Security forces hunt down Sayyafs in South
An aerial view of the Area 51 base – a secret facility at the heart of alien conspiracy theories (Picture: Google Earth/CBS)
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UFO hunters who storm Area 51 ‘to see them aliens’ could be shot by the US Airforce
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Soldiers deploy in Sulu province where security forces are battling Abu Sayyaf militants. (Photo by Mindanao Examiner) Read Story on page 5
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July 22-28, 2019
Duterte offers Misuari same deal, concession as MILF P
RESIDENT DUTERTE said he would offer former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari and his Moro National Liberation Front a similar peace deal the government signed with rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Duterte, speaking at a cession the government the newly-formed Bangreligious television show in gave to the MILF, whose samoro Autonomous ReDavao City, said he would chieftain Ahod Ebrahim is gion in Muslim Mindanao. offer Misuari the same con- now the Chief Minister of Continue on page 3
Bombed Cathedral Opens Again
President Rodrigo Duterte with Nur Misuari (PCOO)
Duterte again promises to re-open barter trading in South DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his plan to re-open the barter trade in the South to hasten progress and development in Muslim areas, particularly in the autonomous region. Duterte wanted Sulu to be the trading hub in Continue on page 2
SULU – For the first time after twin suicide attacks in January at a Catholic cathedral in the largely Muslim province of Sulu, dozens of faithful Christian followers trooped to the church to hear mass again and witness the re-consecration of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the capital town of Jolo. Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, celebrated mass along with retired Orlando Cardinal Quevedo and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, Cotabato Archbishop Angelito Lampon, Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Dela Cruz, and Marawi Bishop Edwin Dela Peña and other priests.
Papal Nuncio and Governor Sakur Tan (Sulu provincial government photo) The Papal Nuncio and Catholic Church leaders also met with Sulu Gover-
nor Sakur Tan at the Notre Dame of Jolo College. Continue on page 5
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Duterte again promises to re-open barter trading in South Continued from page 1 the region, but he warned merchants not to engage in smuggling. “Maybe I will permanently open Sulu as a barter trade area, tanggalin ko ‘yung controls, but no outright smuggling,” he said at a religious television show hosted by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Kuala Lumpur imposed the ban on April 2016 following the spate of cross-border kidnappings in Sabah, which is near the Tawi-Tawi chain of islands in southern Philippines. But late last year, Malaysian media reported that Sabah will lift its ban with the Philippines in January this year to encourage economic activities. The decision to lift the ban came from the State Security Council and this was confirmed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. Shafie said that strict standard operating procedures and guidelines would be put in place to ensure that the barter trade is not abused and is geared towards business, adding among the guidelines was to stop the trading of subsidised goods like gas cylinders from Sabah. He said the key trading points for barter trade would be at northern Kudat,
east coast Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. “Barter traders were not the cause of kidnappings. It was a claim that led to the ban on barter trade,” Shafie said. Barter trade has become an integral part of trading activity in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia– Philippines’s East Asean Growth Area. A Universiti Malaysia Sabah survey in 2017 found that the trade benefited communities living along the borders between Sabah, southern Philippines and Indonesia’s Kalimantan. Shafie also said that security in the east coast of Sabah remains at a high level for any cross-border threats. In 2017, Duterte promised to revive barter trading with Malaysia, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago, in an effort to relive the long lost tradition and help hasten the economy in the area. Duterte even sent then Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to Sulu province where he met with provincial leaders headed by then Governor Toto Tan and representatives of various sectors to discuss the revival of the barter trade – which had flourished for many centuries in the past – with municipal mayors,
local traders and entrepreneurs and members of the Sulu Chinese Chambers of Commerce. In that meeting, Tan also shared his memories with Faeldon and said “during the glory days of trading with Malaysia, there was no outbreak of violence as it is now because everybody was busy with making a living and simply plying their trade. The only thing you need during those times was simply your credibility as a trader and trust,” he said. Duterte said the government is sincere in helping not only the local economy and reviving the old barter tradition, but also to ensure that people, especially the poor, will benefit from this. Tan, now vice governor of Sulu, praised Duterte for his sincerity and pledges he made to the Tausug people, and thanked him for his frequent visit to the province. Locals also welcomed the revival of barter trading and thanked the government for its effort in bringing back the tradition which their ancestors began. Sulu was the center of trade in the past and had been exchanging goods with Chinese merchants. (Mindanao Examiner and Zamboanga Post.)
July 22-28, 2019
The Mindanao Examiner
July 22-28, 2019
Duterte offers Misuari same deal, concession as MILF
President Rodrigo Duterte and Nur Misuari and his group. (PCOO)
Iligan teacher is Metrobank Foundation ‘Outstanding Filipino Award’ finalist ILIGAN CITY - Out of 240 nominations for ‘Outstanding Filipinos’ this year, Metrobank Foundation sets eye to another finalist from Iligan City. Among the six finalists for the Teacher Award, Jennifer Saavedra Cataluña of Tambo Central School is the only Mindanaoan that got through to the finals after a thorough deliberation of professional and community service accomplishments by Metrobank Foundation’s Board of Assessors. The other finalists were Dorothy S. Tarol, Ph.D. of Special Education-Integrated School for Exceptional Children (Iloilo City); Amando Perfecto dlC. Molin of South Hill School, Inc. (Los Baños,
Laguna); Cristina B. Cristobal, Ph.D. of Philippine Science High School Main Campus (Quezon City); Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-de la Paz, M.D. of the University of the Philippines Manila (Manila City); and Ricardo T. Jose, Ph.D. of the University of the Philippines Diliman (Quezon City). Standards have been set for Cataluña since she is not the first educator from Iligan who reached the final round on the said event. In fact, she’s the third. The two others were Dr. Mark Anthony Torres of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) who garnered the award for the higher education category in the year 2016, and Dr. Enerio Ebisa of
Dona Juana Lluch Memorial Central School who was also a victor in the year 2014 for the elementary competition. There are also other two award categories for soldiers and for police officers. Metrobank Foundation’s Board of Assessors said they will award four teachers, three soldiers and three police officers to receive each P1 million cash prize, a gold medallion and a coveted trophy as “Outstanding Filipino” in Metrobank’s 57thAnniversary celebration on September 2019. The search has become a sought-after award for teachers, soldiers, and policemen as it earned the prominence of setting the standards of excellence in public service resulting Metrobank Founda-
tion to create a multi-sectoral jury that the finalists will face in a panel interview with the Final Board of Judges. These professionals were expected to exhibit competence, remarkable dedication to their work, and efficient leadership, as well as their various community involvements that inspired and influenced their colleagues and the locality where they serve. Dubbed as “Beyond Excellence” the Metrobank Foundation expects the winners to have true dedication for quality public service and an unparalleled passion to serve the country that has a long-term positive effect in the lives of the Filipino people. (Christine Lyn Viajante)
Continued from page 1 Misuari was previously the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. He launched a rebellion in Sulu and Zamboanga City in 2001 and another in 2013 after being unseated as regional governor. Duterte said he hope to sign a new peace deal with Misuari despite warrants for his arrest in connection to deadly attacks in Sulu and Zamboanga. He said he is ready to offer Misuari the same structure of government and concession. Misuari had openly opposed the government’s peace talks with the MILF and the BARMM and insisting the MNLF signed a deal with Manila in September 1996 that led to the creation of the Muslim autonomous region which was abolished this year to pave way for the new autonomous region under Ebrahim’s rule. But despite the peace accord with the MNLF, Misuari said there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted. Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
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Misuari’s loyal forces and former MNLF rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the peace accord, attacked a key military base in Sulu and civilian targets in Zamboanga in 2001 in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the autonomous region where Misuari wanted to be a perpetual governor. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. He also ran thrice for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably. And was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004. Misuari’s loyal forces again attacked Zamboanga City in 2013 and for three weeks security forces battled rebels that left dozens of people dead and wounded. He is also facing graft charges at the Sandigan Bayan over the alleged anomalous purchase of education materials when he was the regional governor of the autonomous region. Misuari denied all criminal and graft accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner and Zamboanga Post.)
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The Mindanao Examiner
July 22-28, 2019
Transport modernization launched in Cagayan de Oro, 73 buses deployed CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Commuters in northern Mindanao have something to look forward to as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), deployed 73 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)-compliant buses that will ply different routes in the region. The deployment of the units, Euro-4 compliant double-decker tri-axle buses, which will ply the Cagayan De Oro-Bukidnon route, highlighted the recent launching of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) here. DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, who led the
launching, said he was amazed by the amenities of the buses, adding, it is the first time that he saw a double-decker bus with Wi-Fi, tracking system, CCTV plying a long-distance route. He instructed the LTFRB to ensure that transport operators and cooperatives follow the mandate of the modernization program. In order to soften the impact and assist small operators who will be affected by the PUVMP, he said a special loan program with Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines is being proposed which will provide access to operators and drivers to adequate funding.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra thanked transport operators and cooperatives in the region for supporting the PUV modernization program. He said the transport coops are the backbone of the modernization program which aims to bring commuters to their destinations safely and comfortably using modernized and environment-friendly vehicles. The PUVMP is a flagship initiative of the Duterte administration that envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable public transport sector. It aims to make public transport safe and comfortable for commuters and drivers alike. (APB)
BARMM Chief Minsiter Ahod Ebrahim with Governors Sakur Tan of Sulu province and Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, of Maguindanao province and other officials during a peace and order meeting with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on July 18 at the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division in Awang, Maguindanao. Below, Ebrahim bids farewell to Tan, an influencial political leader. (Mindanao Examiner Photos)
Over 600 rebels yield to government in Northern Mindanao BUKIDNON – Over 600 communist rebels have surrendered to the military in northern Mindanao as the government continues to lure members of the New People’s Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines and its allied fronts as part of the reconciliation program being espoused by President Rodrigo Duterte. The 403rd Infantry Brigade said the surrender of the rebels over the past months were the results of the collective efforts of the 5 battalions under its command whose soldiers are doing community services in 58 villages in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, as well as the hinterlands of Cagayan de Oro City. Many of those who yielded to the government said they regretted joining the rebel group and wanted to live peacefully now with their family and help in nation building and take ad-
vantage of Duterte’s amnesty offer. One rebel said family dynasty proliferates in many NPA units. “Halos tanang yunit sa hukbo, mag-asawa ang nagdumala. Ang bayi ang kalihim, ang laki ang CO ug puli kalihim. Kontrolado nila ang pondo ug supply. Ang gisaad sa amo mao ang supamil (suporta sa pamilya) nga wala mi kabalo asa gakaadto. Pero ang anak sa mga magasawang lider, hayahay ug kinabuhi. Si Ka Miray dunay negosyo nga tamnanan sa kape. Apan kami gantos sa labnaw nga kape. Ang tinapa, 6-in-1. Unom ka tawo magtunga sa usa ka lata,” the rebel told army interrogators. Brigadier General Edgardo De Leon, the brigade commander, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines have long embarked in pursuing community-oriented efforts to address the communist insurgency.
“We have long proven this approach to be effective, but we need the involvement of civilian agencies and the private sector for this effort to truly succeed. The resources of the AFP is not sufficient in resource-intensive community immersions and services. We could only offer so much,” he said. “The AFP is grateful that President Duterte, who personally saw how effective the army’s efforts in Davao City when he was the mayor, issued Executive Order 70 that institutionalized the community-oriented approach in ending the local communist armed conflict. By involving the entire government bureaucracy and mobilizing the entire nation against the CPP, NPA and NDF, we are confident that communist insurgency will be finally eliminated before the President’s term ends in 2022,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade leads the deployment of 73 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines-compliant units, including a double-decker bus that will ply different routes in northern Mindanao during the recent launching of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program in Cagayan de Oro City. (JDU)
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The Mindanao Examiner
July 22-28, 2019
Security forces hunt down Sayyafs in Basilan province
Soldiers deploy in Sulu province where security forces are battling Abu Sayyaf fighters. Troops are also hunting down militants in Basilan province. (Mindanao Examiner)
Bombed Cathedral Opens Again Continued from page 1 Tan expressed his deep gratitude and thanked the Papal Nuncio for visiting Jolo. “Your Excellency we are very glad that you visited and I join everybody in this elation. This will show to the whole world that this place is liveable, and displays strong bond of brotherhood and solidarity between Muslim and Christians in the province of Sulu,” he said. The governor, an alumnus of Notre Dame, said: “I hope I would be able to set a good example to our youth to emulate.” The Papal Nuncio and Tan talked about peace, harmony and love and they agreed that there must be no talk about minorities, but brotherhood. “Religion is about brotherhood, let us think about coexistence,” Tan said. The repairs and renovation on the cathedral were funded by the “Aid to the Church in Need,” a Vatican-recognized foundation, and other organizations. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS claimed re-
sponsibility for the deadly twin blasts carried out by a pair of suicide bombers. ISIS, in a statement released by its Amaq News Agency, said the first bomber detonated an explosive belt, while the second attacker blew himself up outside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral and killing and wounding dozens of people, including soldiers deployed in the area. The Long War Journal also reported that ISIS described its target in Jolo as a “Christian temple,” saying that it was bombed during a “gathering of the Crusaders to perform their polytheist rituals.” Authorities said a total of 20 people were killed and over 70 others wounded in the blasts. The bombings prompted the police to impose a nationwide alert to pre-empt any acts of terrorism. But two Abu Sayyaf suicide bombers also attacked an army base in Sulu Indanan town in June and killed and wounded dozens of people. The latest suicide attacks oc-
curred during an extended martial law in the restive region and were largely blamed to lapses in security and intelligence failure by both the police and military. Last week, the military paraded 9 Abu Sayyaf fighters who surrendered to soldiers in Sulu. The militants - Sharizmal Jumlani Tahil, Fhadzrimar Sayin Tahil, Julhamid Tirol, Haime Ahaban Sali, Haber Maang Ejong, Shedimar Jawali Askali, Lakkiyan Isirael Safari, Gapor Laja and Gajir Laja – surrendered to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion. They handed over a pair of M16 automatic rifles, five M1 rifles and a pair of .45-caliber pistols. It said that 7 of the militant operated under different sub-leaders while the Lajas were members of the AjangAjang kidnapping group of the Abu Sayyaf. It was unclear if they would be granted amnesty or set free after interrogation as part of the government’s reconciliation program for rebels. (Mindanao Examiner and Zamboanga Post.)
The Jolo cathedral after the twin bombings. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Church leaders with Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan. (Sulu provincial government photos)
From page 1 BASILAN – Security forces continue to hunt down Abu Sayyaf fighters in Basilan province following a new wave of terror threats that forced government teachers to cancel their classes in at least one town. Threatening text messages were sent to the teachers in Sumisip town warning them not to go to school. The teachers sought help to senior education officials in the province and authorities have tightened security in Sumisip. The warning came from the Abu Sayyaf. The new wave of terror threats came barely a month after security forces arrested Nuida Hataman, the alleged wife of an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Radzmir Janatul in her house in Isabela City in Basilan. Hataman is the provincial director of Technical Education Skills and Development Authority and her husband is being hunted down by authorities. Janatul, one of the lieutenants of a notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama, was not at home when policemen searched the house, but security forces allegedly recovered rifle grenades and a blasting cap, including components for improvised ex-
plosives. Just recently, soldiers and police commandos killed Abu Sayyaf commander Arod Wahing in his hideout in the village of Parian-Baunoh in Basilan’s Lantawan town where security forces tracked him down. Wahing was linked by the police to the kidnappings of a German couple and a Dutch wildlife photographer in the Philippines. He had escaped military campaign in Sulu province and sought refuge in the neighboring province. Two other cohorts were also captured by security forces and being interrogated by the army. Several weapons had been seized by troops from Wahing’s hideout. Wahing, a henchman of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, was killed after he tried to fight off security forces sent to arrest him after a court in Sulu issued a warrant for his capture. The slain militant commander was implicated in the April 2014 kidnapping of German scientist Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen who were taken off their yacht near Palawan province while on their way to Sabah in Malaysia. The duo was freed seven months later after Germany paid an equivalent
of P250 million ransoms stashed in several black bags and delivered by a private jet to Sulu province. The Abu Sayyaf even posted a photo on social media showing the huge pile of ransom money they received. Wahing was also linked by authorities to the kidnapping of Ewold Horn and Swiss wildlife photographer Lorenzo Vinciguerra in the coastal village of Parangan in Panglima Sugala town in Tawi-Tawi province in February 2012. Vinciguerra managed to escape from his guards and recovered by soldiers in December 2014 after he allegedly killed one of his guards – Juhurim Hussien – with a bolo. Horn, who joined the pro-ISIS group after developing Stockholm syndrome after 7 years in captivity, was killed during a firefight with army soldiers in May this year in Pansul village in Patikul town in Sulu. One of the wives of Sahiron was also slain in the fighting that left 8 soldiers wounded. The Dutchman’s body was recovered along with the corpse of Mingayan Sahiron. It was not immediately known whether the latest terror threats were connected or not to the arrest of Hataman and killing of Wahing. (Zamboanga Post)
Hustisya, sigaw para sa pinaslang na radio anchor KIDAPAWAN CITY – Hustisya ang hiling ng maraming mga nagmamahal sa pinaslang na radio anchor na si Eduard Dizon na inilibing kamakailan lamang dito. Inilibing si Dizon sa Cotabato Memorial Park na kung saan ay binigyan ito ng military honor dahil sa naging army reservist ito. Bumuhos naman ang pakikiramay sa mga naulilang pamilya ni Dizon mula sa tinatrabahuan nitong kumpanya, ang Brigada News FM. Libo-libo ang nakilib-
ing kung saan patuloy na nananawagan ang mga ito ng hustisya at katarungan sa pagkamatay ng mamamahayag. Lalo pang bumuhos ang pakikiramay kay Dizon lalo na sa social media habang patuloy naman ang panawagan ng hustisya ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Kidapawan City Chapter. Inaasahan rin na mailalabas ng Special Investigation Task Group ang resulta ng kaso at matukoy
ang mastermind sa pamamaslang kay Dizon, gayun rin ang bumaril sa kanya. Matatandaang tukoy na ng pulisya ang 3 persons of interest na posibleng salarin o may kinalaman sa pagpatay kay Dizon. Nabatid na una na ring lumabas ang ibat-ibang anggulo na may kinalaman sa pagpaslang sa brodkaster. Pinatay si Dizon nitong July 10 sa labas ng kanyang bahay habang binubuksan nito ang gate. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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The Mindanao Examiner
July 22-28, 2019
Across : 1. French preposition 4. Electrified atom 7. Player 12. FBI employee (abbr.) 13. Cloistered one 14. Over 15. Cow’s comment 16. Values deeply 18. Gun owners’ org. 20. Loathe 21. Long-distance prefixes (2 wds.) 25. Nuclear ___ 26. Soft belt 30. Pen 31. Skirt border 33. Flat bread 34. Went fast 35. North African 37. Holiday hunter’s prize (2 wds.) 39. Biblical mountain 43. Apple color 44. Card game for one 47. Gotcha! 50. Marry clandestinely 51. Angeles preceder 52. Hunting dog, for short 53. Change 54. Florida island 55. List abbr. Answer to last week’s crossword: Down : 1. Water barrier 2. Sense of self 3. Caveman’s time (2 wds.) 4. Unbroken 5. Belonging to us 6. Wind direction (abbr.) 7. Freon and oxygen 8. Adjoin 9. Extra 10. Nights before holidays 11. Take five 17. Fruity refresher 19. Rushed 21. Circle segments 22. Gather crops 23. Impressed utterance 24. Gown 26. Bowling term
27. Large terrier 28. Bachelor party 29. Dangle 32. Wrestling pad 36. Religious dissent 37. Diner 38. ___ glance (2 wds.) 39. Not ashore 40. Rock’s partner 41. Thanks ___! (2 wds.) 42. Mellow 45. Kind 46. Salmon eggs 48. Bonnet 49. NBC’s rival
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July 22-28, 2019
UFO hunters who storm Area 51 ‘to see them aliens’ could be shot by the US Airforce
The Guard Gate at Area 51 near Rachel, Nevada (Photo by Barry King/WireImage) From page 1 The US Airforce has issued a strong warning to anyone planning to join a bid to invade a secret research base in search of evidence which proves the existence of extraterrestrial life. One million people have pledged to meet up and ‘storm Area 51’ and ‘see them aliens’ in a response to a proposal posted on Facebook. Although the page appears to have been started up as a joke, so many people have now signed up that the US Airforce has stepped up to issue a warning to anyone thinking of trying to infiltrate the facility, which is located deep in the Nevada Desert. ‘[Area
51] is an open training range for the U.S. Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces,” a US Airforce spokesperson said in a statement. ‘The U.S. Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets.’ Organisers of the stunt believe large numbers of people stand a chance of getting into the base, because guards ‘can’t stop all of us’. But Nick Pope, former UFO investigator for the Ministry of Defence, had the following sobering advice to anyone thinking of going to storm Area 5 He told Met-
ro: ‘I understand people’s curiosity about Area 51 and about government UFO secrets more generally, and I completely support people’s right to undertake a legal, peaceful protest, but that’s not how this event is being billed. “Storm Area 51” clearly implies illegal trespass onto a military installation and that’s a recipe for disaster. I utterly condemn such an action. It’s irresponsible, illegal and potentially dangerous. ‘Trespass on a military base is a federal offence and people run the risk of getting jail time, a fine and a criminal record. Warning signs at Area 51 even state that the use of
lethal force is authorized. ‘This is unlikely and guards are only authorized to open fire in exceptional circumstances, such as if they believe they’re in imminent danger themselves, but who knows what might happen if things get out of hand? ‘If a large crowd is rushing towards a guard and some idiot tries to grab his gun, it’s easy to envisage a situation where someone might open fire. ‘If anyone thinks this is impossible, they should remember that as recently as February, a man was shot and killed at a Navy base in Texas, after he crashed his vehicle into a security barrier and charged towards the guards.’ We asked what other risks UFO hunters could face during the stunt. ‘It’s easy to imagine a whole bunch of other things going wrong here, with potentially tragic results,’ Pope added. ‘Area 51 is in a desolate and remote area and the terrain is rough. I could envisage cars running out of gas or overturning, people getting lost in the desert, all sorts of things – it might look easy on a computer screen, but in real life it isn’t. ‘I live in Tucson, Arizona, so I know what desert terrain is like. It’s beautiful, but it can be
unforgiving. Temperatures can be brutal even in mid September, if people don’t take enough water they can very quickly dehydrate dangerously, and then there are the rattlesnakes!’ However, it’s far from clear anyone will actually turn up to the event. Pope continued: ‘The only good news for the authorities is that any protest is likely to be much smaller than people think. It’s very easy to click ‘going’ on a Facebook event, but it’s much harder to actually go – especially to somewhere as remote as Area 51. Even so, the authorities are concerned, and rightly so. ‘I find all this frustrating. As a result of the revelations concerning the Pentagon’s AATIP (Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program) program, the topic of UFOs has come out of the fringe and into the mainstream. ‘The US Navy has confirmed the reality of several mid-air encounters between pilots and UFOs, Congressional committees have investigated, Senators have received classified briefings and even the President has addressed the issue. All this progress could be undone by a stunt like this. ‘If people feel so strongly about the issue, I suggest that instead
of engaging in reckless actions, they educate themselves about AATIP, engage with their elected representatives, and ask them to support Congressional hearings and the production of a National Intelligence Estimate on the subject.’ Pope also warned potential Area 51 invaders that they might not find what they’re looking for. He added: ‘Even if there had ever been any alien technology – or aliens – at Area 51, it would be long gone. ‘Common sense dictates that the moment a military base starts getting namechecked in movies like Independence Day and TV shows like The X-Files, the cat is out of the bag, so any UFO-related material would probably long since have been moved elsewhere, to a location the public has never heard of. ‘So even if anyone did actually manage to break into Area 51, all they’d probably find is various next-generation aircraft and drones – and because we don’t want details of these getting to Russia, China or indeed anyone else, that’s yet another reason why this plan is bad news.’ The bid to storm Area 51 will take place on September 20 at 3 am – if it’s allowed to go ahead. (Jasper Hamill, metro.co.uk)
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July 22-28, 2019
Mactan-Cebu Internation Airport reaps international award
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EBU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has been recognized as “Asia Pacific Medium Airport of the Year 2018” and thanks to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for doing a “great job” in its airport buildup projects, according to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino. Dino hailed the agen- Airport in Cagayan,” Dino The MCIA was named as cy for its efforts that led to said, even as he noted that medium airport of the year, the international recog- the airport in Panglao is next to Korea’s Incheon Innition of the airport, one considered as the coun- ternational Airport which was named as “Asia Pacific of the 17 airport projects try’s first “eco-airport”. Ormoc Airport’s new Large Airport of the Year” that have been completed during the first half of facilities were also inaugu- and Malaysia’s Senai InterPresident Rodrigo Duter- rated by no less than the national Airport as “Pacific President himself, Dino Small Airport of the Year”. te’s term. Dino also underscored “Of the 17 airport said, adding, the efforts of projects, two of them the Duterte administra- MCIA’s new achievement were new airports built tion through Transporta- of having bagged another and completed under tion Secretary Arthur Tu- global recognition after it Duterte’s first three years. gade, have now started to won last week the International Architecture Awards And I’m proud to men- pay off. tion that one of the two He said the MCIA led for Airports and Transpornew airports is the Bo- the banner of medium tation Centers category hol-Panglao Internation- airports commended by this year, for the unique al Airport, the other being the Center for Asia Pacific tropical design of its Terthe Lal-Lo International (CAPA) Aviation Awards. minal 2 (T2).
Mactan International Airport (Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority FB page) “I am very proud that one of our own, internationally renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue has been recognized as the key
Cebu mayor okays conversion of Malacañang sa Sugbo into museum CEBU CITY – A proposal to convert the Malacañang sa Sugbo into a national museum is getting popular support after Mayor Edgardo Labella agrees with it, saying, Cebu is a historical and heritage city. National Museum Chairperson Evangelina Lourdes Bernas sent a letter to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Din, stating the National Museum’s interest in re-establishing its presence in Cebu by restoring and converting the said structure into a museum. “It is only fitting for the Queen City of the South to have a national museum as Cebu City is a historical and heritage city,” Labella said, add-
ing, “I agree. I concur en toto, meaning 100 percent. There is a need for us to have a national museum because Cebu City is rich in culture, heritage, and history.” Labella further explained that the first Spanish settlement was established in Cebu City. “In fact, the first or the oldest street in the country – Colon Street – is in Cebu City. The first Filipino was also baptized in Cebu City in the person of Queen Juana, the wife of Rajah Humabon,” Labella said. He said the first school in the Philippines was also established in Cebu City – the University of San Carlos, which was then called San Ildefonso College. “These are among the very important factors or rea-
sons why I concur en toto in making that structure (Malacañang sa Sugbo) a national museum,” Labella said. The Malacañang sa Sugbo, formerly called the Aduana Building, was originally built in 1910 to house the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu. In 2004, former President Gloria Arroyo converted the structure into Malacañang sa Sugbo but it has been idle since the end of her term in 2010. The building was severely damaged by the October 2013 Bohol earthquake which was strongly felt in Cebu. Labella said he will ask the National Museum to hasten the restoration and conversion of the building so that it will be completed in time for the fifth centen-
nial celebration of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival to the Philippines. In 1521, Magellan’s expedition arrived in the Philippines, claimed the islands for Spain and was then killed at the Battle of Mactan. Colonization began when Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed the first Hispanic settlements in Cebu. “This is very timely and I hope that this can catch up with the fifth centennial commemoration, where we can expect millions of visitors,” Labella said. “Even the (building) design itself bespeaks of the kind of heritage and history that we have in Cebu City.” (Luel Galarpe)
to the design of MCIA’s T2, along with other local designers Royal Pineda and Budji Layug,” Dino told the Philippine News Agency. Cobonpue, Pineda, and Layug worked with the Hong Kong-based architectural firm, Integrated Design Associates, for the T2 design. Cobonpue is the current chairman of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas. The MCIA, which was also hailed as the world’s friendliest resort airport, opened its new passenger terminal building last year, bolstering its annual capacity to 13.5 million passengers. In a post on the airport’s official website, Louie Ferrer, president of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), said MCIA is staying true to its destination. In 2016, MCIA was also awarded as the “Asia Small Airport of the Year.” “While most other airports choose modern structures made of glass and steel structures, we stayed true to our island resort identity, with Cebu
being one of the world’s favorite resort destinations,” Ferrer said. According to Dino, aside from the 17 commercial airport projects reported completed by DOTr Aviation and Airport Sector and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), there are 28 more airport projects that are still up for completion. “President Duterte has fulfilled his promise in the second and third state of the Nation Address in 2017 and 2018 to flood the country with port and airport build-up projects under the Build, Build, Build program,” Dino said. Duterte has commended Tugade for DOTr’s achievements in beautifying airports and seaports in the country, along with two other Cabinet members – Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways and Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry. (John Rey Saavedra)
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