Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (Nov. 12-18, 2018) by Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

100 foreign fighters joined ISIS in Mindanao since the Marawi battle FOREIGN MILITANTS CONTINUE to flow into the southern Philippines, with more than 100 entering Mindanao since the end of the battle of Marawi, a Philippine terrorism expert told The Defense Post. A year after Marawi city was recaptured from the clutches of militants, the southern Philippines

remains an attractive destination for foreign fighters, and neighboring nations remain concerned that many issues relating to their citizens who were killed in the five-month battle have yet to be resolved. More than 1,200 people, including around 900 militants, were killed in the battle that erupted on

May 23, 2017 after Islamic State-affiliated groups took control of the city. Marawi was reduced to an utter ruin in five months of clashes between the Philippine security forces and militant groups, the country’s worst urban conflict. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who Continue on page 2

ISIS website shows fighters.

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November 12-18, 2018

Sultan of Sulu, North Borneo rejects BOL,

‘Asks Duterte to establish Federal government’

Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and respected political leader and philanthropist Dr. Sakur Tan pose with Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram during the signing of the unity covenant among the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu; and Grand Mufti Abdulbaqi Abubakar. Dr. Tan is a key figure in the unification of the sultans which is unprecedented and historical and will further strengthen the unity of all heirs to the Sultante of Sulu and North Borneo. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

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The Mindanao Examiner

November 12-18, 2018

100 foreign fighters joined ISIS in Mindanao since the Marawi battle Continued from page 1 announced the official conclusion of the battle on October 23, 2017, later vowed not to let such an endeavor by militants happen again. Just recently, The Defense Post exclusively reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines had identified 32 foreign fighters among militants killed in Marawi. At least two of those appeared to be children. But a Philippine terrorism expert said the security situation is not getting better as foreign militants continue to stream into Mindanao, the country’s largest southern island. “Since the liberation of Marawi until now, some 100 foreign fighters have entered Mindanao,” Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research Professor Rommel Banlaoi told The Defense Post, citing information he received from Philippine security and defense agencies. “They have come to Mindanao to join several ISIS-affiliated groups,” Banlaoi said. Most of the militants are from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia, but there are also people from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Morocco, Spain, France, Tunisia, Iraq, Somalia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, he said. “At least 60 of them have been identified by the Philippine authorities, and about 30 more [remain] unidentified,” Banlaoi said. “They often pretended to be tourists, businessmen, students and foreign workers.” “Some who used the airports did not reach

ISIS website shows members of the local pro-ISIS group in southern Philippines. Mindanao,” said Banlaoi, who is also president of the Philippine Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies. “More than 10 of them were arrested, denied entry and deported mainly from the Manila and Clark international airports. Some are currently being detained. Others were able to proceed to Mindanao.” Banlaoi said he cannot yet discern patterns in the new arrivals. “I don’t have the basis to say whether the arrivals are steady, increasing or decreasing because much information about arrivals is not reported, monitored or discovered,” he said. “All I can say is that the arrival of foreign fighters to southern Philippines continues despite arrests, detentions and deportations of others by the Philippine law enforcement authorities.” This new figure of foreign fighter arrivals is

around double the 48 the military estimated were in the country in January, when Major General Fernando Trinidad, then the Philippine military’s deputy chief of staff of intelligence, said foreigners were actively taking part in the training of terrorist recruits in Mindanao. Trinidad claimed that 15 foreign fighters from Malaysia and Indonesia entered Mindanao in November last year, moving to Sarangani province to help the Maute group, one of the Philippine jihadist groups that is now part of Islamic State East Asia. He said another 16 Indonesian militants had entered Mindanao to provide assistance and training to the ISEA-affiliate Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan and the Maute group in Lanao del Sur province. Both groups were involved in the five-month battle with troops in Marawi city.

Banlaoi said local terrorist fighters welcome the foreigners because they provide funds and training, although they can learn from each other. “The foreign militants also strengthen the global network of the local terrorists,” he said. American University terrorism researcher Munira Mustaffa said people still go to Mindanao because they feel compelled to do so and feel the need to fulfil the group’s ambition and socalled prophecy. “That the actual fighting is still ongoing presently in Mindanao gives them a sense of purpose, as opposed to Malaysia and Indonesia, where it’s just urban plotting,” Malaysian Munira told The Defense Post. “I think having a guerilla-style siege in an urban setting such as Kuala Lumpur is not doable, considering the conditions i.e. the politics and security apparatus’ efficiency. In terms of proximity, it’s a lot easier and more convenient for them to reach Mindanao through various points and means.” Sidney Jones, director at the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, believes care has to be taken with information from the AFP such as the number of newly arrived foreign fighters. “This is especially when there isn’t a single concrete case of a foreign fighter who has arrived in the last few months,” Jones told The Defense Post. “In August, there was a posting on ISIS media showing a camp of the Sawadjans in Sulu with fighters who were clearly foreign with one of them looking South Asian, but we don’t know when the photo was taken,” she said, referring to a family which leads an Abu Sayyaf faction. Concerns over veteran militants entering the

Philippines International Islamic University of Malaysia deradicalization expert Ahmad el-Muhammady said it is important to determine whether the fresh arrivals are experienced fighters. “Veterans especially from conflict areas like in Syria are capable of sharing their hard-learned skills such as making improvised bombs,” el-Muhammady, who is also an advisor to the Malaysian government, told The Defense Post. “It only takes one such an expert to bolster a terror group.” “He can train more militants to become bomb makers, who in turn can pass on their knowledge yet to others. Bomb-making skills are the hardest to acquire. It’s a matter of life and death just to learn them, what more to share and actually use them.” Terrorism analyst Pawel Wójcik said the non-Southeast Asian new fighters who made it to ISIS-affiliated groups across the southern Philippines are more likely to be inexperienced as they have been following the ‘hijra route’ that comes with the newly established ISEA wilayat, or province. “Most of the experienced ones will be the regional fighters, from Malaysia and Indonesia, as usually they possess an actual militant past, connected to al-Qaeda or ISIS-aligned cells, with bomb-making capabilities and ideological backgrounds,” Wójcik told The Defense Post. “Some are former [Indonesian terror group] Jemaah Islamiyah members, learning from the bomb-makers belonging to the al-Qaeda entity that has fought in Afghanistan and other theaters, but most obtained the skills by collaboration with the Abu Sayyaf or from ISIS-affiliated teams in Indonesia, especially in Poso (in Sulawesi, Indonesia], where the MIT [Mu-

jahidin Indonesia Timur] has been operating.” Wójcik said there also is the threat of returning fighters with skills from ISIS Central that would hugely improve the capabilities of the new ISEA wilayat. “Also, some knowhow sharing has already occured, as we witnessed in the Indonesian bombings in the recent two years, where IS affiliates used the kind of improvised bombs used in the Middle East,” he said. Wójcik was referring to the bombings that included the latest ones in Surabaya, Indonesia in May in which 28 people including suicide bombers, who had used improvised explosive devices, were killed. Old problems remain unresolved The Philippines is now facing the issue of newly arrived fighters in addition to an earlier problem: many foreign fighters from the Marawi battle are still unaccounted for. This writer reported for Free Malaysia Today last year that some 80 foreign fighters, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, were involved in the Marawi clashes. Wójcik pointed out in that report that Western madia had mistaken “foreign fighters” in Marawi as those from Europe and the Arab world. Most of the foreign fighters in the Marawi war were from Indonesia and Malaysia, which Wójcik calls “regional fighters.” The Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium was also quoted in the report as saying that it believed more than 30 Malaysian fighters had been in Marawi, accounting for almost half the total figure of foreign terrorists. TRAC said the figure was based on their monitoring of chatter on ISIS-related communication channels. The Defense Post reported in September that this year had seen previously unprecedented attempts by Europeans trying to join ISIS in the Philippines, with some successfully making the journey. Although only a handful of Europeans have succeeded, the risk that this is the beginning of a larger trend should be a concern for the Philippines, nearby nations, and Europe. El-Muhammady told The Defense Post the information that fresh foreign terrorists from Europe, the Arab world and the Southeast Asian region underlines the need for a better counterterrorism cooperation between Asean nations and their European and Arab counterparts. (By Zam Yusa The Defense Post)

November 12-18, 2018

The Mindanao Examiner

Sultan of Sulu, North Borneo rejects BOL,

‘Asks Duterte to establish Federal government’

N INFLUENTIAL SULTAN in southern Philippines has asked President Rodrigo Duterte to establish a federal form of government in the country and rejected the propose establishment of an expanded Muslim or Bangsamoro autonomous region in Mindanao.

The Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate composed of Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin, Muizuddin Jainal Abirin Bahjin and Phugdalun Kiram II with newly designated Special Envoy, Dr Sakur Tan now Datu ShahBandar during his conferment on November 30, 2016 in Sulu province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) His Majesty, Sultan Muedzul-Lail Kiram, the 35th and legitimate Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, also threw his strong support to the petition filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II before the Supreme Court for certiorari and prohibition with request for temporary restraining order against Republic Act No. 11054, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). “The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo fully supports Governor Tan’s petition,” Sultan Kiram said. He also bared that National Security Adviser, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, met with them and asked to support President Duterte’s plan for a Federal system of government. “The meetings produced positive results. We declared our full commitment to support the President’s plan to shift to a Federal system of government with the two parties agreeing in principle that Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi shall be created one federal state and the rest of the core territories of the Sultanate within the provinces and cities of Palawan and Zamboanga Peninsula, shall be acknowledged in the Federal Constitution, in part or in whole thereof, part of our historical territories,” Sultan Kiram said, but until now, the talk initiated by Secretary Esperon - on President Duterte’s order - for reasons not known to them has been held in abeyance. “We had signified our willingness to sit down with his Excellency through letters sent to the Office of the President. We had also written the two houses of Congress at the time when both houses’ committees were deliberating on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. In those letters, we declared our strong opposition to the BBL if it included Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi,” he added. He said the Philippine government has always recognized the Sultanate of Sulu as the legitimate claimant to the historical territories of the Republic of the Philippines as contained in Memorandum Order No. 427 signed in 1974 during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos. “It is sad to note that after the Marcos administration, the Philippine government’s recognition of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo had progressively waned. In the past, there used to be a Department of Mindanao and Sulu. From President Manuel L. Quezon way up to President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Philippine government had always dealt with Mindanao and Sulu separately as a matter of policy based on historical antecedents,” Sultan Kiram said. He explained that when President Marcos enacted Presidential Decree Number 1618, it created not one but two Autonomous Regions - Region IX comprised the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte including the Cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, and Zamboanga del Sur and the cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga. And Region XII comprised the provinces of Lanao del Norte including the City of Iligan, Lanao del Sur, including the City of Marawi, Maguindanao, including the City of Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. He said the past administration of President Benigno Aquino also offered them - through back channel negotiation - the position of “Wali” in the Bangsamoro Basic Law, but they declined because it will overstep other sultanates in Mindanao. “We declined this, as it is not our policy to expand our boundaries beyond our historical territories nor do we aspire to govern people other than our “ra’ayat”. The Sultanates of Sulu and North Borneo, Maguindanao and the Royal Houses of Ranao formed into the Confederation of Maranaos, were all independent and sovereign nations. Never at any point in our history were we united under one flag as one nation. We respect the authority and sovereignty of the Sultanate of Maguindanao and the Royal Houses of Ranao over their peoples and territories.” “To insist on the policy of homogeneity over diverse groups of people will only lead to catastrophic failure. We strongly believe that the Bangsamoro Organic Law will not deliver on its promise of lasting peace and development. Instead we foresee another failed experiment like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Sultan Kiram warned. He said they value the government’s recognition of the Sultan’s legitimacy as claimant to historical territories within the Republic of the Philippines, but the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo will not recognize any agreement entered into by any person or group for or in behalf of the Bangsa Suluk nation and over the Sultanate’s core territories. “Never did we surrender this right and never did we commission any person or group like the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front to represent us in any talk or negotiation,” Sultan Kiram said as he urged President Duterte to attenuate the enactment of Republic Act Number 11054 and instead judiciously focus on Federalism. This time, all stakeholders should be properly represented and be given the opportunity to participate in the process. We are ready to sit down with the government in forging ahead with this task.” Republic Act Number 11054 provides for the organic law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao signed by President Duterte in July this year.

Petition Governor Tan, through his lawyer Sixto Brillantes, filed the petition with the Supreme Court to review the legality and constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The proposed law is the result of peace negotiations between the Filipino government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels. The respondents in the 48-page petition were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, and the MILF. In the petition, Governor Tan claimed that Congress committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it passed the Bangsamoro Organic Law. He said the Bangsamoro Organic Law violates Section 18 and 19 of Article X of the 1987 Constitution which authorized the enactment of only one Organic Act to establish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “Since ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) is created by Constitutional fiat, Congress, by itself, has absolutely no authority to abolish ARMM. Only through an amendment of the Constitution may ARMM be abolished. This is so, because only the Constitution may create or abolish an autonomous region,” he said. “Accordingly, when Congress, by enacting RA 11054, effectively abolished ARMM, and established BAR (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region) in its stead, Congress committed an unconstitutional act, an unwarranted infringement of Article X of the Constitution,” he added. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014, said it recognizes Governor Tan’s rights to file the petition. Many Muslims in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, including Lanao del Sur are opposed to future rule by the MILF to the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region. A referendum has been set for next year for residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - which comprises Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao - to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law that will govern the new region. Residents of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi who are from Tausug, Yakan and Sama tribes wanted to be part of Region 9 in Western Mindanao, and not be included in the Bangsamoro autonomous region. Even Cotabato City wanted out of the proposed Muslim homeland. Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders -who are mostly from Maguindanao tribe - are mulling to govern the proposed region with rebel chieftain Murad Ebrahim as regional governor, and senior rebel leaders to hold key position in the Bangsamoro autonomous government. Even in Wao town in Lanao del Sur, residents had strongly opposed the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Governor Tan stressed that establishing a parliamentary form of government in the Bangsamoro autonomous region violates the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution. “The same provision of Bangsamoro Organic Law, also violate Section 18, Article X of the Constitution requiring that the Organic Act of an Autonomous Region shall, among others, define the basic structure of government for the region consisting of the executive department and legislative assembly, both of which shall be elective and representative of the constituent political units,” he pointed out. Governor Tan said the automatic inclusion of the ARMM in the newly created Bangsamoro Region “and the provision that the provinces and cities of the ARMM shall vote as one geographical area are likewise unconstitutional.” “The provisions under Section 2(a) , Article III on

Western Mindanao Grand Mufti, His Eminence Abdulbaqi Abubakar, crowns former Sulu Governor Dr Sakur Tan as Datu’ ShahBandar following his designation as Special Envoy and conferment as Datu ShahBandar by the Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate on November 30, 2016 in Sulu province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Territorial Jurisdiction and Article XV of RA 11054 on the conduct of the plebiscite do not afford the constituents of the Province of Sulu, to the prejudice of their right to suffrage and their right to local autonomy, the option to vote to join or not to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” the governor added. He also asked the High Court to stop the Executive Department from implementing the Bangsamoro law. He also urged the tribunal to issue a Writ of Prohibition to bar the Commission on Elections from proceeding with the scheduled plebiscite in January. Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro region will be composed of the ARMM, six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 villages of Cotabato, and the chartered cities of Isabela and Cotabato subject to the approval of voters. The region will be headed by a chief minister and two deputy ministers. The parliament will be composed of political party representatives, parliamentary district representatives, sectoral representatives and indigenous tribes and settler communities. All parliament members will have a term of three years and can enjoy a maximum of three consecutive terms. The parliament can enact its own laws. The Bangsamoro Organic Law also allows 75-25 wealth sharing between the Bangsamoro autonomous region and national government. The Supreme Court has already directed the government to comment on the petition filed. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

Soldier injured in Misamis clash

November 12-18, 2018

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Sayyafs still big threat in Sulu

Military photo released to the regional newspaper show recovered items from the New People’s Army rebels in Misamis Occidental province following a recent clash. PAGADIAN CITY – A government soldier was wounded in a recent clash with communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Misamis Occidental, an army spokesman said. Capt. Clint Antipala, of the 1st Infantry Division, said members of the 14th Division Reconnaissance Company clashed with New People’s Army rebels in the town of Jimenez. The soldiers were pursuing a group of rebels who also engaged the 10th Infantry Battalion in Panaon

town when it ran into the band of insurgents and a firefight ensued. “One soldier was wounded in the fighting while an undetermined number of NPA are either killed or injured,” Antipala said, adding, troops recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, one M16 automatic rifle with grenade launcher and a rifle grenade, including improvised explosives and blasting caps and munitions. Major General Roseller Murillo, commander of the 1st Infantry

Division, said the armed encounter could have been prevented only if the NPA rebels surrendered peacefully and take advantage of the government’s amnesty program called “Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program” for them to go back to the mainstream society. There was no immediate statement from the rebel group which has been fighting for a separate Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

SULU - The Abu Sayyaf continues to pose a serious threat to civilian communities in Sulu province in southern Philippines. Just last week, four soldiers, including an army officer, were wounded in fierce battle with Abu Sayyaf militants. Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the fighting erupted in the village called Panglayahan in Patikul town. He said troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion clashed Monday afternoon with about 50 gunmen under Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. “Heavy skirmishes ensued which resulted to

the wounding of an army officer and three soldiers, while heavy casualties were reported on the enemy’s side based on human intelligence,” Besana said. He said the wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military hospital in the capital town of Jolo. The identities and ranks of the casualties were not made public by Besana. Soldiers recovered 50 kilos of rice, personal belongings with blood stains and assorted medicines from the Abu Sayyaf encampment. Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said operations against the Abu Sayyaf will not stop until the militants

have been neutralized. “The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to neutralize the remaining bandits,” he said. Dela Vega also thanked the local government and civilians for providing intelligence to the military. “We extend our gratitude to the local government and the populace for helping troops in fighting terrorism by means of giving information, thus, making it easier for us to neutralize the outlaws,” he said. The Abu Sayyaf is fighting for a caliphate in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)

November 12-18, 2018

The Mindanao Examiner

November 12-18, 2018

Across : 1. Hoax 5. Weep 8. Nest contents 12. Indian robe 13. Animosity 14. Vicinity 15. Adventure 17. Rod and ___ 18. Papa’s mate 19. Pack animal 20. Confess 23. Summer beverage (2 wds.) 27. Luau souvenir 28. Disregarded 30. Reduce 32. Beethoven work 35. Renters 37. Egg drink 38. Artist’s board 40. Bungling 42. Solemn fear 43. African lily 45. Judge 47. Send 51. Wrought ___ 52. Barnyard bird 53. Fork point 54. Grain 55. Keats’ “before” 56. Behalf

Answer to last week’s crossword:

Down : 1. Compass point (abbr.) 2. Holds 3. Rainbow shape 4. Florida metropolis 5. Thailand, once 6. Decree 7. Quilting party 8. Lobe site 9. Large dog (2 wds.) 10. Gaggle members 11. Hot sauce 16. Hospital occupant 20. Every bit 21. Actress Ruby ___ 22. Christmas doorway decoration

24. Charge 25. Wearing down 26. Bear’s lair 29. Small pest 31. Witness 33. Blouse 34. FBI employee (abbr.) 36. Closer 38. France’s capital 39. Alert 41. Homes for birds 44. Path 46. Stop 47. Common article 48. Woody’s ex 49. Pen liquid 50. Golf prop

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The Mindanao Examiner

November 12-18, 2018

OPINYON:

Way kukaluoy nga pagkombati sa kurapsyon Ni Jun Ledesma

KUN KINSA TONG nagsulti nga ang kurapsyon sa sulod sa gobyerno mawagtang sa sulod sa duha o tulo ka tuig nagadamgo lamang. Bisan pa og mogamit si Pres. Rodrigo Duterte og baston sa magic, di niya ni makaya. Ang kurapsyon sa gobyerno giplastar ug gipadulot og maayo sa administrasyong BSAIII. Bisan si Hercules di makakaya nga modismantle niini, si Duterte pa kaha nga tawo lamang? Apan kitang tanan nangandoy niini. Karong semanaha nadugangan ang akong nahibaw-an. Anaa diay sobra usa ka dosena nga mga coalition against corruption. Usa niini nasilo sa ako tungod sa akong pagmantala sa hangyo sa Makati Business Club nga ipalanog sa publiko nga ang ilang CAC wala magpaluyo sa panawagan nga paluwaton si DOF Sec. Sonny Dominguez sa iyang katungdanan. Ang editorial desk sa Philippine News Agency nagpadala sa ako og kopya sa pamahayag sa Coalition Against Corruption. Usa sa ilang gideklarar mao ang impormasyon nga rehistrado sila sa SEC ug tungod niini di sila peke nga organisasyon. Ila sab nga giinsister nga wa sila mag-claim nga sakop ug wa sila mangandoy nga magpasakop sa MBC nga duna nay kaugalingon nga CAC. Kini nga CAC hugot nga ning-insister nga gawas nga di sila peke nga CAC, ang ilang mga ginsakupan mga personahe nga way hunong sa pagsuporta sa maayong pangagamhanan ug sa kombati sa Presidente batok sa kurapsyon. Sa lista nga akong nadawat, CAC Chairman si Manuel Obedoza nga Chairman sab sa VACC; Vice Chair si Alicia Risos-Vidal, National president sa Womens Lawyers Association of the Philippines; CAC President si Lovensky Fernandez, President sa Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change; Enunina Mangio, VP for External Affairs ug Treasurer; Nicon Famerong, VP for Internal Affairs; Monalie Dizon, Secretary; ug John Rana, Public Relations Officer. Ang mga sakop sa Board mao sila si Rosalina Bistoyong, Gonzalo Catan, Eddie Choa ug Ma. Teresa Moncupa. Kini nga rehistrado nga CAC nag-insister nga sila nag-organisa aron pagtubag sa panawagan

ni Presidente Duterte og suporta gikan sa pribadong sektor sa Giyera Batok sa Kurapsyon. Karon nga nagkailaila na ta ug human maklaro nga kini nga CAC dili peke, akong pangayoon ang inyong pasaylo tungod sa akong pagduda kun kinsa gyud mo. Di lisud ni nga himoon tungod kay dugay na kong nagakrusada batok sa krimen ug kurapsyon ug isip usa ka magsusulat nga nagpuyo sa Davao nakadawat ko og mga pagdasig gikan kang Mayor Duterte mismo, nga karon Presidente na, sa pagpursige sa maong krusada. Karon, human nakog korek sa mali nga impormasyon, hangyoon nako mo nga sa sunod nga mga pamahayag sa publiko o sa prensa, ilakip gyud ninyo og seguro ang kinutlo nga pamahayag sa inyong Chairman o Presidente aron mahibaw-an kun asa gikan. Tugoti ko karon nga mopadayon og hisgot sa ikaduhang tema niining akong sulat. Duha sa pinakakurap nga ahensya sa gobyerno mao ang Bureau of Internal Revenue ug Bureau of Customs. Ang ikatulo mao ang Department of Public Works and Highways. Nahimong pokus karong bag-o ang BOC sa mga magbalantay sa mga kahiwian sa gobyerno dili tungod kay wa niya makab-ot ang target niya sa pagpangolekta og pondo para sa panudlanan sa gobyerno kundili tungod sa kargamento sa illegal nga droga nga gipayuhot pinaagi sa Customs. Ang mga sindikato sa krimen wa pa mahutdi og mga pamaagi sa pagpayuhot dugang sa arte sa pagpadanglog pinaagi sa saburno ug panghulga. Kun sumadahon, tama si Presidente Duterte sa pagbutang sa BOC ilawom sa supervision sa military, apan di sab ni angay nga ipermanente. Napahiluna na ang mga reporma sa Bureau of Internal Revenue. Pipila ka bulohatong administratibo gipasa na sa rehiyon aron mas sayon sa mga taxpayers ang pagpatigayon sa ilang mga bayronon sa buhis nga minos ang kontak nga personal. Angay unta sab ni nga giplastar dayon sa BOC. Ang mga transaksyon nga way papeles minos og kontak nga personal ug tungod niini, makunhoran sab ang posibilidad sa mga negosasyon nga “under-the-table”.

Sa tinud-anay lang, ang pinakamaayong sukdanan kun nasumpo ba o wala ang kurapsyon sa BOC ug BIR pananglitan mao ang ilang agi sa pagpangolekta og pondo para sa panudlanan sa gobyerno. Sa pagkakaron, pwede natong tagaan og grado nga “A” kining maong mga ahensya tungod kay ilang gideliver ang output nga mao gyuy kinauyokan sa ilang trabaho. Sa DPWH, ang atong timbangan mao ang kalidad sa trabaho ug kapaspas. Di na ko maglipudlipod. Ningtak-op ang administrasyong Aquino nga daghan og gibiyaan nga mga proyekto nga wa humana. Ang mga skyway padulong sa NAIA sa tinuod mga tinapok lamang nga mga slab nga semento, nagaistambay nga mga makinarya, ug maihap sa tudlo nga mga trabhanteng nag-istambay. Apan sa paglingkod pa lang gyud sa gobyernong Duterte, ning-andar dayon ang mga makinarya ug naporma dayon ang mga proyekto. Seryoso nga ginapursige ang kombati sa kurapsyon ug ang unang nangaigo mao ang mga tawong kaniadto mga kauban ni Duterte. Ang problema kay naa pay mga manunubad nga nagalibotlibot aron tayogon ang pundasyon sa gobyernong Duterte. Ang Presidente mismo ang pinakaprinsipal nga target sa way hunong nga pag-ataki gikan sa hanay sa mga nagasul-ob og abito sa relihiyon, sa Commission on Human Rights nga nagpadayon og sabwag sa kataw-anan ug way basihan nga istorya sa Davao Death Squad ug sa gipaburot nga numero sa mga biktima kuno sa extra-judicial killings, ug sa dakong coalition sa oposisyong political ug CPP/NPA/NDF nga ang tuyo ug tinguha mao ang pagpalagpot kang Duterte. Nabuang na ba gyud diay ang atong politika, resulta nga ang usa ka impromtu nga sulti sa actor nga si Aga Muhlach (nga nagsugyot nga ang oposisyon sama kang Antonio Trillanes mosuporta na lang unta sa administrasyon) gitanggal gikan sa usa ka yugto sa Magandang Gabi Vice. Mora na hinoon kini og mas laway pa sa grabe ka dugoon nga pinatyanay sa way hunong nga mga episode sa ‘Probinsyano’ sa prime time. Haay na lang.

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‘Team Climaco condemns misinformation, fake news’

Courtesy of Mayor Beng Climaco FB page. MEMBERS OF THE Team Climaco have strongly criticized and condemned misinformation drive by their political foes and propagandists, who are desperate to destroy the many and outstanding accomplishments of popular Mayor Beng Climaco and her allies in the City Council. They also accused political opponents of spreading lies, particularly on the issue of push carts donated by Zamboanga City government to the local airport. Climaco led the recent turnover of 200 high-quality push carts worth P3.6 million or P18,000 each to the officials of the Zamboanga International Airport in response to the shortage of trolleys there. The donation of the push carts, made from aluminium alloy, was in addition to some 200 push carts sent over by the Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), to the Zamboanga International Airport. Airport officials praised the local government of Zamboanga for its donation. Council member Benjamin Guingona was also quick to ask the local government for information on the specifications of the push carts and even compared its price to those found in the Internet. Former Councilman Cesar “Jawo” Jimenez Jr, who was also a part of the Bids and Awards Committee, in the purchase of the push carts, said the procurement was approved by the City Council. “This was bidded, actually I was a member of the Bids and Awards Committee when it was bidded. Please take note that our bidding process is on PhilGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) – and once you announced it on the Philgeps, that is already an announcement to the whole world. It is in the Internet, everybody can see

it, especially prospective suppliers. Those allegations that there are quotations or less than P18,000, they should have joined the bidding process. There are many processes here in the bidding,” he said at a news conference in Zamboanga. He said with comparison being made by the opposition between prices of push carts donated by the local government and CAAP, there appears to be an effort to put the strict government bidding process into question. “This is a sad story coming from the Red Team (of Celso Lobregat), politics are too much now,” he said. His father, lawyer and Council member Cesar “Sang” Jimenez also defended the procurement process and said everything was above board and followed the provisions of the government procurement law. “Let me say this for the record – the total price of the delivered final destination is P3.6 million, the cost of incidental services, including everything is P18,000 per unit. What happened here is that there is a single responsive bid submitted and what is their bid P3.6 million or P18,000 per unit – their bid was P18,000. There was no other entity who bidded and participated and in accordance with the procurement law, there are no other things this Committee will do than to award,” he said at the same press conference. “You will notice that push carts at international airport NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), the push carts are of international standards, and that is the same type that is included in these specifications. And inclusive of sticker layout designs, if you notice, the push carts have different designs, stickers representative of the different (tourism) destinations in Zamboanga City. So that’s it, that’s the specifications. This is a sole

responsive bid that took place in accordance with the provisions of the government procurement law,” he explained, referring to the colorful photos of historical places and spots here that would attract visitors and tourists coming to Zamboanga. Council member and lawyer Rommel “Meng” Agan, who was also at the news conference, said the City Council is fully supportive of the administration of Mayor Beng, especially its many programs and projects that will largely benefit the people. He said the purchase of the push carts underwent rigorous bidding process and bidded projects are public posted on PhilGEPS. He explained that the national government established its own electronic procurement system as part of its initiatives to modernize the procurement process and achieve greater transparency. The PhilGEPS is the single, centralized electronic portal that serves as the primary and definitive source of information on government procurement. Government agencies, as well as suppliers, contractors, manufacturers, distributors and consultants, are mandated to register and use the system in the conduct of procurement of goods, civil works and consulting services. Through the use of the PhilGEPS, transparency in government procurement is enhanced since opportunities to trade with government and the ensuing transactions are provided online. Despite the black propaganda, smear campaign and misinformation in some of the media, Climaco and his team continue to remain popular among their constituents because of her democratic approach to governance and many achievements that prioritize the welfare of all - poor and the needy – regardless of faith and gender. (ZCH)

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November 12-18, 2018

Cebu City councilman calls on public to help solve crimes

EBU CITY -Councilor Joel Garganera has urged Cebuanos to help authorities solve crimes amid the alarming peace and order situation in Cebu City. G a r g a n e r a , ed by members of Water- we cannot fully rely on the who also chairs the Po- front Police Station after capability of the police. lice Advisory Council, his relatives informed It needs the cooperation said the community authorities of his where- and trust of the commushould get involved in abouts in Mandaue City. nity,” he said. Garganera also encrime solution by pro- Garganera said Familiar couraged the public to was easily identified and viding police with intrust the authorities, who immediately pursued not formation on suspected really need the civilians’ just because of the relaperpetrators. The local legislator tives’ cooperation but also support to be effective in made the call following because of the informa- the fight against criminalthe arrest of notorious tion provided by the sus- ity. Familiar stabbed thief Emelito Familiar Jr., pect’s neighbors. Mancia to death after the “The series of killings the suspect in the killing victim found him inside in Cebu is alarming. But of 23-year-old student Charie Mae Mancia in- we have seen the swift her room. Investigators side her boarding house solution of a crime be- said the suspect’s plan in Barangay Tinago re- cause of the public’s in- was only to steal some volvement. When we talk valuables from Mancia’s cently. Familiar was arrest- about peace and order, room, but it resulted to

Fishing ban imposed in Visayan Sea THE BUREAU OF Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has imposed a threemonth ban on fishing in the Visayan Sea to allow spawning that will boost production by 20 percent in one of the country’s richest fishing grounds. Remia Aparri, Regional Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Western Visayas, said the ban covers sardines, herrings and mackerels. “We hope to maintain or even increase production by at least 20 percent,” Aparri said. BFAR’s Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO)

167-3 prescribes the three-month fishing ban until February 15 next year, but it may be extended until March depending on the result of the study being conducted particularly on the changing spawning pattern of fish. FAO 167-3 prohibits the catching, killing, selling or possession of sexually-mature sardines, herrings and mackerels or their larvae, fry or young known locally as “lupoy,” “silinyasi,” linatsay” or “manansi” in the portion of the Visayan Sea and adjoining waters enclosed by lines drawn through following points and coastlines.

Violators will be penalized with P6,000 fine, imprisonment of six months to six years depending on the gravity of offense, and forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of fishing permits or license. Aparri said the BFAR noted a minimal number of violators last year, which can be attributed to higher level of awareness among fisher folk, resulting from intensified seaborne patrol activities as well as information and education campaigns. Aparri said BFAR will further intensify the implementation of the fishing ban.(Erwin Nicavera)

murder. The victim, who was a native of Aloguinsan town and a first year Ac-

countancy student at the Asian College of Technology, died of multiple stab

wounds in her neck and other parts of the body. (Luel Galarpe)

Philvocs cites importance of public awareness on tsunami Will there be a tsunami after an earthquake? How can one recognize the signs that a tsunami might occur? Where should the people go? The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) emphasized the importance of public awareness about tsunami so citizens could be informed, prepare and save themselves. Undersecretary Renato Solidum, of the Department of Science and Technology, said the factors which might trigger tsunami are movement of fault or trench underwater, and eventually cause the water to rise; landslides beside an island; underwater landslide; submarine eruption; and fall of meteorites or meteorite’s impact. Solidum said the most common cause is the movement of fault or trenches, and this is associated with an earthquake. “Every place or seashore facing the trenches might experience tsunami,” he said, adding, the second common cause is submarine landslide also caused by an earthquake. He said there are three signs, which Solidum calls “shake, drop or rise, roar”. The first sign is there’s

a big earthquake. Second is the sudden rise or fall of water due to the movements of the trenches. Third is the unusual sound or noise, which he compared to the sound of a jet plane. “These signs have to be sequential. There must be an earthquake first. That’s why the key words are ‘shake, drop or rise, roar,” Solidum said. He said there are two types of tsunamis - local if the earthquake happens locally and distant if the earthquake happens outside the country. Mylene Villegas, Phivolcs chief science research specialist, noted that not all earthquakes would cause a tsunami. “Only earthquakes that occur underwater would cause a tsunami. If the earthquake is on land, this would not trigger a tsunami,” she said. Villegas said tsunamis are a series of big waves due to underwater earthquakes, and said that shallow earthquakes don’t trigger this. According to her, even if the earthquake, for instance, is magnitude 6, but is shallow or has a less than 50-km depth, this will not be a cause of tsunami. Both Villegas and Solidum explained that

strong earthquakes abroad might still affect the Philippines because it is situated in the Pacific Ocean. “This is why it is very important that the public is aware of tsunami. If the earthquake occurs nearby, it will be difficult for Phivolcs to mobilize people. So, if the people know the natural signs, they will be aware that they need to move to a higher land or be far away from their area,” Villegas said, noting that local tsunami might occur 10-15 minutes after an earthquake, while distant tsunami might happen an hour to 24 hours after the earthquake. “See the difference. There’s plenty of time for warning for distant tsunami. For local tsunami, there’s almost none, and people need to move fast,” she said. Villegas said that the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that happened in Mindoro in 1994 caused a tsunami in less than five minutes after the quake. She said it is also important to have a community post in barangays to keep the communities informed and warned. (Maria Cristina Arayata)

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