Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018) by Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

China’s Xi visits Philippines as Duterte pressed to take tougher line CHINESE LEADER Xi Jinping visited the Philippines to further strategic gains made under President Rodrigo Duterte, who hailed a “new impetus” behind a relationship that his massive infrastructure ambitions could depend on. Continue on page 2

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Presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (PCOO photo)

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PAL to resume flights in Sulu SULU – Officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine Air Lines (PAL) executives have visited the southern province of Sulu and inspected the renovated airport in the capital town of Jolo following proposals to resume commercial flights there. Continue on page 2

Governor Toto Tan welcoming PAL officials.

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Sabah hunts down Abu Sayyafs! M alaysia is holding 7 Filipinos, six of them members of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf, in separate anti-terrorism operations in Sabah and Putrajaya, reports said. It said beheading their hostages Indama in Basilan provamong those captured in southern Philippines; ince. were an Abu Sayyaf exe- and a sub-commander unThe rest were involved cutioner, who admitted der militant leader Puruji Continue on page 2

Solon duplicates Mayor’s program

Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco.

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Malaysia, Indonesia foreign fighter transit routes to Philippines identified

Members of the Philippine jihadist group pose for propaganda photo in this screen shot taken from the website of the Islamic State.

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A Philippine terrorism expert has identified backdoors in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah and Manado in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province used by foreign militants to enter the southern Philippines to join Islamic State-affiliated groups. The Defense Post recently reported Chairman of the Board of the Philippine

Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research Professor Rommel Banlaoi as saying that up to 100 foreign fighters, mainly Indonesians and Malaysians, arrived in Mindanao after the battle for Marawi. Banlaoi said some of the foreigners destined for Islamic State East Asiaaffiliates Abu Sayyaf and the Maute

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group had flown into Mindanao but were arrested at airports and deported. “Others were able to reach Mindanao after using a backdoor, mainly in Sabah and Manado,” he told The Defense Post. Banlaoi, who is also President of the Philippine Center for Intelligence and Continue on page 4

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The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

Sabah hunts down Abu Sayyafs!

Continued from page 1 in terrorism in the Philippines and ransom kidnappings in Sabah, according to Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohamad Fuzi bin Harun, the Inspector General of Royal Malaysia Police. He said the Filipino militants were captured in police operations that on October 30 and until November 12. “The 35-year-

old suspect played the role of recruiting children to join Abu Sayyaf to be used as human shields during fighting with the Philippine military in Basilan. He has also been involved in beheading hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf,” Channel News Asia quoted him as saying. The militants escaped government offensive in

southern Philippines and travelled illegally by boat to nearby Sabah where they assumed false names and managed to find work in construction sites as a cover for their true identity. It was not immediately known whether the militants were planning an attack or ransom kidnappings in Sabah. (Mindanao Examiner)

Coast Guard intensifies patrol in South

Coast Guard photo shows seized 50,000 bags of rice from MV Hulk. ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Coast Guard said it will heigthen security patrol in the southern Philippines following the recent seizure of a cargo ship loaded with some 50,000 bags of suspected smuggled rice off Tongkil Island in the province of Sulu. Captain Joseph Coyme, commander of Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao, said the ship, MV Hulk, of

Key West Shipping Lines Corporation, is based in Cagayan de Oro City. Its crew said they suffered engine trouble and was forced to drop anchor off Tongkil. Two Coast Guard vessels, BRP San Agustin under Lieutenant Jeffrey Collado, and the BRP Bagacay, under Commander Joel Simoagto, towed the cargo ship to Zamboanga City and is now at the Ben Go wharf.

“The apprehended vessel encountered engine trouble and shut down while heading to Zamboanga City. The vessel is temporarily under the custody of Coast Guard awaiting for the Bureau of Customs’ inspection,” Coyme said, adding, theyare investigating the crew to determine who owns the cargo and where it came from. (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipino ISIS supporters.

China’s Xi visits Philippines as Duterte pressed to take tougher line Continued from page 1 Xi’s recent visit comes two years after the maverick Duterte declared he was reorienting his foreign policy away from long-time ally the United States and towards China, despite decades of mistrust and bitter maritime disputes with Beijing. Duterte is facing criticism from opponents for making too many political concessions to China in return for billions of dollars of pledged Chinese loans and investments that have yet to materialise, or be committed to formally. The two leaders oversaw 29 agreements of sorts, many of them broad or vague, from cooperating in education, culture and industrial park development to jointly promoting infrastructure, agriculture cooperatives and establishing sanitation protocols for shipping coconuts. Duterte said there was “a deepening trust and confidence” between them and he and Xi had discussed increasing trade and investment, and China’s involvement in his signature $180 billion “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure programme. “With mutual respect, sincerity and adherence to sovereign equality, I will continue to work closely with President Xi,” he said. However, of the 38 Philippine projects earmarked for Chinese in-

volvement two years ago, only four were among the commitments made. One was approval for a Chinese loan for building a $232.5 million dam, another is hiring of a consultancy for a rail plan. The other two were to start feasibility studies on an inter-island bridge, and a highway in Duterte’s home province. Xi said he and Duterte would elevate their relationship to one of “comprehensive strategic cooperation”, adding that they had many common interests in the South China Sea, and would continue to “manage contentious issues”. SUBMISSIVE STRATEGY Duterte’s management of those issues has frustrated nationalists, who say he has been submissive in refusing to criticise China’s military build-up, or asking for its compliance with a 2016 arbitration award that invalidated its claim to almost the entire waterway. Though public opinion is largely supportive of Duterte’s presidency, surveys consistently show reservations about his China policy and his personal dislike of the United States. A Social Weather Stations poll of 1,200 Filipinos released on the eve of Xi’s visit showed 84 percent felt it was wrong not to oppose China’s militarization of its manmade islands in the South China

Sea. It also showed trust in the United States remained “very good”, but China was considered “poor”. Asked about that survey, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s strategy was to avoid a conflict while reaping the rewards of improved business. “They are not aware of the real geopolitics in the region. The president is a very cautious diplomat,” Panelo told news channel ANC. “Rather than provoke, he’d rather talk with them and get some trade relations that will benefit this country.” In comments prior to the two leaders’ meeting, Panelo accepted the slow pace of China delivering on its investment pledges, but said he expected Duterte to be brave enough “to exert pressure” on Xi. “Knowing the man, he’ll do that, he’s that kind of person,” Panelo said. Duterte has heaped praise on Xi for his economic support, but some analysts say he is being exploited. Other Philippine experts say delays in securing Chinese credit could be a blessing given the potential debt burden, echoing a warning delivered by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. (By Martin Petty and Neil Jerome Morales – Reuters.)

PAL to resume flights in Sulu Continued from page 1 Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also accompanied the group. Gov. Toto Tan led provincial and municipal officials in welcoming the group for talks in resuming flights from Sulu to Zamboanga and vice versa. Former Gov. Sakur Tan was also there to welcome the executives and

he expressed appreciation to DOTr and PAL for their strong interest in resuming commercial flights that will benefit travellers. PAL and other airline companies had previously operated in Jolo with maximum of 3 flights a day. The governor thanked DOTr and PAL executives for visiting Sulu. Among those who met with Tan were DOTr project engineer Manuel Lazam,

CAAP Asst. Director Jose Mendoza and project engineer Julian Lobrego; and PAL Managers Christopher Biscocho and Jurge Amba, Arvin Gastardo, Runnie Caesar and Arnel Tabaniag And also Superintendents Wilson Santos and Rodecinto Reales of the Aviation Police. And Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo of the Joint Task Force Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

Solon duplicates Mayor’s program

Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco with senior citizens. (Kathy Wee Sit) AFTER STRONGLY CRITICIZING the Zamboanga government’s program for senior citizens, traditional politician Celso Lobregat and his party mates are reportedly trying hard to duplicate the benevolent assistance of Mayor Beng Climaco to the city’s elderly population. According to the Mayor, Lobregat and his team have been going around different barangays and meeting with senior citizens and even campaigning this early and distributing 2 kilos of rice, believed to be from the National Food Authority, and a red sling bag with sign that reads: “Mayor Celso Lobregat.” One family member of an elderly woman said they received a red sling bag with 2 kilos of rice inside: “Ya recibi 2 kilos de arroz miyo nana na Putik kay yan tapuk sila Celso Lobregat todo senior citizens y alla adentro de sling bag el arroz.” Lobregat, who is not originally from Zamboanga, also met with senior citizens in Barangay Santa Maria, and he even held a trivia contest with the winner getting a red shirt as prize. And there, he began blabbering in front of the senior citizens and virtually campaigned. He also went around shaking hands with senior citizens at the covered court. Senior citizens who are beneficiaries of the local government’s medical assistance program strongly criticized Lobregat after he questioned the distribution of medicines and incentives to the elderly here under the “Largo Vida” program. They accused Lobregat as being anti-poor. Lobregat, who served many years as mayor and congressman, complained that Mayor Beng is using government resources to provide nec-

essary medical and financial assistance to senior citizens in different barangays. Largo Vida, which literally means “Long Life”, is part of Climaco’s benevolent programs dedicated for the welfare of senior citizens. It is being implemented by the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the City Mayor. Despite the overwhelming success of the Largo Vida, rabid critics and political foes of Mayor Beng led by Lobregat questioned the timing of its launching. Aside from the Largo Vida program, Mayor Beng also provides cash incentives to senior citizens celebrating their birthday as provided in a local ordinance. It is the first of its kind in the history of Zamboanga and the distribution of cash gifts covers all 98 barangays here. City Hall said a total of P12 million has been allocated for the incentives which is being implemented by the CSWDO, City Treasurer’s Office and the OCM. Under the ordinance, the birthday cash incentives will be given annually starting this year to all senior citizens: P500 for ages 60 to 69; P700 for ages 70 to 79; P800 for ages 80 to 90; P1,500 for ages 91 to 94 and P2,000 for ages 95 to 99. Lobregat, not contented with his criticism of the Largo Vida, also went on to gripe the cash incentives for the senior citizens. But Cesar Jimenez Jr, a former council member and Mayor Beng’s ex-spokesman, said this will be increased to P18 million by next year and included in the approved 2019 Executive Budget which was also opposed by a few of Lobregat’s allies in the City Council. “This will be in-

creased to P18M in the 2019 Budget to which the councilors from the Red Team (of Lobregat) voted against. I criticized the P25M fountain at Paseo del Mar during his (Lobregat) term. To make matter worse, it cost up P130K per month to operate it. Let people be the judge,” Jimenez said in his Facebook page and followed by hashtag sign #NOTOMATAPOBRE. Lobregat admitted that he considers himself as an “underdog” in the mayoralty race. Mayor Beng is seeking re-election so she can continue serving Zamboanga and her constituents and propel the city to becoming one of the most progressive in the country. Her loyal supporters said Lobregat was just griping because during his time as mayor, he did not have projects like what Climaco initiated. Other supporters said Mayor Beng is a strong advocate for the welfare of the elderly, the poor children and youth and her various humanitarian programs and barangay projects are well received and appreciated by the people because they have not experience anything like it in the past administrations of the Lobregats which had ruled Zamboanga for many decades now. The Lobregats are natives of Cebu and Lanao del Sur provinces. In the 2016 elections, Lobregat’s brother, Jomar, lost in the congressional polls. He is running again as congressman in Zamboanga. Mayor Beng is the niece of Zamboanga’s most loved Mayor Cesar Climaco, who served the city for 11 years, and had greatly influence her to serve the public. Among Zamboanga greatest mayors were the elder Climaco and Vi-

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ARMM Gov. Hataman completes Malaysian university fellowship COTABATO CITY – Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has completed an academic fellowship program at the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). He received his Certificate of Completion as a fellow of USIM’s International Attachment Program from Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) during a ceremony held in the city of Putrajaya The short-term course, which started on September 19, covered the following topics: Islamic leadership and governance; peace tolerance and combating terrorism; sustainable development framework; Islamic micro-finance; endowment; halal management; and

community Islamic education. “The program will help us in ARMM further develop our anti-violent extremism efforts and help the regional government and, hopefully, the next Bangsamoro government on its peace and security objectives,” he said. Prior to entering public service in Mindanao, Gov. Hataman has been very active in the civil society movement, specifically on peace initiatives as well as in efforts to uplift the socioeconomic condition of Moros in Mindanao. Gov. Hataman’s USIM fellowship is the first awarded to a regional chief executive in Asia as endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. The ARMM governor was invited by the university through Professor

Dato’ Dr. Musa Ahmad, USIM vice-chancellor, facilitated by Dr. Zulkifly Baharom, chief executive officer of the university’s Sejahtera Leadership Initiative. In a previous statement, the university said the program “constitutes sharing of knowledge, exchanges of ideas, public lectures, and preparation of report covering the specific study on ‘peace, security, anti-violent and extremism program through Islamic leadership and sustainable development approach’.” It also included relevant site visits as well as courtesy calls on Malaysian officials, such as Federal Ministers, State Chief Ministers, and heads of agencies in relation to topics and discussions covered by the program. (Bureau of Public Information)

Apple recalls iPhone X, MacBook Pro 13 in Zamboanga

KCC announcement on Facebook. ZAMBOANGA CITY – Barely a year after iPhone X was released in the Philippine market, Apple has started recalling the smartphone units it sold following display touch issues. Aside from iPhone X, Apple is also recalling MacBook Pro 13 with defective Solid-State Drives or SSD.

In an announcement posted Tuesday on the Facebook page of KCC Mall de Zamboanga, it said: “Power Mac Center Apple Authorized Service Provider has identified recent Apple recall programs for select MacBook Pro 13’ with defective Solid-State Drives (SSD) and iPhone X units with display touch

issues.” Power Mac Center said customers with eligible devices can have their MacBook Pro 13’ repaired and iPhone X replaced for free. It was unknown how many units or iPhone X users in Zamboanga or the whole of Philippines who had complained of display touch issues. But despite iPhone X’s new all-glass design and impressive specifications – 5.8 inches Super Retina OLED edge-to-edge display and a wireless charging/fast charging support – Apple has discontinued its production only in September. While iPhone X stopped production, Apple introduced its newest iPhone Xs and Xs Max boasting of Super Retina in two sizes — including the largest display (6.5 inches on Xs Max) ever on an iPhone. And the smartest, most powerful chip in a smartphone. And a breakthrough dual-camera system with Depth Control, according to Apple. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

Malaysia, Indonesia foreign fighter transit routes to Philippines identified Continued from page 1 National Security Studies, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines had provided him with information on two routes, but his research based on interviews and interpretations of intelligence reports on the movements of foreign fighters found four additional routes. The AFP did not respond to a request for comment. One Indonesian route begins in Manado and transits somewhere in the Sangihe islands within Indonesian territory northeast of Sulawesi before heading to General Santos city, the Philippines’ southernmost city. Banlaoi said the AFP had acknowledged this route. But according to Banlaoi, some militants take a second Indonesian route that also begins in Manado and has a stopover somewhere in the Talaud islands, an Indonesian territory to the east of the Sangihe islands, before proceeding to the Davao region in the southern Philippines. From General Santos or Davao militants traveled overland to Marawi. From Malaysia, wouldbe fighters can choose one of three separate courses from Sandakan district in eastern Sabah. Two separate routes, one north via Mapun and the other east via the Tawi Tawi island area then converge on Zamboanga. From there, militants either travel overland or by boat across the Moro Gulf towards the Cotabato area, south of Marawi. The third route heads north towards Palawan, an island in Philippine territory, before heading towards Negros Island and then south to Mindanao. Only one of the three, via the Tawi Tawi Island area, has been acknowledged by the AFP, Banlaoi said. According to Banlaoi, militants can travel to Sandakan from the west coast of Sabah and from Tawau, another eastern Sabah district, before taking any one of the three sea routes to the southern Philippines. Banlaoi first presented this information during a September security symposium in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the wide media coverage of the symposium, Banlaoi’s briefing on the routes taken by the Marawi foreign fighters has received little attention. Manado: a strategic hub for Indonesian jihadists An Indonesian terrorism researcher from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University said Manado is the Indonesians’ preferred launch pad because it is close to both Poso in Central Sulawesi and the southern Philippines. “It’s become the hub for terrorist networks in Poso to go to Mindanao,” Chaula Rininta Anindya, a research

analyst at the university’s Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, told The Defense Post. “In the past, the [Indonesian] Jemaah Islamiyah network also used Manado as their primary route to go to Mindanao. The primary route was from Manado to General Santos City, while the alternative route was from Sulawesi to the Sarangani coastline of the Southern Mindanao.” Chaula said Manado currently serves as a strategic hub for pro-ISIS networks in Indonesia. “In May 2015, a jihadist who was affiliated with Mujahidin Indonesia Timur named Witadi alias Iron, was arrested in Manado,” she said. “This arrest indicated that MIT had been in close contact with radical groups in the Philippines, including for arms smuggling and military training.” “Manado may be the main transiting point. In November 2017, the authorities arrested Abu Musad, who is originally from Banten, in Manado for his alleged intention to join ISIS-affiliated group in Southern Philippines. He had been in contact with pro-ISIS sympathizers in the Philippines. “Aside from Manado, there is also another spot that was used by the JAD [Jemaah Ansharut Daulah] network to smuggle arms. JAD network smuggled guns for the Sarinah-Thamrin bombing attacks from southern Philippines to Sangihe-Talaud islands in North Sulawesi.” ISIS claimed the January 2016 bombings near the Sarinah shopping center in Jakarta in which eight people including the attackers were killed. Scores of militants and would-be fighters from Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia were arrested before the fall of ISIS’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Malaysia routes questioned Pawel Wójcik, a terrorism analyst who focuses on Afghanistan and South East Asia, cast doubt over some of the routes. “Sabah has been the place with most of foreign fighters coming through, and now we see them on Sulu and Basilan,” he said. Wójcik said that ISEA established a cell that was supposed to smuggle foreign fighters through Sabah to the southern islands of the Philippines. He noted that the sea route from Sabah to Tawi Tawi is difficult to protect and that the Philippine ISEA affiliates exploit that. “I personally doubt Palawan route, because it’s way too hard to get around like that.” Wójcik also cast doubt over the number of foreign fighters now making the full

journey to the Marawi area. “I don’t believe that many people made it to the area after the battle finished in October 2017,” he said. “This zone is still a heavily contested battleground, hard to reach even for experienced smugglers,” he said, adding that foreign fighters have likely stopped attempting to reach Mindanao in favor or Jolo, Sulu and Basilan islands, where it’s easier to reach ISEA affiliates. Regarding the routes from Indonesia, Wójcik agreed that foreign fighters traveling via General Santos was “plausible.” Tawau: a possible launch point Regional security expert Associate Professor Lai Yew Ming said he agreed with Banlaoi’s findings on the four routes from Malaysia. He said evidence for the established routes was based on a number of arrests made by the Malaysian authorities earlier this year. “The suspects were said to be from a terror cell that has been using Sabah as transit point to smuggle militants into the southern Philippines,” Lai, a lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, told The Defense Post. The route from Kota Kinabalu may be “used by IS militants coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan or other states located west of Malaysia,” he said. “The militants would be smuggled via land route from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.” Lai said the routes heading north from Malaysia may simply be alternatives to the established southerly route. However, Lai believes Tawau may also be the launch point of a sea route for militants moving between Indonesia and the southern Philippines. “In other words, I don’t disagree with the land route from Tawau to Sandakan as suggested by Professor Rommel, but there is also the possibility of the terror cells using the sea route via Tawau for the purpose of smuggling/arranging safe passage for militants heading to the southern Philippines.” Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Zone After an attack by Sulu militants in the e astern Sabah district of Lahad Datu in 2013, the Malaysian government designated Sabah’s east coast as the Eastern Sabah Security Zone or Esszone, covering some 1,700 km of coastline and the surrounding sea and land areas. A multi-agency command called the Eastern Sabah Security Command or Esscom was created to secure the special security zone. The Esszone encompasses, among other areas, the Sulu Sea, which had been a hotspot of piracy and kidnappings by groups from the southern Philippines, al-

though Esscom’s efforts have greatly reduced such incidents. However, Malaysian authorities continue to catch terror suspects from the three neighboring countries in eastern Sabah. These include arrests in January and February this year of 10 suspected ISISlinked militants in Sandakan and Penampang districts, the latter in Sabah’s west coast. One of them was a Filipino trying to arrange the movement of militants to Zamboanga through Sandakan, Malaysian Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement at the time. Fuzi also said the cell had planned a future attack in Sabah, but he did not specify where. In March, a 31-year-old man, allegedly the top aide to Furuji Indama, the notorious head of an Abu Sayyaf faction in Basilan, was arrested. In late February, three men believed to have been Filipino militants were killed in a shootout with Esscom and other security agencies in Tawau. During a press conference after the shootout, Esscom commander Deputy Commissioner of Police Hazani Ghazali announced additional security measures to stem the movement of criminals including militants from the east coast to the west, where Sabah’s capital city Kota Kinabalu is located. Esscom is not only concerned about transborder foreign militant movements but also the spillover of southern Philippine militants heading towards the state’s west coast from eastern Sabah, and Indonesian militants making their way in the jungles through the Sabah-Kalimantan border to the southern Philippines. Rat paths through the jungle Hazani said there are many “lorong tikus” or rat paths in the jungles between Indonesia and Malaysia that make Sabah an attractive transit point for the militants. “We are aware of these and are monitoring these hidden paths,” he told The Defense Post. According to the Esscom chief, most Indonesian militants prefer to transit Sabah overland before crossing the sea to the southern Philippines because of the shorter sea routes later. “If they are to go directly from Indonesia to southern Philippines, they’ll have to travel far by sea from Indonesian Borneo or Sulawesi,” Hazani explained. “Both long sea routes have a stopover on islands within Philippine territory, but the Philippine authorities are monitoring these. So, these are not the ideal routes for them. Sabah is, but we’re monitoring these routes

closely.” Indonesian foreign fighters travel through Malaysia Indonesians were arrested in the the Sabah districts of Tawau and Sandakan trying to get to the southern Philippines while Filipinos were caught in Sabah and in Peninsular Malaysia after making a stopover in the state. Several Malaysian militants from Peninsular Malaysia were also suspected to have transited through Sabah en route to Mindanao. “There are many routes for Indonesian militants, but Sabah is one of the easiest due to several important factors,” Yohanes Sulaiman, a security analyst and lecturer at Indonesia’s Jenderal Achmad Yani University, told The Defense Post. “The porous Indonesia-Malaysia border and more importantly the stronger connection between Sabah and Mindanao since both shared some close roots as they used to be part of the Sultanate of Sulu in southern Philippines, make Sabah the easy choice.” “There have already been a lot of movements traditionally of people between Sabah and Mindanao, and the terrorists are just utilizing that network. Remember the fact that the Malaysian government was caught completely off guard a few years ago when a bunch of people affiliated with the Sultanate of Sulu infiltrated Sabah,” Yohanes said, referring to the bloody 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants out to stake their territorial claim over part of Sabah. “In essence, it is easier to form a logistic support network to facilitate the movement of militants from Poso, an Indonesian region in central Sulawesi where there was a terrorist training camp, to Mindanao through Sabah and to maintain secrecy,” continued Yohanes. “But of course, Sabah is not the only route, but it is the safest so far.” Trilateral cooperation to counter violent extremism A Philippines-based advisor echoed Yohanes’ statement on the passage of militants between his country and Malaysia. “I think one factor is the historical connections between Sabah and Mindanao as well as the people living on both sides of the border,” the advisor, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are currently involved in the sensitive Mindanao peace process, told The Defense Post. “This has resulted in the border becoming extremely porous, allowing illegal immigration and other activities.” The advisor said Malaysia and the Philippines would have to monitor the

movement of people more closely in the shared areas. “I believe this is one of the objectives of the Malaysia-Indonesia-Philippines Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement, which includes joint maritime patrols in the Celebes Sea,” the advisor said. “While that initiative is specific to countering the spread of violent extremism, the governments would also have to deal with other important and related issues like human trafficking.” However, the advisor said Sabah remains a sensitive subject for both Malaysia and the Philippines due to the unresolved territorial claims of the Sultanate of Sulu. “I feel this prevents them from discussing boundaries and immigration, etc,” they said. “For instance, there is no Philippine consulate in Sabah despite the large population of Filipinos residing there because it would be interpreted as the Philippines recognizing Sabah as part of Malaysia.” The Filipino advisor said a peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro people in Mindanao, if successful, could make insurgencies less attractive in the region and therefore, less militants’ crossborder travel. They said if the peace process continues to move forward, meaning commitments in the peace agreements are realized gradually, there will be little space for terrorists and violent extremists to maneuver. “The purpose of the peace process is not to solve the issue of violent extremism, but for finding a solution to the struggle of the Moro revolutionary fronts for their right to self-determination,” they said. “Nevertheless, the dividends of the peace process could help deter disenfranchised Moros from joining Islamic State-pledged groups by showing to them that peacebuilding can address their grievances.” “While the peace process focuses on the Bangsamoro region, should it become successful in reaching its goal, it would have a positive impact on the rest of Mindanao.” Nevertheless, the Filipino expert believed this should go hand-in-hand with the Philippine government’s more comprehensive program for improving governance and delivery of basic needs and socio-economic development in the region. “Foreign fighters, particularly Indonesians and Malaysians, would then have a difficult time getting support in Mindanao if the peace process progresses,” they said. “Traffic of militants through Sabah would then be reduced.” (By Zam Yusa – The Defense Post.)

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

ARMM celebrates ‘final’ founding anniversary COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM has celebrated what could be its last and final founding anniversary after 29 years of rule over the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. And with the January referendum of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman expressed optimism that constituents in the provinces would vote for the establishment of a new Bangsamoro autonomous region. “Buo ang tiwala ko na ito na ang pinakahuling anibersaryo ng ARMM,” said Gov. Hataman during the celebration held here last Monday. Looking happy yet emotional, Gov. Hataman expressed his gratitude to all the regional government’s partners and stakeholders who have been part of the success of the ARMM. “Hindi ko kayo makakalimutan dahil sa haba ng ating pinagsamahan,” he said. In the last seven years, the governor stood proud before this crowd stating that his administration has been described as “the youngest, the longest, and the best regional government” in the history of ARMM. However, Gov. Hataman believes that this year’s celebration of Pakaradjaan is not the end, but the start of new beginnings for the Bangsamoro people through the establishment of the new Bangsamoro gov-

ernment. He urged ARMM constituents to support the incoming new Bangsamoro government and participate in the plebiscite on January 21. “Kung mababago ang lahat at makakamit natin ang tunay na kapayapaan, sigurado ako, tayong lahat din ang makikinabang,” he said. ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman also said that the celebration is about standing proud in leaving behind the region that has been previously stigmatized as a failed experiment. “ARMM has made a remarkable turnaround to become a responsive, efficient, and effective government,” he said. Vice Gov. Lucman gave credit to the workforce of the present administration, and most significantly, to Gov. Hataman for his effort in making ARMM far better than it was. Thousands of employees from the region’s different offices and line agencies participated in a parade to officially open the anniversary celebration. Among those who joined the celebration were Anak Mindanao Executive Director Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman, Marawi civic leader and senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc, and Basilan Governor Jim Hataman Salliman. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who was represented by his chief of staff, Alfonso Miguel Lima, said on his message: “naniniwala kami na sa pamamagitan

ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), masisigurado na imbes baril at granada ang itataas, ay libro at lapis; araro at binhi;pala at semento ang hahawakan ng mgaBangsamoro. Ang kapayapaan ay nakakamit kapag ito ay nakapulupot sa kaunlaran.” He also said the BOL should be seen not as a break, but as a continuation, an evolution, or an expansion, even of the trajectories that have started in ARMM. Celebrities from Manila – such as singers Jessa Zaragoza, JBK Band, and comedians GB Labrador and Alex Calleja – graced the event to perform and entertain the audience. Representatives from each of ARMM’s five provinces performed their cultural dance presentations during the program. ARMM agencies with the most number of contingents and most creative during the parade were also given recognition. These are as follows: 2nd runner up – Department of Education; 1st runner up – Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and winner – Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs and ARMM Development Academy. The celebration of ‘Pakaradjaan 2018’ started on March 26 and will culminate on December 19. Gov. Hataman is expected to deliver his last Ulat sa Bayan’ on December 18. (Bureau of Public Information)

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

Across : 1. Renowned fighter 4. Min. part 7. Purple flower 12. Flee 13. Nest egg letters 14. Innocent 15. Food service 17. Fork features 18. Fling 19. Renter 20. Chicago trains 22. Chair 23. Intolerant of delay 26. Carpet 29. Hawaiian necklace 30. Entertain 31. Compass pt. 32. Lass’s friend 33. Thin ray of light (2 wds.) 35. Wooden fasteners 36. ___ Diego 37. On fire 40. Moved smoothly 43. Heidi’s cousin 44. Not indoors 47. Doctrine 48. To and ___ 49. Visualize 50. Stockholm resident 51. Explosive inits. 52. Roofing goo Down : 1. Curved doorway 2. Hawaiian cookout 3. Fearless 4. Knight’s title 5. Browning’s “before” 6. Motor vehicle 7. Aardvarks 8. Canonized person 9. Songstres ___ Turner 10. Equal 11. Musical symbol 16. ___ Fitzgerald 19. High-strung 21. Chess tie 22. Author Dr. ___

Answer to last week’s crossword: 23. Unwell 24. “Oh, give ___ home..” (2 wds.) 25. Likeness 26. Sign up again 27. UN member 28. Ruby, e.g. 34. Game fish 35. Whittled down 37. Performs onstage 38. Went by plane 39. Rural road 41. Notion 42. Gentle creature 44. Frequently, in verse 45. Vase 46. Young child

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OPINYON:

POLITICS CREATES BONDS of friendships, strong ties that decide what course the government pursues. But politics creates the deepest cleavage even among friends that leads to irrational conflicts that damage the government units they govern and divide political constituencies. This describes the politics in Davao del Norte. For decades, this province, famous for its banana industry and tourists destination, is also known for the peace and quiet during election time. The leading businessmen, Don Antonio Floirendo and Jesus V. “Chito” Ayala nurtured the banana industry that ranks second in the world. They may have belonged to opposing political spectrums but this did not come in the way to achieve development goals of the province. Both have gone to the great beyond. Don Antonio Floirendo, planted the first Cavendish banana seedling in the swampland he leased from the government decades ago. A mechanical engineer, he loves the smell of the earth and soon expanded his banana farm and later ventured in pineapple and pomelo. His farm was the favorite destination of Presidents among them Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos. Exiled and unjustly vilified by the new centurions during the Cory Aquino government, he was however repatriated straight to Davao at the height of a vicious coup attempt on the Cory government with the help of known Cory’s men who believed in his principles and development crusade. Thus politics in Davao

The Mindanao Examiner

Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

Preview of Davao’s political landscape by Jun Ledesma del Norte has always been defined by what is primordial for the province development. This too somehow influenced the conduct of politics in Davao City and for that matter the entire region in Southeastern Mindanao. Floirendo and Ayala skippered not only the economic development of the region but also the discipline of politicians. They were the chief architects of the successful agricultural development of the region by shifting it from the dying logging industry that only benefited a few who invested the wealth they derived from the forest lands of Davao to mostly in Makati instead. Exception to this would are Alcantara, who belonged to the big league, and Robillo, Dalisay and Gomez who were small scale operators but never left Davao. Alcantara invested in cattle raising and then on aqua-culture in Sarangani. I have seen their processed bangus and tilapia in Texas and Los Angeles groceries. It is therefore appalling to see Davao del Norte heading to one of the most turbulent and divided political arena as midterm election in May 2019 approaches. What ignited the fuse that led to the internal political combustion in Davao politics was filing of complaints against Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo (2nd Dist.) by his bosom friend Rep. and Speaker Bebot Alvarez before the Ombudsman. While early rumors pointed at their lovers’ quarrel the same is farthest from the truth. The dismantling of quarantine checkpoints in the Floirendo-owned banana plantations would offer a clue but one has to dig deeper why. The ombuds-

man case had been elevated to the Sandiganbayan and we have to leave it there lest I will be held in contempt. Banana industry is the backbone of the regional economy and attempts at wrecking the vast banana plantations which employs hundreds of thousands is simply a nightmare for the political and business leaders. At the time when the staff of Alvarez and a retinue of DPWH and police elements stormed the plantation and destroyed the quarantine installations the alert on Fusarium wilt, the most dreaded banana disease, was in code red. This enraged Davao. Add the remarks of then Speaker Alvarez against Mayor Inday Sara’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago and you have a veritable boiling cauldron coming that would later jettison Bebot from the House leadership. The coming elections in Davao del Norte will no longer be boring as it used to be. The ex-Speaker is no longer dependent on his (ex) friend Tonyboy for many says he has a war-chest that can last up to election day. He is up against Anthony del Rosario, the incumbent governor, who is one of the original pillars of Inday Sara’s HnP. Inday who is running unopposed as city mayor of Davao, is expected to cross the thin boundary between the province and city and will be rooting for Anthony. And then there is Tonyboy the ever smiling politician who is now fuming inside. Alvarez who had been farming out oodles of funds to barangay captains in District 1 is no longer speaker and the political landscape had been radically altered. And it is only November.

Members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry led by Brother Danny Cuarteros with Commander Alde Salusad alias Ka Butchoy, leader of the New Indigenous People’s Army Reform in this undated photo from the religious group.

Military hunts down rebels CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Security forces were hunting down a group of former communist rebels who stormed an army post and ransacked its arsenal in Bukidnon province in southern Philippines. The 4th Infantry Division launched an operation to pursue Commander Alde Salusad alias Ka Butchoy, who is the leader of the raiders, following a daring assault on a military patrol base in Kibungkog village in San Fernando town. Two other pro-government militias who connived by Salusad’s group is also being hunted down. There were no casualties in the recent raid, but Salusad’s group caught militias and soldiers by surprise when they attack the army base. According to the army, Salusad’s group carted at least 14 automatic rifles and radio communication sets, including military uniforms, backpacks and cell phones, among other things. In 2015, members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (JMCIM) led by Brother Danny Cuarteros went to the mountain hideout of Salusad – who put up his own armed group called

the New Indigenous People’s Army Reform – in a daring religious mission and convinced him and about a dozen other followers, including his father, Benjamin, to embrace God. The JMCIM is one of the largest and most successful apostolic churches based in the Philippines with millions of followers in the country alone. It has stations also in the United States and other parts of the world. Cuarteros said they travelled to the province and trekked the mountains for nearly 7 hours to convince Salusad’s group to “surrender to the will of the Lord and embrace his teachings and eventually ended being baptized by the JMCIM.” “And we did, we were able to convince the group of Ka Alde through the power of God and his words to surrender and embrace God in their lives. It was very moving, it’s so emotional and in the end, God is victorious,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said not only Salusad and his followers accepted and embraced God; they also donated a parcel

of land for the JMCIM so it can put up a chapel in the heart of NIPAR’s stronghold in the town. According to Cuarteros, Salusad also told village leaders to play worship songs every morning to remind them of God and the glorious mission of JMCIM. “That journey of faith and mission from God has become one of my most unforgettable experiences and it is a mission of peace,” Cuarteros said. “Ka Alde and his group accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour and they wanted to start a new life through the JMCIM.” Cuarteros’ group recently met with Salusad and his group who even allowed a JMCIM photographer to take pictures with President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature fist pose. Salusad, who is also being hunted by the now rival group NPA, has reportedly wanted to be part of the government’s militia force Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit, to protect communities from lawless elements in the province. It was unknown what triggered Salusad’s group to attack the military base. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Nov. 26-Dec. 02, 2018

Sandiganbayan junks motion to dismiss raps vs. Cebu solon

Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (House of Representatives)

OR LACK OF merit, the Sandiganbayan denied the motion of former Cebu governor and now Representative Gwendolyn Garcia seeking to dismiss the criminal cases filed against her over the alleged irregular purchase of 10 parcels of land in Cebu province during her term as governor. The Sandiganbayan Second Division, in a 12-page resolution dated Nov. 19, 2018, denied Garcia’s motion seeking the dismissal of the graft and technical malversation cases filed against her, on the ground of alleged violation of her constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases. In her motion, Garcia

argued that in violation of her constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases, the criminal cases filed against her have been pending for seven years before the Sandiganbayan since she received the order from the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) on March 16, 2011. She added that so far, the prosecution has presented

only five witnesses out of its 78 intended witnesses. Garcia claimed that the delay was caused by “flip-flopping” in the trial strategy of the prosecution as shown by its March 21, 2017 compliance, where it increased the prosecution witnesses from 43 to 78. Thus, for its lack of preparation, the anti-graft court had allegedly reprimanded the prosecution during the Nov. 15, 2017 hearing. She added that the delay of two years in the investigation and delay of more than five years in trial, or a total of seven-year delay, caused her and her family irreparable and unquantifiable damage. In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan noted that from the time the complaints were filed by the Ombudsman in 2010, it took the Ombudsman a little over two years to conclude its investigation and correspondingly file the cases in 2012. “Such length of time appears reasonable considering the number of respondents involved in the investigation, the documents gathered by the Ombudsman, and the issues for the latter’s determination,” the anti-graft court said. The Sandiganbayan said that from the time the cases were filed before the Second Division on July 19, 2012, ac-

cused was arraigned only on March 22, 2013 and the pre-trial conference was held only on Feb. 2. 2016. “However, conspicuously absent from accused Garcia’s

account are the intervening motions which she filed before and after her arraignment,” the anti-graft court said. “In sum, the present motion lacks merit as there

is no vexatious, capricious and oppressive delay both in the Ombudsman investigation and trial of these cases,” it added.(Perfecto Raymundo, Jr.)

Cebu cops seize P320-M illegal drugs THE CEBU Provincial Police Office (CPPO) said it has recovered more than P320 million worth of illegal drugs from January 2016 up to the present. Supt. Janette Rafter, a police spokeswoman, said the accomplishments in the government’s drug war were in line with the mandate of the local police and from orders by President Rodrigo Duterte to intensify the campaign. She said some 22,000 kilos of shabu were seized in the operations by the police and the rest were marijuana, party drugs, and analgesic ampoules of nalbuphine hydrochloride. Rafter said the CPPO has also arrested over 8,500 drug pushers from different parts of the province from January 2016 to early November this year. “I cannot say that we in the CPPO are 100 percent successful in our operations, but we have made a significant effort in the fight against

illegal drugs,” she said. On the other hand, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 (Central Visayas) has conducted a total of 56 operations since January this year. Leia Alcantara, PDEA-7 spokesperson, said the anti-narcotics operations led to the arrest of 102 suspected drug personalities and confiscation of 2,840 kilos of shabu, valued by the Dangerous Drugs Board at about P24 million. Alcantara said PDEA-7 has been successful in apprehending high-value targets in the region, but new personalities continue to pop up because of the big market for illegal drugs. “The market for illegal drugs is so big. It is worth billions of pesos. That is why new players would take the risk because of the huge market,” Alcantara said. “We have still so much to do, but we are on the right track in terms of supply and demand

reduction.” For her part, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) head, Ivy Durano-Meca, said the fight against illegal drugs is a shared responsibility, and not just among concerned government agencies but together with the community. “The community, especially the family, needs to take part. I hope the community will continue to get involved in the fight against drugs,” Meca said. Rafter, Alcantara, and Meca said that without the community’s support, all their concerted efforts will just be in vain. “I would like to share with you this quote: If you want to heal the world, heal your nation. If you want to heal your nation, heal your community. If you want to heal your community, heal your family,” Rafter said. (Luel Galarpe)

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