) City Councilors : Larry Colmenares, Richard Guindolman, Napoleon Villarica (2nd row) RuelBantillo, Alfonso San Juan and Michael Robledo.

(CIO Igacos)

Mindanao Daily NEWS

friday | september 13, 2013 Editor: CRIS DIAZ Email: crisguardian@yahoo.com

Abolish... from page 1

Simbulan told the September 5 forum on Anatomy of Philippine Politics that the pork barrel fund is the “umbilical cord that allows political dynasties to thrive.”

The forum was organized by the nongovernment group, Pagbabago Southern Mindanao.

“Because of the lopsided economic structure of inequality which allows the rich to monopolize wealth and power, the landed, wealthy families try to protect their interests by occupying public office,” he said.

Even though the 1987 Philippine Constitution already prohibits the existence of political dynasties, Simbulan said that no enabling law to make it work had ever reached “first base” because those in power come from a “small upper strata mostly from economic and social elites.”

As of 2010, there were already 178 dominant political dynasties in national politics, 100 or 56% of them belonging to the old elite, and 78 or 44% are the new elites that emerged after Edsa 1 in 1986 and the 1987 post-Marcos elections, according to Simbulan.

In the House of Representatives, Simbulan said the dominance by political families, increased from 64% to 68% (or 115 families) after the May 2010 elections.

Dominance is higher in the Senate, with 80% of the 23 members elected in 2010, including the new elites represented by the Cayetano siblings, Pia and Peter Alan.

Simbulan said the elite include those of the Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao, the Arroyos and the Marcoses, their names made infamous by widespread accusation of violence and corruption that wracked their administrations.

“It’s like the game Trip to Jerusalem which we are not included,” he said.

Simbulan traced the dynasties to their roots in the pre-Spanish colonial maharlika class. And during US colonial period in the first quarter of the 21st

northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

century, these propertied and pampered dynasties were given privilege rights and opportunities by being the only ones allowed to vote and run for political office.

Since then, those who were able to acquire, or bestowed political power were only the “rich and landed” Filipinos, Simbulan said.

Thus, he said, “there is an absence of any real political competition.”

The effect is both “horizontal and vertical” expansion of the dynasties. “This means that political kin are not only distributed in various positions in one are but also in different areas.”

The Center for People Empowerment in Governance, where Simbulan sits as board vice-chairman, cited the Ampatuan clan as an example of this horizontal expansion, where 73 clan members ran for office in the 2013 national and local elections. Only 24 of the 73 won seats, the low winning streak largely blamed to the Ampatuan massacre of 38 journalists, 2 lawyers and a number of passersby.

Citing the national indignation over the control of public funds by these dynasties, Simbulan believed that if government would go as far as “officially” abolishing the PDAF, it would do so but by changing only the name.

The PDAF, for Priority Development Assistance Fund, is the official name of the pork barrel funds.

He said he would not be surprised if investigations would only show that the same political families “ang nagtayo ng mga bogus NGOs (created the bogus NGOs themselves).”

If not, he said, the lawmakers may resort to certifying questionable NGOs if only to ensure their lion share in the funds funneled to these NGOs. This was already shown in the recent report of the Commission on Audit, which revealed that legislators had certified NGOs, including the bogus NGOs of Janet Lim-Napoles, to implement their PDAF funds.

Napoles was the pinpointed mastermind in the manipulation of the PDAF funds of lawmakers, many

of these personalities representing the known political families in the country.

The mishandling of the discretionary funds was also brought into the open with the COA disclosure of the PDAF that was “not properly released by the Department of Budget and Management and [was] not appropriately, efficiently and effectively utilized by the IAs [implementing agencies].”

Or, as the COA noted, that “funds were also released by the DBM even for projects outside the legislative districts of the sponsoring congressmen” or what is conveniently called as “swapping.”

Davao City’s 2nd district Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano was one of the lawmakers who was reported to have “swapped” project with her father-in-law, Isabela 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Albano Jr. She defended her move as “legal” and “normal” and was subjected to approval

by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Asked if there was hope for the people to be represented in the existing system, Simbulan said that political dynasties have actually been challenged in the past.

“We have seen several personalities like Grace Padaca of Isabela and partylists groups. It’s important that grass roots consciousness and organizing will continue,” Simbulan said.

The systematic corruption of the PDAF caused a nationwide uproar against the entire system.

Angry netizens – those following closely the social networking sites – rose to the occasion and joined the rest of the nation to fill the streets in a nationwide indignation called the August 26 #MillionPeopleMarch.

As the controversy continued to occupy public discourse, the nation is again poised to hold a wider Edsa Tayo prayer vigil on September 11.

The gathering, said Jose Palma, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, “is supporting calls to abolish the pork barrel system in the legislative and executive

departments.” (John Rizle the displacement of about Saligumba/davaotoday.com) 12,907 residents who are now temporarily accommodated in five evacuation from page 1 centers, mainly the Joaquin of the Red Cross and Enriquez Memorial Sports other socio-civic organi- Complex, Tetuan Central zation volunteers who are School, and the St. Ignatius delivering food to the hos- Parish.

All patients from the tages or providing medical Zamboanga City Medical assistance.

Earlier, MNLF founder Center, meanwhile, have Nurulaji Misuari declared been evacuated and are that he as the ruling chair- temporarily housed in the man of the MNLF has no Western Mindanao State knowledge and control over University Gymnasium, the actions of Malik, who Zamboanga Sanitarium, the is known to be among the Edwin Andrews Air Base organization’s staunch war- Hospital, and the Harmony fare leaders. Malik some Village.

At past 8 a.m. today, years back held hostage then government peace MNLF rebels in Lamitan panel member Maj. Gen. attacked Barangay Campo Benjamin Dolorfino and 14 Uno, where three troopers others in his Bitanag camp of the Philippine Army’s Scout Ranger Battalion were in Panamao, Sulu.

Last Monday, the MNLF wounded. On Tuesday evesent a message to media ning, blasts were reported that it seeks to declare inde- in Baunoh, Bangkal, Patikul pendence as a Bangsamoro and Kilometer 2 in Indanan, state, and presents three Sulu but the police there demands: to be provided said no one was hurt. a place where they may be given refuge, to be issued a government permit to march from page 1 and conduct their peace rally he continued. in the commercial center Gradual termination of of Zamboanga, along with the hostages, and for their the prevailing southwest representatives to meet with monsoon or ‘habagat’ is expected around late SepMayor Climaco.

In a phone interview tember, Lucero noted.

He said easterly winds with John Petalcorin, who claimed to be the MNLF will prevail afterwards foldirector for advocacy and lowed by transition to the campaign, said that “there northeast monsoon around are counterfeit MNLF mem- late October onwards.

Lucero also reported bers doing war games with ENSO-neutral -- periods the intention to close the when neither El Niño nor talks” on the details on the implementation of the 1996 La Niña is present -- conditions will likely prevail until peace accord.

Petalcorin further said 2013’s end.

“Such is the indication that Misuari is “presently guarded by sufficient num- in most forecasting models,” ber of armed men” providing he noted.

ENSO cycle is the cohim security in a safe place herent and sometimes very that the MNLF will disclose strong year-to-year variation in due time.

The MNLF since their in sea surface temperature, entry to Zamboanga has convective rainfall, surface occupied six barangays to air pressure and atmospheric include Sta. Barbara, Mariki, circulation that occur across Talon-Talon, Sta. Catalina, the equatorial Pacific Ocean, and Rio Hondo; burned experts noted.

They cited El Niño and buildings in Sta. Barbara; held 200 hostages; and ex- La Niña as opposite exchanged fires with city cops, tremes in the ENSO cycle.

El Niño refers to aboveNavy SEALs of the Naval Special Operations Unit, average sea surface temTask Force Zamboanga, peratures that periodically and the Marine Battalion develop across east-central equatorial Pacific.

Landing Team 3.

It represents the ENSO The conflict caused

Free...

Typhoons...

A11

cycle’s warm phase and is sometimes referred to as a Pacific warm episode.

La Niña refers to periodic cooling of sea surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific, representing the ENSO cycle’s cold phase and is sometimes referred to as a Pacific cold episode. philippine news agency

Conflict... from page 1

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

When asked if the government is imposing an ultimatum to the MNLF men, Lacierda said: “The armed group in Zamboanga can take the statement as it is.”

Lacierda said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the extremist Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) have taken advantage of the situation but sternly warned them that their efforts will fail.

On Thursday morning, around 150 members of BIFF and ASG attacked Lamitan City in Basilan and engaged government troops to a two-hour firefight.

“As for others who seek to take advantage of the situation, you will fail... The BIFF and ASG assumed they could take advantage of the situation. They were wrong. As others who will also make similar attempts will be proven wrong,” Lacierda said.

The Palace official also assured the residents of conflict-stricken areas in Zamboanga that the government continues to provide aid especially to those displaced by the fighting.

“The President has directed national government agencies to attend to the needs of the people of Zamboanga City and the BASULTA by providing basic supplies through the DOTC and DTI. We have asked the BSP to ensure sufficient supplies of currency,” he said.

He also asked for the cooperation of the residents to listen only to authorities and not believe on rumors spread through anonymous text messages.

He noted that rumors of abductions of religious leaders are not true.

“We ask further cooperation from the people of Zamboanga City: We reiterate that there are people relishing this situation and who seek to inflame passions for various reasons. Please understand that rumors of abductions of religious leaders and firefights that did not take place, which are spread through anonymous text messages, aim to take advantage of you. Instead, listen to the authorities, who will give you the truth all the time,” he said.

Malacañang has repeatedly said that the government is exhausting all peaceful means to resolve the conflict the soonest possible time.

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ricky Carandang said there is no plan for President Benigno Aquino III to go to Zamboanga soon, contrary to reports that came out in the papers.

“It’s been discussed, but there’s no plan to go. If he decides to go, we’ll let you know,” he said. (PNA)

SUPERTRES II UNLEASHED: THE WINNING GUIDE LET’S PLAY LOTTO. SUPPORT PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE!

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PREVIOUS ANGLE

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12 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao

friday | september 12, 2013

Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

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