Mindanao Daily Westmin (October 16, 2013)

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P15.00

‘Flood-ravaged Zambo’ Volume II, No. 109

web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com

Wednesday

October 16, 2013

By JOCELYN P. ALVAREZ

ZAMBOANGA City––Over 17,000 individuals (as of October 9) or more than 4,000 families left their homes and sought safer grounds as floods hit their barangays, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) reported Wednesday.

SEE FULL STORY/p.8

In Soccsksargen 11 cops in Region 12 dismissed for drugs use/p.9

Bohol, Cebu under state of calamity

By Catherine Teves Philippine News Agency

THE provincial boards of Bohol and Cebu on Tuesday placed their provinces under a state of calamity due to the devastation suffered from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit 8:12 a.m.

Authorities have placed the death toll at 32 -- 16 in Bohol and 15 in Cebu. Many other people were injured in damaged structures.

Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto, meanwhile, is appealing for donation of

ROAD NO MORE.

Roy Chester Lasala posted on his Facebook account these photo showing local residents passing the badly-hit national road in Carmen town in Bohol after an earthquake of tectonic in origin rocks the Visayas at about 8:42 a.m. Tuesday.

See calamity/p.11

28 died, 159 injured as quake jolts Vismin

By CRIS DIAZ, RUEL PELONE and PAT SAMONTE of Mindanao Daily News

DOZENS of people died and at least 159 others were injured after an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude rocked Visayas and some parts of Mindanao at around 8:42 a.m. yesterday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

As of 1:52 p.m. yesterday, the NDRRMC said 18 people died in hardly-hit province of Bohol, nine also died Cebu, and one fatality in Siquijor.

The council also reported that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 192 earthquakes series––and a total of six events were felt that include Carmen town in Bohol.

In a report, it said Intensity VII was felt in Tagbiliran, also in Bohol while Intensity VI hit Hinigaran in Negros Occidental.

Intensity V jolted Iloilo City and La Carlota in Negros Occidental; Intensity IV was recorded in Masbate City, Roxas City, San Jose, Culasi, Antique and Guihuingan in Negros Oriental.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the earthquake

Call center employees bat for tax holiday, relief

By MARYA SALAMAT of Bulatlat.com

Last of two-part series

was tectonic in origin and that there “is no expected tsunami.”

The epicenter was 629 kilometers from Manila or five kilometers east of Balilihan town in Bohol with a population of 18,500.

On one hand, Northern Mindanao (NorMin) was spared of major damage as an intensity 7.2 earthquake hits the Central Visayas region Tuesday morning, local officials here said on Tuesday.

Edmundo Pacamalan Jr., provincial administrator See QUAKE/p.11

Bishops to help gather signatures vs pork

But BIEN has been saying that in fact, it is the “cheapness” of wages here that has lured call center locators into this country.

The “industry” reportedly employed 772,000 in 2012, having observed an increase in the aftermath of the global financial crisis because of foreign locators’ search for lower wages for the same job. But these growth in employment is at the cost of bringing down the growth of wage rate — as the associations of call center and BPO companies vowed not to “price ourselves out of competition” in the aftermath of 2008 global financial crunch.

In 2012, IT-BPO in the Philippines reportedly

MORE bishops are supporting the call for a people’s initiative to abolish the pork barrel system and even willing to help in the groundwork.

At least five bishops said they can mobilize their parishes to implement

See RELIEF/p.11

See pork/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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NUJP opposes Rodriguez brothers’ House Bill 2559

THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has thumbed down the new measure filed

by Cagayan de Oro second district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother, Abante Mindanao partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez that would require aspiring journalists to pass an accreditation exam.

In a statement, NUJP Chair Rowena Paraan said the proposed House Bill 2550 with the utterly misleading title “Magna Carta for Journalists” would soon require aspiring journalists––in broadcast, print and photography––to pass an accreditation exam.

“Under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution as well as the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, certain civil and political rights are guaranteed every person, among of which are

the freedom of speech and freedom of the press,” said the Rodriguez brothers in its one-page explanatory note as they filed HB 2550 before the House of the Representatives.

“This proposed bill seeks to further enhance these basic rights by promoting the welfare and protection of journalism in the country,” they said adding, “journalists, as purveyors of truth, risk their life and limb in order to make people aware of the local, national and international events.”

“They (journalists) provide the essential vehicle for the exchange of ideas between cultures and nations,” said the lawmakers.

“Considering this, it is necessary for the enactment of a law that will ensure a living wage, an atmosphere conducive to productive journalism work, reiterate value of ethics, provide for

development programs that will deepen the practice of their profession, and promote the defense and protection of freedom and human rights of journalists and their organizations,” the explanatory note of the two lawmakers reads.

On one hand, Paraan said: “We do not wish to denigrate the undoubtedly good intentions of the brothers Rodriguez but perhaps they missed reading the news a few months back when media organizations turned down a similar bill filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.”

She added: “As we have said before and will continue to say unequivocally, we oppose any and all attempt to subject journalism to any form of accreditation or licensing for the simple reason that, while it is true that journalism is a profession within the media industry, it is first and foremost part of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech and of expression.”

“In short, aside from the professional and ethical standards as those who work for the various media outfits need to adhere to by reason of their employment, anyone and everyone can and should be able to practice journalism without being discriminated against by virtue of some misguided

criteria,” she pointed out, adding, “it would be akin to determining who can and cannot speak out freely.”

Paraan even called the proposed bill of the Rodriguez brothers as “illogical.”

“Which makes us wonder how this proposed law can be called a “Magna Carta” or Great Charter when it will end up emasculating, not strengthening, and certainly not expanding the boundaries of, journalism,” she said.

Accreditation exams are commonly understood as mechanisms to determine whether one is qualified to practice a regulated profession, such as medicine, nursing, engineering and

the like. “In other words, you don’t pass the exam you don’t get your license and the right to practice your profession,” said Paraan.

“And yet, HB 2550 says the “non-accredited,” presumably those who either fail to pass or do not take the exam, can still work for media outfits,” she said adding, “which makes the whole accreditation idea superfluous.”

“The bill also exempts those who have been working in the profession for 10 years and more from taking the exam. This, again, is not only illogical, it is also patently illegal since it infringes on the rights not only of those who have

been employed as journalists for less than 10 years by, in effect, downgrading their status, and also on the right of media managements to choose who is or is not qualified for employment,” she said.

Paraan said: “Instead of pushing their bill, we suggest that the Rodriguez support instead the passage of the People’s FOI Bill and Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones’ House Bill 2568, which would require government agencies to act promptly on requests for information from the media, perhaps even help improve the latter measure by including all requests for information from citizens of the Republic.”

Pelaez Sports Center general manager Boboy Sabal announces a comprehensive sports program for Misamis Oriental. He said the program will be implemented by 2014 as Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano integrates sports development in his projects for the province. The program is designed to strengthen sports in the municipal level.

Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Pelaez Sports Center gears up for school-based events

By GERRY LEE GORIT, Correspondent

CAGAYAN de Oro City–– The Pelaez Sports Center in Cagayan de Oro City has prepared its facilities for two sports meet organized by the Department of Education for public schools in the city and the province of Misamis Oriental.

Sports center General Manager Boboy Sabal said

the City Meet will culminate on October 12 and the provincial meet will be held from October 17 to 19.

Sabal said the provincial government under Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano supports these annual sports events for public school athletes.

All the different sports events of the City Meet will be held at the Pelaez Sports Center, which will also host the swimming event for the Palarong Panlalawigan Pampaaralan.

The playing venues for the provincial meet have been scheduled at Initao for football, arnis and chess; Balingasag for athletics, boxing, taekwondo, gymnastics, softball, baseball and lawn tennis; and Alubijid for sepak takraw, archery, basketball, volleyball and See events/p.11

wednesday | october 16, 2013

Mindanao Daily 3 NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Representing the Oroquieta City Government Employees Association (OCIGEA) Miss Silagon was also choseen as Ms. Congeniality, Best in Production Attire, Best in Swimwear and Best in Long Gown.

Greetings from: MS. EVELYN CATHARINE OSILAO SILAGON Former OCWD Chairman of the Board of Directors and OSILAO-SILAGON FAMILY

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

wednesday | october 16, 2013

Caraga News

Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

Agusan del Norte • Agusan del Sur • Surigao del Norte • Surigao del Sur • Dinagat Islands

Local officials want entire police force axed

By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN Regional Editor-Caraga

ROSARIO, Agusan del Sur— Local officials of this town want the entire local police force relieved from their posts for their laxity that let burglars carted away P172,000 cash in several offices of the town hall which is just a few meters away from the police station.

“They need to pack up and leave because we don’t want this to happen again,” said Vice Mayor Julie Chua as he expressed dismay on

the police force’s performance to secure the seat of the local government from robbers.

According to a report, suspected robbers barged into the offices of the municipal treasurer, municipal social welfare and development and even the mayor’s office during night time last week and destroyed the locks of the drawers and vault to cart away personal cash and funds collected from daily collections of taxes and tariffs.

In an emergency meet-

KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOP MALAYBALAY BRANCH

Kimberlite Pawnshop will be having an AUCTION SALE on all items that expired on August 2013 AUCTION DATE: October 22, 2013 Estrada Bldg., Fortich-Don Carlos Sts., Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

ing, the local town council agreed to recommend to the higher police officials for the immediate relief of Senior Inspector Elezer Pido and the entire ten-man police force due to lack of confidence to combat criminality in their town.

Local officials expressed great surprise that the police did not notice the suspects already destroyed the vault of the mayor’s office and the locks of the drawers of the other offices when they were busy during that time transferring their properties to the municipal training center where they temporarily hold their office since the police station was already dismantled to build a new one.

“How come they could not even hear that the robbers damaged the vault with

a hammer?” an official, requesting for anonymity, asked.

This is the second burglary incident that took place at the town hall. Last month, suspects barged into the mayor’s office and the municipal planning and development office and took away a laptop. The suspect, who turned out to be a certain Fire Officer Alvin Cabuga of the Bureau of Fire Protection based in this town, was arrested after the buyer of the item reported it to the police.

A team from the Provincial Police Office is still conducting an investigation on the recent robbery incident but irate officials could no longer wait for the results and recommended for the immediate relief of the entire police force.

Weather Update

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. Northern Mindanao, Caraga and Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northwest to west will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to west will prevail over Visayas and south to southwest over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas. source : pagasa

Friendship and Education

By MARIA CHERYL T. SAMONTE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 1 Cagay anon Elementary School Sinacaban District, Mis. Occ. Division

The old folks usually say that your friends reflect your behavior.

In school, group of friends usually exist. The members among the group may share similarities like interests and behavior. Further, if friendship will be developed, the interests and behavior would also be developed and here, influence pops up.

Influence is also a big word in circle of friends. This influence may make or destroy a person. In classroom setting, it is good if one’s good value will be taught to her fellows like being studious. Influencing other students to be such is a good product of influence.

They are not just learning from each other but they are also helping each other to be successful.

Influence is a bad thing if one affects and diverts the appreciative habit of a certain person. It is when a good behavior turned to bad. One example of that is cheating. That may be a result of unfruitful relationship, teaching each other to do such because one cannot help her fellow since he doesn’t have the idea either.

Friendship is best if it serves its role and is very effective in developing each other’s personality in a good way. However, it could be the worst if it meant to destroy a person. In school, students should know whom to offer friendship and as well know how to become a good one.

wednesday | october 16, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA Email: mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

NorthMin News

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6 years after ‘walk for land, walk for justice’

Better days for Sumilao farmers

S

By WALTER I. BALANE

UMILAO, Bukidnon —Leonora Lumala, 33, owns a portion of the 147 hectares (ha) of land obtained by the Sumilao farmers after their historic 1,700-kilometer “walk for land, walk for justice” to Manila in 2007.

Every time the Panaw Sumilao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PSMPC) holds a gathering since the land was awarded to them in 2008 after their gruelling protest walk a year earlier, the mother of six is among those assigned to cook for members and guests.

Hesitant at first as the dishes may not taste good, Lumala now beams with confidence, mastering how to cook pancit guisado, afritada, chopsuey and other viands for their guests and other cooperative members. For the farm tour and PSMPC board meeting on October 11 as part of their three-day celebration of the sixth anniversary of their 1,700-kilometer “walk for land, walk for justice,” she cooked fish in soy sauce and vinegar that tasted like it is served in restaurants.

“I’ve got use to cooking for guests. I think this is part of our new skills,” she said, adding their lives

have generally improved although clarifying “that economically we are still tight.”

For every cropping of their almost one hectare corn farm, Lumala said the family earns P70, 000 gross and pays half of it for farm inputs, the rest going to payments for loans made for their daily sustenance.

“Even if we loan our daily needs, at least we have the farm now as our guarantee,” she stressed.

Individually and collectively, there are improvements but there is still a lot of work to be done, said Yoyong Merida, founding chair of the cooperative.

He stressed they are proud, however, to count their blessings.

“Of course, we are very far away from our situation back when we started the walk,” he said.

Far different When they went out of Sitio Fatima, their ham-

let, last October 12, the Sumilao farmers were far different from six years ago—they rode on the cooperative’s vehicles and their own motorcycles for a caravan around Barangay San Vicente and the rest of Sumilao town.

In parade were about 30 members riding on their own motorcycles. The rest of the members and their families rode in a forward truck vehicle, an elf cargo vehicle, and a multi-cab, all owned by the cooperative.

The forward truck vehicle and multi-cab were part of the P2.5 million grant from Senator Francis Pangilinan’s Sagip Saka program through the Cooperative Development Authority.

The grant also came with training, production, marketing and other project start up components.

The caravan from Sitio Fatima to the town proper of Sumilao and back was among the highlights of the anniversary celebration.

Six years after their historic 1,700-kilometer “walk for land, walk for justice” to Manila in 2007, the Sumilao farmers’ cooperative reported improved “economic status” and “better quality of life” with total assets of P52.54 million as of this

month, including about P2.26 million in current account.

Starting this year, they have paid a total of P400, 000 to the Land Bank of the Philippines as instalment for 97 ha of land transferred to them in 2010 by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) They also paid a total of P47, 000 for real property taxes for 50 ha, which SMC turned over to them through a deed of donation.

Merida, the cooperative’s founding chair, said the challenge now for the farmers is how to sustain and develop their lands in accordance with the 10-year development plan laid out for the cooperative’s 163 members.

In his presentation at the program highlighting the October 10-12 celebrations at the San Vicente Barangay Plaza, Merida cited the farmers’ plan to diversify their products.

The celebration was themed, “Panaw: Naghugpong aron Pagpagahum ug Pagpalambu sa Kumunidad” or “united to empower and develop the community.”

According to the farmers’ plan, they would plant coffee, cacao, citronella and durian, among other highvalue crops, aside from corn

and vegetables.

Merida noted the cooperative members have gone a long way from their situation six years ago.

“Our members can now afford to send their children to school and have better quality of life,” he added.

Merida said they are looking at sustainable agriculture in the 50-ha area and looking for financing for the 97 ha spread across eight non-contiguous areas.

He cited that only 32 ha of the 97-ha area had been planted, mostly to corn.

For the cooperative, it earns by renting farm production equipment and trucks and through interest payments from loans by members.

Grants for development Among the highlights of the anniversary program was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the cooperative and the Department of Agrarian Reform for a P2.5 million grant, which was previously released to the cooperative as a conditional grant. The money was loaned to members for their farm inputs.

The cooperative also received a P2.4 million tractor from the Department of Agriculture in July 2012, which they rent to members

and other farmers in the town, along with their elf and forward truck vehicles.

Merida said the cooperative was also able to obtain another grant worth P1.3 million to put up a warehouse and for their communal production.

The group also received a building from Akbayan, which it uses as people’s center and offices for the cooperative and its support groups. It also served as a tulugan or tribal hall.

Through the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (Pakisama), the cooperative also availed of another P2.5 million grant for capability building initiatives to include agriculture cluster formation and commodity trainings for cacao, rubber and coffee.

There are now a total of four vegetable clusters in the cooperative covering 50 members and another 50 members for the corn cluster that directly connect with the industry supply chain.

Targets The cooperative intends to have an enterprise for women, set up an Agricultural Field School, and venture into vermin-culture and enzyme compost production. farmers | page 11

6 Mindanao Daily NEWS

Opinion

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Congratulations!!! to Malaybalay City Water

District (MCWD) general manager Jun C. Aroa for the national recognition you have been bestowed as finalist to the Honor Service Awards of the Civil Service Commission - Mindanao Daily News October 16, 2013-

P

ublic recognition is due to Malay- huge loans from LWUA and other finance balay City Water District (MCWD) institutions , thereby saving water consumgeneral manager Jun C. Aroa for ers from the burden of increased water being recently recognized as one of the fees triggered by interest rates of loans.

10 finalists to the country’s 2013 Search Equally worth praising is Aroa’s other for Outstanding Public Officials and Em- flagship project such as the P60 million ployees, Pagasa Award of the Civil Service Dalwangan Water Supply Development Commission (CSC). The other semifinal- funded from local sources. ists were eight from Luzon, and one from His stand on ‘No loan policy’, made MCWD financially sound and enabled Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

Aroa deserves the distinction as one of it to expand water connections . Other the top 10 public service award finalists , local water districts has emulated Aroa’s for his recent outstanding achievements, concept which is duly recognized and particularly, in transforming the MCWD endorsed by the LWUA. The awards organizers cited into an institution of excellent Editorial Aroa’s selfless dedication and innovation.

His “Triple L” approach implemented commitment to the cause of concessionthrough Local Water District-Local Water aires. His meritorious achievements has Utilities Administration-Local Government catapulted MCWD into a very progressive Unit (LWD-LWUA-LGU) collaboration, has and efficient water service provider.

The Pagasa Award and Lingkod Bayan addressed the problem on water supply award are the two distinctions given by for a growing population .

Through his Triple L approach , with the Civil Service Commission under the LWUA’s technical assistance, and financ- Honor Awards Program’ Pagasa Award is bestowed to individuals ing by the Malaybalay City government, the P130-million project of Malaybalay or groups for excellent contributions that City Government Water Supply System directly benefit more than one department of the government, while the Lingkod (MCGWSS), has been realized.

More than 70 percent of the City’s wa- Bayan Award is conferred to an individual ter supply has been augmented by Aroa’s or group for extraordinary contributions Triple L-completed project whose generated that had nationwide impact.

To MCWD general manager Jun Aroa, water source is now being distributed to more than 86,000 city residents’ house- we salute you sir. Your excellence in public holds paying only the lowest minimum service is worth emulating by the public servants of Mindanao and the whole rate of P120 per month.

Aroa’s very laudable and cost-efficient country.

May your tribe increase! approach spared MCWD from getting

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A deeper view Jesse E.L. Bacon II

Diversionary tactic I am afraid that those linked to the multi-billion pesos abuse of the pork barrel fund officially known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF may be succeeding in their strategy of diverting the issue from them to Malacanang.

Undeniably, at this point the heat brought about by the exposed multi-billion pesos pork fund scam has been effectively passed on to President Aquino by virtue of the issue about the Disbursement Acceleration Program cooked up by the Department of Budget and Management in 2011. The fund was meant to supposedly put to good use savings of the government in accelerating growth and development in the economy.

Today, it is Malacanang that is so pre-occupied with defending itself about the DAP. Lost in this new development is the attention the nation had given to the congressional pork barrel fund scam. Now the focus is on the so-called presidential pork barrel while nothing is being talked about anymore with regard the Janet Lim-Napoles-related pork fund scam.

The senators prominently mentioned before as the partners of Napoles in defrauding the government of the legislators’ pork fund as well as the Malampaya fund are not being talked about now. Who are being talked about at this point? The senators who benefitted from the DAP in 2011.

This diversionary tactic I think is paying off especially those linked to the congressional pork fund scam.

Because of the DAP expose of Sen. Jinggoy, the Palace is now busy defending its decision and position with regard the DAP. And many are now taking to task President Aquino for instituting such fund.

Some are even demanding for the impeachment of Aquino because of the DAP. The best defense, they say, is offense. Those who have been linked to the alleged Napoles-initiated pork fund scam have launched a very good offense when, courtesy of Estrada, the Malacanang-inspired DAP was brought to fore. DAP was even perfectly pictured also as a pork fund of the president.

But as what we have explained here in a previous column, the president can never have pork fund for him self because pork fund is intended for others specifically the members of the legislature to enable the president secure their support for his legislative agenda. It would then be illogical for the president to dangle pork to himself so that he will get the support of himself for his own legislative agenda.

Undeniably, however, the president has discretionary funds. Just as what we also mentioned in previous columns, this is not something that is only true here in our country. This is true in other countries. This is true even among presidents of public or private corporations.

Discretionary funds come with the territory of chief executive officers such as the president of the republic.

Is the president not allowed to touch the savings of the Executive branch? He is under the constitution. In like manner, the heads of the Senate, House of Representatives and constitutional bodies, the Comelec, Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit and the chief justice of the Supreme Court are all clothed with the authority to use the savings of their agencies under certain rules and regulations, meaning, they can use it not whimsically and capriciously.

Aquino used the savings of the Executive branch to accelerate development at a time when it was badly needed. And it paid off. The economic growth rate, though not inclusive as we would have wanted, proved to all and sundry that the DAP indeed accelerated the economic growth of the country.

But why did he bring into the picture the legislators in accelerating the development of the country? Let us not forget that the legislators are elected officials as well.

Aquino does not have the notion, apparently, that he has the monopoly of understanding what ought to be done to accelerate development in the country. Consulting the legislators is not wrong.

What made part of the program wrong was the act of some legislators, Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Bongbong Marcos and Vicente Sotto in requesting their chosen implementing agency to release the fund to nongovernment organizations of their choice See TACTIC, page 11

Opinion

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

Bible studies for judiciary; issues in SM-Pasay land deal LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Whoever says, `I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person…” (1 John 2:4, the Holy Bible).

-oooALTERNATIVE TO JUDICIARY LIFESTYLE CHECK, OR PROBE: Instead of a lifestyle check or an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on members of the judiciary in the wake of allegations that there is a “Madam Arlene” bribing and corrupting judges and justices to fix cases for rich litigants, why not require all officials of the judicial branch of government to undergo instead a continuing seminar on the Bible (for Christians) and on other holy books (for non-Christians), to heighten spirituality?

This continuing seminar on the Bible and on spirituality could come in the form of the regular Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for lawyers, as a pre-requisite for being

Kakampi mo ang batas Atty. Batas Mauricio allowed to continue discharging their duties and responsibilities as judges and justices. This seminar could be incorporated in the on-going and regular seminars among judges conducted by the Supreme Court.

-oooSEMINARS ON GOD AND SPIRITUALITY FOR ALL GOV’T MEN: In fact, I will go so far to propose that even the MCLE for lawyers should now be required to contain lectures on the Bible and spirituality as well.

And, as we proposed in this column a few days back, this might be an opportune time to hold such Bible seminars for all government agencies as well, including the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of

the Philippines.

These seminars should be able to instill fear and love of God among judges and justices, among prosecutors of the Department of Justice, and among all government officials and employees, to remind them of their mortality, and of the inevitability of death.

They should also instill more spiritual knowledge about justice and truth, and fairness, and God’s anger against those who bribe and who corrupt others, and those who live a godless and spiritually-debased lives.

-oooLEGAL ISSUES ON PASAY-SM LAND RECLAMATION PROJECT: Here are legal issues that confront the award made by Pasay City in favor of SM Land

for the reclamation of some 300 hectares of land from the Manila Bay: can Pasay City make the award to SM Land without any bidding being held first? Can Pasay City directly make an award, not only to SM Land, but to any other interested party without any bidding? Or, is a reclamation project not subject to bidding?

These issues are cropping up after reports surfaced that the city, through the city council and Mayor Antonino Calixto, entered into a contract with SM Land for the reclamation of some 300 hectares of land from the sea wall of the existing SM Mall of Asia and extending to about 1,135 meters onwards to the sea, and from Sofitel Hotel and Cultural Center of the Philippines, only on the basis of a letter of intent from SM Land.

-oooJ O I N T V E N TU R E PROJECT, ALL IN ONE DAY? The letter of intent appears to have been submitted by SM Land to Pasay City on March 07, 2013.

See DEAL, page 11

The real competition Think a minute.

Did you have to compete with someone else to get the girl or guy you wanted?

Whether we like it or not, competition is part of life. Usually there are other people besides you who want that job, scholarship, business, or title. But some people will stop at nothing to win.

Whether it’s lying, cheating, or gossiping and destroying someone’s reputation. Yet when we compete only to win and beat the other person, it not only makes us bad losers, but also bad winners. That kind of competing produces a person with a bad heart and character, with self-centered greed, pride, and envy.

An important lesson in

Think A Minute Jhan Tiafau Hurst life is to learn to compete only against yourself. Then, whether you win or lose against others, you still win!

Because all the time and effort you spent to work and improve only makes you a better person who’s closer to reaching your potential.

As one guy put it: “Trespassing is okay, if the boundaries you cross are your own!” So when we set good, important goals for our-

Tolerating Fresh Gospel of the day: “Luke11:47-54(October17, 2013-Thursday) Luke 11:47-54-Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth,

selves, they work in two ways: we work on them, and they work on us.

The real test of your success is whether you’re a better person than you were yesterday? Are your attitudes and character better?

Are you a better husband or wife? A better father or mother? A better worker?

You know, we can compete and win in our career and making money, but if we

lose our good character by being dishonest or hurting and using others, then we’ve lost the real competition and what’s important.

The real measure of success is not what you HAVE, but what you ARE as a person. What kind of heart and character do you have? What kind of relationships do you have with other people?

If you’ve allowed yourself to compete against others and you’ve done dishonest things or hurt people.

Why not ask Jesus to forgive you today and start changing your heart and way of living? Then you can learn to compete only against yourself and win every time!

Just Think a Minute.

Biblical reflection Bro. Edcel L. Closas that they might accuse him: The Pharisees collaborated the acts of crimes committed by their ancestors.

In Proverbs 18:5-[It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

This means that we will not tolerate the wrong doings of other people around us.

In 1 Timothy 5:20-Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Therefore, rebuked and opposed the bad doings of anyone in our society instead agreeing to them. Did you experience to cooperate in a certain crime? Are you condemning wrong doings?

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Zamboanga del Norte | Zamboanga del Sur | Zamboanga Sibugay | Dipolog City | Dapitan City | Pagadian City | Isabela City | Zamboanga City

17,000 individuals evacuate due to floods;

City under state of calamity

Z MPG: Leadership by Example

Lopez Jaena’s First 100 Days…

By PJTREMEDAL Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental – A neophyte on his own right as Chief Executive of this municipality of Misamis Occidental comprising of twenty eight (28) barangays, Newly seated Municipal Mayor Michael Pasion Gutierrez led his people by a leader by example.

Mazyor Gutierrez takes his oath last June b28 ,2013 as the newly elected municipal mayor of the of Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental after winning with overwhelming votes from his opponent together with his team led by Municipal Vice Mayor Jay M. Bergado.

Exactly 106 Days to note, On October 14, 2013, Mayor Gutierrez made his stand again witnessed by his Department Heads, Visitors from the Provincial Offices, 1st District Congressional Office, Guests and Visitors, the Local Media and the people of Lopez Jaena reported his first 100 days administration.

In his official statement, “As an elected public servant all these are made possible because we make it together”. He said.

With his MPG (coined after his initials) M-means Mission, P-stand for Progress and G-for Good Governance, the Mayor reported what he has done together with the officialdom of the municipality of Lopez Jaena.

First things to be done Mayor Gutierrez repaired the Mayor’s Office for this is his other home meeting supporters,friends, Public officials, Department heads, and even ordinary people asking for help. On his first day of office the Mayor called his Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan to move hand in hand as a team.

While making his department heads as Technical Advisers and each member of the Sangguniang Bayan must work with him thru a working committee chairmans for he cannot make it alone together they can do what they promised during their campaign sorties thru their agenda, Mission for Progress and Good Governance.

The Mayor started the day organizing the town’s Local School Board, the Local Health Board, his Municipal Tourism Council, and ultimately the town’s Municipal Developemnt Council for this are the Mayor’s men to jpin him accomplish the dream of every Lopez Jaenanons.

Not only with his team, he also organized the Municipal Finance Committee to help him guard the wealth of Lopez Jaena thru a transparent and accountable Local Government Unit. He also organized the Women Sector and the PWD Council.

In order to implement R.A. 10121, and to prevent any untoward incident made by man or natural calamity, Mayor Gutierrez establish the town’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to protect and preserve people’s lives and properties.

And conducted an LGU Family Day of which honored four retirees of the government sector and give award of recognition for the retirees as a message of thanks for their responsibility and the years orf their services to the people of Lopez Jaena during their years of service.

With his enthusiam and active performance in order to sow leadership by example, personally led his SB’s together with his security escorts and the town’s police force bringing broom, shovels,and other clean-up equipments to clean the public market.

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness…a clean and arranged market place will certainly promote economic investment and a clean environment to visit and buy food source…a clean market means neat and decent place that will mirror clean government. “He said.

Limited Financial Capability

With a limited financial capability, the new administration decided to request four multicab vehicle from the honorable Senator Ferdinand BongBong Marcos for additional vehicle that can be used by the departments and other purposes of the Local Government Unit.

In the need for agriculture program development Mayor Gutierrez

used his financial initiative and capacity to be able to acquire One Unit Farm tractor worth 2.8 Million and approved fund releases for Livelihood assistance, especially for the fisherfolks involve and the maintenance of the town’s Mariculture Park the one and only in the province of Misamis Occidental worth 2.5 M. and acquired another four unit of Norwegian designed Fish Cages.

Implements BFAR Fisherfolks Registry to 3,177 fishermen fronm the town’s coastal barangays. He also personally donate some P68,869 financial assitance to 36 clients particularly in need and in crisis situations.

And with the help and support from the Provincial Government under the Governor herminia M, Ramiro thru her GIO HERMIE AGENDA, Lopez Jaena received 15 Million Grant to counterpart the towns Infra Project.

Other accomplishment of his 100 Days, his administration employeed additional teachers whose salaries are charge to the Local School Board, released financial assitance from local funds to the town’s participation in the forth coming 84th Year Celebration of Misamis Occidental worth P220,000.

Again spenidng his personal capability he assisted PWD and SPED Children worth P10,000 and give incentives to teacher during the Employees Night during the 64th Araw ng Lopez Jaena worth P16,000 from his personal savings.

And in supporting the town’s sports competitiveness the Mayor releases aid fund for their athletes who had shown and garnered medals and trophies. During the Palarong Pambayan he releases P17,145 worth of assitance and in the last Palarong Panlalawigan his administration shared P150,000 Financial assitance to the athletes of Lopez Jaena.

Vision for the future and the next terms of good governance

As a recipient of the DILG’s Seal of Goodhousekeeping and agin aiming for the SGH Gold Award, Mayor Gutierrez has order his department to be n, accountable, responsive and to participate in any public activities and sustaining it with local initiatives definitely Lopez Jaena will get the award again.

Not only accomplishment with his 100 Days of Good Governance, Mayor Gutierrez added that with his partners and co-public servant he chooses to understand them will always give them support.

Prioritizing his next move after the 100 days, a 35 M loan from financial bank had been approved by the Sangguniang Bayan for the construction of the new Business Center replacing the 35 year old public market, establish and creates and economic enterprise to include Local Water Syatem, Additonal Mariculture Program, Social Services, boosting Tourism Industry, more Infra project such as construction and rehabilitation

of Danlugan Fishport and Boulevard.

Lopea Jaena will not be lift behind with modern IT program, Cable TV’s and a well planned Memorial Park in barangay Don Andres in honor of the Heroes of Lopez Jaena who where ambush by insurgents.

With the acquiaition of a new Police Vehicle and asking for more policemen to be assigned in the municipality, Peace and order will be strengthen, campaing against Drug Abuse, Criminality and other problem concerning peace will now take place to achieved a new Lopez Jaena.

Certainly with the help and financial aid from the Vice President of the Republic, VEEP Jejomar Binay assured the senior citizens of Lopez Jaena a P500,000 Senior Citizen Building with the MPG Administration.

And on the next days, the Town will be having a Garbage Collection Truck to fully implement clean and healthy Lopez Jaena. With his Mission for Progress and Good Governance and the support from Congressman Jorge Taghap Almonte of the First District which Lopea Jaena belongs and thr help from the GO Hermie Agenda of Governor Herminia M. Ramiro of Misamis Occidental, Lopea Jaena will now be an economic hub of the province.

Partners for Progress

With the support from his Municipal Vice Mayor Jay M. Bergado who is incharge of local legislation promising PhilHealth and other Financial counterparting will implemented and with his members of the Sangguniang Bayan who were tasked not only to make legislatures to be implemented will definitely become a working partners for MPG as they were tasked thru committee chairmanship to work hand in hand with the executive department.

With SB Abundio P. Gerbese who will work for Agricultural Development will be focusing of local farmers initiatives, SB Ferdinando L. Cotales will work towards Social Services, SB Ernest C. Lontok will strengthen and promote good Education Program not only to deseving student but to all who need a good education, SB Rufino Philip T. Magsayo will farther initiate Laws Ordinances and Infrastructure program.

SB Leo Q. Arano focusing on Law and Order and a clean and progressive market, SB Ma. Corazon L. Cale will do Health Care and Women Initiatives, while SB Ric S. Yunting will certainly guard the financial assets of the the Municipality and SB Gloria S. Hosier will make all things possible thru her Ways and Means.

GO MPG, GO…Mission for Progress and Good Governance is the cry of the Day!. Good things are always remembered.

Photos taken during the first 100 Days Report to the People Program with City Mayor Jason paredes Almonte of oroquieta representing his dad, Congresman Jorge Taghap Almonte of the First District (Center, second set of pictures). Above is Mayor Michael Pasion Gutierrez and Vice Mayor Jay M. bergado together with the SB members and Department heads (center, first set of pictures) and below is the pictorial of Mayor Gutierrez with VEEP Jejomar Binay and Governor Hermie Ramiro. This pictures are the living memories of MPG on its first 100 Days of Public Service benefitted by the peple of the Municiplaity of Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental. photos by mae patricio eduque

AMBOANGA CITY - Over 17,000 individuals (as of October 9) or more than 4,000 families left their homes and sought safer grounds as floods hit their barangays, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) reported Wednesday.

The floods caused by the five-day continuous rains started Oct. 4.

City Information Officer Sheila Covarrubias disclosed that the evacuees came from 25 barangays reportedly hard hit by flash floods.

By JOCELYN P. ALVAREZ

“These barangays include Ayala, Baliwasan, Boalan, Calarian, Curuan, Divisoria, Lanzones, Maasin, Malagutay, Pasonanca, Putik, Reco do, San Jose Gusu, San Roque, Sinunuc, Sta. Maria, Talon-talon, Tetuan, Tugbungan, Tumaga, Vitali, Zambowood, Talisayan, Labuan and Patalon,” Covarrubias enumerated.

She said, “Mayor Beng Climaco has recommended to the city council to approve a resolution declaring Z amboanga to be under a state of calamity due torrential rains that hit the city.”

Rains became intense on Sunday and Monday prompting the city to dispatch its rescue teams.

On Tues day nig ht, City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. disp atched again res c ue

teams to Marcos Drive in Putik due to floods caused by the swelling of river and damaged riprap facility, said Covarrubias.

Radio groups, Aleson Shipping Lines Inc., Bureau of Fire Protection, CEO-GSO, Coast Guard, Coast Guard (Auxiliary), EAAB, Red Cross, Task Force Zamboanga, Contractors, PNP, Magnolia Shipping Lines and Everlines supported the rescue operations.

Continues relief operations are also being done in various evacuation centers jointly by the city government and the barangay officials.

Mayor Climaco also directed the barangay officials to utilize their calamity funds and to mobilize all resources to assist their constituents.

(FPG/JPA/PIA9)

Filipino farmers demand land

Hundreds of landless farmers belonging to Task Force Mapalad in Bacolod City protested outside the Department of Agrarian Reform Negros Occidental South Office. Farmers demand for action on their land claims before the agrarian program ends in June 2014.

BACOLOD CITY — Hundreds of landless farmers besieged the Department of Agrarian Reform in South Negros and demanded full land distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

The y held a nois e barrage at the DAR office to dramatize their fury at the failure of the agency to speed up land distribution. “This interagency dialogue had been reset four times since August. They seem to have all kinds of excuses to avoid meeting us despite their very low rate of accomplishment in land distribution,” Task Force Mapalad President Alberto Jayme said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Min-

danao Examiner.

DAR South Negros distributed only 454 hectares as of July 2013 out of its target of 7,590 hectares for the entire year.

TFM South Negros farmers slammed DAR for performing badly even as it has been beefed up with additional personnel, officials and all the needed equipment.

Lucresia Taburnay, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer for Negros Occidental South, allegedly snubbed farmers for the fourth time since August and would not talk to them, saying she had to attend a training session along with her staff.

The farmers slammed Taburnay for this, saying that apparently, she does not care about the com-

plaints of the farmers, who said CARP expires in June 2014 and land distribution must be hastened by these absentee local DAR officials.

President B eningo Aquino has promised TFM farmers during a dialogue in Malacanang in June 2012 that he would complete CARP until the end of his term in 2016.

The CARP backlog in the whole of Negros Island zoomed to 145,000 hectares since President Aquino took over Malacanang in 2010.

Since 2010, the Aquino administration was only able to distribute a measly 7,565 hectares out of the four-year target of 81,330 hectares.(http:// www.mindanaoexaminer. com/)

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Soccsksargen

11 cops in Region 12 dismissed for drugs use

G

By Mindanews

ENERAL SANTO S C I T Y – Eleven policemen in Region 12 have been dismissed from active service in the last nine months for using illegal drugs and involvement in various illegal drug-related activities in the area.

Chief Supt. Charles Calima Jr., Region 12 police director, said Monday the dismissed policemen had all tested positive of using illegal drugs, specifically of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, in mandatory tests facilitated by the regional police office.

“This is part of our continuing efforts to cleanse our ranks of lawless elements who have been disguising as police officers,” he said in a radio interview.

In dismissing the 11 policemen, the police official said they no longer filed criminal charges against them but took a faster route based on the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) regulations.

The PNP’s policy guidelines regarding use of prohibited drugs has set the outright dismissal from service of any police personnel who will be tested positive of drug use, he said.

“If a policeman turns out positive of using illegal drugs, he or she already failed to meet the continuing requirement of being a member of the PNP – that is to remain as drug-free. This also means we can immediately issue separation orders against them,” the official explained.

In February, two policemen assigned in this city were subjected to dismissal proceedings after figuring in separate drug buy-bust operations conducted by the regional police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Region 12.

Six more police personnel were endorsed for dismissal by the regional police in July after turning positive of using illegal drugs during a random drug test.

The erring policemen were among the initial batch of 80 police personnel in Region 12 who were subjected to drug testing as mandated by the PNP central office.

Two of the policemen were previously assigned at the Police Regional Office 12’s Regional Special Training Unit and the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while the four others were from the Koronadal City police station, Isulan municipal police station in Sultan Kudarat and police precinct numbers 03 and 08 in this city.

The six policemen hold the ranks of Police Officer (PO) 1 to Senior Police Officer 2 and already spent 7 to 26 years in

active service.

Two of these policemen – who were identified as Kadil Omar Masahod Jr., 34, and Fernando Alim, 59, both previously assigned at the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office – were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the PDEA here last month.

Another police officer assigned in this city identified as PO2 Arnold Sua was dismissed after turning positive of illegal drug use following his involvement in a controversial police operation last July.

Sua was earlier charged with murder by the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with the killing of a criminology student who was mistaken by policemen as a motorcycle theft suspect.

Calima said he is hoping that the dismissal of the 11 policemen will encourage their personnel, especially the newly-hired, to take on their mandates seriously and lead clean lifestyles.

“It is not right that those who are supposed to implement the law are the ones involved in illegal activities,” he said.

The official said he has ordered the conduct of more random drug tests to cleanse their ranks of illegal drug users and personnel who are possibly involved in related activities.

He said they have also tightened the recruitment process for police applicants through stringent evaluation and tests.

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Mindanao-wide rubber congress pushed

By DANILO E. DOGUILES

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Following the success of the recent Mindanao Banana Congress, the Department of Agriculture in Soccsksargen Region (DA-12) is pushing for the holding of another Mindanao-wide congress, this time for rubber growers.

DA 12 Regional Executive Regional Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan confirmed she, along with Regional Agr ic ulture and Fisher ies Council Chairman Dionesio Bautista, led the preparations for the Mindanao Rubber Growers’ Congress.

Soccsksargen Rubber Producers Development Organization through its president, Edwin Gandingan, has also joined in the planning.

Datukan explained she was encouraged to push for a similar activity by the response of the stakeholders to the Mindanao Banana Congress held in General Santos City on August 29 - 30.

She said, the event, which will revolve around the theme: “E mp owe r i ng t he Rubb e r Growers as Partners for Sustainable Economic Growth,” wou ld fo c us on helping rubber growers learn new technologies that could boost

rubber production not only in Soccsksargen Region but also in the entire Mindanao.

At the end of the congress, resolutions that would support the rubber industry are also expected to be passed for consideration by appropriate bodies.

The Mindanao rubber growers’ congress is tentatively scheduled on November 6 – 8 this year in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato . Besides discussions on important rubber technologies, the congress will also feature a field tour to rubber plantations in nearby Makilala town.

A minimal registration fee will be charged for the congress, she added.

This early, Director Datukan is calling on stakeholders to support the activity.

Data from the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCPD) of DA 12 indicated that in 2012 the countr y produced 88, 943 metric tons (MT) of raw rubber.

Of these, 27, 869 (MT) were produced in Soccsksargen Region, which include the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and C ot abato City.

Philippines, MILF peace talks end without accord, agree to meet again in KL

COTABATO CITY – Philippines and Moro National Liberation Front rebels ended peace talks in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday without a substantial agreement.

But peace negotiators claimed to have made progress on the remaining annexes on power-sharing and normalization.

In a joint statement, the peace panels headed

by Miriam Ferrer for the government side, and Mohagher Iqbal, for the MILF, said: “The remaining challenges and the time constraints demand that the peace panels remain focused Congregation prayers for Eid’l Adha at the compound of the Office of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Cotabato City on completing the annexes early Tuesday morning, October 15. (Photo courtesy of ARMM Executive Secretary following a break for Eid al-Adha. Both sides have a Laisa Masuhud Alamia)

full understanding of their responsibility as they strive towards a sustainable and inclusive solution for the benefit of all people in the Bangsamoro.”

Eid al-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

Muslims around the world observe this event.

Iqbal said on the MILF website that power-sharing represents the heart of the negotiations since it contains the list of powers reserved for the central government, powers exclusive to the envisioned Bangsamoro government, and concurrent or shared powers between

the two.

Last year, the peace panels signed the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement which would pave the way for the Muslim homeland.

Under the accord, the Bangsamoro government would take a ministerial form, where members of the legislature who would be elected by the people and in return they would elect a chief minister among themselves.

Peace negotiators agreed to meet again after the Muslim holiday. Iqbal said the delay is impeding the working timeline of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, the body tasked to draft the Basic Law. (Mindanao Examiner)

clustered precincts for the barangay polls.

“We will be assigning three BETs for each clustered precinct,” Gerada said in a media forum in Koronadal City.

The official said they will finalize the assignment of the BETs after the closing of the filing of certificate

of candidacies of barangay bets on Oct. 17.

He said they will check first the qualification of the BETs, specifically whether they have relatives running in the polls, before finalizing their assignments.

Prior to their deployment on Oct. 28, Gerada said the BETs will under-

go special orientation and training from Oct. 20 to 25 regarding the voting process, which will be conducted manually.

“I think most of our BETs are already familiar with the manual voting scheme as it was also used in the 2010 barangay elections,” he said.

6,405 teachers in GenSan, SouthCot to serve in barangay polls GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A total of 6,405 teachers here and nearby South Cotabato province will be serving as board of election tellers (BETs) in the Oct. 28 barangay elections in the area, a poll official said.

Lawyer Jay Gerada, Comelec-South Cotabato provincial supervisor, said

they are presently working on the assignments of the area’s pool of BETs based on the new clustering of polling precincts that they implemented for the upcoming polls.

Comelec records showed that a total of 698,775 residents in 225 barangays in this city and South Cotabato

are eligible to cast their votes in the barangay elections.

South Cotabato has a total of 199 barangays while this city, which is under the jurisdiction of the Comelec provincial office, has 26 barangays.

The area, which has a total of 5,024 established precincts, will have 2,135

teachers | page 11

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

Sta. Cruz aspires cityhood as it turns 129 years old

DAVAO CITY -- As the town of Sta. Cruz in the Province of Davao del Sur turned 129 years old on October 5 this year, its local government leaders and populace have yearned for a new aspiration for the town to become a city.

“As the oldest town in the province of Davao del Sur, we really wanted it to become a city soon,” said Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Lopez.

Lopez said that with the constant push of the municipality towards investment generation and tourism development, there can be no other way for this town to go but cityhood.

The town has just celebrated its founding anniversary with fun-filled activities on October 3-5, bannering the theme “Bagong Tinguha, Bag-ong Hagit, Dugang Kalampusan (New Aspiration, New Challenge, More Success)”.

More than a century-old municipality, Sta. Cruz was legally created on October 5, 1884 and it is the oldest town in Davao Region, and the third oldest town in Mindanao.

“We are glad that as we are now 129 years old, we saw several signs of success as manifested with our strong support from the private sector, national government agencies, provincial government, NGOs and the general public,” DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND INTEREST Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late SPS. NEMECIO PATILANO, who died intestate on the 19th day of May, 1953; and SOFRONIA PATILANO, who died intestate on the 23rd day of March, 1995 all at Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City; at the time of their death left a parcel of land and more particularly described as follows to wit; TCT No. T-22246 “A PARCEL OF LAND, (Lot No. 1088 of the Cadastral Survey of Cagayan), situated in the Barrio of Lapasan, Municipality of Cagayan de Oro, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN (116) SQUARE METERS, more or less.” is the subject of DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND INTEREST, made and entered by FIDEL E. PATILANO, of legal age, married, Filipino; LYDIA PATILANO MARCIAL, of legal age, married, Filipino and CHATA PATILANO OWEN, of legal age, married, Filipino and residents of Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, are the only, sole, legitimate and surviving legal heirs of the late SPS. NEMECIO PATILANO and SOFRONIA PATILANO. That we, FIDEL E. PATILANO, and LYDIA PATILANO MARCIAL, do hereby WAIVED, RELINQUISHED, and QUITCLAIMED all our rights, interests, claims, shares and participations over the abovedescribed parcel of land infavor to our sister: CHATA PATILANO OWEN. As per Doc. No. 332; Page No. 67; Book No. 201; Series of 2013; under Notary Public of ATTY. BUENAVENTURA E. SAGRADO. MDN: Oct. 9, 16 & 23, 2013

Lopez stated.

“Our aspiration to become a city is a new challenge for us Sta. Cruzians to overcome. It will only be just a matter of time, all we need is to believe in each other’s competence, open communication, trust, respect and cooperation among all of us residents of Sta. Cruz, and for sure our vision will be realized,” he added.

This year’s celebration was unique as all activities were fused in three days instead of the usual five days.

“We really wanted to make the celebration as festive as possible that’s why we fused all the activities in three days instead of the usual five days. In a way, we can also minimize expenses while making the best out of the celebration,” said Councilor Mila Lim, the overall event coordinator of the 129th Araw ng Sta. Cruz.

On October 3, the celebration started with a fun run and mangrove growing activity in the morning and was followed by the opening of Sta. Cruz Tourism and Agri-Industrial Trade Exhibit (STATE).

STATE was a showcase of tourism destinations in Sta. Cruz while also promoting products locally made by Sta. Cruz producers. It also served as a venue where agri-industrial companies in the municipality presented their product portfolios to the general public.

The first day also showed the colorful Float Parade and Allu Tangogoan, a street dancing competition participated by some barangay contingents in Sta. Cruz displaying the unique cultural heritage of the town as manifested

through dancing. Barangay Coronon won the first prize followed by Barangay Zone 3. Defending champion Barangay Tagabuli settled for third place this time.

In the evening of October 3 was the Search for Mutya ng Sta. Cruz where a lady from Barangay Astorga Miss Leah Mae Optina was adjudged as the new Mutya ng Sta. Cruz. Rounding off the top five finalists were from Barangay Zone 3, Barangay Inawayan, Barangay Tuban and Barangay Tagabuli.

On October 4, different local service providers from the LGU connived to deliver basic services to all sectors of the society.

The Municipal Health Office conducted the Preventive Health Services program and it was highlighted with the blessing of new birthing facility located within the municipal hall compound.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, on the other hand, had facilitated the Elderly and Children’s Day in con-

sonance to the celebration of Elderly Filipino Week and Children’s Month. The activity was in fact the venue for the Release of Social Pension to Elderly.

In a separate venue was the free rabbies vaccination program conducted by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAGRO). Actual fisher folk registration was also conducted by MAGRO along with some other subactivities relative to agriculture and fishery program.

The Department of Education, in partnership with ANAKK Sta. Cruz, had also successfully conducted its 2nd Intra Sta. Cruz Football Tournament. This was in line with the agency’s effort to beef up the social school initiative of ANAKK to train young football players in Sta. Cruz.

Over at the integrated transport terminal, a comedy show was held in the evening of October 4, featuring stand up comedians from Davao City.

The culmination program on October 5 started with a Holy Mass and was

followed by the grand parade. Right after the culmination program, the activity of DepEd followed with a presentation of the different Drum and Bugle Corps and Drum and Lyre Corps in the municipality.

Another highlight was the sports championship games and the motocross racing which took place in Escandor area, Barangay Zone 3.

As official media partner of the event, the GMA Kapuso Network brought in some of its popular primetime stars to the delight of the people of the town during the GMA Kapuso Fiesta in the evening of October 5.

Meanwhile, the San Miguel Brewery, Inc., sponsored a nightly entertainment at the municipal plaza for three straight nights, providing live entertainment to the general audience.

The 129th Araw ng Sta. Cruz celebration was concluded with fireworks display. (CDIO-Sta. Cruz/ Julius Paner/PIA-11, CLC)

Davao Light's text broadcast out of service Oct. 16 DAVAO CITY – The Davao Light and Power Company's ASKDLPC BILL text broadcast will not be available to customers inquiring through Sun Cellular number 09229993572 on October 16, from 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m.

The broadcast said service will not be able to cater to customer queries on electric bills during the schedule time due to the maintenance activity on its server to be conducted by the telecom company in order provide for a more improved service to all clients.

Officials assured that the ASKDLPC BILL service will be available as soon as the maintenance activity will be completed.

The electric distribution utility apologizes to those who will be affected by the temporary shut down of the text messaging service. (PNA) NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late spouses SIMEON L. RODRIGO and MARIA PEREZ consisting a parcel of agricultural land situated at Cabawan, Rosario, Agusan del Sur, Philippines registered in the name of SIMEON L. RODRIGO under OCT No. (P-4531) , P-307 8, Lot No. 566, pls-67 containing an area of 23,873 square meters is the subject of Deed of Extra Judicial Settlement Between Heirs under the notarial registry under Doc. No. 48, Page No. 10, Book No. 51, Series of 2012.

MDN: Oct 2, 9 & 16, 2013

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of CONCEPCION M. BALDONADO and ANGELO C. BALDONADO, who both died intestate at Butuan City on January 6, 2002 and December 30, 2002, respectively, consisting of a real property (Lot 611-F-3-F-3, Block 1, Psd-13-001089 being a portion of 611-F-3-F, Psd-13-000287) situated at San Vicente, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-16131, containing an area of 166 square meters, more or less, is the subject of an EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF CONCEPCION M. BALDONADO AND ANGELO C. BALDONADO made and entered into by and among Concepcion M. Baldonado and Angelo C. Baldonado’s compulsory heirs, namely, Ma. Cecelia B. Conjurado, Angel M. Baldonado, Jayzel M. Baldonado and Ma. Theresa M. Baldonado, per Doc. No. 300; Page No. 30; Book No. CXVII; Series of 2013 of the Notarial Registry of Atty. Richard L. Lamigo, Notary Public for and in the City of Butuan with PTR No. 0554822 1/2/2013 until December 31, 2013.

MDN: Oct. 2, 9 & 16, 2013

Bayan Muna partylist Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate calls on fellow lawyers to take a stand on the pork barrel scandal during a press confernce at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Lounge in Davao City on October 10, 2013. (MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano)

TMC: City plans night, weekend markets to ease city streets DAVAO CITY -- Local officials recommended the holding of night and weekend markets in order to accommodate street vendors to sell their merchandise to the residents, consequently clearing the streets and sidewalks of the city during the day.

Dionesio Abude, chief of the Traffic Management Center said five areas are chosen as sites for the night market namely, Ilustre Street Extension from the underpass of the Bangkerohan Bridge to the corner of Il-

ustre and Pichon Streets, Duterte to General Luna Streets, Both sides of the Roxas Avenue particularly beside the drainage canal from the Corner of Father Faura and Pag-asa Streets, Bangoy to Alvarez Streets in Magsaysay Avenue and Bangoy Streets towards the fly-over bridge in Agdao.

He said the night market will start at 5:00 pm onwards.

Abude said a weekend market will also be set-up along San Pedro Street from the corner of the city hall drive towards the corner

of Anda Street and from Bangoy Street to Alvarez Street at Magsaysay Avenue.

He said the weekend market will start at 2:00 pm onwards.

Yusop Jimlani, chief of the City Demolition Team said vendors will be charged P150-tax payment for every night display.

He expressed hope that street vendors will follow suit and eventually help clear the areas where they currently conduct their trade.

Jimlani observed several ambulant vendors are

already occupying the space between the San Pedro Cathedral and the Sangguniang Panlungsod building permanently.

“They have to leave eventually since we agreed in the first place that their stay is only temporary, only during the holding of the Kadayawan Festival,” he said.

Jimlani stressed that even with the absence of a relocation site, vendors must be removed from the area to give access to the masses that use the road and sidewalk.

(RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

Mindanao Daily 11 NEWS

wednesday | october 16, 2013

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

Deal... from page 7

It proposed a joint venture project with Pasay City wherein SM Land will recover some 136 hectares from the bay. On July 25, 2013, however, SM Land amended that letter of intent by asking for authority to reclaim, not just 136 hectares anymore, but 300 hectares.

On August 12, 2013, it appears that a majority of the City Council, composed of Vice Mayor Marlon Pesebre, and Councilors Allan T. Panaligan, Mary Grace Santos, Jennifer A. Roxas, Richard M. Advincula, Alberto C. Alvina, Eduardo I. Advincula, Lexter N. Ibay, Ma. Antonia C. Cuneta, Aileen Padua Lopez, Ian Vendivel, Arnel Regino Arceo, Arvin G. Tolentino, Reynaldo O. Padua and Richard C. Roxas, authorized Calixto to do two things: negotiate with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to allow the city to undertake the reclamation in question, and to negotiate likewise with SM Land for the terms of the joint venture.

However, on that same day of August 12, 2013, it would appear that Calixto, using the authorization of the city council, already awarded the joint venture agreement to SM Land.

There would be more of this next issue, especially in line with the requirements of a “competitive bidding”, under Section 10, Art. IV, of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as “An Act Providing for the Modernization, Standardization, and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and for other purposes”.

-oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96.

Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@ gmail.com.

Tactic... from page 7

that happened to be linked with Napoles. Do not forget that the fund was not given to the legislators for them to disburse as they please.

Theirs was only to identify the projects they want to be funded. After the identification, the fund was released to the implementing national line agency.

Sadly, the above-named senators went beyond the normal. They asked the national line agency to have it released to a government owned corporation that is an attached agency of the national line agency then requested the government owned corporation to have the fund released to a Napoles-controlled NGO. Given these facts, Aquino and the rest of the Executive branch did not abuse the DAP. It was the abovenamed senators who abused the DAP. So why blame DAP when it was abused by the

above-named senators? The others did not. Sila lang ang mi-abuso.

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

Teachers... from page 8

Aside from the barangay polls, all elections conducted by the Comelec since 2010 were already automated or in the computerized mode.

Gerada said not one among the area’s pool of BETs have so far signified to back out from serving in the barangay elections.

“Our area is generally peaceful as of this time so there’s no reason really for our BETs to back out. I think they’re all willing to serve their election duties but we just need to prepare them properly,” he said.

As set by the Comelec central office, Gerada added that each BET will receive an allowance of P2,500, of which P500 will be provided through the mandatory augmentation funds of P10,000 from the barangays.

Events... from page 2

table tennis.

Sabal said simple opening ceremonies will be held at each venue.

The winners in both the City Meet and the provincial event will compete in the regional meet that will determine the composition of the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletics Association to the next Palarong Pambansa.

Sabal said this step-ladder elimination of athletes will bring out the best athletes from the region.

In Misamis Oriental, the perennial strong municipalities have been Initao for football, Alubijid and Libertad for volleyball and lawn tennis, and Balingasag, Opol and Tagoloan for basketball.

Sabal said the national coaches will be scouting for potential athletes at the Palarong Pambansa for the national training pool.

He added that the Misamis Oriental provincial government has come up with an province-wide sports program that will hopefully be implemented beginning next year.

The program will be executed in coordination with the municipal sports coordinators who have the local knowledge of their sports potentials.

Sabal said the program will address the lack of training facilities, equipment and trainors in the municipal level.

Farmers... from page 5

Merida cited that additional support services such as mechanical dryers and corn mills can further improve the cooperative’s economic condition.

One of the strengths of the cooperative, Merida

said, is its group of support organizations that helped them through the years.

The Sumilao farmers hogged the headlines in 2007 when they marched from this town to Manila to press their land claim under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

They first rose to national prominence earlier in 2007 after they staged a 28-day hunger strike in Quezon and Cagayan de Oro cities to dramatize their demand to get back 144 ha of their ancestral land.

Their ancestral land area, around 243 ha of flat agricultural lands, used to be the seat of the Higaonon tribe until a big landowner came in the 1930s and allegedly drove them away.

Ownership of the land, which is bound by Mt. Sayawan and Mt. Palaopao, changed several times through the years until it was divided into two lots.

One lot, around 99 ha, went to Salvador Carlos, a Manila-based businessman and Norberto Quisumbing, owner of the Cebu-based Yamaha Norkis manufacturing. The land was eventually sold to SMC. Carlos, however, declared in his will that 66 ha be given back to the farmers. (Walter I. Balane/ MindaNews)

Relief... from page 1

generated more than $13 billion in revenues, an increase of $2 billion from the $11 billion in 2011.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) now Rakel Rivera of BIEN and Mark Louie Aquino of Scrap the Pork Alliance ask the BPO employers to support also their tax holiday campaign.

Rivera said they will also hold similar activities in other cities outside of the capital where there are BPO sites. Aside from “first-tier” BPO locations such as Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, second- and third-tier BPO locations in the country included regional economic zones such as those in Bacolod City, Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro, Clark (Angeles City), Dagupan City, Davao City, Tacloban City, Dumaguete City, Lipa City, Iloilo City, Legazpi City, Iligan City,Olongapo City and Urdaneta City.

When asked if the tax holiday will affect the country adversely in terms of revenue generation, Rivera of BIEN said there will be a reduced budget indeed for government projects, but she estimated that this won’t affect the budget much because “we still have funds, there are other taxes which we all pay everytime we buy something.” Rivera was referring to the Value-Added Tax. “Our tax should go, or be aligned, to basic services – we lack school buildings, health centers, hospitals,” Rivera said. The call cen-

ter agents themselves have HMO (prepaid health insurance cards), but the call center agents with BIEN said others in the country don’t have that.

“Everytime it rains we get flooded because the drainage system is not being upgraded or maintained,” Rivera pointed out.

The tax holiday is estimated to benefit the nearly 800,000 BPO workers, who, BIEN said in previous campaigns, are working hard to the point of contracting illnesses for lack of sleep, toilet breaks and oftentimes failing to eat their “lunch” (midnight meal).

Call center agents with BIEN said a tax holiday is something their employers have already been enjoying.

“For them to invest here, the government gives them 3-to 5-year tax holidays,” Rivera said. As such, she and BIEN believed the government can manage the proposed tax holiday for employees.

As for the call center agents’ ongoing petitionsigning, BIEN said they might include it in the Peoples’ Initiative calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system, or use the signature drive generally to broaden calls for abolishing the pork barrel system.

“It’s dismaying that taxes only go to big crooks, when our less fortunate country men don’t have housing, health services. Every time a congressman builds or repairs a street, huge tarpaulins bearing his name appear, when it’s our money he has been spending,” Rivera said.

“This is also a message that the people are neither forgetting nor are being misled on the issue of corruption. The Filipinos’ anger continue to flare, and more and more people are joining the alliance to demand the abolition of the Pork Barrel,” said Mark Louie Aquino, lead convenor of Scrap the Pork Alliance who joined and supported the call center agents in launching the tax holiday campaign. (http:// bulatlat.com)

Quake... from page 1

of Misamis Oriental, said that the earthquake was felt at intensity 4.2 in the province.

He said the province’s risk and management council has not received any report of damage in the province 23 towns and the two component cities of Gingoog in the east coast and El Salvador in the west coast.

Residents in Cagayan de Oro City said that the earthquake was felt for more than 4 minutes but no major damage was reported.

Police Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares, the city’s police chief, said that the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) has not received any report of damage caused by the earthquake.

The army’s 4th Infantry Division based at Camp Evangelista in Patag, Cagayan de Oro, has yet to release and official statement about the effect of the earthquake in Northern Mindanao Tuesday morning.

Capt. Christian Uy, spokesperson of the army’s Public Affairs Division, said that the military was still gathering reports about the effect of the earthquake from the various military commands within the area of the army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Philvocs officials announced that, at least, 20 earthquake related deaths had been recorded in the Central Visayas areas and warned of possible stronger after shocks.

The Central Visayas region comprised the capital province of Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, and Negros Oriental while Northern Mindanao comprised Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, and Bukidnon.

Pork... from page 1

former Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s call for a people’s initiative and help gather the needed signatures.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro in Iloilo said he is willing to help in the signature campaign through his archdiocese’s social action center and other lay organizations.

The former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, however, said “it would be better” if instructions on the signature drive is coursed through the CBCP secretariat in Manila.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon also assured the support of his diocese to Puno’s call to scrap all forms of pork barrel.

“All of us in Sorsogon are very angry with this pork whatever it is named. I always include in my homilies a prophetic exhortation against this social and political evil,” he said.

Other bishops who are willing to help gather signatures in their pastoral jurisdictions are Bishops Carlito Cenzon of Baguio, Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus and Martin Jumoad of Basilan.

“Yes I’m willing with the help of our priests, religious and lay faithful,” Evangelista said.

In Cebu, the country’s second archdiocese, church officials have also joined local efforts for a people’s initiative to push for legislation to scrap the pork barrel. (CBCPNews)

Calamity... from page 1

tents which his constituents will use as temporary shelter amidst continuing onslaught of aftershocks following the main tremor.

He noted such tents will be in addition to those the provincial government’s providing for the purpose.

“We need to set up

more tents in the sports complex so people can stay there temporarily,” he said.

He cautioned his constituents about re-occupying houses and buildings in the province, saying experts must first check these structures’ structural integrity.

Aside from tents, Chatto said Bohol needs potable water and food for quake-affected people.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier reported the earthquake struck two km south 16° east of Bohol’s Carmen municipality.

The tremor of tectonic origin occurred 8:12 a.m. at a depth of 33 km, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum also urged inspection of structures in Bohol and other areas affected by the quake, warning these can collapse amidst continuing onslaught of aftershocks.

He made the call, expecting further aftershocks from the earthquake classified as a “major” one.

According to Solidum, Phivolcs already monitored 110 aftershocks as of 11 a.m. Tuesday with the strongest at magnitude 4.5 around 9:55 a.m.

“The aftershocks will continue in the coming days but will diminish in number over time,” he said.

Bohol provincial board member Cesar Tomas Lopez reported the earthquake’s death toll is rising.

He noted the victims were either pinned down or hit by falling trees and objects.

L op ez also said the tremor either totally or partially damaged 22 old churches as well as several roads and bridges in the province.

The tremor also left Bohol without electricity, he continued.

“Bohol’s already declared as being under a state of calamity,” Lopez said.

Chatto earlier requested f rom national government deployment of helicopters that can help facilitate rescue operations in Bohol.

Damage to several roads and bridges makes it difficult to access Bohol’s capital Tagbilaran City, he noted.

Lopez said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier assured helping rescue operations in Bohol.

“MMDA committed sending rescue teams,” he said.

According to MMDA Chairperson Francis Tolentino, the agency already deployed two teams to Bohol and Cebu province.

Both provinces are reeling from the earthquake’s onslaught.

“We’ll deploy additional personnel if necessary,” Tolentino said.

12 Mindanao Daily NEWS

Sports News

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

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Azkals need 2-0 win vs. Pakistan to get a crack at 2nd PHL Peace Cup crown MANILA, Oct. 14 (PNA) -- The Azkals’ 2-1 loss to Chinese Taipei last Friday has placed the country’s most popular men’s football club in jeopardy down the bottom standings.

For sure, Phil and James Younghusband’s squad will be on the lookout when they face Pakistan late Monday evening for the 2nd Philippine Peace Cup at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Brgy Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

The national team is undefeated in the Visayas region with nine straight wins but this time, they have to win with a twogoal margin to enable them to keep the title while Pakistan is on top of the scoreboard with three points and+1 goal difference followed by Chinese Taipei.

The scenario will be if

Photo from abs-cbnnews.com

the Philippines wins on a goal margin, Chinese Taipei will capture the championship via headto-head record.

However, if the match ends on a draw, Pakistan wins the Peace Cup title.

Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, who is also a FIFA Marketing and TV Committee member, has appealed to the people of Bacolod and Negros Occidental to show their support

to the national team on Tuesday at the Panaad Stadium.

In 2011, more than 20,000 spectators filled the Panaad Stadium during the PhilippinesMongolia tiff for the

San Mig Coffee nips Petron to even Governor's Cup Finals Series MANILA - The San Mig Coffee Mixers relied on their huge third quarter rally to wallop the the Petron Blaze Boosters,100-93 in their Game Two Finals encounter to tie their series match-up in front of a mammoth crowd on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

James Yap was chosen as the Best Player of the Game after spearheading the Mixers with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Leading by four early in the third canto, San Mig Coffee launched a thunderous 11-3 outburst that increased their lead to a dozen,68-56.

Petron's Ronald Tubid ended their drought after scoring inside

to trim San Mig Coffee's lead to ten, 68-58 but Alex Mallari brought back their lead to twelve,70-58.

Elijah Millsap fired a cold bloodied jumper but it was answered by a Peter June Simon corner trey that gave the Mixers a fourteen point cushion,74-60. Petron managed to convert with a two pointer to finish the 3rd quarter trailing by twelve, 74-62.

The Boosters tried to make a run in the start of the fourth period, as they launch a 6-1 rally to rim the Mixers' lead to seven,75-68, but the Mixers responded with five unanswered points that brought back their lead to twelve, 80-68.

Petron suffered a big blow after

losing Elijah Millsap who commited his sixth and final foul with 3;29 minutes remaining in the final period.

Instead of giving up, the Booster rallied fiercely by trimming the Mixers lead to seven, 89-82 with more than two minutes left in the game.

The Boosters suffered another huge blow after losing June Mar Fajardo and Arwin Santos, they managed to put on a scare by trimming San Mig's lead to three, 96-93 with nine seconds left.

Petron intentionally fouled PJ Simon who calmly sank his two freethrows to seal the victory for the Mixers. (PNA) CTB/KPVM/RSM

San Mig Coffee's James Yap (L) pulls up against the defense of Best Player of the Conference awardee Arwind Santos.

Photo by KC CRUZ

Challenge Cup. On the other hand, in the post-match press conference last Sunday, Pakistan head Coach Mohamed Shamlan said that he looks at the Philippine Team as a strong

squad and was surprised when it yielded to Chinese Taipei.

“I have been following the Philippine Team’s games in the past years.

They have improved so much. They are a strong squad. They performed well against stronger teams like Kuwait, Bahrain, among the few,” Shamlan said. “We are expecting a great game,” he added.

Meanwhile, Philippine team head Coach Hans Michael Wiess, earlier, said that after their disappointing loss to Chinese Taipei the team will do lots of adjustments for their match against Pakistan.

The Peace Cup signals the start of the Azkals' build-up for the AFC Challenge Cup Maldives 2014 Finals which will be held in May 2014.

(PNA) HBC/LOR

Jaro sisters,Nera top Davao City 21K Nat’l Milo Marathon MANILA, - Spectacular running siblings Cynthia and Criselyn Jaro proved that speed runs in their blood when they posted a spectacular one-two finish at the 21K women’s division run Sunday at the 37th National MILO Marathon in Davao City.

In the men’s division, 2012 champion Anthony Nerza also proved his mettle during the race and successfully defended his local crown to clinch a repeat victory.

Jaro sister Cynthia and Criselyn and Nerza earned themselves an all-expenses paid trip to the finale in December, where 500 of the country’s best runners will compete for up to P300,000 in cash and for a chance to run the 2014 Paris Marathon courtesy of MILO. A total of 13,412 runners joined the twelfth qualifying leg of the prestigious nationwide race, with 29 other runners booking a slot in the finals.

Milo's Help Give Shoes to shoeless school children reached the 30,700 mark on Sunsay as it continues its campaign to develop sports in the country.(PNA) DSP/LOR