PNP has new spokesman
Hunt is on for ambushers
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Police, military efforts keep Zamboanga safe
The Saudi leadership shuffle
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PAGE 3
Letters to the editor
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MUSLIM LEADERS RENEW SUPPORT TO PEACE PROCESS
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USLIM governors in Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi have renewed their support to the government’s peace process and have joined efforts to promote stability in the southern region. Sulu Vice Governor Sakur, who represented Governor Totoh Tan, and governors Nurbert Sahali, of Tawi-Tawi and Jum Akbar, of Basilan said they are behind President Aquino’s peace initiatives in Mindanao.
“We are always for peace and we have been supporting President Aquino’s peace initiatives in this part of the country. We are renewing our allout support to the peace process,” Tan said. Their commitment came following the public launching of ProPolitiCS or “Promoting Political Climate and Stability for Peace in the Bangsamoro” in Zamboanga City. It was attended by some 200 people, mostly peace advocates and leaders and representatives of busi-
ness and various sectors of the society, including church leaders and from the police and military in southern Philippines. Among those who were at the event were peace advocates Amina Rasul and Spanish priest Angel Calvo, lawyer Jose Lorena, of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; Abdullah Camlian, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission; and political analyst Malou Tiguia. Continue to page 2
Sulu governor inspires cooperative members
Sulu Vice Governor Sakur and governors Nurbert Sahali, of Tawi-Tawi and Jum Akbar, of Basilan renew support to Mindanao peace process, rally behind President Aquino’s peace initiatives. (Photos by Christina Diabordo and ZABIDA)
‘If it is God’s will, I will humbly obey’ says Duterte on the Presidency Sulu Governor Totoh Tan during the 11th Annual General Assembly of the Sulu Provincial Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative last week. (Photo by Ahl-franzie Salinas) IT was indeed an inspir ing moment for members of the inspiring of S ulu P mplo yees M ulti-P urpose C ooper aSulu Prrovincial E Emplo mploy Multi-P ulti-Purpose Cooper ooperativ e – who held their 11th Annual G ener al Assembly – to tive Gener eneral hear G over nor Totoh Tan speak about “self-sufficiency Go ernor self-sufficiency..” Tan’s speech reflected people must be appreciated on this year’s cooperative and safeguarded. We cannot theme “Promoting Self- hide our disappointments Sufficiency Through when government properCooperativism: SPEMC’s ties are not given due attenResponse to Contempo- tion and remain unapprecirary Challenges and Com- ated,” he said. munity Development” and “The SPEMPC as a form urged its members to work of an organization of people hard for the benefit of all. can do their part by dissemiThe young and ener- nating correct information getic politician was invited on the projects and proby the SPEMC as its guest grams we have impleof honor. In his speech, Tan mented in the province insaid everybody must exert stead of highlighting negaefforts in realizing the tive events that can do more cooperative’s goal. harm than good. I hope the I hope any organiza- members of the cooperative tion in the province will will again choose the right not only craft beautiful- people to lead them in the worded themes or slogans, coming year, who will bring but must also exert all ef- them more good things forts in realizing the goals which in turn contribute it sets for itself. The various and assist the Provincial projects and programs we Government in reaching out have implemented for the in the service of our people,”
ARMM
he added. Tan also led the raffling of prizes for cooperative members during the event. Other guests whoe were invited to the event were Josephine Agas, Cooperative District Supervisor II – District I; Felix Friales and Omar Sangkula, both account officers of the Land Bank of the Philippines in Zamboanga City. Talib Puning, Habiba Ellih, Zulpikar Ahiri and Ismail Tahil Jr. also rendered a cultural dance and Tahqa Jumdam offered a beautiful song to the governor, who thanked everybody for inviting him and for making him a member of the cooperative. Cooperative members also praised Tan for his unwavering support and the many accomplishments he made as first-time governor of Sulu. (Ahl-franzie Salinas) See photos on page 3
Southern Mindanao
Davao
DAVAO CITY – Presidential prospect Rody Duterte, mayor of Davao City for 24 years now, assured the Filipino people that if it is God’s will that he becomes President of the Philippines he will “humbly obey.” Speaking before the congregation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which gathered recently in Davao City to celebrate the 64th birthday of its leader, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, Duterte said he believed that the Presidency is a mission from God. “I have never coveted the Presidency even up to this day but people are saying that I should run for President. That is not for me to decide. It is something which comes from God,” he said. Quiboloy, who had been a friend of Duterte since the day he put up a small chapel near the Davao City Airport to start his religious congregation King of Jesus Christ which now has over 6 million members worldwide, exhorted Duterte during his
address to the thousands who celebrated his birthday to “listen to the voices of the people.” “You cannot turn your back on the people. You have to remember that the voice of the people is the voice of God,” Quiboloy told Duterte. Duterte, who last year flatly rejected the idea of even considering the Presidency, is ranked 3rd in recent surveys which asked people who they preferred to become the next President of the Philippines. His 3rd place ranking came as a big surprise to political observers especially so because Duterte has continuously denied any intention to run for President. While he has been moving around the country over the last few months, Duterte said he is only advocating a shift from the Unitary Presidential form of government to a Federal Parliamentary which would lead to the creation of at least 12 highly autonomous Federal States all over the
Western Mindanao
Cebu
country. Duterte has maintained that the Federal System would result in the establishment of a Bangsamoro Federal State, considered both an excellent option and an alternative to the beleaguered Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which is expected to be spurned by Congress and the Senate. He has also continued on his advocacy against drugs and criminality which he said are the major social problems in Philippine society today. The 70-year-old politician is credited for transforming the former “Killing Fields” in the Philippines where Communist assassins terrorized the community with almost unabated killings, to being one of the safest cities in the world to Live In. He is also widely admired for having kept a clean image even as cases of massive corruption in government have led to the downfall of big name politicians in the country. (Jerry Dureza)
Manila
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 4-10, 2015
Muslim leaders renew support to peace process Continued fr om page 1 from The project seeks to help shape a stable political environment in the support of the Mindanao peace process. It engages political leaders in dialogue, capacity-building, researches and studies to enhance their informed and principled participation in the crafting and implementation of the road map and sustainable processes for
sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. It also aims to empower women and indigenous tribes and Muslim religious leaders in shaping a stable political environment to help promote peace and development and their role in the government efforts in Mindanao. ProPolitiCS project is implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and
Governance in partnership with Local Government Development Foundation, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance. It is being supported by the Australian government under the Building Autonomous and Stable Institutions and Communities in the Bangsamoro program. (Christina Diabordo)
DAVAO CITY – The human rights group Karapatan has accused the military of harassment after a failed raid on its office in Davao City in southern Philippines. It said the armed men were stopped by human rights workers from barging into the office. Hanimay Suazo, Karapatan’s Secretary General, said they reported the matter to the police. She said some of those in the office were villagers who
were victims of human rights violations in Paquibato District. “This incident is a form of harassment and a criminal act. The military wants to inflict fear to silence us,” she said. “There is no doubt that this is a clear handiwork of military and their agents for the fulfilment of their intelligence and combat operations of the failing Oplan Bayanihan of the AFP and (President)
Benigno Aquino. We condemn these blatant attacks against us, human rights defenders.” There was no immediate statement from the military about the allegations, but Karapatan has repeatedly accused troops under the Eastern Mindanao Command of violating human rights of villagers and tribesmen in Davao and other provinces nearby. (Mindanao Examiner)
Human rights group accuses military of harassment
Photo released by the Philippine National Police shows new spokesman Bartolome Tobias.
PNP has new spokesman MANILA – The Philippine National Police has named Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias as its new spokesman. Tobias, a lawyer, replaced Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. who was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence.
Tobias was the former commander of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force. “Essentially, my responsibility is to ensure effective implementation of the PNP Media Relations Policy that basically involves upholding the right to information particularly on matters of public inter-
est,” he said. Tobias, a member of the PMA “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, has previously served in various posts in Western Visayas and later as provincial police director of Antique in 2006 and city police director of Iloilo City in 2008 before his reassignment to Camp Crame. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tension in Lanao Sur COTABATO CITY – Tension is high in Lanao del Sur’s Wao town following a recent attack that killed and wounded at least a dozen villagers. Gunmen strafed houses in village called Magampong. And the motive of the attack was said to be in retaliation to the murder of several villagers. Police and military have launched an operation to track down the
raiders. Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the 6th Infantry Division, has confirmed the attack and said a group of “armed lawless elements” strafed the area with automatic gunfire. Among those slain in the strafing was ten-year old Emran Manabilang. Two other adults – Anipah Sumayan and Master Pendatun – were also killed and the others who died in
the hospital remain unidentified. “Police and military are still investigating who were behind this and their motive,” Petinglay told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. No individual claimed responsibility for the attack and officials would not say if the raid was connected to a clan war or family feud. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 4-10, 2015
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Sulu governor inspires cooperative members Continued fr om page 1 from
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan during the 11th Annual General Assembly of the Sulu Provincial Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative last week. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
Bilanggong buntis pumuga ZAMBOANGA CITY – Pinaghahanap ng pulisya ang isang babaeng bilanggo na umano’y tumakas sa pagamutan na kung saan ito dinala dahil sa pananakit ng tiyan. Nabatid na 8 buwang buntis si Floramar Satim at nagreklamo ito ng matinding sakit sa kanyang tiyan kung kaya’t agad itong isinugod sa pagamutan kamakailan lamang. Natakasan ni Satim
ang dalawang bantay nitong sina PO1 Alsid Bungkak at PO1 Julhada Tungupun. Ayon sa pulisya, ipinasaok sa emergency room ng Zamboanga Medical Center si Satim at ipinagbawal naman ng duktor ang dalawang bantay sa loob nito kung kaya’t sa labas na lamang sila naghintay. Ngunit laking gulat na lamang nila ng mabatid na wala na si Satim – na
nahaharap sa kasong droga – sa emergency room. Hindi naman mabatid kung paanong natakasan ni Satim ang dalawang gayun sinabi ng mga bantay na nasa labas lamang sila ng emergency room. Patuloy naman ang paghahanap sa bilanggo, ngunit hindi agad mabatid kung mahaharap sa kaso ang dalawang bantay dahil sa kanilang kapabayaan. (Mindanao Examiner)
Hunt is on for ambushers DAVAO CITY – Troops have launched an operation to track down communist rebels who ambushed a jail truck and freed two of their arrested companions and abducted two wardens in the southern province of Surigao del Sur. The recent attack near the village of Amontay in Marihatag town also wounded three other jail wardens and a prisoner The wardens were
transporting the prisoners when about 3 dozen New People’s Army rebels attacked them and sprung the detainees, who are both members of the communist group arrested in February in Lianga town for possessing improvised explosives. Troops were sent to the area to track down the ambushers, but the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command did not release any information
or statement about the progress of the operation. The identities of the abducted wardens or their wounded companions were not immediate available. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology also did not issue any statement. The rebels have been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 4-10, 2015
Police, military efforts keep Zamboanga safe
Supt. Ariel Huesca, commander of the Philippine National Police Public Safety Battalion in Zamboanga, speaks to the group of Lt. Marlon Saracho, MBLT9 company commander, during the soldiers’ courtesy call at the police headquarters in Santa Barbara village. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Christina Diabordo) Z AMBO ANGA CIT Y–P olice and militar y author ities AMBOANGA CITY Police military authorities continue to str engthen their coor dination in an effor strengthen coordination effortt to effectiv ely addr ess secur ity concer ns and the peace effectively address security concerns and or der in Z amboanga City in souther nP hilippines order Zamboanga southern Philippines hilippines.. The local government, Zamboanga to replace anheaded by Mayor Beng other marine contingent Climaco, is also supportive that was recalled by their to the efforts of the police headquarters for a new and military. Just recently, training in Cavite in Luzon. members of the Marine Lt. Marlon Saracho, Battalion Landing Team 9 MBLT9 company comunder Lt. Col. Enstein mander, also met with Calaoa Jr arrived in Supt. Ariel Huesca, head of
the Public Safety Battalion, during his courtesy call at the police headquarters in Santa Barbara village. Saracho said he would coordinate closely with the police and work alongside with Huesca’s group to ensure the security of Zamboanga as part of the local government’s PUMA patrol plan or Pulis, Marines, Army.
Militar todo-bantay vs BIFF sa Maguindanao
COTABATO CITY – Todobantay pa rin ang militar sa seguridadsa Maguindanao province na kung saan ay pinaghahanap ng mga sundalo ang grupong Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters na patuloy ang atake sa magulong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Kamakailan lamang ay napigilan ng militar ang pambobomba ng BIFF sa bayan ng Datu Unsay matapos na madiskubre sa may tulay sa Barangay Meta ang isang improvised explosive device. Target sana ng BIFF na bombahin ang mga convoy ng militar na dumaraan sa Meta Bridge na halos 50 metro lamang ang layon sa kampo ng 34th Infantry Battalion.
Ngunit sa kabila ng napakalapit sa tulay ng nasabing kampo ay hindi naman natunugan ng mga sundalo ang pagtatanim ng bomba doon. Nalaman lamang ito ng militar ng magsumbong angh isang residente na may bomba sa lugar. Pinasabugan na rin noon ng BIFF ang nasabing tulay na ikinasawi ng mga sundalo. Kinumpirma naman ng 6th Infantry Division ang pagkakatuklas sa bomba at sinabi ng tagapagsalita nitong si Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay na ang IED ay gawa mula sa isang antitank rocket o rocket propelled grenade at nakakabit ito sa isang blasting cap na konektado naman sa dalawang 9 volt batteries at isang relay switch.
“The IED was successfully disrupted by the (army) EOD team and recovered an RPG warhead, improvised electric blasting cap, two 9volt batteries, relay switch, and two battery holders with wire.” “The successful recovery of the IED was due to the growing concern and awareness among the civilian populace. If it was not reported earlier, the IED could have caused harm to the civilian commuters and damage to the structure and further causing disruption of the flow of traffic in the area,” ani Petinglay sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner. Nakikibaka ang BIFF para sa kalayaan ng mga Muslim sa Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Huesca assured the locals of the continued efforts of the police and military to protect them from threats of terrorism, among others. He also praised the citizens for their full cooperation to authorities, especially in
providing information on criminality. The local government said police and military authorities have strengthened coordination as well as augmentation of forces in strategic areas as part of the fortified security mea-
sures in the city. Climaco emphasized strict coordination among all security units to ensure continued and maximum preventive security and safety response with the local government unit. (Christina Diabordo)
Ex-militia, tinadtad ng bala TADTAD sa bala ang isang dating government militia matapos itong ratratin ng mga di-kilalang armado sa bayan ng Tungawan sa Zamboanga Sibugay province. Sinabi ni Insp. Dahlan Samuddin, ang regional police spokesman, na isang dosenang bala mula sa Carbine at M16 ang nabawi ng mga imbestigador sa Barangay Cayamcam na
kung saan pinatay si Margarito Lecaros. Tadtad ng tama ng bala sa katawan at ulo si Lecaros ng matagpuan ang kanyang bangkay. Hindi naman mabatid ng pulisya kung sino ang nasa likod ng krimen o kung may kinalaman ba ang New People’s Army o mga kaaway ni Lecaros sa kanyang pagkakapaslang. Wala rin umako sa
krimen, ayon kay Samuddin. “Ongoing yun investigation natin sa krimen at inaalam pa natin kung sino ang nasa likod nito,” ani pa ng opisyal sa Mindanao Examiner. Hindi naman nagbigay ng anumang pahayag ang pamilya ni Lecaros. (Mindanao Examiner)
May 4-10, 2015
The Mindanao Examiner
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The Mindanao Examiner - FOREIGN
May 4-10, 2015
US scientists have developed long-distance homing bullets Researchers working for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense have come up with a technology that's as brilliant as it is creepy - homing bullets that can self-steer their way into the flesh of a target. Watch above to see how even an amateur shot can hit a moving target with
one of these things during a round of live-fire tests. While the technology has been in development for a few years now, this is their most successful test run so far. The aptly named Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance - or EXACTO program that birthed this technology says they were designed to give difficult,
long-distance shots a higher success rate, especially if the targets happen to be constantly moving or trying to evade getting hit. They say they can work over a distance of up to 2 kilometres. "This video shows EXACTO rounds manoeuvring in flight to hit targets that are moving and accelerating," the
Experts Fear a Defensive Zone Over China’s Homemade Islands The Chinese regime is now building airstrips on its homemade islands in the South China Sea. While China’s neighbors largely reject its claims to the region—and particularly its efforts to simply build new territory—many experts are worried about what problems the islands will bring in the near future. One likely possibility is that the Chinese regime will try to do in the South China Sea what it did in the East China Sea, and establish an air defense zone it can defend militarily, according to Dr. Andrew S. Erickson, an associate professor in the Strategic Research Department at the U.S. Naval War College. Erickson presented the case in a recent article in The National Interest. As a founding member of his department’s China Maritime Studies Institute, his words carry some weight. Satellite images posted by intelligence company IHS Jane’s on April 15 show the Chinese regime has built a 1,650-foot section of a runway on Fiery Cross Reef. It noted the final runway could be close to 10,000 feet long, which “would be well within the parameters of existing People’s Liberation Army
Air Force runways on mainland China.” Erickson notes the runway is just one of many the Chinese regime is constructing on its homemade islands. Similar projects are underway on Subi Reef and possibly Mischief Reef, and similar developments are being made on the nearby Paracel Islands. “One logical application for China’s current activities: to support a SCS [South China Sea] Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Beijing already established an ADIZ in the East China Sea in November 2013,” Erickson writes. “Many nations—including the U.S.—have established such zones to track aircraft approaching their territorial airspace (out to 12 nautical miles from their coast), particularly aircraft apparently seeking to enter that space,” he writes. Admiral Samuel Locklear, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, pitched the concern on April 15 that the Chinese regime’s projects “could eventually lead to the deployment of things, such as long-range radars, military and advanced missile systems,” and these systems could be used to defend a new air defense zone.
The Chinese regime has sent mixed messages. On April 17, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei claimed the newly built islands will not be primarily used for its military. However, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, said “China’s construction of military facilities in the area ‘is only natural and necessary and that they are purely for defensive purposes.'” The issue at hand is that nations are allowed to declare air defense zones around their territories. The Chinese regime is complicating this factor. In the East China Sea, it included longheld Japanese territory in its air defense zone, and in the South China Sea, it brings the new question of how self-built territory factors in. “But while any coastal state is legally entitled to announce an ADIZ, the way in which China has done so in the East China Sea is worrisome,” Erickson writes. “China threatens still-unspecified ‘defensive emergency measures’ if foreign aircraft don’t comply with its orders—orders that an ADIZ does not give it license to issue or enforce physically.” (By Joshua Philipp, Epoch Times)
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team says at their YouTube page. "EXACTO’s specially designed ammunition and real-time optical guidance system help track and direct projectiles to their targets by compensating for weather, wind, target movement and other factors that can impede successful hits." The technology works by having the sniper mark a target with a laser light, and each 10-cm (4-inch) bullet has an optical sensor embedded in its nose that can detect this laser, which means it can send information back to the shooter about its position relative
to the laser target. This allows the shooter to operate tiny motors inside the bullet to alter its path on the fly. "We can make corrections 30 times per second," one of the team, Red Jones, told the BBC. "That means we can over-correct, so we don't have to be as precise each time." The researchers say by making bullet technology more accurate, it will cut down on unnecessary casualties in the field. But the one major concern with the technology and it's a big one - is if it gets into the hands of terrorists. "The public may be
uncomfortable with the implications of people being able to use this without needing to have a sight line to the target - you could see this having terrorist uses," Elizabeth Quintana, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, which is not involved in the research, told the BBC. "There's talk of selling to recreational hunters, but I would imagine the authorities would want to limit the public's access to this kind of technology. It would be useful for law enforcement - particularly in hostage situations."
The Saudi leadership shuffle WITH the announcement Interior Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef becomes next in line to the Saudi throne, and the King's own son Defense Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in line after him, Saudi Arabia's ruler King Salman has at a stroke modernized the face of the monarchy. The question is: In preparing the monarchy for the future, has King Salman modernized the country? Saudi is typical for the Gulf -- by far the majority of its population is under 30 years old. But elsewhere in the region, younger leaders are increasingly the norm. Qatar is a point in case. The current Emir is just 35 years old, and his father was in his early 60s when he was ousted two years ago. And yet in Saudi Arabia, since the country's founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, died in 1953, only his sons have been King -passing the throne brother to brother, resulting an aging monarchy in an evermore youthful region. Now, the next in line to the throne are from the "next" generation: nephew and son of the King. That is significant and seems in line with Saudi Arabia's changing role in the region. The Arab Spring of 2011 saw the youthful Qataris get out ahead of bigger neighbor Saudi Arabia, throwing money and influence at a multitude of causes. The Saudis were to a degree caught flat-footed, slow to respond to regional turmoil and protect their interests. But over the past couple of years the last King -- King Abdullah -ramped up defense and security spending, setting the stage for a more muscular foreign policy. Under the new King and his two Crown Princes, Saudi Arabia has flexed
that muscle in Yemen, with as many as 100 bombing sorties a day for over a month hitting Houthis and army units loyal to Yemen's ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali al Khamenei was quick to criticize, targeting, what else, but age: "Despite disputes, Saudis used to display composure with us, but now inexperienced youngsters have come to power and re-
placed composure with barbarism." That was early April before the recent reshuffle. So, far from recoiling at sharp barbs over youth, the Saudis seem to wear the criticism as a badge of honor. In a country where change happens so slowly, these new appointments, if not altogether unexpected, are a sign of a more outward looking future. (Nic Robertson, CNN)
SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO
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The Mindanao Examiner - OPINION
May 4-10, 2015
Letters to the Editor: Why Saving Mary Jane Veloso From Execution Is Not Enough Dear Editor, Hello there. I’m Neil Flores, a Spanish-Filipino doing community work here in Davao for 5 years now. I’ve lived w i t h F i l i p i n o O F W ’s abroad, as my mother has been one of them. I ’v e been re a d i n g Sunstar for a long time now, but this is my first time to send something like this. I hope I can s h a re t h e s e t h o u g h t s with people. L e t ’s a s s u m e t h a t Mar y Jane lives. What now? Would she drown in a sea of cash donations from people who, while sympathizing with her plight, do not take concrete action to help the millions more who suff e r g re a t e r h a rd s h i p s t h a n M a r y Ja n e o n a daily basis? Would she be able to lead a normal life, after having a record in drug peddling? The issue of whether the allegations are true or not is irrele va n t . A s m u d g e o f a drug case in one’s labor history doesn’t help one land a job, especially
when one is just a high school dropout. Will people do more than just share photos a n d p l e a s f o r Ma r y Jane’s life on Facebook, and actually step into more concrete political a c t i o n t o c a l l f o r re forms in the country? The moment the execution order for Mary Jane is lifted, she now has to face another execution, one that she may never free herself away from with: the poverty in everyday life i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s , w h i c h s l ow l y k i l l s people while making them suffer on a daily basis. So we ask the quest i o n : w h i c h i s b e t t e r, s w i f t d e a t h by f i r i n g squad, or slow death by living a poor life? T h e a n s we r i s n o t among these two common options. It is to live and struggle for a better future. Sa v i n g M a r y Ja n e will never be enough. To call for the junking of the labor export policy of the Aquino administration, which I highly
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agree with even when my working hours do not allow me to march with them militants in the trees, is a good step f o r w a rd . Pr ov i s i o n o f stricter measures to ensure the welfare of our OFW ’s abroad? A good thing too. Call to oust a l o u s y Pre s i d e n t f i l l e d with lies and totally weak in defending the p e o p l e’s r i g h t s t o t h e dubious justice system of other nations? Might be the best thing to do. I s t a n d w i t h Ma r y Jane. But I fear that saving her life, if it were possible, might not be enough. If we do not act, many more people will become like Mary Jane, and those who do not will liv e to suffer slow, painful deaths under gover nments who a re i n s i n c e re i n t h e i r claims to ser ve their constituents and people who cannot do m o re than s h a re Facebook photos. Neil Flores / Davao City
(Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco)
Letters to the Editor: Aquino deserves no credit for Mary Jane Veloso’s temporary victory FIVE YEARS OF INUTILITY, FIVE MINUTES OF FAKE EFFORT: AQUINO DESERVES NO CREDIT FOR MARY JANE’S TEMPORARY VICTORY… Dear Editor, Hello there. I am Anthony Rico Santos, and I am disgusted with how many media outlets try to project a positive image of Aquino, when he has done so little and so late. I hope this gets printed. Thank you. Tony Santos Let us make a few things clear: Mary Jane received no legal aid from the DFA or anyone under the Aquino administration, and the translator who was employed in her service a mere student who had no inkling with the legal process that Mary Jane had to under-
stand. She was in that impoverished state for five years. It was the DFA and the rest of the gang from Aquino’s administration who said that they have done everything, but still could not bring Mary Jane back. Aquino’s talk with Widodo was an informal one, similar to conversations on the sidewalks while smoking cigar, talking about the weather or checking up on what the other was doing in his life. Their talk went on for five minutes. For the administration and the members of mainstream media who are on government payroll to say that Mary Jane’s temporary victory was due to the Aquino regime’s tireless efforts to help her in her case
is not a just a laughable case of people having the gall to say such rubbish. It is a betrayal of public trust, one that misleads others into thinking that there is hope with the current administration, and Mary Jane can be saved if only we entrust her case to the government. It’s an act of propaganda for a government desperate to prolong itself in power, so it could milk more from the toils of its overseas workers and workers within the country. Everyone who falls to the trap of believing what the government and most of the media outlets say is either one of those inutile government employees, underpaid media practitioners, or people who do not read enough to understand that all that Aquino ever did
was to sit by and pretend that he was actually doing something. It was the concrete and organized calls for the stop of the execution that urged Joko Widodo to reconsider the case of Mary Jane, in light of the surrender of the drug trafficker who is ultimately responsible for her current plight. To believe that Aquino actually did something is make things worse for Mary Jane. It gives control of the case to people who are both insincere in giving aid to her. More importantly, she is only one among the 7,000 OFWs in prison today. What about the 6,999 whom till now remain unknown to the public? What is Aquino doing for them, if any at all? I dare anyone from the government to answer. (tonysantos9010@gmail.com)
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ing to Dr. Edgardo Gomez, Emeritus Professor of the University of the Philippines - Marine Science Department. Gomez said there is destruction of the balance of marine ecosystem seen due to the mas-
sive reclamation projects of China. He said the over exploitation of endangered species and coral reef ecosystem are among the issues concerning the sustainability of food security in the Philippines, Gomez said.
Kadaghanang mga OFWs nga naa sa death row, tungod sa kaso sa ilegal nga droga
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DUNAY halos 200 ka Pilipino nga naa sa death row sa tibuok kalibotan tungod sa nagkalain-laing kaso. Sa maong gidaghanon, 89 niini ang drug-related nga kaso diin 72 ka OFWs ang nalambigit sa kasong ilegal nga droga nga naa karon nagtingkagol sa bilangguan sa China. Ang uban niini naa sa Middle East, Malaysia ug Thailand. Matud pa sa Migrante International, unom ka Pilipino na ang gipatay pinaagi sa paglunggo sa ulo sukad 2005. 227 ka Pinoy ang nabilanggo tungod sa kaso sa ilegal nga droga sa China lamang. Espisipikong target sa international drug gangs ang mga babayeng Pilipino nga may edad 20 anyos hangtud 40 anyos. Sukad Hulyo 2014,
807 ka Pinoy ang nabilanggo sa nagkalainlaing nasud kalabot sa kaso sa ilegal nga droga. Sa 710 nga na-aresto, 265 (37%) ang lalaki, samtang 445 (63%) ang babaye. Kababayen-an ang gigamit sa mga sindikato tungod kay dili sila kadudahan sa mga inspectors. Ubos sa Omnibus Rules Implementing the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 (RA 8042), ang gobyerno, ubos sa Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA-DFA) ang mohatag og legal assistance sa mga OFWs under distress o may mga kaso sa ubang nasud ug gigahing pondo alang niini. Sa Section 43-Legal Assistance Fund, ang Legal Assistance Fund nga gimugna ubos niini eksklusibong gamiton lamang alang sa paghatag og legal nga serbisyo alang sa mga migrant workers ug overseas Filipinos in dis-
tress nga nahisubay sa approved guidelines, criteria ug procedures. Kini magamit lamang sa espisipikong katuyoan sama sa: (a) Bayad sa serbisyo sa abogado sa foreign lawyers alang nga nag-representar sa migrant workers nga nagatubang og kaso ug uban pang bayronon; (b) Bail bonds alang sa pagkuha og temporary release of workers nga nabilanggo nga girekomendar sa abogado; (c) Court fees, charges ug ubang litigation expenses nga e-rokemendar sa ilang abogado. Ang OUMWA ang moisyu og guidelines, procedures ug criteria alang sa probisyon sa legal assistance services sa mga Filipino Migrant Workers ubos sa pagdumala ni Undersecretary of Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) Jesus I. Yabes sa telepono 834-4449; 551-0847(Fax) E m a i l : o u m w a @ d f a . g o v. p h . (Elvira Bongosia)
Aquino nagpasalamat sa konsiderasyon ni Widodo sa kaso ni Mary Jane Veloso ODO ang pasalamat karon sa gobyerno sa Pilipinas kang I ndonesian President Joko Widodo sa paghatag og konsiderasyon sa apela ni Presidente Benigno Aquino nga mahatagan og reprieve o paglangan ang kaso ni Mary Jane Veloso. Matud pa ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Kalihim Sonny Coloma, ang reprieve ni Veloso usa ka kahigayonan aron mahatagan og katinawan ang kaso ug kun giunsa siya pag-ilad sa mga sindikato aron mahimong drug mule. Matud pa ni Coloma, nagpasalamat usab sila sa
ARMM
May 4-10, 2015
Chinese reclamation at West PH Sea costing $100 million annual damage to its ecosystem
HE illegal Chinese reclamation at the West Philippine Sea i s already costing around $100 million in annual damage to the ecological system in the contested area, accord-
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P15
katawhang Pilipino sa pagampo ug vigil alang sa kaluwasan ni Mary Jane. Kahinumdoman nga tungod sa apela ni Presidente Aquino kang Widodo, gihatagan og pagtagad ang hangyo alang kang Mary Jane nga ma-reprieve aron ibutyag ang mga drug traffickers nga migamit kaniya. “The Philippine government thanks President Widodo and the Indonesian government for giving due consideration to President Aquino's appeal that Mary Jane Veloso be given a reprieve. Such reprieve provides an opportunity for the perpetuation of her testimony that could shed light on how a criminal syndicate duped her into being
an unwitting accomplice or courier in their human and drug trafficking activities. We also thank the Filipino people for their prayers and for keeping vigil for Mary Jane's cause”. Samtang giseguro usab ni Coloma nga mo-usad ang kaso sa Pilipinas batok sa giingong nangbiktima kang Veloso aron mapamatud-an sa Indonesia nga biktima lamang kini. "Our Department of Justice will do a case buildup and provide the information to the Indonesian authorities, so that the position of Mary Jane may be clarified, that she was a victim of a human trafficking and illegal drug trafficking syndicate," dugang pa ni Coloma. (Elvira Bongosia)
Southern Mindanao
Davao
He said the physical destruction of the marine biodiversity has an impact on climate change and economic productivity of the country. “Coral Reefs provide the most productive ecosystem services, it sustains life. These healthy coral reefs are important for the productivity of neighboring marginal seas and if the Chinese continue to harm
these healthy ecosystems,we may lose our ecological biodiversity,” Gomez warned. Chinese fishermen dominating Bajo de Masinloc near Zambales continue to use destructive method of fishing and have already destroyed a large part of coral reefs in the area. They are also harvesting a massive
amount of giant clams which are considered endangered. These giant clams are reportedly used as replacements for ivory to sustain Chinese sculptural industr y. Tridachna Gigas are among the true giant clams found on the West Philippine Sea. (Ferliza C. Contratista. With a report from Caren P. Gabisay)
Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. reads a copy of the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Always be on watch for Ebola and Mers-Cov
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HE Department of Health has again reminded the public to be on guard of the deadly viruses of Ebola and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus or Mers-Cov. In a recent meeting of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers, DOH regional chief epidemiologist Dr. Rennan Cimafranca, said the suppression of these emerging infectious diseases should be given importance by every municipality and city in Cebu. “These infectious diseases are among the health-threatening challenges the world is facing today” Cimafranca said, adding.
He said Cimafranca reported so far World Health Organization has not issued a specific treatment for Mers-CoV and Ebola. Although there were no reports of Ebola or MersCov outbreak in the Philippines, Cimafranca said it is still better to aware of the diseases. “We are thankful that so far there is no case of Ebola and Mers-Cov in the Philippines,” he said. He said at the local level, the DOH has strengthened the surveillance and monitoring of passengers in all seaports and airports to ensure there are no carriers of the diseases coming into the country. He said there are ambulances dedicated to deliver any suspected cases in their respective quaran-
Western Mindanao
Cebu
tine facilities. Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Bureau of Quarantine are providing medical support in case there are reports of contamination or diseases in Cebu. Ebola is a disease of humans and other primates caused by a virus and its signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches. Most people infected with Mers-CoV develop severe acute respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. (Ferliza C. Contratista. With a report from Caren P. Gabisay)
Manila