Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali corrects reports on ‘Muslim (BARMM) governors, civil workers ‘up in arms’ in Mindanao’ I WRITE regarding the Manila Times piece entitled “BARMM govs, civil workers up in arms” by Al Jacinto dated Dec. 21, 2019, and also posted in your website. The subject article stated that “Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman, Tawi-Tawi
Founded 2006
Gov. Yshmael Sali, Deputy Speaker and former ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman have joined forces with Tan in calling for the President to step in and stop [Al-Haj Murad] Ebrahim.” The article also stated that: “The governors, along with Interior
mindanaoexaminer.com
Undersecretary Alexander Macario and senior military and police officials led by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Western Mindanao Command, flew to Sulu on Thursday and joined the forum.” With all due respect, Continue on page 3
LBC Express binatikos!
LBC Express (wikipedia.org) ZAMBOANGA CITY – Umani ng matinding batikos ang courier company na LBC Express
matapos na maantala ng husto ang mga cargo at parcels na ipinadala ng mga customers nito sa ibat-ibang lugar. Isang customer ang nag-reklamo sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner at sinabing inabot ng halos isang buwan bago dumating sa Zamboanga Strada pickup truck steel bumper na kanyang na binili sa Maynila noong
Nobyembre 22. Ilang beses umano nitong tinawagan ang LBC Express upang mag-reklamo subali’t pulos pangako lamang ang naging tugon ng mga empleyado. Hindi rin ma-access ang website ng LBC Express sa hindi mabatid na kadahilanan. Maraming mga Continue on page 2
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READ STORY ON PAGE 3
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January 13-19, 2020
LBC Express binatikos! Continued from page 1 customers rin ang may tulad na problema sa LBC Express at dismayado sa serbisyo ng courier company. Inamin rin ng pahayagang Mindanao Examiner na maging ito ay naging biktima rin sa mabagal at palpak na serbisyo ng LBC Express. Isinalaysay nito na inabot ng mahigit sa 1 linggo ang ipinadalang mga pahayagan sa kanilang Kidapawan City Bureau at ang nag-turuan pa ang empleyado ng LBC Express sa Kidapawan at Cotabato City kung sino ang may sala. Nabatid na maraming mga readers ng Mindanao Examiner ang pabalik-balik sa mga dealers, Ngunit bigong makabili ng pahayagan dahil hindi ito dumating sa takdang oras. Ganito rin ang sinapit ng kanilang Davao City Bureau at dahil sa naturang kapalpakan ay malaking halaga ng mga advertisements ang sinasabing nawala sa Mindanao Examiner. Idinahilan ng LBC Express ang maraming cargo nitong nakaraang Disyembre kung kaya’t naantala ang mga cargo at parcels nito. Na-eskandalo na rin ang LBC Express noong 2011 matapos na diuma-
no’y magsara ang LBC Bank dahil sa hindi pagbabayad nito ng utang. Matatandaang sinabi ni Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. sa balitang inilabas ng ABS-CBN (https://news.abs-cbn. com/business/09/13/11/ lbc-express-causedbanks-fall) na ang “LBC Express Inc. regularly accepted money-transfer transactions from millions of customers in the country and abroad but never bothered to settle the advances.” Sinabi nito na ang “LBC Bank extended billions of pesos in cash advances to LBC Express for several years as part of its role as payout agent. Each time a customer remitted money to beneficiaries through one of the many offices of LBC Express in the Philippines, and abroad, LBC Bank advanced the money to the beneficiary, effectively extending the affiliate another credit. The problem is the credits were never settled. And because LBC Express failed to settle what it owed the bank, the steady buildup of cash advances became unmanageable and eventually too large that it broke the bank. The constant need to make cash advances slowly eroded the bank’s
capital. Eventually, the capital deficiency resulted in the bank posting a negative capital account.” Ayon sa Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), ang LBC Bank ay may accumulated deposit liabilities na umabot sa P6.09 bilyon at assets na P5.5 bilyon lamang. Sinabi rin ng PDIC na: “The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation filed with the Department of Justice charges of syndicated estafa against 11 former Directors, officers and employees of the closed LBC Development Bank (LBC Bank) as well as two employees of LBC Development Corporation, an LBC Affiliate that is also a stockholder of LBC Bank, for misappropriating P60 million in LBC Bank’s funds generated from the public by way of deposits.” “Respondents were likewise charged with falsification of commercial documents under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, and for conducting business in an unsafe and unsound manner in violation of Republic Act 3591, as amended or the PDIC Charter. LBC Bank is a 20unit thrift bank ordered closed by the Monetary Board and placed under receivership by the PDIC on September 9, 2011.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Camiguin guv assures environment sustainability CAGAYAN DE ORO - Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo has assured environmental protection and sustainability with the implementation of Population Carrying Capacity in the island-province of Camiguin. In his State of the Province Address recently, Romualdo said: “We are happy to share that we have started last year first steps towards establishing car-
rying capacity limits in our ecotourism sites to be able to determine the maximum number of individuals of a specie that can be sustained by the environment and sustain that same number in the future.” In doing such, survey enumerators of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office gathered secondary data on infra-
structure, population, water consumption for households, hotels and resorts, waste generation, wastewater, biodiversity, municipal profile, and other limiting factors to be used in data analysis. “Gusto nako nga naa ta’y initial carrying capacity sa turista. Sauna gusto nato daghan kaayong tao, pero dili diay na insakto. There should be a carrying capac-
PLDT palpak rin! MULING BINUWELTAHAN ng pahayagang Mindanao Examiner ang PLDT sa Zamboanga City dahil umano sa kapalpakan at sobrang mabagal na serbisyo nito. Nabatid sa pahayagan na nag-request umano ito sa noong Oktubre 17 sa Customer Service Hotline ng PLDT na 171 para sa “relocation” ng kanilang telepono at Ultera Internet service matapos na lumipat sa mas malaking tanggapan. Ayon sa Customer Service representative ay maisasagawa ito sa loob ng 3-7 araw, ngunit inabot na umano ng katapusan ng Oktubre ay hindi pa rin naililipat ang tele-
pono sa bagong address nito sa Barangay Tetuan mula sa dating tanggapan sa Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue. At dahil dito, muling tumawag ang pahayagan sa 171 at nangakong muli ang Customer Service representative na mabibigyan ng linya sa kumpanya sa loob ng 3 araw at sinisi pa nito ang PLDT Zamboanga sa hindi pagbibigay agad ng “service order” sa kanilang service contractors. Dito na nagpasya ang pahayagan na mag-reklamo sa PLDT Zamboanga at nangako ito na mabibigyan ng linya ang Mindanao Examiner sa loob ng isa hanggang 3 linggo
at kasama na rito ang upgrade sa PLDT Home Fibr Internet connection mula sa magabal na Ultera. Nabigyan lamang ng linya at Internet connection ang pahayagan noon unang lingo ng Disyembre, ngunit laking gulat naman ng kampanya ng palitan ng PLDT ang kanilang telephone number dahil umano sa bagong policy nito. At umabot rin ng halos P5,000 ang singil ng PLDT sa pahayagan para sa buwan ng Disyembre. Nais idulog ng pahayagan sa Department of Information and Communications Technology ang reklamo nito sa PLDT. (Zamboanga Post)
ity to sustain all our environments,” Romualdo said. He also said there is a need to take further actions to protect and conserve the island’s environment, noting the 11.56 percent increase in commercial aircraft movement and 7 percent increase in passenger traffic. Thus, the Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Center shall ensure all policies, laws, and regulations, and ordinances are enforced pertaining to the conservation and protection of the environment and natural resources, he said.
Furthermore, Romualdo said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) has carried on numerous programs in line with the DENR’s national priorities. These include the expanded national greening program, enhanced biodiversity conservation, scaling up of marine and coastal ecosystem, improved land administration, and management, intensified forest protection and anti-illegal logging. He said PENRO has focused on the maintenance and protection for the expanded national greening program where planta-
tions were established in 2017 and 2018 such as the 50-hectare bamboo plantation, 3-hectare rich forest and mangrove enrichment, 50-hectare bamboo plantation along the riverbanks. For protected areas, PENRO also pursued activities that focus on advocacy, assessment and monitoring of sites and species. While it is good to note the economic gains of having a lot of investments in the island, Romualdo said it is everybody’s role to ensure that the environment will always be healthy and beautiful because after all, this is what the island is well known for. (RTP)
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Gulo sa Iraq!
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‘OFWs sa Iraq, Middle East hindi pipilitin umuwi’
Ang binansagang “Funeral Ceremony of the Martyrs of Resistance” sa Iraq na pinangunahan ni Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei para sa libing ni Lt. Gen. Qasem Soleimani na pinaslang ng Amerika kamakailan. (IRNA – Marziyeh Mousavi at Davoud Ghahrdar)
H
INDI NA umano pipilitin ng pamahalaang Duterte ang mga Pinoy workers sa Iraq na lumikas at umuwi sa Pilipinas kung ayaw nila. Ito ang sina- ng Amerika at Iran. to bring them out,” ani Panbi ni Presidential Spokes“Unang-una, kung mer- elo. person Salvador Panelo sa on na talagang open hostilTinatayang nasa 4,000 kabila ng unang balita na ities, repatriation is out of ang mga Pinoy workers sa nais ni Pangulong Duterte the question kasi shooting Iraq at mahigit sa 1 milyon na pauwiin sa bansa ang war na eh. Now, with respect naman ang nasa Middle East mga Pinoy sa Iraq at iba doon sa mga ayaw, paano na- region, ayon sa Department pang bahagi ng Middle East tin pipilitin yun kung ayaw. of Foreign Affairs at inilagay dahil sa iringan at posi- We cannot forcibly drag na nito sa Alert Level 4 sitbleng digmaan sa pagitan them to a ship or to whatever wasyon doon dahil sa kagu-
luhan. May mandatory repatriation order na rin ang ahensya dahil ito lamang ang tanging paraan upang mailigtas ang mga overseas Filipino workers sa tiyak na kapahamakan. Sinabi pa ni Panelo na kung talagang ayaw umuwi ng mga Pinoy ay dapat nasa ligtas na lugar sila. “Palagay ko, if you will give them a choice between being placed in a safe place and coming home, eh pipiliin nila doon muna sa safe place. We have to place them in a safe place. Hindi naman sila kailangan umuwi habang nagkakaroon ng giyera doon o digmaan. Syempre hindi mo naman maiuuwi ’yan talaga eh. Hahanapan mo ng lugar na ligtas malapit dun like Saudi Arabia,” wika pa nito. Sa kabila ng peligro sa Iraq ay patuloy ang pagdagsa ng mga Pinoy doon dahil sa malaking pasahod na kanil-
ang tinatanggap. Umaabot umano sa mahigit P100,000 kada buwan ang tinatanggap ng mga Pinoy doon at mas malaki ito sa mga kampo ng militar at pagamutan. Nagsimula ang tensyon sa Iraq matapos na patayin kamakailan ng Amerika sa isang drone missile attack si Iranian Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani na pinuno ng Quds Force ng Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Inatake naman ng Iran kamakailan rin ang mga kampo sa Iraq na ginagamit ng mga sundalong Kano bilang ganti. Ipinadala naman ni Duterte si Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao upang makipag-usap sa mga lider ng Iraq at Iran upang masigurong walang Pinoy na madadamay sa gulo kung sakaling lumala ito. “Well, I have sent Secretary Mamao. He is a Maran-
ao. He’s a Cabinet member. He’s my fraternity brother. I trust him. I’ve sent him to both Tehran and in Baghdad, if he can make it, to talk to the leaders about the plight of the Filipino workers. That is all there is to it. Just to get the assurance that my countrymen will have the egress just in case hell breaks loose in the Middle East,” ani Duterte. Nagbanta si Maj. Gen. Mohammad Baqeri, ang Chief of Staff ng Iranian Armed Forces, na gaganti ng husto ang kanyang bansa kung muling aatake ang Amerika. At ito rin ang pahayag ni Iranian President Hassan Rouhani matapos na mapatay si Soleimani at sinabing “Iran reserves the right to take revenge by proportionate military action, and will do it.” (Mindanao Examiner. May dagdag ulat mula kay Ruth Abbey Carlos.)
Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali corrects reports on ‘Muslim (BARMM) governors, civil workers ‘up in arms’ in Mindanao’ Continued from page 1 the subject article is erroneous and misleading as I did not fly and join a forum in Sulu with Governors Sakur Tan and Jim Salliman and other government officials, nor did I join forces with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governors and Cong. Mujiv Hataman to call for the intercession of the President Rodrigo R. Duterte in stopping BARMM Interim Chief Minister Alhaj Murad Ebrahim in the impending BARMM personnel movements. I am fully aware of the separation of employ-
ees who worked with the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in accordance with the implementation of Section 10, Article XVI of Republic Act 11054, or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.” I am fully committed to the best welfare of the constituents of the BARMM, especially within the province of Tawi-Tawi, and will cooperate and coordinate with the administration of the BARMM during the transition period for the effective delivery of public services. Trusting that this cor-
rects the said article and is treated with similar publicity. YSHMAEL “MANG” I. SALI Governor, Province of Tawi-Tawi Editor’s Note: The same news article entitled: “Muslim governors, civil workers ‘up in arms’ in Mindanao” also appeared on the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper and its website. I apologized to Gov. Sali as I failed to mention in the article that he was not in the meeting and only sent a representative. Al Jacinto Author
Dahil sa lindol, 3 lugar sa North Cotabato ‘No Dwelling Zone’ na! KIDAPAWAN CITY - Tatlong lugar pa rin sa bayan ng Makilala sa North Cotabato – ang Barangay Bato, Cabilao at Luayon - ang ideneklarang “No Dwelling zone” at 24 na mga barangay pa rin ang hindi mabalikan ng mga residente dahil sa pagiging delikado bunsod ng nakaraang lindol. Sinabi ni Municipal Administrator Sheryl Orbita na ililipat naman sa kanilang temporary shelter sa Barangay Luna Norte ang mga evacuees ng Barangay Bato na ngayon ay
nasa Bulacanon Elementary School. Maaari lamang makabalik ang mga residente sa kanilang barangay tuwing umaga upang makapaghanap-buhay ngunit kailangan din nilang bumalik tuwing hapon sa mga evacuation camps. Sinimulan namang gawin ng pamahalaang ng Makilala at ng barangay council ang mga bagong daanan ng mga residenteng babalik sa Barangay Bato dahil natabunan ng makapal na lupa ang kanilang dating daanan papasok
matapos na magkaroon ng landslide sanhi ng lindol. Tatahakin ng naturang bagong daan ang Barangay Malabuan at bago makarating sa Barangay Luayon. Nabatid na sa ngayon ay pinagtutulungan ng maibalik ang mga nasirang imprastraktura sa mga apektadong barangay tulad ng tubig at kuryente. Ayon kay Barangay Chairman Solociano Manggi, maraming mga residente ang nais ng maka-uwi at manirahan sa kanilang lugar. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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The Mindanao Examiner
January 13-19, 2020
Sulu Pictures in the News
Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor
Provincial treasurer, assessor presents performance recognition, citation from BLGF 9 for CY 2018 to Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan.
Basilan Governor Hadjiman S. Hataman Saliman (middle) with DILG USEC Alexander Macario (left) during a talk with Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan poses with Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls APTA board officers after gicing them financial assistance for various school infra projects and equipment purchase . Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan listens to Regional Director Omar Dalagan, of theTechnical Education and Skills Development Authority in Western Mindanao.
Governor Abdusakur M. Tan with Jolo Mayor Kerkhar S. Tan at Rizal Day. Maimbung Mayor Shihla Hayudini poses with teachers following a seminar.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan receives visitors from Benguet province at his office who shared their wonderful Sulu experiences and thanked the Tausugs for the warm welcome.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan gives P1 million financial assistance to MBHTE Sulu Division for the BARMMAA 2020.
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The Mindanao Examiner
January 13-19, 2020
Mayors who fail Duterte’s order to clear public roads charged PAGADIAN CITY – Two municipal mayors in Zamboanga del Sur, two in Camiguin, and another in Misamis Oriental and one more in Davao Oriental were among 10 local chief executives facing administrative charges for their alleged failure to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear public roads of illegal obstructions. Secretary Eduardo Año, of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said they have filed the charges against the mayors with the Office of the Ombudsman after these local chief executives failed to satisfactorily answer the “show cause orders” he issued. “This is just the first batch of cases to be filed (against those who failed to comply with Duterte’s order) and we will file the succeeding batches as soon as our lawyers have finished reviewing the validation reports and the corresponding answers by the mayors,” he said. Año said that administrative cases for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct were filed against the mayors of the Municipality of Baco, Oriental Mindoro; Municipality of Pili, Camarines Sur; Municipality of Ginatilan, Cebu;
Municipality of Pagsanghan, Samar; Municipality of Aurora and Lapuyan, Zamboanga Del Sur; Municipality Sagay and Guinsiliban, Camuigin; Municipality of Manticao, Misamis Oriental; and Municipality of Caraga, Davao Oriental. He also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to immediately act on the cases to prove to the public that government is serious in returning all roads for the enjoyment and utilization of the public. “We hope that the Ombudsman will act on our complaint with dispatch and urgency,” Año said. Año said that the filing of cases is long overdue as all local government units (LGUs) were given reasonable time to comply with Duterte’s directive to reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends – but the said LCEs showed negligence, dereliction of duty, and lack of cooperation. “These first batch of mayors failed to perform their duty to clear their roads of obstructions, they did not develop or implement any displacement program or plan, they do not have any long-term rehabilitation and sustainability plan in place, and they failed to set up a feedback or grievance mecha-
nism for their constituents; hence, we are compelled to seek their suspension from office,” he said. “Hindi tayo nagbibiro noong sinabi natin na handa tayong sampahan sila ng kaso. We took, very seriously President Duterte’s order for the DILG to lead the road clearing efforts and file cases to non-compliant LGUs, if need be,” he added. Año said these mayors facing charges have registered the lowest validation scores through the stringent nationwide evaluation and monitoring of the DILG. “Hindi naman tayo nagkulang ng paalala sa mga pamahalaang lokal,” he said, adding, the DILG issued show cause orders last October to 97 LGUs across the country seeking their explanation for their non-compliance to the directive based on the assessment and validation conducted by the DILG. DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that they will soon issue another directive for a new 75-day road-clearing operation. “We noticed that some of the obstructions have returned and the LGUs have done nothing to stop their return especially during the holidays,” he said.
“We hope that all our mayors understand that this is now a policy of the government until the end of this administration. They will have to lead and do their responsibilities,
otherwise they will face charges and the threat of suspension,” said Malaya. “The challenge here is to sustain the gains of the road clearing last year for the long run so the Secre-
tary will soon issue a new directive to ensure that all encroachments are permanently removed and that LGUs are vigilant in enforcing the law,” he added. (Zamboanga Post)
Pamilya ni OFW Jeanelyn Villavende, sumisigaw ng hustisya! KORONADAL CITY – Tatanggihan umano ng pamilya ng pinaslang na overseas Filipino worker na si Jeanelyn Villavende ang posibleng pagaalok ng blood money ng kanyang Kuwaiti employer bilang kabayaran sa malagim na sinapit ng Pinay sa kamay ng mga amo nito. Nasawi sa gulpi si Jeanelyn at hustisya ngayon ang sigaw ng kanyang pamilya. Ayon kay Abelardo Villavende, ang ama ni Jeanelyn, ay mariing tutulan nito ang anumang alok na blood money ng mga amo na anak at nais nitong mabitay ang mga pumatay sa kanyang anak. Dagdag pa nito, na isang malakaing kawalang respeto kung magpapabayad lamang sila sa pumatay sa kanyang anak. Ang 26-anyos na si Jeanelyn ay residente ng Baragay Tinago sa bayan
Jeanelyn Villavende (FB page) ng Norala sa South Cotabato. Sa ngayon, hinihintay parin ng pamilya ang resulta ng autopsy at bangkay ng biktima. Samantala, tiniyak naman ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-12) na mananagot ang mga sangkot sa pagkamatay ni Jeanelyn upang mabigyan ito ng hustisya. Sinabi ni Nelly Padernal, ang tiyahin ni Jeanelyn, na hindi umano inaksyunan ng recruitment
agency ang nangyari sa biktima na minaltrato sa kabila ng kakarampot na sweldong binibigay sa Pinay. Dumating na rin kamakailan ang Bangkay ni Jeanelyn at base sa embalment certificate mula sa Kuwait, ang sanhi ng pagkamatay nito ay “acute failure of heart and respiration as result by shock and multiple injuries (in the) vascular and nervous system.” (Rhoderick Beñez)
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The Mindanao Examiner
January 13-19, 2020
Across : 1. Belly 4. British baby carriage 8. Pub brews 12. Fire remains 13. Loony 14. Not common 15. Zodiac lion 16. ___ transmission 18. Nabs 20. Build 21. Pal (Fr.) 22. Pallid 23. Competitor 27. Stairs 30. Lincoln’s nickname 31. Poet’s eternity 33. That female 34. Canvas covers 37. Bank transaction 40. Actress ___ West 41. Tuna container 42. Blazing 44. Ill-fated ship 48. Napoleon ___ 50. Picnic beverage 51. Burden 52. Lima or kidney 53. Male descendant 54. she (Fr.) 55. Highland Scot 56. Computer key
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Down : 1. Festive occasion 2. ___-friendly 3. Norse thunder god 4. Blood component 5. Standard procedure 6. Pretends 7. Barnyard sound 8. Biblical mount 9. Tardiness 10. Funnyman ___ Idle 11. Religious group 17. Kitty sounds 19. Lobe locale 23. Chow down 24. Lakers’ league (abbr.) 25. Bus depot
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ
26. Danson or Koppel 28. Greek letter 29. Established 32. Music performance 35. Formal procession 36. Soak through 38. ___ leather 39. Out ___ limb (2 wds.) 42. Ready, willing, and ___ 43. Trick 44. Family chart 45. Space org. 46. Golden calf, e.g. 47. Penny 49. NBC’s rival
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January 13-19, 2020
The Mindanao Examiner
Reds insist on CASER
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‘Security Adviser Esperon says it only serves interest of commies’
D
AVAO CITY - Contrary to how the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) portrays the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) as pro-masses, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said it is a piece of document that only serves the interest of the rebel group. “At first glance, this may NDFP to be forged prior to ing societal issues,” he said. appear to be pro-masses as the signing of an interim Esperon was referring it promises to benefit the peace agreement, will bind to the government’s pasmajority, if not all, but if we not only the current admin- sage of fundamental pollook at it closely, the duplic- istration and the commu- icy reforms and laws that itous character and self-in- nists, but also all their suc- address the root causes of terest of the communist ter- cessors. armed conflict which inrorist group (CTG) becomes “We believe that future clude the aggressive impleevident, as the provisions conditions merit suitable mentation of land reform, do not directly reflect the responses. It would be un- free irrigation, Free Tertiary best interest of the nation, reasonable for the current Education, Universal Health but their own,” said Esper- administration to commit Care, Expanded 4Ps, and the on, who is also vice-chair- to something that would Build, Build, Build program. person of the National Task be irrevocable and might Given the objectionable Force to End Local Commu- present challenges for the provisions of NDF’s pronist Armed Conflict. next administrations,” he posed CASER, he expressed Contrary to NDFP’s said in a position paper on doubts that engaging in anclaim that their CASER con- the peace talks with com- other round of peace talks tains “concrete and doable munist rebels. would be beneficial to the steps towards liberating the He said NDF’s demand country. Filipinos people from pov- that the agreement re‘Pointless’ peace talks erty, exploitation, and un- mains in force regardless Esperon lamented that derdevelopment”, Esperon of the outcome of peace the government had many said dismantling the current talks robs the Philippine attempts to end the conflict economic model means government of its ability to with the communists since reversing all economic re- negotiate on equal footing 1986 with more than 40 forms in the past several de- with the CTG and there- rounds of peace talks concades implemented through fore, might sabotage the ducted with the same peolaws passed by previous ad- government’s efforts in at- ple as negotiators. ministrations. taining a genuine and last“But for the longest “Such move would be ing peace with rebels. time, the peace talks were an arduous, costly, and exCASER’s provision of only used as a period to rest tensive process. The Phil- designating the NPA to play when badly beaten, seek ippines might not only find a key role in implementing reinforcements, and initiitself worse off economical- agrarian reform, and demo- ate recruitment. Engaging ly if it lets go of the advan- bilizing the Armed Forces in another round of peace tages of the current system of the Philippines (AFP) by talks after all these years but also face ostracism and reducing their functions and all our efforts without isolation in the community only for civil works and in- significant changes is thereof nations after such a radi- frastructure construction, fore pointless,” he said. As alternatives to peace cal shift,” he added. will be hugely detrimental Their CASER, Esperon to the government because talks, he said, the governsaid, was crafted with the the military must be able ment has been pursuing goal of turning the Philip- to retain their mandate of local peace engagements pine economic model to protecting country and its which have resulted in nationalist and socialist people from various kinds understanding and mainwhich means it would dis- of threats, according to Es- streaming of rebels. “The mantle the effects of glo- peron. government has the capacibalization that communists “Conceding to their ty to fulfill its obligations for view as the cause of the CASER version will not only social justice and developcountry’s continued under- be an act of admission of ment. Who needs the CPP, development. their (CTG) accusations but NDF, and NPA?” he asked. Irrevocable an act of disregard to the efEsperon, former AFP Esperon said CASER, forts of our leaders and law- Chief-of-Staff, said his oba document bannered by makers in addressing press- jection to the resumption
Hermogenes Esperon Jr. (PCOO) and Joma Sison (FB page) of formal peace negotiations was not because he is on their hit list but due to the communist rebels’ continued attacks on civilians. “What is objectionable is when the NPA, surely under the command of NDF and CPP, attacks or ambushes civilians as they did in Barangay Libuton, Borongan City, Eastern Samar last December 13, 2019,” he said, adding, the NPA ambush left 3 civilians and a policeman dead, 14 wounded including three children ages one, six and 13. “The NPA used roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices. This is in violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which the CPP/NPA/NDF signed and bounded itself to,” he said. Not surprising Esperon said he is not surprised that the NPA had no second thoughts about possibly hitting innocent children and civilians for it was CPP founding Chairperson Jose Maria Sison who ordered to go on the offensive. “That is one clear character of the CPP, NPA, NDF – their pursuit of armed struggle to be victorious over the government at all costs. That is the true nature
of their so-called National Democratic Revolution. Anything goes – bloodbath, duplicity, and deception as long as it contributes to their eventual victory,” he said. He also raised doubts over their trustworthiness and sincerity to resume peace talks and what it meant to them for failing to honor the unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire from Dec. 23, 2019, to midnight of Jan. 7, 2020. On the first day of the holiday truce on December 23, rebels attacked troops in Labo town in Camarines Norte and killing one soldier killed and wounded 5 others, and also wounded 2 policemen in similar attack in Tubungan town in Iloilo. Peace talks Sison and the CPP, NPA and NDF should first be clear” on the objectives of the peace talks before a resumption is made, Esperon said. He also quoted Luis Jalandoni, a ranking communist leader, as saying: “We see that peace negotiations are another form of legal struggle which is possible to be used by the revolutionary forces in order to advance the revolutionary armed struggle and the revolutionary mass movement.”
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“This other form of legal struggle, the peace negotiation, does not replace the revolutionary armed struggle nor the revolutionary mass movement. In fact, it should advance the revolutionary armed struggle and the revolutionary mass movement which is a more important struggle than peace negotiations.” Esperon said that according to the late Fr. Conrado Balweg, former Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) chairman, “they (communists) are organized to take political power, to become the government, to be the ones in Malacañang. Iyon ang issue sa kanila, hindi peace. Sa peace talks, we are not addressing the problem because we are talking something beyond the point. The NPA is created in order for the CPP to be the ones in government. That is the issue.” “Are we going to hand over governance to the CTG or at least be in a coalition government with them? Are we going to demobilize and demilitarize the NPA or let them become part of the new government armed forces?” Esperon asked. There was no immediate response from the CPP, NDF and NPA. (Azer Parrocha and Gigie Arcilla)
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Cebu hotel and resort owners report fewer bookings due to online competition C EBU CITY – Hotel and resort owners in Cebu said they are reeling from drop in bookings due to competing online or mobile application-based booking sites offering lower prices in lodging or homestays.
Carlo Anton Suarez, president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. and vice president Alfred Reyes speak to journalists at the side-line of the Association of Government Information Officers forum at the Philippine Information Agency-7 office in Cebu City. The group airs its concerns over online or application-based booking sites that lure foreign visitors to Cebu to stay in unregulated condominium units instead of booking in hotels and resorts. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
Alfred Reyes, vice president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI), claimed that an online site that markets condominium units for lodging or homestays has been raking in higher revenues. “I would say in terms of revenue, between 30 to 40 percent has been lost. That’s a big loss to our revenue,” he said at the sideline of the Association of Government Information Officers forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office here. Loss of revenues by hotels and resorts also means losses in terms of government taxes, he said, noting that owners of condominium units offered through online sites or applications do not pay taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Reyes, who also manages a big hotel company in Mandaue
City, said online sites or applications that compete with hotels and resorts have been offering condominium spaces to foreign nationals abroad despite the absence of government regulations with respect to occupant’s safety and security. “Who is regulating Airbnb? These are rooms but we don’t know if they have fire extinguishers, if their liquefied petroleum gas tanks are properly attached, and everything,” he said. Airbnb is an online marketplace for arranging or offering lodging, primarily homestays, or tourism experiences. The company does not own any of the real estate listings, nor does it host events but it acts as a broker, receiving commissions from each booking Reyes suggested that local government units (LGUs) put in place regulatory procedures over online-booked condominium units under their respective juris-
More infra, development projects for Cebu CEBU CITY - The province of Cebu concluded 2019 with a bullish investment program on infrastructure development aimed at addressing traffic congestion and flooding. “In the pipeline are the big-ticket projects which the Duterte administration is determined to finance to boost socio-economic development in Central Visayas and to ease our burden due to traffic problem,” said Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas. He said at least 7 big-ticket projects include infrastructure development programs aimed at addressing traffic congestion in Metro Cebu. Among the projects is the 73-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway that will span from Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north is a long high standard arterial road to meet existing and future traffic demands. The P28-billion expressway project which traverses mountain slopes in Cebu is expected to serve as
another north-south backbone highway aimed to provide seamless traffic flow from Naga City to Danao City. Next to the expressway is the Talisay-Minglanilla-Naga and Mandaue-Consolacion-Liloan bypass roads worth P200 million each. The roads are expected to ease the traffic situation in Metro Cebu and are on the list of the proposed priority programs of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) and included in the budget proposal of the DPWH central office for fiscal year 2020. Apart from these two bypass roads, the Guadalupe-Lahug Diversion Road is also among the infrastructure projects of DPWH-7 that will ease the traffic flow around the uptown district of this city. Edgar Tabacon, DPWH-7 regional director, said the detailed engineering design for the P40-million diversion road project is part of the list of projects included in the 2020 budget proposal of the DPWH central office. The General Appropriations Act of 2019 allocated P90 million for
the detailed engineering design of the Metro Cebu Flood Control and Drainage Master Plan, he said. The provincial government of Cebu, through a resolution sponsored by Provincial Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco, encouraged local governments to align their respective drainage and flood projects to the master plan. Dino said the Mandaue-Mactan link bridge with a segment for the Mandaue Coastal Road is also a high impact project to be funded through the Official Development Assistance from the Japanese government. He said the New Cebu International Container Port in Talisay City which is now under construction is also expected to decongest both the container yard in the existing Cebu International Port and the traffic congestion along the service road that runs parallel with the Sergio Osmeña Street leading to a big mall at the North Reclamation Area and Mandaue Reclamation Area. The Regional Develop-
ment Council-7 has also endorsed P167.9-billion worth of programs, activities and projects for the Central Visayas with the biggest chunk worth P90 billion represents allocation for Cebu’s development program. About 65 percent of the P90 billion will go to Cebu’s infrastructure program, while P30 billion for social development, P846.1 million for economic enterprises and P344.5 million for development administration, according to Dino. He said among the projects to be funded is the construction of fire stations in Sibonga in Santa Fe, Aloguinsan, Poro in Camotes; Tuburan, Minglanilla and the rehabilitation of the Bureau of Fire Protection regional office here. The body also endorsed the proposed construction of the regional office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the construction of jail facilities in Carcar City, Argao, Barili, Oslob in the south and Carmen, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Consolacion and Bogo in the north.
Dino said under the health facilities and enhancement program of the Department of Health (DOH-7), Cebu has requested P539 million for infrastructure, P260 million for equipment, P44 million for medical transport. Imelda Laseras, regional director of the Department of Budget Management (DBM-7), reminded the government agencies to endorse implementation-ready projects. For his part, Tabacon said the DPWH-7 is already conducting parcellary survey and appraisal of properties affected in the projects that they will implement in 2020. “We will already prepare the offer to pay the owner of the properties. Those who refused, we prepared expropriation case to be filed in court upon approval of the 2020 budget,” he said. While he admitted that right of way acquisition was the challenge they are facing, Tabacon said they are exerting all efforts to address this issue on infrastructure development for the benefit of the public. (John Rey Saavedra)
dictions. “The challenge that we have is that regulating hotels right now is under LGU. So LGUs should also act on it, BIR should also act on it, the Fire Department should also act on it, and the police should also act on it,” he said, claiming that there are condominium units in Cebu that are being occupied by Chinese nationals who are into offshore gaming operation. Efforts of hotel and resort organizations in assisting the Department of Tourism (DOT) in marketing activities abroad would be wasted if visitors opt to book via online sites, Reyes said, lamenting that hotels and resorts have been investing for marketing strategies to perk up bookings but visitors are lured to online booking sites. Reyes said owners of hotels and resorts in the country have made representations with the DOT after starting to feel the negative impact of the operation of online hotel booking sites five years ago, he said. Carlo Anton Suarez, president of HRRACI, for his part, said although the annual Sinulog Festival on January 19 is approaching but hotels in Cebu could still hardly get bookings. “Well, it’s been affecting the whole market share. We want to promote Cebu but how can we promote Cebu? We need everybody’s help,” Suarez said. Gelena Dimpas, chief of tourism operations at DOT-Central Visayas, said hotel and resort players have already been informed about the agency’s actions. She said the DOT central office has tasked the Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation to look into their concerns. “It is not a lone battle of DOT and we look forward to benchmarking on other countries nga niagi na pud ani nga phase and how they resolved it,” she said. (John Rey Saavedra)
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