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Peace agreement, BARMM hostage? ‘Kami lang dapat mamuno sa BARMM: Murad’

PINAGPIPILITAN NI former rebel chieftain at ngayon Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim na tanging sila lamang ang dapat na mamuno sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) dahil bahagi umano ito ng kasunduan ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa pamahalaan at kung hindi ay posibleng mabalewala ang peace agreement. Matatandaang lumagda ng peace agreement noong 2014 si Pangulong Benigno Aquino sa rebeldeng grupo na MILF na pinamumunuan ni Ebrahim. Sa isang virtual hearing ng House of Representatives kamakailan lamang, tinanong ni Kusog Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut si Ebrahim kung ano ang gagawin nito sakaling matalo sa 2022 BARMM election ang MILF-led members ng Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). “For example, there Continue on page 2 Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut

(Then) President Benigno Aquino with MILF Chieftain Murad Ebrahim.

U.S. to sell Philippines arms despite no human rights reforms ‘Washington pressured by Manila as parties negotiate key military pact’

U.S. President Joe Biden (FB page)

THE UNITED States has reaffirmed there are “no restrictions” on arms sales to the Philippines days after Manila called for more robust military aid as the two nations open negotiations to renew a key military agreement. “We will continue to look for ways to further strengthen and advance security cooperation that furthers shared security challenges and respects Continue on page 5

Solons urged to pass 3 bills to address teen pregnancy KIDAPAWAN CITY - The Child Rights Network and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) called on

ARMM

the Senate and House of Representatives to swiftly pass three proposed bills that can comprehensively address the sexual abuse aspect of the growing

problem of the adolescent or teenage pregnancy. This comes after the Commission on Population announced recently Continue on page 3

Eastern Mindanao

Sara Duterte, hindi tatakbo sa 2022 DAVAO CITY – Sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na pagsasabi ni Pangulong Ro-

drigo Duterte na hindi tatakbo sa pagka-pangulo sa 2022 national and local

elections ang anak na si Davao City Mayor Sara Continue on page 3

What is wrong with Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine? FOLLOWING THE Philippines’ emergency approval of China’s Covid-19 Continue on page 5

A health worker takes selfie when receiving a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine during mass vaccination program for health workers as a main priority group in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

Western Mindanao

Cebu

Manila

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

Peace agreement, BARMM hostage? ‘Kami lang dapat mamuno sa BARMM: Murad’ Continued from page 1 is an election and then the MILF members who are members of the BTA now do not win, what will happen to the agreement between the MILF and the government? Will the MILF turn away from that agreement, for example you do not win in the election, if you are no longer for example, member of the parliament, will you turn away from that agreement with the government?” tanong pa ni Tambut. Iginiit ni Ebrahim na may kasunduan ang MILF at pamahalaan at kung sila ay matatalo ay tahasan nitong sinabi na mababalewala na ang (peace) agreement. Hindi naman sinabi ni Ebrahim kung babalik ang MILF sa pakikibaka o hindi. “We do not want to speculate, but then you see the implementation of the agreement is a partnership between the MILF and the government and the mechanism is the BTA, and now if the MILF is no longer the BTA then there is no partnership between the national government and the MILF in implementing, so I do not see

how,” sagot pa ni Ebrahim kay Tambut. MILF Lang Tila wala rin tiwala si Ebrahim sa kung sino man ang susunod na mamumuno sa BARMM at miyembro ng BTA, at muling ipinagpilitan ang agreement nito sa pamahalaan. Ito ay matapos na tanungin muli ni Tambut ang dating lider ng rebeldeng grupo. Ito ang tanong ng mambabatas: “My next question is assuming that there will be an election for the BTABARMM on 2022, and then assuming you will not win, and there will be new set of officers are you saying that the newly elected officers will not be able to perform the task you mentioned, that only you can do the things you mentioned meaning people like (House) Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman cannot performed the task you have mentioned or seasoned legislators, politicians like Congressman Khalid Dimaporo na napakagaling (at) hindi nila kaya gawin yun mga na-mention mo at ikaw, kayo lang mga BTA ngayon ang may kayang guma-

wa noon?” Mabilis ang tugon ni Ebrahim. “I recognize the capability of our leaders, other leaders but then remember that this is an agreement between two parties and implementation must be a partnership between the two parties, so that is our reason.” Naninigurado rin si Ebrahim na sila pa rin ang mamumuno sa BARMM at BTA kung sakali kung kaya’t dapat umanong habaan pa ng 3 taon ang kanilang termino. Tila nalimutan ni Ebrahim ang mga probisyon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) sa kanyang pagsusumilit na dapat walang election sa 2022 at habaan na lamang ang kanilang mga termino. Sa ilalim ng BOL ng MILF ay nakasaad doon na dapat magkaroon ng halalan sa BTA sa susunod na taon upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Bangsamoro na makapili ng kanilang mga opisyal sa BTA at sa interim Bangsamoro government. “The challenge now will be the implementation process meaning the agreement will not be ful-

ly implemented. So now on our side, we are not postponing this just to be able to hold power, but we are postponing this in order to complete the implementation of the agreement, once it is complemented we are ready to have the election,” dagdag pa ni Ebrahim. Agreement Sa muling pagtatanong ni Tambut kay Ebrahim: “My question is what are the matters that you need to accomplish that necessitates the cancellation of the first election in 2022 and why would they be a hindrance to the conduct of an election in 2022?” Sa kanyang sagot, sinabi ni Ebrahim: “Actually, the transition of the BTA is the mechanism that will be an agreed mechanism between the MILF and the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in implementing the comprehensive (peace) agreement through the BOL, so the reason why we are asking for an extension, for the postponement or moving in of the 2022 election to 2025 is based on our analysis, considering all the experience we have also, and the challenges we had, so we see that 2022 will not complete the implementation of both the political aspects and normalization aspects of the agreement.” “So basically, if it will not be implemented then the (peace) agreement is not in place, so we are not sure whether the next government, because the BTA as a mechanism to implement, is already out of the picture so we cannot be assured that the other provisions which needed to be implemented both in the political aspect and the normalization aspect will be implemented,” ayon pa kay Ebrahim na tila hirap na hirap sa kanyang paliwanag. MILF-BIFF Lumutang rin sa congressional hearing ang isyu ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) at ng mga rebeldeng MILF na siyang nasa likod ng masaker sa 44 na miyembro ng Special Action Force ng Philippine National Police na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin hustisyang nakakamit ang mga naulilang pamilya nito. Naganap ito isang taon matapos na magkaroon ng peace agreement ang MILF sa pamahalaan. Matatandaang pina-

sok ng mga SAF ang kuta ng Malaysian terrorist na si Zulkifli bin Hir sa loob mismo ng teritoryo ng MILF sa Barangay Tukanalipao sa bayan ng Mamasapano sa Maguindanao province noong Enero 25, 2015. Napatay ng mga ito ang dayuhang bomber, ngunit sa paglabas ng SAF commandos sa nasabing lugar ay pinutakte sila ng mga rebeldeng MILF at BIFF hanggang sa napaslang ang 44 na mga miyembro ng pulisya. Pinagnakawan pa ng mga rebelde ang mga bangkay ng SAF 44 – mula wallet at armas ultimo uniporme at combat shoes. Tumanggi rin si Ebrahim na isuko ang mga sangkot na rebelde sa masaker at tanging 16 na armas lamang ang ibinalik ng MILF sa pamahalaan at karamihan sa mga ito ay tinanggalan pa ng mga piyesa. Dahil sa masaker, naudlot ang Bangasamoro Basic Law (BBL) at sa panahon na lamang ni Pangulong Duterte ito na-aprubahan. Ito rin ang inilitaw ni Tambut sa congressional hearing dahil sa pamimilit ni Ebrahim na gamitin ang peace agreement at ang Covid-19 pandemic upang hindi matuloy ang election sa BTA-BARMM. “With regard to the issue on peace, I am sorry but there is already this agreement between the MILF and the government. I am sorry to say, but still there is the BIFF and then still there is this issue about the SAF 44 if you are going to talk about peace. Now my second point is regarding the unfinished tasks, well it would be arrogant to say that only the MILF can function, can perform this unfinished tasks besides you were given an ample amount of time to do everything you needed to do, in fact it is stated in the (Bangsamoro) Organic Law that by 2022 we will have BARMM election and yet you did not perform so basically that is your fault.” “Now, do not use the pandemic as an excuse, because the members of the House of Representatives were able to perform (their mandate) despite the pandemic. President Duterte himself was able to perform his functions despite the pandemic so stop using the pandemic as an excuse,” wika pa ni Tambut. Sa kanyang pagtatapos, sinabi ng maimplu-

wensyang mambabatas na maghahain ito ng batas na magpapatawag ng referendum sa BARMM upang itanong sa mga Muslim kung payag ba silang i-urong ang election sa 2022 at habaan na lamang ang termino ni Ebrahim at mga opisyal nito at gayun rin sa BTA. “Now, if we will allow the extension of the BTABARMM because BTA was not able to finish their tasks, well who knows they might just delay and delay and use their lack of performance as an excuse so as not to hold an election in the point that I intend to introduce an amendment to all the house bills filed that there shall be a referendum to submit this amendment to a referendum so we can hear the voice of the people, anyway we submitted the Organic Law to a plebiscite and now that we are making an important amendment it is important that we consult again the people whether they want to extend the election or not through a referendum,” ani Tambut. Takot Naunang inamin ni Ebrahim sa interview sa kanya ng journalist na si Christian Esguerra sa “Press One” noong Nobyembre na ito ay natatakot na matalo sa 2022 BTA-BARMM election kung kaya’t dapat ay habaan na lamang ang kanilang termino. “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,” ani Ebrahim. Sinabi ni Ebrahim na hindi sapat ang panahon nila sa pagpapatakbo sa BARMM at wala pa silang maipakitang sa publiko na konkretong nagawa. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (sa 2022 election). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” paliwanag pa ni Ebrahim kay Esguerra. Ang BARMM ay may allocation na block grant sa halagang P65.3 bilyon bukod pa sa P10 bilyon special development fund. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

Solons urged to pass 3 bills to address teen pregnancy

Sara Duterte, hindi tatakbo sa 2022 Continued from page 1 Duterte, kaliwa’t-kanan naman ang paglitaw ng mga tarpaulin nito sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng bansa na humihimok sa kanyang tumakbo sa halalan. Nakasulat sa mga dambuhalang tarpaulin ang “Run Sara Run” at mismong mga gobernador at alkalde, at maging si Mocha Uson, na Deputy Executive Director ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, ay lantaran ang pangangampanya para kay Sara Duterte. Sa Zamboanga del Sur, mismong si Rep. Divina Grace Yu ang humihimok sa mga mamamayan na suportahan ang kandidatura ni Sara Duterte. “I love Yu Sara. Atong hangyuon si Mayor Sara nga modagan sa 2022 election for President, take a picture of our billboards and post on your FB account. Posters located at Labangan junction, Pagadian (Lumbia and Balintawak) and soon sa uban municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur,” ani Yu sa kanyang pinned post sa Facebook na may larawan ng malaking tarpaulin ni Sara Duterte na may nakasulat na “Run, Sara, Run.” Maging si Pagadi-

an City Mayor Sammy Co ay suportado rin ang pagtakbo ni Sara Duterte. Nagsagawa pa ito ng motorcade kamakailan, ayon sa ulat ng OneTV Philippines. Makikita rin sa Facebook post ng naturang media outfit ang mga larawan ng motorcade. “TAN-AWA: Grupo ni Pagadian City Mayor Sammy Co, First Lady Ilang-ilang Co, Congressman Jun Babasa ug sa mga Revelo nga Arangkada Pusong Asenso ug Team Mabuhi, mihimo ug usa ka motorkada libot sa probinsya ug dakbayan aron ipanawagan ug aghaton si Presidential Daughter ug Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte nga padaganon sa pagka Presidente sa nasud karong umaabot nga 2022 Election.” At gayun rin si North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco na nagpakita rin ng larawan ng tarpaulin ni Sara Duterte na may nakasulat na “Run Sara Run for President in 2022” sa kanyang social media page. Sinabi ng Pangulong Duterte na hindi tatakbo ang anak nito dahil sa kababuyan umano ng pulitika sa bansa. At maging si dating Senator Antonio Trillanes, na kilalang kri-

tiko ni Duterte, ay binanatan rin nito. “Inday Sara is not running. I have really, really put my foot down. Naaawa ako sa anak ko. Ang pulitika dito sa Pili — kababuyan. Lalo na si Trillanes pati ‘yong anak kong 16-years old ginawa pa ‘tong drug lord. Ito si… Be careful of Trillanes. Be careful of Trillanes. Magbantay kayo. They will sell — he will sell you to the devil pag ‘yan ang nakaupo, patay. Ako, sabi ko sa mga Pilipino, ‘pag ‘yan ang naging opisyal ninyo, eh ‘di kayo. Walang ginawa, walang hiya iyan sa totoo lang,” ani Duterte. Sa panig naman ni Sara Duterte ay ito ang kanyang pahayag: “I understand where they are coming from, I too am anxious where we are going as a nation. I am always grateful that I have their trust and confidence. I am pleading to them to please allow me to run for President on 2034, if at that time there is something I can do to help the country.” Ito rin ang sinabi ni Duterte noong 2016 sa kasagsagan ng mga nananawagan sa kanyang tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo. At tumakbo nga ito sa huling sandali. (Mindanao Examiner)

Continued from page 1 that the rising incidents of teenage pregnancy in the country can now be considered a national emergency. The announcement is based on the results of the latest Social Weather Stations poll on Women Concerns and Family Planning which revealed that nearly 60 percent of Filipinos think that teenage pregnancy is the most important problem of Filipino women. The latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) back these claims, with the PSA reporting that 62,510 children gave birth in 2019. Also in the same year, seven girls aged 10-14 years gave birth each day, with a total of 2,411 births. PSA data also revealed that underage mothers are generally sired by older men, with childbirth registration records in 2018 showing that children as young as 10 years old were sired by older men aged more than 60 years. These figures should sound the legislative alarms and press Congress to swiftly address the roots of why children are having children, including the sexual abuse dimension. Immediate action is needed, as we fear that we are currently in a worse situation, as the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly compounded the issue. Despite the grim scenario, Congress already has in its hands three potent bills that can help alleviate the situation: The Anti-Child Rape Bill, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, and the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill. Last December, the House of Representatives

approved on third and final reading House Bill 7836 which provides for stronger protection against rape, sexual exploitation, and abuse and increasing the age for determining the commission of statutory rape from below 12 to below 16 years. The landmark legislation contains potent provisions which include increasing the age to determine statutory rape from below 12 to below 16, equalizing the protection for victims of rape, whether a boy or a girl, and the removal of marriage as forgiveness exemption where the perpetrator is freed of legal responsibility if the perpetrator marries the person he raped. What is left for HB 7836 to pass into law is for the Senate to pass a counterpart bill. Senate has already passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1373 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, which aims to provide equal protection for all children by declaring the facilitation of child marriage as illegal and punishable by law nationwide, and by introducing socioeconomic and culture-sensitive programs that create an enabling environment that can help foster protection for girls against child marriage. At the House of Representatives, counterpart bills, including House Bill 1486 filed by Rep. Bernadette Dy and Rep. Edcel Lagman, House Bill 3899 filed by Rep. Alfred Vargas, House Bill 5670 filed by Rep. Veronique Noel, and House Bill 7922 by Rep. Joy Tambunting, have all remained pending with the House Committee on Welfare of Children since 2019. Meanwhile, Senate Bill

No. 1334 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, primarily authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, is pending before the Senate plenary. The bill seeks to develop a national program of action and investment plan for the prevention of teenage pregnancy, the organization and mobilization of regional and local information service delivery network for adolescent health and development, the development and promotion of age and development-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, the establishment of functional local teen centers for adolescent health and development, and social protection for teenage mothers or parents. The passage of these three proposed laws, alongside the stronger and wider implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law and related statutes, will holistically address the emerging national emergency of teenage pregnancy. “The whole civil society and the government must work double-time not only to expand the mantle of protection to Filipino children but also to tear legal barriers to the access of minors to sexual and reproductive health services,” said Child Rights Network. “We call on Congress to make these three bills part of the legislative priority list and ensure that soon, the tides will turn, with the end view of seeing an immediate future where Filipino children are not having children,” it added. (Rhoderick Beñez contributed to this report.)

Red tide sa Ozamiz GIKUMPIRMA sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources s Misamis Occidental nga usa ka red tide ang hinungdan sa pagkausab sa kolor sa tubig kadagatan sa Barangay San Roque ug Santa Cruz sa Ozamiz City ning milabay nga mga adlaw. Sumala sa water samples nga gi-analisa, nakita ang presensya sa Gonyaulax, usa ka matang sa dinoflagellate algae. Ang maong mga red tide organisms nga nagpuyo sa tubig-dagat, tubig tab-ang og brackish water diin kini sila modaghan dala

sa gitawag og favorable environmental conditions sama sa soil/water fertility, temperatura ug uban pa. Dugang pa sa pagtuon, pipila sa maong mga planktonic species ang makahilo ug sa ilang gidaghanon, kaya nilang usbon ang kolor sa tubig, hinungdan sa red tide phenomenon nga pwedeng mopatay sa mga isda ug laing marine animals. Pwede usab mahilo ang tawo kung mokaon og kinhason nga nakontamina og daghang Gonyaulax catenella.

Apan, gipaklaro sa BFAR nga padayon pa nilang gitun-an ang maong pagtumaw sa bag-ong klase sa specie sa kadagatan. Nakigkutay na sila sa city government aron idili usa ang pagpanguha, pagbaligya ug pagkaon sa kinhason sa maong dapit isip precautionary measures. Nagpadala na og shellfish samples ang BFAR sa central office alang sa gitawag og bio-essay analysis ug sa pagkakaron, wala pay gikatahong fish kill o shellfish poisoning sa maong lugar. (PIA)

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 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)

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

U.S. to sell Philippines arms despite no human rights reforms ‘Washington pressured by Manila as parties negotiate key military pact’ Continued from page 1 human rights,” U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Mike Howard told Nikkei Asia. The U.S.-Philippine security alliance presents an early test for the administration of President Joe Biden. Washington considers Manila strategically crucial to its efforts to counter Chinese expansionism in the Asia-Pacific. But the poor human rights record of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including its involvement in the extrajudicial killings of environmental and land rights activists, caused members of Biden’s Democratic Party to propose a halt to all security aid to the country last year in a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives. President Rodrigo Duterte said on February 12 that the U.S. must “pay” to renew the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allows U.S. troops to be stationed in the Philip-

pines and is crucial to the U.S. military’s Asia-Pacific strategy. In a subsequent op-ed in the Philippine Star, Philippine ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said his country’s military “must be equipped with new aircraft and other hard assets” for its alliance with the U.S. to thrive. “This is our interpretation of what (Duterte) meant when he said the U.S. has to pay for the VFA,” he said. Early this month, the Philippines revealed its intention to purchase around 15 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters manufactured by PZL Mielec, a Polish subsidiary of the U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin. That would allow the air force to retire its aging fleet of Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters. In April 2020, the U.S. State Department notified Congress of two potential sales of attack helicopters and missiles to the Philippines worth a combined $2 billion.

Howard declined to comment on specific U.S. arms sales, citing government policy, but said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “affirmed the U.S. commitment” to military agreements with the Philippines during a February 9 phone call with Delfin Lorenzana, the Philippine secretary of defense. By normalizing arms sales to the Philippines, the Biden administration is pushing against a coalition within his own party demanding a review of security aid to Manila due to reports of human rights abuses by the police and military. Biden, in January, halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates due to human rights concerns, fulfilling a campaign pledge. In September, a group of Democratic members of Congress introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would suspend all aid to the Philippine military and police unless the Duterte administration commits to

What is wrong with Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine? Continued from page 1 vaccine Sinovac, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned that the medicine is not recommended for use on health workers. President Rodrigo Duterte has been pushing for the use of the Chinese vaccine despite its low efficacy rate. The FDA said Sinovac’s efficacy rate is at 65.3% to 91.2% on clinically healthy individuals aged 18-59 years old. However, its efficacy rate is only at 50.4% on health care workers and as such, it is not recommended for use in this group, according to Dr. Eric Domingo, who heads the FDA. But health workers in Indonesia have been inoculated with Sinovac during a mass vaccination program in Jakarta just this month. Dr. Tony Leachon, a health reform advocate and former adviser to the national Covid task force, said Domingo should clarify his statement since he approved the use of Sinovac on Filipinos. “We need more clarity on the statement of FDA Director Domingo. Kung hindi puede sa mga health workers and frontliners due to its low efficacy rating, why should Filipinos take the risks?” he asked. Senator Panfilo Lacson similarly questioned the FDA’s issuance of an

Emergency Use Authorization for Sinovac, but advising against its use for health frontliners. “It is like a chef who refuses to eat the food he just cooked because it is not good, but which he serves to the customers.” “How can a vaccinator convince the one that he is about to inoculate if - he or she - is being discouraged by the government to use the Sinovac vaccine? This raises more questions and issues than what the National Task Force against Covid-19 is already busy grappling with,” he said. Lacson also said the private sector and local governments should be treated as partners and not competitors in the national government’s vaccination program by being allowed to actively and even proactively procure and administer vaccines as long as they are in close coordination and under the supervision of the Department of Health and National Task Force against Covid-19. “One common mistake that every administration commits is treating the private sector as competitors through over-regulation instead of partners especially during the time of crisis such as this pandemic that we are confronting now. Let’s face the reality that the private sector does not go

through the same bureaucratic delays that their counterpart in the public sector suffers from,” he said. During his interpellation of Senate Bill 2057, the proposed Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, Lacson said the national government should treat the private sector as partners rather than competitors through over-regulation. He noted a provision in Section 5 of the bill, where private entities cannot get more favorable terms than the government in procuring vaccines. “If we allow the private sector to go ahead and procure vaccines and administer vaccines, it would accelerate further the rollout and accomplishment of our vaccination program,” he said. Lacson cited a Straits Times report that the Indonesian government allowed the private sector to help inoculate the population to reach herd immunity faster. “This is with safeguards of course, with close coordination with the national government particularly the NTF and DOH. The point is, we have the same target population. Why not be partners in our vaccination program? I don’t think we’ll lose much, we’ll gain more if we allow the private sector to help,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

(Courtesy of ) U.S. President Joe Biden human rights reforms. A state department spokesperson told Nikkei it remains “concerned” over extrajudicial killings related to the on-going war on drugs, but said the Philippine military has “largely kept a distance from the counter narcotics campaign and associated reports of killings.” Brandon Lee, a U.S. citizen who worked as an activist defending indigenous land rights in the northern Philippines, told Nikkei that he and his family were constantly watched and harassed by the military during his time there. Lee was shot four times in August 2019, just one week after he was visited by soldiers who refused to leave and photographed him. Lee survived the as-

sassination attempt and was airlifted home to San Francisco. He said fellow advocates at the Ifugao Peasant Movement and Cordillera People’s Alliance remain “under constant attack” from the military, which falsely labels the groups as fronts for the communist New People’s Army - a common practice known as “red-tagging.” “The U.S. government has an obligation to ensure that our tax dollars [do] not fund death squads and human rights violators,” Lee said. Analysts believe the U.S. is unlikely to withdraw security aid from an ally it deems essential to countering Chinese expansionism and regional terrorism. This may embolden Manila to secure U.S. support for its mili-

tary as a precondition to extending the VFA. Duterte unilaterally cancelled the VFA in February 2020 after the U.S. cancelled the visa of an ally, but temporarily reversed his decision in July. “Washington is very likely to hear from Manila that a new VFA must take into consideration the totality of Philippine security concerns” - including Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea and domestic counterterrorism efforts, said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation. The Philippine desire for new defense assets is “another challenge that must be addressed to forge a new VFA,” he said. (Nick Aspinwall, Contributing writer)

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

Ancient Lake Lanao remains pristine

DOST-X hands over a check to the Iligan City government for the purchase of waste shredder machines and composters.

DOST, Iligan City to acquire composters, shredders ILIGAN CITY - The local government has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology to acquire waste management equipment to further improve waste management processes. Over the past years, Iligan City has been facing issues regarding waste collection as its population continues to grow. Though the local government promotes strict waste segregation throughout its 44 villages, its Central Material Re-

covery Facility is still having difficulty in handling wastes coming from the different Barangay Materials Recovery Facilities due to the increasing volume of garbage collected daily. And to support the local government’s efforts, the DOST handed over a check amounting to P501,600 for the project. The DOST-Community Empowerment through Science and Technology-funded project aims to provide two units of dual drum com-

poster and two units of organic waste shredder to the villages of San Miguel and Tomas Cabili. The small-scale motorized composter developed for managing 100 kilos of biodegradable solid waste follows a standardized process with compost as the end product. DOST-Industrial Technology and Development Institute developed this equipment to enhance biodegradable waste management in the country. (Richelle Gonida and Julie Anne Baculio)

Suspect in murder of newspaper publisher captured

TAGUM CITY – Police arrested one of two suspects in the murder of a newspaper publisher in Davao del Norte’s Panabo City, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said. It said Richard Posas Bolastig was being linked to the ambush of Dennis Denora, the publisher of the weekly Trends and Times, on June 7, 2018. Bolastig and another accomplice, who is still at large, are facing criminal

charges in Panabo City. Bolastig was tracked down by the police in his hideout and eventually arrested just recently, according to Lt. Col. Verna Cabuhat, the acting city police chief. Joel Egco, Executive Director of PTFoMS, explained that the arrest of Bolastig – who is now at the Tagum City Jail - is a validation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s unbroken promise to end the plague of violence against

media workers by bringing perpetrators behind bars. “We assure our media workers that the so-called culture of impunity in the Philippines has finally ended with the creation of the Task Force by President Duterte. PTFoMS is living proof of the government’s pledge to safeguard press freedom,” Egco said. It was unclear whether the police or the PTFoMS have identified the mastermind in Denora’s murder. With Bolastig’s capture, Egco said the PTFoMS has resolved 50 cases of media killings with the conviction of accused Leonardo Banaag, Jr. for the murder of broadcaster Jovelito Agustin. This brings to 67 the total number of suspects that were found guilty by the courts for the killing of journalists, with sentences ranging from reclusion temporal to life imprisonment. PTFoMS was created by Duterte in 2016 with a dedicated mandate to resolve all media killings in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

MARAWI CITY – The ancient Lake Lanao, the largest lake Mindanao, and the second largest in the Philippines and counted as one of the 20 ancient lakes in the world, remains pristine and its water clean, according to a recent study. Lake Lanao, with a surface area of 340 square kilometers, is located in Lanao del Sur, one of the provinces in the Muslim autonomous region. The study was disclosed by Fema Abamo, a professor of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, during her webinar presentation for the regional basic research caravan for Bicol conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP). “Our Lake Lanao, from all sampling sites, is still pristine; our water is still clean,” Abamo said, adding, the water quality of Lake Lanao in five sampling sites - Marawi City, Ramain, Balindong, Taraka, and Binidayan were monitored for two years by using the abundance of one-celled protozoan ciliates as bio-indicators of organic pollution. Abamo said the highest ciliate abundance was observed in the littoral zone of Balindong at 0.0061cells/ mL during the dry season. The previous study of Beaver and Crisman (1989) categorized lakes as ultra-oligotrophic when their ciliate abundance is equal to or lower than 2.4cells/mL; Lake Lanao, therefore, is ultra-oligotrophic having ciliate abundance below the set range in all sampling sites. Such lake category has very low nutrients, scarce growth of plants and algae, and high dissolved oxygen indicative of a clean, healthy, good water quality and not organically polluted lake. The study noted that organic pollution occurs when large quantities of organic compounds are released into aquatic ecosystems. Sources of pollution usually come from wastes generated by agricultural, residential, and industrial activities. High levels

Lanao lake (NASA) also of inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in water can cause an overgrowth of plants and algae. As plants and algae die, they become organic materials in the water. Decomposition of these organic materials uses up high amounts of oxygen, thus depriving the fish population of needed oxygen that causes fish kills in the lake. These decaying organic compounds serve as substrates for the microorganisms, increasing the bacterial population which in turn supports the abundant growth of ciliates. It said ciliate abundance varied as the season changed - lower in the non-mixing season and higher in the dry season indicative of nutrient and organic load fluctuations in the lake as the season changed. Water samples for this study were obtained from 50-100 meters away from the lakeshore in the shallower littoral zone and towards the deeper open water in the pelagic zone. Their results were corroborated by the findings of another group in the same program conducting the physical and chemical characterization of the lake and found the same that the lake is not polluted but still healthy and has good water quality. The study, which was funded by the DOST-NRCP, was conducted during a three-year period, but was temporarily suspended and eventually allowed to resume after the Marawi siege in May

2017. “The lake was reportedly deteriorating due to increased human population and activities around the lake,” Abamo said, explaining why there’s a need to conserve the lake’s good condition, especially now that the people have resettled back near the lake after the siege. Abamo said she and other researchers suggested to the local government to strengthen their policies to maintain the healthy condition of the lake. “We have recommended to the local government to create and implement stricter policies and ordinances to conserve the lake, and regulate and check both the residential and business establishments around the lake,” she said. Lake Lanao is estimated to be around 10 million years old (World Lake Database) with a tectonic-volcanic origin. It is home to 18 endemic cyprinids (freshwater fishes related to the carps and minnows) that are found nowhere else in the world. For generations, Lanao Lake has been a potent natural resource that breathes life to the Maranaws, as a source of their food and water, livelihood, religious practices, transportation and sports. But more than anything, the lake has shaped the Maranaw culture and tradition to what it is now and it has become imperative for the Maranaws to preserve its pristine beauty for a better and sustainable future. (Geraldine Ducusin)

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Sulu Pictures in the News

The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

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The Mindanao Examiner

March 1-7, 2021

~ OPINION ~

HEALTH

ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

Bakit Mahalaga ang Ihi at Kulay Nito Families affected by drug-related killings belie government claims that domestic mechanisms address violations. Dear Editor: JUSTICE SECRETARY Menardo Guevarra repeatedly stressed before the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that the domestic mechanisms for accountability in the Philippines are working and provided some details in the findings of the drug war panel - that there was failure to follow standard protocols in crime scene investigations, paraffin tests, and examination and verification of weapons used, amid law enforcement officials’ claims that those killed fought back. These findings, made belatedly after more than four years of the ‘drug war,’ merely prove the point in the cases of families whose loved ones have been killed - that they were killed in cold blood and that there was cover-up by the police and authorities, while the President cheered them on. Claiming that the campaign against illegal drugs is widely supported by Filipinos, Secretary Guevarra fails to acknowledge the deep pain and difficult circumstances of families, mainly from poor communities, victimized in this murderous campaign that has taken the lives of tens of thousands of Filiipinos. Many perpetrators of these killings remain scot-free, numerous cases filed by kin of victims at the Ombudsman have been dismissed, many have been denied of their right to obtain documents and reports from the police - are these indicators of “working domestic accountability mecha-

nisms”? With COVID-19, the impoverished state of the millions of Filipinos is worse than ever, leaving many vulnerable to the scourge that is drug use, addiction, and small-time peddling. Rather than addressing the roots of drug use with economic and health programs, the Duterte administration continues to promote the legitimacy of this campaign that has resulted in widespread and systematic violations of human rights. The diplomatic tactic of the Philippine government to appear to cooperate with the UN to address the human rights crisis in the Philippines cannot cover up the glaring reality that legal and domestic remedies are not functioning as they should to bring redress to families victimized by these drug-related killings. We continue to urge the UN HRC and the International Criminal Court to investigate the human rights crisis in the Philippines. The Duterte government will not hold itself accountable, as Duterte’s bloody “drug war” has been unabashedly trumpeted by the president himself as he called over and over for people to be killed and praised the police for their tokhang operations. Without further action towards accountability, impunity and widespread killings will win the day in the Philippines. Thank you and more power to the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper. Deaconess Rubylin Litao

Long Kris 20” (P13,000)

lay ng ihi dahil galing ito sa pigment ng dugo. Kapag kulay pula o may dugo sa ihi, posibleng may sakit na cystitis o impeksiyon sa pantog mula sa bacteria. May kasamang lagnat, masakit na puson, madalas umihi, at masakit paglabas ng ihi. Ang kulay ng ihi ay depende sa tubig sa katawan. Kapag may puti ay posible na may nana o white cells o protina o taba. Pag kulay pink, pula o brown ay may dugo. Kapag naging red o brown, maaring sobrang bilirubin mula sa atay, o umiinom ng gamot na rifampicin. Kung kulay orange ay dehydrated, may sakit sa atay, o uminom ng gamot na primaquine, riboflavin, vitamin B2, o INH. Nagiging blue o green ang kulay ng ihi dahil sa gamot, dye sa pagkain o

food color, o sakit na familial benign hypercalcemia. Meron din gassy urine o may kasamang utot (pneumaturia) kapag nagkaroon ng koneksyon sa bituka at pantog tulad ng fistula, o koneksyon sa pantog at puwerta mula sa panganganak. May pagkakataon na may kakaibang amoy ang ihi tulåd ng amoy ammonia kapag may diabetes o kumain ng bawang, spinach, mushroom, kabute, truffle, at vitamin B6. Mahalagang paalala na kapag mabula ang ihi ay magpa-urinalysis at blood test ng creatinine para masigurado na walang protina sa ihi. Kapag may protina sa ihi ay posibleng may sakit sa kidneys. Kumonsulta sa doktor.

RECIPE

Beef Kaldereta panlasangpinoy.com

Coordinator, Rise Up for Life and for Rights (rise.up.phils@gmail.com)

FOR SALE

Kampilan 21” (P13,000)

ng ihi ay mula sa dugo na nasala sa kidneys. Bumababa ang ihi sa ureter at pupunta sa pantog. Ang ihi ay binubuo ng tubig, dumi tulad ng urea, asin tulad ng urates, ammonia, sobrang bitamina (B at C), mineral, protina (creatinine), taba, carbohydrates at gamot na tinatanggal sa katawan. Gusto natin na magandang kalidad ng ihi kasi ibig sabihin ay natanggal maigi sa katawan ang mga dumi. Ang normal na dalas ng pag-ihi ay 7 beses sa loob ng 24 oras. Pero ang 4 to 10 ay ayos na din. ang normal na dami o urine output kapag sinukat ay 800 ml hanggang 2000 ml per 24 oras. Uminom ng mga 2 litro o 8-10 baso ng tubig kada araw. Kulay dilaw ang ku-

Short Kris Colored Forged 16” (P13,000)

GinunƟng 12” (P7,500)

Made from 5160 High Carbon Steel and Kamagong handle and scabbard. For table and wall display, or as self-defense weapon. Zamboanga City 0915-3976197

INGREDIENTS : • 2 lbs beef cubed • 3 pieces garlic cloves crushed and chopped • 1 piece onion finely chopped • 2 cups beef broth • 1 piece red bell pepper sliced • 1 piece green bell pepper sliced • 1 cup tomato sauce

• ½ cup liver spread processed using blender • 1 teaspoon chili flakes • 3 pieces dried bay leaves • 2 cups potatoes sliced • 2 cups carrots sliced • 1/4 cup cooking oil • 2/3 cup green olives • salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS : 1. Heat the cooking oil in the cooking pot or pressure cooker. 2. Sauté the onion and garlic. 3. Add the beef. Cook for 5 minutes or until the color turns light brown. 4. Add the dried bay leaves and crushed pepper. Stir. 5. Add the liver spread. Stir. 6. Pour-in the tomato sauce and beef broth.

Cook the beef until it becomes tender (about 30 mins if using a pressure cooker, or 1 to 2 hours if using an ordinary pot). 8. Add potato and carrots. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. 9. Put the green olives and bell peppers in the cooking pot. Stir and continue to cook for 5 minutes more. 10. Add salt and pepper to taste 11. Serve Hot. Enjoy!

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March 1-7, 2021

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Don’t mess with us!’ ‘Gwen says no to another lockdown’

EBU - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has shot down recommendations from several medical outside or visiting Manila or conditions in the province and even Cebu City, for that matter. consultants of the Department of Health (DOH) to place Cebu province anew in a lock- other areas. down following reports of a “variants of concern” from Covid-19 patients here. Garcia said she wondered “Ay mo’g pataka dinha pang-reog lockdown, Garcia said she found it wala pa’y Cebu variant. There akong tubag: what variant? Di ta why these recommendations komendar sayunan lang mo, no? Wa man were raised at a time when strange that the recommen- were mutations. And mutations magdali-dali especially media gani mo mangrekomendar og Cebu is opening up tourism dation came at the heels of happen all the time, magsige bah, let’s be careful. Kahibaw na lockdown sa mga Metro Manila to the rest of the country. “It her recent declaration to gyud na. Kinahanglan mo-muta, we’ve already achieved this open tourism to the rest of the tate siya aron makapadayon fear pandemic. Gikapoy na ang is really strange though nga cities nga tag-as pud kaayo ang mga tawo. Pwede ba ato sa na nikalit man lang ni nigawas mga positive cases,” she said. country. “Don’t mess with us. pag-survive.” Garcia said it is easy for She explained that muta- klarohon bitaw kung unsa gyud and these consultants suggestWe can take care of ourselves. these medical consultants to ing nga ilockdown ta after I I will not and never again ac- tions are normal as the virus’ na,” she said. seek for a lockdown of the provmade the pronouncement that Garcia said three of the cept a lockdown. I will fight genetic code changes when it ince when they do not even Cebu province will now open for Cebu and the Cebuanos enters its host. Mutations can medical consultants whom she have to worry about their inits doors to domestic tourism because Cebu is moving on either die or survive depending did not identify, have recomcome and livelihood. “Sayonan including those coming from and moving forward,” Garcia on the host immunity or sus- mended for stricter quarantine lang mo. You are ensconced Metro Manila,” she said. ceptibility. “Akong tubag ana, measure or reverting to the ensaid in a press conference. She chided the doctors for safely in your airconditioned She said the same DOH lakip na ang Manila media nga hanced community quarantine raising these recommendations offices. Regular inyong consulconsultants also recom- pa-esplikahon na sad ko nga- (ECQ) status for Cebu, or if not, without actually seeing the real tancy fees gawas pa sa inyong mended for travel restric- nong nay Cebu variant, ang bar Cebuanos from travelling tions on Cebuanos – meaning anyone from the island can no longer leave or travel outside of Cebu. of their destination in Cebu. They only need Garcia met with DOH THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism reminded to present valid work identification card, an Central Visayas Director visitors travelling to Cebu province to continoriginal or certified true copy of a travel auDr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 ue following the health and safety protocols thority or order, and passed the symptoms Chief Pathologist Dr. Mary imposed by the national government after screening at the port upon arrival, and strictJean Loreche, National Task Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed Execuly comply with the minimum health stanForce Against Covid-19 Chief tive Order (EO) 12 which no longer require dards. Implementer retired general RT-PCR test for visitors from other provinces. Non-APORs are also allowed to enter Feliciano Melquiades, Office All the tourists need to prepare are into the province as long as they presof the Presidential Assistant a valid medical certificate issued within ent a valid medical certificate and pass for the Visayas Jonjie Gonza- 7 days before the travel date and proof symptoms screening at the point of deles, and members of the In- of booking at a hotel or resort accredit(Courtesy of) DOT Secretary parture and at the point of arrival. ter-Agency Task Force in the ed by the Cebu Provincial Tourism Task Bernadette Romulo Puyat. Garcia recently met with the Tourism Management of Emerging Force. They must also pass through Task Force and representatives of tour operPuyat said the DOT is for the safe Infectious Diseases (IATF- symptoms checking at the point of deators, travel agencies, and airliners, among re-opening of tourist destinations beMEID) to tackle on the sup- parture and point of arrival. others to finalize the guidelines for the cause this would allow the country to reposed “Cebu variant.” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyre-opening of the tourism industry. start the economy and help tourism workIn the meeting, Loreche at said they fully recognizes the prerogIn the meeting, tour operators and explained that what the Phil- ative of local chief executives in decid- ers get back to their jobs. agencies suggested to create a competiGarcia earlier issued EO No. 9 which ippine Genome Center (PGC) ing what protocols will best suit their tive package to entice tourists to come to eased the travel restrictions for persons found in the samples taken particular situations, but health protoCebu. Andrew Teh, representative of Cebu coming to the province following the Infrom patients earlier suspect- cols must be followed at all times. Alliance of Tour Operations Specialist, ter-Agency Task Force for the Manageed to have the UK variant were “We remind our tourists and stakeholdsuggested the travel package be dubbed ment of Emerging Infectious Diseases mutations of the Sars Cov-2, ers of the need to still strictly ensure minas “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo,” a four-day, three(IATF-MEID) guidelines. The EO removed the virus that causes Covid-19. imum health and safety protocols such as night trip at an affordable price. He urged the required letter of acceptance from the Garcia said: “Dunay mu- wearing of a face mask and face shield, (obthe tourism stakeholders such as airliners, local government of destination from the tations nga nagpakita og in- serve) physical distancing, hand sanitizing, travels and tour operators, as well as relist of documentary requirements. teresting characters worth and booking or operating in DOT-accreditsorts and restaurants to contribute to the Authorized persons outside of residence further investigation. As far ed establishments, among others to protect package inclusions. (Vanessa Almeda, (APOR) also are no longer needed to undergo as if I am to believe RD Ber- both the tourists, tourism workers and the nadas and Dr. Jean Loreche, residents of our host communities,” she said. mandatory testing or quarantine protocols Mylen Manto and Joyce Ann Rocamora)

Tourists told to follow health, safety protocols

kita as doctors. Inig lockdown mag-unsa man tong mawadan na sad og trabaho. Mag-unsa man ‘tong mawad-an nasad kinabuhi. Mag-unsa man ‘tong tag iya aning establishments nga naa pay bayranan sa bangko,” she asked. “Nag ECQ bitaw ta, unya? Na-zero Covid ta? Lockdowns don’t work. Well, it works against the economy. Ang ekonomiya maoy maguba, apan ang labing nag-antos ang mga kabus,” Garcia pointed out. Garcia also decried the recommendation that Cebuanos will not be allowed to travel outside the province. “Kita ra gyud? Gi-discriminate na ta wa pa gani klaro og unsa ba gyud ni nga mutation. Unsa man gyuy inyo pagtan-aw sa mga Sugbuanon? Kahibulongan naman nang inyong kalake, wa man gani mo kaila. Porke naa mo dinha sa malaking lupa daug-daugon mi ninyo. Excuse me, we’re taking care of ourselves, thank you. Kamao mi. We’re managing thank you,” she said. She said DOH Sec. Francisco Duque overruled the recommendations after Dr. Bernadas and Dr. Loreche strongly objected to the proposal. “In fairness to Secretary Duque, iyang gi-override ang recommendations aning tulo and agreed because RD Bernadas and Dr. Loreche were both fighting for Cebu and they were really opposing passionately the suggestion of subjecting Cebu to another lockdown. Ayaw intawon mi suwayi dire. Tingale unya kinahanglan namo’g ipakita ang among dugong Lapulapu. Ika-quincentennial ra ba ron,” she said. (Vanessa L. Almeda)

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