Zamboanga City sets grand market sale
Sulu Governor Distributes Health Cards, Praises Jolo Officials On Anniversary Day
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Video of Mamasapano clash shows gunman finishing off wounded SAF PAGE 3
P863-M new projects up in Tawi-Tawi
Jordan says it has bombed ISIL 56 times in three days
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Denying the Bangsamoro of their right to selfdetermination means denying peace PAGE 7
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Feb. 16-22, 2015
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Peace rally in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.(Photo courtesy of Najib Zacaria)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 16-22, 2015
‘DONT GIVE UP ON THE BBL’
MARA WI CIT Y-M uslims in the souther nP hilippines hav e MARAWI CITY Muslims southern Philippines have oposed proposed appealed to lawmakers to immediately pass a pr dr aft law in C ongr ess that would cr eate a new autonomy draft Congr ongress create for them in M indanao Mindanao indanao.. The appeal was also peaceful rally also coincided echoed by various civil soci- with the Bangsamoro Naety groups and peace advo- tional Day of Mourning and cates, and even President Prayer for those who perAquino himself following ished in the war and violence deadly clashes in in the restive region. Maguindanao province beThose who attended the tween police commandos rally also carried streamers and armed members of the supporting peace in Moro Islamic Liberation Mindanao, but what stood Front which signed a peace out from the rest were placaccord with the government ards that showed the horned last year. picture of former President Just last week, thou- and now Manila Mayor Josands of Muslims and Chris- seph Estrada, who has retians supporting the peace peatedly urged the Aquino process held a huge rally in government to finish off the Marawi City in Lanao del Sur MILF and terrorists it is allegprovince and also called for edly coddling. the passage of the Similar rallies were also Bangsamoro Basic Law. held simultaneously in variThey also gathered cash ous parts of southern Philipdonations for a campaign pines and in Manila. But in dubbed as “Peso for Zamboanga City, security Bangsamoro Injustices.” The forces stopped a convoy of
vehicles carrying peace advocates campaigning for the BBL. Dr. Abdulmanan Gayak, National Chairman of the Mindanao Alliance for Peace, said some 100 vehicles were stopped by soldiers manning a road block at the boundary of Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay province. He said the peace advocates were supposed to hold a rally in Zamboanga City. “Our group was stopped at the checkpoint and not allowed in Zamboanga City where are supposed to hold a peaceful rally and talked about the Bangsamoro Basic Law and its importance to the peace process. But the Mayor of Zamboanga (Maria Isabelle Salazar) did not allow us. She did not give us the permit to hold the peaceful rally in Zamboanga,” he told
Zamboanga City sets grand market sale A WEEK-LONG market sale dubbed as “Grandioso Venta del Mercado” is expected to draw a huge crowd in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines as part of the local government’s celebration of the 78th Charter Day here. The event, which will run from February 19 to 26, would be held at the historic Plaza Pershing in downtown Zamboanga. Angelique Go, head of the Zamboanga City Investment Promotion Division, said the Grandioso Venta del Mercado, which literally means “Grand Market Sale,” is primarily aimed at reaching out to the 98 villages here in an effort to showcase their own products that would also be presented at another international event dubbed “City of Charm” in Septem-
ber this year. “The Grandioso Venta del Mercado will transform the historic Plaza Pershing into a market place by day where a wide array of agrifishery products like fruits, vegetables and novelty items including native delicacies will be on sale.” “By night, the plaza cum market will offer dining and drinking with matching musical entertainment by local bands and performers, film viewings and many more. Thus, Plaza Pershing will be a place where everybody can see, buy, eat, drink and enjoy whatever products, foods and drinks on display,” she said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. Officials also announced the annual search for the Local Achievers
Award, one of the main highlights during the celebration of Dia de Zamboanga on February 26. Shiela Covarrubias, a spokeswoman for the local government, said the award aims to confer honor and prestige to Zamboangueños who have attained exceptional achievements and victories in various fields of endeavours, the search covers the fields on sports, culture and arts, public service, city government service, community service, investment promotion, tourismoriented establishment and the highest award - Orgullo de Zamboanga Primiar. She said deadline for the submission of nominations is on February 16. Nomination forms are also available at City Hall. (Mindanao Examiner)
the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. Salazar said the rally had no permit. The City Council also supported Salazar's stand. “The City Government of Zamboanga implements the legal mandate of no permit, no rally/caravan within the territorial jurisdiction of the city. This is in response to the planned caravan in Zamboanga City of a group of civil society organizations supporting the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The public is advised to stay calm but remain vigilant. Our police and military forces as well as the local government are on top of the situation. We are firm in our resolve to ensure the security, peace and order and tranquillity of the city,” she said. Troops in trucks and two armored vehicles were also spotted in downtown Zamboanga and some students were sent home by their teachers, saying, the city is in red alert status. The local police chief Angelito Casimiro did not give a statement, but an army spokesman, Captain Franco Suelto, said the convoy, which came from the province of Lanao del Norte, was stopped at the village of Licomo in Zamboanga City. “As far as we know may permission naman sa CCCH yun activity at saka wala naman baril yung mga MILF,
Peace rally in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province. (Photos courtesy of Najib Zacaria) pero wala silang rally permit sa Zamboanga,” Suelto said. CCCH refers to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front which signed a peace deal last year. In Basilan province, Gayak said some 3,000 Muslims and peace advocates also held a pro-BBL rally in Isabela City. He said the peace rally was part of a nationwide campaign by MAP and other civil society groups. Aquino signed the BBL only last year after a long delay and revision and submitted to Congress for ratification before it can be decided on a plebiscite in Muslim areas in southern Philippines that would make up the new Bangsamoro autonomous region and replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that has suffered from decades of
poverty, corruption, and conflict. But the House of Representatives suspended the BBL after deadly fighting erupted between police commandos and MILF members in Maguindanao’s Mamasapano town on January 25 in what the government and leaders of the former rebel group claimed was a mis-encounter. The commandos were in a secret operation deep inside the MILF territory that killed Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir. Police said 44 commandos and at least 250 MILF and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were also slain in the clashes. Police and military said the MILF was coddling Zulkifli, also known as Marwan, but the former rebel group strongly denied this. The fate of the BBL now lies in the hands of mostly Christian lawmakers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 16-22, 2015
Sulu Governor Distributes Health Cards, Praises Jolo Officials On Anniversary Day GOVERNOR Totoh Tan led the distribution of Philippine Health Insurance cards to senior citizens in the southern Filipino province of Sulu. Tan said all senior citizens are now automatically primary member of PhilHealth and would also enjoy the benefits and privileges offered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
The recent distribution of health cards coincided with the 104th Anniversary of the municipality of Jolo, the capital of Sulu, where Tan was the guest of honor. Tan also inspected Jolo's newly-built and huge social hall where anniversary festivities for the Sulu's premiere town is being held. Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin thanked the governor
for his continued support to the development of the town. Amin, who also gave his executive report in a ceremony held at the Jolo Livelihood Training Center. Tan also praised the leadership of Amin and his vice mayor Edsir Tan and other members of the municipal council and village chieftains for their support to the provincial leadership. (Franzie Sali)
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan with Jolo municipal officials during the celebration of the 104th Anniversary of the town on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. (Photos by Franzie Sali)
Office Space For Rent Right in downtown Zamboanga City For more inquiries Call: 0929-2189937
P42-M DAR projects go to Zamboanga Norte town
MOA signing in Manukan town in Zamboanga del Norte province in Western Mindanao. ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - The Department of Agrarian Reform through the Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 - Performance-Based Grant System has signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Finance-Municipal Development Fund Office and the municipal government of Manukan in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines, officials said. Maria Socorro Reambonanza, a spokes-
woman for the DAR regional office in Western Mindanao, said the DARARCP2-PBGS involved two sub-projects amounting to over P42 million, including the more than P14-million concreting of 2.5 kilometer long Lingatongan-Meses farmto-market road project, and the P27.7-million concreting of 4 kilometer Gupot farm-to-market road. “The project aims to assist the national government to promote sustainable development and
help achieve a more rapid reduction in poverty. This is in consonance with DAR’s thrust to continually deliver intensive support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries and other farmers in the agrarian reform community,” she said. She said the MOA was signed by Manukan Mayor Enriquita Winters, Municipal Treasurer Lolita Pioquinto and DAR- Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Moh Dassan Adju. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 16-22, 2015
New video clip of Mamasapano clash shows gunman finishing off wounded SAF commando MAGUINDANAO – A purported cell phone video of suspected armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front members finishing off wounded police commandos has emerged on Facebook and showed gunmen stripping off the dead of their combat gears as sporadic gun fires can be heard on the background. The six-minute clip was uploaded in several Facebook accounts and went viral and provoked a deluge of angry public comments. It can be accessed on this URL: https:/ / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / video.php?v=835624783175219 &set=vr.83562478317521 9&type=2&theater The video, believed recorded from a cell phone by one of the attackers, showed only his hand holding a .45-caliber pistol and shooting several times a wounded commando - his patch and uniform identified him as a member of the
elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police – until he was dead. The unidentified gunman then went on to strip other dead commandos of their combat equipment and gear as he shouted “Allahu Akbar” or God is great. The clip also showed other gunmen as they took turns in stripping more fallen commandos of their weapons and uniforms and they too shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they ran towards the river bank where the sound of automatic gunfire intensified and slowly faded after several minutes. The area was believed to be where the village of Tukanalipao in M a g u i n d a n a o’s Mamasapano town where 44 commandos had died fighting the MILF on January 25. The elite police unit was in a secret mission to capture Malaysian bomber
Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, in his hideout deep inside the MILF territory, but eventually killed him after he shot and wounded two commandos. The team was heading back to rejoin over 300 other commandos deployed outside the village when MILF forces attacked them, sparking a daylong battle that also left 18 former rebels dead. The MILF signed a peace deal with the Aquino government last year and the recent fighting is now threatening not only the peace process, but the presidency of Aquino as public outcry for his weak leadership continues to mount. The video, shared by Zaldy Balds Suson on his Facebook page, drew angry comments from those who have watched the clip. It was unknown how Suson got hold of the clip, but other Facebook accounts also posted the same video.
A Moro Islamic Liberation Front sniper, clad on a camouflage ghillie suit, aims an MILFmade Barrett M82A1 rifle during a training exercise. This is one of the firearms used by the MILF in a deadly clash with police commandos on January 25, 2015 in Maguindanao's Mamasapano town. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)
Aquino dapat magbitiw na rin sa pwesto NAGTIPON-TIPON noon nakaraang linggo sa ibatibang protest centers ang mga organisasyong pangkabataan na pinamumunuan ng Anakbayan para ipanawagan na magbitiw na si Pangulong Benigno Aquino sa pwesto, matapos na maungkat ang kanyang papel sa nangyari sa madugong operasyon sa Mamasapano. “Sa pagpapakatuta niya sa US hindi lang ang buhay ng 44 Special Action Force (commandos) ng Philippine National Police ang ipinahamak niya, pati ang buhay ng 7 na sibilyan at kabuhayan ng mga iba pang sibiliyan na naninirahan sa Mamasapano,” ani Vencer Crisostomo, Pambansang Tagapangulo ng Anakbayan, sa pahayag na ipinadala sa Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper. “Sagad na ang pasensya ng mamamayan at patongpatong narin ang kasalanan nitong si Aquino kaya dapat lang na umalis na siya sa pwesto kung may natitira pa siyang kahihiyan sa katawan,” dagdag pa ni Crisostomo. Naglunsad ang mga kabataan ng mga kilosprotesta sa Polytechnic Unioversity of the Philippines,
University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Manila, University of Santo Tomas, University of Manila, San Beda College, at Freedom Park sa Batasan Hills, sa Quezon City. Nagkaroon din ng mga kilos protesta sa Pampanga, Los Banos, Baguio, at Legazpi. Kasama ang ibat-ibang sector, tumungo ang mga kabataan sa Mendiola para pakingan ang pahayag ni Aquino ukol sa engkwentro sa Mamasapano at para doon ipagpatuloy ang protesta. Mariing kinokondena ng mga nag pro-protesta ang sabwatan ng US at ni Aquino sa operasyong Wolverine na naglalayon na mahuli si Abdulbasit Usman at Zulkipli Bin Hir alias Marwan, na naging sanhi ng pagkamatay ng 7 na sibilyan, 44 SAF, 18 MILF, 5 BIFF, at naging sanhi din ng pagkasira ng kabuhayan ng mga naninirahan sa Mamasapano. Ayon sa report ng The Manila Times nagsilbing escort ng mga tropang Amerikano ang 44 na SAF na napatay, at ang mismong humarang sa AFP reinforcement ay si Aquino dahil ayaw niyang teknikal na malabag ang ceasefire sa pagitan ng GPH at MILF. Ayon kay Crisostomo: “Sa
labis na pagsunod ni Aquino sa dikta ng US ipinahamak niya ang buhay ng 7 na sibilyan, 44 SAF, 18 MILF, at 5 BIFF. Sapat na tong basehan para umalis na sa pwesto tong si Aquino at dapat din panagutin ang US na nag dikta ng palpak na planong ito.” Ang mga kabataan kasama ang ibat-ibang sektor ng lipunan ay sabay-sabay nang umaalma sa pamahalaan ni Aquino, kasabay nito ang patuloy na panawagan para sa hustisya at agarang pagalis ni Aquino sa pwesto at pagpapanagot sa US sa papel nito sa engkwentro sa Mamasapano. “Hinhikayat namin lahat na suportahan ang panawagan para sa tunay na hustisya para sa mga biktima ng operasyon sa Mamasapano, at ang panawagan na dapat panagutin si Aquino at ang US. Dapat nang umalis si Aquino sa pwesto at kasabay nito nararapat na rin na umalis na ang mga tropang amerikano sa Pilipinas,” ani Crisostomo.Kamakalawa lamang ay nagbitiw sa kanyang posisyon si Police Director General Alan Purisima dahil sa madugong resulta ng operasyon ng SAF. (Mindanao Examiner)
Screen shot from the purported video of suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front gunman finishing off a wounded Special Action Force commando in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province. (Mindanao Examiner) “And you say you want peace? You don’t even respect humans and you don’t act like humans. No wonder your place is like hell,” wrote Son Retamalliv. WinYeon Nam said: “Putashet talga oh! Sana sa susunod na bumagyo, Jan sa mga bwisit na lungga ng mga yan! Tamaan pa sana
ng kidlat. Mga dimonyo.” Vincent Lee Rana Bengal said the wounded commando who was finished off by the gunman in the video was believed PO2 Amman Esmula. “If hindi ako nagkakamali at kung totoo ito na sa Mamasapano parang si PO2 Amman Esmula ito,” he said.
But other reports said it was PO1 Joseph Sagonoy. “Grabe naman to! Sabi sa (Senate) hearing (Tuesday on Mamasapano clash) nila hindi daw malapitan ang barilan ng SAF bakit sa video na to may pinatay ng .45-pistol,” asked Caranthir Calaelen Celebrindal. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Feb. 16-22, 2015
Death of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus remembered
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan leads officials in commemorating the 18th anniversary of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus' death in Jolo town. Sulu Bishop Angelito Lampon welcomed Governor Tan and other officials. (Photos by Franzie Sali) SULU – Government officials and religious leaders and representatives from various sectors in the southern Philippine province of Sulu commemorated the 18th death anniversar y of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus. Governor Totoh Tan and Vice Governor Sakur Tan led provincial and municipal officials in the
commemoration held at the Notre Dame of Jolo College. Both officials remembered the bishop as a “man of peace, mercy and compassion.” Sulu Bishop Angelito Lampon welcomed Governor Tan and other officials. Bishop Lampon also led the mass during the commemoration. Locals also held a peace march in Jolo town.
Bishop De Jesus was killed by a lone Abu Sayyaf assassin outside the Cathedral in Jolo town in 1997, a few months short of his 57th birthday. Governor Tan, in his speech before a huge crowd of people who joined the solemn event, called the assassination as a “dastardly act” and said the death of the
Oil price hike looms again MANILA - Labor activists have criticized the Department of Trade and Industry for its total failure to implement substantial price-cuts on basic commodities as the decrease in the prices of petroleum products seemed to have lost steam after dropping to its lowest levels in five and a half years. Citing news accounts over the weekend that reported that industry players are expecting a P2 increase per liter in pump prices this week after the the Dubai crude, which is Asian market’s benchmark, marked a 14% cost increase to $52 per barrel from $45.50 per barrel on average last month. “Hindi pa man kami nakikinabang sa pagbaba ng presyo ng langis mula pa nung isang taon ay magtataas na ulit,” said Gie Relova of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). Relova called the DTI “toothless” for what he claimed was gross negligence of its mandate to protect consumers, as proof of its abandonment
and bias towards manufacturers and traders despite the huge drop in prices of petroleum products since the late last year. As of February 3, the Energy department website posted that on average, gasoline retail prices stood at P37.60 per liter, this after a 60% drop in oil prices in the international market since June of last year. “It is inexcusable that the DTI could only boast of a mere P0.35 centavo to P1.75 decrease in the retail prices of milk, sardines, coffee, noodles and soap detergents when the effects of the oil price cut should have been universal since all industries rely on oil for their products to reach the marketplace,” Relova claimed. He explained that: “Petroleum being an essential commodity that bears a significant weight on the production costs of all other products has been significantly reduced and is on the verge of increasing again and yet the DTI is contented with a mediocre 30 centavo cut in only
a number of products.” Relova described the minuscule price decreases as “crumbs falling from the grand banquet of the lords of commerce and industry only to be taken back at the first instance of market instability”. He said they lamented that despite the price drop of petroleum products, only jeepney fares were rolled back, insisting that airfare, passenger ship and train fares should have also been significantly reduced. They clamored that workers and the poor are in dire need of an economic relief more than ever since their wages have remain dormant and deprived of basic social services. “With the increase of the LRT (Light Railway Transit) and MRT (Metro Rail Transit) fares, increases in SSS (Social Security System) and Philhealth (Philippine Health Insurance) contributions last year, we are violently being pushed down below the poverty line.” Relova likewise called
bishop adds to the pressing need to search for peace and an end to senseless killings in Sulu and other parts of the country. “It is indeed difficult to comprehend and understand on how a man who in his entire life is advocating love, peace and harmony could suddenly die a violent death. Si Bishop Ben ay hindi nag-iisa sa hanay ng mga nilalang na sa hangarin makapagbunsod ng katahimikan at pagmamahalan ay siya pang nabawian ng buhay sa madugong pamamaraan,” he said.
Governor Tan likened the bishop’s peace mission as that of Indira Gandhi and Martin Luther King. “Si Gandhi, ang ama ng India, ay kilala sa adbokasya niya ng nonviolence o hindi paggamit ng dahas sa pakikibaka niya upang mabigyan ng dangal at kalayaan ang India, ay ganoon din ang sinapit sa kamay ng isang assassin. Si Reverend Martin Luther King na ama ng Civil Liberties sa Amerika ay humantong din sa madugong kamatayan,” he said. He said as a man of
God, the bishop knew that the battle between good and evil is neverending and in ever y battle there are always those who are offered as sacrifices for the common good. “Sulu is indeed fortunate that a man of Bishop Ben’s stature walked on its soil and served the people in the name of love and brotherhood, bridging the different faiths in harmonious relationships. He was one of the many lambs offered in sacrifice in the altar of love, peace, harmony and goodwill,” Governor Tan said. (Franzie Sali)
P863-M new projects up in Tawi-Tawi COTABATO CITY – The Board of Investments in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines said two investment projects worth some P863 million are expected to be approved after it passed technical and other procedures required by laws. Lawyer Ishak Mastura, Chairman of the Regional Board of Investments, said the projects – both in TawiTawi province - are expected to be approved by the Board of Governors. He said the Management Committee has endorsed the projects and are now up for deliberations and final decision by the Board of Governors. out on the officials of the Energy departments to closely monitor abusive oil and gas corporations as well as retailers who are too eager to hike pump-prices as the market remains jit-
Mastura said the twin investments - P741.8 million nickel-ore mining project of Chan C Mining, Inc. and the P121.25 million petroleum depot project of Tawi-Tawian Petroleum Trading Corp. - are both located in Panglima Sugala town. He said the mining project aims to produce 1 million metric tons per year while the depot project would have a capacity of 7.6 million liters. Mastura said they are also currently processing investment projects in Maguindanao province and among them are oil palm and banana plantations, as well as investtery and prices volatile. “This gross ineptitude of the Aquino government only goes on to show that its rabid pursuit of neo-liberal policies, not only the deregulation of the oil in-
ments that seek additional capacity in renewable energy, particularly biomass power plants. He said a potential multi-billion peso logistics center in the Port of Polloc in Maguindanao’s Parang town has likewise been proposed to the regional government by investors and is now being facilitated by the Regional Board of Investments together with port authorities. He said Maguindanao in central Mindanao remains the top destination for investors in the Muslim region and followed closely by Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu Archipelago. (Mindanao Examiner) dustry but of the entire economy has legitimized the place of private sector profit over and above interests of the poor majority,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner - FOREIGN NEWS
Feb. 16-22, 2015
3 students shot to death in apartment near UNC Chapel Hill A 46-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with murder in the shooting deaths of three students in an apartment near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. Police said "an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking" may have been a factor in the shootings Tuesday evening. The suspect, Craig Stephen Hicks, turned himself in to police later in the night and is being held in the Durham County Jail without bond. He was cooperating with investigators, police said Wednesday morning. "Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr. Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act. We understand the concerns about the possibility that this was hatemotivated and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case," said Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. But given the victims' religion -- they were Muslims -- and comments the alleged shooter apparently left on a Facebook page, many social media users wondered what role, if any, the victims' faith played. The victims were Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, Yusor
Mohammad, 21, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. Barakat was Mohammad's husband; Abu-Salha was her sister, the school said. Barakat was a secondyear student at the UNC School of Dentistry, who was raising money on a fundraising siteto provide dental care to Syrian refugees in Turkey. He had been married for just over a month to Yusor Mohammad, who was planning to begin her dental studies at UNC in the fall, according to the school. Abu-Salha was a student at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. All three were shot in the head, sources told CNN affiliate WRAL. The condominium is home to many university students. Tuesday night, friends and family members gathered, crying or comforting each other, as they waited for word from officers. "It's been hours. Just tell me if he's alive," one man cried out. An officer tried to calm him down. "Give us more time," he said. Student Kristen Boling told CNN affiliateWNCN she was at home studying and didn't hear anything. "It's kind of just turned
the neighborhood upside down," she said. The hashtag #chapelhillshooting and #MuslimLivesMatter quickly shot to the top of Twitter's trending topic early Wednesday morning, with many posting what they said were photos of the victims. Hicks is being held on three counts of first-degree murder. In one post widely shared online, Hicks, who claimed he is an atheist, allegedly wrote: "When it comes to insults, your religion started this, not me. If your religion kept its big mouth shut, so would I." CNN couldn't independently confirm the authenticity of the post or his Facebook page. UNC Chancellor Carol Folt is expected to issue a statement sometime Wednesday. "We are sensitive to the impact an incident of this nature has on campus and in the community," the school said. "We understand you want to know the facts as quickly as possible. At the same time, we must respect the job our Chapel Hill police have as they investigate this crime." (By Saeed Ahmed. CNN's Tina Burnside, Rick Martin and Melodi Smith contributed to this report.)
IS militants
Jordan says it has bombed ISIL 56 times in three days JORDAN has conducted 56 raids in three days of airstrikes targeting a stronghold of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, the country's air force commander has said. The country launched the bombing raids on the Syrian city of Raqqa, an ISIL stronghold, after ISIL released the killing of a Jordanian pilot held hostage by the group. "We achieved what we aimed at. We destroyed logistics centres,
arms depots and targeted hideouts of their fighters," General Mansour al-Jbour, the head of the Jordanian airforce said. Jbour said that 20 percent of the total sorties against the armed group made by the USled coaltion had been conducted by Jordan. The sorties have led to the "degrading" of nearly 20 percent of the groups' capabilities, he said. "We are determined to wipe them from the face of the Earth."
ISIL recently released a video showing them burning the Jordanian pilot, Moaz al-Kassasbeh, to death while he was trapped in a cage. In comments published, Hussein al-Majali, Jordan's interior minister, told the state-run alRai newspaper that his country would go after ISIL fighters "wherever they are". The heightened confrontation has raised concerns about possible ISIL attacks in Jordan. (Al Jazeera)
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The Mindanao Examiner - OPINION
Feb. 16-22, 2015
Letters to the Editor: Denying the Bangsamoro of their right to self-determination means denying peace Dear Editor, SANLAKAS fully supports all progressively principled and meaningful solutions to achieve lasting peace for Mindanao directly related to the Bangsamoro Question. Any such measures aimed at resolving this national question must be based on concretely attaining real social justice for the oppressed Bangsamoro nation. Achieving this will be a strategic answer to a centuries-old dilemma that has haunted the Philippine State. SANLAKAS expresses its sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to all the families and loved ones of the protagonists who lost their lives in Mindanao’s latest, but avoidable carnage. The Bangsamoro people have long suffered gross and untold historic injustices since the US occupation and at the hands of the Philippine State led by its elite. As a result, not a few Bangsamoro have taken up arms to resist and fight back. And they do so to shape their own national future as a nation. In this regard, therefore, it is now totally imperative that the historically-oppressed peoples
of the Bangsamoro homeland be allowed to collectively express, and to rightfully determine their own national aspirations as a free and sovereign people. SANLAKAS believes that for peace to be achieved in Mindanao, the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination must be respected and recognized. Their struggle is no different from our nation’s struggle under centuries of colonial subjugation, against the tyranny of the Spanish, American and Japanese colonizers. Thus, Filipinos should be in the best position to understand that there can be no genuine peace if there is no social justice, that peace would remain an elusive ideal when entire nations and oppressed ethno-cultural communities are deprived of their right to determine their own destinies. We, therefore, cannot become colonizers of the Bangsamoro people by refusing and denying them what previous generations of Filipinos steadfastly fought and died for, that is – the right to self-determination. However, the current national political situa-
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tion is one that is sharply alarming. It starkly reflects the direct outcome of the Battle in Mamasapano. Rabid war proponents and rightwing tendencies are already exploiting the situation for maximum explosive effect upon the Filipino national psyche to trigger yet another terribly devastating ‘All-out War’ against the Bangsamoro nation. In recent public pronouncements by these reactionary spoilers of the ongoing peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF, they now want the so-called Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the lynchpin instrument for an acceptable peace earlier approved by the MILF’s Central Committee, to be junked. While they earlier criticized the GPH-MILF peace process, specifically the BBL, on constitutional grounds, they now want it totally scrapped in reaction to the unfortunate loss of the 44 SAF troops. AMERICA ’S DA GGER IN AMERICA’S DAGGER MINDANA O MINDANAO Yet amidst all this confused tension, the interventionist maneuvers and ploys of the US persist. America’s openly expressed role in the Philippines is to directly assist Philippine state security forces in the latter’s fight against international terrorism, as clearly witnessed in the aftermath of the Mamasapano Battle. On this front, Washington’s intrusion is fundamentally linked to its geo-strategic agenda to secure and dominate access to Asia’s vast and fast-growing regional economic markets via political-security means. This is chiefly aimed at the current survival of America’s own capitalistimperialist system after the near-collapse of Wall Street on September 15, 2008, plus the global capitalist system’s ensuing crisis. Thus, it is centrally focused on pre-positioning
US military forces across bases within the region to protect American profits and interests, but under the pretext of fighting international terrorism in collaboration with its puppet states. In this setting, American strategic interests intend to transform Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro homeland, into a forward projection base akin to a globally-extended dagger. This ‘American dagger’ will be aimed (externally) at its top regional rival, China; although its real intentions of doing so will be hidden from public view. Yet at the same time, it will also be targeted (internally) on “international terrorist targets”, as repeatedly stated in public. This latter justification is now used to veil America’s primary covert intentions in order for it to use Mindanao as a major base of operations for its flanking maneuvers against Beijing. Through this approach, the US can readily take full advantage of its relations with both the Aquino regime and the MILF and thus, be in a position to exploit greater political leverage and economic gains from both. For as long as American imperialism’s regional scheme to counter China is secured, the outcome of the Philippine State’s peace process with the Bangsamoro would not matter much to the US. For now, America’s presence in our country still reflects its post-9/11 ‘Global War of Terror’ legacy. It is precisely this militarist aspect of US imperialism’s aggressive worldwide thrust which the Aquino regime has eagerly invited and consciously welcomed onto Philippine soil. And it is Mindanao which has already become a major battleground for US imperialism’s unfolding shadow war throughout the area. Alas, our country is now reaping what Malacañang has so ear-
nestly sowed. THE SANL AKAS SANLAKAS ST ANDPOINT STANDPOINT Another war is definitely not in the interests of both the Filipino and Bangsamoro working classes and poor masses who will stand to suffer the most. We must shudder at the thought of mothers losing their sons and daughters, of families torn apart, of homes deserted, of communities displaced and razed to the ground as a consequence of yet another reactionary war. Hence, SANLAKAS appeals upon all democratic and peace-loving peoples to join it in undertaking a collective national stand for genuine peace concerning the Bangsamoro nation. SANLAKAS now calls upon the Filipino masses to urgently demand for, and to advance the following positions: • The Bangsamoro nation’s right to self-determination must be fully respected and recognized as a democratic principle. Its pursuit and outcome must be plainly upheld and clearly accepted by the Philippine State and its majority Filipino nation. • As the Head of State, President Noynoy Aquino, as well as ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who masterminded Oplan Wolverine, must take full responsibility and accept total accountability for their criminal negligence. The President cannot pass the blame for an operation executed under the auspices of his Office. Command responsibility dictates accountability. • The current framework objectives of the GPH-MILF Peace Process must be allowed to reach a just conclusion by both signatory parties; and all reactionary spoilers to the peace process must be resisted and stopped. • The peace process in Mindanao must be broadened to greatly encompass and include other political factions/formations who are not presently involved in the GPH-MILF Peace
Process in recognition of their right to self-determination. In this new multifront peace process context, the general masses of the Bangsamoro nation must also be recognized, encouraged and allowed to actively and directly participate in the negotiations proper in order to help bring about deeper and enhanced solutions to the Bangsamoro Question. • The dual-faced character and dangerous intentions of US imperialism, both inside the Philippines and in its lingering engagement with the MILF, must be totally unmasked and exposed before the Filipino and Bangsamoro peoples. This is very necessary so that both sides can both learn to build confidence as peace partners together. • All US military forces in the Philippines, especially those operating in Mindanao, must right away be expelled from the country; and relatedly, all bilateral defense agreements and war instruments between Manila and Washington should promptly be abrogated. Effectively, we must pursue an independent and progressive foreign policy – one which will not compromise the sovereignty of the peoples within the Philippine State. • The establishment of a multi-stakeholder ‘Independent People’s Commission of Inquiry’ must immediately be undertaken. Its role shall be to ferret out the truth as to what really happened before, during and after the January 25, 2015 Battle in Mamaspano. This is needed in order to establish and assign official accountability on the appropriate government and PNP officials (aside from Aquino himself ), and to settle the issue publicly once and for all. The Commission’s mandate, scope and functions shall be parallel to the official investigations being pursued by various government bodies. Government investigations must result in actual prosecution of those responsible.
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(Mandaue News Service)
Mandaue LGBTs welcome support on proposed code
V
arious LGBT groups have welcomed the support of the local council in the proposed ordinance providing a comprehensive code so-called people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. The City Council of Mandaue has passed – on 1st reading – the proposed ordinance which is also the first outside the metropolitan Manila. Council member and lawyer Nenita Layese, who heads the Committee on Women, Children and Family, said her proposed
law upholds and recognizes the rights and welfare of LGBT or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group. The proposed ordinance was drafted by a local organization of gays and an advocacy group called Manpride or Mandaue’s Pride led by lawyer Regal Oliva. “This is the first outside Metro Manila and it will help curb the spread of HIV and at the same time involved the group in achieving the City’s vision,” Oliva said. HIV refers to the human immunodeficiency vi-
rus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening infections and cancers to thrive. Nanette Bowler, adviser of Manpride, welcomed the support of the City Council on the proposed ordinance. “This is a very welcome development,” she said, adding, their group has ever since voluntarily contributed their time and talent for the benefit not only of the LGBT community, but the public as well. (Cebu Examiner, MNS)
2 traffic men fired over extort allegation
T
wo Mandaue traffic enforcers accused of extortion by a fore igner and his Filipina companion have been fired from their jobs after a thorough investigation ordered by Mayor Jonas Cortes. Cortes’ order came after a video of the alleged extortion was uploaded on
social media and drew public criticism. The duo, identified by the local government as Arman Gallardo and Gringo Pinados, had flagged down the foreigner and the woman who were travelling on a motorcycle and apprehended them for ignoring a U-Turn sign on Ouano Avenue. The two men were terminated on February 10 in
an order signed by City Administrator and lawyer James Abadia. One of the men was caught on the video confiscating the driver’s license of the foreigner, but failed to issue him a traffic citation ticket. The foreigner was later ordered by the duo to get inside their patrol car and later alighted. (Cebu Examiner)
Palasyo mohatag ug dugang pundo alang sa pagpalambo sa public education programs ANG MALAKANYANG mi anunsyo nga dugang pundo ang gitagana alang sa pagpalapad sa mga programa sa Department of Education aron mapalambo ang kalidad sa edukasyon sa nasud. Namahayag si Presidential Communications Operations Officer Secretary Herminio
ARMM
Coloma, Jr. nga mokabat sa P10-billion ang gitagana alang sa pagkuha ug dugang 39,000 ka bag-ong magtutudlo ug 1,500 ka non-teaching positions alang sa mga publikong eskwelahan. Miingon ni Coloma nga ang Department of Budget and Management mo tagana usab ug laing
P3.5 billion nga ipalit ug dugang textbooks ug teaching materials. Aduna nay P54-billion nga gihatag alang sa pagtukod ug 31,728 ka bag-ong classrooms ug ang pag reconstruct sa laing 9,500 classrooms lakip na ang pagtukod ug 13,586 ka water and sanitation facilities, 455 technical-vocational labora-
Southern Mindanao
Davao
ng buhatan sa Department of Educ a t i o n mipahigayon ug nationwide training sa mga school paper advisers ug campus journalism coordinators agi ug pagpangandam sa himoon nga 2015 National Schools Press Conference. Gawas sa konsepto sa basic journalism, ang mga partisipante gibansay usab sa Online Journalism ug Science Writing nga bag-ohay lang nalakip na sa himoong NSPC competition categories. Si Education Secretary Armin Luisitro mipaambit sa ka importansya sa digital communication components sa Campus Journalism Program. Midugang si Luisitro nga himoon kini aron mapalambo ang 21st century skills sa mga magtutudlo ug pinaagi niini
mapaambit nila ang ilang kahibalo ngadto sa mga estudyanteng Pilipino aron mahibalo ug ma bansay sila sa media literacy. Gitumong sa national Training of Trainers on Campus Journalism ang pag hatag ug kasinatian sa mga school paper advisers bahin sa mga modernong pamaagi sa campus journalism ug digital communications media aron mo uswag ang ilang journalistic skills lakip na ang eskwelahan sa pagpahigayon niini sa ilang school paper management ug editorial techniques. Gawas sa online journalism gi bansay usab sila sa Editorial Cartooning, Copy Writing, Feature Writing, News Writing, Sports Writing ug Photojournalism sa mga resource speakers nila. Ipahigayon ang NSPC karong tuiga sa Taguig City sa Abril 6 hangtud 10 nga
gadala sa tema: ”Empowering Resilient Communities Through Campus Journalism.” Sa pagtak-op sa gihimong in-school journalism ug English language programs, ang NSPC padayon nga mopaambit sa mga dugang pa nga pagtulun-aron ma giyahan ang mga estudyante nga gustong mokuha sa kursong journalism. Gitumong nga mapaambit sa mga estudyante ang dugang kahibalo unsa ka mahinungdanon ang journalism aron magamit sa lain-laing pamaagi pagpadayag sa mga pang huna-huna mahitungod sa advocacy on social consciousness, ug ang pag paila sa gitawag ug responsible “journalism through fair and ethical use of mass and social media”. (MBCN, LPP)
Solon wants probe into delay of Mactan-Cebu airport terminal
C
ebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said they would investigate the long delay in construction of a new world-class terminal at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Gullas, also the House Assistant Majority Leader, said there is a need for an inquiry into the almost yearlong delay and he wants the problem resolved. “The setback is unacceptable. We want the problem resolved right away. We will seek a congressional investigation,” Gullas said, adding the existing terminal was designed for 4.5 million passengers every year, but already serves 7.2 million. “We’re also concerned that due to the delay in the project, passengers going through the MCIA might eventually be penalized by higher user charges, such as terminal fees. We don’t see how the new MCIA terminal can be completed by February 2018, as initially scheduled, if construction will start only by early 2016,” he said in a statement sent to
Cebu Examiner. The groundbreaking for the new terminal was originally set in January, but has since been deferred by at least another 10 months. But GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., the private firm obligated to put up the new terminal, has blamed the Philippine Air Force for the snag, saying, the PAF has 17 structures in the middle of the site where the new terminal is supposed to be built. After two failed public biddings, the P678-million, 300-day contract to demolish, replicate and transfer the PAF structures to the nearby Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase was given to private contractors only last month. The Department of Transportation and Communications awarded to GMR-Megawide in April 2014 the multibillion-peso MCIA Passenger Terminal Rehabilitation, Expansion and Operation Public-Private Partnership Project. Under the 25-year concession, GMR-Megawide is
required to build in 36 months a new terminal capable of handling eight million international passengers every year. The firm is also expected to enlarge and modernize the existing terminal, which will be converted into a completely domestic flightsonly station capable of handling another 4.5 million passengers every year. GMR-Megawide is spending P17.52-billion for the project, on top of the P14.4billion premium it paid to the national government for the concession. It will run both the new and existing terminals for up to 25 years to recoup its investment and earn a profit. Gullas said he is counting on the project to help drive national economic and jobs growth in the years ahead through increased trade and tourism. “In particular, we see the new facilities firing up travel and leisure-related industries throughout Central Visayas, a key international tourism hub,” he said. (Cebu Examiner)
tories ug 1.3 million nga classroom seats. Miingon si Coloma nga ang computerization program sa DepEd, pundohan usab ug P8.5 billion nga ipalit ug 24,000 ka information and communications technology package ug multi-media laboratories alang sa mga estudyante
sa mga public high schools ug laing computer laboratories nga basic multimedia equipment alang sa mga elementarya. Nahibal-an nga usa ang DepEd sa mga ahensya sa gobyerno nga nahatagan ug dako nga pundo sa 2015 national budget sa kantidad nga
P367.1-billion, taas kini ug 19% kung I kumpara sa 2014 budget nga P309.5billion, matud ni Coloma. Gipatas-an usab ang badget sa tanang state colleges ug universities sa tibook nasud karong tuiga sa kantidad nga P44-billion kumpara sa mi aging tuig nga P38-billion. (MBCN, LPP)
Western Mindanao
Cebu
Manila