OPINION:
Sustaining M anila ood SSupply upply Manila anila’’s FFood By JJun un Ledesma PHILIPPINES, JUST LIKE most countries in the world, are affected by the impact of the spike of oil prices and the decline of productivity on account of immense weather disturbances. We are not immune from these iniquities and there seems to be no adequate
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and quick solutions for these problems. Let’s face it. We have no control on oil commodities, although considering the suspension of excise tax is an option. But tinkering with the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) which is now
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in full force may impact on many government programs which could just complicate matters. Additional revenues from TRAIN are earmarked for the Build, Build, Build program. This comprehends of big ticket infrastructure projects Continue on page 7
Navy puts up additional station in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Navy has put up an additional station in the southern port city of Zamboanga which was raided twice by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels the past 13 years. Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of Continue on page 4
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Barter trade to resume in Mindanao
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‘Sabah to lift ban on barter trade effective January 1, 2019’
ABAH IS SET to lift its ban on barter trade with the Philippines to encourage economic activities within eastern Malaysian state Sabah, reports said. Malaysian media Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. Procedures (SOP) and reported that the decision The Star Online said the guidelines would be put in to lift the ban came from ban is set to be lifted on place to ensure that the the State Security Council January 1 next year. barter trade is not abused and this was confirmed Shafie said that strict and is geared towards Continue on page 3 by Chief Minister Datuk Standard Operating
Pinoys favor ‘Revolutionary Government’- Survey SIXTY PERCENT of Filipinos would support President Rodrigo Duterte if he decided to declare a revolutionary government to carry out his reform agenda, according to a latest nation-wide opinion poll conducted by
SurveyNgBayan. Considering that the question of declaring a revolutionary government has been publicly debated for some time, the pollster, presented this question once again squarely to the people nationwide: If Duterte is forced to
declare a revolutionary government to fulfill his promises, would you support him? The question set in Tagalog (Kung mapilitang itatag ni DU30 ang Revolution Gov. para matupad ang mga pangako Continue on page 2
Troops clash with militants in BIFF-MILF stronghold COTABATO CITY – Army soldiers clashed recently with pro-ISIS militants in southern Philippines, but there were no reports of casualties on both sides. The fighting broke out in Tukanalipao village in Maguindanao’s
Mamasapano town, a known stronghold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. Officials said troops from the 40th Infantry Battalion were on a combat
clearing operation when they ran into a group of BIFF members and a firefight ensued. The weekend clash lasted about 15 minutes with troops recovering four rifles. Continue on page 2
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The Mindanao Examiner
October 15-21, 2018
Troops clash with militants Pinoys favor ‘Revolutionary Government’- Survey in BIFF-MILF stronghold
BIFF members in Mindanao. (File photo by Mark Navales) Continued from page 1 There was no immediate statement from the BIFF which was also blamed by authorities along with the MILF for the coldblooded killing of 44 police commandos in Tukanalipao village on January 25, 2015. The commandos, members of the Special Action Force, were on a clandestine mission deep inside MILF territory to capture Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, who was eventually killed in the operation. Police commandos were on their way to re-join their more than 300 SAF members after killing Zulkifli and cutting off his finger for DNA analysis when MILF forces,
aided by BIFF militants, attacked them and sparking daylong clashes. At least 18 MILF and five BIFF were killed in the fierce fighting that the Aquino government claimed was a mis-encounter. Barely a month later, the MILF which signed an interim peace deal with Manila, surrendered at least 16 weapons it took from slain police commandos. The surrender of the weapons further bolstered accusations by lawmakers and human rights groups that MILF rebels had finished off wounded Special Action Force commandos and collected their guns, among others, in the village of Tukanalipao.
The weapons were handed over to the police, but SAF sources claimed the guns had been tampered and that many of its parts were either taken out or replaced with defective mechanism. Because of the killings, lawmakers shelved the Bangasamoro Basic Law (BBL) until investigations into the deadly clashes between SAF and MILF is completed. The BBL was eventually passed in the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, but families of the slain commandos were still crying out for justice. The MILF said it will not surrender those involved in the slayings. (Mindanao Examiner)
Continued from page 1 nya payag kba?) for the clear understanding of people at all levels was transmitted via SMS to 300,000 subscribers of Philippine-based mobile phones. The poll targets were selected randomly from the pollster's databank of 182.5 million Philippine-based mobile phone numbers. The question sought Yes or No answer with the age, gender and the location of the respondent. A total of 3,255 raw responses came by the end of the one-week period from October 1-7 and the clean response set after deduping and purging for nonsense replies came to 1,841. Among them, 1,117 said “Yes”, and 652 said “No”. The survey has a 99 percent level of confidence and a 3 percent margin of error. SurveyNgBayan had posed this question to the people nationwide previously just before Duterte took office as president on June 30, 2016, then in August 2016, after he was in office barely two months, and again in November 2017 when the public clamor for a revolutionary government was at its height. In June 2016, the
support for a revolutionary government was only 43 percent, but after the general public watching their new president for some two months, and also the activities of his opponents, the support of a Duterte-led revolutionary government climbed to 67 percent. Over a year later, in November 2017, amid a persistent clamor for a revolutionary government, 71 percent of the people tuned in favor of it. Developments since then—particularly the president stating publicly that he did not encourage such a move, and the public attention shifting towards the mid-term election due next year—the mass support for a revolutionary government has somewhat waned, but still holding at a significant 60 percent. Several reasons can be attributed to this continuing popular support for a Duterte-led revolutionary government. Among them: • The Glenn Chong revelations of problems in the electoral system. Certain quarters have claimed that flaws in the electoral system provide the environment for declaring a revolutionary government which can
tackle this problem and install an impartial election commission. • The elite resistance to restructuring the government into a federal system. • The need to reform the judiciary to make it impossible for the monied class to manipulate the courts for its advantage, and make the judiciary function fairly for the benefit of all and deliver justice fast. SurveyNgBayan is composed of Filipino social researchers based in the Philippines and the United States, as well as other research and information service professionals. It employs a unique method of researching to measure the true pulse of public opinion. Relying on its databank of 182.5 million Philippine-based mobile phone numbers that can give access to every nook and cranny of the archipelago, and it randomly picks a survey set and sends its question(s) to all of them by SMS blasting. Thus, the pollster gives, in effect, virtually every mobile user in the country an equal chance to participate in its surveys. (Mindanao Examiner)
Pictures in the News
Influential and respected political leader and former Sulu Governor Sakur (Datu Shahbandar) Tan visits the House of Representatives and shares a light meal at the lounge with House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Reps. Prospero Pichay, Anton Lagdameo and Martin Romualdez, among others, in these photos shared by Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tan..
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The Mindanao Examiner
October 15-21, 2018
Barter trade to resume in Mindanao ‘Sabah to lift ban on barter trade effective January 1, 2019’
Continued from page 1 business, adding among the guidelines was to stop the trading of subsidised goods like gas cylinders from Sabah. He said the key trading points for barter trade would be at northern Kudat, east coast Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. Kuala Lumpur imposed the ban on April 2016 following the spate of cross-border kidnappings in Sabah, which is near the Tawi-Tawi chain of islands in southern Philippines. “Barter traders were not the cause of kidnappings. It was a claim that led to the ban on barter trade,” Shafie said. Barter trade has become an integral part of trading activity in the Brunei-IndonesiaMalaysia–Philippines’s East Asean Growth Area. A Universiti Malaysia Sabah survey in 2017 found that the trade benefited communities living along
the borders between Sabah, southern Philippines and Indonesia’s Kalimantan. Shafie also said that security in the east coast of Sabah remains at a high level for any cross-border threats. Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte promised to revive barter trading with Malaysia, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago, in an effort to relive the long lost tradition and help hasten the economy in the area. Duterte even sent then Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to Sulu province where he met with provincial leaders headed by Governor Toto Tan and representatives of various sectors to discuss the revival of the barter trade which had flourished for many centuries in the past – with municipal mayors, local traders and entrepreneurs and members of the Sulu
Chinese Chambers of Commerce. Tan also shared his memories with Faeldon during that meeting and said “during the glory days of trading with Malaysia, there was no outbreak of violence as it is now because everybody was busy with making a living and simply plying their trade. The only thing you need during those times was simply your credibility as a trader and trust,” he said. Duterte said the government is sincere in helping not only the local economy and reviving the old barter tradition, but also to ensure that people, especially the poor, will benefit from this. Tan praised Duterte for his sincerity and pledges he made to the people of Sulu, and thanked him for his frequent visit to the province. Locals also welcomed the revival of barter
trading and thanked the government for its effort in bringing back the tradition
which their ancestors began. Sulu was the center of trade in the past and had
been exchanging goods with Chinese merchants. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
October 15-21, 2018
Coast Guard tightens security in ships Navy puts up additional station in Zamboanga City
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard has tightened its security in passenger ships after a sea marshal was wounded in a recent attack in Sulu sea. It said a passenger attacked the sea marshal with a knife during a security inspection on board MV Ever Queen of Asia. The attacker, Juldi Mahbud, was shot dead by responding sea marshals deployed to guard the ship. The attack occurred 5 while the vessel was sailing to Zamboanga City from the island town of Siasi in Sulu province. The Coast Guard said SN2 Michael Ladja suffered multiple wounds and had to be evacuated to Zamboanga City by a navy vessel. The motive of the attack or what triggered the man to stab Ladja was unknown, but the Coast Guard said it was investigating the background of the attacker. “At present, SN2 Ladja
is still recovering at Brent Hospital in Zamboanga City,” the Coast said. It was unclear how Mahbud was able to sneak the weapon in the ship undetected by security forces at the pier. But
security in piers in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Zamboanga City is poor with passengers able to smuggle weapons and contraband without being detected by authorities. (Mindanao Examiner)
Coast Guard photo shows the wounded sea marshal SN2 Michael Ladja being attended by other marshals. (Mindanao Examiner)
Continued from page 1 the naval forces in Western Mindanao, said new station in the village of Rio Hondo will be manned by various elite operating units - Naval Special Operations Unit 1, Combat Service Support Brigade, Inshore Boat Battalion, Naval Air Unit, Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, Naval Task Force 61, and Naval Forces Western Mindanao Headquarters Support Group. Security and local government officials graced the opening ceremony of the naval station with Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong, representing Navy ChiefVice Admiral Robert Empedrad, and Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar as guests, among others. “This project came as a result of the Zamboanga City Government’s efforts to maintain peace and security following the 2013 siege where hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front rebels came into the city and infiltrated several coastal villages in the attempt to hoist their flag in the city’s seat of government, the Zamboanga City Hall,” Medina said. “This is our home and we have an obligation to ensure that never again will it succumb to those who are trying to assert the greed and malice in our place. Let this activation sow the seeds of
peace and prosperity in our beloved city as it brings back the confidence of the people and ensuring that your Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole would always be in the forefront to warrant their safety and well-being,” he added. Salazar praised the navy’s efforts in helping secure Zamboanga and said “the activation of Naval Station Rio Hondo was dedicated to the memory of the heroic military men who fought and offered their lives in defense to Zamboanga City during the September 2013 Zamboanga siege.” The MNLF under Nur Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 ending decades of bloody war. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted. In 2001, Misuari’s loyal forces attacked a key military base in Jolo town in Sulu province and civilian targets in Zamboanga City in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao where Misuari was then the governor. Misuari then escaped by
boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004. He also ran thrice for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably. And in 2013, Misuari’s forces again launched a deadly attack in Zamboanga City that left hundreds of people dead and wounded in three weeks of street battles. Despite warrants for his arrest, Misuari remains free after President Rodrigo Duterte interceded for his behalf and ordered authorities not to arrest the former Libyan firebrand so he can join the peace process with rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In 2016, Salazar banned all MNLF peace rallies in Zamboanga City. “I am giving you a categorical no; you must not disturb Zamboanga anymore. If you want to come up with your rally, make it in your area, Zamboanga will not welcome a rally by MNLF, not at this time because you still have to be accountable with the killings and devastations we are suffering from,” Climaco said. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar with Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the naval forces in Western Mindanao, and Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong and other officials during the activation of a new naval station in Rio Hondo village (Photo by Kathy Wee Sit)
ARMM assists families of victims of Lanao del Sur ambush COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao provided assistance to the families of the five members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) killed in a recent ambush in Lanao del Sur province. The agents heading to Marawi City after attending an anti-drug symposium in Tagoloan town when gunmen attacked them in the village called Malna in Kapai
town. Those killed were Kenneth Tabulo, Kristine Mae Torlao, Lores Joy Amar, and Binzo Dipolla, while Diobel Pacinio died while undergoing treatment at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. Two others, PDEA agent Rachel Gentapanan and non-uniformed police personnel Normina Dicay, were wounded in the ambush and still confined at the hospital.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has ordered cash assistance to the victims’ families through the Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART) and settled the medical bills of the two survivors. He also offered cash reward for those who could provide information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. (Bureau of Public Information)
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The Mindanao Examiner
October 15-21, 2018
World Teachers’ Day more meaningful Outstanding Mindanao this year for ARMM teachers newsman dies in road mishap COTABATO CITY – The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEdARMM) paid tribute to the teachers during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day. This year’s observance has become more meaningful for hundreds of teachers in the region whose lives were in danger for several months last year. When the war in Marawi erupted in 2017, schools inside the city had to shut down and living in and near conflict areas have become very risky. For 38-year old Mona Miscille Domato, the definition of the saying “teachers are the students’ second parents,” hit her the hardest during the Marawi siege. As a teacher of Sugod Central Elementary School in Marawi, Mona recounts the effects of the siege for her and her students. “Schools were closed down during the siege, but I urged my fellow teachers to continue our classes,” she said. “If the students will be left home, their minds may be corrupted by the war.” True enough, almost every student talked about the number of bombs
dropped in the city daily. A mother of 9, Mona said she treats her students as her own. During the siege, she also felt the pain her students manifested. “Many of my students were hungry and helpless,” she said. “I also felt the hunger and the pain of these children.” Instead of being pulled down by negativity, she took the situation as an inspiration to serve as the students’ second mother. Continuing their classes despite the siege to provide safe spaces for children, she turned their classrooms into a ‘fun zone’ allowing her students to talk about the ongoing war casually. “It allowed us to process all our thoughts. Having an all-Muslim class, we also reflected on the teachings of Islam – that inflicting harm to others is not Islamic,” she said, adding, that by providing a space where students can be ‘afraid’ together, Mona said she also found a strong sense of family. “ We made a strong support system among ourselves,” she said. Now that the war in Marawi is over, she is thankful that her students no longer have to be
afraid of their security. She said that the student population in Sugod Central Elementary School grew this school year because of the influx of children of evacuees from other villages. “Mas madami na ang mga anak ko ngayon. I’m more inspired to teach now because despite what happened last year, we remained strong as a community,” Mona said. “That’s the key to teaching, when you treat your students as your own, you stand by them through their ups and downs. You become excited for their future.” As Mona and her colleagues celebrate World Teachers’ Day, she said she remembers the thousands of students she met and interacted with. “Maraming bata na ang na-encounter ko, at araw-araw ay may iba’t ibang bagay akong natututunan mula sa kanila,” Mona said. A teacher for 16 years, Mona is proud to have produced professionals from her former students. “My heart is full everyday knowing that the students I have today will give back to our community in the future,” she said. (Bureau of Public Information)
Hajji Moh Saaduddin KIDAPAWAN CITY – One of the special correspondents of the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner was killed in a road crash in Matalam town in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao. Mohammad “Moh” Saaduddin, also a news correspondent for The Manila Times, was driving
his motorcycle and returning home last week from coverage in Cotabato City when he collided with a truck that killed him instantly. He was only 33. Moh was tailing the truck being driven by Renald Ramos when it suddenly stalled that led to the collision. The 36-year old Ramos, a resident of Matalam, allegedly told
police investigators that his break system malfunctioned. It was not immediately known whether Moh’s family would file criminal charges against the truck driver. “It was a terrible loss. Moh was good writer who had that nose for news. He was very good and provided us with in-depth analysis and news stories in Central Mindanao. Many times he broke news and even sent exclusive photos. This is very devastating. He was a good man, a good father and an honest newsman. He shall be remembered as long as we are still here, he was an o u t s t a n d i n g correspondent,” said Al Jacinto, the Editor-in-Chief of the Mindanao Examiner. Moh, also an IT expert, was recently in Zamboanga City with two European journalists Lennart Hoffman and Andreas Staahl and travelled to Sulu province for a special documentary on its culture, people and tradition. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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The Mindanao Examiner
October 15-21, 2018
Across: 1. Got out of bed 6. Congressman (abbr.) 9. Tack on 12. Smooth 13. Raw material 14. Final letter 15. Entreaties 16. Ironic remark 18. That girl 19. Dreary 20. Audience member 23. Slangy affirmative 26. Sock front 27. Smudges 29. Beginning 32. Map feature 33. Main dish 35. Lodge 36. Harness strap 37. scholastic 42. Wicker material 44. Summer refresher 45. Sooner 47. Trimmed 49. Get older 50. Pro-gun org. 51. Pond growth 52. Fisherman's pole 53. RI time zone 54. Handle skillfully Answer to last week’s crossword:
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October 15-21, 2018
OPINION:
Sustaining M anila ood SSupply upply Manila anila’’s FFood By JJun un Ledesma Continued from page 1 that would address gargantuan problems and opportunities mostly in Metro Manila and balance Luzon. Increase of salaries in government bureaucracy starting with the military and police forces, free education in state colleges and universities and tax exemptions of nearly 80% of the country’s wage earners to name just a few. The problem here is that we are a whole basket of “talangka” pulling each other so we stay like wretched and bellyaching nation not to mention the penchant of our students for radicalism. We want to control inflation and bring this to the level of 3% forgetting or stonewalling some hard realities that we are a net-importer of oil and shutting off the hard reality that the price of oil had increased by over $32/barrel in just about one year since Venezuela stop pumping oil and Iran closing the spigots of their oil wells on account of embargo imposed by the Western power. I am sure that the critics know about this but conveniently leave this issue to put all the blame on the present administration. Add to this equation the lack of rice supply and we have a situation ripe for inflation and the Duterte administration open to an organized assault of salivating opposition that can deal with the devil to oust Duterte. But surprises can from where it is least expected. Before they scooted to Hong Kong for a weekend respite, I had this interesting conversation with SAP Bong Go. Just like many of us “taga bundok”, as Jim Paredes would dub Mindanaoans, Bong saw the abundant harvests of various crops from Davao. “Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit napakamahal ng bilihin sa Metro Manila. I-santabi muna natin yong bigas, pero yong gulay, isda at yong mga karaniwang binibili natin sa araw araw nating kinakain ay napakamahal sa Maynila.
Our conversation led to a more serious exchanges. I didn’t know SAP Bong Go has been internalising so many suggestions that he said was passed on to him. He recalled that once, Sen. Dick Gordon had proposed to send, on regular basis, the military’s C130 not for a combat mission but to ferry marine products and fruits from Jolo. Of late, he said, Agriculture Sec. Manny Pinol did just that - ferrying vegetables from Bukidnon to San Andres market in Malate. Bong said that this should be institutionalised. He said that it is time a permanent food terminal like the one established by Marcos in Taguig before be restored. He said that it is unfortunate that the Cory government virtually disregarded that food terminal. Bong said that the last time he knew of what happened to that food terminal was that some of its real estate assets were sold and its cold storage and processing facilities were just leased. Secretary Bong is correct. I remembered that Marcos set the Food Terminal Inc. to help vegetable farmers and fruit growers, fishermen and even hog raisers from Mindanao to sell their products at better prices in Metro Manila which is the biggest consumer market in the country. It was also meant to augment supply in the capital region which relied mainly on vegetable producers in Benguet, Batangas and Tagaytay. Bong said, “ngayon maliit na lang ang taniman ng gulay samantalang lumalaki ang population sa Metro Manila. Pagkata-on ito na kumita naman ang mga magbubukid sa Mindanao at Sulu”. Farmers in Mindanao can maximise their production if they are motivated by profits and assurance of markets, he said. Bong explained that he hopes that some investors can look into this opportunity. In the meantime he said, during
calamity situations military cargo planes maybe used. He said that later President Duterte may be able “persuade” Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to allocate in every flight cargo space for perishable products from Mindanao in special freight rates. Bong Go, who is a business graduate, said that possibly the Bureau of Internal Revenue may also exempt from tax agricultural products that are for human consumption that will be airlifted to Manila. “It is about time we help our farmers and at the same flood markets in Metro Manila to bring down the prices of basic consumer’s products which are being manipulated by unscrupulous traders,” Bong said. Sometimes, solutions to problems need simple and out-of-the-box solutions. SAP Bong Go speaks from where he came from - Davao City and Davao Oriental. And I can attest to this. Your favorite lakatan bananas that sells beyond P150 per hand in Manila supermarkets and in public markets are actually sold in Barangay Tambobong, Davao City to middle men for P10 pesos. Vegetables from the farmers’ bagsakan in Marilog sell from P2/kg but are sold in Manila at astronomical price. Longkong lanzones variety are sold in farmers’ gate at P25/kg and sells in Davao sidewalk for P50/kg. In Rockwell Mall, it is sold at P900/kg! Fish, shellfish are incredibly cheap in Davao Oriental, Davao City and General Santos City. Mangosteen in Jolo, I heard sells at P5-15/kg in Jolo and P160/kg in Manila and 7yuan a piece in Beijing. Indeed a one man idea is sometime better than what all the bright boys in congress combined. By the way, there is now a direct Cathay Pacific flight from Davao to HK. I don’t know if Bong and his boss, the President, are there to look for buyers of Davao products. Come to think of it... why not?
Nasunkit ng 17-anyos na si Kervie Emmanuel Bergania, ang kampyonato sa "King of Scooter" sa 160cc Open Fuel Injected Race na ginanap sa Clark International Speedway na ginanap nitong Oktubre 7 lamang. (Francis Soriano. Mindanao Examiner)
Dear Editor-in-Chief, October 11 marks the first day in filing for certificate of candidacy for both local and national elections in May 2019. The 2019 elections may still seem to be far yet for an ordinary Filipino citizen. But for an aspirant, this day connotes the beginning of their not-so-easy, notso-quiet, and not-so-safe life. I couldn’t help but think why, albeit knowing all complexities, a lot of Filipinos would still want to be involved in the Philippines. From municipal/city councilors way up to senators, there are two things I have in my mind on their intent: public service and corruption. Does an aspirant willingly want to sacrifice his/her private life for genuine public service to the general public? Or does he/she want the position to just generate profit through corruption? For as long as I can
remember, the Filipino populace has been condemning the acts of graft and corruption. This is why I am writing, to reach as many aspirants as I can. I hope that with their intent to enter the political arena, comes all their purest and most genuine intentions to serve the Filipino people because we deserve a public servants whose values and ideals are aligned with the government’s goal to provide a sustainable and peaceful environment in and around the archipelago. Personally, I would want also to emphasize that public service in the Philippines requires a heart for the people—heart to share love, peace, and harmony with one another, within our nation and even to our friends around the world. I am also praying the
anti-government entities will not take advantage of this period, create chaos, and deceive people that the government is responsible for it. I am really hoping that all this aspirants are not antigovernments who want to enter the government and destabilize it. As possible public servants, they are all expected to be loyal to the flag and the Constitution. Please do not go against the rule of our land like other militant groups do. I am assuming that they all know their purpose prior to filing their COCs. I am honestly optimistic that they all want to work together towards one goal: a land governed by rule of law, harmony, love, and peace. Mc Howard Abdon abdonmchoward@yahoo.com
Dear Editor-in-Chief, We highly appreciate that we have The Mindanao Examiner in very good circulation and you have your own niche. I am emailing you an exhortation, as attached, intended for our Filipino youth, hoping that a personal sentiment like mine will find merit and favor with you enough to get it published. Thank you very much! I am a regular homemaker who hails from Mindanao. I am gainfully employed with the business process outsourcing industry (call center), engaged in the role of a voice and nonvoice customer service representative. Thank you once again, more power to your business enterprise! Carolina Baro Balmaceda carolinabbalmaceda @gmail.com Choose to fly unencumbered By Carolina Baro Balmaceda, a Filipino mother TO THE YOUTH, hope of this land. Study and be better and stronger. Please do not let allow strong hatred to take root in your hearts. Our Nation needs you especially now when we are in dire straits in all aspects of our life together. We need you who are vibrant with life, you who embody a bright future for us all. You can always conquer the dark negativities looming large all around us. In your youth you are blessed such that with your own fresh contribution, you can heal our forever-ailing land. Please choose to walk the higher ground and lift us all from those years of neglect and abuse carried over to the present when only a few powerful clans and their allies have gained much privilege for
themselves. You recall that we fought for the collapse of the Marcos regime with their brand of Martial Law, the tool they used for warped purposes, for selfish ends. But since then, what has changed? You need only open your eyes so you can close them again in contemplation. Why want to hurt us all with your great outrage targetting the very Institution which is trying its very best to protect and provide for you, to pave a better future for you? Has it not welcomed your ideas and longings, and acted for your welfare? Ask instead: from all those years since the toppling of that repressive regime, what has been done for the great many of us, for your fellow youth in the very poor provinces outside of Metro Manila? Have the resources been reaching our far-flung areas, distributed so that lives can be actually helped? Ask why the great number of our poor have only turned mendicants begging for any dole outs while they, the rich and secret billionaires in the elite society keep getting richer to even powerfully compete with the ordinary citizens, their businesses sprouting everywhere rounding up and engulfing our meager resources to themselves. And how about the C P P- N PA - N D F ? Unbelievable that you, our
dear treasures, are turning blind to their grave atrocities, the activities and the kinds of crimes they devotedly undertake in the provinces, the countrysides. With you seriously aligning yourselves now with their ideology, what are you subjecting us all to? Our Government has extended its hand to them welcoming them in friendship and forgiveness because that was the will of the people. But even while we were doing that, they went on continually, even to slay some more innocent folks and law-enforcers during the recent Peace Negotiations. They have pushed hard for powersharing which our Government is not at all inclined to favor and accept, not unless it is now your will… and then you would subject us all to an even bleaker future, how unfortunate that we’d have to derail our national aspirations once again and for the nth time. Playing a role in a dangerous game is not worth giving your precious time to. Fly free so you yourselves can uplift us from the cursed situation we are all in. Please think, and do not allow the template to forever remain in the hard drive. You can do a lot for our land. (By Carolina Baro Balmaceda, a Filipino mother)
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Philippines, China sea drill ‘shows nations are hedging bets’ in Sino-US tussle
M
embers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are hedging their strategic risks in the South China Sea by stepping up military cooperation on multiple fronts as tension between China and the U nited S tates gr o ws in the rregion, egion, political United States gro analysts a nalysts have said. The assessment participation can be seen as areas of the South China has enhanced follows Monday’s a marked change in Sea, decision by the Manila’s stance towards cooperation with Japan. Philippines to join a China regarding the South Vietnamese Prime Minister regional military exercise China Sea since Rodrigo Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited involving China and other Duterte became president. Tokyo on Monday and However, Dai Fan, a called on Japan to enhance Asean countries later this month, and comes days Southeast Asian affairs its role in promoting peace from Jinan and stability in the South after a Chinese destroyer expert and an American warship University in Guangzhou, China Sea. Phuc was to attend the came within metres of Guangdong, said Asean colliding in the South countries were also 10th Mekong-Japan Summit exploring ties with Japan on Tuesday, joining China Sea. The drill, from and the US to counter Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar October 22 to 29, would be China’s rising influence in and Thailand in reaffirming their commitment to Manila’s first military the region. “Asean [members] are addressing tensions in the exercise with Beijing, and will form the second deliberately cooperating South China Sea, where phase of a tabletop with external countries China has been flexing its maritime exercise China like Japan and the US to military muscle, according a summary of held in August with offset Chinese sway, to several Asean nations in especially regarding the agreements to be made at Singapore, in which they South China Sea, and US the meeting. Collin Koh, a research focused on simulating and Japan have long been Asean fellow at the S Rajaratnam joint search and rescue encouraging operations under the countries to guard their School of International Code for Unplanned own interests against Studies with Nanyang China,” said Dai. Technological University in Encounters at Sea. Manila and Singapore, said the The upcoming naval drill will be held in waters Washington have stepped strategic hedging of Asean off Zhanjiang city, in up cooperation, agreeing to countries could give the southern China’s hold 281 joint drills in 2019, bloc more room for Guangdong province, up from 261 this year. That autonomy and leeway after Chinese and Asean is also a shift from when when major world powers officials agreed not to Duterte first came to office are at odds. “They can play off these stage it in areas that are the and scaled back aid from subject of territorial US. external powers against Vietnam, another each other, balance these disputes. The Philippines’ vocal claimant to disputed relations, maximise the
President Rodrigo Duterte at the Bilateral Meeting with Chinese Government Officials, Signing of Business LOIs and Dinner Hosted by President Xi Jinping (Presidential Photo) benefits to be extracted out of this balancing game, yet at the same time try assiduously to stay out of the crosshairs of these powers,” said Koh, adding that Japan was still a major investor in Southeast Asia, the US remained a key
source of technology and both nations retained a significant role in Southeast Asia. The Philippines filed and won a case against China over its claims in the South China Sea at an arbitration tribunal in The
Hague in 2014. China has built several artificial islands in the South China Sea, where it has installed military equipment to consolidate its control over the waters.(Kristin Huang. South China Morning Post)
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