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May 17-23, 2021
GAGO, STUPID! ‘Pangako ni Duterte na mag-jet ski sa Spratly, joke lang daw’
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INAWAG NI Pangulong Duterte na “gago at stupid” ang lahat ng mga naniwala sa kanya ng sabihin nitong sasakay siya ng jet ski at papunta sa Spratly Islands dala ang watawat ng Pilipinas upang pagtibayin ang pag-angkin ng bansa sa naturang lugar na inako ng China. Sinabi ito ni Duterte panya noong 2016 ng ta- pinag-aagawang teritoryo sa publiko sa kasagsagan nungin kung anong hak- sa South China Sea. Continue on page 2 ng kanyang pangangam- bang ang gagawin nito sa
Maimbung town vaccinates hundreds of senior citizens
Maimbung municipal photo shows the Covid-19 vaccination. Mayor Shihla Hayudini, head of the municipal task force on Covid-19, supervised the 3-day vaccine roll-out which was concluded recently.
SULU – Hundreds of senior citizens and those with co-morbidities were inoculated with the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine Sinovac in the booming town of Maimbung in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Mayor Shihla Hayudini, head of the municipal task force on Covid-19, supervised the 3-day vaccine rollout which was concluded recently. Hayudini was present during the entire mass vaccination Continue on page 3
Presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping. (PCOO)
Trillanes gunning for presidency
Zambo pestered by frequent voltage fluctuations, outages ZAMBOANGA CITY – Electric consumers are outraged by the poor services of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO), saying not a single passes without multiple voltage fluctuations and
power outages. And these problems add up to the stress caused by the Covid-10 pandemic to the residents. Since 2019 after Crown Investments Holdings, Inc. and Desco Inc. took over and bailed out the heavily-indebted and poorly-managed ZAMCELCO for P2.5 billion, the problems are still the same and residents Continue on page 5
NEGLECT. A street light and electric meters are now covered in vines in Zamboanga City’s Tetuan village. (Mindanao Examiner)
Antonio Trillanes IV
DAVAO CITY – Former putschist leader and ex-senator Antonio Trillanes IV has announced his intention to run for the presidency, saying next year’s poll swould be the most important elections in the Philippines’ history since
the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Trillanes’ announcement came after receiving reports that Vice President and lawyer Leni Robredo may run for governor in Camarines Sur province. Continue on page 2
Sabah intensifies anti-terror ops MALAYSIA HAS intensified its anti-terrorism operations and captured at least 8 Abu Sayyaf terrorists and 29 other Filipinos during a recent raid in Continue on page 3
Photos released by the Eastern Sabah Security Command show the captured Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
Police hunt for killer of OIC, Philippines’ Deputy Basilan village chieftain Speaker condemn Israel attacks on Palestinians
BASILAN – Police continue its hunt for the murderer of a village chieftain in Sumisip town who was shot in a daring broad daylight attack last week out-
ARMM
side a fast food restaurant in downtown Isabela City. Jamiron Ajijon, chairman of the village called Marang, was shot several times in the head. The
motive of the attack is still unknown, but the murder occurred ahead of the local and national elections next year. Continue on page 3
Eastern Mindanao
COTABATO CITY – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has con-
Western Mindanao
demned Israel’s deadly attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip that killed at
Cebu
least 21 Palestinians. Even Philippines’ Continue on page 6
Manila
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 17-23, 2021
GAGO, STUPID! ‘Pangako ni Duterte na mag-jet ski sa Spratly, joke lang daw’
Continued from page 1 Inamin ngayon ni Duterte na ito ay isang biro lamang at nagyabang lamang umano noong nangangampanya sa pagka-Pangulo. Ang pag-amin ni Duterte ay sa kabilang ng kaliwa’t-kanan na hamon at batikos sa kanya ng maraming mga Pilipino at pulitiko na isang “tuta” ng China. “Okay. Now, let us end this by --- with an explanation itong Jet Ski brouhaha. Alam mo, panahon ng kampanya ‘yon. Hindi siguro sanay itong mga gago na ng style ko sa kampanya, pati ‘yong bunganga
ko ngayon. Nag-yabang ako na pupunta ako sa Spratly, magdala ako ng flag nang sakay ako ng jet ski. Nag-plano ako niyan. Bumili ako ng jet ski, ang kaya ko second-hand lang. So nag-order ako ng piyesa, (pero) hanggang ngayon hindi pa dumating since then. Eh walang dumating ‘di wala akong magawa,” paliwanag pa ni Duterte. “So ganoon. When I was plotting, nagpa-plot ako kung saan ako magdaan, nakita ko doon eh ilan naman ‘yong tangke ng jet ski? Kailangan ko ng gasolina, supply. Eh pagtingin ko puro dagat, wala man akong makitang gas-
oline station along the way. Ah sabi ko, mahirap ito. Dito tayo mamatay nang walang kakwenta-kwenta. So ‘yan ang istorya. Ngayon, paano ‘to? Panahon sa kampanya ‘yan. At saka ‘yong biro na ‘yon, we call it bravado, ‘yong bravado ko that was just a pure campaign joke. At kung naniniwala kayo sa kabila, pati na siguro si (former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio) Carpio, pati si - I would say that you are really stupid,” dagdag pa ng Pangulo. Ipinagtanggol rin ni Duterte ang China sa publiko dahil na rin sa
mga ibinigay nitong mga Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines sa bansa kung kaya’t may utang na loob ito kay President Xi Jinping. “Alam mo, it is never, never wrong to say that I owe you a debt of gratitude. Totoo eh. Binigyan tayo, tinanggap natin, ginamit natin, but it does not mean na tanggapin ko ‘yong bakuna at tapos sabihin ko kalimutan ko na ‘yong claim diyan sa West Philippine Sea, okay na ‘yon dahil sa bakuna. It is never like that. The world does not operate like that. The international relations would never
work in that kind of - na gamitin mo ‘yong… anak ng jueteng itong mga… Kayo, kayo ginamit pala rin ninyo eh tapos ngayon sabinin ninyo na ganito, ganyan. So I said, it’s never wrong to admit a debt of gratitude. But it would be wrong to use it as an excuse to maybe retreat from your - sabi ko, there will be no compromise,” sabi ng Pangulo. “Alam ng China ‘yan, maski bahaan tayo dito ng vaccine, gagamitin ko pa rin pero sabihin ko hindi ito ‘yong kabayaran. Iba ito, this is Philippine national interest, this is
not a health issue that nagpasalamat ako. And let me just also say itong history ng, ito for public consumption na ito. Tumawag ako kay President Xi Jinping...sabi ko, - Mr. President, I would like to ask for your help. Until now, the Philippines is really at a loss of how to get the vaccines, - (at) sabi niya It’s okay, we will help you.” Ganoon lang. Hindi naman niya sinabi, (na) kalimutan mo ‘yong Scarborough Shoal, bibigyan kita. Sabi ko, thank you Mr. President,” dagdag pa ng Pangulo. (Mindanao Examiner)
Trillanes gunning for presidency Continued from page 1 “As I often stressed, the 2022 elections would be the most important elections in our nation’s history after 1986. Not only our democracy is at stake, our very survival as a country is at stake, too. In just five years, Duterte has been able to destroy our institutions, bankrupted the economy, worsened poverty and corruption, surrendered our interests in the WPS, and promoted incompetence in public service. Worst of all, he made our people accept killings, immorality, indecency and vulgarity as the new societal norm. Truly, we will not survive another six years of a Duterte rule,” he said, referring to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio’s ambition to replace her ageing father. “In view of VP Leni’s preparations to run for Governor of Camarines Sur in 2022, I, together with the Magdalo group, have decided to convey to the 1SAMBAYAN Coalition to change my status from being an alternate candidate (to VP Leni) to being a principal candidate for President to vie for the Coalition’s nomination. This move is necessary for my name to be included in 1SAMBAYAN’s selection process,” he added. But Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, was quick to say that he is not dividing the opposition, adding “there will only be one unified slate to be nominated by 1SAMBAYAN, a pro-de-
mocracy coalition led by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Morales, and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, among others. “Just to be clear, I am not dividing the opposition as there will only be one unified slate to be nominated by 1SAMBAYAN, and both VP Leni and I have committed to support and campaign for its nominees. Just to further stress this point, in the event that VP Leni definitively decides to run for President before 1SAMBAYAN picks its nominees in July, I would wholeheartedly step aside and withdraw my own candidacy in her favor,” Trillanes said. “But until then, we would work on the assumption that VP Leni would run for governor of Camarines Sur and, thus, we could now start our own preparations focusing on the development of policy prescriptions to solve the different problems of our country, particularly on pandemic response; economic recovery and poverty alleviation; peace and order/ security sector reforms; anti-corruption/governance reforms; universal healthcare; foreign policy, including WPS (West Philippine Sea issues with China),” he added. Trillanes said Duterte and his cohorts are determined to hold on to power to continue their “wicked” ways. “They also know that if the opposition wins, they
would go straight to prison for the crimes they have committed against our people. But winning for the opposition won’t be easy. The pro-Duterte candidates have vast amounts of resources, the oppressive tools of the State, the subservient local officials, plus the lack of scruples to employ all dirty tricks in the electoral book,” he said. But the Davao City mayor has strongly criticized 1SAMBAYAN and accused the group of being “authoritarian” for claiming to be a coalition of democratic forces, but chose to reject those who disagree with them. “They sound authoritarian to me. If they want to be successful, they should have called for unity,” Carpio said. Trillanes has called on Filipinos to fight for democracy. “Having said this, I still have faith that the Filipino people will, yet again, deliver when we need them most. More importantly, I believe that God will not evil prevail again this time. We will have served six years of penance under Duterte by then at baka naman tapos na ang kalbaryo natin,” he said. Duterte has, many times in the past, cursed Trillanes, a former Navy lieutenant, and even called him a coward after he and other mutineers surrendered in November 2007 after a failed coup in Makati City known as the “Manila Peninsula Siege.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think. Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected. In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad. But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City. The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to
give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink. Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection. Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and
resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice. And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 17-23, 2021
FOR SALE
Maimbung town vaccinates hundreds of senior citizens
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Police hunt for killer of Basilan village chieftain Continued from page 1 Facebook page Ronda del Basilan also showed family members weeping over the bloodied body of Ajijon as policemen and kibitzers looked on unmindful of the health protocols due
to the Covid-19 pandemic. Police did not issue any statement and the dead man’s family was silent over the killing, grieving over the murder of the politician which occurred during the holy
month of Ramadan. Gun attacks are not uncommon in Basilan, especially in Isabela City. The province is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sabah intensifies anti-terror ops Continued from page 1 Sabah, officials said. An independent Malaysian newspaper, Daily Express said police commandos and members of the elite Eastern Sabah Security Command, captured the Filipinos, including women and children, believed to be their families during a special operation in a mangrove swamp near Taman Sri Arjuna in the small town of Beaufort in Sabah. State Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali announced the capture of the Abu Sayyaf fighters and the other Filipinos during Monday’s news conference, according to the reports. “All 37 individuals arrested consisted of eight men, eight women and 21 children who are believed to have been in Sabah for more than a year,” he said, adding authorities are now investigating how they managed to sneak into Sabah despite tight security imposed at the border with the southern Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi. “Further investigations into the reason for their entry into Sabah – (the) assistance they received during their stay in Sabah, their entry and exit routes, their facilitators in Sabah, any firearms brought into the country and whether there are separate Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and ASG cells will be done,”
Hazani said The reports also said that at least 2 of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists were involved in clashes with Filipino soldiers in Sulu the past years and recently in November 2020. They are also being linked to the ransom kidnappings of foreigners in southern Philippines. The Philippine military confirmed the reports, saying the operation launched by Malaysia was part of bilateral anti-terrorism efforts between the two countries. “The strengthened collaboration and cooperation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Eastern Sabah Southern Command led to the apprehension of two notorious Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leaders and six of their followers in Sabah,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, adding the intelligence was provided by the Joint Task Force Sulu to the Eastern Sabah Security Command or ESSCOM. “Based on the report from the ground, the ESSCOM responded to the information provided by the Joint Task Force Sulu and launched a police special operation in Jalan Taman Sri Arjuna, Beaufort, Sabah around 3:00 o’clock in the morning of May 8, Saturday,” Vinluan said. He identified some of the arrested Abu Sayyaf terrorists as Sansibar Ben-
sio, 40; Mabar Binda, 25; who are sub-leaders of the pro-ISIS group. And the other terrorists as Muayyar Binda, 30; Firdaus; Lugah Sanchez, 45; Bonijar Samsula, Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said Bensio and Binda were involved in the series of clashes with the military in Patikul town where they beheaded 2Lt. Michael Baladad, of the Philippine Marines. He said the two sub-leaders were also involved in the kidnappings of at least 10 Filipinos and Indonesian fishermen Samiun Bin Maneu, Maharudin Bin Lunani and Muhammad Farhan; and also Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra, Dutchman Ewold Horn. Gonzales, citing intelligence report by Col. Hernanie Songano, commander of the 4th Marine Brigade, said: Due to the sustained intelligence, focused military operations, and civil-military cooperation in the province of Sulu, particularly in the Second District, the now-apprehended personalities escaped to Sabah and established an Abu Sayyaf cell base thereat, to spot probable kidnap victims and to facilitate (the entry of) foreign terrorist groups operating in the Southeast Asian countries, to conduct terror activities in the Philippines.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Maimbung municipal photos show the mass Covid-19 vaccination. Mayor Shihla Hayudini, head of the municipal task force on Covid-19, supervised the three-day vaccine roll-out which was concluded recently. Continued from page 1 and even joined municipal employees and staffs to assist serving health officials and workers in the orderly jabs for the priority sector. “As one of the most vulnerable sectors in the society, our senior citizens are deserving of the care and concern of the government and the community in general. We have made a commitment since the outbreak of this pandemic that whatever befalls us, we will face it, together. Titiyakin po
namin na walang iwanan sa amin sa Maimbung,” she said at the end of the “Resbakuna Kasangga ng BIDA” program. Hayudini said she is relieved and glad for the successful conduct of the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine for the elderly and those with co-morbidities who qualified for the inoculation. She said a total of 487 people received the inoculation. She also thanked Governor Sakur Tan, who had recovered recently from the viral disease, for visit-
ing them during the mass vaccination. The mayor lauded all those involved in the mass vaccination, especially Dr. Fahra Omar, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office and her staffs; and the Regional Health Unit in Maimbung, municipal employees and volunteers, including the Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices and the municipal police force, among others. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 17-23, 2021
Zambo pestered by frequent voltage fluctuations, outages Continued from page 1 continue to suffer as they did the past several decades. ZAMCELCO has been blaming the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and sometimes the electricity supplier Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) which is being run by Alto Power Management Corporation, a partnership between Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. through Conal Holdings Corporation and Toyota Tshusho Corporation of Japan. Power consumers complained that the frequent voltage fluctuations and brownouts not only are a pestering problem for them, but the surge of electricity had destroyed their appliances. One resident said she has a collection of at least 3 air conditioners which broke down due to voltage fluctuations over the past years, and repairing them was more expensive than buying a new unit. “Worst, that’s all I can say,” she said, referring to the services of the electric cooperative then and now. A community page on Facebook, the ZAMCELCO Consumers Complaint Page, are literally overflowing with complaints, and expletives from frustrated residents. Some people, who offered help, would call the attention of the ZAMCELCO General Manager Gannymede Tiu, only to tell the complainants once their problems were solved to thank a city councilman for “helping them.” The ZAMCELCO Customer Service Department is the worst, according to cooperative members, who said that nobody was answering their phone calls. Residents also complained that ZAMCELCO billed them more than what they are supposed to pay. Electric consumers resorted to social media in airing their complaints, many angry over what they claimed were over billing or overcharging imposed by the electric cooperative. Angry consumers accused the cooperative of taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sudden hike in electric charges came despite frequent daily power outages and voltage fluctuations. The ZAMCELCO Consumers Complaint Page was flooded with photos of electric bills showing unreasonable increase in charges. One resident said the local electric cooperative overbilled them not once, but twice after a me-
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 17-23, 2021
ter reader deliberately and falsely misread their actual power consumption in December 2020 and January 2021. In his complaint, 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 (sic). Kung sana no read, no write ako abay magpapasalamat talaga ako sa kanila dahil wala na akong bill sa January,” he warned power consumers. Other power consumers also criticized how ZAMCELCO 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 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. Just this year, 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 catch-up bill sent when a power consumer is incorrectly charged for energy usage. It covers a longer period than the usual bill-
ing cycle and will likely be for a larger than usual amount. This was confirmed by ZAMCELCO and Tiu 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 had 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 added that 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. In 2012, Zamboanga also suffered from severe power curtailment – as much as 6 hours a day and at worst, 14 hours or more. And ZAMCELCO - whose manager then was George Ledesma – blamed the power crisis to the El Niño weather phenomenon and maintenance shutdown of hydro and coal-fired power plants in Mindanao. ZAMCELCO could only wait for the construction of the 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Alsons Power Holdings which was set to begin operation in 2016 in the village of Talisayan. But Alsons failed to start building its facility and cited many reasons for the long delay – from the failed Moro rebellion here in 2013 to the P900-million enhancement program it was demanding from ZAMCELCO as an assurance it could pay them for the stable supply of electricity. Even today, Alsons has not finished its coalfired power plant here and ZAMCELCO said it would not purchase electricity from Alsons or what it is called now the San Ramon Power, Inc. due to its previous demand from WMPC. The WMPC previously cut off power supply to ZAMCELCO after it refused to pay its overdue account amounting to P460 million. ZAMCELCO through Crown Investments Holdings, Inc. and Desco Inc. claimed that WMPC had over billed the electric cooperative since 2015 by P440 million and is demanding a refund. However, WMPC denied the allegation and ZAMCELCO eventually paid in part or in full of what it owed the electric supplier. (Zamboanga Post)
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ALeRTO Early Warning System to benefit Zambo region PAGADIAN CITY – Various government agencies have collaborated and working closely with the Ateneo de Zamboanga University for the so-called “ALeRTO” project. ALeRTO is short for Automated Water-Level and Rain Monitoring Using Near-Real-Time Observation, an early warning system. Just recently, officials and representatives from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) IX, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) IX and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) IX discussed the updates on the development of disaster preparedness manual for localized weather disturbances. This is in connection with the integration of the ALeRTO Early Warning System to the “Operation L!sto: Disaster Preparedness Manual” of the DILG for its nationwide implementation. Dr. Mario Rodriguez, project leader of ALeRTO Early Warning System, also discussed the project timeline and implementation strategies of the disaster preparedness manual featuring the ALeRTO System Approach. ALeRTO is an early
warning system for floods developed by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Geo-informatics for the systematic assessment of flood effects and risks for a resilient Mindanao – or the ZAMBASULTA or ADZU Geo-SAFER Mindanao. The project’s funding support came from the DOST IX through its local Grantsin-Aid program. DOST IX is also the Vice-Chair for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chaired by the OCD IX. Using the water and rain data from Advanced Science and Technology Institute, the ALeRTO Early Warning System aims to monitor near-real time status of the water levels in different rivers in Zamboanga Peninsula, and then send alert messages (via SMS) to the local governments for them to prepare, plan and implement ways to prevent the adverse effects of flooding. The monitoring is done through the use of automated rain gauges and automated water-level sensors set up in the various river basins in the region. The system targets to empower local governments and the commu-
nities along flood-prone areas by arming them with the necessary knowledge on the possible effects of an impending hazard, thus taking their disaster preparedness to the next level. Because of its successful implementation in the region, the system is seen as a relevant tool that could be integrated in the current L!STO Protocol as the scientific basis for actions during localized weather disturbances. With this development, the disaster preparedness manual project was incepted with the funding from the DILG-Local Government Academy and implemented by ADZU. Manuel Luis Ochotorena, the OCD Regional Director, lauded the ALeRTO project which is an initiative of the RDRRMC IX. “The success of disaster risk reduction management in the region lies with the Council. The ALeRTO project is one activity that displays synergism in the Council that resulted to projects that benefit the community towards its resiliency,” he said. (Kimberly Amor. Julemer Ann Aying contributed to this report.)
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The Mindanao Examiner
May 17-23, 2021
OIC, Philippines’ Deputy Speaker condemn Israel attacks on Palestinians Continued from page 1 Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman branded the attacks - which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan – as an act of terrorism. “This attack by Israeli forces on Muslims in the midst of prayer during Islam’s holiest month and just before one of the holiest days we celebrate is an act of terrorism. The Israeli forces attacked the mosque and the people inside because they were Palestinians, and Muslim. These people were not combatants,” he said, referring to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Among those killed in the May 11 attacks were children, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel’s attacks came after Hamas fired rockets into the Jewish state in retaliation to the raid by Israeli police who fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to drive away Palestinians praying at the mosque. The OIC, during its virtual emergency meeting held on Tuesday, discussed the aggression by Israel, calling it “the occupying Power in the Palestinian territories, particularly, the ancient and sacred city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif. Having reviewed the grave situation in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the hazing which the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian people have suffered at the hands of the Israeli colonial occupation forces, the OIC released a long statement and “condemned in the strongest terms the repeated attacks by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the entire occupied land of the State of Palestine.” It said the growing attacks by Israel since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan are targeting citizens in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and preventing worshipers from accessing the holy sites for their religious rites in the blessed month and during the Easter celebrations. The OIC branded as “barbaric” the storming by the Israeli occupation forces of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and attacking the Palestinian worshipers there. It also condemned
the Israeli occupation forces’ for the continuous colonization, building settlements, attempting to confiscate Palestinian properties, forceful eviction of Palestinians from their land in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law; It said the attacks are part of on-going and systematic policies of the Israeli authorities through which they seek to change the historical and legal status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the land of the State of Palestine, paving the way for the implementation of annexation and colonial expansion policy, which risks further destabilizing the region, threatening international peace and security, and undermining international efforts to create a conducive climate to launch a credible political process; The influential body also denounced the widespread aggression by the Israel across the entire occupied Palestinian territory, especially the barbaric bombardment deliberately targeting civilians in the blockaded Gaza Strip, which killed and injured many, including innocent children. The OIC called on its 57 member states to act urgently at all international levels, including the UN Security Council, to condemn the repeated Israeli occupation’s contempt for the lives of the Palestinian civilians, targeting them deliberately and repeatedly to kill them, and to work to stop the aggression and prevent its recurrence. “Holds Israel, the illegal occupying authority, fully responsible for these heinous attacks, including terrorism and tyranny of the Israeli colonialists against defenceless Palestinian citizens, and the attendant grave developments and repercussions,” it said. The OIC urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to rise up to its responsibility and stop the barbaric aggression against the Palestinian people and their properties in the entire occupied land of the State of Palestine, including Islamic and Christian holy sites, and provide international protection for
them. “Hold Israel accountable for these crimes and impose sanctions on the colonial and racial segregation system established on the land of the State of Palestine and demand that the relevant international actors, including United Nations General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and special rapporteurs implement relevant international resolutions and recommendations and activate the necessary mechanisms to stop these violations, hold their perpetrators accountable, and deter them,” it said. “Holds the Israeli occupation government fully responsible for the terrorist and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli colonialists and their militias against the defenceless Palestinian citizens, with the protection and support of the occupation army, including groups and associations requisitioning Palestinian properties; and calls on Member States and all relevant international actors to condemn these acts and take necessary measures against their perpetrators and the bodies they belong, including placing them on lists of national terrorists,” the OIC added. It also praised the efforts of the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people everywhere defending their legitimate rights and their presence on their national land, particularly Al-Quds, the eternal capital of the State of Palestine, and preserving their Arab identity as well as their Islamic and Christian holy sites. The Muslim News Nigeria, reacting on the OIC statement, said it welcomes the OIC emergency meeting to address the Israeli aggression in Palestine, but it also strongly suggested that “decisive action must be taken to put a definite end to the perennial illegal and forceful occupation. Now is the time for the Ummah (community) to form a unified Muslim protective force that will liberate and protect Palestine, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israel’s terror since the United Nations has failed in its duty.” (Mindanao Examiner)
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Hike in Covid cases alarm Davao mayor
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DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Carpio expressed alarm over the increase in new Covid-19 cases here and told residents to strictly follow the health protocols in an effort to prevent the further spread of the deadly respiratory disease. In one of her radio programs, Carpio said active Covid-19 cases here exceeded the 500-mark and is a cause for alarm. “A cause for alarm, yes. According sa presentation ni Dr. (Ashley) Lopez, it is not yet a surge but it seems to indicate that there is a pre-surge,” she said. Carpio said it is up to the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATFMEID) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to decide if Davao City needs to be under stricter community quarantine sta-
tus. “It’s not up to the City (government) to be classified under an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) or Modified Community Quarantine (MECQ) since it is the national government, particularly the Inter-Agency Task Force on (for the Management of) Emerging Infectious Diseases that decides the matter,” Carpio said. “Ginaingon nato sa tanan we do not want an ECQ or an MECQ, but if we continue to kanang dili strikto sa atong public minimum health standards, sa pag follow non-pharmaceutical interventions nato, then we will really have a surge of these cases diri sa atong city. And usually ang ECQ og ang MECQ naay measure kung kanus-a na i-implement,” she added.
The mayor expressed optimism that the Covid-19 infections would slow down as the local government continues to battle the spread of the virus. “We are all in agreement, I do not think there is one person diri here sa atong syudad na gusto mag ECQ or MECQ. Dili nato gusto buhaton na, that’s the same message gihatag nato last week. Ginaingon nato nag-antos ta, nagaantos tang tanan.” “Dili nato pasagadan atong paghago og pag-antos mahulog lang sa wala kay mudaghan atong mga kaso. Panigurohon nato nga ang pag-antos nato, ang lisod na giagian nato, dili mudaghan ang mga kaso,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner. Malou Cablinda contributed to this report.)
Solar power for Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani hailed
HEALTH
Andropause Sa Lalaki: Ano Ito? Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
A man inspects the solar home system units intended for Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.
K
ung ang babae ay may menopause, ang mga lalaki naman ay may andropause. Iba ang sintomas ng menopause sa babae kumpara sa lalaki. Ang menopause sa babae ay biglang dumarating ng mga edad 45 hanggang 55, kung saan hihinto na ang pagre-regla ng babae. Tumitigil na ang paggawa ng itlog (egg cell) ng babae at biglang babagsak ang lebel ng estrogen sa katawan. Dahil dito, nakararamdam ang babae ng pag-iinit ng katawan (hot flushes), irregular na regla, pagkabalisa, hindi makatulog at pagiinit ng ulo. Kumonsulta sa iyong OB-gynecologist para malunasan ito.
Andropause Sa Lalaki: Ang andropause ay posibleng mangyari sa mga lalaki. Ito ang tinaguriang “male menopause.” Mula sa edad 30 ay unti-unti nang bumababa ang lebel ng testosterone ng lalaki ng 1% kada taon. Pagdating ng edad 70 ay posibleng bumaba na ang lebel ng testosterone ng halos 50%. Dahil dahan-dahan ang pagbaba ng testosterone at hindi ito gaano napapansin ng kalalakihan. Ang sintomas ng andropause ay ang (1) pagbawas ng gana sa sex, (2) lumiliit na mga masel ng katawan, (3) panghihina, at (4) pagbaba ng kumpiyansa sa sarili (low self confidence). Ang iba naman ay nalulungkot at
nahihirapan matulog. Para malaman kung mababa ang iyong testosterone, puwede itong ipasuri sa laboratoryo sa pamamagitan ng blood test. Ano ang solusyon sa andropause? Una, kumain ng masustansya at ituloy ang regular na ehersisyo. Pangalawa, magpa-check up sa doktor para malaman kung may ibang dahilan ang iyong nararamdaman. Baka naman hindi andropause ang sanhi ng sintomas mo. Huling payo: Mag-ingat din sa pag-inom ng mga supplements para sa testosterone. Hindi pa tiyak ang benepisyo at peligro nito. Kumonsulta sa inyong doktor. Good luck.
KIDAPAWAN CITY - Thousands of off-grid households in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani are set to gain access to electricity using solar power. Some 3,000 solar home system units were coursed through the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) under the so-called “Strengthening Offgrid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (SOLARES) project. Martiniano Magdolot, SOLARES Project Director, thanked the Sino Soar Hybrid (in Beijing, China) Technology for supplying the solar home system units to the electric cooperative and the Department of Energy, Peace and Equity
Foundation (PEF), and the European Union for the funding and technical assistance. The solar home system unit is comprised of the system box, solar panel, and accessories such as torch, radio, and bulbs. Magdolot said SOLARES, through its electric cooperative partners, aims to distribute and install more solar home system in the coming months. Complementing the solar home systems component, the PEF said it will provide livelihood opportunities to the communities in beneficiary areas. “We have already released loans for the livelihood projects of the farming communities in the municipalities
of Lebak, Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat, and Maasim, Maitum, and Kiamba, in Sarangani that will benefit more than 700 households,” PEF Area Officer Shunie Pearl Palacios said. PEF also conducted a series of coaching and mentoring sessions on financial management to six partner MFIs and cooperatives in those areas. “The SOLARES project aims to reduce “energy poverty” in Mindanao. PEF believes that it is equally important for these communities to gain more access to income opportunities for them to be self-sustaining and resilient,” Palacios said. (Rhoderick Benez in Kidapawan City and Malou Cablinda in Davao City contributed to this report.)
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Farmers resort to raising free-range chickens C
Farmers in Cebu’s Tabuelan town are now raising “free-range” chickens through the Department of Agriculture’s “Ahon Lahat Pagkain Sapat Kontra Covid-19” program.
Police vow to work hard to maintain peace
Cebu City Deputy Police Chief for Operations Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla. CEBU CITY – The local police force said it will strive harder to maintain the low crime volume here and protect the welfare of the Cebuanos. Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, the Deputy Chief for Operations, said sustaining the gains of the police amid the Covid-19 pandemic remains a big challenge. “There was really a decrease in crime vol-
ARMM
ume. Considering that Cebu City has a little over a million in population, including visitors, and yet our stations recorded only an average of 15 incidents per week,” Parilla said, adding that there were instances wherein a police station recorded no single incident in a day. He also noted lower criminal incidents during the enforcement of the li-
quor ban since February this year which was lifted recently by Mayor Edgardo Labella after signing an executive order. Establishments serving liquor while offering live entertainment should secure a permit from the Emergency Operations Center in order to ensure that minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing would be imposed. Labella’s order also prohibits serving of liquor during curfew hours from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Parilla said the police and the Business Permit and Licensing Office, City Environmental and Sanitation Environmental Enforcement Team and Prevention, Restoration, Beautification, and Enhancement personnel will conduct inspection of establishments serving liquor. He said establishments and customers violating the regulations will be meted with appropriate sanctions under the existing ordinances. (John Rey Saavedra)
Eastern Mindanao
EBU CITY – Farmers in Cebu’s Tabuelan town have resorted to raising “free-range” chickens and their hard work was the result of their perseverance, determination, and initiatives based on experiences, struggles and challenges they encountered. Free-range is a term Some beneficiaries native hen will brood the that refers to a method of have successfully grown, eggs until they hatched. I animal husbandry where doubled, and even tripled was able to produce more animals are able to roam the number of chickens offspring,” Pugio said. freely outdoors rather than they received from the Pugio’s son also narbeing confined by an en- project. This was also re- rated that their broodclosure for 24 hours a day. ported by members of the ing nest has three layers The farmers are all Integrity Circle (IC) of the composed of straw, sacks beneficiaries of the De- DA’s Agriculture Dialogue and cloth which they partment of Agriculture’s and Information Network usually replace from time (DA) “Ahon Lahat Pagkain Group who are private to time to avoid the eggs Sapat Kontra Covid-19 and volunteers monitoring the from getting wet that will were all provided with free- project. result in spoilage. range chicken modules. At One successful recipPugio’s practice of least 20 farmer associa- ient, Resca Pugio, of the letting the native hens’ tions benefited from the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma brood the CZ eggs was project. sa Tabunok, now has more adapted by other recipiA total of 1,200 heads than 50 offspring from the ents such as the Bongon of free-range chicks of existing nine chickens. The Farmers Association of dominant CZ breed and 40 chickens, she said, have Tabuelan and the Villabags of feeds were given to engrossed her family to hermosa Planting Group each association, includ- have more of such breed. Farmers Association that ing 60 heads and two bags “We observed that the also claimed to be sucof feeds for dispersal to the chickens are good egg lay- cessful by using the same members. ers too, however they don’t technique. Each member received brood their eggs, resulting Evelyn Pable, a proj12 chickens. The members to spoilage. What we did ect recipient of Canaan would return the same since we have native hens Bongon Farmers Associnumber of chickens re- that are laying eggs, we get ation, said the eggs give ceived which are to be dis- all the native eggs and re- them additional source of persed to other members place it with the eggs of the income and as a source of in the waitlist. CZ. We found out that the food. (Carlo Lorenciana)
NBI nabs 5 over abortion offer CEBU CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recently nabbed five operators of an abortion clinic in Cebu City and offered its illegal services in social media. NBI Director Eric Distor said criminal charges will be filed against the suspects Joey Guirigay, Francisca Rebamonte, Gloria Gabutin, Meryteissie Rural and Amparo Gemarangan who were all arrested during an undercover operation. Operatives of NBI-Central Eastern Visayas Regional Office transacted with Guirigay,
Western Mindanao
who is also facing alleged rape charges. Guirigay allegedly used the Facebook account @Michelle Mayer where she offered abortion services for P30,000 and even P9,500 more for abortion pills. The abortion would be performed by an alleged licensed obstetrician-gynecologist in a private clinic. The undercover agent who posed as a client met with the suspect on April 29 near Chong Hua Hospital in Fuente Osmeña and they were fetched by Rebamonte and taken to Gemarangan’s place in Talisay City. While waiting for Ge-
Cebu
marangan to complete the preliminary interview with the undercover agent, Rebamonte asked for the payment of P30,000. As soon as the marked money was handed over, other NBI agents deployed nearby stormed the place. Guirigay, who phoned Rebamonte to say that payment, was made. He instructed Rebamonte to get in touch with Gabutin and Rural who will facilitate the illegal abortion in Barangay Labangon. Both Gabutin and Rural were eventually arrested by the NBI outside a hotel. (Benjamin Pulta)
Manila