Misuari charged with graft, malversation over P115.2-M educational materials deal
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Martial law must not affect ceasefire deal: MILF ation F COTABA TO CIT Y – The M or o IIslamic slamic Liber im peace interim ABAT CITY Mor oro Liberation Frront, which signed inter agr eement with M anila in 2014, appealed to the D uter te administr ation to Manila Duter uterte administration agreement ensur e that the declar ation of mar tial law in S outher nP hilippines will not affect ensure declaration martial Souther outhern Philippines the bilater al ceasefir e accor d betw een the two gr oups bilateral ceasefire accord between groups oups.. The MILF strongly dozens of casualties and de- launching an offensive condemned the recent struction in Marawi. against civilian populace attack by the ISIS-affiliated “The MILF strongly and to destroy infrastrucMaute group in Marawi condemns the violence in tures and institutions City, the capital of Lanao Marawi perpetrated by serving the public,” the del Sur province in the group or groups whose rebel group said in a stateMuslim autonomous re- only aim is to sow terror. ment. Continue on page 2 gion. The daring attack left There is no justification for
Hundreds of Sulu farmers benefit from agri-training program SULU – Hundreds of local farmers benefitted from a training program launched recently in the southern Philippine province of Sulu with the support of the provincial government and
various groups. Over 300 farmers finished the training under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Muslim autonomous region, the Harbest
Agribusiness, SM Foundation and GoNegosyo Sulu Project. A harvest festival at Provincial Organic Demo Farm followed the culmination of the training, said Governor Totoh Tan. Continue on page 4
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and other stakeholders during the recent Harvest Festival and culmination of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Rural Farmers Training Program that benefit over 300 farmers in the province. (Photo by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
Photos from ARMM Watch / Davaoeños Duterte Defender’s Facebook post
ARMM’s vaccination rate exceeds 80% target
SOME 300,000 women of reproductive age – 15 to 49 years – in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) availed themselves of free booster dose of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine. The vaccinations started in January last year in the provinces of
ARMM
Sulu and Basilan, as well as in the city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur and its surrounding municipalities Kapai, Ditsaan-Ramain, Marantao and Saguiaran. “The central office’s target is at least 80%, but we in the region vaccinated 88% women of reproductive age. We want to continue to eliminate maternal and
neonatal tetanus or MNT in the entire region,” the Department of Health (DOH-ARMM) Secretary Kadil Sinolinding Jr. said. The data were officially released on May 23, as the Health department launched its locally produced advocacy videos on MNT. Continue on page 3
Eastern Mindanao
Photo from ARMM Watch / Saladin Al-Ayyubi II’s Facebook post
Western Mindanao
Cebu
Manila
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May 29-June 4, 2017
Martial law must not affect ceasefire deal: MILF Continued fr om page 1 from It said that while it is not a position to question the factual basis of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation of martial law, the MILF “appeals to the Philippine Government to ensure that the ceasefire mechanisms continue to work on the ground, and that any military operations against the Group that perpetrated the violence in Marawi does not spark more fighting in other areas.” “Mobilizing the military in Mindanao should still respect the mechanisms that have proven to be effective in scaling down armed encounters between government forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). MILF and government forces had previously clashed in some areas in Mindanao with security officials accusing the rebels of attacking troops or engaging in terrorism and ransom kidnappings. And the rebel group reminded the government that: “Recent events have shown that disregard of these mechanisms have been disastrous to our communities and to the effort to bring to fruition the end of the decades-long conflict in our homeland.” But the MILF assured that it remains committed to the peace process and said: “Now more than ever,
the MILF and the government must work closely to ensure the protection of the gains of the peace process and to even forge with greater resolve to immediately implement the peace agreement so that no other groups may use its nonimplementation to justify their continued pursuit of violence for violence’s sake.” The MILF said it is firm in its resolve to settle the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people through the negotiated process now contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. “The different mechanisms of the peace process are still engaged with their esteemed counterparts in government and are working towards finding ways on how best to address the challenge posed by the violence being committed in Marawi by groups who have chosen to take violence without regard to the best interest of our people,” the MILF said. “The Moro Islamic Liberation Front stands in solidarity with the people of Marawi and Lanao del Sur during this tragic day. We call on our forces to extend all necessary assistance to the people of Marawi to ensure their safety and frustrate the aim of any group or groups to sow divide in our communities. Let us all stand united to win peace for our
people.” Mar tial rrule ule artial Duterte placed the whole of Mindanao and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi under a state of martial law following the Maute siege of Marawi City. The martial law will stay in effect for 60 days. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said with the declaration of martial rule, police and military can now do searches without a warrant, arrest suspected terrorists and suspend the writ of habeas corpus, among others. The Maute jihadists hoisted ISIS flags at several establishments and burned down the police headquarters, a prison facility, a Catholic church and a school before taking more than a dozen hostages, including a priest. They also executed at least 9 civilians who were captured at a Maute checkpoint. Lawmakers said the daring attack was the result of a failed intelligence and they questioned the police and military on how they spent billions of pesos in intelligence funds allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. The military’s Western Mindanao Command said the fighting erupted in Marawi after Maute members attacked security forces sent to the area fol-
lowing intelligence reports that gunmen, including Abu Sayyaf chieftain Isnilon Hapilon, who is also the titular head of the local ISIS group, was spotted along with a group of jihadists hiding in a house. Hapilon was first reported by the military to have been either killed or wounded in clashes last year with security forces in nearby Butig town. Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said sympathizers of the Maute group also attacked soldiers triggering a gun battle. Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman also condemned “these acts of terror” and said the government stands in solidarity with Marawi “in these dark times.” “Words might seem useless right now, as no words can express what we feel as we share in the fear
and anger of our people. We strongly condemn these acts of terror committed against the people of Marawi City and swear to take immediate action as necessary. Marawi City is known as the Philippines’ Islamic City, but it is home to people of different histories, different beliefs. That these acts of terror are happening in a diverse community bound by mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace is a travesty.” “Any group who sows terror and then dares to say that they do it in the name of Islam should be ashamed. Any man, who claims to fight for a just cause, yet dares to incite violence a few days before the Holy Month of Ramadhan is a monster whose words belie his actions. The regional government stands in solidarity with the city of Marawi in these dark
times. We have won many struggles together and we will stop at nothing to bring these terrorists to justice and win back the peace in your beloved city and in the Bangsamoro,” Hataman said. This was not the first time jihadists had launch attacks against security forces right in the heart of Marawi. There had been previous Maute offensives that military and police failed to prevent. The siege lasted for several hours. Photos and video clip of the siege were also posted by locals on their social media account and ISIS Live Map also uploaded pictures on the Internet showing heavilyarmed jihadists clad in black robe walking the streets of Marawi. One of them even spoke on a bullhorn as he walked the street while locals listen nervously. (Mindanao Examiner)
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ARMM’s vaccination rate exceeds 80% target Continued fr om page 1 from “We make sure that all women of reproductive age can avail of free vaccination,” DOHARMM Assistant Secretary Carlsum Sangkula- Jumaide, said and appealed to the public to report if the health providers sell the vaccine. The 2015 assessm e n t by t h e D O H i n collaboration with the World Health Organizat i o n a n d t h e Un i t e d Nations Children’s Fund s h owe d that the country’s MNT high-risk areas are in the ARMM. To reach these high-risk a re a s, DOH-ARMM implemented supple-
mentary immunization activities to cover reproductive age women with three rounds of vaccinat i o n a g a i n s t t e t a n u s. Through these vaccinat i o n s, w o m e n , w h e n they give birth, and their newborns will be safer from MNT. As part of the Health department’s effort in eliminating MNT, it launched locally produced advocacy videos that carry the message of four Ps of immunization namely Proteksyon, Pagmamahal sa Sarili at kay Beybi, Pagpapahalaga sa Kalusugan, and Pagtitipid. “We hope that through the advocacy vid-
eos, at least we can influence women to take the initiative to go to the health centers, or approach a skilled health care provider for an actual vaccination,” Dr. Sinolinding said. “ We hope that by viewing the videos, the women will realize the importance and benefits of immunization and will voluntarily submit themselves to vaccination as well as become self-reliant in seeking basic health services, including immunization,” said Erlyn Rodr igo Hampac, immunization pr ogram coordinator. (Bureau of Public Information)
BIFF bomb expert killed in Maguindanao clash
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Secur ity forces killed a suspected bomb maker in a gun battle following a raid in the restive southern province of Maguindanao, officials said. Officials said Murad Ali, a member of the militant group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter, was slain in Datu Odin Sinsuat town after police commandos and army soldiers stormed his hiding place last week in
the village called Capiton. It was not immediately known how security forces tracked down Ali, a follower of slain BIFF leader Abdul Basit Usman who was killed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in May 2015. Officials did not say if the MILF – which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014 – provided intelligence on Ali. But officials said troops seized automatic
weapons and grenades, and components for improvised explosives from Ali’s hideout. The killing of Ali also coincided on bombing at a market place in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province after 3 men on a motorcycle left a bag containing an improvised explosive. The men immediately escaped after a security guard noticed them and the bag later exploded. No one was hur t in the blast. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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Misuari charged with graft, malversation over P115.2-M educational materials deal THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has formally filed charges against former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional governor and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari over the allegedly anomalous procurement of educational materials worth P115.2 million from 2000 to 2001. Misuari, along with then Department of Education ARMM director Leovigilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, and Sittie Aisa Usman were charged with three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and three counts of malversation through falsification. In the charge sheets filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman alleged that Misuari, along with his coaccused, gave "unwarranted benefits, advantage and privilege" to
the following companies for the procurement of educational materials: MBJ Learning Tools for an Information Technology package worth P31 million,CPR Publishing for a Multi-media Information Technology package worth P46.26 million,White Orchids Printing and Publishing House for educational materials worth P37.59 million. This, even though "no such materials were delivered," the Ombudsman said. The Ombudsman also alleged that the respondents conspired to "take, appropriate or misappropriate" the said amounts by falsifying the corresponding procurement documents for the educational materials to make it appear that the procurements were made. The Ombudsman also charged the following for allegedly conspiring with Misuari: DepEd ARMM accountant Alladin Usi (2 graft, 2 malversation through falsi-
fication); Commission on Audit ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan (one graft, one malversation through falsification); Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing (one graft, one malversation); Lolita Sambeli of White Orchids Printing and Publishing House (one graft, one malversation through falsification). The Ombudsman has recommended a P30,000 bail for each count of graft for each respondent, while it recommended no bail for the respondents in the malversation through falsification charge. Misuari is also facing rebellion charges over the Zamboanga siege in 2013. Court proceedings on the rebellion charges, meanwhile, had been suspended by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court to allow Misuari to participate in the peace efforts of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. (By Erwin Colcol, GMA News)
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May 29-June 4, 2017
Excel in life and help in nation-building, Sulu Guv tells MSU graduates
Sulu Governor Toto Tan speaks to thousands of graduates on May 24, 2017 during the Mindanao State University’s 40th Commencement Exercises. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas) SULU – Governor Toto Tan encouraged fresh university graduates to excel in life and help in nationbuilding by becoming responsible and good citizens and to reach for their goal and stay motivated. Tan, who spoke to thousands of graduates during the Mindanao State University’s 40th Commencement Exercises here, said institutions of learning, like MSU, bear
the heavy responsibility of molding the character and mindset of students with the end in view of shaping productive and useful citizens who will one day continue the tradition and culture of peace, development and a positive world view that are not limited by boundaries. “It is of vital importance that institutions of learning should be wellequipped and should be in
conditions which are conducive, to both processes of teaching and learning. We are living in a very competitive world, and we should not entertain the thought and dare to let go of students from our portals, unarmed and unprepared to face the modern world, for that will be pushing them to harm’s way. That will be a remiss of responsibilities of both sides,” he said.
Tan even quoted American actor, director, screenwriter, and author Alan Alda, who once said: “Let this not hold you back from your dreams and your aspirations. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can’t get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you’re doing, but what you’ll
discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself.” “Never cast your fate to luck. Rely more on your perseverance, your sense of purpose and strong belief in yourself to craft your own future,” Tan said. “Wherever fate may take you, never forget your roots, your proud ancestry and the bloodlines which speak well of your people. We will not hold you back
from living your dreams or to seek sustenance for your family wherever your destination will be. Sulu will forever remain your home and she will welcome you like a mother welcoming her returning children with open and loving arms.” MSU Sulu Chancellor Adjarail Hapas thanked Tan for his inspirational message to the graduates. (Ahl-franzie Salinas)
Hundreds of Sulu farmers benefit from agri-training program Continued fr om page 1 from Tan thanked and expressed his deep gratitude to those behind the successful training. The event was also attended by Vice Governor Nurunisah Tan, Ginggay Malvar, coordinator of the GoNegosyo Sulu Project, Conrado Calderon, of the Harbest Agribusiness, Provincial Agriculture Officer Ahmad Duhgasan, Mercyan Aspi, of the Department Agriculture and Fisheries, Department of Social Welfare and Devel-
opment and provincial board members and different municipal officials. The beneficiaries also praised Tan and those behind the “Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Rural Farmers Training Program,” saying, not only did they learn a lot from it, but would greatly help them in their livelihood. Malvar said the full support of the provincial government to the program made the training successful and that more
projects are upcoming that will benefit not only the farmers, but other sectors in the society and the province in general. Tan also urged local municipal mayors to put up demo farms and nurser ies and help in agri-fisheries programs by suppor ting various trainings and seminars for farmers and fishermen. He also instructed the provincial agriculturist to draw up plans in an effort to further support and sustain the projects. (Ahl-franzie Salinas)
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and other stakeholders during the recent Harvest Festival and culmination of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Rural Farmers Training Program that benefit over 300 farmers in the province. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 29-June 4, 2017
Basilan gets new Islamic school, more ARMM public schools built
BASILAN – Muslim scholars and religious leaders praised the recent inauguration of an Islamic school building in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM. ARMM Gover nor Mujiv Hataman led local officials and clerics and ulama in the handover of the new building in Sumisip town and said the 10-classroom Islamic school – which sits on a one-hectare compound – will help curb the spread of radicalism and propagate the true teachings of Islam. Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, the vice-chairman of the Basilan Ulama Council, said they welcome the establishment of the new facility, adding, this will boost their campaign to stop the ideology of extremism and radicalism. “The inauguration of the madrasa undertaken by Regional Gover nor Mujiv Hataman is very much welcome and highly appreciated by the Basilan Ulama Council and the Regional Darul Ifta of ARMM since madrasa education is one of the most effective approaches in saving our young people from the darkness of ignorance and the crudeness of extremism and terrorism. Therefore, we urge our leaders to do the same with Governor Mujiv’s initiative in their areas,” he said. Hataman said the building is worth about P20 million. “The infrastructure will not only be used to impart the correct teachings of Islam, but also a reformation center, particularly for out-of-school youth who are the potential recruits of terror groups. They
should be brought to this kind of school,” Hataman said. He said at least 16 Muslim clerics regularly provide Islamic studies in the school. It also has guest instructors from nearby Isabela City to teach specialized Islamic subjects. The school will also offer vocational and agri-fishery courses and could accommodate 1,000 college and secondary students. “This is not a simple school, but also a reformation center in Sumisip. This will be replicated in the cities of Lamitan and Isabela, and also in other provinces in ARMM,” Hataman said, adding, part of the objective in establishing the school is to standardize the curriculum of Islamic studies. He said some 1,000 teachers or Ustadz are also expected to attend the Madaris (Islamic educational institution) summit in Basilan set in June that will discuss the curriculum and module in their teachings. Hataman – who has been in the forefront together with Islamic scholars in the fight against radicalism – said the regional government will build more Islamic school in ARMM to address misinformation about Islam. “We have discussed this with the Ulama Council in Basilan that as part of the antiterror campaign, the building of formation centers in Islamic schools will help counter the propaganda of terrorist groups,” he said. Mor e Schools ore Hataman also said that most of the 167 new buildings for senior high school in the ARMM would be ready in time for the school opening. “ We are tur ning these
over to the communities because we want these facilities to be used in the upcoming school year, which will start in June. Many are still struggling in rural areas to get proper education,” he said, referring to the regional gover nment’s move to build more classrooms in far-flung areas. Aside from the Islamic school, Hataman also handed at least 7 of the nine new school buildings with six classrooms each in Basilan. The total amount of the school buildings is estimated to be at least P70 million. Among the high schools that will have new buildings are those in Lamitan City and in the municipalities of Maluso, Tuburan, Muhtamad, Tipo-tipo, Sumisip and Lantawan. The construction of the new school buildings is in response to the province’s more than a thousand senior high school students expected to enroll this school year. “We also hired more or less 300 new teachers in Basilan,” Hataman said. For the entire ARMM, Hataman said they allocated a little over P1 billion that would cover 167 new school buildings with 816 classrooms. The bulk of the new school buildings for senior high school would be in the provinces of Maguindanao, with 75, and in Lanao del Sur, with 51. The rest, or 41 new buildings, would be spread in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. On top of these, Hataman said the regional government is also building 12-classroom agri-fishery school in Basilan for high school and college students. (Bureau of Public Information.)
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Indonesian men caned for gay sex in Aceh – BBC news Two men have been caned 83 times each in the Indonesian province of Aceh after being caught having sex. The men stood on stage in white gowns praying while a team of hooded men lashed their backs with a cane. The pair, aged 20 and 23, were found in bed together by vigilantes who entered their private accommodation in March. They have not been identified. Gay sex is not illegal in most of Indonesia but it is in Aceh, the only province which exercises Islamic law. It is the first time gay men have been caned under Sharia law in the province. The punishment was delivered outside a mosque in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. A large crowd of observers cheered as the caning took place. “Let this be a lesson to you,” one of the men watching cried out. “Do it harder,” another man yelled. Earlier, an organiser warned the crowd not to attack the men, saying “they are also human”. The men were sentenced to 85 strokes but the number was reduced by two because they had spent two months in detention. I met one of the young men in jail a day before the
caning, the first journalist to speak to him. He was terrified and his whole body was shaking. He was thin, pale and had a red rash on his skin. Inmates surrounded us with intimidating glares as we tried to talk. I thought we were going to be speaking in a private room, but he was not granted that. Before neighbourhood vigilantes broke down the door to his rented room, he was in his final years of a medical degree – his plan was to be a doctor. Now we are told the university has kicked him out. Videos of the raid that caught him and his partner having sex have been widely shared online. In the mobile phone footage they are both naked, pleading for help. “I just want the caning to be over and to go back to my family, I have been deeply depressed. I am trying to pull myself out of a deep black hole,” he said. Aceh was granted special rights to introduce its own stricter Islamic laws more than a decade ago, and has become increasingly conservative in recent years. Strict laws against homosexuality were passed in 2014 and came into effect the following year. In the past public caning sentences have been handed
down only for gambling and drinking alcohol. Indonesia has historically largely been tolerant of homosexuality, but has witnessed increasing official and social hostility towards its small and low-profile LGBTQ community in recent years. Earlier this month, Indonesian police arrested 14 people in the city of Surabaya for allegedly holding a gay party. They could face charges under ambiguous anti-pornography laws. 141 men were arrested – including a British man – in a raid on what police said was a “gay party” at a sauna in the capital, Jakarta, on similar charges. Most were released. Rights groups have strongly criticised prosecutions of people involved in same-sex relationships, and the use of caning. Amnesty International said every human was entitled to a right to privacy and to have consensual relations, but that the two men had been ambushed in their home. It said caning was a “cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment” and may amount to torture and called on the Acehnese authorities to abandon the practice. (BBC News)
DTI-ARMM launches ‘Diskwento Caravan’ in Maguindanao COTABATO CITY – Basic commodities, school supplies, and other products are being sold at lower prices through the ‘Diskwento Caravan’ under the Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTIARMM). Consumers in the municipality of Parang and neighboring towns in Maguindanao can now avail of good quality food and non-food items at prices lower than those in regular retail outlets. Stanley Cang, DTI Maguindanao technical management services chief, said the caravan was aimed at providing an opportunity
for consumers, especially those in the lower-income bracket, to access basic goods, school supplies, and prime commodities. The Diskwento Caravan is one of the mechanisms of the government to provide relief to workers through non-wage benefits and one way to augment their income enabling them to cope with rising prices of basic goods and services. “This is the first time that our department (DTIARMM) has organized this kind of caravan,” Cang said. The project, which carries the theme ‘Diskwentong Panalo para sa M a m i m i m i l i n g
Bangsamoro’, is being implemented in partnership with local government units and local entrepreneurs. “We encourage the public, especially the parents, to come and visit the caravan as the products are at reduced prices for it will help them to save money in preparation for the school year,” Usman Ibay III, municipal administrator of Parang said. The week-long caravan is currently selling goods at the municipal gymnasium in Parang, Maguindanao and is simultaneously conducted in different areas in the region. (Bureau of Public Information)
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TECH TIPS: This Is The Best Thing You Can Do To Secure Your Phone WHAT’S the number one thing you can do to secure your phone and any data ? The answer is simple, but many smartphone owners still don’t consider this basic yet essential feature even when it minimizes the risk of data or identity theft, loss of privacy, theft, etc. Can you guess what the answer is? Easy - lock yyour our scr een screen Before you take the time to install the latest antivirus software on your device, encrypt your data / messages and attempt a range of other complex security measures, the most important thing you should do is always set up a locking method on your lock screen. Yes, the answer really is that simple - I mean, would we lie to you about that? You’d be surprised, however, about how many smartphone owners don’t protect their lock screen with either a PIN, pattern, fingerprint or another method, meaning the home screen can be activated by a simple swipe. Sure, you save time, especially if you are a constant phone-checker, but I cannot stress the importance of this enough. What ar e the rrisks isks if yyou ou are don't lock yyour our scr een screen The first risk is visual hacking: if you are checking your phone in public, prying eyes could be looking over your shoulder, so it’s best to check sensitive information privately and not in a packed bus. If your phone is left somewhere unattended, someone could easily read your messages, access your banking app or other personal data. Having a lock screen would nullify this risk. Having your phone stolen: if you lose your phone or if it is stolen, not having
a lock screen or a pin for your SIM is bad news. Perpetrators use SIM readers or scanners in order to grab information from your SIM card, then use it to make phone calls. Chances are they don’t call locally, resulting in massive bills you have to pay for. Thankfully, carriers often act fast in these situations and help resolve the problem. But it is better not to risk this in the first place. Digital identity theft: if someone gets a hold of your phone, they could do more than just place calls. They may use your social media accounts to post damaging information or worse, access credit card and social security numbers, if these happen to be in emails or saved in apps. People who fall victim to identity theft often are plagued by the issue for years, seeing as the information is continuously sold and used for other illegal activities. How do yyou ou lock yyour our scr een? screen? Scared yet? Don’t be. Just set up a lock screen on your Android phone or tablet, it’s a simple thing to do that could save you a lot of grief. Every manufacturer has a slightly different setup, and some newer phones, such as the Galaxy S7, feature a fingerprint reader for extra security. To access the lock screen settings on an Android phone, a common path would be go to your Settings, then Security and the first option is Screen lock. You can then set up a pattern, PIN or password. The pattern can also be made invisible, as opposed to showing the grid of dots. Furthermore, you can de-
cide how quickly your phone automatically locks. Some other good available features are the ability to encrypt your phone, set up a SIM card lock and Android Device Manager, the latter allowing you to lock or erase a lost or stolen device remotely via a web browser. Har dwar e encr yption: ardwar dware encryption: ho w does it help? how When you set up your screen lock, such as entering a password, a PIN or a pattern for unlocking, the setup assistant asks you a very important question: Do you want to activate "Secure start-up"? This provides an additional level of protection for your phone's internal memory. Admittedly, the system does have a few downsides. If at anytime you need to restart your smartphone, you must enter the code early on in the start process as if you don't it will block the home screen and essentials like the alarm clock won't start. Even if you go to bed with your smartphone is switched on and your alarm set you won't be woken up. Nevertheless, it is an important protection as any thieves who manage to steal your phone will have a harder time resetting the device. Because the standard degree of Android encryption receives an additional level of encryption, this ensures that both your data and overall device are better protected. Even professional methods to reset the device or change the firmware become considerably more complicated. Do you use a lock screen? What are other things you can do to protect your phone and its contents? (Loie Favre, AndroidPIT)
Management Association of the Philippines to promote ARMM’s investment drive
COTABATO CITY – The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) expressed support in promoting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as an investment destination. In a manifesto signed by its top officials on Monday, the MAP urged its members and its various committees to integrate action plans in coordination with the ARMM’s Regional Board of Investment (RBOI-ARMM) to achieve this objective. The document, the MAP said, “manifests long term commitment to advocate policies for a competitive and stable policy environment to encourage and enable private sector investments in the ARMM and to support productivity programs/ projects in tourism, seaweeds, mariculture, tree crops, basic infrastructure, energy, education, research, SME (small and medium enterprises)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 29-June 4, 2017
among other opportunities under the RBOI IPP (Investment Priorities Plan).” The group’s commitment came after Atty. Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chairman, told the country’s top managers that the region is ready for business. Chairman Mastura was invited by the MAP to present RBOIARMM’s advocacies on tourism, ease of doing business, financing, and agribusiness, among others. All businesses, including foreign investors, are welcome in ARMM, Chairman Mastura said. Prospective investors in the region, he said, want access to financing from local banks to balance the risk. “If you give access to financing, we will find the investors for you,” the RBOI-ARMM chief told MAP officials who represent the county’s biggest businesses including major financial institutions.
Chairman Mastura noted that currently, banks hardly lend to private businesses in ARMM even as big companies based in the National Capital Region are not coming in. Among those present in the dialogue between the RBOI-ARMM and the MAP are former Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan, former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, former Board of Investments chief Melito Salazar, former Tourism secretary Mina Gabor, former Socio Economic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito, and American Chamber of Commerce Philippines president John Forbes. MAP’s committees cover Agribusiness and Countryside Development; Trade, Investments and Tourism; Energy; Management Development; and Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure. (Bureau of Public Information)
HEALTH: First-Aid: Ano Ang Gagawin? Payo ni Dr. Willie T. Ong KAPAG ikaw ay nakakita ng isang sakuna, alam mo ba kung ano ang gagawin? Tutulong ka ba, o tatawag ka ng saklolo? Sa artikulong ito, ibabahagi ko ang mga alituntunin ng pagresponde sa isang aksidente: 1. Mag-isip ng plano at maging kalmante. Huwag pabigla-bigla sa mga desisyon. 2. Una, pag-isipan kung makahihingi ka ng saklolo sa iba. Ang tamang proseso ay ang pagbilin sa ibang tao na maghanap siya ng tulong, bago mo tulungan ang biktima. Sa ganitong paraan, siguradong mayroong tumatawag ng ambulansiya o pulis, habang tinutulungan mo ang biktima. 3. Tingnang maigi ang kapaligiran ng aksidente at baka may mga peligro dito. Tingnan kung may kuryenteng naputol o gas na tumagas. Kung kayo ay nasa kalye, maglagay muna ng harang sa daanan at baka
Dr. Willie T. Ong kayo masagasaan. Protektahan ang sarili. 4. Kapag nagawa mo na ito, magbigay ng medikal na tulong kung marunong ka nito. Ngunit kung hindi ka marunong ay huwag mo nang piliting maggamot at baka mapahamak pa ang biktima. 5. Bilang first-aid, puwede mong luwagan ang kurbata o sinturon ng biktima. Baka naipit din ang kanyang paa o kamay. 6. Magbigay ng pagunawa (comfort) sa biktima. Kausapin siya at pakalmahin sa pamamagitan ng pagsabi na darating na ang tulong.
Samahan ang biktima habang wala pa ang rescue team. 7. Kapag may ipagbibilin ang biktima, tulad ng pagtawag sa kamag-anak o pag-ingat sa kanyang gamit, puwede mo siyang tulungan dito. 8. Kapag dumating na ang ambulansya o pulis, puwede mo nang ihabilin ang sitwasyon sa kanila. 9. Kapag naresolba na ang sitwasyon, kumausap ka ng isang kaibigan para makuwento mo ang nangyari. Makatatanggal din ito ng stress sa iyo. 10. Magdasal na maging- matagumpay ang iyong pagtulong sa biktima. Sa mga susunod na panahon, subukang magaral ng Basic Life Support at pagbibigay ng First Aid. Sa ganitong paraan, magkakaroon ka ng kumpiyansa sa sarili at makatutulong ka pa sa iyong kapwa. Good luck po!
RECIPE: Shrimp Pancit Bihon
INGREDIENT S: INGREDIENTS:
– 8 to 12 pieces fresh shrimp, shelled and head removed – ½ small cabbage – 1 lb. pansit bihon (dried rice noodles) – ¾ cup carrots, juilienne – ¾ cup celery, chopped – 1 cup snow peas
– ½ cup chopped parsley – 1 medium yellow onion, sliced – 4 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped – 6 cups water – ½ cup soy sauce – ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper – 3 tablespoons cooking oil
INSTR UCTIONS: INSTRUCTIONS: 1) Heat oil in a cooking pot. 2) Once the oil gets hot, pan-fry the shrimp for 1 minute per side. Remove from the pot. Set aside. 3) Meanwhile, using the remaining oil (you can add more if needed), saute garlic, onion, and celery. 4) Add the pasrley and ground black pepper. Stir. 5) Pour-in soy sauce and water. Let boil. 6) Add the shrimp cube. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 7) Add the carrot, cabbage, and snow peas. 8) Add the pancit bihon. Gently toss until it absorbs all the liquid. Note: you can add more water if needed. 9) Put the pan-fried shrimp back into the pot. Cook for 3 minutes more. 10) Tranfer to a serving plate. Serve. 11) Share and enjoy! (http://www.panlasangpinoy.com)
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Bangko Sentral holds confab on external competitiveness CEBU CITY - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently held a conference on “Gearing Up for External Competitiveness,” one of their key component programs of its Economic and Financial Learning Program. Among their guest speakers is economist and ex-cabinet official Dr. Cielito Habito, who talked about the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the Philippine Economy Implications and Imperatives. He also shared how far the Philippines have gone with ASEAN, which is currently the largest trading partner at 21.7%. Habito pointed out that as of 2016, price inflation is
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DAVAO CITY OFFICE: Unit 3B, 3/F Ledesma Building, 26 Juna Avenue, Juna Subdivision, Matina Phone: 082-2960658 Mobile: 0947-4823453 E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Money remains culprit in family woes
CEBU CITY – Police said many, if not most, of cases against women were due to financial issues among families in Cebu. Senior Inspector Marginette Yosores, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office - Women and Children Protection Center – said women usually report the abuse once it becomes physical. “Kung psychological abuse, like gi-degrade sila, ila pa ng
ARMM
agwantahon (If the abuse is psychological in nature, they are likely to just stay silent.),” she said, adding, they will continue to raise awareness for more women to report domestic abuses. Arguments over money or the lack of financial resources remains the biggest factor in domestic abuse or violence involving women. And this was likely due to unemployment or underemployment and hunger and poverty and the need to
sustain such a big family, especially poor families that have many children. Psychologist Dr. Anna Katrina Watin said that with most reports, the women do not proceed in filing cases because they are intimidated by their abusers. “Even among educated women, they have difficulty in filing cases and usually back out. Protection for these women should be strengthened,” Watin stressed.
Eastern Mindanao
and Issues, BSP’s Foreign Exchange Regulations, Introduction to Hedging: Managing Foreign Exchange Risk, and Regulatory Framework for Derivatives. Through the biannual conference, BSP aims to promote awareness of exporters/importers and other sectors exposed to foreign exchange risks about the benefits of hedging and how FX risks could be managed through the use of derivatives and present the other determinants of external competitiveness such as quality of products, technology and market size.
Improved mobile Internet speed due to activation of evolution cell sites
Bring and promote your business in Mindanao, ADVERTISE in our newspaper and website and get fast results! ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: Unit 15, 3rd Floor, Fairland Building, Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue Phone: 062-9925480 Mobile: 0995-5202358
at a historical low at 1.8% and the unemployment rate breaks below 5%. He said the Philippines is also leading ASEAN and East Asia with 2016 GDP growth of 6.8%. Part of the AEC Gameplan is aimed at addressing high poverty, unusual economic inequality and to expand the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ access to finance and technology, promote education for entrepreneurship and inclusive value chains, and improve market access. Other topics tackled during the meeting were Asia’s Economic Outlook and Middle-Income Challenge, Exchange Rate: Trend
CEBU - Improved mobile Internet speeds may be attributed to Globe and Smart’s continuing activation of long-term evolution cell sites making use of the 700 MHz spectrum, according to National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios. He said both firms started co-using the frequency in May 2016. “Improvements in fixed line internet are also expected to happen as the government, thru the Department of Information and Communications Technology finalizes its roll-out plans for the country’s national broadband network,” Cabarios said. AKAMAI, a leading content delivery network services provider for media and software delivery, and cloud security solution, recently came out with its State of the Internet Q4 2016 Report. It said the Philippines’ Internet performance yielded marked improve-
Western Mindanao
ments in several areas in the report - most notable of which was that the country’s average connection speed (IPv4) for mobile internet topped the Asia Pacific region for two consecutive quarters. For the past three quarters of 2016, the AKAMAI State of the Internet Report showed a consistent improvement in the Philippines’ average mobile connection speed. In the second quarter of 2016, the country’s average mobile connection speed was pegged by AKAMAI at 8.5Mbps. In the third quarter of the same year, the outfit reported that the country’s average mobile connection speed increased to 13.9Mbps. It reported that the Philippines mobile internet speed clocked at 14.3Mbps in the fourth quarter of 2016. On the table presented in AKAMAI’s State of the Internet Q4 2016 Report, the Philippines’ average mobile speed of 14.3Mbps came in fastest in the Asia Pacific cluster – topping the speeds of Australia (13.8Mbps), Japan
Cebu
(13.3Mbps), South Korea (12.7Mbps), New Zealand (12.5Mbps), Taiwan (12.0Mbps), Singapore (9.9Mbps), Indonesia (9.8Mbps), China (7.4Mbps), Hong Kong (7.2Mbps), Thailand (7.1Mbps), Sri Lanka (5.8Mbps), India (4.8Mbps), Vietnam (4.3Mbps) and Malaysia (3.9Mbps). The report also cited the Philippines’s improvements in other categories.On the “above 4 Mbps broadband adoption” category, the Philippines’ adoption rate is now at 31%, representing a growth rate for the country of 7.4% QoQ and 126% YoY. And on the “above 10 Mbps broadband adoption” category, the Philippines’ adoption rate is now at 7.5%, representing a growth rate for the country of 39% QoQ and 292% YoY. And finally, on the “above 15 mbps broadband adoption” category, the Philippines’ adoption is now at 3.6% adoption, representing a growth rate for the country 52% QoQ and 373% YoY. (Aerol B. Patena)
Manila