Mindanao Examiner Newspaper

Mindanao Daily

Founded 2006

mindanaoexaminer.com

P10/RM1

Zamboanga City, Philippines

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Malaysia holds scam leader Manuel Amalilio A seaside village in Pagadian City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) PAGADIAN CIT Y–P hilippine author e failed CITY Philippine authorities have ities hav ain behind the P12-billion brain to take into custody the br lar ge-scale swindling who fled M alaysia to ev ade ar large-scale Malaysia evade ar-rest in M indanao Mindanao indanao..

Manuel Amalilio, Amalilio, who was befounder of the Aman Fu- hind the P12-billion Ponzi tures, has duped thousands scheme in southern Philipof people in the southern pines, has been taken into Philippines by promising custody by Malaysian authem 50% interests of all thorities in Kota Kinabalu their investments; and es- in the eastern state of caped to Sabah after the Sabah. collapse of his company.

His arrest came after Philippine Justice Sec- Philippine authorities retary Leila de Lima said alerted Malaysia about Amalilio was a Filipino who Amalilio’s escape to Sabah. passed himself off to invesDe Lima said a team of tors as a Malaysian citizen. National Bureau of InvestiAmalilio was arrested gation (NBI) agents were in Kota Kinabalu by angry sent to fetch Amalilio in Filipino investors after he Kota Kinabalu and to bring failed to pay them millions him back to the Philippines to face criminal charges. of pesos in funds.

One of the investors But Malaysian auwho nabbed Amalilio said thorities prevented them the man was actually a Ma- from taking custody of laysian national whose real Amalilio, saying the Philipname is Mohamad Gamal pines have no extradition bin Said, and not a Filipino treaty the neighboring as authorities claimed. state of Sabah.

ARMM

National police also sacked its Senior Superintendents William Manzan, the provincial police chief, and Kenneth Mission, police chief of Pagadian City for failing to act on the scam.

DIL G PR OBE DILG PROBE Interior Secretary Mar Roxas also suspended Manzan and Mission for their supposed negligence in stopping the scam and said “this is meant to avoid chances of whitewash in the ongoing police investigation into the latest getrich-quick scheme that has reportedly duped some 15,000 individuals into investing about P12 billion of their hard-earned money.”

He said the police officers not only failed to act on the scam, but also failed to report about it.

“This scam has been perpetrated beginning as early as February this year

Northern Mindanao

Davao

and there have been very loud indicators that this scam was happening.

People were lining up as early as 2:00 in the morning to try to get in the premises of Aman,” Roxas said.

Roxas said 21 other policemen who invested in the scam were also ordered back to camp to ensure that they do not use their authority to exact revenge against Aman Futures and its representatives.

He also ordered an audit into the bank accounts of the local governments of Zamboanga del Sur and Lanao del Sur provinces following reports that some officials invested in Aman Futures. “This is to verify reports that public funds may have been used to invest in Aman,” he said.

The investment trading and news of its highyield, high-profit spread

Manila

like wildfire and attracted even street hawkers and tricycle drivers who poured their hard-earned savings into an overseas stock and money trading.

During the first weeks of its operation, investors were paid at least 31% and profits increased to 50% in the succeeding weeks – luring not only ordinary citizens, but politicians as well.

The Department of Trade said the people behind the investment trading were able to secure a permit for a business name and that succeeding permits carried various names of owners.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a public warning about the Ponzi scheme, but many investors simply ignored this after being told by the company that they would be paid on time.

PONZI The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique in 1920.

His operation took in so much money that it was the first to become known throughout the United States. Ponzi's original scheme was based on the arbitrage of international reply coupons for postage stamps; however, he soon diverted investors' money to make payments to earlier investors and himself.

It was also the same scheme that American stock broker and investment advisor Bernard Lawrence Madoff – who was arrested in December 2008 - used to lure thousands of clients to invest in his scam. As much as $65 million dollars were believed lost to Madoff ’s scam. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga Peninsula

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Former HS classmates meet again to serve neglected elders in Cotabato center

Members of the Notre Dame Boys and Girls Department Batch ’85 during their humanitarian mission in Bahay Maria in Cotabato City in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY – Former classmates and high school “best of friends” of Batch ‘85 of Notre Dame Boys and Girls Department once again proved that time is no hindrance to serve the community which has been a part of their lives.

The group, whose members are now working professionals and parents themselves, held a humanitarian mission that benefited the elderly and the disabled at the Bahay Maria in Cotabato City.

The Bahay Maria, home to the aged men and women, was chosen by the Batch 85, whose members shared their meager resources to bring happiness and joy to the neglected elders, abandoned and left by their own family, to the good caring of the staff and personnel at the center.

The Batch ’85 donated to the Bahay Maria assorted toiletries or personal care, milk and sugar and other things the elders can use.

Its members also performed several dance numbers in front of the elders and told stories of hope and love and a promise to return and visit them again at the center.

The humanitarian mission also brought members of the Batch ‘85 more closely than ever to each other not as former classmates and friends, but as brothers and sisters.

(Mindanao Examiner.

Mark Navales)

Congress ratifies compensation bill for martial law MANILA - The House of Representatives has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the human rights compensation bill for martial law victims, state media said.

Once signed into law

by President Benigno Aquino, the reconciled version of House Bill No. 5990 and Senate Bill No. 3334 will be known as the “Human Rights Victims

Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.”

The Philippines News Agency said the measure seeks to grant reparation for human rights victims under the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos, including claimants of an earlier case resolved by the US Federal Court in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Under the Human Rights Victims Reparation

and Recognition Act of 2013, the victims will be awarded compensation using USD 246 million that the Philippine government recovered from Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth.

However, all claims will still have to be evaluated by an independent commission and the amount each victim will receive will depend on the abuse suffered. (Cielito Reganit)

Photogra-peace Images

Photo gra-peace: Sulu’ s Photog Sulu’s fir st photo w or kshop wor orkshop irst SULU - Young volunteers called “Kusug Batah Sug” ( Youth as Strengths of Sulu) boldly showed the richness and beauty of Sulu’s scenic and historic spots, pristine white beaches, stunning flowers, exotic fruits, exquisite animals to name a few as they initiated the first-ever Sulu photo workshop entitled “Photogra-Peace” with Mon Corpuz, of the Black Pencil Project.

The screened pictures held at Notre Dame of Jolo College Review Center and Jolo Area Coordinating Center were displayed during the workshop and served as reminders that Sulu is indeed a land of promise, promise of simple living, beautiful scenery and a town to live in.

The workshop kicked off with preliminaries followed by messages from Col. Romulo Quemado, of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2, who was also one of the organizers of the Photograpeace, who stressed the importance of youth’s participation in promoting tourism and the beautiful province of Sulu

through the power of lenses.

Norjaidir Majid, Kusug Batah Sug President, expressed his words of encouragement to the participants, a total of 130 youths from different schools and photo aficionados from the 19 municipalities of Sulu.

They all finished the basic photography workshop with Corpuz highlighting the use of Digital Sensor Lens Reflex camera, point and shoot and cellphone cameras as well which all created beautiful and lasting images of Sulu.

Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin also joined the workshop and keenly listened and observed the lectures of Corpuz. Amin is one of those active in promoting Sulu as a peaceful place.

A hands-on exposure to the different places in Sulu was done to see how the participants responded to the inputs given. After hours of shooting, their masterpieces were displayed in power point presentation.

The Photogra-peace contest is now trending on

Facebook with 3 photos garnering with the most “liked” wins prizes from Canon Philippines which was also one of the sponsors.

Photograpeace was made possible through the efforts of Kusug Batah Sug, MBLT-2, Jolo Municipal Government, The Asia Foundation, Talipao Municipal Government, Black Pencil Foundation, Community Relations Training, Lifeline Foundation, Notre Dame of Jolo College, Sulu Provincial Police Office, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Joint Sulu Operations Task Force and humble individuals who contributed to the success of the said initiative.

“It is with the belief that by inspiring the youth to pick up their cameras and harness the power of social media so they can fully express their views on various societal issues afflicting Sulu to a broader audience is just but one of the measures to promote true and lasting peace in the region,” Corpuz said.

(Nash Usman Abduhadi)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada nagpasalamat sa patuloy na pag-angat nito sa panibagong survey ng SWS-BusinessWorld MANILA - Ipinaabot ngayon ni San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada ang kanyang lubos na pasasalamatsa publiko matapos na ilabas ng Social Weather StationsBusinessWorld ang pinakabago nilang survey na nagpapakita ng kanyang tuluy-tuloy na pag-angat sa ranggo sa mga kandidatong tumatakbong Senador.

Umangat ang ranggo ni Ejercito Estrada sa pangapat na pwesto sa “January 2013 Pre-Election Survey on voters’ Senatorial Preferences” na isinagawa noong Enero 17-19. Ang n a k a b a b a t a n g mambabatas ay pang-lima sa survey na isinagawa noong Disyembre. Ang kandidato ng United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) ay pinaboran ng 53 porsyento ng mga respondents sa January 2013 survey.

Malaki ang inilundag ng bagong ranggo ng mambabatas mula sa ika-

Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada walong pwesto na naitala niya sa August 2012 SWSBusinessWorld survey.

“Nais kong pasalamatan ang publiko sa inyong patuloy na pagsuporta sa akin. Isang karangalan para sa akin na ako ay pagtiwalaan ng sambayanan.

Muli, maraming salamat,” ani Ejercito Estrada.

Base sa mga surveys ng SWS at Pulse Asia, ang mambabatas mula sa San

Juan ay isa sa mga paboritong kandidato ng mga Pilipino sa pagkaSenador. Sa isinagawang survey ng Pulse Asia noong Nobyembre 23-29, pumang-apat din si Ejercito Estrada sa mga kandidatong nais ihalal ng mga tao sa pagka-Senador sa Mayo.

Umaasa si Ejercito Estrada na patuloy na susuportahan ng taumbayan ang kanyang

kandidatura.

Naniniwala si Ejercito Estrada na nakatulong ang pagdayo ng UNA sa iba’tibang lugar sa Luzon simula noong Enero 13 sa pag-angat ng ranggo niya sa survey ng SWSBusinessWorld Sinabi rin niya na ang kanyang pagiging aktibo sa Internet at ang suporta ng mga “Facebook friends” at “Twitter followers” niya ay nakatulong upang lalong siyang makilala ng publiko. Dumoble ang bilang ng “Facebook friends” at “Twitter followers” ni Ejercito Estrada sa simula ng taon.

“Malaking tulong ang social media sa pakikipagugnay ko sa publiko,” ani Ejercito Estrada. “Dahil isa akong aktibong ‘netizen,’ naipaaabot ko sa aking ‘Facebook friends’ at ‘Twitter followers’ ang gawain ko sa araw-araw at ang paninindigan ko sa mga isyu na kinakaharap ng bansa.”

JUST SAY

NO!

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Abolish VF A, Filipino VFA, student g ges Aquino grroup ur urg

MANILA - The League of Filipino Students questioned Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s sincerity to hold the US Navy accountable for the destruction of the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. It said the President should immediately junk the Visiting Forces Agreement if he is resolved to make the US answerable to the accident and not just spouting mere rhetoric.

The challenge came after Aquino said the apology issued by the US Navy, albeit appreciated, is not sufficient to compensate for the damage done to the reef. Yet, he was quick to absolve the VFA from criticisms.

“In the time of intensified anti-US Imperialist

sentiment, Aquino is forced to feign dissatisfaction with the US in an attempt to pacify the Filipino people. But as a US lapdog that cannot bite the hand that feeds him, he exposed his own charade of patriotism in trying to maintain the VFA,” Mai Uichanco, LFS Secretary General, said in a statement to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Uichanco disputed Aquino’s claim that the VFA had nothing to do with the USS Guardian’s grounding in the marine sanctuary. She pointed out how port calls sanctioned by the VFA are what brought the US warship in the Philippines in the first place.

“How does he plan on

penalizing the USS Guardian’s crew when the VFA exempts US troops in the country from Philippine law?” Uichanco asked.

The youth leader even retaliated at Aquino’s remarks that the issued apology by the US Navy showed how the US respected the Philippines’ sovereignty.

“How could he say we are being respected when all this time the US has reduced the identity of the Philippines to nothing more than a military base for its troops? Were the crew of the USS Guardian showing respect when they blatantly ignored the warnings radioed to them by our environmental authorities, or when they met

Mindanao Examiner Newspaper & Television ARMM Bureau Chief Mark Navales during one of his Mindanao Examiner Tele-Radyo episodes.

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

Merlyn Manos Iligan City

Geonarri Solmerano Southern Mindanao

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

with hostility the park rangers attempting to inspect their ship?” she asked.

She called out to the rest of the nation to continue their vigilance in keeping an eye on Aquino’s action—or inaction—over the following days.

“As early as now, Aquino is showing signs of letting the US off the hook again. For this, the LFS calls on every patriotic Filipino to intensify the struggle for the liberation of the country not only from US Imperialists but also from their minions in the government,” Uichanco said.

Motorized boats are docked at a small wharf in Cotabato City.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)

11 Philippine frogs added to list of ‘threatened’ species PAGADIAN CITY - At least 11 rare Philippine frog species are fast dying out due to rapid environmental degradation, according to the environmental group called Pilipinas Ecowarriors.

It said the frogs have just been added to the Philippines’ official list of “threatened” species, and tagged either vulnerable or endangered.

The frogs have been identified based on their common names as the Mindanao fanged frog, Mindoro tree frog, Hazel’s forest frog, Gigante Island limestone frog, Lawton’s forest frog, Negros forest tree frog, Polillo Island forest tree frog, Rabor’s forest frog,

Negros limestone frog, Mt. Data cloud frog, and Taylor’s Igorot frog.

Species are officially tagged “threatened” once their habitats have suffered extreme depletion and their populations have shrunk to a level below which the species or subspecies will be totally extinct.

Threatened species are further sub-classified either as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.Vulnerable species are under threat from serious adverse factors all over their range and are believed likely to drop to the endangered category in the near future. And endangered species are at great risk of being wiped out and survival is un-

likely if casual factors continue to function.

Frogs play a crucially important role in the maze of life and in the food chain. They prey on insects, including mosquitoes, as wells as pests such as locusts that could possibly damage farm crops.

The predators of frogs include humans, birds, monitor lizards, snakes, civet cats and other frogs.

The Philippines keeps a registry of wildlife species of priority concern for protection and conservation, in compliance with existing international and national laws. The catalogue is updated regularly by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

OFWs who survived Algeria hostage crisis thumb down embassy people MANILA - Four Filipino workers who survived a deadly hostage crisis in Algeria have accused Philippine Embassy officials of incompetence, saying they were not assisted and managed to return home through the help of their Japanese employer.

The four workers Mario Catiis, Crisostomo Carabia, Larry Villariza and Ramon Tortosa – said their employer facilitated their repatriation.

Shortly after their ar-

rival, government people offered assistance to facilitate and hasten immigration papers, but all four declined them and went through the normal process without VIP treatment.

A Filipino migrants’ rights group called Migrante-Middle East asked the Philippine government to recall and investigate embassy officials in Algeria following complaints by the Filipino workers.

“The refusal of our 4 fellow OFWs who were victim of the Algeria hostage siege to decline all the offers for VIP treatment by Immigration and customs officers upon their arrival at NAIA was an act of protest,” John Leonard Monterona, MigranteMiddle East regional coordinator, said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.

Monterona said their fellow OFWs were really upset because of the treat-

ment and incompetence of embassy officials in Algeria who were supposed to provide them all the necessary assistance after their horrific experience.

“This is not an isolated case. Every time our fellow OFWs in dire need of assistance from our PH officials abroad, we often heard allegations that they were not properly attended and given assistance. This is criminal neglect, plain and simple,” Monterona said.

Monterona said his group will support and encourage the four OFWs to issue a signed affidavit and formally lodge a complaint against the embassy officials who were accused of incompetence.

“A copy of their complaint must be sent to President Aquino, whom we think are very much aware of the poor records of his embassy officials abroad in terms of providing assistance to distress,

abused, and OFWs victims in general. He must act on this swiftly,” Monterona said.

“Philippine diplomatic missions wantonly neglect protection of rights and promotion of the Filipino workers abroad that the government hails as modern heroes because of the remittances they sent back home, but in reality are modern slaves, so to speak, in foreign countries,” he added.

Army calls on commies to rejoin society PAGADIAN CITY – The Philippine Army has called on communist rebels to return to the folds of the law and live peacefully with their family and start a new life.

General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said more and more New People's Army rebels are coming down from their harsh life in the mountain and surrender to the government.

He said many of those who yielded claimed harsh life and their longing to be with their family and government assistance are main reasons they abandon the armed struggle.

"We have been saying this all over again that there is really no reason to fight

the government because this democratic government continues to work for peace and development and progress for every body to benefit," Cruz told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said just recently, a 28-year old rebel, Alex Dungog, surrendered to the 55th Infantry Battalion in Tambulig town through the help of local village officials and pro-government militias.

Dungog, of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee, escaped from his unit due to extreme hardships. He told military interrogators that he joined the New People’s Army in October 2011 in the town of Tambulig.

“We welcome the deci-

sion of Alex Dungog to go back to his family and live a peaceful life. We expect more NPA members to abandon their armed struggle in days to come due to the sincere effort of our soldiers and local government officials who are facilitating to bring peace and development to the countryside thru the Bayanihan Team Operations,” Cruz said.

He also also commended the troops for their Bayanihan campaign in the province.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA, which has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a communist state in the country.

(Mindanao Examiner)

About 600 people participated in the recently held "Power Up Run" in Cotabato City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

Cota ba to fun rrun un successful Cotaba bato COTABATO CITY - Hundreds of health buffs and sportsmen participated in the Philippine Air Force "Power Up Run" held in Cotabato City in Mindanao.

Philippine Air Force Tactical Operation Group 12 headed by Col. Fernyl Buca, who was one of the organizers of the mara-

thon, said the event went on successfully. He said he was overwhelmed by the support of various sector to the Power Up Run. Buca said the fun run was in partnership with the Cotabato Host Lions Club and 7th ARCEN (Reservist).

He said the 3-kilometer and 5 kilometer-run

was held for the benefit of the Awang Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province.

He said the proceeds from the fun run would be used for the rehabilitation of classrooms and for additional computers sets for students. (Mindanao Examiner. Mark Navales)

Mindanao Examiner Tele-Radyo is a Commentary & Opinion Show (news talk) broadcast in 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.

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The Mindanao Examiner

Jan. 14-20, 2013

The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Erap, JV give humanitarian aid to typhoon victims in Davao Oriental M AT I C I T Y – Fo r m e r Pre s i d e n t Jo s e p h Estrada and his son San Ju a n C i t y Re p. J V E j e rc i t o E s t ra d a h a v e donated some 200 bales of used clothing and financial aid to typhoon victims in Davao Oriental province, one of the worst hit by the calamity in Mindanao.

The Estradas, acc o m p a n i e d by b u s i nessman William Gatchalian, handed the donations to provincial officials headed by Gov. Cora Malanyaon in Mati City on Wednesday.

Local officials said t h e f o r m e r p re s i d e n t donated P500,000; his son JV and mother, Guia Gomez, who is the mayor of San Juan City, also donated P700,000; and Ga t c h a l i a n P500,000.

The young Estrada said the used clothing came from Japan and intended to the families of victims of typhoon.

Ejercito Estrada, who is running for senator in the May polls under the United Na t i o n a l i s t A l l i a n c e , said he was moved by

the war m reception they received from the locals.

“It was really touching and we hope that our donations, little they maybe, can help a little in alleviating the s u f f e r i n g o f m a n y t yphoon victims in Davao Oriental,” he said, adding they are also visiting Compostela Valley p r ov i n c e w h i c h w a s also hit by typhoon.

Malanyaon praised the Estradas for helping calamity victims in Davao Oiental.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Photos show former President Joseph Estrada and son San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada during their visit in Davao Oriental province where they handed donations to typhoon victims.

(Photo by Sarx Lanos)

7 Philippines to lure more tourists MANILA - Manila said it a i m s t o a t t r a c t m o re tourists to visit the country as it continues to promote popular sites across the Philippines.

L a s t y e a r, ov e r 4 million tourists arrived in the Philippines and To u r i s m Se c re t a r y Ramon Jimenez said he is confident that we “will cross the five-million milestone.”

Ji m e n e z s a i d t h e y are targeting 10 million tourists by 2016.

“The thrust of our marketing in 2013 is mar ket development, which entails expanding the potential market for new users and new uses. We will look into segments that we have not thoroughly explored. We will explore m o re c re a t i ve e x e c u t i o n s g e a re d t ow a rd s sustaining the fun we have started. We hope to have stronger representation and be part of the future of tourism in Asia,” Jimenez said.

South Korea was the all-time highest source of visitors last year foll ow e d by t h e Un i t e d St a t e s, Ja p a n , C h i n a , Ta i w a n , Au s t r a l i a , Si n g a p o re, Ca n a d a , Ho n g k o n g , Ma l a y s i a , United Kingdom, and G er m a n y. ( Ly n d o n Plantilla)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

Put IP women in Bangsamoro Transition Commission

Yoko Ono. (Shutterstock.com)

Yok o Ono e xtends aid to victims oko extends of deadl y typhoon in Mindanao deadly PHILANTHROPIST and peace activist Yoko Ono has donated $10,000 to aid victims of super typhoon Bopha in the southern Philippines, Filipino officials said.

The established musical artist and fashion designer handed the donation to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo after learning of the disastrous effects of the typhoon in Mindanao following a personal visit she made to the official residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan in December last year.

Yoko Ono spent her childhood years at the same residence, an Iberian-style mansion built in 1934 which used to be owned by her uncle Iwajiro Yasuda. It was sold

to President Jose Laurel, and was subsequently acquired by the Philippine Government after World War II. Every time she comes to Japan, Yoko Ono finds time to visit the residence to reminisce about her childhood. And during her visit in December, she conveyed to Ambassador Manuel Lopez and Maria Teresa Lopez her appreciation for the care the Philippine Government has taken to preserve the historic mansion.

Yoko Ono's charitable activities include assisting scho-olchildren in the Philippines. She also made a contribution for disaster relief efforts in the Philippines in the wake of another deadly typhoon in 2009.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - North Cotabato 2nd District Congresswoman Nancy Catamco will call on President Benigno Aquino through a resolution in Congress for him to consider an indigenous woman to be among the members of the 15-man Transition Commission that will discuss on the enactment of the Basic Law of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro.

This call is to ensure that preserved rights of Indigenous Peoples will also be observed and considered in the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. She said IPs living within the Bangsamoro possess their own distinct culture and history that must be upheld, hence, they must be given the appropriate representation and significant participation in the enactment of the Bansamoro basic law.

“This is one form of a mandatory representation considering that the com-

Rep. Nancy Catamco mission is tasked, among others to draft an important piece of legislation”, Catamco said.

She reiterated the importance of insuring provision of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act on mandatory representation be given faithful effect by all legislative bodies in all levels of local government units.

Along with this, Catamco is also calling on all civil society organizations involved with IPs particularly those that are

pushing for the advancement and protection of IP Women and those who are unorganized or unaffiliated to unite and speak their common causes through a common voice.

Catamco expressed her stand in a round table talk on IP Women’s perspective on the GPH-MILF Peace Processes convened

by GZO Peace Institute which is ebing supported

by Royal Norwegian Embassy through the WE Act 1325.

Discussed during the

event were various perspective and positions of IP Women on the GPHMILF Peace Processes.

Lumad Mindanao, Lambangian Women’s Organization, Kutawato Center for Justice and Peace, Lilak and other representatives from different CSO’s took part in the event.

Catamco said while there are many IP groups throughout the Philippines that have common struggles, experiences and causes, their voices are hardly ever heard because there is not one single allinclusive organization that represents them.

“Our IP brethrens do not appear to be united in voicing out their positions and demands”, Catamco said.

Catamco challenged the participants present in the round table discussion to take the initial steps in organizing a single group that will represent all IP Women in the country.

Some of the Ateneo de Zamboanga BSIT students who finished on-the-job training in Animation and Video Production at Mindanao Examiner Newspaper Television in Zamboanga City received their Certificate of Completion from Editor Greggi Leaño. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Joanna Valerie Wee)

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The Mindanao Examiner

Feb. 4-10, 2013

UP Open University now accepting new students The University of the Philippines Open University said it is now accepting applicants for graduate school admission for 2013-14.

It said the following graduate programs will accept applicants until the end of February 2013 for the 1st Semester 2013-2014: Diploma in Computer Science, Diploma in Environment and Natural Re-

sources Management, Diploma in International Health, Diploma in Land Valuation and Management, Diploma in Language and Literacy Education and Diploma in Mathematics Teaching.

And also Diploma in Research and Development Management, Diploma in Science Teaching, Diploma in Social Studies Education,

Diploma in Social Work, Master of Arts in Language and Literacy Education, Master of Arts in Nursing, Master of Arts in Social Studies Education, Master of Development Communication, Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Master of Information Systems, Master of International Health, Master of

Land Valuation and Management, Master of Social Work, and Doctor of Communication.

"All UPOU programs are offered via open and distance e-learning, so students may enroll regardless of their location," it said, adding those interested can inquire or may visit this www.upou.edu.ph or email to info@upou.edu.ph.

Ukay-ukay in Kidapawan City (Geonarri Solmerano)

Army tightens security in Zamboanga province PAGADIAN CITY – Military authorities have tightened security in Western Mindanao following a recent clash between troops and bandits off Zamboanga del Sur. General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said he ordered troops to intensify operations against lawless groups and more patrols in the provinces.

The order came following a sea battle off Malangas town that left a still undetermined number of gunmen dead or wounded.

Although wounded, the gunmen managed to escape after 2 hours of fighting.

Cruz said the soldiers were patrolling the sea

General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) when they spotted the gunmen and pursued them.

“Initial military reports identified the leader of the gang as Kiyang Balimbingan, a notorious extortionist operating in the province. The gang is also preying on small fishermen in Zamboanga Sur,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Horse fighting in North Cotabato province continues to attract spectators despite appeals from various animal welfare groups to stop the annual event, which has been part of a long-practice spectacle in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)

Philippine Sena te passes bill vs Senate vs.. DUI MANILA - The Philippine Senate has approved on 3rd and final reading a bill imposing heavy penalties on motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to state media reports.

The Philippines News Agency said Senate Bill No. 3365, or the Anti-drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2012, was sponsored by Sen. Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Under the proposed legislation, motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs but have not caused any physical injury or homicide, shall be fined from P20,000 to P80,000 and shall face imprisonment up to 3 months.

Honasan said DUI resulting in physical injuries shall be fined from P100,000 to P200,000 and face imprisonment ranging from 3 months to 12 years depending on the injury caused; while DUI leading to homicide shall be fined from P300,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment ranging 12 years to 20 years.

He said non-professional driver’s license of violators shall be confiscated and suspended for 12 months for the first conviction and perpetually revoked on the second conviction. On the other hand, professional driver’s license of violators shall be confiscated and perpetually revoked for

the first conviction.

The perpetual revocation of a driver’s license, shall disqualify the person from being granted any kind of driver’s license thereafter, Honasan said.

He said mandatory alcohol and drug testing will be required for drivers involved in accidents which resulted in injury or death.

“This bill seeks to strengthen the Land Transportation Traffic Code of 1964 which, almost 50 years ago, was decreed to penalize drunk drivers with three months imprisonment,” Honasan said.

“Under the measure, vehicular mishaps caused by drivers found to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall not be treated merely as reckless imprudence,” he explained.

Honasan said alcohol and drugs could cause mental impairment or adversely affect normal physical reflexes.

He said DUI is not just a case of thoughtless or careless indiscretion.

Honasan cited data released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board last year, which showed that out of the 86,602 vehicular accidents recorded, three percent were drug or alcohol-related while 55 percent were reportedly due to driver’s error. (Jelly Musico)

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Feb. 4-10, 2013

Gays, HR group ask for repeal of religious law

Rally behind tour guide iconoclast Carlos Celdran accused by Catholic Church of offending ‘religious feeling’

G

AY RIGHTS ACTIVIST group ProGay Philippines and Human Rights Watch protested the sentencing made by a city court that convicted controversial tour guide Carlos Celdran for the crime of offending religious feelings, saying that the 1930 law is archaic and defeats equal protection of free speech rights.

Goya Candelario, offensive to the feelings of ProGay spokesperson, the faithful.” said that the one year jail Celdran, who guides sentence is way too harsh tourists at the ruins of the for a misdemeanor and colonial fort in Manila, is because of this, the group also a vociferous critic of called for the repeal of Ar- mall developers who tear ticle 133 of the Revised Pe- down heritage buildings. nal Code. Celdran, was ar- The ProGay leader said rested and jailed in Sep- that lesbian, gay, bisexual, tember 2010 for disrupting and transgender citizens an assembly of clerics who of the Philippines have were gathered in the Ma- been very forgiving tonila Cathedral to discuss wards Roman Catholic plans to oppose a women’s leaders despite years of health bill in Congress. verbal abuse in the name The provision states: “In a of religion inflicted on place of worship or during their community. “In conthe celebration of any re- trast, for example, Bishop ligious ceremony, shall Teodoro Bacani attacked perform acts notoriously the religious views of a

Christian Bacani redenominaacted negation that celtively to reebrated ports of a same-sex gay wedding in Baguio weddings, and we just City and patiently excalled for the prosecuplained to the bishops tion of the that freedom pastors of the LGBT of religion should be church for re s p e c t e d . conducting those wedThis is so much differdings and ent from getting their pastoral liwhat happened to Carlos Celdran c e n s e s Celdran, who is now revoked. “Bacani even bound for jail. Bishops called the weddings kadiri should lead by example, (disgusting) and against do not do unto others,” the word of God, but he Candelario told the re- forgot that not all Filipinos gional newspaper are Roman Catholics and Mindanao Examiner. that any church leader In June 2011, Bishop should respect the reli-

Groups frown on prepaid electricity ser vice

MANILA - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) along with other labor and consumer groups denounced the Prepaid Retail Electricity Service (PRES) of Manila Electric Company as anti-worker, anti-poor, and anti-consumer.

“Prepaid electricity scheme is brutally inhuman and defeat the government’s mandate to give her citizens access to electricity. It further marginalizes the poor and it deprives the people of electricity simply because they have no money. Not only that, it does not solve the excessive current rate of electricity because this scheme simply pass on the entire burden to helpless consumer, the Filipino workers and will make Meralco and other other distribution utilities rake in more profits for themselves,” Gerard Seno, TUCP General-Secretary, said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the prepaid electricity scheme which is now being pilot tested in some households is a violation of the basic human right to live decently.

“Ayon sa provision ng Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers,

ARMM

gious beliefs of other Christian denominations,” Candelario added.

ProGay urged the RC church to be more open to a new dialogue of understanding between the church and groups that are becoming alienated from its teachings to prevent ugly confrontations and find a way to move forward. The Human Rights Watch also said it is also alarmed by the court’s decision, saying it was a setback for free speech in the country.

“We are alarmed by the court’s decision today finding reproductive health advocate Carlos Celdran guilty of ‘offending religious feelings’ and sentencing him to a maximum of one year in prison. This is a setback

for free speech in the Philippines, which prides itself on being a democracy. This verdict should be reversed. Nobody should be jailed for voicing out an opinion or position, especially on a subject that concerns the lives of millions of Filipino women and mothers,” Carlos Conde, HRW Asia Researcher, said in a separate statement.

“The government should ensure that proreproductive rights activists are not targeted using such archaic provisions of the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code. This case shows the potential for misuse and malicious prosecution and hence the need for urgent reform to this provision of the code,” he said.

80 OFWs arrive home from war-torn Syria

Electric meters. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) ang isang consumer ay may due process such as promissory note bago magputol ng supply ng kuryente. Dito sa prepaid scheme, 3 araw ka lang na hindi magbayad, automatic na putol ang kuryente mo,” Seno said.

TUCP is part of the group called “Pipol Power”, an alliance of labor organizations and consumer groups launched three weeks ago to stand up to rising cost of energy and prices of electricity.

Other members of the

alliance are the labor coalition NAGKAISA!, Lanao Power Consumer Federation, Mindanao Business Council, Mindanao commission on Women, All Pinoy Volunteers, Empower Consumer, Kampanya Para sa Makataong Pamumuhay.

“This innovation in the power industry is ridiculous. Consider a sick parent at home as the load runs out or the dilemma of a student studying for an exam and her Saudi-based father has

Northern Mindanao

Davao

not yet sent the money to for the load,” Luis Corral, co-convenor of Pipol Power, said.

The group earlier urged President Benigno Aquino to declare and moratorium on any increase in electricity rates and create a presidential task force on power to conduct a comprehensive review of all issues surrounding the increase in electricity rates including the policies, structures, mechanisms governing the power industry.

Manila

The Philippines said 80 more Filipino workers who escaped the violence in the strife-torn Syria have returned home safely.

The Department o f Fo r e i g n A f f a i r s said the workers were repatr iated through the gover nment's Mandator y Repatr iation Program. It said the arrival of the Filipinos brought the total number of repatriates to 3,451.

It also appealed to Filipinos who are still in Syr ia to seek immediate repatriation as the security situation in the

country continues to deter iorate.

"For assistance they may call the Embassy at 963-116132626. The relatives of Filipinos in Syria may also provide the Department of Foreign Affairs with latest information regarding t h e i r l o v e d o n e s’ present location and contact details in Syr ia," it said, adding those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Un d e r s e c re t a r y f o r Migrant Workers’ Affairs at (02) 8343240 or 834-4583 or the DFA Action Center at (02) 834-3333.

Zamboanga Peninsula