Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper Aug. 8-14, 2016

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Stop All Mining Activities in ARMM T

Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and President Rodrigo Duterte during a recent meeting of ARMM officials at Malakanyang.

HE REGIONAL Legislativ e Assembly in the Legislative Autonomous R egion in M uslim M indanao has Region Muslim Mindanao asked the D epar tment of E nvir onment and Depar epartment Envir nvironment Natur al R esour ces to issue an or der stopping atural Resour esources order all uctiv e mining activities in the 5 pr ovinces destructiv uctive pro a ll destr under the ARMM, especially in Tawi-T awi wher e nickel awi-Tawi where mining has allegedly affected the envir onment. environment. Assemblyman Hanibal gional Secretary Kahal Q. Tulawie, the chairman of Kedtag, of the Department the Committee on Envi- of Environment and Naturonment and Ecology, has ral Resources to issue cease passed a resolution asking and desist order to all minthe DENR in the ARMM to ing firms and operators immediately issue “cease within the territorial jurisand desist” order on all diction of the Autonomous mining companies operat- Region in Muslim ing in the region. Mindanao,” Tulawie said. Tulawie said he re“These operators ceived numerous (mining firms) are not encomplaints from the pub- vironment-friendly and do lic and environmentalists not practice their corpowho are opposed to de- rate social responsibility to structive mining methods. the affected areas, but they “In response to Presi- are contributing destrucdent Rodrigo Duterte’s call tion and degradation of and the growing com- our forest lands within the plaints of residents, areas of ARMM and in landowners including in- gross violations of Repubdigenous people and lic Act 7942 (Philippine different nongovernmen- Mining Act of 1995) and tal organizations against Republic Act 9054 (to the destruction of forest strengthen and expand the lands in the area, the Re- ARMM Organic Act), as gional Legislative these complainants that Assembly of the Autono- include residents, landmous Region in Muslim owners including Mindanao has asked Re- indigenous people in the

affected areas are not properly compensated,” he added. Photos of nickel mining operations posted on Facebook showed huge trucks and barges hauling off red soil which are allegedly being shipped to China where it is processed. The photos may be accessed on this URL: h t t p s : / / w e b. f a c e b o o k . c o m / itsmorefunintawitawi philippines/photos/ ?tab=album&album_id =479868325488169. Tulawie’s committee is expected to conduct public hearings, including ocular inspections, in the areas affected by mining activities and then present its recommendations to the plenary. He said reports indicate that Tumbagahan Island in Tawi-Tawi is totally devastated due to mining explorations and the on-going nickel mining activities in Languyan municipality and Panglima Sugala, and other areas under ARMM. Continue on page 4

NPA releases another proof of life of captured police chief DAVAO CITY – The communist rebel group New People’s Army has released a second video clip of a captured police officer who appealed anew to the military to stop all rescue operations for fear of his safety. Rigoberto Sanchez, a rebel spokesman, released the video to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner, the second since June after capturing Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen, the municipal police chief of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, on May 29

ARMM

following a daring assault in the province. He said the prisoner is currently being investigated by a rebel court for his alleged involvement in the unbridled illegal drug trade in the town after a packet of methamphetamine hydrochloride or crystal meth was seized from him by NPA fighters. In the video, Ongachen appealed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to halt all operations to free him from captivity and urged the Duterte government to resume peace talks with the NPA.

“Ang hiling ko lang po sa AFP ay ihinto na po ninyo ang inyong military operation at bigyang daan natin ang peace talk na matagal nang hinihiling ng mga kababayan natin. Sana po ay pagbigyan natin ang peace talk upang malaman natin at maintindihan kung bakit nakikipaglaban ang mga kapwa natin Pilipino sa ating gobyerno ngayon. Ito po ay matagal ng problema na hindi po naiitindihan ng karamihan sa atin,” the bemustached police officer, wearing a black shirt, said in Tagalog. Continue on page 5

Eastern Mindanao

Prisoner-of-war Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen in this latest picture grabbed from a video clip released by the New People's Army to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Western Mindanao

Cebu

Manila


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Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco, accompanied by City Police Chief Luisito Magnaye, presents to SPO1 Sansibal Ladja Bahari a certificate of appreciation in recognition of his dedication to duty (right photo/City Hall). Bahari previously recieved a commendation and reward for saving lives of people by leading them out of a blast scene in Guiwan village where he himself was injured. Bahari, part of the police traffic division, was photographed last month by a lensman of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper while he directs traffic despite heavy rains.

Military, NPA resume war in Mindanao DAVAO CITY – Military forces resumed its operations against communist rebels after President Rodrigo Duterte revoked the unilateral cease-fire he declared with the New People’s Army following a deadly attack on a group of government militias in southern Philippines. It was not immediately known whether the anti-insurgency campaign, ordered by the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City, would affect the opening of the formal resumption of peace talks with the rebels in Oslo, Norway on August 20. “Eastern Mindanao Command has issued a directive for all units to be on high alert and to resume operations against the NPAs consistent with the directive coming from the military chain-of-command.” “The Eastern Mindanao Command assures our countrymen that it will remain committed to protecting our communities against armed threats and in pursuing peace and development,” said Major Ezra Balagtey, an army spokesman. He also called on the rebels to abandon their armed struggle and surrender peacefully. Duterte recalled the cease-fire order on July 29 after the rebels failed to reciprocate the truce. He also ordered security forces to be in heightened alert across the country. In his statement, Duterte said: “Let me now announce that I am hereby ordering for the immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that I ordered last July 25 against the communist rebels. Correspondingly, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to also withdraw the operational guidelines they issued in pursuance to that ceasefire declaration.” “I am ordering all security forces to be on high alert and continue to discharge their normal functions and mandate to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the

citizenry, enforce the laws and maintain peace in the land.” Philippine military chief Ricardo Visaya said all forces remain on high alert and will resume discharging their normal functions and constitutional mandated tasks. He said the NPA have missed a golden opportunity to manifest their commitment to the attainment of our citizen’s much sought peace throughout the land. “This could have been what the Filipino nation had been waiting for – the silencing of the guns that could have hastened development especially in the countryside. As things now stand, the AFP will abide by the ensuing orders of the C o m m a n d e r- i n - C h i e f President Rodrigo Duterte following this development. I am ordering all our forces to resume their normal mandated tasks and work to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the citizenry, enforce the laws and maintain peace in the land,” he said. The New People’s Army blamed the militias for the attack, saying, rebels were just acting on self-defense when they killed a member of a civilian defense force in Kapalong town in Davao del Norte province. Duter te is a bully uterte Duterte’s order came hours just before rebels could declare their own truce to reciprocate the government’s cease-fire, according to Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). He also branded Duterte as a “bully” after accusing the president of forcing his own will to the rebel group into declaring a cease-fire. Sison, who is now in exile in The Netherlands, said Duterte has no power over the CPP or NPA, and not even its political wing, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Duterte earlier threatened to scrap the cease-fire a day after the rebel attack that also wounded 4 militias. The cease-fire prevented troops from pur-

suing or launching an assault on the NPA, which has been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. “Well sinabi niya iyon, nagbanta siya, itinuloy niya pero dapat huwag niyang isipin na utusan niya ang Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army at National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Sa katotohanan, itong 8 p.m. sa Pilipinas maglalabas ng cease-fire order, pero inunahan na ni Duterte yun pag-suspend, pagwithdraw ng kanyang cease-fire order.” “Masyado naman volatile yan presidente, yan bagong halal at bale tinatadyakan niya ang kanyang mga negotiators, ngayon siya na ang naging direct negotiator na. Wala akong magagawa kung nag-withdraw siya at yun mga nasa Pilipinas, ang pamunuan ng rebolusyunaryo sa Pilipinas ay mag-pasya na hindi na ilalabas yun cease-fire order nila eh di ganoon lang. Nagpakita si Duterte ng pagsasalitang butangero, gusto niya bakbakan agad kung hindi masunod yun utos niya, akala niya nakakuha na siya ng utusan,” Sison said in a television interview with ANC in the Philippines. Militar y out to sabotage ilitary peace talks Rigoberto Sanchez, a rebel spokesman, the clash with militias in Kapalong town only highlighted the unrelenting military operations. “Worse still, the fabricated lies they spin to their Commander-in-Chief and the media to smokescreen their palpable violation demonstrate their outright disdain for the peace process,” he said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. “While the NPA is ready, willing and able to reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire in accordance to the parameters, guidelines and rules to be set by the national leadership of the NPA, CPP, and NDFP, it

cannot be harangued to reciprocate a unilateral ceasefire order that is overtly mocked by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ hierarchy and its ground troops and paramilitary forces,” Sanchez said. He said the NPA and its militia units are ready to defend themselves against military troops who are actively present in almost all villages in Southern Mindanao. He said government soldiers continue to implement its so-called “civil-military operations,” but were actually implementing combat operations, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, and psychological warfare in civilian communities. “These are troops who use communities as

garrisons, conduct counter-revolutionary operations, harass and threaten civilians and ensure that their protected illegal activities such as drug trade and logging and mining pay-offs continue unhindered,” Sanchez said. Duterte announced the cease-fire during his state of the nation address on July 25. He said the cease-fire with the rebels is to “immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities, and provide enabling environment conducive to the resumption of the peace talks.” He also urged the rebels to end the decades of ambuscades and skirmishes and describing them to be “getting bloodier by the day.”

“Let me make this appeal to you, if we cannot accept, love one another, then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much,” Duterte said as he called on the rebels to reciprocate accordingly and declare a truce with the government. Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the resumption of the talks is expected to begin on August 20 with Norway brokering the negotiations. Duterte earlier ordered the Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs to do everything within its power and authority to temporarily release from prison some communist personalities who will travel and participate in the Oslo talks. (Mindanao Examiner)

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman holds a book “Gangster and Warlords” that President Rodrigo Duterte gave him during a meeting with other officials in Malakanyang.. Also with him is Sulu Gov. Totoh Tan.


Aug. 8-14, 2016

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P810-M fund for water, other agri infra projects available

Students rushing up to finish their computer laboratory work to meet up the deadline for submission at Notre Dame of Kidapawan College in Kidapawan City. Busy days for student a week before the midterm examinations. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)

Stop All Mining Activities in ARMM

Continued fr om page 1 from “It is my primordial duty to protect and defend the interest of the majority and welfare of the people, especially, the next generations to come,” Tulawie said. He said a copy of the resolution was also furnished to DENR Secretary Gina Lopez and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. Lopez has ordered an audit of all mining firms in the country. Lopez has recently suspended the operations of Claver Mineral Development Corp. in Surigao del Norte province where it is operating a nickel mine. It was the seventh nickel miner suspended by Lopez for various reasons and complaints from indigenous tribes. China is the country’s biggest nickel buyer. Commies pr aise Lope z praise Lopez The National Democratic Front of the Philippines also praised Lopez for her firm stand against open-pit mining in Mindanao. Efren Aksasato, a spokesman for the NDFP in Mindanao, said Lopez even stood against the giant Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato province. “DENR Sec. Gina Lopez is commendable for her remarkably firm stand against open pit mining in the country, as well as her decisive asseveration of the Duterte administration’s disapproval of the controversial and environmentally destructive $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato,” Aksasato said. He said Lopez’s an-

nouncement to cease the mining operation in Tampakan is congruent with the people’s stand in objecting the “disastrous” open-pit mining project. “Certainly, it is a victory of the democratic mass movement and the unwavering revolutionary armed struggle in the countryside who will never give up the fight in defending the people’s interests and welfare and the protection of the environment,” Aksasato said. He said there were also many reports of alleged human rights violations raised by indigenous people in South Cotabato, especially within their ancestral domain; and accused government soldiers and para-military forces as behind all these. Aksasato said the openpit mining in South Cotabato approved by the past Aquino administration also violated the provincial environment code which prohibits such mining practice because of the hazards it posed to the environment and safety of the people. “Sec. Lopez’s announcement to cease the mining operation in Tampakan is congruent with the people’s stand in objecting the disastrous and plunderous mining project. Certainly, it is a victory of the democratic mass movement and the unwavering revolutionary armed struggle in the countryside who will never give up the fight in defending the people’s interests and welfare and the protection of the environment Aksasato said. He said the Aquino government approved on February 2013 the Environ-

ment Compliance Certificate of Xstrata-SMI, the operator of Tampakan gold mine project despite massive protests from environmentalists and natives in the province. But aside from South Cotabato, open-pit mining is also reported in Zamboanga Peninsula where Canadian miner TVI Resource Development, Inc. previously operated inside the Subanen’s ancestral domain in Mount Canatuan in Zamboanga del Norte’s Siocon town. The company is now operating a gold mine in the mountains of Balabag in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur province. He said the rebel group New People’s Army would continue to protect the indigenous people and their ancestral against destructive and large-scale mining activities in the South. “The New People’s Army and the revolutionary forces in the region are the most reliable allies of the weak and disenfranchised victims of the mining company encroachment and state atrocities. Over the past years, the NPA have carried out several punitive actions against the company, its private armed guards and the AFP and PNP troops protecting its operation,” Aksasato said. The NPA has been waging a secessionist war for decades now in an effort to overthrow the democratic government and install a Maoist state in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Monch Follosco.)

Assemblyman Hanibal Tulawie (Photo by Monch Follosco)

DAVAO CITY - Critical for agricultural productivity, but water projects like irrigation, potable water systems and other agricultural infrastructure have few takers. According to the portfolio of Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), about P810 million remaining funds for water and other infrastructures are waiting for proposals. “Demands for farm-tomarket roads (FMR) have exceeded its allocation. The budget has been saturated,” said PRDP Mindanao Program Support Office Director Lealyn Ramos. PRDP has P337 million allocated for communal irrigation projects and potable water systems. Another P473 million for other infrastructure projects

which cover production facilities, post-harvest facilities, solar driers, slope stabilization works, tram lines, even fish landings for fishing communities. These projects will be designed as climate-resilient infrastructures as adaptation mechanisms to climate change. Ramos said that other agri-related infrastructures in the farms are as necessary as FMR in the aim to holistically bolster farmers’ productivity. “We need to improve especially on our post-harvest facilities to minimize losses of harvest and provide proper storage areas to avoid wastage. Doing so, increases net income of farmers,” she said. “It is understandable that LGUs will focus to improve the connectivity of their production areas to

the town center. However we cannot reallocate funds for water and other infra to FMRs because this is part of our loan agreement with World Bank,” she added. The PRDP’s Intensified Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistic for Development component aims to improve road networks, increase productivity from irrigation and water supply systems and lower post-harvest losses. “We hope to get proposals by the end of August so that we still have enough time to process them,” Ramos said. Under PRDP, LGUs get most value for their investments because of the 90-10 equity sharing where the national government takes the higher percentage of the project cost. (Sherwin B. Manual)

Charita Longo of Lampitak village in Tampakan town in South Cotabato enjoys clean and safe water from the newly established potable water system near her house saving her ample time to do other productive activities. The project was constructed under DA's Philippine Rural Development Project.

Troops search for terrorists in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY – Troops were searching for suspected terrorists who escaped security forces during a car chase last week in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials said. Officials said troops recovered the car, including a powerful improvised explosive assembled from a 105mm howitzer rigged to a transceiver radio. Also found inside the car were Special Action Force uniform, several documents espousing the Islamic State ideology

and other personal belongings, a dash camera among others. The car was believed being used by the jihadist group of Abdullah Maute to transport improvised explosives and weapons from Marawi to Cagayan de Oro City and other areas in northern Mindanao. Maute’s group was said to be behind the July 27 rocket attack on a military base in Marawi City and a failed bombing outside the camp. Maute also clashed with troops in the province in recent weeks. The hostilities en-

sued after a senior member of the Khilafah Islamiyah Movement (KIM) Abdul Rahman, who is currently fighting alongside the IS in AlRaqqah province in Syria, ordered its supporters in Southeast Asia to wage war in the volatile island of Mindanao. The KIM was also blamed for the bombings in Cagayan De Oro City in July 26, 2013 that killed eight people, and similar attacks in the cities of Iligan and Cotabato, including Bukidnon province. (Moh Saaduddin)


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NPA releases another proof of life of captured police chief Continued fr om page 1 from It was unknown whether Ongachen was speaking under duress or not, but the frames of the clip were obviously edited several times and put together into a three-minute video. In the clip, Ongachen also said aside from him, the rebels were also holding several people who were taken prisoners for using illegal drugs. “Noong unang 5 araw ng aking pagkabihag, napansin ko ay may mga tao na naka-kustodiya sa kanila. Ito po pala ay mga user ng shabu na tinutulungan nilang maka-iwas at malabanan ang pagka-addict sa ipinagbabawal na gamot. Kanila po itong pinapakain at inaalagaan hanggang sa masupil na

nila ang pagka-addict sa iligal na droga,” Ongachen said, adding, it was also the same reason why the rebels raided the town and arrested him. Ongachen said he is being treated well by his captors and added the NPA also have a huge community support, although he did not say where he is being held. “Ang mga NPA po ay inaalagaan ako, hindi po nila ako sinasaktan. Simula noong pagkakuha sa akin hanggang ngayon po ay hindi ako nakatikim sa kanila ni pitik sa kamay dahil po sila po ay sumusunod sa Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law.” “Noong una po, akala ko po ay sila po ay mga

kriminal, pero noong isinama nila ako doon sa lugar kung saan may komunidad, napasin ko na mahal sila ng mga masa at ipinagkakatiwala ng mga tao ang kanilang mga bahay para sa NPA. Palipat-lipat po kami sa mga bahay sa komunidad at lahat po sila ay malaki ang respeto sa NPA,” he said. Sentence him President Rodrigo Duterte earlier appealed to the rebels to immediately free Ongachen, but has given up efforts to secure the safe release of the prisoner after learning from the NPA that rebels confiscated drugs from the officer. Duterte, who publicly declared war on illegal drugs, said the fate of Ongachen is now up to

the NPA. “You have a kangaroo court. Sentence him to 20 years of hard labor,” Duterte said. “I said I’d be harsh (on illegal drugs). I’m sorry for that guy.” Sanchez said the town have been identified as a gateway of illegal drug trade in the province and that government officials have ignored the existence of the nefarious activities there. He also accused the 28th Infantry Battalion of sabotaging the NPA’s planned raid on a laboratory of being run by drug syndicates in the village of Tibanban. He also accused politicians and other military and police officials as involved in the nefarious trade and warned that they are now target of the NPA’s war on illegal

drugs. “It is in the class interest of feudal lords, bourgeois compradors and bureaucrat capitalists that illegal dr ugs should proliferate in the country. The detestable US-Aquino regime has allowed this menace to take root and spread. This is yet another crime that the outgoing reactionary regime and its Oplan Bayanihan have to be held accountable for,” he said. Oplan Bayanihan refers to the government’s anti-insurgency campaign which the NPA said violated the rights of innocent people and resulted in extrajudicial killings in the countryside. Sanchez said the release of the clip by the

NPA affirmed its continuing campaign against illegal drug syndicates in the country. He said the daring raid on May 29 in Generoso town is a blow against the unholy alliance of reactionaries and armed forces that continues to peddle illegal drugs in the province. He said they will strike hard against drug lords and their protectors. “The only solution to this menace is to strike hard against big drug lords and their protectors who have links to international dr ug syndicates,” he said. The NPA has been fighting the democratic government for decades now in an effort to put up a communist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Davao mayor alarmado sa kaso ng dengue fever DAVAO CITY – Alarmado na umano si Davao City Mayor Sarah Duter teCarpio sa taas ng bilang ng dengue cases doon matapos na pumalo ito sa mahigit 4,000 kaso mula pa nitong Enero. Umabot na rin sa 25 ang nasawi kung kaya’t pinupukpok nito ng husto ang City Health Office na gawan ng paraan na mapigil ang pagtaas ng kaso ng dengue sa Davao. Nagbabala pa umano ang alkalde na hindi nito ilalabas ang Christmas bonus ng ilang mga empleyado ng CHO kung magpapatuloy ang paglobo ng bilang ng

kaso ng dengue. Nakatuon ang atensyo ni Carpio sa Tropical Diseases Unit ng CHO na siyang may responsibilidad sa pagko-kontrol ng dengue. Naunang nagbabala ito na sisibakin sa puwesto ang ilang empleyado ng CHO kung wala silang magagawa sa pagkalat ng dengue sa mga ibat-ibang barangay. Ayaw ni Carpio na madagdagan pa ang bilang ng dengue casualties. “We are expecting them to do something to reduce the cases and number of deaths in the

next six months. Numbers should be lower than the statistics last year of the same period. I think the tropical diseases unit of CHO will not receive their bonus. I will give their bonus to the families of those who God forbid will die in the next six months,” ani Carpio. Nanawagan naman ang CHO sa mga residente na panatilihing malinis ang kanilang lugar at itapon ang mga bagay na maaaring pagtirhan ng mga lamok na siyang sanhi ng dengue fever, particular ang mga gulong, lata na may tubig. (Malou Cablinda)

Surrender now or else… MAGUINDANAO – Police authorities have urged personalities who are allegedly included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of those involved in the illegal drug trade or protecting drug lords in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to surrender peacefully and clear their names of the accusations. Acting ARMM police chief Agripino Javier did not identify those in the

Sulu Governor Totoh Tan during a meeting of ARMM officials with President Rodrigo Duterte at Malakanyang last week. Also shown here is PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa.

list, but Duterte has recently said that he will name them publicly – mostly local government executives - in due time. ARMM is composed of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan. Last month, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Johaira Abinal alias Mayora Marimar and her partner

Suharto Macabuat in Cagayan de Oro City and seized illegal drugs from their house. Abinal is reportedly included in Duterte's drug list. In Maguindanao province, Talitay town Mayor Montasir Sabal recently surfaced to “clear his name” after he was implicated by the police in the illegal drug trade. Sabal denied all allegations against him. (Moh Saaduddin)


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Dear Science: Why aren’t apes evolving into humans? DEAR SCIENCE: Why are there no hominins left on Earth? If evolution is ongoing and species are always changing and adapting, shouldn't we see new human-like species evolving from apes, even if the old ones died out? Here's what science has to say: We hate to be the ones to break it to you, but you are an ape. So were the Neanderthals, the Hobbits, Lucy the Australopithecus, the Taung child and Peking man. And while we're at it, so are orangutans, gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees. All of us evolved from a common ancestor that lived about 14 million years ago, and together we make up the taxonomic family Hominidae. Also known as hominids. Also known as great apes. And there are hominins left on Earth — us. "Hominin" is the the technical term for archaic and modern humans — that is, creatures that are more closely related to us than they are to gorillas and chimps. (We know, the terminology can be confusing. Bring it up with the paleoanthropologists.) And to explain why we are the only ones around — for now, at least — you have to think about how evolution works. First of all, the creatures we call apes are our cousins, not our ancestors. Which would make it very hard for them to evolve into something like us. "Asking why an archaic human isn't evolving from gorillas today is like asking why the children of your cousins don't look more like you," said Matt Tocheri, an anthropology professor at Lakehead University and a researcher in the National Museum of Natural History's Human Origins Program. "Those creatures have been on their own lineage for 10 million years. You can't go back up that lineage and back down again." Even if chimpanzees could suddenly develop the traits of an Australopithecus, they probably wouldn't want to. It's easy to think about evolution as a linear, progressive drive toward greater and greater complexity, something that started with

single-celled amoebas and ended with us. But evolution doesn't have a destination, and even if it did, humans are certainly not it. In many cases, evolution tends to favor simplicity. That's why creatures that live in caves lose their eyes, and whales — which are descended from terrestrial mammals — have almost no leg bones. Not even intelligence is sacred: sea urchins, which have no central nervous system, evolved from an ancestor with a brain. "Evolution is about survival under particular conditions, and random mutations," says Nina Jablonski, a paleoanthropologist at Penn State. "There's a big element of chance and certainly no element of direction. ... Living things are just trying to adapt to the contingencies of life in their environment." The diversity of hominins during the earliest stages of human evolution showed how several species tried to do that. For example, it's thought that Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy's species) evolved human-like hips that let them walk on two feet because it let them carry things — a useful skill for collecting food on the savanna. Paranthropus robustus had a powerful jaw for chewing the tough, fibrous foods available in their dry environment. Homo habilis had a relatively huge brain that helped them make early stone tools. Australopithecus boisei's massive molars let him dine on mostly nuts and

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seeds. But as hominins' tool use got more sophisticated, their ecological niches expanded. Species didn't have to choose between having big molars for chewing seeds and sharp canines for ripping meat — with tools, they could partially break the food before eating it and consume both. "As the technological complexity of humans increases ... one species with tools is able to do more than two or three species could in the past," Jablonski said. Homo species with larger brains and smaller teeth were more ecologically successful, so evolution favored those groups. The development of language added to our ancestors' evolutionary toolkit, helping them hunt, travel, anticipate and avoid threats. By the time Homo sapiens arose roughly 200,000 years ago, they were able to survive in almost any environment, under any circumstances. "They're able to adapt to dramatically changing climates all over the world and disperse much more widely because they can make a bunch of different stuff," Jablonski said. "So when we see the final extinction of the Neanderthals or the funny little Hobbit guys in Indonesia" — two Homo species that lived at the same time as modern humans — "as a result of dramatic climatic changes, modern humans with this incredible toolkit and ability to duck and dive around the problems of the world,

they're able to survive." In other words, modern humans were able to outlive other hominins because we were equipped to exploit multiple ecological niches under the particular circumstances in which we lived. Had the climate not changed 30,000 years ago, or if it had changed differently, the Neanderthals might have survived instead of Homo sapiens. That's important to remember when we ask why our ape cousins aren't evolving the traits that characterize humans. Modern great apes live in heavily forested environments where the ability to climb trees is a big bonus — so they have no need for human bipedalism. Creatures like chimpanzees and bonobos are capable of building nests, using rudimentary tools, appreciating beauty, and perhaps even mourning their dead — without our energy-guzzling big brains. "When we look at our ape relatives today, they're just fine being ape-y," Jablonski said. "They're doing their chimp stuff, their orangutan stuff, their gorilla stuff; they don't need to be more human-like because they're surviving perfectly." "Of course," she added, "that's predicated on the hope that modern humans don't chop down their forest completely and entirely deprive them of their natural habitat. But that's a different issue." (Sarah Kaplan, The Washington Post)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Aug. 8-14, 2016

Civilians affected by clashes in Basilan BASILAN - The International Committee of the Red Cross said armed fighting between security forces and rebel groups since last month has displaced some 3,400 families in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao. It said most of the affected families are in Tipo-Tipo, Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan municipalities who have sought refuge with their relatives after shelling and air strikes occurred on an almost daily basis over the past three weeks. Casualties and injured fighters were reported on both sides, while a few civilians were also wounded as a consequence of the clashes. “The security situation in Basilan is precarious. We are concerned for the civilians as we expect clashes to continue in the coming weeks,” said Yann Fridez, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation in Mindanao. “We urge all parties to the fighting to exercise utmost precaution to minimize the impact or damage to civilian communities. We also ask them to spare civilian structures such as hospitals,

HEALTH: Paano Ginagamot Ang Diabetes Payo ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

People displaced by the armed fighting in Basilan province line up to receive essential household items in these photos provided by ICRC to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. schools and houses, and facilities that are essential for their daily lives,” he said. To complement the assistance provided by the authorities, the ICRC, with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), distributed essential household items to more than 17,000 displaced people in the three municipalities. The items distributed by the PRC Basilan chapter on July

27-28 included hygiene kits, blankets, towels, jerry cans or water containers, mosquito nets and sleeping mats. The ICRC said it also distributed dressing kits and medical supplies, including drugs and anti-tetanus vaccines, to enhance the capacity of rural health units in these three municipalities to treat sick and wounded people.

MAY 4 na milyong Pilipino ang may diabetes. At napakarami pa ang magkakaroon nito sa darating na panahon. Bakit ko nasabi ito? Ito’y dahil sa klase ng ating kinakain. Soft drinks, junk food, sitsirya, taba ng baboy at French fries. May pagsusuri na nagpapatunay na ang soft drinks ay puwedeng magdulot ng diabetes. Ang mga hindi nagehersisyo at may katabaan ay maari ding magka-diabetes. At alam natin na ang diabetes ay nakamamatay kapag hindi ginamot. Paano Ginagamot Ang Diabetes? Sa umpisa ay kinukuha sa diyeta at exercise ang diabetes. Ngunit madalas ay hindi kinakaya ng pasyente. Dahil dito, marami ang nangangailangan ng gamutan. Ang pinakamainam na gamot sa diabetes ay ang mga nirereseta ng ating doktor.

Dr. Willie T. Ong Ito ang paborito kong gamot sa diabetes: 1. Metformin 500 mg tablet – Ang Metformin ay binibigay sa pasyenteng may katabaan. Nakababawas ito ng gana kumain. Ang Metformin ay binibigay mula 1 hanggang 3 tableta sa maghapon. Depende sa taas ng iyong blood sugar. 2. Gliclazide 80 mg tablet – Ang Gliclazide ay mas malakas magpababa ng asukal kaysa sa Metformin. Iniinom ito ng 1 o 2 tableta sa maghapon. Minsan ay pinagsasabay ang

Gliclazide sa Metformin. Depende sa antas ng inyong blood sugar, tinitimpla ng mga doktor ang dosis na ibibigay sa iyo. Ang pinakamataas na dosis na aking binibigay ay ganito: Example: Metformin 500 mg tablet, 3 beses sa isang araw. At Gliclazide 80 mg tablet, 3 beses din sa isang araw. Pinakamurang Gamot Sa Diabetes Kung kulang talaga kayo sa budget, may murang mga generic na gamot na mabibili sa mga Botika. Nagkakahalaga lang ng 1 o 2 piso ang bawat tableta ng Metformin o Gliclazide. Kung kulang talaga sa budget, subukan niyo ito. At kapag hindi pa rin bumaba sa normal ang blood sugar, kailangan na simulan ng Insulin injections. Huwag matakot sa Insulin. Malaki ang naitutulong ng Insulin para hindi mahirapan ang ating lapay (pancreas). Magpatingin sa doktor.

Davao night vendors umapela! DAVAO CITY – Nakikiusap at nagmamakaawa ang maraming mga vendors ng night market dito matapos ipatanggal ni Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio ang kanilang stalls. Ipinatigil na ni Carpio ang night market matapos umanong makitaan ng maraming paglabag sa ordinansa ng Davao City ang mga vendors. Tinatayang mahigit sa 700 vendors ang apektado ng kautusan ni Carpio kamakailan sa kahabaan ng Roxas Avenue. Ito ay base na rin sa rekomendasyon ng City Traffic and Transport Management Office sa

ilalim ng hepe nitong si Rhodelio Poliquit. Isa sa malaking dahilan ng pagpatigil ng “tiange” ay ang hindi pagsunod sa patakarang “one family-one stall rule” na ipinatutupad ng pamahalaang lokal matapos na malaman ni Carpio na karamihan sa mga puwesto o stalls ngayon ay pinatatakbo sa mga “dummy” ng mga financiers at ang iba naman ay pinarerentahan pa sa ibang vendors. Marami rin umanong nalabag na batas-trapiko ang mga vendors na siyang sanhi ng buhol-buhol na trapiko doon kung kaya’t

minabuti na lamang ni Carpio na ipatigil ang night market. Hindi na bale umano na mawalan ng kita o buwis ang pamahalaan kaysa naman nagpapatuloy ang magulong sitwasyon sa lugar. Nirereklamo rin ng ibang mga lehitimong negosyante ang night market – na nagsisimula ng alas 6 ng gabi hanggang alas 2 ng madaling araw - sa maraming kadahilanan. Nais umano ni Carpio na panatiliin ang kalinisan at maluwag na daloy ng trapiko doon. (Malou Cablinda)

President Rodrigo Duterte is moved to tears after meeting with the 28-year old Lieutenant Jerome Jacuba who sustained eye injuries following a bomb blast during a recent army operation against rebels in Maguindanao province. Jacuba - who cried upon embracing Duterte - is one of dozens that Duterte visited last week at a military hospital. (Photos by Michael Rey Baniquet)

Earn Mor e, Be an Ad ver tising Ag enc y! More Adv ertising Agenc ency! Do you want to earn more? Be an ADVERTISING AGENCY for the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper and earn hefty commissions. Apply now. This offer covers Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: Unit 15, 3rd Floor, Fairland Building, Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue Phone: 062-9925480 Mobile: 0995-5202358

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Mga vendors na nawalan ng stalls matapos na ipagiba ang mga ito noon nakaraang linggo. (Kuha ni Malou Cablinda)


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Aug. 8-14, 2016

Police search for mayor’s son CEB U–A uthor ities continue to sear ch for the son of CEBU Author uthorities search or in Leyte pr ovince who has been mayor pro municipal may tagged as a dr ug lor d follo wing the rrecent ecent surr ender drug lord following surrender of the politician. Police Director Gen- in Leyte, and seized assorted eral Ronald Dela Rosa said weapons. Espinosa admitted that Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. voluntarily his son is involved in illegal surrendered to clear his drug trade and has promname. The mayor was also ised to cooperate with the accused of protecting his police which is currently inson, Rolan, alias Kerwin, vestigating him. The who is said to be getting his politician also denied all alsupply of illegal drugs legations against him. from Peter Co, a suspected The police is also keepdrug lord serving time at ing a tab of the performance the national penitentiary. of its units in the implemenJust last week, police- tation of so-called “Project men killed 6 of the mayor’s Double Barrel,” a campaign alleged henchmen during against illegal drugs and a fire fight near his home drug lords. (Cebu Examiner)

Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa gestures as he presents to the media Mayor Roland Espinosa, Sr. of Albuera town in Leyte province who voluntarily surrendered to clear his name of allegations that he is involved in the illegal drug trade or protecting his son, Rolan, also a suspected drug lord.

Pamilya sa nawad-an ug trabaho nga OFWs tabangan sa DOLE CEBU - Namahayag si Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello lll nga makigalayon ang ilang buhatan sa ubang ahensya sa gobyerno aron matabangan ang pamilya sa mga OFWs nga nawad-an ug trabaho sa Middle East tungod sa nahitabong oil price crisis. Tungod sa pagkunhod sa presyo sa lana sa Gulf States apektado ang mga construction companies nga gitrabahoan sa mga Pilipino nga maoy hinungdan sa nasinati karon nga kalisod sa ilang pamilya dinhi sa nasud. Matud ni Bello ang mga

Pilipino nga OFWs mihangyo ug tabang sa Commission on Higher Education(CHED) ug Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) pinaagi sa buhatan sa DOLE. Miingon si Bello kasamtangan nga nabalda ang pagtungha sa mga anak sa OFWs nga nawad-an ug trabaho sa Riyadh ug Jeddah samtang nagpaabot sila sa separation pay ug uban nga benepisyo nga ilang madawat. Ang DOLE pinaagi sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

mihangyo sa CHED nga hatagan ang mga anak sa displaced OFWs ug educational assistance ug scholarship sa mga state universities aron padayon ang ilang pag eskwela. Gihangyo usab ni Bello ang DSWD nga ipahiluna ang mga asawa ug dependents sa OFWs sa ilang Cash-for-Work Program. Ang programa sa gobyerno mutabang paghatag ug dinaliang trabaho sa mga nawad-an ug panginabuhi pinaagi sa risk reduction projects sa ilang mga komunidad.

Bring and promote your business in Mindanao, ADVERTISE in our newspaper and website and get fast results! ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: DAVAO CITY OFFICE: Unit 3B, 3/F Ledesma Building, 26 Juna Unit 15, 3rd Floor, Fairland Building, Avenue, Juna Subdivision, Matina Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue Phone: 082-2960658 Phone: 062-9925480 Mobile: 0947-4823453 Mobile: 0995-5202358 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

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