Mindanao Examiner Newspaper

Mindanao Daily

US WARSHIP MYSTERY Founded 2006

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MANIL A – Two F ilipino senators MANILA Filipino senators,, F Frrancis Escuder o and Lor en Legar da, hav e deEscudero Loren Legarda, have manded an explanation fr om the Ar med from Armed For ces why a U nited S tates N avy warship orces United States Navy str ay ed into a pr otected rreef eef and mar ine stray ayed protected marine sanctuar y wher e it is no w stuck sanctuary where now stuck..

Escudero said Washington should also be held liable for all damages after the USS Guardian, a minesweeper, ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. “Did it have authorized access in the first place? Were we informed of its presence in our territory?

Why can't we have official word from concerned authorities about the official status of the ship in our waters?," Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, asked.

Legarda, on the other hand, wants the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Philippine Coast Guard to explain how the USS Guardian was allowed to venture into the Tubbataha Reef. “The VFACOM is tasked to monitor, in coordination with appropriate government agencies and NGOs, the activities of foreign military and civilian personnel,” Legarda said.

“What kind of coordination was carried out when officials on board the USS Guardian refused to respond to the radio calls made by Philippine authorities who were investigating their presence in our protected area?” Legarda asked.

Calling the incident serious, Escudero said his committee may launch a probe to uncover possible violations of Philippine and international laws.

ARMM

P10/RM1

Zamboanga City, Philippines

USS Guardian (US Navy website) The Philippine Coast Guard stationed in Tubbataha Reef said it radioed in the Guardian’s unauthorized entry and that it caused damage to the reef.

Escudero said even Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez could not say if the warship's entry was authorized or not. "The reef's protection status has been severely violated, neglected.

We are also looking at what other violations were incurred. We should demand not only for indemnity for damages but also for the restoration costs. Reefs are grown over centuries, the extent of the damage and what it will leave cannot be quantified in any amount," Escudero said.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare Marine Protected Area in Palawan. It is 150 kms southeast of Puerto Princesa City, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, home to at least 40% of the world’s fish and 75% of corals. Being in the center of the Coral Triangle, Tubbataha Reef plays a critical role in marine biodiversity preservation, Escudero said.

Northern Mindanao

Davao

Reports say the USS Guardian ran aground in the South Atoll, one of the two atolls comprising the reef. The warship has started to sink, and most of its 79-man crew have abandoned ship.

"The US government is in no position right now to act like the Big One in this matter. Our territory, our rights were violated.

Therefore, we must demand excellent care when they free the ship from the reef. They already ignored the protection status of the reef once, and here they are again," Escudero said.

He also called on authorities to fully supervise and monitor the immediate extraction of the ship from the area to ensure that no further physical damage will be done to the reef.

Legarda expressed concern over what she said was a “troubling pattern of environmental assault” that has resulted from the visits by United States naval ships in the country.

Legarda, chairwoman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, noted the

Manila

Jan. 28-Feb.3, 2013

failure by the US authorities to coordinate the movements and route of the USS Guardian while in Philippine waters.

“Our Visiting Forces Agreement and other treaties with the United States government is not a free pass so US ships and military personnel can do as they wish in our country, including the destruction of the environment and protected sites in our country,” Legarda said.

Aquino C ed Crriticiz iticized Filipino youth group Anakbayan also expressed its outrage over the alleged silence of President Benigno Aquino regarding the grounding of the USS Guardian on Tubbataha Reef.

Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan, noted that the only statement from Malacanang issued by Palace Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte conveniently skirts the issue of the U.S Navy’s arrogant behavior.

Filipino officials said the warship’s crew even went on full battle alert when they were approached by Park rangers.

“Are the PAWB and Tubbataha Park officials the only ones concerned about the impunity with which U.S troops violated an important part of our national patrimony? Why has Noynoy kept silent two days after the incident?”

“Is Noynoy still waiting for the ‘official line’ from the White House and the U.S State Department so that he can echo it, word for word?” Crisostomo asked.

(Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Jelly Musico)

Zamboanga Peninsula

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Gov't efforts to improve debt profile cited The Philippines currently has a narrow revenue base compared to its similarly-rated peers, but Fitch Ratings said this situation is countered by the government’s effort to improve debt profile and higher reliance on on-shore creditors to improve public finances, according to the official Philippines News Agency.

Fitch Ratings said the domestic economy’s credit profile is hindered by its narrow revenue base, which in turn is due to several factors such as low per capita income, weak investment climate and huge informal economy. ”Thus, while Fitch expects fiscal liquidity metrics, such as debt/ revenues, to improve over the next two years, they will remain weaker than for peers,” it said.

However, moves to implement a more stringent tax collection and establishment of rev e n u e - e n h a n c i n g measures like the amendment in the Sin Tax law “should provide incremental benefits to the public finances.”

Fitch said efforts to

Pres. Benigno Aquino III reduce fiscal leakages and improve government spending “may create greater fiscal space for budgetary allocations to long-term growth supportive sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure investment.” ”Continuation of such efforts could bolster the sustainability of the public finances and support the sovereign profile in the year ahead,” it said.

The report, however, pointed out that “execution risks remain significant.”

It also cited that the higher revenues to date is not a plus factor for the government per se as this only “replaces revenues foregone afters measures taken by previous adminis-

COMELEC gihatagan ug P4-B alang sa piniliay ning tuig PAGADIAN CITY Gipahibalo sa Departm e n t o f Bu d g e t a n d Ma n a g e m e n t nga gipagawas na nila ang P4.14 bilyon nga pondo alang sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC) aron sup ort ah an an g m ga kalihukan sa synchronized national, local ug ARMM elections karon tuiga.

Ang maong pondo gikuha sa savings gikan sa unutilized appropriations sa 2012 General Appropriation Act. “A m o n g gidugangan ang pondo sa C O M E L E C a ro n s a pagbuhat sa mga gikinahanglan pagpangandam alang sa mga piniliay ning tuig.

Kining dugang pondo makahatag ug kas e g u ro h a n s a m g a kalihukan sa dili pa ang piniliay nga matuman subay sa gitakdang panahon ug masangputon gayud, m a t o d p a n i Bu d g e t and Management Secretary Florencio Abad.

Sa m a o n g p o n d o, P1.54 bilyon pagagamiton alang sa mga galastohon sa Synchronized National ug Local Elections, samtang ang P755.08 milyon pagagamiton sa pagpalit sa mga PCOS m a c h i n e s, s a m a s a pagpalambo sa collateral, software support

ug m a i n t e n a n c e, pagbansay ug galastohon sa mga seminars.

Uban mga butang ilalom sa maong pondo naglakip sa P100.9 m i l yo n , n g a g i g a h i n usab alang sa mga kinahanglanon sa Overseas Absentee Voting.

Gipamatuud usab ni Abad nga ang P4.14 b i l yo n g a m i t o n l a n g alang sa mga kalihukan nga may kalimbigitan sa 2013 nga piniliay, ug ang tanan wala nagamit nga kuwarta ubos sa maong pondo d i l i m a h i m o n g g amiton alang sa uban galastohonon sa katapusan sa tuig.

(Claro Lanipa)

trations.”

The debt watcher “believes a strengthening trace record for economic growth, improving tax compliance and the implementation of revenue enhancing measures have and will deliver incremental gains to the fiscal revenue base.” ”This, coupled with a declining debt/GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratio, will sustain the gradual convergence of the Philippines’ debt/revenue ratio with ‘BB’ and ‘BBB’ category medians,” it said but noted that “the gap is expected to remain considerable for some time.”

The ratings agency said the Philippines lacks a formal fiscal framework that would ensure funding and policy thrust among others beyond the one-year budget program , which is a positive booster of investors’ confidence.

It, however, does not consider this a “constraint on the ratings” since “a credible, deeprooted political commitment to fiscal sustainability is a more important determinant of fiscal outcomes.”

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada hails cut on placement fee for Taiwan-bound OFWs MANILA - San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada welcomed a move aimed at reducing by 85% the exorbitant placement fee being charged to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) seeking jobs in Taiwan.

The substantial cut in the placement fee was made possible after local job recruiters agreed to reduce the staggering P90,000 to P150,000 fee for every outbound OFW for Taiwan to an amount equivalent to a one-month salary or P22,000.

Amadeo R. Perez Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), disclosed that Taiwanese brokers have voluntarily agreed to reduce their broker's fee.

Perez clarified that the mechanism for substantial reduction in the placement fee has to be finalized before it could be approved by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

Ejercito Estrada, who is the vice chairman of the House labor and employment committee, urged MECO to fast-track the drafting of mechanics for reducing the placement fee to unburden OFWs seeking employment in Taiwan from paying too much.

He also urged the Labor department to act with

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada dispatch when rules governing the implementation of reduced placement fee have been approved for implementation.

"I don't see any hindrance in the move to slash the exorbitant placement fee being charged to our kababayans who opted to work in Taiwan.

Since the move was initiated by private stakeholders themselves, I'm optimistic that this will be implemented soonest," Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, said.

"I just hope there will be similar move for OFWs who are seeking jobs in other countries like those in the Middle East. The government, as in other

sending countries, should shoulder the placement fee because OFWs are our partners in nation-building," he added.

He said at present, there are some 90,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, making the Philippines the third largest laborsending country after Indonesia and Vietnam.

There are around 11 million OFWs in different parts of the world who send $20 billion in remittances annually.

Ejercito Estrada, a former mayor in San Juan City, is running for the Senate in the May polls under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

(Mindanao Examiner)

JUST SAY

NO!

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

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The Mindanao Examiner

South Cotabato nanguna sa pagpatuman sang bulukuon nga MRDP-2 sa rehiyon 12 KORONADAL CITY - Ang probinsiya sang South Cotabato amo ang nanguna sa pagpatuman sa rehiyon 12 sang mga bulukuon nga ginpundohan sang Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) sang Mindanao Rural Development Program ‘s second phase (MRDP-2) sa ulihi nga duha ka tuig.

Si South Cotabato gober nador Arthur Pingoy Jr., nagsiling nga subay sa report nga ginpaguwa sang MRDP – 2 nagapakita nga ang probinsiya nakapakita sang accomplishment rating nga 129 porsiyento, kag nagapanguna sa buluhaton sang mga manogbaton sang kaayuhan nga mga gobyerno lokal sa rehiyon.

Ginsundan sang probinsiya sang Sultan Kudarat nga nakapakita sang nahimo nga grado nga 83 porsiyento ginsundan sang North Cotabato nga 68 porsiyento kag Sarangani nga may ara 55 porsiyento.

Siling pa ni Pingoy nga ang mga buluhaton nakaalagad sa mga 174 ka mga hugpong sang katawhan, mga kooperatiba, kag iban pa nga mga hugpong sa probinsiya sugod pa sang

Hulyo 2011 hasta Oktubre 2012.

Siling pa niya nga ang una nga puntirya nga P60 milyon nga kantidad sang bulukuon sa probinsiya naglabot ini sang kabug-usan nga P77.5 milyon nga kantidad sa bulukuon sa napulo ka pook sa duog.

Hambal pa sang gobernador nga ang mga ini nga gingastuhan sang P10 milyon nga kantidad sang mga bulukuon sa kada banwa sang Polomolok kag Banga; P7.5 milyon sang kada isa ka banwa sang Surallah, Tantangan, kag Norala; P5 milyon sang kada isa nga banwa sang T’boli, Santo Niño, Tampakan, Tupi kag ang Siyudad sang Koronadal.

Hambal pa gid niya

nga ang mga ini nga bulukuon amo ang pagpatubas sang lubi k a g k a k a w, p a g s a g o d sang pitaw kag pagprodukto sang itlog sini; pagsagod sang baka kag pagprodukto sang ulutanon; pagsagod sang karabaw; vermi composting; integrated farming system; p a g p ro d u k t o sang organiko nga bugas; pre- and post har vest nga pasilidad; pagpatubas sang binhi nga humay; makinarya sa panguma; p a g p ro s e s o sang pagkaon; pagprodukto sang mga galamiton halin sa kawayan; pagprodukto sang “high value crop” kag iban pa.

Luwas pa sa mga natapos nga proyekto, si

P i n g oy n a g s i l i n g n g a mga 18 pa ka mga bulukuon nga nagakantidad sang P8 milyon ang sa subong gina-patuman pa.

Tu n g o d sini si P i n g oy n a g a l a u m n g a untani makasulod pa ang probinsiya sa sunod nga parti sang buluhaton sang MRDP. Ini ginatumod niya ang pagpalapad sang MRDP nga mangin Philippine Rural Development Program umpisa sa subong nga tuig.

Mahibaluan nga sa idalum sang MRDP 2, ang gobyerno nasyunal nagbutang sang P240 m i l y o n p a r a s a p a gpatuman sang nagkalainlain nga subay sa duog nga bulukuon sa socio-economic sa rehiyon.

Su b a y s a g i n p a tungod nga pondo ang North Cotabato nakab a t o n s a P 8 0 m i l y on samtang ang Sarangani k a g Su l t a n Ku d a r a t nakadawat sang P45 milyon kag P37.5 milyon kada isa.

Ang ini nga buluhaton nakahatag sang kaayuhan sa mga 771 ka mga kooperatiba, mga hugpong sang katawhan kag mga hugpong sang mangu-nguma sa re h i yo n . (E d g a r d e l a Cruz)

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Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

Capitalize on Philippines tourism citations, Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada tells Aquino gov't

A scenic view in Southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Two men sell native brooms made in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines. Local brooms are one of the best because of craftsmanship and durability. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Geonarri Solmerano)

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

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Importers, exporters warned of email fraud, hackers ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry has urged Filipino importers and exporters to act with heightened vigilance in their import and export transactions following reports of rising cyber hacking cases that victimized Philippine importers and Chinese suppliers.

Regional Trade Director Nazrullah Manzur said there have been cases that payments made importers to their legitimate suppliers were redirected to other bank accounts put up by hackers who posed as the suppliers.

“That is why we issue this advisory so that no similar cases may happen as we know for a fact that we have business firms here which are into the export and import business with China,” he said, adding most of the hackers are believed to be operating in Nigeria “These cases apparently are the handiworks of an African criminal syndicate, particularly Nigerians, based on the findings made by the National Bureau of Investigation,” Manzur said.

(Lowell Vallecer)

MANILA - San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada urged the Department of Tourism (DOT) to take advantage of the citations given to the Philippines as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, made the statement after the Philippines was given the "Best Tourism Destination Award" by China's English daily, "Oriental Morning Post." The citation was based on a consumer survey conducted by the newspaper.

Also, American travel magazine "Conde Nast Traveller" recently included the Philippines in its list of "Top Tourist Destinations to Watch in

2013."

Just recently, the Philippines received the "Most Romantic Destination" award from another English daily in China, the "Shanghai Morning Post."

The award was also based on a consumer survey.

"The DOT should now step up its efforts to promote the Philippines as a tourist spot. At the same time, government should implement the necessary reforms to develop the tourism industry," said Ejercito Estrada, who is running for the Senate in May polls under the United Nationalist Alliance.

He said the Aquino government should immediately upgrade major airports in the country and

improve other tourism infrastructure to boost tourist arrivals.

Ejercito Estrada said the government should focus on developing the country's tourism industry given its potential to create more jobs and provide business opportunities to local entrepreneurs.

He said that while the country has many wonderful tourist spots, especially in Mindanao, that could lure in travelers, the Philippines is still being edged out by other Southeast Asian countries in terms of attracting tourists. Malaysia, for instance, was visited by 24.7 million tourists in 2011 while only 3.91 million tourists visited the Philippines that same year.

The Mindanao Examiner

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

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Who's the Bomber?

Wet and cold in Kidapawan City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)

84,000 affected by flash floods in Mindanao DAVAO CITY – Philippine authorities said tens of thousands of people were affected by flash floods in Mindanao following days of heavy rains brought about by a cold front affecting the southern region.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said more than 84,000 people in 80 villages in Regions 10, 11 and 12 were directly hit by the calamity and that over 33,000 people are now staying in various shelters

in Mindanao.

It said social workers have distributed some P5 million in food aid to the affected areas where rivers overflowed.

Many roads in Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental provinces, including Davao City remain impassable to vehicles and some areas are still without electricity. There were immediate reports of casualties in the calamity. (Mindanao Examiner)

Senator suffers from chronic bone marrow disorder MANIL A – Philippine Se n a t o r Miriam Sa n t i a g o w a s d i a g n o s e d Fr i d a y w i t h a chronic bone marrow disorder, resulting in low blood cell count, k n ow n i n l a y m a n’s t e r m a s “s l ow b o n e marrow,” the official Philippines Ne w Agency reported.

It said the finding the diagnosis came out a day after Sa n t i a g o s u f f e re d a mild stroke, the state media said.

Santiago ran a ser ies of blood tests at the P hilippine Hear t Center where results showed she has abnorm a l l y l ow re d b l o o d cells and low haemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells

Sen. Miriam Santiago

to carr y oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts of the body.

When haemoglobin is low, the blood cannot carry an adequate supply of oxygen, causing fatigue, dizziness, and shor tness of breath, heart palpitations, and other symptoms.

Other results of her

blood tests are also dismal. Santiago has high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and very h i g h L D L ( k n ow n a s “bad” cholesterol), possibly aggravated by a recent bout with hypothyroidism.

A high cholesterol count increases the r isk of atherosclerosis, and thus increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Other findings showed Santiago suffers from high calcium, high uric acid, and high blood urea.

Santiago has authorized both the Philippine Heart Center and her staff to release copies of her b l o o d t e s t re s u l t s t o media. ( Jelly Musico)

PHILIPPINE author ities are still facing a blank wall over a recent roadside bombing in Iligan City that left at least 9 people wounded.

No i n d i v i d u a l o r group claimed responsibility for the attack on a row of business establishments along Quezon Avenue, said Br i g . G e n . D a n i e l Lucero, commander of 103rd Infantry Brigade.

“We still don’t know the motive of the attack or who was behind it, but authorities have begun investigating this bombing,” Lucero told the Mindanao Examiner.

It was not immediately known whether the bombing was connected to terrorism or extortion by cr iminal or rebel groups, but it occurred ahead of political campaigns for the May elections. The attack was carried out despite heightened sec u r i t y i n t h e re s t i v e southern region where s e ve ra l re b e l g r o u p s and members of the Indonesian terror organization Je m a a h Islamiya are actively operating.

In May 2011, a similar bombing killed at least 3 people and w o u n d e d ove r t w o d oze n c i v i l i a n s i n Iligan City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner by the 41st Mechanized Infantry Company of the Philippine Army's Light Armor Division show a soldier looking at the site where a bomb went off last week in Iligan City. The explosion injured at least 9 civilians.

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Jan. 14-20, 2013

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

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MNLF leader wants to become Malaysian citizen ZAMBOANGA CITY – A former Muslim rebel leader, who sought safe refuge in Sabah after escaping a civil war in the southern Philippines almost four decades ago, now wanted to renounce his Filipino citizenship to become a naturalized Malaysian.

Abdul Halil Aranial, whose nom de geurre was Commander Janggut, said he and six other rebel leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front escaped the war in Basilan province in 1975 and fled to Jampiras Island, according to a report by the online newspaper Borneo Post.

Aranial said he has no wish to return home to Basilan, although he is aware of the changes that

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada praises PNoy for ‘Kasambahay Bill’ MANILA – San Juan City Representative JV Ejercito Estrada expressed gratitude to President Benigno Aquino III amid reports that he has already signed into law the much awaited Domestic Workers' Act, widely known as Kasambahay Act. "I'm very thankful to President Aquino for his concern over the plight of household helps who have long been at the mercy of their respective employers. This is the best gift we can give at the start of the new year for these hardworking men and women who tend to our homes and take care of our children," Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, said.

He said the Kasambahay Act ensures the rights and welfare of the estimated 2 million household helps all over the country and also pegs their minimum salaries.

Under the new law, the minimum salary of a domestic helper is pegged at P2,500 in Metro Manila, P2,000 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P1,500 in the rest of the country.

The law also orders the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to determine succeeding salary

increases following consultations with stakeholders.

Apart from monetary compensation, which includes a 13th-month pay, the law also mandates employers to enroll their house helpers in Social Security System, Philhealth, and Pagibig Fund and to pay part of their monthly contribution.

Also, domestic helpers should be afforded at least eight hours of rest every day and a day off a week.

"Most household helps have very little education," Ejercito Estrada said.

“That is why I'm glad that my proposal to require employers to allow their household helps to complete their basic education has become part of the new law."

A similar bill was first filed 15 years ago. The current bill went through countless modifications before it was finally approved in the 15th Congress in the first week of December.

The San Juan lawmaker, as vice chairman of the Committee on Labor, is among those who shepherded the bill through the House of Representatives. Ejercito Estrada is running for the Senate in May polls under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

have happened in the southern Philippines and that he would only travel there to visit relatives.

“We were running out of ammunition and food so we decided to seek help from neighboring Islamic countries to support our cause,” he told the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

He said they travelled by speed boat and ended up in Jampiras just off Sandakan City.

Aranial said they resided in Jampiras until 1980 before relocating to the refugee settlement in Kamping Air in Sandakan where he was employed in an oil palm plantation until his relocation to the Muslim Refugee Settlement in Keningau in 1993.

He said he obtained the IMM13 pass issued to refugees and used it for 19 years. And in 2009, Aranial said he applied for an Entry Permit and later in the same year applied again for Permanent Residence which was approved.

“I hope the government would expedite the application process for my Malaysian citizenship,” Aranial said, adding he has now three wives and that all their 13 children.

It was unknown whether Aranial’s companions are still alive or had returned to the southern Philippines after the MNLF signed a peace agreement with Filipino government in September 1996.

(Mindanao Examiner)

NPA holds POWs in Mindanao

COMMUNIST rebels have captured a government soldier and a policemen at a checkpoint in the southern Filipino province of Compostela Valley.

Rigoberto Sanchez, a spokesman for the New People’s Army, said they are holding Private First Class Jesrel Colanggo and Senior Police Officer 1 Ruel Pasion. Both were intercepted and disarmed in the village of Mangloy in Laak town on Thursday.

“The two prisoners of war are being treated well, their safety is of primordial consideration, as the NPA abides the tenets of international humanitarian law,” Sanchez said.

He said the soldier is a member of the 60th Infantry Battalion which the NPA accused as behind the series of extrajudicial killings of innocent civilians in the province.

“The 60th Infantry Battalion’s bloody record against the masses, included the summary execution of peasant Totong

Mabinse, of the village of Datu in Laak town, and the forced recruitment and coercive surrender of peasants,” Sanchez said.

The capture of the soldier and policeman came a day after security forces attacked an NPA team in the village of Binondo in nearby Davao Oriental’s Baganga town and sparking a fierce fight that left a still undetermined number of soldiers dead and wounded.

Sanchez said government troops sealed entry and exit points in Davao Oriental and virtually choking the supply of humanitarian aid to victims of past typhoon, and it was also the reason why the NPA put up checkpoints in selected areas in the provinces to ensure safe passage of civilians.

Another rebel spokesman Ka Aris Francisco, of the Comval-North Davao South Agusan Sub-Regional Command, said prisoners are legitimate military targets who were on active duty when ap-

prehended.

"Proper procedures are being undertaken by the Sub-Regional Command custodial unit to ascertain possible acts of commission by POW Culango and POW Pasion in violating human rights and International Humanitarian Law in the course of their direct participation to the government's counterrevolutionary and antipeople's war," he said.

Security officials or their spokesman did not give any statement about the capture of the soldier and policeman. The 10th Infantry Division and the Eastern Mindanao Command which has jurisdiction to the area also did not give any statement and army officials did not return or ignored phone calls by journalists.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

Mining firm TVIRD bags 2 prestigious awards MANILA – The Philippines feted multi-awarded Canadian mining firm TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. with two new awards in recognition of its responsive health and safety programs that impacted both its employees and the community where it operates.

TVIRD received the prestigious 8th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) and the Safety Milestone (SMiLE) awards for its operational excellence at its mining site in Mount Canatuan in Zamboanga Del Norte’s Siocon town.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) , TVIRD - an affiliate of TVI Pacific Inc. in Canada scored over one million man-hours without losttime accidents in the second half of 2012 alone.

TVIRD Safety Department Manager Arturo Abad received the GKK award from DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

The GKK is a national award given by DOLE every two years in recognition of outstanding achievements made by establishments and individuals in responding to the safety and health needs of workers, their workplaces, and community.

GKK is a component of DOLE’s Zero Accident Program, one of its flagship programs.

DOLE said the award was given to TVIRD on the

TVIRD Safety Manager Arturo Abad and Safety Officer Kurt Torres, left, with TVIRD COO Yulo Perez, right, and DOLE Regional Director for Western Mindanao Sisenio Cano, extreme left. merits of compliance to the standards and programs set by the Occupational Health and Safety Center excellent programs that addresses productivity and efficiency of workers and continuous improvement of the system that manages, reduces or eliminates risks and hazards in the workplaces.

“From July 2010 to June 2012, TVIRD had a zero frequency rate, zero severity rates and a zero combined frequency rate in work-related accidents,” said Abad, who is also a recipient of the 7th GKK individual category award.

He said zero-accidents over a two-year period is considered an outstanding performance achieved by a company in the local mining industry.

TVIRD also bagged DOLE’s SMiLE award which recognizes the

company’s safety performance resulting in “NonLost Time Accident” over the same period.

Safety Department Safety Officer Kurt Torres attributed the honor to the company’s continued close coordination with its Safety and Health Committee, as well as programs and policies that have designated full time accredited practitioners.

Among 20 mining companies in the Philippines, TVIRD is the sole mining company in Mindanao awarded by the DOLE. It also bested hundreds of companies from the manufacturing, water and electricity, construction and other industries.

The award for the Institutional Category, which is also referred to as the “DOLE Secretary Award,” is given to companies for exemplary health

and safety practices that extend to the community.

To date, the DOLE regional office has also certified that TVIRD has no pending labor standards case.

“Hand in hand, let us work together in realizing our goal of zero accident and zero illness in our workplaces. This is a boost to productive competitiveness,” Baldoz said during the awarding ceremony recently.

She also stressed that the awards will inspire establishments to continue raising the bar of excellence in workers’ protection and share its expertise to industry colleagues.

For his part, Abad said: “We owe the awards to (our) workers for their dedication and religious compliance to safety programs. The company achieved this rare feat also because of Management’s support and guidance.”

TVIRD has been operating for over a decade in Canatuan, the ancestral lands of the indigenous Subanon tribe, which is the biggest ethnic group in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Since its inception, TVIRD - which won numerous Philippine awards in the past - has dedicated significant resources in preserving Subanon culture and the community’s inalienable rights to life, dignity and sustainable development. (Mindanao Examiner)

The magnificent Lantawan Falls in Don Salvador Benedicto town in Negros Occidental. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Swindler itinumba sa Islamic City of Marawi!

ILIGAN CITY – Isang ahente na umano’y may kinalaman sa large scale swindling ni Coco Razuman ang pinatay sa Marawi City sa lalawigan ng Lanao del Sur, ayon sa militar.

Sinabi ni Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, commander ng 103rd Infantry Brigade, na may isinasagawang imbestigasyon ang mga awtoridad sa pagkakapatay sa biktima, ngunit may ulat na isa ito sa mga ahente ni Razuman na ngayon ay nahaharap sa ibat-ibang kaso kaugnay sa swindling.

“May napatay na isang lalaki na tinu-turong ahente ni Coco Razuman at may investigation na ang mga awtoridad diyan upang malamang kung sino ang pumatay sa kanya,” ani Lucero sa

Mindanao Examiner.

Si Razuman ay sumuko nuong nakaraang buwan sa National Bureau of Investigation dahil sa mga reklamong estafa at swindling laban sa kanya.

Inamin ni Razuman na nag-invest rin siya sa Aman Futures sa Pagadian City na bumagsak rin matapos ng ilang buwan panloloko nito sa libolibong investors na pinangakuan ng 50% interest ng kanilang salapi sa loob lamang ng dalawang lingo.

Tumakas sa Sabah ang Malaysian owner ng Aman Futures na si Manuel Amalillo, ngunit nadakip naman ito kamakailan at sumuko rin ang mga Pinoy na kakontsaba nito sa swindling. (Mindanao Examiner)

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

9

The Mindanao Examiner

JV: The Active "Netizen" Despite his hectic believe that he perschedule which insonally manages cludes provincial his own pages. trips and business "Many people meetings, San doubt if I really do Juan Rep. JV the posting on Ejercito Estrada Facebook and says he never fails Twitter. I do it myto check and reguself because I like larly update his sobeing hands-on. cial media acAlso, after a day's counts through his hard work, it's B l a c k b e r r y, therapeutic to iPhone, and iPad share what you've Mini. done to the online Ejercito community," said Estrada is considEjercito Estrada. ered as one of the As a youth admost active vocate, he said benetizen-politicans ing an active in the Philippines netizen enables today. He loves to him to be up to connect with his date with the latest 18,723 followers trends and other on Twitter. He also developments Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada uses the microconcerning young blogging service to see updates on break- people. ing news, thoughts and opinions of media "Youth development is one of my adoutfits, political leaders, family, and col- vocacies as a public servant. So being able leagues. to interact with students on a daily basis The young lawmaker does the same through Twitter and Facebook allows me to with his Facebook account, where he posts identify their needs and help them," the sohis daily activities to update 5,159 friends on lon said. his personal account, and 61,257 friends on On the role of social media in his camhis Fan Page. paign for the 2013 elections, Ejercito Estrada "It is through social networking sites that said he intends to share his legislative I get the pulse of the people on certain issues. agenda to 30 million active Facebook users Twitter and Facebook are currently the fast- and 9.5 million active Twitter users in the est and most convenient ways to get in touch Philippines. with the youth and Filipinos all in other parts While some netizens use social netof the world. Best of all, they are free," he said. working sites as a venue to rant against poliEjercito Estrada admits that he is hooked ticians, he believes that the government on social networking sites. "It's been my habit must not be given the power to regulate the to check replies and posts as soon as I wake online activity of Filipinos. The young lawup, during my free time, when I'm traveling, maker noted that the Cybercrime Law conand just before I go to sleep." tains provisions which practically permits Since most social networking accounts the state to suppress freedom of speech and of public figures are manned by their staff, persecute its political foes. (Mindanao Exseveral of his Facebook friends find it hard to aminer)

When It Comes to PR Writing, Only One Thing Beats Talent…

by Don Bates ...and there ain’t much talent around!

What’s wrong with PR writing? To borrow a phrase from poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, let me count the ways. But I don’t have that much time, so allow me to offer a few ideas based on some 30 years in the public relations profession and almost 20 years teaching business writing in professional workshops and now on campus and online.

Most PR practitioners, especially the youngest among us, haven’t been well-trained as writers.

At best, they’ve taken one PR writing course in college. More often than not, they’ve gotten their writing experience by preparing class plans and presentations. This is useful but inadequate. For one thing, class plans and presentations are long and longer.

They’re written to impress the teacher and well they should. Teachers teach; they need to assess their students’ grasp of the subject at hand, they need to assess their students’ understanding in depth.

But in business, government and not-for-profit enterprises, the writing has to be tighter and more to the point. In many respects, this has always been the case. But today it’s an imperative.

Increasingly, audiences want PR news and information as short and sweet as possible. Let’s face it, we’re not writing New Yorker pieces so why so much verbiage in most of

what’s written? In addition, we’re not writing to be published word for word or even close to it. We’re engaged in, or should be engaged in, writing news and information that our audiences, the media in particular, can use as is or edited for their purposes. We are the facilitator not the end user.

And the terms and conditions that have been set for us are pretty clear, not only for the press but for anyone who receives our stuff. These “standards” have evolved from a long history of experimentation, especially in the media and among journalists. Any writing primer will give you the specifics.

PR writing should be: • Simple (unadorned language, common sense logic) • Direct (to the point, say what you have to say and little more) • Credible (believable, what you say is true) • Factual (5 W’s – who, what, when, where, and why) • Insightful (useful takeaways that go beyond the conventional) • Actionable (you can do something immediately with what’s presented) As to actual style, PR writing should have: • An inviting lead (nothing fancy but something that makes you read on) • Short sentences (built on straightforward, uncomplicated phrasing) • Short paragraphs (much easier to read than long paragraphs) • Lots of nouns and active verbs (keep the prose lean) • Few adjectives (minimizes unintentional editorializing)

• Few adverbs (ditto what occurs with adjectives) • Few connectives (however, moreover, although, also and other transitions usually add unnecessary complications) • Accurate syntax (watch out for misplaced modifiers, dangling participles and other mistakes) • Concrete language (say “lie,” not prevaricate, “said” not “opined”) There are all kinds of guidelines but the simplest are the best. The rest is up to the writer – namely, you.

If you don’t follow what’s suggested, your writing will suffer. And practice is what makes perfect. Think about theater, sports, politics, the military. You don’t get good at any of these pursuits if you don’t practice, practice, practice.

Why should it be any different with PR writing? It isn’t.

So if you really want to write better as a public relations practitioner, get in the sweat. Start exercising in earnest. Take a writing course at your local university. Take a workshop.

Put one together for your own office. Join a writer’s club. Create one for your colleagues. Maybe in your local PRSA or IABC chapter. Do something to put your desire in action. If you don’t, you only have yourself to blame. (Don Bates is the director of the Master’s Degree in Strategic Public Relations program at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.)

Mindanao Daily

Founded 2006

mindanaoexaminer.com

P10/RM1

Zamboanga City, Philippines

Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013

SULU SCHOOL GETS NEW COMPUTER SETS, COVERED COURT SULU - Sulu Governor Sakur Tan donated 10 computer sets for the Kawmpang Elementary School in the town of Patikul in an effort to promote Information technology among the young students in the southern province.

Gabir Sarajali, the school principal, praised Tan for the donation, saying “it was a dream come true” for students and teachers. “It was really a dream come true to all of us in Kawmpang Elementary School and we thanked our beloved and hardworking Governor

for donating these computer sets,” he said.

Tan handed over the computer sets, including tables and chairs, to the teachers and students headed by Sarajali in a ceremony attended by over a hundred students, who cheered to the sight of the donation.

“I challenge all of you to be competitive and productive in today’s computer world,” Tan said to the students and teachers at the school compound.

Tan also told provincial engineers headed by Abdurasad Baih to draw a

plan for the school’s covered court where students and teachers can hold their important activities comfortably.

Some of the students were moved to tears by the generosity band support of the governor as they chanted Tan’s name and thanked him for his benevolence.

Kawmpang is only one of many government-run schools in Sulu that Tan donated various equipment and supported. He also built many schools that benefit thousands of Muslim students. (Ahl Salinas)

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan during the hand over of computer sets, tables and chairs to the Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul town.(Mindanao Examiner Photo - Ahl Salinas)

Lower power supply to hurt Mindanao business, says Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada MANILA - San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada has warned that the reduction of power supply to areas in Mindanao could cripple manufacturers and other local business establishments in the southern Philippine region.

Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, made the statement following reports that Zamboanga City is experiencing three-hour brownouts due to the decision of state-run National Power Corporation (Napocor) to reduce power supply in the city by 10 megawatts (MW).

Other areas in Mindanao may soon suffer the same fate as power supply in the region was cut by 189 MW as of Janu-

ARMM

Northern Mindanao

Davao

Manila

ary 10, according to the National Grid of Corporation of the Philippines.

"Power outages will lower the productivity of local businesses and harm Mindanao's economy.

These power outages are definitely an injustice to businessmen and consumers alike," Ejercito Estrada said.

Ejercito Estrada also echoed the fear of Mindanao businessmen that the power situation in the entire region could get worse when sardines manufacturers resume full operations in March following the lifting of a three-month ban on sardines fishing imposed by the government in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

"Mindanaoans are

now reeling from the failure of the government to act on the power crisis two years ago, when the problem was easier to solve.

The government wasted precious time," he said.

The San Juan solon, who is running for the Senate in May polls under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay, reiterated his call for the immediate rehabilitation of the Agus Pulangi facility which supplies more than half of Mindanao's power supply.

The two hydro dams, he said, are currently producing only 635 MW of its 982 MW capacity due to the heavily-silted rivers of the facility. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga Peninsula