Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (Jan. 21-27, 2019)

Sayyafs free Indon hostage, but still hold more SULU – Abu Sayyaf militants have freed an Indonesian fishing crew member after more than 4 months in captivity in southern Philippines, but the group continues to hold nearly a dozen more local and foreign captives.

Founded 2006

The militants released the 40-year old Samsul Sanguni in a remote village in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. It was not immediately known who negotiated for his freedom and how much ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf

mindanaoexaminer.com

in exchange for his life.

Malaysian media earlier reported that the Abu Sayyaf had demanded P20 million from Sanguni’s employer and militants threatened to kill him if ransom is not paid. In a video sent Continue on page 5

Wooden boatmaking embraces Mindanao life, culture IN A coastal barangay ocated 35 kilometers from downtown Zamboanga City, one could witness a craft that has existed in the region since time immemorial - boatbuilding.

The boatyard there is one of a handful that can be Continue on page 3

Wooden boat in progress.

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January 21-27, 2019

Supreme Court sets arguments on BOL

W

HILE THE Supreme Court has not issued any temporary restraining order on the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL, it has set oral arguments on the controversial law in response to twin petitions filed by Sulu Gov. Toto Tan and the Philippine Constitutional Association questioning its legality and constitutionality.

The oral arguments are ex- Republic Act 11054 signed by petitions before deciding on pected next month where the President Rodrigo Duterte. the plea of the petitioners for second referendum is set by the The High Court has asked the issuance of a temporary reCommission on Elections in the following respondents Exec- straining order and the merits the Muslim autonomous region utive Secretary Salvador Medi- of the case. The BOL, if ratified, where residents would be asked aldea, Senate President Vicente shall replace the current Auagain whether they approve or Sotto and Speaker Gloria Arroyo, tonomous not the BOL as provided under among others, to respond to the Continue on page 2

Urban poor groups thank Zambo Mayor Beng, City Council

Sulu Gov. Sakur ‘Datu Shabandar’ Tan and President Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte, inindorso si ex-Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, iba pa Read Story on page 7

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local urban poor organizations members have thanked popular and re-electionist Mayor Beng Climaco and the City Council for heeding to their appeal for a resettlement site for poor families and informal settlers, especially victims of calamities and conflict.

Marissa Aizon, president of the Zamboanga City Homeowners’ and People’s Organization Federation Inc., (ZCH-POFI) said the proposed resettlement site in Barangay Talisayan will benefit many beneficiaries of the urban poor. Aizon said they do not meddle with the processes of Continue on page 2

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The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

Supreme Court sets arguments on BOL

Continued from page 1 Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM - composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur - with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM under the rule of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF. The MILF signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014 which paved the way for the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and was signed by Duterte and became what is now known as BOL. But Duterte is also pushing for a change in form of government - from presidential system to federal – and even threatened to make Mindanao a federal region if lawmakers fail to amend the Constitution to pave the way for new government. He said the current unitary system has spelled so much trouble.

When he was mayor in Davao City, Duterte had been strongly campaigning for the establishment of a federal form of government and in many of his public appearances and speeches the President said federalism is the next best thing for the country. He also vowed to step down - even before his term ends on 2022 - as soon as the new federal government is fully functional. Duterte’s stand virtually reinforced Sulu’s strong support to the President’s firm stand and advocacy for a federal government. In October last year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG conducted a road show to raise public awareness on the proposed shift to a federal form of government. It held a forum for 2 days dubbed “Pederalismo para sa Tunay na Pagbabago.”

In the proposal of the Constitutional Commission as stated in Article XI, the federal republic will have 18 regions, 16 of which will be symmetrical. The Muslim and Cordillera regions will have asymmetrical setups due to provisions of their autonomy which recognizes ethnicity, culture, customs, traditions, language and distinct identities.

Federal state of BaSulTa Muslim leaders and various stakeholders in Mindanao have been pushing for the separation of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from the ARMM and instead include the provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula to form part of a federated states should Congress approve the proposed federalism government. The three neighboring provinces were originally part of Region 9 in Western Mindanao which is comprise of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, and now the addition of Zamboanga Sibugay.

In a consensus held only this year, stakeholders from Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao trooped here to read their manifesto as a show of strong support to the proposal for the creation of ‘Federal State of ZamBaSulTa’.

Justifications Among the valid justifications for the proposed Federal State of ZamBaSulTa are Economic Viability and to ensure this is to group together Zamboanga Peninsula with Zamboanga City as the center, and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi; Historical Reality as the shared history of

the area and proposed federal state is a strong argument for its unity as one federal state. This history stems from the once dominant force exerted by the Sulu Sultanate over these areas, including Southern Palawan and the islands of Sulu and South China Seas, but the consensus also maintained that this is not to say the Sultanate of Sulu will again lay claim to these areas, instead, the region is now witness to different operative local government units that wield the real power and that cannot be changed.

It also cited other justification for the union such as Geographical Proximity because the provinces and Zamboanga City is contiguous to each other by land, and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are situated next to each other like a chain of island south of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

And Demographic and Cultural Identity because of similarity in culture and peoples – Muslim and Christian relationship, education and interfaith engagements have strengthened this identity in the region.

At least 5 influential Sulu sultans, Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Mohammad

Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram who are part of the Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate, also attended the event dubbed - “The Bangsa Sug Consensus – ZamBaSulTa. A People of Significance.” - and threw their all-out support for the proposal along with Muslim religious leaders led by the Grand Mufti, His Eminence Abdulbaqi Abubakar.

Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde, who represented Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, read a message in front of some 1,500 people. Christian and Muslim political leaders, among them former Sulu Governor and a strong ally of Duterte, Dr. Sakur Tan - also called Datu ShahBandar – and his son, the governor of Sulu, spoke in the event.

Consensus The Tan patriarch, in a position paper he read before the huge crowd, enumerated several concerns and reaction of Muslims to the proposed Bangsamoro Bill and federalism. He said the main objections of the people of Sulu through its Sultanate to the proposed Bangsamoro law center on the provisions on Territory that would change the historical name of the Sulu Sea

to “Bangsamoro Waters.” He said Sulu Sea should retain its name.

Tan said the constituents in the provinces under the ARMM (including Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao) should be given the option to vote against inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro entity. “The position is anchored on the principle of democratic consultation which is an essential element of plebiscites and a basic concept in Islam, as embodied by the principle of Shura (or consultation) in the Holy Qur’an.”

“The method of plebiscite and the counting of votes should be based on real democratic consultation and should not be hampered by what may be considered as the tyranny of the majority,” the elder Tan said. He said the present version of the bill provides that the establishment of the Bangsamoro and the determination of the Bangsamoro territory shall take effect upon ratification of the Basic Law by majority votes cast in plebiscite.

The present bill, Tan said, takes for granted that all five constituent provinces favor inclusion in the new Bangsamoro entity.

“This should never be presumed because presumption destroys the democratic essence

of plebiscites. Precisely for the reason that the Bangsamoro entity is new, and is not just an amended version of the ARMM, the consent and option of the ARMM constituent provinces should be respected,” he said.

Tan said when the constituent provinces voted for inclusion to the ARMM in past plebiscites, they consented to be included in the ARMM, and not in the Bangsamoro which is completely new legal entity. “Ratification therefore should be on the basis of the majority votes of each constituent province and not of the entire geographical area of the present ARMM,” he said. He said the territorial lines of federalization should not be dictated by religious dogma for this would be limiting, counter-productive and contrary to the spirit of nationhood. “The federal territorial divide is not a divide of peoples and religions; it is a realistic and practical divide of administration and governance, so that the people get the best and most viable governance that befits their needs and circumstances,” Tan said, adding, a copy of the consensus was submitted to the House of Representatives and Senate, and the Palace.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Urban poor groups thank Zambo Mayor Beng, City Council Continued from page 1 how the local government would acquire the land for resettlement sites. “Actually, recommendation lang del (urban poor) sector, del federation. No preference as to where, how much, basta el de amon ta pidi, dale ya el lote para resettlement site,” she said.

She said it was only in the administration of Mayor Beng that the local government acted on the dire needs of the poor for shelters. “El carta recommendation from the urban poor sector addressed con el govierno que ta pidi kame lote para resettlement site, actually dos carta era se, el uno na east coast y el otro na west coast.

“El clamor del sector antes pa siguro maga 18 años ya el que ya pasa. Ta pidi ya gayot kame se y cuantos Housing office chief ya sinta amo gayot el clamor del sector para intendido for resettlement site,” Aizon said in a recent television interview.

Aizon said they have been talking to informal settlers and brought their predicament and appeals to various government agencies to act on their long sought housing facilities. “Ta servi kame linkages or bridge as an (urban poor) sector del diferentes urban poor association and home association. Ta lleba kame maga cosa necesita (del maga pobre) na (atencion) del maga ahensya gobyerno con-

sierne, now timely ya hace kame el carta and upon the approval y el tax amnesty which ya hace kame tamen el request del urban poor sector and granted naman and so thank you.”

“So upon the approval of that ordenanza, ya hace ya tamen yo otro carta para con el govierno (local) que ta pidi kame para this time dale ya lote para lang na Districts 1 and 2. Now, no lo se yo si donde (el resettlement site) basta el de amon recommendation, ya dale ya lote. So gracias kay ya dale ya,” she said.

Aizon said the letter she wrote to Mayor Beng was upon the recommendation of their group. “In this connection, the federated UPA’s, NGO’s, and PO’s is requesting your kind gesture to support through the undersigned to acquire lands to be developed into a resettlement sites of the city aimed at providing decent shelter and secure land tenure for the under privileged and homeless informal settlers families of the city. Your most favorable actions anent this humble request are very much anticipated,” part of the letter reads.

Aizon’s groups also held many meetings with their members and various government agencies to bring the issue of the need for resettlement locations for the urban poor. “ El Board (of Directors del ZCH-POFI), el (maga) oficiales prinsipiya na Chairperson y junto na Board of Directors, ta conduci el de amon maga meetings, so apart from the board meetings. Tiene kame assembly meetings, tiene tamen kame inter-agency meetings meaning todo ahensya del govierno will represented by their department heads,” she said.

Paid black propagandists and their army of trolls and even

political opponents of Mayor Beng have questioned the proposed resettlement site, citing a report by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology that the Talisayan area is prone to tsunami which can occur if there is a massive earthquake.

But they did not say that a large part of Zamboanga is also prone to such a powerful series of waves due largely to the city’s topography, especially in the coastal areas. And not all earthquakes would trigger a tsunami.

“Tiene man maga personas experto, para mira con el lote.

Kame basta ya recomenda, sila buska, sila man negotiate, y si ready ya, man develop ya (el resettlement site). Entra ya maga naka-pipeline, na program beneficiary na resettlement. Amo lang el de amun concern. Ya recomenda lang kame so as to the deliberation for the approval (of the purchase) and identifying the lot, nohay mas ya kame (alle),” Aizon said.

“As long as buildable y talla el maga basic services, pati puwede gayot, suitable for socialized housing I must say, basta suitable socialized housing. Siguro quien man tambien miembros o victim del calamidad man refuse para entra na relocating site,” she added. Aizon said she is sure that the government will provide all the necessary safety precautions from the housing project itself and other basic infrastructure at the proposed urban poor resettlement site.

“Tiene maga agencias de govierno cay puwede man implement con ese. Tiene se maga ingenieros or engineers,” she said.

A member of the ZCH-POFI, Editha Talosig, also said that even the whole of San Ramon, where the Zamboanga City Spe-

cial Economic Zone or Zamboanga Freeport Authority is located, is prone to tsunami just like other areas in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon and other parts of the world.

“Example el San Ramon, alle lang gat na custao (del mar) el maga vivientes y nohay man cosa alla ta pasa. Yun tsunami maskin saan yan, kahit mga tao sa Talisayan nandoon lang yun.

So ang iniisip namin puwede rin ang resettlement doon, marami ang nakatira doon (sa Talisayan).

Yun ang iniisip namin, for example, yun San Ramon wala naman nangyari (ng tsunami doon) kaya nga sa akin okay doon (sa Talisayan). Abelardo Tarroza, ZCH-POFI assistant secretary, said they really appreciated the deep concern of Mayor Beng for the poor and her sincerity in helping them by providing resettlement sites to those who needed it most. “Ta pidi gat kame gracias na de atun Mayor cay el carta (del urban poor members) yan action le dayun. Cay bien manada de atun maga pobre vivientes ta queda lang nohay tierra y grande ya se oportunidad para con ellos nohay tierra,” he said.

Following their honest statements regarding the proposed Talisayan resettlement area, supporters of Mayor Beng fear that black propagandists and her foes may spend a huge amount of money to pay out for people to either attack or discredit Aizon, Talosig and Tarroza or even their group whose members could reach over 20,000. And spread fake news on Facebook and pay the social media giant to buy “likes” and boost their false information for their own selfish and vested interest. (BC PR)

3

The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

Fighting erupted ahead of Bangsamoro plebiscite lamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF. The clash erupted in Inaladan village where civilians tipped off the military on the presence of gunmen carrying improvised explosives.

There were no military casualties and the 6th Infantry Division said soldiers from the 40th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Catu recovered one improvised explosive, three M14 rifles and one AR18 rifle from the encounter site.

The military has

blamed the BIFF for the spate of attacks against security forces and bombings of civilian targets in the Muslim autonomous region. The militant group is also being linked to the deadly New Year’s Eve bombing outside the South Seas Mall in Cotabato City that left dozens of casualties.

BIFF leaders pledged allegiance with ISIS and vowed to fight the Filipino government for the establishment of a strict caliphate in the region composed

of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao – the most violent province in the area and stronghold of various proISIS groups. Muslims are to decide whether to approve the proposed expansion of the moderate Muslim region that would be called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and ruled by Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels whose group signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police, military implement strict gun ban in Davao City A military photo released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner shows the recovered improvised explosive and rifles from the dreaded BIFF militants following a clash January 15, 2019 in the southern Maguindanao province.

COTABATO CITY – The military tightened security in the Muslim autonomous region following a recent clash between soldiers and pro-ISIS fighters in

the town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha in the restive Muslim province of Maguindanao.

The fighting erupted ahead of a schedule home-

land plebiscite in the region, but officials said there was no immediate report of casualties on the side of the militants, who were members of the Bangsamoro Is-

Wooden boatmaking embraces Mindanao life, culture Continued from page 1 found along the city’s long coast, including in one island.

Since local pre-history, the inhabitants have been building a great variety of wooden boats used for fishing, trading and rituals, among others.

According to legend, the first royal datus in the country traveled by boats from Indonesia to establish pre-Islam and pre-Spanish sultanates in different parts of the archipelago.

A Tausug sultan, centuries ago traveled by boat -- likely a parao or long balanghai -- to China to visit the kingdom’s emperor.

Tausug in English means “people of the current”. The Badjaos are called sea nomads who until recent times lived in houseboats all their life.

The Sangali boatyard is located in Sitio Malasugat, along a large cove where the Zamboanga Fishing Port Complex and an adjacent ship repair yard -- a varadero -- are also found.

The cove teems with many fishing boats that unload catches bound for refrigeration plants of the complex, to be shipped out to other provinces in Mindanao or the extras or rejects to be sold in local markets.

At the boatyard a few days before Christmas, shipwright Embass Abdurasid and his assistant rushed to finish a wooden-hulled “tempel”, a fast-running type of boat.

The boat is 48 feet long, 11 feet deep from gunwale (topside) to keel (or spine), and five feet from side to

side at widest point.

The ribs are made of thick lauan boards bolted together to form the boat’s V shape body, though the rear is flat bottomed to give stability to the seacraft.

Embass said the body’s skin is made of three-eight (inch) waterproof marine plywood nailed to the ribs and caulked with epoxy to seal out the seawater.

When the main body is finished, Embass said he will also build a pilot house and flooring, which will be waterproof.

Another contractor will do the painting, and another one will install the engine and other navigational accessories.

The engine is a marine diesel with a 90-horsepower capacity, he said.

Embass said it will take him three months to finish the construction. The boat is owned by a Tausug businessman who will utilize it to ferry cargo and passengers between Jolo and nearby islands in Sulu province.

Embass said wooden boats are preferred in the region than boats made of fiberglass.

Fiberglass, he said, is prone to cracking in the tropical sun of the region.

Near the area where Embass is building his boat are two newly finished tempels, too, both seemingly ready to challenge the Sulu Sea. Other types of wooden motorboats common in the region are the kumpit, junkung and lepa-lepa.

The kumpit are normally large enough to carry tons of cargo (like smug-

gled rice from Malaysia) or company-size passengers.

Today, they compete with steel-hulled motor launches that ply around the archipelagic region including Sabah ports.

The junkung is usually bigger than the tempel but smaller than the kumpit, is used to ferry passengers or cargo between shorter distances. The Moro rebels who attacked Zamboanga in 2013 rode a junkung from Sulu to the city.

The lepa-lepa (or simply lepa) is a round-bottom tempel-size craft native to Tawi-Tawi and more commonly found there, popular to the local Samas.

Once upon a time, the Badjaos used paddles to move them around as their houseboat. Now, there are bigger versions that use inboard engines as commercial vessels.

Their round bottom makes them almost impervious to capsizing, sliding from wave to wave even in a heaving sea.

Other types of boats seen in the region is the basnig, kulibo, buggoh, and the iconic vinta.

The basnig is a slimbuilt fishing boat with outriggers and tall masts. The kulibo is a small fishing boat with short outriggers and fitted with an inboard engine. The buggoh is a banca that uses a paddle to move about and is called a pumpboat if powered by an engine instead of paddle.

The vinta is a sailboat, often romantically portrayed in seascape photos about the region. (Rey-Luis Banagudos, PNA)

DAVAO CITY – Security forces have set up checkpoints in many areas here as part of the strict implementation of the election gun ban.

Just recently, government soldiers arrested 5 people for transporting weapons here.

The soldiers were manning a security checkpoint when they stopped a pickup truck for a routine search and they discovered guns and grenades. The

passengers failed to show any papers or permits for the weapons and were immediately arrested.

During interrogation, one of the men turned out to be a village councilwoman, Analiza Arquillano; and another is a pro-government militia Ranier Pedroso; and the three were identified as George Arquillano, Reynan Adame and Arnel Repollo – all are residents of Magpet town in North Cotabato province.

Police said the five are facing criminal charges for violations of the election gun ban and illegal possession of explosives and firearms after soldiers seized from the two fragmentation grenades, one .45-caliber pistol, one 9mm pistol and an M2 Carbine and dozens of bullets and 12 magazines.It was unknown why they were transporting weapons, but police said investigation is still going on. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

Troops hunt down pro-ISIS militants in South ers Ustadz Yasser Saligan and his cohort, Sheik Makakena as they detonated a bomb to test its lethality. We had been tracking them since November 2018,” he said.

Troops were still tracking down the two militants leaders while those cap-

tured are being interrogated separately at an undisclosed locations in the restive region.

Cabunoc said 5 militants belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters headed by Mayogantong Bansil also surrendered recently in

General Salipada Pendatun town and handed over their weapons. Several pro-ISIS groups are operating in the region and fighting for the establishment of a caliphate in Mindanao, which was previously under the Muslim rule. (With a report from Rhoderick Benez.)

South Cotabato moves to prevent entry of African swine fever Military photos release to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show recovered IEDs and weapons from suspected pro-ISIS militants in Maguindanao’s Paglat town.

COTABATO CITY – Army troops were sent to hunt down pro-ISIS militants after soldiers clashed with a band of fighters in the restive province of Maguindanao and captured 5 of them.

Two militant leasders managed to elude arrest and escaped during a dramatic raid by troops on a terrorist hideout in Paglat town.

Officials said soldiers and police commandos carefully snaked their way through thick bushes under cover of darkness undetected by militants and surprised them, and capturing 5 men in Pagalad village.

Two notorious and elu-

sive militant leaders Ustadz Yasser Saligan and Sheik Makakena alias Abu Jihad escaped the daring raid by the 33rd Infantry Battalion and 4th Special Action Force of the regional police force.

“The raiding teams collared five persons who were caught off-guard by the presence of heavily armed soldiers and SAF commandos. The troops seized four anti-personnel mines and three pistols. Two of the primary suspects, Abu Jihad and Ustadz Yasser, eluded arrest by jumping into the murky water of the Liguasan Marsh upon sensing the presence of government troops,” a statement

from the 6th Infantry Division said.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, who led the raid, said they have intelligence the militants were planning to bomb civilian targets in Sultan Kudarat province after an informant passed on photos of the militants blowing an improvised explosives to test whether they were lethal or deadly enough to kill as many people as they could.

After locating the terrorist hideout, Cabunoc launched the operation to capture the militants. “Our informant showed us the pictures of terrorist bomb-

GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Veterinary personnel in South Cotabato province have established quarantine checkpoints to prevent the possible entry of the highly-contagious African swine fever (ASF).

Dr. Flora Bigot, acting head of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said they are now monitoring the movement of swine and pork products from other areas.

Bigot said all live swine and pork products entering the area should have corresponding veterinary health certificates from their areas of origin. She said their personnel are also checking hand-carried meat products of tourists disembarking at the Makar port here.

Monitoring is current-

ly concentrated in Polomolok town, where the bulk of animals and meat products regularly enter, she said, adding that they have also been conducting mobile checkpoints in Koronadal City and other municipalities in the area.

Bigot said they are working on the establishment of two more permanent checkpoints in entry points in Norala and Tantangan towns. “The risk is there for African swine fever since it already reached China,” she told reporters.

She said that meat products from China, including pork, previously entered the country through some ports.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country remains free from the disease and it banned

late last month the entry of pork and pork-based products from China and other countries due to confirmed cases. Other countries affected by ASF are Hungary, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, and Zambia.

Bigot clarified that the disease has only affected swine and has no risk of transmission to humans.”But it is very damaging since the recorded mortality among animals in the affected countries is 100 percent,” she said.

She said DA has been conducting information and education campaigns in parts of the region regarding the risks of ASF outbreak. (Anna liza Cabrido)

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The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

Sayyafs free Indon hostage, but still hold more Continued from page 1 by militants to his family, Sanguni appealed to his employer to save him from death. The clip shows Sanguni - both hands tied behind his back - inside a freshly dug hole in a forested area and guarded by heavily armed militants as he cried and pleaded for help.

Sanguni along with another Indonesian fisherman, Usman Yusuf, were kidnapped at sea near Gaya

Island in Sabah’s Semporna town and brought to Sulu.

The 35-year old Yusuf was freed in December in Bual village in the town of Luuk.

The release of Yusuf came after the Chief of the Indonesian Consul-General’s Office in Sabah, Sulistijo Djati Ismojo, appealed to Malaysia to resolve the kidnapping of its citizens.

It was unknown whether ransom had been paid to the kidnappers in exchange for Yusuf’s release. In Sep-

tember, the Abu Sayyaf had previously released four Indonesian hostages to Nur Misuari, chieftain of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and his wife Tarhata; and a former Indonesian army general Kivlan Zein.

But despite the anti-terror campaign in Sabah, Abu Sayyaf militants still managed to kidnap three more Indonesian fishing crew members off Sabah and had been taken

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to Sulu, Malaysian media reported. It said the trio Heri Ardiansyah, 19; Jari Abdullah, and Hariadin, 45, were working for a fishing company in Sandakan town and had been seized by 7 gunmen on the night of December 5 near Pegasus Reef – an area where four armed men also attacked a tugboat two days later and wounded an Indonesian crew in what police said

was a failed abduction.

Sabah police, citing intelligence sources, said identified the kidnappers as Abu Sayyaf commanders Al Mujir Yadah and Hajan Sawadjaan, who teamed up with another militant commander, Indang Susukan.

The group was tagged as behind the spate of ransom kidnappings in the waters of Sabah and attacks on fishing boats there.

The militants have been targeting Indonesian fishermen because their employers and Jakarta are paying ransoms to the Abu Sayyaf which it uses to purchase weapons, recruit members and to finance kidnappings and terror attacks in the country. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly a dozen foreign and local hostages in the restive region. (Mindanao Examiner)

GSIS releases P13-B loan to DepEd personnel THE GOVERNMENT Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it has released a total of P12.95 billion in GSIS Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL) since the program started in May 2018, benefiting 36,692 personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd).

GFAL is a debt-consolidation and balance-transfer facility that seeks to help DepEd workers in settling their outstanding loan balance with accredited private lending institutions (PLIs). DepEd employees constitute more than half of GSIS’s total membership.

“The combined nationwide figures posted in GFAL’s first six months of implementation signify positive acceptance by our members in DepEd. We continue to encourage qualified DepEd employees to avail of GFAL to ease their burden in paying their loans,” GSIS President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas said.

Under the voluntary loan program, borrowers may apply for a maximum loan amount of P500,000 which is automatically deductible from their salary and payable in equal monthly instalments for

six years at a reduced interest rate of 6 percent per annum, computed in advance.

Aranas said to qualify for GFAL, the applicant must be a permanent DepEd employee and active GSIS member; have an outstanding loan with PLIs; have no due and demandable loan account with GSIS; have paid premiums for at least three years; not be on leave without pay; have a net take-home pay of not lower than P5,000 after deduction of monthly obligations; and have no pending administrative or criminal case.

6

The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

Across : 1. Engrossed 5. Desertlike 9. Plant juice 12. Beige 13. Dancer___Kelly 14. Bind 15. Tootsies 16. Prank 18. Mummy name 20. Sooner 21. That woman 23. Rushed 25. Ampersands 26. Strong belief 30. New Delhi native 31. Certain engine 35. ___school 37. Acquire by labor 40. Mighty tree 41. Formerly named 42. Skinny 45. Took a chair 47. Pull apart 49. Limping 52. Baseball stat 53. Egg-shaped 54. Not nearby 55. Hog home 56. Brew coffee 57. Soothsayer

Answer to last week’s crossword:

Down : 1. TKO caller 2. Fighter pilot 3. Make believe 4. Ballet skirt 5. Birthday number 6. Take offense at 7. Andean mountain native 8. Cherished 9. Laundry problem 10. Assisted 11. looks intently 17. Neptune, e.g.

19. Courtroom event 21. Physics, e.g. (abbr.)

22. Deary 24. Teen skin problem 27. Capital of Austria

28. Brainstorm 29. Pig’s sounds 32. Capital of New Mexico (2 wds.)

33. Before, poetically 34. Caustic chemical 36. Building cement 37. Curved letters 38. On the ball 39. Settle a debt 43. Let fall 44. Roof edge 46. Lamenting cry 48. Lodge member 50. Hollywood’s___West 51. Blunder

Weekly Sudoku:

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Answer to last week:

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OPINYON: SEN. LEILA De Lima is a marvel. Despite her being confined in a detention cell for charges involving drug-related issues she gets an enviable media mileage which other legislators can only salivate for. Not even ex-Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was illegally detained, had the same luxury. She was held incommunicado on the heels of then Justice Sec. De Lima’s order to bar her departure to seek medical treatment on the flimsy election fraud conjured by devious characters of the Aquino administration. Not contented with that, since GMA was able to file a bail bond, then DOJ Sec. De Lima charged her of plunder, an non bailable offense, making sure she stays in detention for her role in the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes fund.

Both cases were dismissed

De Lima’s glass detention cell by Jun Ledesma by the Supreme Court. The High Court rebuked the exDOJ Secretary for holding the departure of the ailing ex-President as unconstitutional, and the second for lack of basis.

In a radical reversal of fortunes and the dictates of karma Senator De Lima exchanged places with the former President who is now back in the limelight as House Speaker. Her involvement in drug syndicates makes it non bailable too.

For a long while she was in the company of her fellow detainee-senators whom she indicted for plunder but alas, karma is quite harsh on her for she seemed to stay longer in confinement than her cellmates.

Moreover she has a retinue of media writers who obviously at the drop of a hat would accord her the space and time at her call. She too is not short of supporters

from European parliaments who are made to understand that her detention partakes of political harassment and nothing to do with illegal drugs but just maybe on account of her frailty as a woman.

Unlike former President Arroyo however, Senator De Lima enjoys unbridled liberty of expression and she remains to be the darling of the press. Of late she took a jab at former Special Assistant to the President, Bong Go. She suspects that Bong, who has resigned from his job, is using government money for tarpaulins and billboards which she claimed she spotted all over the country. She also suspected that Bong Go’s presence in various media outlets are funded by the government. The indictment is unfair because, as the former SAP would put it, “not a single centavo” from the government is being used

by him to extend assistance to the poor and victims of calamities including those in need of medical intervention. He puts it bluntly: “Marami akong mga kaibigan na naniniwala sa aking ipinaglalaban at tumutulong sa akin na maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan na nabiktima ng sunog at iba pang trahedya. Hindi ako katulad ni Sen. De Lima na umano’y gumamit ng pundo galing sa mga drug lords para sa kanyang ambisyong politikal”.

The senator finds it rather incredible that Bong Go could extend so much assistance to those in need without dipping his hands in government coffers. Leila is rattling mad and confused.

She forgot, or is plainly ignorant, that Davao City has institutionalized “Lingap Center” during the term of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Lingap extends help to

Childhood abuse increases risk of suicide in adulthood ADULTS, WHO as children, experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect are at least two to three times more likely to attempt suicide in later life, the largest research review ever carried out on the topic revealed recently.

Psychologists at the University of Manchester and University of South Wales published their findings after an analysis of 68 studies from around the world - involving 262,000 adults aged 18 years or older, who were exposed to childhood abuse and neglect. They found that suicide attempts were three times more likely for people who experienced sexual abuse as a child; and two and a half times more likely for those who experienced

physical abuse as a child, or who experienced emotional abuse or neglect as a child.

Their research, published in the latest edition of Psychological Medicine, showed that children who experienced multiple abuses are as much as five times higher to attempt suicide. People not in contact with mental health clinicians were found to be at the highest level of risk.

Dr. Maria Panagioti, from the University of Manchester, also based at a patient safety translational research center in the city, led the research team. She said: “Around one adult in every three has experienced abuse as a child. This study conclusively gives us solid evidence that childhood abuse and neglect is

associated with increased likelihood that they will be at risk of suicide as adults.”

Panagioti said current treatment for people with suicidal behavior usually centers around cognitive behavioral therapy. “But that assumes people will seek help themselves. This research identifies that people who are not under the care of clinicians are at risk,” she added.

She said a new approach is needed to identify these people, and to focus efforts on effective community intervention.

Dr. Ioannis Angelakis from the University of South Wales said: “These findings not only provided a clear picture of the connection between abuse or neglect in childhood and

PNP told to step up measures to protect poll bets WITH THE spate of deadly attacks on political candidates, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up measures to ensure the safety and security of local officials and candidates in the 2019 mid-term elections.

“The PNP should take offensive and preventive measures. We should be several steps ahead of those who resort to violence to win an election. Dapat tayong maging mapagbantay at handa para mapigilan ang anumang kaguluhan.”

“The PNP should intensify police interventions, operations, and police visibility.

Bago pa man magsimula ang kampanya, ipakita na natin na laging nakaalerto ang kapulisan para magdalawang-isip ang mga gustong manggulo sa eleksyon,” he said. Año issued the directive to the PNP after noting a surge in killings in the

7

The Mindanao Examiner

January 21-27, 2019

recent months, which appear to be politically-motivated.

President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered the DILG to address the spate of what he called as “political terrorism.”

Last December, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe – who was running for mayor in Daraga town - and his police escort were killed following a gift-giving event in Albay town in Bicol province in Luzon.

Former mayor Joelito Talaid of Kadingilan town in Bukidnon province in Mindanao was gunned down as he was about to alight from his vehicle to buy fruits.

Año said local police forces should immediately coordinate with local government officials and candidates to secure their places of engagements, if needed, and provide security assistance to persons with validated actual threats, among others.“This is in addition to the security and protection personnel that they could

request from the PNP-PSPG (Police Security and Protection Group),” he said.

He said the PNP-Police Community Relations Group will be coming out with the “Handbook on Personal Security for Candidates to Government Elective Positions”, which gives useful precautionary tips to candidates and their security teams as they carry out their campaign during the election season. “The police cannot secure every single candidate or citizen every single moment of the day. Tungkulin din ng mga kandidato na mag-ingat at protektahan ang sarili nila at ang kanilang pamilya,” he said.

He urged poll aspirants to immediately inform their local police if there are threats to their lives or if they need police security and assistance.“Kailangan din natin ng kooperasyon ng publiko para ireport sa kapulisan ang anumang kahina-hinalang aktibidad sa kanilang lugar,” Año said.

suicide attempts later on in life, but also recognized that efficient interventions should take a broader community-based approach.

(Xinhua)

those in need of various assistance and funds and supplies come from friends and supporters of the Mayor. A corollary clinic especially for children afflicted by cancer was also established by the Mayor. The point person designated to make these social outreach programs was Bong Go. The Malasakit Centers which are sprouting all over the country these days are personally supervised

by Bong. Leila might find this incredible but there are benevolent people who support the project because they trust that their contributions will be used for those in need. Bong is now a private person but he continues with his and the President ‘s personal social responsibility’ projects. As to the billboards and tarpaulins there is no way Bong can stop those. He had repeatedly issued statements for his supporters to take down those tarps. Some complied but others are simply bullheaded knowing that the other candidates from other political parties of varied ideological persuasions are doing the same. So there you are.

But you cannot take it

away the sympathies and support that Bong is presently enjoying from the masses.

He was and still is the action man of President Duterte when it comes to social action programs. In and now out of Malacanang as SAP the Chief Executive would still insist Bong to be on his side. Bong is the President’s data base and it has been the sworn commitment of the former to serve him through thick and thin till death do the part.

That Bong had been dubbed a photo-bomber is undeniable but that would also suggest he holds the singular opportunity to have a personal and intimate tutelage on how government, local or national, is run and how public service is defined and demonstrated. He is putting that into action even now that he is out as SAP. There is lesson to be learned here by detainee De Lima. As the saying goes, “do not throw stones at your neighbors if you are living in a house of glass”. There is much to learn too from the brand of public service that Bong is doing. It will take you away from your predilections that had brought you to where you are today.

Makikita sa larawang ito na inilabas ng Remate ang kaliwa’t-kanan na endorsement ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga gobernador mula sa iba’t-ibang lalawigan na binuo bilang “Fil-Chinese Bloc” na siyang sumusuporta sa administrasyon. Kabilang sa mga ito ay sina ex-Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan na katabi ng Pangulo at tumatakbong muli sa halalan; Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, Northern Samar Gov. Jose Ong Jr., Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua, Sorsogon Gov. Robert Lee, Western Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan at kanilang mga mayors. (Mindanao Examiner)

Duterte, inindorso si ex-Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, iba pa ABOT-ABOT ang pasasalamat ni dating Sulu Governor Sakur Tan sa malaking tiwala sa kanya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at sa nag-uumapaw na suporta ng pilantropong Tausug leader at mga opisyal ng lalawigan sa administrasyon.

Si Tan ay kilalang supMatatandaang si Tan tans of Sulu and North Borporter at malapit kay Dute- ay tumiwalag sa grupo neo na sina Sultan Ibrahim rte at muling tumatakbo ni Pangulong Benigno Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal bilang governor sa Sulu Aquino at 2016 presiden- Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kisa darating na eleksyon. tial candidate Mar Rox- ram, Mohammad Venizar Mismong si Duterte ang as upang ikampanya ang Julkarnain Jainal Abirin, at nag-endorso kay Tan bil- kandidatura ni Duterte Phugdalun Kiram.

Suportado rin ni Duteang governor ng lalawigan hindi lamang sa Sulu, kunna kabilang sa Autono- di maging sa Basilan, Ta- rte si Sulu Governor Toto mous Region in Muslim wi-Tawi at iba pang bahagi Tan na tumatakbo naman bilang vice governor.

Mindanao. ng Mindanao.

Muli naman nagpaAng personal na enRespetadong political dorso ni Duterte kay Tan leader si Tan na siya rin hayag ng suporta ang mga kahit pa na malakas ito sa Special Envoy at Spokes- mayors ng Sulu sa adminSulu. Madalas rin nakiki- man ng Royal Council istrasyong Duterte at sinpag-usap si Duterte kay of the Sulu Sultanate na abing nasa likod rin sila Tan ukol sa iba’t-ibang isyu binubuo ng lahat na 5 ng mga Tan. (Mindanao ma-impluwensyang Sul- Examiner) sa Mindanao.

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More road networks needed in Visayas BACOLOD CITY - More road networks should be established in Western Visayas to boost the region’s tourism industry, Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Helen Catalbas said.

She said there were 168 proposed tourism road projects in Western Visayas last year and 79 projects worth P2.48 billion

were included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA). A total of P520 million worth of projects are in Negros Occidental, including one amounting to P90 million in Bacolod City.

“These road projects make more tourism destinations accessible to tourists and provide livelihood in the community,” Catalbas

said. “As tourism facilities begin to emerge with the influx of tourists, the DOT has recognized that strong road networks often lead to better economy.”

Catalbas said air, land and sea connectivity is one of the competitive advantages of Western Visayas, adding that micro, small and medium enterprises are

also getting a boost from investments pouring in. “The strengthened linkage of Western Visayas to more major hubs in the Philippines made the region accessible to more domestic and foreign tourists,” she said.

The DOT-Department of Public Works and Highways Convergence Program on Tour-

ism Road Infrastructure Projects (TRIP) will also hold a regional consultative workshop in Iloilo City on January 29, according to Catalbas.

For 2019, there are 142 proposed road projects from different legislative districts in the region and in Negros Occidental alone, there are 11 projects fund-

ed under the last year’s GAA and will be included in the assessment. These are comprised mostly of construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads in the cities of Talisay, Cadiz, Sagay, Kabankalan and Sipalay, and town of Binalbagan with an initial appropriation of P420 million. (Erwin Nicavera)

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