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FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (082) 2841859 P10 February 22-28, 2021 Senator Manny Pacquiao (MannyPacquiao FB page)
Pacquiao demands $40m purse for next world title fight MANNY PACQUIAO says he wants a fee of $40million (£30m) to take on Terence Crawford this year. The Filipino star has The 42-year-old renot returned to the ring vealed he has spoken to since beating Keith Thur- Crawford’s promoter Bob man in July 2019.But his Arum about the prospect party have been in negoti- of the two facing off. ations with Crawford over And in an interview a potential bout in the with the Daily Tribune, Middle East in the near Pacquiao named the future. eye-watering price he is
demanding to make it happen. “I like to fight somebody who has a title,” he said. “We told Bob I get $40million (£30m) and Crawford gets $10million (£7m). I will fight anybody. You know me; I don’t back away from any Continue on page 6
No to BARMM extension
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NFLUENTIAL SULTANS of Sulu are protesting the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government for another 3 years, and called on Muslims in the country and President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress to disallow all attempts and maneuver to extend the tenure of those trying to hold on power. Sultans Muizuddin themselves before the Bahjin, Ibrahim Bahjin true will of the people to and Vennizar Julkarnain legitimize their mandate said that aspiring mem- through the electoral probers of the Bangsamoro cess as set and scheduled parliament should be by the Constitution. compelled to submit Continue on page 2
Catholic statues beheaded in Basilan province Sulu Governor Dr. Sakur Tan (4th from right) with Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram during the signing of the unity covenant among the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu. Dr. Tan is a key figure in the unification of the sultans which is unprecedented and historical and will further strengthen the unity of all heirs to the Sultante of Sulu and North Borneo. (Mindanao Examiner Library Photo)
Extortion? The beheaded statue of San Isidro Labrador. (Photo courtesy of Ronda del Basilan) STATUES OF Catholic saints that have been in the small chapel of San Isidro Labrador had been beheaded in Basilan province in the Bangsamoro autonomous region. The attack on the church in Lamitan City coincided with the Ro-
ARMM
man Catholic observance of Ash Wednesday and police are investigating the incident. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the desecration of the chapel, but suspicions fell heavily on the Abu Sayyaf and other proISIS groups violently Continue on page 6
President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice-President Leni Robredo, and Senator Ping Lacson. FILIPINO LEADER Rodrigo Duterte was strongly criticized for asking the United States to pay up if it wants to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement
Eastern Mindanao
with the Philippines, a long-time ally of Washington in Southeast Asia. Duterte made the statement at a military base where he told sol-
Western Mindanao
diers and defense officials in a speech “I would like to put on notice, if there is an American agent here that from now on, you want the Visiting Forces
Cebu
Agreement done (then) you have to pay.” He cancelled the VFA last year after Washington banned Philippine Continue on page 3
Manila
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
No to BARMM extension
Continued from page 1 Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and his allies in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) are pushing and lobbying for the extension of the interim government. It would also extend Ebrahim’s term and BTA members and those holding key positions in the regional government. Ebrahim, also chieftain of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said he is pushing for the extension of the interim government based on the recommendation of the so-called peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus following its “rapid midterm review” on the Bangsamoro transition period. Ebrahim has met several times with Duterte to lobby the proposed extension even without public consultations, not even a meeting with the governors and mayors of the volatile region. But House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman and former governor of the Muslim autonomous region, also wanted to review the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), but this too was quickly rejected by BARMM and it also asked lawmakers to audit the previous Hataman administration. The Sultans also is-
Then Sulu Governor Totoh Tan (extreme right) and respected political leader and philanthropist and now Governor Dr. Sakur Tan (4th from right) pose with Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kiram (2nd from right), Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram and Grand Mufti Abdulbaqi Abubakar. (Mindanao Examiner Library Photo) sued a signed manifesto on February 13 enumerating the reasons for their opposition to the extension. A copy of the manifesto was obtained by the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner and it reads: “Royal House of Patikul, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, after having gone through series of consultation to gauge and register the pulse of our Ra’ayats vizavis the performance of the BTA, conscious of the fact that Sulu registered a majority NO votes in a (2019) plebiscite to ratify the BOL forming the socalled Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, hereby make a stand arrived at in a consensus based on common
observations.” It listed the following issues with BARMM and BTA: “That since its inception, the BTA which constitutes the so-called Bangsamoro Parliament and Regional Government have been markedly slow in the delivery of government services as mandated to Sulu, and for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families, and rather spent long working hours if only to deliberate and enact codes and bills while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insu-
lar provinces, were left to fend for themselves.” “That, BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting; That, gauging from the general observation on the operation and performance of the BTA, it can be construed as deliberate delaying maneuver to justify the plan they seemingly hatched from the very star, that is, to ask for an extension, accordingly for as long as 7 years.” And “That, to allow the extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter viz-a-vis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s right of suffrage that is enshrined in the Constitution to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possibly legal redress maybe sought; That, the region, and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand “failed experiment.” Other Sultans of Sulu - Muedzul-Lail Kiram, Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram have rejected the BOL. Rejected Governor Sakur Tan said municipal mayors and their constituents are also opposing the extension of the interim government and the BTA. “People are now protesting here (in Sulu) because they are opposing the self-serving proposal to extend the interim Bangsamoro government for another 3 years,” he said.
Sulu has previously cited various reasons for rejecting the proposed extension, according to a manifesto passed November 17 by the Provincial Board after consulting with municipal mayors and peoples’ organizations, among other sectors. The manifesto said the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Regional Government have not delivered even the most basic of government services, as mandated, to Sulu. And for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families. It said that after almost 2 years, “all they can afford to banner is but the passing of an Administrative Code while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, was left to fend for themselves.” The manifesto also said BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting, almost negligible; And to allow the extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter vis-a-vis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s constitutional right of suffrage to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possible legal redress maybe sough. It further said “that the region and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand of a failed experi-
ment.” “The question should be asked to those who are in the seat of authority in the BARMM on why are they so hesitant to submit themselves to an election when even before the transition they have repeatedly boasted of their readiness and preparedness to rule and govern; and how could they have the moral ascendancy to sit as an authority over a region when they are devoid of a mandate by the true will of the people, thereby casting doubts on their platform of so-called “Moral Governance?”, the manifesto reads. It also called on the Office of the President, House of Representatives and the Senate, and Constitutional Commissions and other concerned groupings and individuals and the BARMM general populace to deny all attempts to extend the tenure of the BTA. Fears Ebrahim admitted last November that he fears he may not win should the elections push through in 2022 and that is why there is a need to extend the term of the interim government. “We are very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami. And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mageleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said in a podcast interview on November 13 with journalist Christian Esguerra on Press One. He said new transition schedule might not be enough to complete systemic and structural changes in the region, including the crucial decommissioning of combatants under the peace deal’s normalization process. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (in 2022 elections). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” he told Esguerra. Esguerra’s report said BARMM was allocated a much bigger budget compared with the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its block grant is worth P65.3 billion in this year’s appropriations law, on top of a P10-billion special development fund it was supposed to receive. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
Duterte approves amnesty program for rebels
DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte approved an amnesty program for Muslim and communist rebels who would agree to surrender their weapons as they return to normal life in the latest such attempt to tame rural insurgencies that have raged for half a century. Thousands of guerrillas belonging to two large Muslim groups in the country’s south and a communist rebel faction could apply for the amnesty within a year after it gets approved by Congress, according to President Rodrigo Duterte’s signed orders made public recently. The three rebel
Extortion? Continued from page 1 officials in the unlawful detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima. Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine police chief, who criticized Duterte asked: “Why use strong words to send a message to a long-time ally when a civil, diplomatic and statesmanlike approach can be more effective?” He said Duterte’s statement may have given the impression that the Philippines is a nation of extortionists. He said the Philippines needs the VFA, especially with recent Chinese intrusions into Philippine territory, particularly the West Philippine Sea. Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense, stressed this as he pointed out one cannot put a price tag on the value of the VFA. “The President may have used strong words to send his message across to the US. But certainly, there is a more civil and statesmanlike manner to ask for compensation
from a long-time ally using the usual diplomatic channels and still get the same desired results,” he said. He added that while the Philippines - in pursuing the national interest - should make sure the US holds up its end of the agreement, diplomatic channels are a better route to accomplish the same results. “At least give the other party an elbow room to save face instead of looking bullied and stripped of dignity,” he said in a tweet. Lacson said the last thing the Philippines should lose is the balance of power that its allies, including the US, “can provide to suit our national interest and territorial integrity.” Vice President Leni Robredo also hit Duterte, saying, the president’s statement could be likened to an extortion. “Para sa akin, nakakahiya. Parang extortion lang. Parang criminal eh, kung gusto mo nito (VFA) magbayad ka muna,” she said. Duterte also hit back at Lacson and Robredo,
saying: “Itong dalawa, in short, si Robredo said that I was extorting money from – it is like extorting money from a friendly country. Ito naman si Robredo abogado, I can forgive Lacson because he is not, na they should look at the Constitution. The Constitution of the Philippines provides that the foreign relations or foreign policy is vested in the president alone.” “Siya ‘yong kaisa-isang, well, I happened to be there. Kung ano ang policy gusto niyang ipalabas for the Philippines is vested in the president and not with the senators or the vice president. So at least ‘yong sabi nila na extortion, well, I can forgive Robredo. Every time she opens her mouth, talagang she forgets that she’s a lawyer, and being a lawyer, she should know that the Constitution says that that is my function. It is not their function,” he added. But Lacson took a jab at Duterte and said: “Mr President, read the 1987 Constitution. A senator has something to do with
international agreements: Article VII SECTION 21. No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least twothirds of all the Members of the Senate.” The US has not issued any statement on Duterte’s pronouncement. But last year, Trump reacting on Duterte’s cancellation of the VFA said: “If they would like to do that, that’s fine, we’ll save a lot of money. You know my views are different from other people. I view it as, ‘Thank you very much, we’ll save a lot of money.” (Mindanao Examiner)
groups have signed separate peace deals with Duterte’s predecessors which have eased decades of fighting but have not been fully enforced due to unresolved issues. Leaders of the largest armed group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have been put in charge temporarily of administering the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao while thousands of its fighters are disarmed. “It’s welcome as long as it’s based on our peace agreement,” Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Von Al Haq told The Associated Press by telephone. He said that his rebel group’s peace deal with the government provides for a general amnesty with an agreed manner of “decommissioning,” a subtle term for disarming thousands of its combatants in batches depending largely on government compliance with the peace pact. Duterte also agreed to include former insurgents who once belonged to the main communist New People’s Army in his amnesty program. He labeled the NPA a “terrorist group” in his amnesty proclamation. His administration’s peace talks with the Marxist group collapsed after both sides accused each other of launching attacks despite peace negotiations brokered by Norway. The 75-year-old Duterte has promised to
resolve Muslim and communist insurgencies before he leaves office. His six-year term ends in June next year. “There is a need to reintegrate as soon as possible all rebels and insurgents into the mainstream society under the rule of law, including those who may have committed unlawful acts,” Duterte said in his amnesty proclamation. The amnesty “shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs” and restore political and civil rights, which were lost due to criminal conviction, the proclamation said. The amnesty would not cover kidnappings for ransom, massacres, rape, terrorism, drug trafficking and certain crimes the U.N. says should never be covered by amnesties, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. The amnesty program excludes the notoriously brutal Abu Sayyaf and other small armed bands associated with the Islamic State group. The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for kidnappings for ransom, beheadings and suicide bombings. It has been weakened by years of battle setbacks, surrenders and continuing military offensives but remains a security threat. (AP)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
Environmentalists welcome climate commitment
Ozamiz City Government photo shows the newly wed couples.
150 couples wed for free in Ozamiz City OZAMIZ CITY – The Covid pandemic has not stopped 150 couples to tie the knot in one of the biggest mass weddings here sponsored by the local government. Dubbed the “Kasalan ng Bayan 2021,” couples exchanged bows in a solemn ceremony officiated by Mayor Sancho Oaminal at the Naomis Botanical Garden just recently. “The bond of marriage is not easy, it entails love of sacrifice, cooperation, heartaches, pain, and of course happiness and success. Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It is supposed to be unconditional love. The sacrament of marriage is forever full
of love and respect for each other,” he said, reminding the newly weds of the responsibilities and commitment towards each other. “This month reminds us that every day of our lives, we must spread love, share love and celebrate love despite the problems that we are facing,” he added. Vice Mayor Simplicia Neri, who was present during the weddings, congratulated the couples, many of them have been living together for years without having legitimized their bond. “A married life is a journey of love. Always
remember nga sa atong pagpanaw dili tanan sementado ang dalan duna’y mga lubak-lubak tungod kay ang kaminyuon is not always a bed of roses,” she said. Each couple also received a cake plus P10,000 cash gift from the mayor and Deputy Speaker Henry Oaminal on top of free make-up and gowns for the brides and formal suit for the grooms. The wedding ceremony followed the strict health protocols with the couples and visitors underwent Covid antigen testing. (With additional reporting by the Mindanao Examiner)
E N V I RO N M E N TA L I S T GROUP Aksyon Klima Pilipinas said it has transmitted to the Climate Change Commission the statement of nearly two dozen civil society groups on the finalization of the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The statement said that while the groups welcome the higher GHG emissions reductions target, there still remains significant issues and challenges regarding the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) draft, which continues to resemble a document seemingly focused more on compliance than substance. “We hope that the civil society and other sectors be given space and voice in the NDC Technical Working Group in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes,” said Aksyon Klima Pilipinas national convenor Rodne Galicha. Galicha said they are also requesting for the full disclosure of the breakdown of the proposed 75% emissions reduction and avoidance, with its
conditional and unconditional commitments. “Aksyon Klima Pilipinas urges the Commission to assure active participation of the civil society in the Advisory Board per Section 5, Republic Act 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009; and continue creating an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakeholder participation which is inclusive and transparent per Section 9.h and Section 16 of same law,” he said. Consistent to its role since 2007, Aksyon Klima Pilipinas said it continues to serve as a platform of the civil society and communities to work and engage with different sectors and the government to act on the climate crisis towards genuine sustainable development and intergenerational ecological justice. The finalization and submission of the NDC for the Philippines is vital to achieve sustainable development, where no one is left behind. Despite playing a pivotal role in the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the country is one of the few Parties yet to submit its
first climate pledge; this is a situation that the Philippine government aims to rectify as it is currently spearheading the finalization of the NDC, targeting the end of February 2021 for its long-awaited submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international environmental treaty addressing climate change, negotiated and signed by 154 states at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Just this month, the Duterte government presented its second draft of the NDC to nongovernment stakeholders, where it now commits to a 75% reduction in GHG emissions between 2020 and 2030, compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario for the same period. This is higher than the target in the previous draft, a 30% reduction target by 2040. It also expresses for the year 2030 to be its target for said emissions to peak, before decreasing as part of a less-pollutive development pathway by 2050. (Mindanao Examiner)
PSA beefs up services in new normal
PSA-10 Chief Administrative Officer Virgie Gayla.
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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Underscoring the importance of civil registry and the documentation of demographics, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it is now is adapting to a more technological and digital type of service in response to the Covid-19 health crisis. From the electronic endorsement of civil registry documents, conducting of mobile issuance or off-site services in the hinterland villages, to mass weddings in coordination
with the local civil registrars, PSA Regional Chief Administrative Officer Virgie Gayla said despite the challenges, services continue as usual. And these services include PSA’s assistance to the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for the provision of timely and accurate Covid-19 related data. Gayla said in addition to PSA’s current responsibilities they are also slow-
ly working on the implementation of the National ID System, which aims to streamline citizen’s identification to make the government’s services more accessible to the general public. “As we are highlighting civil registry this month, we are encouraging people to approach our civil registrars as we are aiming for one hundred percent coverage so our people can access the government’s services,” she said. (VPSB, Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
OFWs vaccinated vs. Covid, tested positive for virus TWO OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFW) who had been inoculated with Covid-19 abroad have tested positive for the deadly respiratory virus while in the Philippines, reports said. ABS-CBN which quoted Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Chief Pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, said the duo, a 43-year-old man from Mandaue City, had taken two doses of China’s Sinopharm in the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), and a 25-year-old woman had one dose of Pfizer’s vaccine. Loreche said the man arrived in Cebu on January 5 and underwent 14day quarantine. “Because he underwent the 14-day quarantine upon arrival, we did not do any swabbing yet. But when tested for his return flight to the UAE earlier this month, the OFW was found to be positive. He is asymptomatic. But because this
Catholic statues beheaded in Basilan province Continued from page 1 fighting for the establishment of a caliphate. The statues were desecrated sometime Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and police are trying to figure out who is behind the act. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, when Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them. It was not the first time this had happened. In June 2017, an ISIS propaganda video surfaced on social media that showed its fighters desecrating the Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, also in the Muslim autonomoua region. The clip, believed to have been taken during the first week of the ISIS siege of Marawi, showed militants stomping and smashing statues of the Virgin Mary and other saints, including a huge statue of Jesus Christ nailed on the
wooden cross. They also tore and burned pages of the holy Bible and photographs of Pope Francis at the Cathedral’s altar. Militants destroyed and burned the Credence Table, Tabernacle, the Ambo and Presider’s Chair while chanting “Allahu Akbar” or “God is Great” before retreating away from the church. They also abducted its priest Father Chito Suganob along with other church workers who were eventually freed after four months in captivity. The video lasted about 1 minute and 45 seconds and also appeared on the ISIS website. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sulu province, also in the restive Muslim autonomous region, and a chapel were likewise bombed several times over the last decade by the Abu Sayyaf. But the deadliest attack was in January 2019 when an Indonesian couple blew themselves up and killed at least 20 people and wounded over 100, mostly innocent civilians and soldiers guarding the church. (Mindanao Examiner)
particular OFW had to go back to his workplace, he underwent swabbing on February 8. Results were released on February 9 turned out to be positive,” she said. She explained that getting vaccinated does not mean that the person will never be infected with Covid-19, adding, the vaccine only helps prevent a patient from developing a more severe illness. “This is classically manifested by our particular case na hindi naman talaga nagkaroon ng sintomas kahit siya nag-positibo ulit sa SARS-CoV-2,” Loreche said. Loreche said the OFW received 2 doses of Sinopharm vaccine: the first was administered on December 12 and the second dose on January 2 before he returned to the Philippines. He infected four other members of his household but they, too, are asymptomatic, she said, adding, “Ang pinakamahalaga nito sa ngayon ay wala siyang symptoms. Yun mga kasambahay niyang nahawa wala din pong sintomas. Pangatlo, lahat po sila asymptomatic, naka-quarantine na,” she said. On the other hand, the woman was administered the first dose of the vaccine on January 13 and arrived in Cebu on February 9. She was swabbed on February 14 – her fifth day under quarantine, and the results turned out positive. “We are going to conduct antibody test on the individual so we want to determine the level of immunity that currently she has,” she said. Loreche added that they are also looking at the effect of the vaccine, whether or not it would result in a more serious case on a person infected by a vaccinated patient. (ABS-CBN, Mindanao Examiner)
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Pacquiao demands $40m purse for next world title fight Continued from page 1 challenge. Bring them on!” Pacquiao was recently stripped of his WBA belt due to inactivity, and appears desperate to make a comeback. There was also speculation he could face MMA star Conor McGregor - but the Irishman’s defeat to Dustin Poirier last month appears to
have dented the prospect of this happening. Pacquiao’s promoter Sean Gibbons said on the matter: “Very unfortunate, it looked like Conor looked past Dustin and got knocked out. Maybe he had the Senator on his mind. I think the demand for the fight is not there presently. Conor has some business to clean up and
handle in the UFC. It’s a bummer; it could have been fun for as long as it lasted and I know leg kicks would have made a world of difference.” Pacquiao could be set to lose tens of millions of dollars as a result of McGregor’s defeat as he misses out on a potential huge pay-day. (By Alex Milne, The Daily Mirror)
Saudi sends food aid to Marawi KIDAPAWAN CITY – Saudi Arabia donated some 5,000 food baskets to poor Muslim families in Marawi City in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Sur. The donation was coursed through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and attended by local government officials and members of the Philippine Red Cross. The humanitarian project was led by Naif Al-Shehri, representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s embassy in the Philippines. “This campaign comes within the framework of
support being provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the Center, to secure and distribute food baskets for the most vulnerable families in Marawi City,” according to the Saudi Press Agency. In May 2017, heavily-armed members of the jihadist Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf and other pro-ISIS militants occupied Marawi in an attempt to establish a caliphate and sparked fierce clashes that resulted in the destruction of the city. Nearly 400,000 people were left homeless and hundreds killed and wounded in the fighting that lasted 5 months.
The recent humanitarian mission coincided with fierce fighting between the pro-ISIS group Dawlah Islamiya in the town of Madalum, about 35 kilometers away from Marawi. Troops seized several enemy encampments in the villages of Bawang and Cabasaran and recovered materials in the manufacture of homemade bombs. There were no reports of casualties from both sides, although the military operation continues in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the restive Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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February 22-28, 2021
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February 22-28, 2021
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Answer to last week:
Reynold Toribio Graphics/Video Editor
Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily / Business Week / Mindanao Star ADVERTISING Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936 Central Mindanao/ Kidapawan City/Cotabato City North Cotabato Eduardo A. Sode (0917) 3087366 044 Mabini St. Cebu City Rodil P. Ybañez (0923) 1670009 Ground flr, Dreamfield Bldg, Sanciangko St., Kamagayan Cebu City
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The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines. ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197 DAVAO CITY OFFICE: Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero Phone: (082) 2841859 Mobile: (0925) 7621914 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197
ZAMCELCO overbilling hit ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local electric cooperative is now the subject of a complaint after a house owner said they were overbilled not once, but twice after a meter reader deliberately and falsely misread their actual power consumption on December 2020 and January 2021. In his complaint posted on the ZAMCELCO Consumers’ Complaint Page on Facebook, Joules Abubakar Susulan questioned how the meter reader computed their electric usage from December and January. On his electric billing, Susulan said reading from their electric meter showed 959.9 kWh. But the meter reader recorded 1,000 kWh. And he said the same thing happened again in January, the electric meter reads 983.8 kWh and the meter reader listed it as 1,000 kWh. “Always check the actual meter reading, it happens that they will do like this. Kung sana no read, no write ako abay magpapasalamat talaga ako sa kanila dahil wala na akong bill sa January,” he wrote on his complaint, showing the 2 electric bills. The electric meter measures the amount of electrical energy in kWh that was consumed in the house. The kWh meter has a counter display that counts units of kilowatt-hour. The energy consumption is calculated by the difference of the counter’s reading in the specified period.
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
Other power consumers also criticized how the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative computes actual electric usage. “That’s what they call Table Reading tsk…tsk…,” wrote Edmin de Guzman Lagonera in his reaction to Susulan’s predicament. Aivhan Blocknyt said: “This is the problem, even I. This is (a) big headache.” “That’s why our bill from P1800-P2000, (now is) P3,600. How come?” asked Ion Raz Jangayo. Marinela Ordoña Redoña said the electric reading was obviously inaccurate: “Eh, di parang nag mano-mano mag reading kasi hindi accurate ang reading. Di tumutugma ang reading sa actual (count) na nasa meter. Ginagawa tayong mga tanga nitong Zamcelco na ito.” “Messed up, always,” said Anne RaRa Susulan said he complained to the cooperative, but he was told that the billing was advanced by ZAMCELCO. “Ang sabi ng nakausap ko sa ZAMCELCO bale daw na advance na yung bill sa January,” he said. But no one believed ZAMCELCO. “Puede bang i-advance ang pag reading ng meter? Parang nag guessing-guessing ang meter reader niyan dahil hindi makabigay ng accurate na reading,” said Redoña. Last month, many house owners complained that they were overbilled by ZAMCELCO after it imposed back-billing to many residential
accounts following a massive installation of new electric meters. Back-bill is a catchup bill sent when a power consumer is incorrectly charged for energy usage. It covers a longer period than the usual billing cycle and will likely be for a larger than usual amount. This was confirmed to the Zamboanga Post newspaper by ZAMCELCO General Manager Gannymede Tiu who said that “in the past several months until December 19, we conducted massive installation of kilowatt-hour meters to more than 10,000 consumers that has no installed meters for so many years back.” Tiu said many residential accounts here have no electric meters and ZAMCELCO only billed them through “averaging” or minimum amount compared to their actual electricity usage. He said back billing of customers is to ensure all power consumers pay for the utilities they use. “That is the reason for the ZAMCELCO back-billing,” he said. Following the outcry, ZAMCELCO eventually adjusted the overbilling. ZAMCELCO is now being managed by Crown Investment Holdings, Inc. and Desco Inc. The two firms took over ZAMCELCO in January 2019 after bailing out the heavily-indebted and poorly-managed electric cooperative for P2.5 billion. (Zamboanga Post)
HEALTH
ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
Emphysema at COPD: Paano Iiwas
A
ng COPD ay Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. Mas kilala ang COPD sa salitang Emphysema. Tinatayang umaabot sa 13% ng Pilipino ay may COPD. Sa COPD o emphysema ay may pagkikipot ng mga tubo sa ating baga. Dahil dito nagkakaroon ng ubo at plema. Nasisira ang mga tubong ito dahil sa (1) paninigarilyo, (2) paglanghap ng usok ng sigarilyo, (3) paglanghap ng usok ng nagsisiga o naggagatong, (4) at polusyon sa hangin. Ano Ang Sintomas ng Emphysema? 1. Stage 1: Ubo – Sa umpisa ay paubo-ubo pa lang. Ito ang tinatawag na smoker’s cough. 2. Stage 2: Ubo at Plema – Sa katagalan ay may plema nang lumalabas kasama ang ubo. Ito ay dahil nasisira na ang lining ng tubo sa ating baga. 3. Stage 3: Ubo, Plema at Hingal – Kapag may hingal nang nararamdaman sa pangkaraniwang gawain tulad
ng pag-akyat ng 2 palapag ng hagdanan ay seryoso na ito. Medyo mahirap nang gamutin at kailangan nang dalhin sa doktor o ospital. 4. Stage 4: Ubo, Plema, Hingal at Huni. Kapag may huni na (parang may pusa sa baga), ay malala na ang COPD at kailangan nang dalhin sa ospital. Kadalasan ay mangangailangan ng oxygen ang pasyente kahit na nasa bahay. Huwag natin paabutin sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ano Ang Solusyon? Simple lang ang solusyon sa COPD: Itigil ang paninigarilyo. Kumonsulta din sa doktor para mabigyan ng tamang inhaler para sa baga. May tulong ang mga inhaler na ito pero ang pinakamagandang pag-iwas talaga ay ang paghinto ng paninigarilyo. Paano Titigil sa Paninigarilyo: 1. Will – Kailangan ay may “will” o nais ang tao na tumigil sa paninigarilyo. Kung wala pa siyang balak huminto ay mahirap pang pilitin. Sabihan na lang natin ng
masasamang epekto na maidudulot ng sigarilyo. 2. Quit Date - Kapag may “will” o lakas ng loob na, magtakda na ng Quit Date. Ito ay isang petsa kung kailan ititigil na ng pasyente ang paninigarilyo. Napakahalaga nito. Kapag malapit na ang Quit Date, ihanda na ang pasyente sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaalam sa kanyang pamilya at kaibigan. Kailangan ng family support para maging matagumpay. Alisin na ang mga ashtray at pakete ng sigarilyo sa iyong bahay. Lumayo din muna sa mga barkada mong naninigarilyo para makaiwas sa tukso. 3. Cold turkey or gradual reduction – Dalawang paraan ng pagtigil ng sigarilyo. Puwede ang biglaang paghinto (cold turkey) o iyung padahan-dahan. Nasa pasyente na ito. Mayroon ding “gamot” na makatutulong sa paghinto. Kumonsulta sa inyong doktor para matulungan kayo sa inyong magandang balak na itigil ang paninigarilyo. Good luck po.
RECIPE
Cajun-Spiced Chicken thespruceeats.com
INGREDIENTS : • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts (halves or cutlets)* • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (see the homemade blend, below) • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt (only if the Cajun seasoning is unsalted) • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS : 1. Gather the ingredients. 2. Easy Cajun Spiced Chicken Breast ingredients 3. If the chicken breasts are large, slice them horizontally to form thin cutlets. For faster cooking, place the chicken breasts or cutlets between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to flatten to a uniform thickness. 4. Pounding chicken breasts 5. Combine the seasonings and oil to form a paste, adding more oil if needed. 6. Cajun spice blend
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Rub the seasoning mixture all over the chicken breasts. Chicken breasts and cajun spices Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a food storage bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chicken breasts marinating Grill or broil the chicken for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. Grilling Cajun chicken Chicken is done when juices run clear when pricked with a fork. Easy Cajun Spiced Chicken Breasts Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 22-28, 2021
February 22-28, 2021
The Mindanao Examiner
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mindanaoexaminer.com
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P10 February 22-28, 2021
Camotes Islands grow medicinal plants, veggies
AS CEBU gears towards adapting traditional and alternatives in health management, three Sugbusog nurseries in Camotes Islands are growing different kinds of medicinal plants. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who recently visited Camotes Islands, said she was awed with the many different herbal plants in the nurseries of Barangays Consuelo and Northern Poblacion in San Francisco town, and in Daan Secante in Tudela. She said there are ginseng, lagundi, luy-a, duwaw, insulin plant, mayana, salimbangon, mansanitas, labana, lawat, syapo, pandansina, and calabash-miracle fruit, among many others. These plants are used to treat a variety of illnesses such as cough and colds, fever, diarrhea, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and diabetes. Learning from the current pandemic, Garcia said she is determined to bring back traditional medicines and alternative healthcare in the province and is set to tie up with the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care for the training of barangay health workers. Aside from the medicinal plants, the nurseries also boasted of various vegetables, native chickens, and a fishpond, Gar-
cia said, adding, the nursery in Barangay Consuelo takes on the theme of Sugbusog Shipping Lines conceptualized based on the island’s Consuelo port. “Ship ni siya tungod kay among gikuha kung unsa’y naa sa barangay nga makita nato asa ni-income ang barangay. So, among gitukma ang concept diin si Gov ang nagtimun sa among barko. Siya ang naghatag og kadasig nga mabuo ni namo,” Consuelo Barangay Captain Liesel Yuson said. Yuson thanked Garcia for the Sugbusog program which helped her and her constituents provide food to their families at the height of the pandemic when they lost their live-
lihoods. “Dako kaayo ang kaayohan ang gidala ni Gov dinhi sa among barangay aning programa sa Sugbusog. Labi na jud sa panahon sa pandemya ang mga tawo walay trabaho. So karon nakat-on ang tanan sa pagpananom diin aron makahatag og pagkaon. Dako among pasalamat namo ni Gov kining Sugbusog program,” she said. In Barangay Northern Poblacion, Garcia and Representative Duke Frasco harvested upland kangkong and pechay. Barangay Captain Ruel Fabroa said all vegetables in their nursery are for free. He said they will be giving seedlings to their constituents to encourage them to plant. The governor expressed delight in seeing the healthy and bounty harvest of the nurseries. “Makapabayaw sa kasing-kasing sa tukmang kalipay nga magtan-aw niining inyong paningkamot. Mao gyud na ang makalipay naku. Maningkamot gyud ta kay nasayod ko ang Sugbuanon labi na taga Northern Poblacion maningkamot gyud, kugihan gyud,” she said. (Mylen Manto)
Cebu welcomes visitors VISITORS WHO wish to stay in resorts and hotels will only need to show their prebooked reservations while those who want to experience the different tourism activities will have to register ahead at the Capitol’s booking portal. This was the agreement reached by the Cebu Provincial Tourism Task Force in a meeting called by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia recently. Based on the latest Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of the Community Quarantine in the Philippines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), areas under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) can now cross borders with minimum requirements.
“Interzonal movement of persons not authorized outside of residences or non-APOR between areas placed under GCQ and MGCQ for any purpose shall be permitted subject to reasonable regulations imposed by the LGU concerned, if any,” Garcia said, quoting Section 7 (3) of the Guideline. “So it could be to go visit some relatives here, for business, or more importantly, for tourism,” Garcia said. In the meeting, the members were unanimous in their observation of the need to revive Cebu’s economy as more and more people are suffering from joblessness. “A lot of our constituents already are suffering, many have lost their jobs, many have been wanting to find some living. Because of these constraints (community restrictions) lisud
Cebu City provides aid to Badjaos, solo parents
A Cebu City Government photo shows some of the Badjao beneficiaries who are given food aid. OVER 100 members of the indigenous Badjao tribe and
solo parents have received food packs from the Cebu
City government as part of its relief efforts amid the pandemic. Mayor Edgardo Labella recognized the donations the local government has received from private groups intended for the Badjao beneficiaries who are residents of Barangay Mambaling. “Our Cebu City Anti Mendicancy Office and Department of Social Welfare and Services have already forwarded the donations from Dreamscape Network that were coursed through the Cebu City government to
their intended beneficiaries,” he said. Labella assured that all donations received from both private and public sectors will be given to the intended recipients especially those who most need them. The City Government also distributed rice packs to solo parents in the mountain barangay of Pung-ol Sibugay. Labella ordered social workers to extend much-needed assistance to solo parents amid the economic challenges brought by the health crisis. (Carlo Lorenciana)
Bring and promote your business in Mindanao, ADVERTISE in our newspaper and website and get fast results! CEBU Rodil P. Ybañez G/F Dreamfield Bldg, Sancianko St., Mobile: (0923) 1670009
COTABATO Rhoderick Beñez Kidapawan City Mobile: (0927) 4757936
ZAMBOANGA Jeng Fernandez 3/F JLC Bldg. Don Alfaro St., Tetuan Phone: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197
DAVAO Door 2, 402 Nidea St., Obrero Malou Cablinda Phone: (08 2) 2841859 Mobile: (0925) 7621914
PAGADIAN Richard Suarez Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District Phone: (062) 2142706 Mobile: (0910) 7348600
E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
gyud kaayo, especially those in the tourism industry,” Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Jhoaden Lucero observed, adding, the opening of tourism will be “a step to moving forward”. Officials also emphasized that the Province is the main hub of tourism, education, information technology (IT), and a major economic player in the region. Provincial Tourism Officer Marti Ybañez said while tourism traffic increased during the holiday season, it dropped again this year. “Opening up our borders will really help our industry,” Ybañez told the Garcia. Cebu was the first province to open its tourism industry as early as the end of July last year to revive the economy that is badly beaten by the Covid-19 pandemic. Garcia has been in the forefront in this battle while rallying all local leaders, public and private, and national government agencies to push the economy forward. Major economic programs have already been rolled out since last year including the Sugbo Negosyo grassroots livelihood activity which supports Cebu’s homegrown products and entrepreneurs. Agriculture was also given a boost through its Sugbusog program or the backyard vegetable gardening which is spurring economy activity in the grassroots. (Vanessa L. Almeda)