Mindanao Examiner Newspaper Weekly

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Zamboanga City, Philippines

Sep 10 - Sep 16, 2012

Two Muslim women walk in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines where various Muslim groups have appealed to the Pilar College to allow its Muslim students to wear hijab.

The Catholic school has not allowed Muslims to use hijab citing its rules and regulations. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

CATHOLIC SCHOOL BANS USE OF HIJAB! ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Catholic-run Pilar College in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines has flatly rejected appeals by various Muslim groups to allow its Muslim students to use hijab.

The National Commis- informed of the restriction, sion on Muslim Filipinos they still chose to enrol,” Pilar (NCMF) and local politicians College said, adding it has the also appealed to Pilar College right to freely adopt its own to allow students to wear hijab. policies, standards, regulations NCMF Secretary Mehol and sets forth its conditions for Sadain, in an open letter to Pi- those wishing to join the comlar College, wrote: “I am writ- munity as students.

“This is part of academic ing, not to argue, but to enlighten; and not to object, but freedom in connection with to appeal for your kind recon- which the school has the right sideration and compromise, in to choose whom to teach,” it behalf of the hijab-wearing said.

Pilar College said students Muslimah enrolled in Pilar are duty bound to follow the College.”

The school, run by the rules and regulations.

Sadain said while Pilar Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, has stood College claims the exercise of firm on its decision. In said the academic freedom, “such freecore of curriculum of Pilar dom must conform to law and College is Christian living and the basic indices of justice and it is also the reason why it has fair play, as well as the correTheology and Religious Stud- sponding exercise by students of their equally constitutionies subjects.

“Our origin is Roman ally-enshrined right to religious Catholic and we cannot devi- freedom.”

“I hope that Pilar College ate from that origin. It is true we cater to students of differ- can reconsider its policy in view ent religions, but before they of these very clear legal manare officially enrolled, during dates and institutional policy of interviews of student applicant, the Department of Education. rules and regulations are ex- Pilar College should realize that plained to them particularly while educational institutions the non-wearing of the hijab or can formulate their own policies, the same should not run veil.”

“This way, we are giving counter to existing laws and freedom to students to choose state policies,” he added.

Sadain was referring to the a school which best fits them.

They deemed to have agreed Department of Education Order to the rule if after having been No. 53 and the Magna Carta of

Pilar College in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Women which provides for the protection and promotion of the rights of women, particularly Muslim or Moro and indigenous women.

“Sensitivity of regular schools to particular Moro and indigenous practices, such as fasting in the month of Ramadan, choice of clothing, including the wearing of hijab,” he said, citing the implementing rules and regulation of the Magna Carta contained on the Republic Act 9710.

BIFM rebels lalaban patay kung patay MAGUINDANAO – Nagbanta ang Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFDM) na hindi ito titigil sa pakikibaka sa militar sa magulong lalawigan ng Maguindanao na kung saan ay patuloy ang operasyon ng militar laban sa rebeldeng grupo.

Sinabi ni BIFM spokesman Abu Misri Mama na ipinagtatanggol lamang nito ang kanilang grupo sa atake ngf militar. "Sila ang nauna at pinatay ng mga sundalo ang aming miyembro at pati puwersa namin sa Basilan (province) ay inatake rin nila," ani Mama sa isang sikretong panayam ng

Mindanao Examiner sa Maguindanao.

Nanindigan ito sa kanilang "jihad" at handa umanong magbuwis ng buhay ang mga miyembro ng BIFM uoang maipagtanggol ang kanilang karapatan.

"Hindi kami uurong sa kanila at nakahanda kami sa anumang mangyayari," sabi pa ni Mama. Itinanggi rin nito ang paratang ng militar na sinunog ng mga rebelde ang kabahayan ngf mga sibilyan sa ibat-ibvang bayan sa lalawigan.

"Yun mga sundalo ang nagsunog ng mga bahay.

Hindi namin magagawa iyan dahil mga Bangsamoro ang

Si BIFM spokesmen Abu Misri Mama bago ang simula ng isang clandestine interview sa Mindanao Examiner sa Maguindanao province na kung saan ay patuloy ang operasyon ng militar kontra rebeldeng grupo. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

Walang humpay ang opensiba ng militar laban sa mga miyembro ng rebeldeng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement sa Maguindanao province sa Mindanao.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

mga sibilyan," wika pa ni Mama sa maiksing panayam nito sa ilang piling mamamahayag.

Itinanggi naman ni Col. Prudencio Asto, ang spokesman ng 6th Infantry Division, ang lahat ng ibinintang ni Mama at binansagan nitong "bandido" ang naturang grupo.

Sinabi rin ni Asto na nasakop na nila ang dalawang malalaking kampo ng BIFM sa bayan ng Datu Hoffer. Gamit umano ng mga rebelde ang naturang kampo na tinawag na Hill 714 at Hill 166 na siyang nagsisilbing sentro ng mga atake ng BIFM kontra militar at sibilyan.

Hindi naman mabatid kahapon kung may mga casualties sa panig ng militar at BIFM. Ngunit inamin ni Asto na ang mga kampo ay dating komunidad ng mga natibong Teduray na napilitang lumisan dahil sa pagbabanta ng BIFM sa kanilang buhay.

Ginamit rin ang kampo bilang training grounds ng mga "child warriors."

“Those Hills were formerly Tedurays community.

Later was turned into training venues for child warriors and used then as the staging point for the BIFF rebels in planning their atrocities against soldiers and civilians in nearby communities,” ani Asto sa hiwalay na panayam ng Mindanao Examiner.

Ang BIFM ay binuo ni Ameril Umra Kato matapos itong kumalas sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front uoang isulong ang isang independent state sa Mindanao.

Ayon kay Asto ay nais ng BIFM na madiskaril ang peace talks sa pagitan ng MILF at pamahalaang Aquino. (May dagdag na ulat si Mark Navales)

The Department of Education also decreed the protection of religious rights of students by providing. “Female Muslim school children should be allowed to use their veil or head dress inside the school campus. In Physical Education classes, Muslim girls shall not be required to wear shorts (pants); they shall be allowed to wear appropriate clothing in accordance with their religious beliefs. Muslim students shall not be required to participate in non-Muslim religious rites.”

Sadain said: “I admire your College for the noble purpose of its educational endeavors. And perhaps, a number of Muslim families in Zamboanga

City harbor the same admiration, which is why they have sent their daughters to enroll in your College. In this context, I do not see how allowing your Muslim students to wear a hijab (that may be regulated and agreed upon) will prevent your College from teaching and guiding your students the way to God”, because the wearing of the hijab is by itself, a Muslim’s way to God, as the practice is part of religious studies which your College teaches.”

He said the wearing of the hijab is akin to the wearing of the veil which is practiced by Pilar College’s religious order.

Sadain said: “As a final note, I hope to disabuse your

position that this is a mere issue of choosing schools according to one’s community because this position is fraught with perilous implications.”

“If we are to abide by this position and apply this indiscriminately, then we shall have schools banning students because they do not belong to their community. We shall have education apportioned to people of the same class and intolerant of others who do not belong to their class. We shall then be damaging the very ramparts of freedom and democracy upon which this nation was built.” (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012 SULU – Local Muslims in the southern Philippine province of Sulu praised Gov. Sakur Tan and his family and efforts of the local government for the peaceful celebration of the Eid ul-Fitr.

Thousands of Muslims gathered in the town of Maimbung where they feasted on free food and greeted peace and long life with each other as they celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr, which marked the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Tuan Bashir, an influential spiritual adviser in Sulu, said the celebration of Eid strengthens the unity and promote love and harmony among Muslims.

“This celebration if very important to us because this is the time where we thank Allah for all the blessings in life and share these blessings to the less fortunate,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said locals celebrate the Eid with thanksgiving and festival after the conclusion of the thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the Ramadan.

Gov. Tan and his wife Hajja Nurunisah Tan and their children – as they did in previous years - led villagers in the breaking of fast with prayers on a small mosque in Maimbung, the seat of power of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Tan and his wife, Hajja Nurinisah, both philanthropists, ordered ready-to-eat meals, which arrived in truckloads in Maimbung to feed the town folks. Sulu mayors, including police and military officials and government leaders, also arrived to greet the First Family

and to join the Eid celebration with the locals.

“We all give thanks to God for all these blessings. We are happy helping the poor,” Gov. Tan said.

Gov. Tan said he only wished for peace for everybody not only in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, but the whole country as well.

“Peace is all we want not only in Sulu, but the ARMM and the whole country. Without peace, there will be no progress and development,” he said.

Gov. Tan also thanked President Benigno Aquino for his support to peace and development in Sulu.

“We are recipients of many development projects now and our people are happy with all these blessings and we really appreciate the efforts of the Aquino government in helping us in Sulu and we would like to thank the President for all these development projects,” he said.

Last year, Gov. Tan prepared food for over 2,000 people in the coastal town where he lives and locals also put up stalls to sell their goods – from lobsters to root crops – because the Eid is also the time that Muslims spend more to buy gifts for their families and loved ones.

A show band from Zamboanga City, commissioned by the town’s mayor, Samier Tan, also arrived in the town to entertain the locals. “Everybody is really enjoying and this is the time to thank the God and share our love to others,” he said.

The band was a hit among locals who enjoyed the electrifying performance of the group.

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All Praises for Eid celebration

Muslim children eat at the residence of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan during the celebration of the Eid ul-Fitr which marked the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. And Governor Sakur Tan is flanked by well-wishers outside a mosque in the town of Maimbung in Sulu province. Thousands of Muslims gathered in the town where they feast on free food and greet each other as they celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr.(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Among the band members were Marvin de Jesus (lead guitar), Ahmad Nubhan (drums), Christopher Casimiro and Komz Ibrahim (bass), and Angelo Bangcal, Anthony Juni, Anne Perez and

Sher-Ainnie Nuruddin, (vocals).

A long display of colorful fireworks capped the first day of the Eid celebration which usually lasts up to three days. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

ARMM hospitals get more state funds; Sulu executive praises Presiden Aquino COTABATO CITY – Sulu Governor Sakur Tan praised the Aquino administration for its continuing support to peace and development programs in the province and the rest of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

This after President Benigno Aquino recently released over P318 million to fund the rehabilitation of health facilities in the ARMM which is composed of Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao province; and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

The fund, part of

Aquino’s continuing initiative to improve socioeconomic conditions in the southern region, would also be used for the purchase of health equipment, according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

“We don't know how to thank the President for all these support to the ARMM and Sulu in particular, and I am sure that these projects will benefit mostly the poor,” he told the Mindanao Examiner in a phone interview.

Tan said it is only now that the national government has put so much attention to

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, left, and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, huddle in this photo posted on the website of Sulu Provincial Government.

The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Jeffrey Garcia Jonalyn Mendoza Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales ARMM

Giovanni Solmerano Eastern Mindanao

Merlyn Manos Iligan City

Geonarri Solmerano Southern Mindanao

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Asa Madale Lanao Provinces Ely Dumaboc Zamboanga Sibugay/Zamboanga del Sur/Zamboanga del Norte John Shinn III California The Mindanao Examiner Newspaper/Business Week/Mindanao Daily is published weekly/daily in Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, Philippines.

The Mindanao Examiner Television is broadcast in Skycable 54 in Zamboanga; Lupah Sug Cable in Sulu province and Basilan Cable in Basilan province.

Our business and editorial offices are located at Units 15, 3rd Floor, Fair Land Bldg., Nuñez St., Zamboanga City Phone & fax: +63 62 9925480 Mobile: +63 9152756606 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

the poor plight of the ARMM. “All we can Mr. President is thank you very much and our people appreciate all these peace and development projects,” he said.

Abad said they had earlier released some P437.5 million used to enhance hospital facilities in the ARMM. The latest release comprised the remaining balance from the P756 million under the ARMM Transition and Investment Support Plan.

“Our ability to ensure better public health care for ARMM communities is crucial to the region’s overall socio-economic growth.

We’re actively improving facilities and conditions in the region’s public hospitals, many of which still do not have the means or equipment to respond to their patients’ medical needs. The medical staffs are often talented, but without the right facilities, they can do little,” Abad said in a statement.

He said of the total amount released, P188 million will go to the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals, rural health units and village health stations. The remaining P130.5 million will be used to purchase new hospital equipment and other health care materials for hospitals identified in the region, he said.

“The President is committed to improving the situation for ARMM communities compromised by armed conflict and security issues.

As we continue to push for quality healthcare in the region and the physical wellbeing of ARMM residents, we can reasonably expect them to become more productive members of their communities and more effective agents of change for the entire region,” Abad said.

(With reports from Ely Dumaboc and Mark Navales)

A huge sign hangs outside the Universidad de Zamboanga where it displays the number of people killed in gun attacks in Zamboanga City. (Photo by Marvin Saradat - Mindanao Examiner)

Despite unabated killings, police insists Zamboanga is peaceful ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine police has downplayed the spate of killings in the southern port city of Zamboanga, saying the peace and order situation is not alarming.

Regional police chief Napoleon Estilles said the local security condition is better than previous years, saying the there were more killings the past years. “It

is not too bad if we compare killings in the past years, say the last three years,” he said.

He said there were only 127 cases of killings from January to August last year.

But the number of killings during the same period this year has reached 131 and gun attacks continue in Zamboanga City with authorities blaming the proliferation of illegal weapons and feud as the cause of the murders.

Estilles defended the police force from public criticisms, saying they are doing their best to stop the killings. “As a matter of fact, we are intensifying our efforts to solve and stop the spate of killings in Zamboanga,” he said.

He also gave an ultimatum to police commanders to double their efforts to stop the killings in their respective areas. “I have given the station commanders an ultimatum and those who have the most numbers of shooting incidents in a month will undergo retraining, including all those policemen under them,” Estilles said.

Estilles urged the public to help the authorities by reporting crimes.

Zamboanga is one of the cities in the country that has the highest number of policemen, but despite this, the gun attacks and killings still continue unabated here.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

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The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

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The Mindanao Examiner

Children with cleft lip, palate benefit from mercy mission

Photos released to the Mindanao Examiner by the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division show soldiers at work during the “Project Boss” medical mission in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines.

PAGADIAN CITY – Dozens of mostly children with cleft lip and palate, have benefited from free medical outreach mission dubbed as “Brotherhood Operation Sweet Smile” in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur. The four-day medical mission, which ended recently, was held at the Kuta Cesar Sang-an Station Hospital inside the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division under Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, in Pagadian City.

It was jointly conducted by the 1st Infantry Division, the Maharlika Charity Foundation Inc., Alpha Phi Omega Southern Zamboanga Alumni Association, and different local government units of Zamboanga del Sur. “Project BOSS” aims to help indigents born with cleft lip who cannot avail of the appropriate reconstructive surgery, according to Cruz.

Cruz said the medical mission benefited at least 81 patients who came from different municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur. Parents of children, who were given free medical operation, praised the army and those behind “Project Boss.”

“Akala ko habang-buhay nang bungi ang anak ko.

Salamat po sa APO, sa Maharlika Charity Foundation at sa 1st Infantry Division. Malaking tulong po talaga ito sa amin at maraming salamat po sa lahat,” said Analyn Perez, a mother of a two-year old baby boy, who came all the way from the town of Tukuran, to avail of the free medical operation.

Victoria Cabilingan, a

resident of Pagadian City, whose 14-year old son was also operated, expressed gratitude to the medical team – the doctors and nurses – and said: “Sana po marami pang matulungan ang 1st Infantry Division at Maharlika Charity Foundation, malaking tulong po itong ginawa nyo sa aking anak.”

The army commander commended the members of APO SOZA-ALAS, the affiliated doctors and nurses of the Maharlika Foundation Inc.,

and the doctors and nurses of the military hospital and the participating army brigades and battalions, the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations for the successful “Project Boss”.

He also lauded the local government units which provided meals to the patients.

“Project BOSS is a concrete testimony that Bayanihan is still very much alive. This cleft lip and palate operations remind our indigent kababayans that there is

indeed a government working for them and that there are existing nongovernmental organizations ready to extend help. The smiles of these patients are more than enough to let us know that we have done our part,” Cruz, who is active in humanitarian works, said in a statement sent to The Mindanao Examiner.

Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. (Mindanao Examiner)

Atro Mining adopts Zambo river ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Vitali River in the eastern part of Zamboanga City in Mindanao has found a benefactor in a mining company in partnership with the local village officials.

In a memorandum of agreement signed recently at the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here, Atro Mining committed to assist the EMB in training community leaders in solid waste management; water quality management; and the mobilization of residents to implement the agency’s River Environmental Improvement Program.

ATRO also committed to work with the village in the implementation of the project.

Sixto Tolentino, Jr., EMB 9 regional director, lauded both the village officials and Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. for the “spirit of volunteerism” by coming up with the “AdoptA-River Project” on their own initiatives.

The project aims to clean up and rehabilitate Vitali River as a step toward a green and clean village by maintaining a clean river.

Tolentino stressed that Atro Mining may “sit down with Vitali officials in order to determine what the needs are in the process of project implementation.”

He emphasized the relevance of the project, especially that the agency will join the International Coastal Clean Up Day next month.

“With this Adopt-A-River Project, you will clean up the river instead of the coastal area,” Tolentino said.

He urged the company and the village officials “to make this project work in line

with the government’s publicprivate partnership program.”

The project will run for one year after the signing of the agreement. Regular reports and updates will be submitted to EMB 9 for monitoring.

Felimon Nepomuceno, resident manager of Atro Mining-Vitali, who signed the agreement for and in behalf of the company president Elson Ogario, said the company is committed to the fundamentals of responsible mining.

He said even during its exploration stage, the com-

pany - which is into iron ore mining - has already developed appropriate environmental protection measures.

Atro Mining has a Mines Operating Agreement with Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc., which grants exclusive rights to the the company to conduct operations within the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement area, about 2,077 hectares located in Upper Tagpangi in Vitali. It covers the areas of Campo Uno, Veronica, Campo Cuatro, Limbong and Aboles. (Antonio Manaytay)

Sixto Tolentino, regional director of the Environmental Management Bureau, (left), and Felimon Nepomuceno, manager of the Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc.; and Jose Alavar, Vitali village chieftain, hold the signed Memorandum of Agreement on Adopt-A-River Project in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. (Antonio Manaytay)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

Army defends Zambo small-scale miners PAGADIAN CITY – The Philippine Army has rejected claims by an affiliate of a Canadian mining firm operating in Zamboanga del Sur province that illegal miners attacked its security guards that resulted in a gun battle.

Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said one person, Wilfred Catampungan, was killed and six others wounded after security guards of the TVI Resources Development, Inc. opened fire on a group of smallscale miners. The incident occurred on July 25 in Bayog town, but the army released a statement only recently denying the mining firm’s claim that there was a fire fight between the two groups.

Cruz said police have filed criminal charges against 7 private security guards working for TVIRD. “Using the pieces of evidence gathered to include accounts from several witnesses and sworn statements of the complainants, cases of two counts frustrated murder and six for attempted murder have been filed at a local court against the seven security guards of the TVIRD who are all under the Big JR private security agency,” Cruz said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

Cruz branded the security guards as members of a “pseudo-organization em-

ployed by the said mining company to execute dirty works” commonly known among miners in Balabag area as 'K9'.

He also quoted Police Senior Inspector Eilen Fermindoza, chief of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch in Pagadian City, as saying that “there was no actual gunfight between the two parties. Majority of the firearms used by the TVIRD security guards were 12-gauge shotgun and, surprisingly, only spent cartridges of the same firearm have been found at the crime scene. Furthermore, all the involved guards’ firearms yielded positive on gun-powder residue upon examination.”

According to Cruz, soldiers from the 53rd Infantry Battalion led by Captain Rafael Balincamaya also confirmed that all the spent cartridges they recovered in the area were from a 12-gauge shotgun. They cartridges, he said, were just a few feet from the security post where the laborers were situated and that Balincamaya did not find any bullet holes at the outpost, denying the allegation of the TVIRD those laborers fired at its security guards.

“Indigenous people of Bayog and Sindangan town in Zamboanga del Norte province condemned the illegal actions of the TVIRD management that resulted to the unjust killing and wounding of the Subanen small-scale miner-laborers. The

truth shall always prevail,” Cruz said.

“In the spirit of Bayanihan (cooperativism), we will always support whatever investigation

“We do not have pseudo organizations in our company; much less people whose responsibilities resemble that of ‘K9’ dogs. Instead, we have func-

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III

will be undertaken by any investigative bodies such as our Philippine National Police counterparts when needed. Every Tabak trooper should remain vigilant and at all times be protectors of the people in our communities,” he said.

TVIRD has strongly denied Cruz’s allegations.

tional departments carrying out specifics tasks and duties for our operations and our sustainable development work for the communities and the environment,” said Yulo Perez, TVIRD’s Vice President for Operations and Chief Operating Officer.

Perez added that Jungoy, a native of Bayog town, is tasked to report and carry apprehended illegal mining equipment of illegal miners and to support tree-planting activities carried out by the Security Force Department.

“The group of Catumpangan carried sacks of cyanide, blasting caps, illegal toxic chemicals, and diesel fuels. Police authorities and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau personnel are tasked to apprehend illegal miners who smuggle these restricted materials inside TVIRD Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) site in Bayog’s Balabag mountain.

The TVIRD executive was deeply concerned by Cruz’s irresponsible statement which described Jungoy as a member of an illegitimate organization that does “dirty” works for the mining firm.

“Before issuing libellous statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should have read the police report on the Balabag incident. They could have known that the suspect was just defending his life against his attackers and that the company does not condone criminal acts,” Perez said.

“We brought Jungoy to the police immediately after the incident. We did not hide him because we trust our law enforcers so justice can take its course.

Instead of making irresponsible statements, authorities should stop these unprovoked acts of unlawful aggression,” he added.

According to TVIRD, Jungoy told police that he and his team where on a routine inspection inside the MPSA when they ran into some 20 laborers engaged in illegal mining activities carrying cyanide, activated carbon and diesel fuel use in their outlawed gold processing plants.

“Jungoy related to the police that he was attacked and mauled when he tried to stop the group of laborers. He fired a warning shot, but the group ignored it and continued their attack. Sensing serious danger to his life, Jungoy fired another shot that unfortunately hit one of his attackers,” TVIRD said.

TVIRD - an affiliate of TVI Pacific - said the company finds it necessary, together with local government and police authorities, to set up security checkpoints and patrols in Balabag due to the dangerous operations by illegal miners in the area.

It said even Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered a stop to all hazardous and illegal mining operations in Bayog town, particularly in Balabag.

Most of the miners operating in Balabag belong to the Monte de Oro Small Scale Miners Association, but the Provincial Mineral Regulatory Board recently passed a resolution denying MOSSMA’s application to have the area declared as “peoples’ mining area’ because it does not comply with the requirements set forth by law to conduct mining activities.

Illegal miners have been operating in Balabag for more than a decade now and were largely blamed for the destruction of the mountain and environmental pollution in the town, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Senator in controversial RH speech is accused of blocking anti-discrimination bill for LGBTs MANILA - A Filipino senator, Vicente Sotto, who is already facing a huge backlash for allegations of plagiarising blogs for his speech attacking a health care bill in Congress, has earned the ire of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos for his demand to remove sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) from a bill protecting minorities.

The Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines) protested reports that Sotto is working to remove SOGI protections from the proposed Anti-Racial, Ethnic and Anti-Religious Discrimination Act of 2011.

The alleged position was reported by Ifugao Rep.

Teodoro Brawner Baguilat Jr., a member of the House of Representatives who crafted a version that will be reconciled with the Senate version in a bicameral conference. Baguilat did not name other senators who were supposedly opposed to SOGI. "We are saddened that Sen. Sotto, whose successful showbiz and political careers are in part supported by hardworking LGBTs are now second class citizens who for him do not deseve equality before the law," said Goya Candelario, spokesperson of ProGay, in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

ProGay urged Congress to include SOGI as a protected status because this was one of

the recommendations given by the United Nations Human Rights Council when it subjected the Philippines to the Universal Periodic Review in May 2012.

The group said the failure of Congress to comply with this recommendation will put a bigger black eye on the human rights record of the Philippines which is already in disrepute for the country's failure to solve extrajudicial killings and political disappearances.

"We appeal to Senator Sotto to give back to the LGBT community which had suffered long enough from a spate of hate crimes, workplace discrimination and ridicule from homophobic elements of society," Candelario said.

(Photo courtesy of Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012

The Majestic Grand Mosque of Sultan Hadji Hassanal Bolkiah in Cotabato City in Southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales) COTABATO CITY – Patuloy na dumarami ang mga batikos at alegasyon ng korapsyon sa ilalim ng pamunuan ni dating party-list congressman at ngayon acting governor ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao na si Mujiv Hataman.

Kalat na rin sa social media network ang maraming batikos kay Hataman mula sa mga Muslim na todo ang bantay sa kilos ng pulitiko na kilalang malapit kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino.

Maging ang pribadong

buhay ni Hataman ay nahahalungkat na rin ng mga bumabatikos sa kanya at sa pamamalakad nito sa ARMM. At pati website ng ARMM ay nabatikos na rin dahil sa umano’y kulang-kulang na impormasyon nito at kadalasan ay out of order pa.

Sa Facebook page na “ARMM WATCH” ay makikita ang mga samu’tsaring batikos at bintang at kadalasan ay halos hindi na ito masagot ni Hataman, at kung magbigay naman ito ng reaksyon ay mula sa kanyang

cell phone na lamang at kalimitang sinasabi nito sa mga kritiko ay maglabas ng ebidensya o kaya ay magpunta sa kanyang tanggapan.

“Hindi naman kami manhid dahil ramdam ng mamamayang Moro kung seryoso na o puro pa-pogi lang ang ginagawa ni RG (Regional Governor) Hataman sampu ng mga POs niya. Marami kayang mga mahahalagang issues na hindi sinasagot. Silent on other issues like mining sa Tawi-Tawi province...bulok mna data portal...private

armies...corruption sa ORG (Office of the Regional Governor)?

Ganito ba ang isang transparent na government,” tanong pa ni Rheia Abdullah sa ARMM WATCH. Binuweltahan naman ni Hataman ito at sinabing: “Hinahamon kita at sabihin mo sa akin isa-isa at anong agency na may nangyayaring korapsyon. Mas mainam at malaking bagay sa pamumuno namin kung kay anong mapatunayan...heto advise ko sa iyo, maghanap ka ng butas at sabihin mo sa akin na may

paglabag...”

Inilutang rin ni Fred Datucon ang diumano’y P3.2 milyong CCTV scam sa opisina ni Hataman at sinabi pa nitong may usap-usapan na hindi umano dumaan sa Bidding and Awards Committee na pinamumunuan naman ng chief of staff ni Hataman. Depektibo umano ang mga CCTVs. Pinasinungalingan naman ito ni Hataman. “P3.2 million?

Are you sure? Please send me evidence at hindi makakalusot yan at wala pang binabayaran sa CCTVs. Huwag po kayong

magalala at pag umabot sa ganyan at hindi ko po papabayaran dahil mura lang ang CCTV,” sagot naman ni Hataman.

Ngunit tahimik naman ito sa kung bakit ang chief of staff niya ang diumano’y nakaupo bilang chairman ng BAC. Ilan lamang ito samaraming asunto sa ARMM. Ilang ulit na rin itinanggi ni Hataman ang mga bintang laban sa kanya ngunit lalo lamang na dumarami ang mga alegasyon na ibinabato sa dating aktibista.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Boy Scouts, Atro Mining plant 200 tree seedlings in Zamboanga City

“They give us protection by preventing floods and landslides. That is why we need to plant trees,” he said.

Zydrich and Anjude were among 50 boy scouts of the school who participated to the two-day Boy Scouts of the Philippines Leadership Course Training held here.

Teacher Ronaldo Condeno, Vitali district BSP coordinator, told the scouters during the brief orientation on proper planting of seedlings that “planting trees is part of BSP’s motto to create a better world.”

“One way for us to create a better world is to plant trees now,” he urged the scouters who lined up in semi-circle to listen to the orientation.

“Personnel from Atro Mining were with us to ori-

ent us on the proper handling and planting of seedlings,” he added.

Two Atro Mining personnel - Forestry Specialist Agustin Tamsi and Community Relations Officer Francis Malones - donated some 200 seedlings to Vitali Elementary School as part of its social development program and commitment to environmental integrity.

Earlier, the school principal requested from the company some 200 acacia mangium seedlings for the tree planting activity.

In her letter, school principal Evangeline Araneta said they requested for the seedlings since they knew of the company’s “genuine generosity to good cause such as this.”

The company’s forestry

specialist told the scout coordinator that “we are looking forward to more joint activities with the school especially on issues concerning environmental protection.”

Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc., an iron ore mining company, is still in its exploration stage. It has a Mines Operating Agreement with Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc. which grants exclusive rights to conduct mining operations within the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area.

The MPSA area has a total area of 2,077 hectares located at Upper Tagpangi village in Vitali. The five satellite areas under the MPSA are Campo Uno, Veronica, Campo Cuatro, Limbong and Aboles.

(Antonio Manaytay)

ZAMBOANGA - In silence he watched a fellow scout dug the rain-soaked soil with a small bolo and slowly placed the acacia mangium seedling in the hole as he intently listens to the short lecture from a forestry specialist of a mining company who supervises the ceremonial

tree planting held over the weekend at the school ground of Vitali Elementary School in Zamboanga City.

Grade four pupil Zydrich Panopio, when asked what was his thought on the activity, shyly said in the local Chavacano dialect: “importante este kay el maga

pono usable kanaton (This is important because trees are useful to us).”

“Trees give us wood to build houses after years we plant it,” he explained.

Another scouter, grade six pupil Anjude Francisco thought of trees as protection against floods and landslides.

IAS now hiring employees for its Makati City office ZAMBOANGA CITY – The International Airline Services, a subsidiary company based in Makati City, announced job openings for Airline Reservations and Ticketing Agents.

Mary Jennifer Dayrit, IAS General Manager, said they are searching for qualified applicants and urged those who are interested for

the jobs to send their résumé or bio-data and 2 x 2 photo to this e-mail address hire@iasglobal.com.

She said applicants must be fluent in Bahasa Malayu or Bahasa Indonesia and should be below 30 years old, male or female, and those who would be chosen will work at their Makati City office.

“If you are below 30 years of age, male or female and willing to relocate to Makati, speaks fluent Bahasa Malayu or Bahasa Indonesia, and interested in the airline industry, of above average learning abilities, independent, reliable and committed, then you could be the one we are looking for,” Dayrit said.

(Mindanao Examiner)

10

The Mindanao Examiner

Sept. 10 - 16, 2012