Mindanao Daily
Founded 2006
mindanaoexaminer.com
P10/RM1
Zamboanga City, Philippines
Jan. 14-20, 2013
SEIZE ALL ILLEGAL WEAPONS!
Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada asks PNP to intensify crackdown on ‘loose’ firearms M A N I L A - S a n JJu uan City Rep p.. J V E j e r c i t o ada has ur ged the P hilippine N ational P oEstrada urged Philippine National PoEstr lice to intensify its campaign against loose fir ear ms in the countr y to curb gun violence firear earms country violence.. E j e rc i t o E s t r a d a Cavite also left nine m a d e t h e s t a t e m e n t people dead on Januamid renewed calls for ary 4. And recently, 13 t o u g h e r g u n c o n t r o l people had been killed l a w s f o l l ow i n g t h e i n a s h o o t o u t i n death of 23 people in Quezon province. separate incidents Ejercito Estrada, barely a few days into son of for mer Presi2013. d e n t Jo s e p h “E r a p” A seven-year-old Estrada, exp re s s e d girl from Caloocan City a p p r e h e n s i o n t h a t died after she was hit incidents of gun vioby a stray bullet in the lence may increase if head while watching the PNP will not be f i re w o r k s o n Ne w a b l e t o i m m e d i a t e l y Year’s Eve. A shooting t r a c k d ow n a n d a p rampage in Kawit, p re h e n d ow n e r s o f
Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada
some 600,000 illegal firear ms across the countr y.
“The PNP must be able to account for t h e s e l o o s e f i re a r m s
Jalosjos nagbigay ng engrandeng party sa Dakak resort! PAGADIAN CITY – Nagbigay ng engrandeng post-Christmas and New Year party si exZamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalsojos sa daan-daang mga barangay officials ng Zamboanga City sa kanyang Dakak Resort sa Dapitan City. Kabilang sa mga naimbitahan ay ilang mga piling reporters upang masaksihan ang ma-garbong party sa nasabing resort. Si Jalosjos ay tumatakbong mayor sa Zamboanga City laban kay Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco at Rep. Erico Fabian sa kabila ng pagbasura ng Commission on Elections sa voter’s registration nito.
ARMM
Maging ang apela ni Jalosjos, na isang convicted child rapist, sa Municipal at Regional Trial Courts ay nabasura rin dahil sa isyu ng pagkakabilanggo nito ng mahabang taon at sa pinaiksing termino kung kaya’t napalaya. Nakulong ito matapos na i-reklamo ng panggagasa ng isang batang babae na noon ay 11-anyos lamang na ibinugaw ng kanyang amaamahan. Hindi naman sumama ang ibang mga opisyal na ka-alyado nina Salazar at Mayor Celso Lobregat sa takot na mapagalitan umano. Si Jalosjos at Lobregat ay kabilang sa mga pinakamayamang pulitiko sa buong bansa. (Mindanao Examiner)
especially since the Philippines is already in the thick of preparations for the May elections,” he said. Violent incidents tend to go up as Election Day nears. Ejercito Estrada, who is running for senator in the May mid-term elections, said the A q u i n o g ov e r n m e n t par ticularly the PNP must be able to assure citizens that it is capable of safeguarding their liv es as well as the sanctity of the ballot. He also challenged
newly installed PNP Director General Alan Purisima to prove that President Benigno Aquino made the r ight decision in appointing him as national police chief and in entrusting him with the task of maintaining peace and order in the country. Local officials are also pushing for a total firearms ban in Zamboanga City where more than a hundred people were killed in gun attacks l a s t y e a r. (Mindanao Examiner)
Barangay Chairman inatake sa puso habang nakikipagsex sa motel, patay!
Ex-Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalsojos, Sr.
Northern Mindanao
Davao
Manila
PANGASINAN - Isang 63anyos na barangay chairman ang inatake umano sa puso habang nakikipag-sex ito sa kanyang “chi-ching” sa isang motel sa bayan ng Bayamabang. Hindi na umabot sa pagamutan ang biktimang nakilala na si Menardo Orlanda, na siyang chairman ng Barangay Caranglaan sa karatig bayan nang Alcala. Ayon sa pulisya,
itinawag ng staff ng Visitors Inn sa Bayambang PNP ang pagkakatuklas sa labi ng biktima, kaya agad na nagresponde ang mga ito subalit wala na ang babaeng kasama nitong pumasok sa motel. Bunsod nito ay mabilis naman isinugod sa Bayambang Community Hospital ang biktima pero idineklarang dead on arrival ito. (Francis Soriano)
Zamboanga Peninsula
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Jan. 14-20, 2013
Fishermen recover US Navy target drone PAGADIAN CITY – Filipino fishermen have recovered a United States Navy aerial target drone at sea in Masbate province in the Bicol region. Six photos of the red painted drone with markings NAVY surfaced on Facebook which showed the unmanned aircraft being loaded to a small fishing boat. Police said the drone appears unarmed. The photos uploaded on the Facebook page of Ticao Island. It said: “Photo Courtesy of Mr. Bok Barsaga — at Tacdugan Beach Ticao Island, San Jacinto, Masbate, Philippines.” The drone, called BQM-74e Chukar, is believed to have been pro-
duced by Northrop and commonly use in military exercises. It can be fired either from the air, on a ship or on land and remotely operated and can fly up to 40,000 feet. It was not immediately known how the drone crashed in the sea since the last joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States in Bicol region was in 2009. And recent military war games between the two countries were held in the provinces of Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Cavite and Palawan in October last year. But other repor ts said the drone was fired from Guam dur ing a military drill last year
and drifted to the Philippines. According to various online reports, the drone is used primarily as a realistic aerial target, capable of simulating enemy threats for gunner y and missile training exercises. The drone is capable of being recovered following a training exercise. A parachute is deployed by remote control or if the remote control link is severed and a flotation kit can be added for seabased recovery. If recover y of the drone is required, special telemetry warheads are used on the defensive missile in place of explosives. This telemetry warhead is desir-
able since it allows for extensive analysis of the performance of the defensive missile, including miss distance information that determines if a real warhead would have damaged the target. A direct hit would likely destroy the drone. Gunnery systems would use non-explosive dummy munitions. Since gunnery systems are aimed in front of a moving target so it will fly through the blastfragments, dummy munitions do not have to directly hit a target. Analysis of radar data would determine if the dummy munitions would have damaged the target drone. (Mindanao Examiner)
Fewer hungry Filipinos now, survey says
A screen grab of Facebook page of Ticao Island shows the recovered US Navy aerial target drone. The pictures were all attributed to photographer Bok Barsaga. (Mindanao Examiner)
Wife, 4 others in slay of Japanese man arrested MANILA – Philippine police arrested 5 people linked to the murder of Japanese man in Cavite province just outside Manila. Police said among those arrested was the Filipina wife of Hideo Nikura, 61, and her son following an operation in Dasmarinas town.
Photos show poverty that is still rampant in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photos) DEPUTY Presidential Weather Survey on Hun- lies who have experiSpokesperson Abigail ger” showed the number enced involuntary hunValte trumpeted the anti- of families who experi- ger in the fourth quarter poverty programs and enced hunger in Decem- of 2012. The Aquino adaccomplishments of the ber last year dropped to ministration remains Aquino administration, 16.3% from 21% in Au- committed to addressing saying fewer families are gust 2012, with the rate at hunger as a result of povexperiencing hunger in its lowest since the 15.1% erty,” she said in a statethe Philippines. recorded in June 2011. ment sent to the regional Valte said the “Fourth “This translates to newspaper Mindanao Quarter 2012 Social one million fewer fami- Examiner.
Valte said the government continues to expand and enhance efforts to uplift living conditions for Filipinos, especially the poor through social interventions such as the Conditional Cash Transfer program, which puts a premium on purchasing food for family beneficiaries, and the supplemental feeding programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “These initiatives both mitigate and lay the foundations to help families rise above poverty and better their lives,” she said. Valte also cited the Philippine Stock Exchange index which closed beyond the 6,000point mark on the fourth day of trading in 2013. She said the PSEi broke the 6,000-point mark and closed at another record high of 6,044.91 points. “This record-breaking advance is reflective of sustained investor confidence in the local bourse and is an indicator of the bullishness and vibrancy of the Philippine economy. The strong performance of the PSEi is a validation of the Aquino administration’s bold reforms and tireless commitment to good governance that has resulted in growth that we continue to ensure is more inclusive and equitable for our countrymen,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner)
The woman is being interrogated by the authorities for the December 29 killing of the Japanese man. Police said the killing had something to do with money matters and alleged physical abuses by the foreigner to his wife, who has a child with Japanese. (Mindanao Examiner)
JUST SAY
NO!
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Jan. 14-20, 2013
Screen grab from the YouTube video of a teacher of Montessori Professional College in Pasay City attacking a student. (Mindanao Examiner)
Montessori fires teacher who attacked students
MANILA – A Filipino teacher was fired from his job after he was caught on camera attacking and berating two students at the Montessori Professional College in Pasay City. The video, taken by other students, was uploaded to YouTube and it went viral and caught the at-
tention of the media. In the video, one of the students, Jean Olbedencia, was seen in the crying after she was hit by Narciso Varona and was almost mauled after accusing him of physical abuse. The Montessori Professional College immediately fired the teacher after its offi-
cials, shocked by what they saw in the video, apologized to the students. The National Youth Commission also condemned the violent acts of the teacher and said it was a flagrant violation of the rights and welfare of the students. “This unacceptable behavior is a flagrant violation
of Student’s Rights and Welfare. Schools should provide an environment of learning, growth and fun – not one that tolerates barbarism, impunity, and violence against youth and women,” NYC Chairman Leon Flores said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. NYC Commissioner-at-
P8-B flood control, irrigation projects released QUEZON CITY- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that some P8.1 billion in funds have already been made available for floodcontrol and irrigation projects earlier approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, state media said.
The funds will be charged against overall savings generated by the national government from 2011 and 2012. Of the total amount, P5 billion has been allocated for 15 flood-control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highway’s (DPWH) Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila
DIPOLOG MAYOR MIDAYEG SA CAFC SA DAKBAYAN
DIPOLOG CITY Nakadayeg si Mayor Evelyn Uy ngadto sa City Agricultural and Fishery Council gumikan kay nakatigom na kini ug pondo gikan sa pagpa-abang sa naangkon niining Hand Tractor isip usa ka proyekto nga gihatag sa Regional Office IX sa Department of Agriculture sa miaging tuig 2012. Mao kini ang nasayran ning buhatan sa impormasyon gikan ni CAFC Chairman Clemente Guio, diin matud pa nga sila ang gihatagan sa maong hand tractor sa kantidad nga mikabat ug P150,000.00 ka pesos. Lakip nga gi-asoy niini nga nakakuwarta ug nakatigom
na ug pondo ang ilang kahugpungan gumikan sa pagpa-abang niini ngadto sa mga miyembro sa asosasyon sa tag P1,500.00 ang matag adlaw. Matud pa ni Guio nga ang nasangpit nga kapunongan ang gikonsiderar isip mao’y umbrella sa ubang Farmer’s Association ubos sa pagdumala sa City Agriculture Office dinhi sa dakbayan sa Dipolog. Subay sa maong kalamboan, nagmapasalamaton ang inahan ning dakbayan gumikan sa m a k a n u n a y o n g pagsuporta niini ngadto sa mga kalihukan ilabi na ang kabahin sa pagpanguma.
and surrounding areas, which aims to control severe flooding in the country’s busiest metropolis and other cities near it. “The DPWH has been tasked to lay down the proper infrastructure to mitigate flooding in Metro Manila and other affected areas around the city. With the necessary funds already at their disposal, the agency can take advantage of the good weather ahead and fast-track the implementation of these projects, long before the rainy season sets in,” DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad said in a statement The DBM has also released P1.8 billion to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the strengthening of the Angat dam and dike project, which will ensure the safety of the Angat Dam from the impact of disasters and calamities. Under the project, the MWSS will implement rehabilitation activities on the main dam and dike through proper contingency measures, as well as through the formulation of a long-term strengthening and stabilization scheme for the structures. Abad also said that three other NEDA-Board-approved irrigation projects under the Department of Agriculture-National Irrigation Administration (DA-NIA) will receive a total of P1.3 billion in funds. Of this amount, P390.1 million has been released for the Umayam River Irrigation Project, which is an overflow diversion dam across the Umayam River in Agusan del Sur. The funds will be used to construct 72 kilometers of irrigation canals in the area, as well as on-farm facilities, drainage canals, and project office facilities. The project is expected to provide yearround irrigation to 6,729 hectares of non-irrigated agricultural lands and benefit 2,125 farming households. Meanwhile, another P391.35 million from the total DA-NIA allocation will be used for the implementation of the second phase of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project in North Cotabato, which will divert the irrigation water supply from Maridagao River to the main canal and lateral canals serving the Lower Malitubog and Pagalungan areas. At
least 3,504 farming households are expected to benefit from the project. Finally, P483.6 million of the DA-NIA release will be used for the second phase of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project Irrigation Component in Nueva Ecija, which will involve the enlargement and upgrading of existing irrigation facilities in the area. The project is estimated to benefit a total of 36,900 farmers in the province. “The Aquino administration is set on making the most of our agricultural industry and establishing complete food self-sufficiency for the country this year. The continued implementation of these irrigation projects will be critical not just in sustaining the productivity of the country’s agricultural lands, but also in stimulating economic growth among our local farming communities,” Abad said.
Large Gio Tingson, who chairs Committee on Education, said the teachers, as primary guardians inside the schools’ premises, should be the ones in the forefront of upholding and protecting the rights and welfare of students. “They must exercise proper modes of discipline
based on set rules and guidelines, rather than resorting to unprofessional and aggressive acts as these may harm our youth’s well-being. Students must also be entitled to their right to due process if their actions need discipline and attention from school authorities,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Migrante calls for honest and fraud-free elections for OFWs
MANILA – Filipino migrants’ rights group Migrante Middle East urged officials of various Philippine diplomatic posts abroad to be nonpar tisan and apolitical in the conduct of the Overseas Absentee Voting. John Leonard Monterona, the group’s regional coordinator, said Philippine embassies and consulates must ensure the conduct of OAV, which usually begins one month ahead of election day, is honest and fraud-free. This after Commission on Election
Commissioner Lucenito Tagle proposed additional places with relatively huge numbers of overseas absentee voters under Automated E lections System (AES). Tagle recommended to the COMELEC en banc the inclusion of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah, and Riyadh to the AES in addition to Singapore and Hong Kong where automated elections took place in 2010. COMELEC records showed that registered AOVs in Abu
Dhabi reached 21,418; Jeddah with 42,454 voters; Kuwait with 28,458 voters; Dubai with 30,513 voters; and Riyadh with 62,509 voters. “There were questions raise which until now have not been properly explained on the conduct of May 2010 automated elections. Now, the COMELEC wanted to include OAV in places where there are relatively big numbers of r e g i s t r a n t s ,” Monterona said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. He said automated election is not bad, but the manner how it is being conducted is not totally fraud-free and the poll results could be subjected to manipulation to favor a candidate or a party. Monterona, however, clarified that his
group will welcome a detailed proposal from the COMELEC for the inclusion of the said 5 places. “The OFWs, through their organizations and leaders, should be allowed to scrutinize the COMELEC proposed implementing rules and regulation in the conduct of automated elections abroad in line with our aim to have a fraud-free, honest, and orderly OAV,” he said. Noting the special character of overseas absentee voting with the limitations impo s e d by t h e h o s t g ov e r n m e n t s , Mo n t e ro n a said Migrante Middle East will strongly suggest to the COMELEC that there must be close c o o rd i n a t i o n and participation of Filipino community
leaders at every posts to witness the conduct of the OAV-AES to counting of votes up to the transmittal o f t h e e lection results. “Duly accredited OFWs party-list groups must have their representatives in the election board of canvassers,” he said.
500 pawikan pinakawalan sa La Union! L A UNION - Halos 500 mga inakay ng pawikan ang pinakawalan sa karagatan mula sa hatcher y far m ng Coastal Under Water Resources Management sa bayan ng San Juan dito. Ayon sa pahayag ni Regine Tibong, isa sa mga nangangasiwa ng hatcher y ay halos sunud-sunod umano ang pagpisisa sa mga itlog ng pawikan sa kanilang lugar at inaasahan na sa mga darating na buwan ay inaasahan na aabot sa 1,000 ang mga itlog na mapipisa pa. Madalas dayuhin ng mga pawikan ang kanilang lugar sa Barangay Ili Nor te upang magluwal ng itlog kung kaya’t mahigpit na pinuprotektahan ng pamahalaang lokal ang mga ito. (Francis Soriano)
Ina na nagbebenta ng sariling sanggol nalambat sa Tuguegarao City! TUGUEGARAO CITY Hindi na nakapalag pa ang isang 31-anyos na ginang matapos
The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Gregorri Leaño Joanna Valerie Wee Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales ARMM
Giovanni Solmerano Eastern Mindanao
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mahulog sa ikinasang entrapment operation n g m g a o p e ra t i b a n g National Bureau of In-
vestigation dahil sa tangkang pagbenta sa sariling sanggol sa lungsod ng Tuguegarao. Kinilala ng NBIC a g a y a n Va l l e y a n g s u s p e k n a s i G ra c e A l i g a d o, n a n g u n g u pahan lamang sa Soldiers Hill sa nabangit na lugar at tubong Antique. Ayo n p a s a N B I , nagpasaklolo ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Re g i o n 2 matapos na itawag ng isang concerned citizen mula sa Soldiers Hill na may nagbebenta ng sanggol sa halagang P15,000. Dito na agad umaksyon ang NBI at DSWD na kung saan ay i s a n g o p e ra t i b a a n g nagpangap na buyer ng sanggol dala ang
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Asa Madale Lanao Provinces Ely Dumaboc Zamboanga Sibugay/Zamboanga del Sur/Zamboanga del Norte John Shinn III California The Mindanao Examiner Newspaper/Business Week/Mindanao Daily is published weekly/daily in Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, Philippines. The Mindanao Examiner Television is broadcast in Skycable 54 in Zamboanga; Lupah Sug Cable in Sulu province and Basilan Cable in Basilan province. Our business and editorial offices are located at Units 15, 3rd Floor, Fair Land Bldg., Nuñez St., Zamboanga City Phone & fax: +63 62 9925480 Mobile: +63 9152756606 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Mindanao Examiner Tele-Radyo is a Commentary & Opinion Show (news talk) broadcast in Mindanao Examiner TV in Zamboanga City (Sky Cable Channel 54), Mindanao Examiner TV in Pagadian City (KISMET Cable TV & Pagadian City Cable TV Channel 63), and Mindanao Examiner TV in Basilan province. For block time, booking or guesting, advertisements and sponsorship, please call our Zamboanga Studio on telephone number (062) 9925480 and mobile number (0926) 1401713 or email us at mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com.
marked money kung saan dito na hinuli ang suspek kasama ang paslit na wala pang isang buwan. Nabatid din sa NBI na ang sanggol ay iniluwal nito sa Cagayan Valley Medical Center noong D i s y e m b re 1 3 , 2 0 1 2 matapos na mabuntis sa kanyang kasintahan at kaya niya ito umano ibinibenta ay upang pagtakpan ang kasalanan nagawa dahil may asawa na pala sa Antique ang kinakasama. Sa kasalukuyan ay hinihintay na lamang ng NBI ang kumpirmasyon mula sa ospital kung dito nga talaga isinilang ang sanggol at kung tunay ngang ina ng paslit ang suspek habang nasa kustudiya ng awtoridad mag-ina. ( Fra n c i s Soriano)
Jan. 14-20, 2013
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HINIHINALANG REBELDE, TIMBOG SA IFUGAO! T U G U E G A R AO Nadakip ng pulisya ang isa umanong re b e l d e n g n g Ne w Pe o p l e’s A r m y n a nanambang sa 11 sundalo sa bayan ng Tinoc sa Ifugao province. Si n a b i n g p u l i s y a n a n asakote s i R e n e Abiva sa kanyang t a h a n a n s a Ce n t r o 5 s a Tu g u e g a r a C i t y matapos na matunton ito ng mga awtoridad. May warrant of arrest rin na inilabas ang korte laban kay Abiva. Si Abiva ang isa sa mga itinuturong nasa
likod ng ambush na naganap nuong Abril ng nakaraang taon na kung saan ay ilang sibilyan rin ang n a s a w i a t m a ra m i n g sundalo ang sugatan. Ay o n sa awtoridad, nasa pangangalaga na ng Lagawe, Ifugao si Re n e B oy Ab i va , a n g naarestong kasapi ng N e w P e o p l e’s A r m y ( N PA ) n a k a s a m a umano sa mga nanambang sa tropa ng militar. Si Abiva ay n a a re s t o s a k a n y a n g t a h a n a n s a Ta f t S t . ,
Centro 5 sa lungsod na ito sa bisa ng isang arrest warrant na inisyu ng RTC Branch 14 dahil sa kasong murder kaugnay sa pagkamatay ng tropa ng pamahalaan at sibilyan. Itinanggi naman ni Abiva ang lahat ng bintang laban sa kanya at sinabing coordinator siya ng Pa n t a w i d Pa m i l y a n g P i l i p i n o Pr o g r a m n g Department of Social Welfare and Developm e n t s a Ca g a y a n Va l l e y. ( F r a n c i s Soriano)
Diskwento sa Realty Taxes gilugway hangtud Enero 31 GIPAHIBALO karon ang tanang taxpayers nga adunay mga propredad dinhi sa Dakbayan sa Dipolog kinsa wala pa makabayad sa ilang tinuig nga buluhisan nga nagapadayon ang pagpanghatag sa Buhatan sa Tresorero ning dakbayan sa 20% nga diskwento niadtong buot mobayad sa tibook tuig 2013 nga buluhisan sa ilang mga propredad. Nasayran gikan ni Juanita Arquiza, ang kasamtangang hepe sa Land Tax Division sa City Treasurer’s Office, nga ang tumong ug tinguha sa paglugway
sa paghatag ug diskwento nga 20% alang sa advance payment sa mga realty taxes ning tuig 2013, gihimo sa kagamhanang lokal sa Dipolog alayon usab sa hangyo ni Mayor Evelyn Uy ngadto sa Finance Committee, aron mahatagan ug higayon ang mga magbubuhis nga makabayad sa ilang real property taxes nga medyo gamay ang balayronon gumikan kay gi-implementar na ang amended version sa Revised Revenue Code of Dipolog City sa 1997 – kamadu-an gikan sa Department of
Finance. Kahibalo-an nga kini nga revised Local Rev enue Code sa Dipolog ang “long overdue” na sa pagbag-o sa mga local taxes gumikan kay sumala pa sa kamandu-an sa Republic Act 7160 o ang Local G over nment Code of 1991, gikinahanglan nga ang mga lokal nga pangagamhan ang mopabag-o sa ilang mga tax rates matag lima (5) ka tuig. Dinhi sa Dipolog, ang kinatapusang revision sa lokal nga mga buhis gihimo
An unidentified teenage worker urinates at a corner of a stall selling young coconuts in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Coconut seller caught urinating in store ZAMBOANGA CITY – A teenager who works at a stall selling young coconuts at a market in Zamboanga City in Mindanao was photographed urinating in a cellophane bag at the corner of their store and then continued later in ser ving their unsuspecting customers. The unidentified teener also threw his urine bag outside their stall in Santa Cruz market and did
kaniadtong 1996 pa ug gi-implementar kaniadtong 1997. Gikan sa 1997, wala na makapahigayon ug revision ang dakbayan, ug kini nahimo nang long overdue gumikan kay 15 any os na ang milabay ayha pa mipahigayon ug revision ang dakbayan pinaagi sa tulo ka pub-
not wash his hands, and continued cracking coconuts. Many of stall helpers handling f o o d p r o d u c t s i n Z a m b o a n g a’s main and Santa Cruz markets are without labor and sanitary permits. Child labor is also rampant in the markets. The markets are also stinking and dirty and have been the constant complaints of many people. (Mindanao Examiner)
lic hearing, ug pagtuon sa Sangguniang Panlungsod, pagpatik niini sa pamantalaan hangtud na sa pagaprobar niini nga local tax ordinance bag-ohay lang. Busa aron sa paghatag ug pribilihiyo niadtong mga magbubuhis nga buot mobayad sa tibook tuig
nga realty taxes karong 2013, mahatagan sila ug 20% nga diskwento sa ilang tibook balayronon. Ug kini nga pr ibilihiyo ang molungtad hangtud karong Enero 31 ning tuiga. Busa gi-awhag ang mga magbubuhis sa pagpahimulos sa kahigayunan.
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Military bans media at New Year’s Call ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Western Mindanao Command has banned journalists from covering the traditional New Year’s Call of military commanders in Zamboanga City. This after the media criticized the Western Mindanao Command for its failure to regularly provide the media with news update on matters related to military and civil operations in the region, where kidnappings and threats of Abu Sayyaf attacks still remain a serious problem. Gen. Rey Ardo, who heads the Western Mindanao Command, also failed to hold regular news conference or brief the media about its ongoing operations against the alQaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf which is still holding at least 4 foreigners in the region. Ardo, former commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, assumed as Western Mindanao Command chief in October last year following the promotion of Gen. Noel Coballes as Armed Forces deputy chief. During Coballes’ stint, he also banned media from covering the arrival of soldiers who were wounded in clashes with Abu Sayyaf inside the military base, which former commanders had allowed. The Western Mindanao Command’s New Year’s Call is a time
when military commanders pay their courtesy to their chief and exchange greetings among senior officers. Previous New Year’s Calls were open to journalists to cover and interview military commanders about various issues. The Abu Sayyaf is holding the past two years Japanese treasure hunter Katayama Mamaito was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf on the island of Pangutaran. Police said Katayama, whose real name is Toshio Ito, 66, is still alive, but there have been no efforts from either the Philippines or Japanese government to rescue the foreigner. He was last reported to have been helping the Abu Sayyaf in cooking food for them and freely moves around, according to Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra, the provincial police chief. Aside from Katayama, the Abu Sayyaf is also holding Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani, 43, and his two Filipino assistants Rolando Letrero, 22, and Ramelito Vela, 39. The trio went to Sulu province in June to secretly film the Abu Sayyaf for a documentary on Al Arabiya News Channel. Prior to his detention, Atyani has had previously travelled to the province in secrecy to interview terrorist leaders, the Philippine military said.
The military has previously said it would arrest Atyani for espionage should he be released by the Abu Sayyaf. Atyani had also clandestinely interviewed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Freyra said two European wildlife photographers Ewold Horn, 52, from Holland; and Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, from Switzerland, kidnapped in February this year in TawiTawi province had been brought to Sulu province. “We have been constantly monitoring the situation of all these kidnapped victims now in Sulu, but the Abu Sayyaf, as in the past, is highly mobile and would change their hideouts from time to time to avoid detection by government authorities. We have people on the grounds monitoring developments and feeding us intelligence about these victims,” Freyra told the Mindanao Examiner. He said the government has a strict no ransom policy and authorities would not negotiate with terrorists. “We would like these problems resolved soon and our operations to locate the victims continue,” he said. Police in Tawi-Tawi said the duo was allegedly seized by members of the Moro National Liberation Front. Another group of
Philippine Army Soldiers in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) kidnappers are also hold- inces, but Malaysia said weeks previously. ing a Malaysian fish trader the victims could be in Verzon was later Pang Choon Pong, who Tawi-Tawi. sacked for his comments Abu Sayyaf gunmen and the local governor was seized in October 2011 in Tawi-Tawi, but his are also holding an Austra- Rommel Jalosjos imlian adventurer, Warren posed a blackout on fate remains unknown. In November, Malay- Rodwell, a former soldier, Rodwell news coverage. sian authorities said two of who was kidnapped in the The Abu Sayyaf, its nationals were seized seaside town of Ipil in which means “Bearer of by 5 gunmen disguised as Zamboanga Sibugay prov- the sword,” has been tied policemen from a palm oil ince on December 5, 2011. to dozens of kidnappings Rodwell, 54, is mar- over the past decade in plantation in Sabah near ried to a Filipina Miraflor the provinces of Basilan, the Philippine border. It said the two, who Gutang, then 27, but local Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi – all are cousins, were both police said the marriage in the Muslim autonoworking for the planta- was in trouble within mous region; and tion in Lahad Datu, and months after their June Zamboanga City and had been taken at gun- 2011 wedding. other areas in Western Shortly after Mindanao. point. Their companions said the gunmen spoke in Rodwell’s kidnapping, the The group, authoriMalayu and Tausug, a then local police chief ties said, has links also Verzon said with the Jemaah Islamiya dialect commonly used Edwin in the southern provinces Gutang had filed two terror networks and is recomplaints of abuse sponsible in many bombof Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. There were no imme- against the Australian and ings in key areas not only diate reports whether the Gutang’s parents said she in Mindanao, but also in foreigners are being held had moved out of their the Philippine capital. in either of the two prov- shared house just two (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 14-20, 2013
GROUP SLAMS P140-M FUND FOR AQUINO ALLY CDO mayor posibleng masuspinde? CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Maugong ang balita na posibleng suspindehin ng Malakanyang si Cagayan de Oro City Vicente Emano kaugnay diumano sa ibat-ibang reklamo laban sa kanya. Kabilang sa mga ito ay ang diumano’y kapabayaan ni Emano sa kasagsagan ng bagyong Sendong na ikinamatay ng napakaraming tao sa Cagayan de Oro. Ngunit iba naman ang tingin dito ni Emano at pulitika umano ang dahilan nito kung sakaling totoo ang balita tulad ng naganap kay Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia na sinuspinde ng 6 buwan ng Malakanyang dahil sa isang reklamong administratibo. Si Emano ay may sariling partido – ang Padayon Pilipino – at tumatakbo sa ilalim ng United Nationalist Alliance tulad ni Garcia. (Mindanao Examiner)
MANILA - Mass organization Anakbayan has criticized the provision of P140 million in funds in the care of party-list Representative Kaka Bag-ao, saying this is no different f ro m t h e c a m p a i g n funds they received from the Aquinos. “True to their nat u re as Noy n oy Aquino’s attack dog in
the party-list arena, Akbayan has again received millions from the Aquinos to ensure their survival in the e l e c t i o n s,” Ve n c e r Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan, said in a statement sent to the re g i o n a l n e w s p a p e r Mindanao Examiner. He said that in the 2010 elections, the
Police kill 2 robbers Z A M B OA N G A C IT Y – Tw o m e n w h o earlier robbed a w o m a n were k i l l e d by policemen in an alleged clash following a long chase that ended in a bushy area in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, reports said. It said police recov ered a hand gun from one of the slain men. The identities of those killed were not imm e d i a t e l y k n ow n , h ow e v e r o n e o f them had different tattoos on his
b o d y. But radio station dzRZ-Radyo Agong reported that the motorcycle gunmen robbed a woman of her bag in the village called San Jose and escaped towards downtown a re a w h e re p o l i c e men chased them o n p r ow l c a r s a n d m o t o rc yc l e s. It w a s u n k n own whether the two men w ere involved in gun attacks and other crimes in Z a m b o a n g a C i t y. (Mindanao Examiner)
Aq u i n o s a n d o t h e r close associates of the p re s i d e n t i a l f a m i l y p r ov i d e d a t o t a l o f P140 million in supp o r t o f A k b a y a n’s campaign. Crisostomo said the P140 million received by Bag-ao last December was “nothing but political pat r o n a g e, p u re a n d simple,” considering that the Akbayan solon was no longer eligible to be appointed as “caretaker” of the congressional district of Dinagat Island after its previous cong re s s m a n w a s re moved. Citing Section 15
of Republic Act 7941, or the Party-list Law, Crisostomo said Bagao forfeited her seat as a nominee of Akbayan when she submitted her candidacy for the sole congressional district of t h e D i n a g a t Is l a n d last year. Hence, she was ineligible for appointment as “caretaker c o n g re s s woman.” “ It i s e n r a g i n g . Akbayan is shameless when it comes to corruption,” Crisostomo said. Anakbayan also c o n d e m n e d t h e ap pointment of another Akbayan official in the
Aquino government, calling it “the latest political dynasty.” Tomasito Villarin w a s re c e n t l y a p pointed to replace another Akbayan official as Undersecretary in the Office of the Presidential Advisor for Political Affairs, an o f f i c e h e a d e d by former Akbayan president Ronald Llamas. Barry Gutierrez, t h e p re v i o u s o c c u pant of the seat, resigned to run as the 2nd nominee of Akbayan in the 2013 elections. “It’s like a crown being passed around,” Crisostomo said.
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Jan. 14-20, 2013
MILF LAUNCHES OWN PROBE ON SERIES OF FOILED BOMB ATTACKS
COTABATO CITY – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front has launched its own probe into the series of foiled bomb attacks in Maguindanao province. Civilians recently discovered a powerful homemade bomb in Shariff Aguak town, but military and police authorities remain silent about the breach in security. The improvised explosive, assembled from mortar bombs and detonator, was found by locals in downtown area. The 6th Infantry Division did not give any statement about the breach in security despite the huge numbers of soldiers deployed in the province where its main headquarters are located. Ar my spokesman Col. Prudencio Asto did not answer repeated phone calls by journal-
ists trying to get a statement from the military about its failure to prevent bombing attempts. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the foiled bombing. “ We are also conducting our own investigation into the recovery of bombs and other explosives in recent weeks and we are looking whether this has anything to do with the peace talks between the MILF and the Aquino government. This could also be connected to politics or a third party trying to muddle up the peace talks,” Von al Haq, a rebel spokesman, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. The governor of Maguindanao, Esmael Mangudadatu, also did not give a statement about the foiled bombing, but had been the target of bomb attacks in the past and he blamed his political
MILF Soldiers (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)
foes for all attempts to kill him. The MILF has signed a framework
COMELEC decision inalmahan! KUMILOS na ang Alab Ng Mamamahayag (Alam) party list group upang kasuhan ng contempt ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman at mga Commissioners dahil sa pagsuway sa itinalagang Status Quo ng Korte Suprema (SC). Ayon kay ALAM President Berteni Causing ay diumano'y ininsulto, nilait at inalipusta nina Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr at Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Lucenito Tagle, Armando Velasco, Elias Yusoph, Christian Robert Lim, at Ma. Gracia Cielo Padaca ang pinakamataas na hukuman dahil sa hayagan nilang paglabag sa kautusan nito. Bilang tugon sa petisyon ng ALAM at 12 iba pang party list groups dahil sa pagtanggi ng Comelec sa kanilang application for accreditation, nag-atas ang SC noong Disyembre 4, 2012 ng Status Quo order na nag-uutos ng “observe the status quo prevailing before the issuance of the Comelec resolutions.” Ani Causing, ibinaba ng Comelec ang Resolution No. 9467 na kung saan sa
ARMM
Seksyon 1 ay nasasaad na ang party list group na tinanggihan ng Comelec ngunit may nakabinbing petisyon sa SC ay pinapayagang sumali sa raffle para malagay sa balota ang PCOS. Sinabi pa niyang ibinasura ng Comelec ang petisyon ng ALAM noong Nobyembre 7, 2012 at mula sa Hunyo 15, 2012 hanggang November 7 ay walang naganap na amyenda sa Resolution No. 9467. Noong Enero 4, nakasali ang ALAM at iba pa sa raffle kung saan ang Slot No. 34 ay napunta sa kanila. Ngunit ilang minuto matapos ang raffle, sinabi ni Brillantes sa media na hindi dapat kasama sa nasabing palabunutan ang ALAM at 12 pang baguhang aplikanteng party list groups. Ani Causing, ang hayagang pagbalewala sa SC ay naganap dahil sa Resolution No. 9595 na ipinasa noong Disyembre 19, 2012 kung saan ipinagbabawal ang mga grupo ng party list sa pagsali sa raffle kung
nabigong makakuha ng ng mandatory injunction. Ani Causing, hindi pwedeng ikatwiran ni Brillantes na nalito siya sa kahulugan ng SQA dahil isa siyang bar topnotcher. “All other commissioners aside from Padaca are topnotch lawyers, too, so they cannot claim it was an honest mistake,” pahayag ni Causing sa Mindanao Examiner. Sinabi pa niyang kung talagang nalito si Brillantes at iba pang commissioners, mas malinaw sana kung tinanong nila SC. Ito na ang ikalawang pagkakataong sinuway ng Comelec ang SC kung saan ang una ay kinasasangkutan ng Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. dahil hindi isinama ang kanilang grupo sa balota ng PCOS noong 2010 elections. “It is dumbfounding to see how it happened that these supposedly intelligent officials forgot their own Resolution No. 9467 and failed to remember the first contempt judgment on them,” wika pa ni Causing. (Nenet Villafania)
Northern Mindanao
Davao
agreement with Manila in October for the creation of Bangsamoro homeland, which would replace the exist-
ing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao comprising of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao
del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi; and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan. (Mindanao Examiner)
San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada bats for development of Halal industry MANILA – San Juan Re p re s e n t a t i v e J V Ej e rc i t o Estrada urged the Aquino government to fastt r a c k t h e d e ve l o p ment of a roadmap which will outline strategies and spur t h e g row t h o f t h e Halal industry in the Philippines. The government is still in the process of drafting a “road map” which will outline measures to develop the local Halal industr y and allow exporters to comply with international s t a n d a rd s f o r a l l Halal products such as food and medicines. Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, noted that Mindanao is strategically located and can easily export
Manila
Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada
Ha l a l p ro d u c t s t o neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia where there are large Muslim populations. Establishing the Halal industry will also provide livelihood opportunities to those affected by typhoons in Mindanao, the young lawmaker said. “There are plenty of
opportunities for locally-produced Halal products particularly since the demand for these have been increasing both in the domestic and global fronts,” Ejercito Estrada, who is r unning for the Senate, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said the global Halal market is currently estimated at $2.3 trillion and continues to rise due to the annual increase in Muslim population. “Halal” is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as per missible according to Islamic law.
Zamboanga Peninsula