February Romantic Getaway at The Big House Davao
Clinical study on transgender hormone therapy launch PAGE 2
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DAR signs MOA with State University College JH Cerilles in Zambo Sur
2015 Calendar Inside
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ISIL video purports to show Jordanian pilot's killing
Mamasapano, what next? By Jesus ‘Jess’ Dureza
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 9-15, 2015
Dinukot na Korean miner, pinalaya sa Lanao Sur
The Villar Foundation recently donated a compost machine worth P700,000 to the village of Calumpang as requested by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera. Councilors Dominador Lagare (2nd from right), Mario Empal (4th from right), Rosalita Nunez (5th from right), Ramon Melliza (6th from right), and Beth Bagonoc (7th from right) received the project from the Villar Foundation on behalf of the local government. (Photo by Russell Delvo)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Naibalik na rin sa kanyang pamilya ang isang dinukot na South Korean miner matapos itong mapalaya sa lalawigan ng Lanao del Sur sa magulong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Natagpuan umano noon nakaraang linggo ng mga residente si Sung Ki Yoon sa isang barangay sa bayan ng Saguiran bago maghating-gabi at agad itong ipinaalam sa pulisya. Nabatid na alam ng pamilya nito na siya ay palalayain dahil sa Iligan
City nagpahatid si Sung na kung saan ay naghihintay doon ang mga mahal nito sa buhay. Hindi naman agad mabatid kung magkanong ransom ang ibinayad ng pamilya ni Sung sa mga kidnappers. Tikom rin ang bibig ng pulisya kung sino ang nasa likod ng kidnapping o kung may kinalaman ang Abu Sayyaf o mga tiwaling miyembro ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front sa pagdukot sa dayuhan na naka-base sa Cagayan de Oro City. Kasama ni Sung ang
kaibigan nitong parak sakay ng kanyang kotse ng sila'y harangin sa daan habang patungo sa Marawi City sa Lanao del Sur. Hindi naman mabatid kung bakit hindi tinangay ng mga kidnappers ang parak at sa halip ay iniwan lamang ito. Walang umako sa kidnapping, ngunit sinabi naman ni Army Captain Franco Suelto, ang spokesman ng 1st Infantry Division, na tumutulong na sa kasalukuyan ang mga tropa sa pulisya upang mahanap ang mga kidnappers. (Mindanao Examiner)
Subanen families in Zamboanga get ceramic water filters Villar Foundation donates compost machine to General Santos City
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Villar Foundation handed one compost machine to the village of Calumpang in General Santos City in southern Philippines. The machine, worth P700,000, was originally sourced by Mayor Ronnel Rivera from Senators Manny and Cynthia Villar as part of the local government’s cleanliness drive for the community and to provide necessary livelihood for its constitu-
ents as well. Rivera said he has been talking to Senator Cynthia Villar, who heads the Committee Agriculture and Food, regarding possible livelihood projects that can be given to the city. The compost machine was the first one to be given, the mayor said. He said the compost machine will be managed by a cooperative. He already tasked Council member Dominador Lagare III, chairman of the
Committee on Cooperatives, Economic Enterprises and Livelihood, to keep a close eye on project. The village of Calumpang has three public markets and it generates a fair amount of trash every day and the compost machine will be efficient in converting these wastes into fertilizers that farmers could also use. The machine also has a faster mechanism for decomposing waste products. (Ian John Lagare)
Clinical study on transgender hormone therapy launch
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Department of Science and Technology said it has approved a grant for the study entitled “Clinical and Metabolic Profile of Male-to-Female Transgender in Zamboanga City” in southern Philippines. It did not say why it has chosen Zamboanga City for the study, but Dr. Alex Pang, Jr., researcher and medical resident of Zamboanga City Medical Center, said the study - through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development aims to increase awareness not only among male to female transsexuals, but also among health practitioners on the effects of taking selfprescribed, cross-sex hormone therapy. The treatment of such individuals to acquire the
physical appearance of other sex is through hormonal treatment or surgical manipulation. The study will also determine the characteristics of transgender currently or previously on cross-sex hormonal treatment. Aside from gaining a better knowledge and understanding on the results or consequences of taking selfprescribed hormonal replacement therapy, the research findings will also help the Department of Health in conducting thorough investigation and research on related issues which will contribute to policy formulation to regulate the use of the same. The research will receive funding assistance amounting to P232,223 from the DOST-PCHRD, through the
Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD). The study is expected to start next month and shall be completed within in six months. PCHRD is one of the three sectoral councils of the DOST. It is a forward-looking, partnership-based national body responsible for coordinating and monitoring health research activities in the country. The ZCHRD was organized to optimize the use of research in alleviating health and nutrition problems of the people in the region. The consortium is chaired by Dr. Teresita Montaño of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The DOST-PCHRD provides financial and technical support to the consortium. (Mindanao Examiner – DOST)
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – The Department of Science and Technology said it recently distributed some 50 units of ceramic water filters to selected poor families, mostly from the indigenous tribe of Subanen, in the town of Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines. It said the water filters went to those who have limited or no access to clean or potable water. DOST Provincial Director Marcial Dahonan and Siayan Mayor Flora Villarosa led the distribution of the ceramic filters. The recipients were also taught on the proper use of the simple technology. The municipal health office of Siayan shall monitor the households on the use of the filter. Brenda Manzano, DOST Regional Director, said that the grant of water filter to the community is one of their initiatives un-
der the project Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology or CEST. She said water and sanitation is just one component of CEST for communities in the Western Mindanao region. The others are livelihood and economic enterprise development, health and nutrition, education and literacy, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation. Access to safe drinking water is one of the major concerns of the government in Siayan, which is the country’s poorest municipality. And the DOST said the distribution of the water filters is part of its effort to make local technology work for the residents there and to provide practical solutions to the pressing issue. The DOST said its water purification system is a simple technology that consists of a container and filtering medium, which is
the ceramic pot filter. It said the ceramic filter is made up of red clay which is coated with nano-colloidal silver as the anti-microbial agent that replaces the chlorination process in traditional water filter systems. The ceramic pot typically sits or hangs on the top of a large plastic container, which is fitted with a tap at the bottom. A lid is placed on top of the filter to prevent contamination. The DOST said the system is capable of purifying tap water, deep well water, and raw water tainted with up to 3% suspended particles or silt and convert these into safe drinking water. According to DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute, the water filter has passed the Philippine National Standards for drinking water in terms of microbiological and chemical analysis. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Feb. 9-15, 2015
DAR signs MOA with State University College - JH Cerilles in Zambo Sur PAGADIAN CITY - The Department of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Sur and ARC Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) have recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with State University and Colleges (SUC) partner JH Cerilles flagging off the implementation of the Organizational and Enterprise Needs Assessment (EO NADA) which catalyzes the interventions to the selected Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBOs). AR C rrefers efers to Agr ar ian ARC Agrar arian Refor mC ommunities eform Communities The DAR conceptualized and designed the OENADA as basis for the succeeding interventions to be extended to the ARBOs. This shall be commissioned by the engaged professional service providers (PSPs) from state universities and colleges (SUCs), civil society organizations (CSOs), national govern-
ment agencies, and private institutions to enhance the capacity of the ARBOs on agri-extension and agri-enterprise development. Speaking at the MOA signing ceremony recently, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Arturo Soria said that the accord defined the modalities of the OE-NADA as a systematic approach to identify the nature and scope of the social problems in the proposed ARBOs. The output of the partnership is the Design Assessment which will ensure that the goals and assumptions are reasonable against the needs of the ARBOs so that appropriate services will be in place to counter the problem. Engr. Josephine Sisican, Chief of Program Beneficiaries Development Division, said that Damit Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Salawagan Agrarian Reform Cooperative and
NIMALUSAN IA of Bayog town are all candidates for the adoption of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) cum Palay Trading and Establishment of Organic Agricultural Supply. The MARBEMCO at Ramon Magsaysay will be assessed for the Robusta Coffee Production cum Mini Processing and Trading. Dr. Edgardo Rosales, the SUC President, disclosed that the school is honored for being selected as conduit in the conduct of the organizational and enterprise Needs Assessment of the ARBOs and its immediate community. Based on the MOA, the SUC also chooses and utilizes the appropriate Needs Assessment Model in the conduct of data collection and analysis and choose and utilize an acceptable methodology in the Design Assessment. Also stipulated in the MOA that the findings of the organizational and enterprise Needs Assessment and
Design Assessment exercise, the SUC will provide a list of professional services and common service facility requirements with technical specifications and photos of the equipment. According to Rosales, their implementation strategy is structured to meet the specifications of the MOA in evaluating the ARBOs organizational capacity, human resource; policy, systems and procedure; governance, financial/fiscal resource, and existing enterprise/s operation. The SUC also will examine the ARBOs access to credit and market and enterprise capacities to implement the sub-project, Crop and crop production suitability; and the suitability of the identified intervention requirements; business development; technology and extension; common service facilities; and other develop-
ment opportunities. PARPO I Sherwin Tubog, disclosed that the SUC will submit the final report of the Organizational and Enterprise Needs Assessment and Design Assessment containing the following: Farm management and productivity of the community; ARBOs’ organizational capacities to manage their organizational affairs and business enterprises; Nature of professional services to be provided to ARBOs involved in subproject implementation; Responsiveness of the proposed common service facility to the needs of ARBOs, their members and other farmers in the community; Viability of the sub-project design in terms of Quality and relevance of subproject objectives and design; Potential for sustainability, expansion,
replication, and scaling up; Community participation; Promotion of gender equality; and Promotion of environmental sustainability. According to Julita Ragandang, DAR Regional Director, this endeavor aims to enhance the capacity of ARBOs in increasing farm yield and productivity, improve household incomes, business management and to incubate their agri-enterprise until such time that these ARBOs can effectively and sustainably manage their respective agri-enterprises. Ragandang said she hopes to see the ARBOs cultivating sustainable livelihood through the organization of competitive agricultural enterprises after the implementation of the program for a maximum of three years. (Maria Socorro Reambonanza)
Office Space For Rent Right in downtown Zamboanga City
Signing ceremony between the Department of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Sur and ARC Connectivity and Economic Support Services have recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement with State University and Colleges partner JH Cerilles.
For more inquiries Call: 0929-2189937
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 9-15, 2015
MILF, BBL tagilid na!
Mula sa P ahina 1 Pahina POSIBLENG hindi na ratipika o gahol na sa oras ang Bangsamoro Basic Law matapos na mabalam ang deliberasyon nito sa Kongreso dahil sa pagkakapaslang ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front sa 44 Special Action Force commandos sa Maguindanao province. Nasa sikretong misyon City upang doon ipabatid ang ang SAF upang dakpin si Ma- pagkakapatay kay Zulkifli. laysian bomber na si Zulkifli Ginamit pa diumano ni bin Hir sa kuta mismo ng MILF Aquino na cover ang kunwa’y ng mabangga nila ang pagbisita sa mga biktima ng car malaking grupo nito sa bayan bombing sa Zamboanga. ng Mamasapano matapos Ngunit trahedya ang naging nilang mapatay ang terorista sa resulta ng misyon dahil kuta ng dating rebeldeng bumulaga kay Aquino ang grupo. Mistulang nabigyan ng madugong balita na napatay bala ang mga pulitikong tutol ang 44 SAF commandos. sa BBL at MILF dahil sa Nais umano ni Aquino na pagkamatay ng SAF comman- mag-ala Pangulong Barack dos sa Barangay Tukanalipao Obama ng ipag-utos nito ang nitong Enero 25. May dahilan sikretong operasyon ng SEAL ang ilang mga pulitiko na Team 6 sa Pakistan upang lalong tutulan ang BBL na patayin si al-Qaeda leader siyang magsisilbing gabay na Osama bin Laden at tulad ng batas para sa minimithing misyon ng SAF ay hindi rin Bangsamoro regional govern- ipinaalam ni Obama sa Pakiment na siyang ipapalit sa stan ang naturang raid. Ngunit kasalukuyang Autonomous ang malaking kaibahan ng Region in Muslim Mindanao. operasyon nina Obama at Bukod sa 44 commandos ay Aquino ay walang nasawing napaslang rin ang 18 miyembro ng maliit na grupo miyembro ng MILF at 7 ng SEAL Team 6 sa misyon. sibilyan sa naturang lugar. Sa maraming panayam Palabas na sana ang mga SAF kay Aquino ay hindi nito commandos dala ang daliri ni inamin na may basbas niya Zulkifli na pagkukunan ng ang naturang operasyon ng DNA sample ng makabangga SAF na ibinigay umano kay ang puwersa ng MILF sa ilalim suspended Police Director ng 105th Base Command. General Alan Purisima at Inakala ng MILF na sila ang maging si acting PNP Chief puntirya ng SAF kung kaya’t Leonardo Espina at Interior nagkaroon ng sagupaan. Secretary Mar Roxas ay bulag Ang masakit pa nito ay rin sa naturang misyon na walang koordinasyon sa pinangunahan ni SAF Police militar o sa 6th Infantry Divi- Director Getulio Napeñas, Jr. at sion ang naturang misyon ng deputy nitong si Superintenmga police commandos at dent Noli Taliño. hindi rin ito batid ng MILF. Dahil sa naganap ay Talagang hindi ipinaalam ng napilitan si Napeñas na pamunuan ng SAF ang pansamantalang magbitiw sa operasyon sa takot na kanyang puwesto upang magkaroon ng leak ang bigyan daan ang masusing impormasyon at tuluyang imbestigasyon. Ang mga makatakas si Zulkifli na siyang nasawing miyembro ng SAF ay lider ng Kumpulan Mujahidin bahagi lamang ng halos 400 Malaysia na kaalyado naman commandos na kasama sa ng Jemaah Islamiyah. operasyon, ngunit bigo naman Sinasabing may basbas ni ang grupo ni Napeñas na Pangulong Aquino ang mailigtas ang mga kasamahan operasyon kung kaya’t agad sa kabila ng kanilang itong lumipad sa Zamboanga pagsusumamo na magpadala
ng reinforcements agad dahil wala na umano silang kalabanlaban sa puwersa ng MILF na sinalihan pa ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Nasa alanganin na katayuan ngayon ang MILF at ang BBL, ngunit pilit pa rin na isinusulong ito ni Aquino dahil magbibigay umano ito ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao. Ngunit ginagapang naman diumano ng ilang mga mambabatas ang kapwa nila upang hindi matuloy ang BBL o ratipikasyon nito hanggang hindi nareresolba ang pagkamatay ng 44 SAF commandos. Kung mauunsyame ang BBL ay posibleng isabay ang halalan sa ARMM sa susunod na taon dahil malakas rin ang panawagan ng iba na palitan na si Governor Mujiv Hataman dahil sa malaking kabiguan nitong mabigyan ng lunas ang malalang peace and order sa kanyang rehiyon. Isang imbestigasyon naman ang ipinatawag ni MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim sa naganap na sagupaan. “Our concern is the truth. There will be a lot of speculations as to what happened and until what happened is established with credibility and integrity, the said incident will weigh down our current efforts to bring peace to our homeland,” wika nito. “In order to give meaning to their deaths, we must resolve not to let something like this happen again. To this end, the MILF is convening a Special Investigative Commission to be composed of members of the MILF Central Committee and BIAF and General Staff who are tasked to investigate the events at Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the death of members of the MILF and of soldiers of the Philippine Government,” dagdag pa ni Ebrahim. At sa kabila ng panawagan ng mga pulitiko at ibang grupo na repasuhin ang peace accord
at BBL, sinabi naman ni Ebrahim na committed pa rin ang MILF sa peace process. “We hereby reiterate the MILF’s full commitment to the peace process with the Philippine Government. An enduring peace and justice remain to be our primary objective. In this regard, all actions and pronouncements of our political
and military units of the MILF should advance and adhere to this primary objective as much as possible and with due regard to the safety and security of our people and communities,” ani Ebrahim. Nakiramay rin si Ebrahim sa mga pamilya ng naulilang SAF commandos. “First and foremost, we express and send our deepest sympa-
thies to the families and friends of those who died in the armed encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The emotions of loss and pain are not alien to us Bangsamoro and Mujahideen. Nevertheless, respect and solidarity is due to all, irrespective of which side they belong,” wika nito. (Mindanao Examiner)
Aquino should end police torture, killings: Human Rights Watch MANILA - The Philippine government of President Benigno Aquino III should take decisive action against torture and extrajudicial killings by the police and other state security forces, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2015. The Aquino administration took some important steps in 2014 to improve rule of law, but the government’s overall record in addressing serious human rights violations remained poor. A November Justice Department report implicated police officers in the torture and illtreatment – including near suffocation and stapling of nipples and genitals – of suspects following the September 2013 attack by Islamist militants on the southern city of Zamboanga. “The Aquino administration needs to ensure that police responsible for serious abuses are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Ending the culture of impunity for police torture should be a top priority for Aquino in his final two years in office.” In the 656-page world report, its 25th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. In his introduc-
tory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth urges governments to recognize that human rights offer an effective moral guide in turbulent times, and that violating rights can spark or aggravate serious security challenges. The short-term gains of undermining core values of freedom and non-discrimination are rarely worth the long-term price. Positive measures by the administration included the creation of “justice zones” where criminal cases, warrants, and subpoenas are filed electronically as a means to accelerate court proceedings that have stranded thousands of suspects in prolonged pretrial detention. The government also achieved a success against impunity with its August 2014 arrest of retired army General Jovito Palparan, who is implicated in the alleged enforced disappearances of activists in 2006. Progress in the justice system was overshadowed by failures to address other longstanding problems, Human Rights Watch said. Despite the passage of the AntiTorture Act in 2009, the courts have yet to convict anyone of torturing suspects in custody. Police officers and public officials have been in-
volved in a “death squad” in Tagum City in the southern Philippines, as Human Rights Watch reported in May 2014. The death squad targeted suspected petty criminals, among them children, and also functioned as a guns-for-hire operation. To date the Philippines government has not yet prosecuted any government or police official implicated in the Tagum killings. With less than two years left in his term, President Aquino continues to send mixed signals about his commitment to tackling longstanding human rights problems in the Philippines. While the number of cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances by state security forces have declined since the previous administration, their regular occurrence is no basis for complacency, Human Rights Watch said. “The crucial missing ingredient in addressing the Philippines’ human rights problems is a lack of political will,” Kine said. “The Aquino administration needs to bring security force personnel implicated in rights violations to justice to send the message that official tolerance for such abuses is at an end.” (Mindanao Examiner, Human Rights Watch)
What really transpired in Mamasapano? SPECIAL ACTION FORCE arrived 10 p.m. January 24 at Mamasapano town in Maguindanao and at 2.30 a.m. January 25 started moving towards target in the village of Tukanalipao and at 4.30 a.m. , their target – Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan - was taken down and finger cut off DNA testing. At 5.10 a.m., SAF texted simultaneously military and army ground commanders informing them about the operation which is underway, although it started at 2.30 a.m. The text message merely informed army commanders. At 6.30 a.m. SAF Director Getulio Napeñas texted military commanders that his troops were engaged near the middle portion of the encountered area, specifically saying that it was near the river and at army ground commanders alerted troops to prepare if there is a need to reinforce. At 7.30 a.m., army commanders texted SAF Director Napeñas and asked about the real situation on the ground, however, the army did not get a concrete answer from SAF
Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, lies dead in his hut after a surprise raid by members of the Special Action Force commandos on January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines. (See photo of thatched hut in Tukanalipao village where Marwan was killed.)The bomb expert with a $5-million reward on his head shot it out with the police raiding team and was killed.(Mindanao Examiner - Mark Navales) Director Napeñas. At 8 a.m., army tanks were deployed by the Mechanized Brigade and one section of infantry troops, who saw almost 300 SAF commandos on the streets of Tukanalipao, the army group advanced to join the members of the45th Special Action Company who, by then, were attempting to reinforce the 55th Special Action Company, how-
ever, upon the army troops arrival at the position of the SAF commandos, the police forces suddenly retreated back to the streets and left the section of infantry troops alone. The army troops could not move forward because not one SAF commandos was there to guide them. At 2.30 p.m., a phone call and text message were re-
ceived by SAF Director Napeñas from84th Special Action Company frantically calling for them to be saved, however, no grid coordinates were given by the 84th Special Action Company. The 61st Division Reconnaissance Company arrived in the area and asked SAF for guides so it can move towards SAF commandos and two sections of SAF commandos joined the op-
eration and after hours of walking were able to link up with members of the 84th Special Action Company, who by that time were very exhausted and traumatized. It was past 11 p.m. when the group decided to return from Mamasapano town car-
rying the dead comrades. First 5 cadavers were brought out and SAF commandos carried them to the road. Retrieval operations ended in the afternoon of January 26 and SAF commandos left the area January 27. (Mindanao Examiner)
Feb. 9-15, 2015
The Mindanao Examiner
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The Mindanao Examiner - FOREIGN NEWS
Feb. 9-15, 2015
ISIL video purports to show Jordanian pilot's killing THE ISLAMIC State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL) group has published a video that purportedly shows the burning death of the captive Jordanian pilot Moaz alKassasbeh. The video released on Tuesday last week said that the killing of the 26-year-old air force first-lieutenant was in response to Jordan's role in the US-led coalition against ISIL. Jordan's King Abdullah, who was in Washington DC to meet top US officials, cut short his visit following the news of the murder. "Today we stand together with the family of Moaz al-Kassasbeh," he said in a video statement. "This will only make us more united and powerful." A Jordanian army spokesperson pledged to avenge Kassasbeh's death, saying the response "will be proportional to this catastrophe that has struck all Jordanians.
"His blood will not be shed in vain." The country's military has officially informed Kassasbeh's family of his death, Al Jazeera's Nisreen elShamayleh reported from Amman. 'V er y clear message' 'Ver ery According to state television, Jordan has declared a period of mourning. It also reported that Kassasbeh, who had been in ISIL's captivity since December, was killed on January 3. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abdel Bari Atwan, a Middle East analyst, said that if proven true, the killing of Kassasbeh was "unprecedented". "It's a very clear message and they are trying to show maximum brutality," he said, adding that ISIL was not interested in negotiations. "They are looking to terrorise." Reacting on the report, US President Barack Obama said that his government and
coalition partners will redouble efforts "to make that that they [ISIL] are degraded and defeated". He said the killing of Moaz "is just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organisation". In Kassasbeh hometown, al-Karak, friends, family and supporters gathered to show their support and express anger at the news of his death. The ISIL video, which is 22 minutes and 34 seconds, also called for the killing of other Jordanian pilots. Planned pr isoner swap prisoner Kassasbeh was taken hostage in ISIL's stronghold of Raqqa in Syria after his F16 jet crashed. ISIL members have claimed to have shot down Kassasbeh's plane with a heat-seeking missile. ISIL, which controls large chunks of Syria and Iraq, had been demanding the release of Sajida al-
Saudi Arabia claims 'difference is clear' between state sanctioned executions and Isis beheadings - The Independent A TOP official in Saudi Arabia has claimed executions and beheadings it carries out are not comparable with those committed by Isis, insisting they are different because their death penalty is carried out based on a court decision. Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said the killings committed by Isis, who most recently beheaded Japanese freelance journalist Kenji Goto, are “arbitrary” during an interview with NBC News. The ultra-conservative Kingdom executed at least 68 people between January and November in 2014, according to Human Rights Watch, although this number is as high as 87 in some reports. In August, the United Nations expressed concern when its execution rate went up to a rate of one per day. Eight of those killed during that month were beheaded. Saudi Arabia's human rights record was thrust into the spotlight even further recently when a video emerged showing the public beheading of a Burmese woman being dragged through the streets and held down by four police officers as she screamed: “I did not kill”.
In September, Private Eye reported that in the 21 months between US photojournalist James Foley’s capture in November 2012 and his subsequent beheading by Isis in 2014, Saudi Arabia had executed 113 people. Defending Saudi Arabia's use of the death penalty, Mr al-Turki said it was a crime to kill people without a justice system, as Isis militants do in their stronghold. "Isis has no legitimate way to decide to decide to kill people," he said. "The difference is clear. "When you kill somebody without legitimate basis, without justice system, without court, that is still a crime whether you behead them or kill [them] with a gun. When we do it in Saudi Arabia we do it as a decision made by a court," he added. "The killing is a decision; I mean it is not based on arbitrary choices, to kill this and not to kill this." Mr al-Turki added the Saudi government would be focusing on security and defeating terrorism under the leadership of new King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. "We have done a great job actually on improving the public awareness of al-
Qaeda and Isis and their goals ... and how they [have] deviated actually from the religion of Islam. In many situations for example, in cooperation with families, we have been able to prevent many young people from leaving Saudi Arabia to join extremist groups." Adam Coogle, a Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch, criticised Mr al-Turki’s defence. He told The Independent: “The comments from the Government spokesman do not reflect the fact that over the years human rights organisations have documented serious due process flaws within the Saudi criminal justice system. “Even if punishments are handed down by an organised court, you can still get sentenced to death for sorcery in that country. “I think I don’t necessarily agree with the spokesman's argument, however. I think there are differences between Saudi Arabia and Isis - Saudi doesn’t execute political dissidents, for example, it doesn’t execute people because of their religion. It’s a different situation, even though the punishments and reality look very similar.” (By Heather Saul)
Rishawi - a woman held by Jordanian authorities since 2005 - in exchange for Kassasbeh's life. Rishawi was sentenced to death "for conspiracy to carry out terror acts" after a triple bomb attack on the Radisson SAS hotel in Amman. Security sources told our correspondent that Rishawi would be executed early on Wednesday in response to the killing of Kassasbeh. Five other individuals on death row could also be executed. The convicts have already been reportedly moved to al-Suwaqa Jail, where executions in Jordan are typically carried out, a family member of one of the convicts told Al Jazeera's elShamayleh. Jor dan rresponds esponds to pilot's ordan killing with executions Jordan has begun executing fighters on death row as part of an "earth-shattering" response to the burning alive of one of its fighter pilots by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. Just hours after a video emerged online on Tuesday purporting to show FirstLieutenant Moaz alKassasbeh engulfed in flames, a security official said executions would begin the next day. Two Iraqis - Sajida alRishawi, a would-be female suicide bomber, and Ziad alKarbouli - were the first prisoners to be sent to the gallows at daybreak onWednesday. "The death sentence will be carried out on a group of jihadists, starting with Rishawi, as well as Iraqi alQaeda operative Ziad alKarbouli and others who attacked Jordan's interests," a official told AFP news agency. Five other individuals on death row could also be executed. The convicts had been moved to al-Suwaqa Jail, where executions in Jordan are typically carried out, a family member of one of the convicts told Al Jazeera's Nisreen el-Shamayleh on Tuesday. King Abdullah II, who was visitingWashington DC as the video came to light, recorded a televised address to his shocked and outraged
nation. 'Ear ing rree'Earth-shatter th-shattering th-shatter sponse' Abdullah, who was once in the military himself, described Kassasbeh as a hero and pledged to take the battle to ISIL fighters, who have executed several captives on camera in recent months, provoking worldwide revulsion. "Jordan's response will be earth-shattering," Mohammed Momani, information minister, said on television, while the army and government pledged to avenge Kassasbeh's murder. "Whoever doubted the unity of the Jordanian people, we will prove them wrong." Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abdel Bari Atwan, a Middle East analyst, said the killing of Kassasbeh was "unprecedented". "It's a very clear message and they are trying to show maximum brutality," he said, adding that ISIL was not interested in negotiations. "They are looking to terrorise." US President Barack Obama, who hosted Abdullah in an Oval Office meeting, led widespread international condemnation of the latest murder, decrying the "cowardice and depravity" of ISIL. "The president and King Abdullah reaffirmed that the vile murder of this brave Jordanian will only serve to steel the international community's resolve to destroy ISIL," a US National Security Council spokesperson said after the White House meeting. The Obama administration earlier reaffirmed its intention to give Jordan $3bn in security aid over the next three years. Kassasbeh was captured in December when his F-16 fighter jet crashed over northern Syria on a mission that was part of the USled coalition air campaign against ISIL. Jordanian state television suggested he was killed on January 3, before ISIL offered to spare his life and free a Japanese journalist in return for Rishawi's release. The country's military had officially informed Kassasbeh's family of his death, Al Jazeera's elShamayleh reported from
Amman on Tuesday. The White House would not speculate on whether the video of Kassasbeh's killing was released to coincide with Abdullah's visit to Washington. Inter national nternational condemnation David Cameron, UK prime minister, called the murder "sickening", while Ban Ki-moon, UN secretarygeneral, labelled it an "appalling act". The release of the video came after ISIL beheaded two Japanese hostages within a week. Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, condemned Kassasbeh's burning as "unforgivable". The highly choreographed 22-minute footage shows Kassasbeh at a table recounting coalition operations against ISIL, with flags from the various Western and Arab countries in the alliance projected in the background. It then shows Kassasbeh dressed in an orange jumpsuit and surrounded by armed and masked ISIL fighters in camouflage. It cuts to him standing inside a cage and apparently soaked in petrol before a masked fighter uses a torch to light a trail of flame that runs to the cage and burns him alive. The video also offered rewards for the killing of other "crusader" pilots. After Kassasbeh's capture, activists in Jordan launched a number of campaigns on social-media networks to demonstrate their solidarity with him, including a Twitter and Facebook campaign named "We are all Moaz", which called for prayers for his safety. Other anti-ISIL campaigns include Twitter campaign #BringMuathHome, with one participant tweeting, "#BringMuathHome, he was fighting terrorists that hijacked our lands, our religion, and slaughtered people". The hashtag "Be an eagle" was widely circulated via Facebook and Twitter to express support for Kassasbeh, and Facebook pages such as "We are all pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh" drew thousands of supporters and activists. (Al Jazeera)
7
The Mindanao Examiner - OPINION
Feb. 9-15, 2015
Mamasapano, what next?
Mag-ingat Sa Sex Kung May High Blood Pressure
By Jesus ‘Jess’ Dureza
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
FOR THOSE many of us who are watching from the side-lines and from a distance the events unfolding, it's been an emotionally draining week due to the Mamasapano incident. It's a mixture of shock, disbelief, anger, grief! Many a tear has been shed. The agony that struck the sensitivities of all Pinoys still lingers and will continue to linger. So, wher e do w e go where we fr om her e? from here? That reminds me of that favorite line of the Romans of yore that became the title of that old movie "QUO VADIS", meaning "where to", “where are we going" "what next". On this, I have a few thoughts of my own I wish to share. FAMILIES - For the families and loved ones of those who died, it is still about grappling with the reality, accepting the painful loss. It is still denial to some. It is about recalling those last moments like the last phone call or the last "goodbye" or those last intimate moments. It is also about how to grapple with life without them. At this time, it is still grief and pain. The human dimension of it all is replete with anecdotal vignettes that if recalled, told and re-told help numb the pain and
give temporary solace to those grieving, shunting aside for some fleeting moment about grim death and its concomitant pains. But then, for now, it's more about getting satisfactory answers for their question: "why this?" MALACANANG - For the palace, it is about telling the angry and suspicious public what actually happened. It is about accountability for what has been perceived as a blunder, a big mistake, a "faux pas", a seeming cover-up. It's about bringing justice to all by punishing those responsible. Many believe there's a cover-up story to evade accountability even in the highest level: the presidency. It is about stemming the tide of anger and discontent that may lead to public disorder that can seriously undermine the stability of the government. To some it is about President Aquino showing sincere compassion and owning up to his role and responsibility. It's about Citizen No. 1 having the integrity and moral courage to say "I'm sorry", if necessary. It's about the public expectation that President Aquino stops his glib, insincere and evasive pos-
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turing and instead takes full responsibility for what happened. Then and only then can he lead in the first step of healing a badly divided nation. Anything short of this will not be acceptable. Anything less will not mollify an already angry and grieving nation. CONGRESS - As for Congress, it must learn from the lessons of the incident in crafting the law that will entrench the peace agreement by providing the necessary safeguards in the so-called BBL. It must give the mandate to an independent high level body which must look into what actually happened, sparing no one. Never mind the never-ending congressional investigation. Political alignments will screw things up. It will only bring more unnecessary agony and disbelief to all. Moreover, there is more urgent need now NOT to rush the BBL entrenchment but allow a longer transition period to heal the wounds of distrust worsened and inflicted by this Mamasapano incident. The congressional hearings may have to await the report of that independent investigative body. Also, we need to give sufficient and reasonable time for the MILF to regain lost ground and show its capability to clear its area of the bad guys and do good governance. As of now, there is preponderance of anger against them and distrust. Moreover, it has to mature into a political party to be able to fairly compete with others who will also stake claim on the Bangsamoro political leadership. To maintain the earlier schedule as spelled out in the peace agreement, preMamasapano was ill-advised. With the post Mamasapano scenario, it will spell doom. MILF - For the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, it is about accountability and taking responsibility for the carnage. Being now a recent partner and no longer operating outside the mainstream having signed a peace agreement with government, it assumed responsibilities
AYON sa isang espesyalista sa stroke o neurologist, kailangan mag-ingat ang mga taong may high blood pressure dahil posible silang mastroke. Kapag mataas ang blood pressure mo sa 140 over 90, kailangan ay mapababa muna ito bago kayo magpagod, tulad ng pag-ehersisyo o sex. May mga pagkakataon na nai-stroke ang tao dahil sa pagtaas ng blood pressure. Bilang espesyalista sa puso (cardiologist), may mga pagkakataon na inaatake sa puso ang isang taong habang nagtatalik, lalo na kung ang kasama niya ay hindi niya regular na partner. Kapag bago o mas bata ang iyong partner, posibleng mas tumaas ang blood pressure dahil sa nerbyos, pagiging excited at pagkapagod sa pagtatalik. Dahil dito, puwedeng atakihin sa puso o ma-stroke. Para maging ligtas, siguraduhing normal ang iyong blood pressure bago magpagod.
Sino Ang May High Blood Pressure? Kapag ang blood pres-
and must show sincerity and capability. The decisive steps taken to disarm are a timely positive move, unlike the earlier signs of hesitance and seeming resistance by its armed elements. It must now clearly prove that the trust it was accorded was well deserved and that government was not hoodwinked into a peace settlement. Her e ar e a few ere are ponder able ponderable able.. First, the MILF must first explain why its socalled "controlled areas" have become virtual sanctuaries of terrorists and criminals not only now but for as long as we can remember; why its armed elements and communities not only harbor the bad guys but even go to the extent of protecting and fighting and even killing government forces who were on a mission to take them out. This excuse about "lack of coordination" leading to a “misencounter" to explain the carnage of 44 SAF commandos will not stick. It's pure baloney! "Misencounters" are
about friendly forces initially fighting by mistake. But it's NOT about fighting for several hours, finishing them off, mutilating them and cannibalizing dead bodies of our SAF commandos. This is “barbarism" pure and simple. And MILF cannot escape responsibility by blaming this on rogue elements, the BIFF or other armed groups with whom government has not signed a peace accord. The other bad guys have nothing to explain. But the MILF, as our peace partners, must! And MILF must take decisive steps. It must cleanse its areas of the bad guys. It must even try to haul in the other high value target that got away: the notorious bomber Basit Usman. At the very least, it should not stand in the way as government forces scour its areas to flush out the bad guys. It must erase the doubts and fears of many, triggered by Mamasapano, that the Bangsamoro territory may eventually become the impregnable lair and hotbed of terrorists, local and in-
Dr. Willie T. Ong sure niyo ay palaging lampas sa 140 over 90, ang ibig sabihin ay may high blood ka na. Ang normal na blood pressure ay mas mababa sa 140 over 90. Ang pinakamainam na blood pressure ay mga 120 over 80. Natural Na Gamutan: 1. Magbawas ng timbang. Kapag kayo ay lampas sa timbang, mas tataas ang iyong blood pressure. 2. Magbawas sa pagkain ng maaalat. Umiwas o magbawas sa paggamit ng asin, toyo, patis at bagoong. Bawasan din ang pagkain ng noodles, daing, tuyo at
sitsirya. 3. Matulog ng 7 hanggang 8 oras bawat araw. 4. Magbawas ng trabaho. Ang sobrang daming ginagawa ay puwedeng magdulot ng high blood. 5. Huwag palaging magagalit. Posibleng tumaas ng 50 points ang iyong blood pressure kapag ika’y galit na galit. 6. Labanan ang init ng panahon. Ang mainit na klima ay may epekto din sa may high blood. Uminon ng sapat na tubig sa isang araw. Umiwas sa araw at magpalamig. 7. Hindi gamot sa high blood ang pagkain ng bawang o pineapple juice. Masustansya ang mga ito pero hindi ito sapat para bumaba ang iyong presyon. 8. Tandaan: Kapag lampas sa 160 over 100 ang iyong presyon o may sintomas na kayong nararamdaman, kailangan niyo nang uminom ng gamot para sa high blood. Magpatingin sa iyong doktor. Take care po ! ternational. This is MILF's proverbial litmus test that it must pass. PEACE PROCESS Those working in the peace process must not lose its bearings in spite of the seemingly insurmountable new obstacles in the way. Winning back the people's trust in the badly bruised peace process is the call of the moment. We must disabuse the minds of many who call for war! There is no other route to the future but through sustainable peace through a peaceful settlement. We have seen how the violent past played out. We can understand for the moment the popular clamor of many that we annihilate the enemy; that we attack their camps, that we finish them off. If only this is a fool-proof solution, why not. But it is not! WAR NOT AN OPTION - For us who had seen it close and clearly understand the nuances of the situation, going to war is never an option. It will not address a generational aspiration of the Bangsamoro. Just ask the one million displaced and suffering civilians who were the victims of so-called "collateral damage" of the 2000 war. They will tell you the true and unquantifiable costs of war. The agony of the nation and what we all go through with our fallen commandos of the infamous Mamasapano carnage must be avenged, by all means through accountability and justice. The casualties of this tragic event are not only being the lives lost. The biggest casualty here is the peace process! Hence, we must all help to revive it, heal its deep wounds and resuscitate it. But an all-out war amongst Filipinos should never be an option. (info@advocacymindanow.org)
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Feb. 9-15, 2015
ABS-CBN stars dinumog sa Cebu!
L
Libo-libong Cebuano at Ilonggo fans ang nakisaya kina Kim Chiu, Maja Salvador, Richard "Sir Chief" Yap at iba pang Kapamilya stars sa b a c k - t o - b a c k "Kapamilya Karavan" ng ABS-CBN na ginanap kamakailan sa pagdiriwang ng tatlo sa pinakamalalaki at pinakamakukulay na taunang pagdiriwang sa bansa - ang Sinulog Festival dito sa Cebu, Dinagyang Festival sa Iloilo, at Lipa City Festival sa Batangas province. Na g s a n i b - pwe r s a sina Kim, Maja,
Enchong Dee, at Zanjoe Marudo upang magbigaykasiyahan sa halos 7,000 kataong nagtipon sa The Terraces sa Ayala Center Cebu. Nakiisa rin ang ABS-CBN sa Sinulog 2015 Grand Parade kung saan itinampok sa makulay na Kapamilya float sina Kim, Maja, at Enchong. Samantala, dumayo rin ang mga Kapamilya star sa Iloilo at Batangas upang pasalamatan ang mga Ilonggo at Batangueño sa walang sawang suporta sa ABSCBN na nanatiling number one TV network sa buong bansa. Halos 5,000 Ilonggo fans ang naki-party kina Maja at Sam Milby sa
Mga larawan ng Kapamilya stars na ipinadala ng ABS-CBN sa Cebu Examiner. "Kapamilya Karavan" na Chief, Angeline Quinto, at Dinagyang at Lipa City Fesginanap sa Robinsons Joseph Marco sa tivals, nakatakdang makiIloilo, samantalang pagdiriwang ng Lipa City fiesta ang "Kapamilya lampas 4,000 Batangueño Festival. Karavan" ng ABS-CBN Reang pinasaya nina Ser Matapos ang Sinulog, gional sa Baguio City para
PAL, makasulod nag balik sa Europa
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ilibkas na sa European Union ang i l a n g pagpugong sa Philippine Airlines sa pagtugpa sa bisan asang lugar sa Europa. Kahinumduman nga niadtong 2009, gipailawom ang PAL sa usa ka International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Audit nga nagpakita sa mga safety concerns nga mamahimong delikado ang PAL sa mga pasahero sa Europa. Gipakanaug gilayon sa ICAO ang pagpugong
Cebu launches new anti-drug campaign
C
ebu province has launched a new antidrug camp aign that has a rate card along with it for all towns, cities, municipalities and villages in the province, officials said. Ethel Natera, Cebu provincial information officer, said, the project dubbed “Just Say No,” is a program of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Dr ug Abuse Council which covers all the local government units. The launching of the program was led by Vice Chairman of CPADAC, Provincial Board Member Ivy
ARMM
Meca and Mayor Johnny De los Reyes in Talisay City. Natera the score card will rate the performances in activities related to the ant-drug campaign. “Top performing LGUs in building safe, and drug-free communities will be recognized at the end of the year,” she said. She said “Just Say No” is a comprehensive, community based approach in addressing the drug problem in the localities. It will mobilize local government officials, law enforcement agencies, parents, youth, academe, business and civic
sa Panagbenga Festival sa Marso 7 at Davao City para sa Araw ng Dabaw sa Marso 15. (Cebu Examiner, ABS-CBN)
groups, non-government and people organizations, other sectors and stakeholders and empowering them to get directly involved in addressing the drug problem in their locality and to build safe and drug free communities. “Just Say No” aims to incorporate all anti drug programs and strategies of national government agencies, law enforcement agencies that are being implemented in a locality, harmonize and put them together into one effective whole so as to optimize use of resources and attain maximum efficiency. (MBCN, FCC)
Southern Mindanao
Davao
sa PAL sa pagsulod sa Europa sugod sa Marso sa 2010. Gani, dili lang ang PAL kon dili ang tanang air carriers gikan sa Pilipinas ang gipugngan sa pagtugpa sa Europa. Kini ang usa sa mga labing dako nga rason nga mihinay ang direktang nga turistang taga Europa paingon usab sa Pilipinas. Apan usa ka followup audit nga gihimo sa ICAO niadtong October 2012 mipakita nag kaugmaran sa mga pamaagi ug seguridad sa PAL, apan wala pa gihapon papasa ang ban. Laing audit sa
Pebrero niadtong 2013 mipakita nga may dako na nga kausaban ang nahimo aron mahimo nang tangtangon ang pagpugong sa PAL. Sa us a k a pahayag, si Siim Kallas, Commission VicePre si d e n t ug kinsa maoy responsible sa transport, namahayag nga ang “EU air safety list namugna aron kapanalipdan ang kapanganuran sa Europa ug ang mga taga didto, ug kini usan magsilbi nga pamukaw sa mga nasud ug ilang mga eroplanong angayan tul-iron na ang ilang mga safety mea-
sures. Dugang niya, “karon, among gikompirmar ang among kabubot-on sa pagtangtang sa Philippne Airlines sa listahan dala sa ilang tinud-anay nga pagpahimutang sa mga kabag-ohan ug sa pagpatuman sa international safety standards sa pamaagi nga malungtaron.” Kini samtang padayon pa gihapon ang ban alang sa ubang mga Pinoy nga air carriers hangtud nga ila na usab nga mapahimutang ang gikinahanglang pagsunod sa mga mahinungdanong aviation safety regulations. (MBCN, RAC)
POEA, nipasidaan sa mga OFWs kalabot sa paggamit sa social media
N
ipasidaan ang Philippine Overseas Employment Administration sa tanang mga Overseas Filipino Workers nga magamping sa paggamit sa social media sama sa Facebook ug Twitter. Matud pa ni POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, bisan maayo nga paagi ang social media aron mahimong maduol pa gihapon sa mga mahal sa kinabuhi bisan naa sa ubang nasud, giingong
mahimo pa gihapon kining hinungdan sa problema. Giingong angay sundon ang mga sumbanan aron malikay sa kagubot. Una, angay nga limitahan ang mga post alang sa mga higala ug siguradohong mga close friends lamang ang naa sa friends list. Matud pa nga dili angay i-add ang boss o agalon ug i-lain gayud ang personal account sa trabaho. Dili angay gamiton
Western Mindanao
Cebu
ang social media aron ipagawas ang mga reklamo sa kumpanya imbes nga ipaagi kini sa grievance committee sa gi-trabahuan. Giingong dili usab angay sawayon ang lahing kultura, relihiyon ug pamatasan sa mga tawo sa nasud nga gitrabahuan ug dili usab moapil sa mga debate kalabot sa politika ug relihiyon. Ug labi sa tanan, dili angay mag-post og mga malaw-ay nga hulagway. (MBCN, ECB)
Manila