Mindanao Examiner Newspaper July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Bishops call for investigation in Zambo 'gold rush' town PAGE 3

MILF rebels tighten security after clash with rival group in North Cotabato PAGE 4

Philippines to investigate P10-billion 'pork barrel' scam PAGE 6

Extrajudicial killings in Philippines worry peace activist

President Aquino loses 7 allies in Congress

PAGE 7

Pagadian City mayor orders inventory of police guns

PAGE 8

PAGE 9

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‘Hijab’ muling pinag-initan!

See story on Page 2 Dalawang babaeng naka-hijab ang makikitang nag-aaral ng kanilang takdang-aralin sa Mindanao. (Kuha ni Mark Navales - Mindanao Examiner)

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Zamboanga Peninsula

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

‘Hijab’ muling pinag-initan!

U

mani ng batikos at ibat-ibang rreaksy eaksy on ang kautusan eaksyon ng D epar tment of E ducation na ipitanggal ang mga Depar epartment Education hijab ng mga gur ong M uslim sa loob ng silid-ar alan sa gurong Muslim silid-aralan mga publikong paar alan. paaralan.

Ang kautusan ay galing cannot be talking peace with umano kay Education Secretary Moro rebels who are Muslims Armin Luistro at bahagi ng and in the other hand promote reporma ng naturang ahensya. that kind of policy,” ayon pa kay Ngunit ngayon pa lamang ay Roland, na umani na ng maraming pag- isang Muslim batikos ang kautusan ng Ka- convert. tolitkong si Lusitro na miyembro “Learn. Renaman ng La Salle Brothers. spect. Broaden Sa kopya ng kautusan na one's faith,” nakuha naman ng Agence pahayag naFrance Press ay nakasaad umano man ng isang na bagamat ipinaaalis ang Pinay worker paggamit ng hijab sa loob ng sa United Arab silid-aralan ay maaarin naman Emirate. itong gamitin sa mga campus o Wika nacompound ng mga paaralan. man ng isa: Refor ms eforms “OMG (oh my “Education Secretary Armin gosh) for an Luistro said the move was part of E d u c ( a t i o n ) reforms to make schools more Sec(retary) to sensitive to religion. Muslim say that! Send schoolgirls will still be allowed to him back to wear the veil or "hijab" on cam- school so that puses as well as "appropriate he will underclothing" in gym class,” ayon pa stand Islamic sa ulat. culture.”

“But while female Muslim Sinabi rin schoolteachers can wear the veil ng isang resoutside class, they are told to re- petadong Musmove the veil during lessons so lim sa Zamthey can interact better with boanga City na students.Once the [teacher] is in “For a Cabinet the classroom, she is requested to member so inremove the veil,” ani pa ng sensitive as Mr. kautusan ni Luistro.

Luistro cerPartikular ito sa mga gurong tainly speaks of nagtuturo ng Arabic Language his lack of unand Islamic Values Education. derstanding of “Having Muslim female the Muslim teachers remove their veils allows culture and for proper identification of the custom that teachers by their pupils, thus pro- he's mandated moting better teacher-pupil rela- as DepEd Sectionship,” dagdag pa nito. retary to respect. He should be somewhere Face to F ace Face Ayon naman sa ulat ng else not heading the Education Interaksyon ng TV 5 ay nilagdaan Department.”

Kinondena umano ni Luistro ang kautusan Sinabi naman sa Mindanao nuong Hulyo 16.

“Seeing the teacher’s face Examiner ng Kabataan party sa without the veil would be neces- Cotabato City na ang "bulok na sary for proper identification of sistema ng edukasyon ang the teachers by the pupils, thus problema at hindi ang paggamit promoting better teacher-pupil ng Niqab."

Mahigpit rin kinukondena relationship,” ani Luistro.

“While the Department sup- ng grupo ang kautusan ni Luistro ports and promotes the right of at sinabing hindi katanggapMuslim Filipino women to wear tanggap ang kadahilanan na ang hijab/veil (or headdress), it does pagtatanggal ng Niqab ang not compel Muslim Filipino makaaangat sa relasyong gurowomen to wear it,” dagdag pa estudyante at epektibong pagtuturo. Dapat palalimin at nito. solusyunan ang mga istruktural Reaksy on eaksyon Sa reaksyon ng publiko, ito na mga kadahilanan kung bakit naman ang sinabi ng isang hindi umuunlad ang sistema ng nakabasa nitong balita: “You edukasyon sa bansa.

"Ang patuloy na milineed to integrate with us here in Mindanao Armin Luistro for you tarisasyon sa mga komunidad ng to be oriented of our practices, kapatid nating Muslim kung saan ang mga kabataan ang higit culture and faith.”

“There is already a law, ma- na naaapektuhan, ang kagna carta to that effect. If he is se- kulangan ng mga klasrum, guro, rious, then the Aquino govern- libro, maayos na pasilidad ang ment should think twice. They sumasagka sa pagkakamit ng

dekalidad na edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Ang karapat-dapat gawin ng gobyerno ay dagdagan ang nakalaan na badyet sa edukasyon at hindi ipapasan sa mamamayan ang mga kapinsalaan ng bulok na sistema ng edukasyon at ng pang-kabuuang

pamamalakad ng gobyerno," ani pa nito.

Ang kautusan ni Luistro ay isa umanong patunay na nananatiling komersyalisado, pasista, at kontra-mamamayan ang edukasyon sa Pilipinas. "Ito ay malinaw na paglabag sa karapatan ng mamamayang Moro sa malayang pagtataguyod ng relihiyong Islam maging sa loob ng paaralan. Sa halip na gumawa ng mga hakbang para sa pagkilala sa mga karapatan ng bawat indibidwal, lulong ang gobyerno sa pagbubuo ng mga patakaran at polisiya na mas lalong maglulugmok at magmamaliit sa naiisantabi na sektor ng lipunan," sabi pa Jerome Aba, ang tagapagsalita ng Kabataan party.

Idinagdag pa nito na nakagigimbal ang naturang proklamasyon ng gobyerno pagkatapos nitong ilako ang Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro na siyang kumikilala sa kasaysayan at kultura ng mamamayang Moro. Ito ay

salungat sa aspirasyon ng mamamayang Moro sa kanyang karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya, ayon kay Aba. Paliwanag Sa isang pahayag sa Mindanao Examiner ay nilinaw naman ni Luistro ang kautusan at ito ang k a n y a n g sinabi: "It has come to my attention that several news articles on DepEd Order 32 s.2013 “Reiterating DECS Order No. 53 s.2001 (Strengthening the Protection of Religious Rights of Students)” have been published with misleading headlines (e.g. “DepEd orders Muslim teachers to unveil in class,” “Muslim teachers instructed not to wear veils d u r i n g classes,” “Mu s l i m teachers asked to remove veils in classrooms,” etc.) " S u c h headlines give readers the impression that the DepEd is ordering female Muslim teachers to remove their head covering (hijab). What the order actually states is that teachers handling Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) are requested to remove the veil covering the face (niqab) when teaching in the classroom."

"This is to promote better teacher-pupil relationship and to support effective language teaching since seeing the teacher’s lips helps in the correct production of letter sounds. The DepEd is available for questions or clarifications regarding issuances such as this. I hope that in the future we check our facts and check the actual text of the Department Order before jumping to conclusions."

Hijaab-N iqaab A dv ocacy ijaab-Niqaab Adv dvocacy Networ k etwork Nagbigay naman ng reaksyon sa Mindanao Examiner ang Hijaab-Niqaab Advocacy Network bilang tugon sa paliwanag ni Luistro.

Ito ang sagot ni Warina Sushil Jukuy, ang Secretary-General ng grupo: How can removal of face veil be a determinant in promoting better teacher-pupil relationship?

"There seems to be no problem in ALIVE classes between niqaabi teacher and pupils due to the following reasons: The niqaabi and pupils for ALIVE classes are not alien to each other; they share affinity by being Muslims; Arabic Language can be and has been taught effectively in the past as much as in the present; the face veil is not a barrier towards effective teaching of Arabic language and Islamic Values Education; The face and lips do not make or break good relationship and rapport between teacher and learners: the eyes are expressive as much as the tone of voice is."

"Effective language teaching involves basically the voice as a medium transmitter to be received by a good pair of ears"...

Proof: a blind pupil although he or she sees nothing at all, neither the face nor the lips and teeth of the teacher, that blind pupil still learns because of his other perceptual skills and most of all-- he may have lost his eyes but he has acquired sharp sense of hearing" "Seeing the teacher’s lips helps in the correct production of letter sounds..." I dare say that listening attentively and correctly without being distracted of the quality of the lips and teeth or of the quality of the face of the teacher helps in the correct pronunciation of letter sounds. Anyway, our topic is female teacher who wears face veil...she can be resourceful enough to teach "pronunciation" techniques by way of description the position of tongue, teeth in producing certain sounds...Or use interactive multimedia techniques. If that is the concern of DepEd Secretary Luistro, then it can easily be resolved without resorting to temporary removal of face veil while teaching in the classroom. Same thing applies to the good DepEd Secretary Luistro: "With all due respect and begging for his indulgence, We hope that in the future DepEd Secretary Armin checks his facts and comprehension level on the import of the face veil before jumping or stamping heavily to any inconclusive DepEd Order."

Matatandaang naging maiinit at kontrobersyal na isyu ang pag gamit ng hijab ng mga estudyante at nurse sa Zamboanga City matapos itong ipagbawal sa kanila. At sa kalaunan ay binawi rin ito ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad at pagamutan dahil sa matinding protesta at kautusan ng korte.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Ito ang karaniwang tanawin sa mga Madrasa classes na kng saan ay makikita ang mga estudyante gamit ang kanilang mga hijab at niqab naman sa mga ustadzah tulad nito sa Al Hadeetha Mindanao College Inc sa Dalapang sa bayan ng Labangan sa Zamboanga Del Sur. Kuha n Mark Navales - Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Some members of the solidarity mission in the town of Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines.

Bishops call for investigation in Zambo ‘gold rush’ town PAGADIAN CITY – Filipino religious leaders and human rights advocates have finished a solidar ity mission in the southern Philippine town

of Bayog and organizers called on President Benigno Aquino to look into the reports of unabated killings in the area.

Bishop Antonio Ablon, one of the conveners of the Advocates for Peace, said they have ended a three-day solidar ity mission in the

town and urged Aquino to act swiftly on reported cases of extrajudicial killings in the town.

“We are urging President Aquino and Mayor

Business Permit and Licensing System project goes to Isabela City BASILAN PROVINCE – The Business Permit and Licensing System or BPLS project will soon be rolled out in Isabela City in Basilan province and is expected to fast track or cut time in the issuance of business permits.

Herminia Cuevas, of the National Economic

Research and Business Assistance Center in Western Mindanao, said they are meeting with local government officials and present the overview of the BPLS project, including the proposed roll out plan of action for Isabela.

She said some 19 local governments in

Zamboanga Peninsula have successfully simplified their business permitting systems in accordance with the national BPLS standards and are targeting 32 more this year.

Cuevas said the Department of Trade and Industry is also working

Rice smuggling pinatutukan sa Zambo ZAMBOANGA CITY – Nanawagan si Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar sa Bureau of Customs na paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa rice smuggling matapos na mabalitaanang walang humpay ang pasok ng mga bigas dito.

Malaki umano ang epekto ng smuggling sa mga local rice farmers dahil apektado ang bentahan ng palay sa Zamboanga City.

Nabatid na galing umano ang mga bigas mula sa Malaysia at ipinapasok sa bansa.

“This is not good because they (smugglers) do not pay the necessary taxes to the government. And we

are calling the attention of the Customs to prevent the entry of smuggled rice or col-

Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar lect taxes from the smugglers,” ani Salazar.

Inihalintulad pa ni Salazar ang mga smugglers sa peste sa sakahan dahil sa kanilang ilegal na gawain.

“They are eating up the city’s economy. Nalulugi yun mga farmers natin sa tuwing papasok ang mga smuggled rice dahil mas mababa ang bentahan nito kung ihahambing sa mga commercial rice sapagkat hindi sila nagbabayad ng buwis,” wika pa ni Salazar.

Kabilang sa mga programa ni Salazar ang pagtibayin ang agrikultura sa Zamboanga upang masigurong may sapat na supply ng bigas dito at hindi umasa sa pagaangkat ng mga ito mula sa ibang bansa.

(Mindanao Examiner)

jointly with the Department of the Interior and Local Government in pushing for the adoption of the BPLS reforms in the country.

“We are hopeful that by 2016, all the 72 local government units in Zamboanga Peninsula will have completed their BPLS re-engineering and simplification program to meet, if not surpass the minimum standards set by the national government on this,” she told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Once streamlined, local gover nments may proceed to the second component of the project and that is automation or computerization of their BPLS. The National Computer Center is on top of this, Cuevas said.

“The third component is focused on improving customer relations at the local government level while the fourth component is about institutionalizing the reforms attained thus far,” she added. (Lowell Vallecer)

Leonard Babasa to immediately act on these reports of extrajudicial killings and investigate deeply so justice may be served to the families of the murdered victims,” he told the regional newspaper Min-danao Examiner.

The bishop, who belongs to the Diocese of Pagadian City of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, also urged for the protection of witnesses. He did not say how many cases of extrajudicial killings they have recorded, but claimed there are widespread fears among villagers.

He said they also sought a meeting with the town’s mayor, but the politician was busy.

The bishop said the purpose of their mission was “to share compassion and concrete love for the very least, exploited and disadvantaged sector particularly those suffering from the impact of large-scale mining operations.”

The bishop said they held a dialogue with villagers and interviewed some former small-scale miners in the gold rush town of Bayog, where TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. also holds a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement covering some 4,779 hectares.

TVIRD has not begun

Concreting project sa Jolo nakalatag na SULU – Isang bagong proyekto na naman ang inilunsad ni Sulu Gov. Totoh Tan bilang bahagi ng programang impraistraktura sa naturang lalawigan.

Sinabi ni Sulu Provincial Administrator Erwin Tan na handang-handa na ang concreting project ng Hajji Butu Junction Road sa Barangay San Raymundo sa bayan ng Jolo.

“Marami pang proyekto si Gov. Totoh Tan at sa ngayon ay uunahin muna natin yun concreting ng Hajji Butu Junction Road sa San Raymundo and then marami pang mga nakapilang projects at we are trying to identify pa ang mga ibang proyekto na magkakaroon ng malaking impact sa community. Ito naman ang talagang gusto ni Gov. Totoh, yun mga projects na may malaking impact

sa komunidad,” ani ng Administrator Tan. Magsasagawa rin umano ng malaking job fair si Gov. Totoh Tan at katuwang nito ang Department of Labor and Employment at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan.

At inaayos na rin ang mobile passporting ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa Sulu upang matulungan ang mga taga-rito na makakuha ng passport.

Kamakailan lamang ay nagbigay rin si Gov. Totoh Tan ng mga PVC pipes para sa potable water system sa bayan ng Indanan.

Naunang ipinangako ni Gov. Totot Tan na tuloytuloy ang proyekto ng pamahalaang-panlalawigan at prayoridad nito ang mahihirap na komunidad sa ibat-ibang bayan sa Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner)

Ang junction ng Hadji Butu road sa bayan ng Jolo sa Sulu province. (Kuha ni Kim Uddin)

its mining operations in Bayog, but is now in its advance stage of exploration and is waiting for Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Bishop Ablon said over 100 people participated in the solidarity mission.

Among those who joined the solidarity mission were Bishop Jose Manguiran, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte; and members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines; the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and the human r ights group called Karapatan.

Bishop Ablon earlier said he fears for his safety following a July 12 breakin inside his house in Pagadian City. He said his bedroom’s window was forcibly broke into by a still unidentified assailant.

“There was nothing robbed and lost as there was none to be robbed off. However, I feared for my safety right now as it happened while we are preparing for the solidarity mission to the mining area in Bayog town of Zamboanga del Sur,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Zamboanga councilman looks at the ‘good side’ ZAMBOANGA CITY – “It is better to light a candle than than curse the darkness,” espoused Za?mboanga City District 2 Councilor Percival Ramos.

Ramos admitted that he is deeply a true believer of this famous Chinese proverb, when interviewed by the Mindanao Examiner.

The young politician, who kept his stirring 6th place finish in the hotly-contested District 2 council race last May 13 polls, shrugged off criticisms hurled against him at the height of the political campaign by his detractors.

He said he would rather look at it in a positive way: “You expect your life to face plenty of criticisms when they feel you’re up there, and I really don’t mind them at all.

I even consider them as a challenge in my life, instead.”

In 2012, Ramos made his mark - despite being a neophyte, - when he topped in

legislative measures along with ‘retired’ third termer Councilor Benjamin Guingona III, also from Dis-

Councilman Percival Ramos trict 2, and both, based on records, sponsored or authored the most number of ordinances/ and resolutions last year.

One of his biggest accomplishments making a tremendous impact in the community is the livelihood training and enhancement programs and that includes

Undercover drug sting nets couple in Zambo City LOCAL POLICE arrested a couple during a drug sting in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the antidrug operation resulted in the arrest of Albinar, 30, and Shara, 22, in the village of Luyahan.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said undercover agents led by Senior Inspector Joewie Lucas

were able to buy a sachet of suspected shabu that led to the arrest of the couple, who are natives of Jolo town in Sulu province.

He said the police also seized an unlicensed .38caliber revolver with four bullets from Jamiri.

Huesca said the two suspects are currently detained in Zamboanga City pending the outcome of the police investigation.

(Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Ahmed Baldomero Joanna Valerie Wee Graphics/Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales ARMM

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the string of highly successful backyard gardening projects in schools - the revived Jardin na Escuela - in the barangays or Jardin na Barangays and in the communities - Jardin na Communidad as well.

Ramos hatched the laudable project together with then District 2 Councilor Rey Candido primarily to improve and enhance the quality of life in the urban poor sector.

In the offing, as well, is the planned mass wedding that he initiated for the over a thousand out-of-wedlock couples - all coming from the city’s urban poor associations.

Had it not for the supposed delays, the occasion would have a dream come true for all the couples, according to Ramos.

“We hope, we can still proceed with their mass wedding within this year,” he said.

The second term city alderman also has drawn his other good projects and programs for the benefit of the city populace here namely training on first-aid courses in resettlement areas in coordination with the Zamboanga City Red Cross chapter; ample training on disaster- prevention measures and the formation and training of fire brigade prospects with the active participation of the local community.

Ramos is likewise using his own Community Development Fund as a reward and incentive for all winners in the “Jardin” competitions categorized among the local schools, barangays and the local communities, as well.

“It is better to do something good to help solve the problems than keep on complaining about them,” Ramos said. (Jun Feliciano)

Police investigators in Isabela City in Basilan province examine the crime for pieces of evidence that would help solve the killing. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Richard Falcatan)

Man killed, another wounded in Isabela City BASILAN PROVINCE – One person was killed and his companion wounded in an attack by motorcycle gunmen in Isabela City in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, police said.

Police said the attack-

ers escaped after the shootings in the village of La Piedad.

The motive of the attack is still unknown, but police suspect the killing was connected to illegal drugs after investigators al-

legedly found drug paraphernalia from the scene of the crime.

No individual claimed responsibility for the killing and police are investigating the attack. (Richard Falcatan)

MILF rebels tighten security after clash with rival group in North Cotabato COTABATO CITY – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has tightened its security following clashes with rival group Moro National Liberation Front in the southern region of Mindanao.

The fighting left two MNLF gunmen dead and one MILF rebel wounded, said Von Al-Haq, a spokesman for the MILF. He said the fighting was triggered by a longrunning land dispute between an MILF leader and an MNLF commander in North Cotabato’s Matalam town. “The MNLF entered our territory and this started the fighting,” he told the regional newpaper Mindanao Examiner.

Al-Haq said the MNLF

gunmen led by Malano Saban under Dima Ambil, encroached inside an area being held by the MILF, triggering a firefight.

The fighting between the two rival groups had forced government forces to close a highway in North Cotabato to protect travellers from the violence.

Al-Haq said the fighting has subsided, but tension is still high in the area.

“We are in heightened alert just to be sure and also as a protection to MILF forces in the area,” he said.

“All the unlawful act made and done by the MNLF they accused and thrown to the MILF, and if Datu Dima Ambil is fair enough, their conflict can be resolved peacefully since he is the only and old

traditional leader in the area,” he said.

Ambil’s group is locked in a bitter feud with the MILF and fighting between the two sides had been going on and off for years now. And every time clashes occur, civilians flee their homes for fear they would be caught in the cross-fire.

The moderate MILF under Salamat Hashim broke away with the main MNLF group of Nur Misuari in 1978 over differences in policies. Misuari forged a peace deal with Manila in 1996 and now the MILF is currently negotiating with the government in an effort to end the bloody fighting in the South. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner

The Mindanao Examiner 6 Groups slam Aquino’s State of the Nation Address

Filipinos hold a protest rally in Cotabato City in southern Philippines during President Benigno Aquino's 4th State of the Nation Address.

COTABATO CITY – Filipino activists and international human rights advocates slammed President Benigno Aquino’s 4th State of the Nation Address, saying nothing has changed in the Philippines.

The Kabataan party list group said it was not surprised that Aquino brandishes his regime with achievements far-beyond reality.

Jerome Succor Aba, of Kabataan party list, said they are concerned on the plight of the poor which are being pushed against the wall three years after Aquino assumed the presidency.

The Human Rights Watch also said it was dismayed by Aquino’s State of the Nation Address because the President chose not to talk about the continuing culture of impunity in the country where extrajudicial killings continue unabated.

“We are disappointed that he did not take the opportunity to communicate to the military and the police that they will be held accountable for human rights violations.”

“President Aquino’s failure to denounce abuses against outspoken activists, environmentalists, clergy and journalists sends the wrong message to abusive security forces and corrupt politicians,” James Ross, Legal and Policy Director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice social injustices and inequality worsened and persisted because of elite ownership and control of economic resources combined with neoliberal economic policies implemented by previous governments and continued by the Aquino government.

It called on the Aquino administration to take decisive steps to shift away from inequitable, harmful and dirty growth-fixated economic strategy. “He has wasted the past three years of his administration; there is still time to take on a different path,” it said.

The State of the Nation Address sparked widespread protests in the country.

Philippines to investigate P10-billion 'pork barrel' scam MANILA - The Philippines said it will investigate allegations involving some P10 billion in funds intended for development projects of senators and congressmen which allegedly went to 'ghost projects' of fictitious nongovernmental organizations.

“What we would like to emphasize is all the aspects

of this travesty are being investigated fully regardless of where it leads up. This applies to both the investigation on Janet Napoles and also in the investigation on Cadavero,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Manila.

Napoles is being implicated in the scam using

New LTO operations chief in Western Mindanao lauded IN JUST a short stint since he assumed post early this July, new Land Transportation Office operations divisions Officer-In-Charge Abdelshan Amilassan, has managed to apprehend 687 motorists in line with its Operation H20n or the “Headlight and Helmet On” launched in Western Mindanao.

Its total collection to date - P 487,996.49 - also improved and higher by P121,041.49 compared in 2012 for the whole of July that merely collected P366,955.00.

LTO Western Mindanao

Director lawyer Aminola Abaton has commended Amilassan for a “job well done”, and has egged him on and his field personnel to carry on their tasks nay fear nor favor to serve the highest interest of the riding public.

Abaton is largely credited for making the regional office as one of the most outstanding in the whole country. He also introduced reforms which resulted in fast transactions and effective implementation of the road rules and regulations and the law.

(Jun Feliciano)

mainly the Priority Development Assistance Fund of lawmakers. Napoles has denied the allegations saying her company, JLN Corporation, had never transacted business with the government or any of its agencies.

Napoles is the president and CEO of JLN Corporation.

In 2001, Napoles and her husband, retired Army Maj. Jaime Napoles, were among 18 personnel of the Navy Marine Corps and civilians, charged by the Office of Ombudsman in connection with the acquisition of substandard Kevlar helmets worth P3.8 million.

Napoles was also summoned by the Senate blue ribbon committee during its investigation on the P728million fertilizer scam involving then Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante.

Napoles’s woes stemmed from the allegations of Benhur Luy, a distant cousin and her personal assistant in JLN Corp., that she had ordered his kidnapping and illegal detention.

The 31-year old Luy,

who was allegedly rescued by a special task force of NBI agents last March, outlined the alleged involvement of Napoles in the scam.

He said Napoles purportedly used funds from the lawmakers priority and various government entities, for ghost projects executed by several dozen bogus contractors in the past 10 years.

The Palace said it is letting the Department of Justice, through the National Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the case.

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Bong Garcia, Chairman of the Board of the Zamboanga Press Club, Inc. and Zamboanga Press Club President Jayvee Francisco and Board member Roel Pareño. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Zambo Press Club holds news writing seminar ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga Press Club conducted a refresher and walkthrough on news writing and attended by journalists from various media outfits.

It was the first seminar for this year and press club president Jayvee Francisco said more workshops and training are set for this year.

Roel Pareño, a member of the board; and Julie Alipala spoke in the seminar.

The “Refresher and Walkthrough on News Writing” seminar was held at the Training Center of the Zamboanga City Water District, which sponsored

the event.

Aside from Francisco, the other officers of the Zamboanga Press Club are Eugene Lasprilla, executive vice president for radio; Ramon Follosco, vice president for print; Elsie Molina, vice president for radio; Richard Falcatan, vice president for television; Marilyn delos Santos, secretary; Ester Doroteo, treasurer; Larry Velasquez, auditor; and Bong Garcia, the chairman of the board.

The other members of the board are Hader Glang, Joey Bautista, Noning Antonio, Hermie Ventura and Nonong Santiago. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sirawai barangay official arrested DIPOLOG CITY – Police arrested a village official who was carrying a hand grenade during a routine inspection at a checkpoint in the town of Siocon in the southern Philippine province if Zamboanga del Norte, officials.

Officials identified the 38-year old man as Jainuddin Burio, who was flagged down by police chief Kiram Jimlani along the highway in the village called Manaol.

Burio, a councilman in the village of Balatakan in the neighboring town of Sirawai, was driving an unlicensed motorcycle when stopped at the checkpoint.

Officials said the grenade was hidden in the utility box under the seat of the motorcycle. It was not immediately known why Burio was carrying the grenade.

Police detained Burio as criminal charges are being prepared against him.

(Mindanao Examiner)

7

The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Extrajudicial killings in Philippines worry peace activist MANILA - Internationally-acclaimed death threats from suspected militarypeace activist Marta Benavides likened the backed paramilitary before he was killed. killing of Italian priest Fausto Tentorio in He was the first foreign missionary the Philippines, and the continuing impu- killed under the Aquino regime and since nity in the country Fr. Tulio Favali, who to the 1980 assassiwas killed in the nation of Archmid-1980s under bishop Monsignor the Marcos DictaOscar Romero in El torship.

Salvador.

In 2012, a sec"It is the same ond foreign misthing that hapsionary, Dutch enpened to all the vironmentalist Willem Geertman martyrs in Latin America, the same was assassinated in his office in Angeles thing that hapCity in Pampanga pened in El Salvador with the murder province. He was Fr. Fausto Tentorio of Monsignor the executive direcRomero. We call it a loud secret. We all tor of Alay Bayan Inc., and a staunch critic know, the whole population knows, what of development aggression in Aurora provhappened, who was behind it...the death ince.

Benavides said that political repressquads. (We may not know exactly) who went to kill him, but who was behind it. We sion will continue because global crises are think it's the same thing here," Marta affecting the poorest nations, and people Benavides, an El Salvadoran theologian, will always rise up in resistance. said in a statement sent to the Mindanao "That’s how these governments exist in the world right now. They don’t exist for the Examiner.

Benavides, who was a friend of Romero people and with the people. They have to and one of the few surviving human rights maintain the system as it is so they can activists that began their work in El Salva- maintain themselves in government and dor in the 1970s, is one of those attending the system finds the needs to repress them, the International Conference on Human to suppress and repress so that they can Rights and Peace in the Philippines from continue to oppress."

July 19 to 21 in Quezon City.

Benavides, who was 37 when Romero Romero was a vocal critic of the US- was killed, recalled the climate of impunity supported military junta that took power in Latin America: "It was very bad, it was in El Salvador in the late 70s and the hu- very repressive at that time, and you could man rights violations by right-wing para- feel it in the air. Everybody have to be very military; he was shot dead on March 24, careful. Most people that are doing any1979 while he was giving mass in his thing that was good for the people, you chapel. Tentorio was killed on October 17, have to be clandestine, or semi-clandes2011, as he was leaving his convent in tine. The death squads were after many Arakan town in North Cotabato. people. And this was also happening in Fr. Tentori was a prominent anti-min- Guatemala, and also in Honduras. But the ing advocate and critic of the human rights thing is at that time, even though it was very violations in Mindanao, and had received dangerous, people were very brave."

Bus falls in ravine in Zambo town ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – More than a dozen people were injured, including a pregnant woman, after a provincial bus fell in a ravine in the town of Ipil in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga Sibugay, police said.

It said Cynthia Cichon, 21, who is 8 months pregnant, and another passenger Elezar Probitso, 26, were seriously injured. The bus, owned by Rural Transit, was traveling to Zamboanga City from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province when the accident occurred.

Police said the 47-year old driver Felix Lumosad tried to overtake a motorcycle in the village of Tenan, but avoided another bus on the opposite lane of the road and lost control of the wheel and the bus fell in the ravine.

Lumosad surrendered to the police after the accident, according to Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a re-

gional police spokesman.

“The driver lost control of the steering wheel which resulted to the accident. The driver voluntarily surrendered to the Ipil Municipal Police Station and is undergoing investigation,” he said.

Huesca said policemen who responded to the accident, rushed the injured passengers to the hospital.

Police identified the wounded passengers as Neil Villota, 40; Manilyn Luod, 47; Ramon Balagosa, 67; Maggen Macario, 3; Alberto Nuñez, 27; Manilyn Macario,

24; Pacita Sagrado, 47; Berminda Illosgiun, 51; Bernardita Barrico, 69; Dante Abarico, 57; Hilda Tareg, 38; Romeo Abugatal, 38; Genevieve Espina, 23; Bonamie Abejar, 22; John Arang, 30; Rachel Adem, 41; and Liza Baclayon, 23.

Rural Transit has repeatedly warned its drivers to take extra precautions on the road and to drive safely to ensure the safety of their passengers, but the long hours of travels are also very tiring and stressful. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Suspect in gun slay of fish trader arrested in Zambo City ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have captured a prime suspect in the murder of a fish trader in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said Shabry Nhubin Hinnang was arrested while hiding on the roof of his house in TalonTalon village where his al-

leged victim Giovanni Almazan was shot.

Almazan was just buying from a store when motorcycle gunmen attacked him.

The 46-year old trader was shot in the head and killed instantly.

Police are still investigating the motive of the attack. (Dodong Ramos)

Gun slay suspect Shabry Nhubin Hinnang. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Dodong Ramos)

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8

The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

President Aquino loses 7 allies in Congress MANILA – Seven lawmakers, who belong to the socalled “Makabayan bloc,” split from the majority coalition in the House of Representatives and vowed to oppose President Benigno Aquino’s deceptive policies.

The lawmakers - Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares; Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan; ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio; Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap; Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus; Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon – said they will also vote for San Juan District Rep. Ronnie Zamora as minority leader.

“We, seven party list representatives comprising the Makabayan bloc in Congress, announce today our decision to bolt from the majority coalition in the House of Representatives and join the minority to

sharpen our opposition against the anti-Filipino and anti-people policies and program of the Aquino administration,” a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner said.

“Three years is enough for the nation to conclude that the Aquino regime’s real bosses are not the people but the United States, the foreign and local monopolists and the landed oligarchy,” it said.

The decision of the lawmakers to bolt the majority coalition came ahead of Aquino’s State of the Nation Address.

The lawmakers said they will oppose the legislative agenda and policies of the Aquino administration which favor foreign banks and corporations, big business, landlords and corrupt bureaucrats, and instead

press for meaningful economic, political and socials reforms.

“We believe that we can more effectively unmask and oppose Aquino’s antiFilipino, anti-people and deceptive policies as part of the minority. We vow to vigorously resist Aquino’s rabid subservience to U.S. military and economic impositions, including the return of U.S. military bases,” the statement said.

The legislators said they will reject moves by Aquino’s allies in Congress to amend the Constitution to institutionalize globalization and extend term limits of elected officials.

“We will fight Aquino’s policies to continue and further liberalize the economy, privatize public utilities and deregulate prices,” they said. (Mindanao Examiner)

3 NPA rebels yield to military in Southern Philippines DAVAO CITY – Three New People’s Army rebels have surrendered separately to the Philippine military in the southern region of Mindanao, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said two rebels - Elizar Tabon and Mario Peding – surrendered in the town of Glan in Sarangani province, while the other Gilbert Meniano, yielded in Tago town in Surigao province.

Tabon, 34, and Peding, 28, are members of a propaganda unit operating in Sarangani and both rebels also surrendered their weapons. The duo said they were being hunted down by their unit after splitting with the NPA, which recruited them in 1999.

“Both decided to coordinate with the government troops, under Capt.

Melvin Asuncion of 72nd Cadre Battalion, 10th In-

fantry Division when they received a letter from their former leaders forcing

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III (Mindanao Examiner Photo) them to join again and help in recovery efforts of their former mass base in Glan, Sarangani,” said Capt.

Severino David, a spokesman for the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command.

He said Meniano also surrendered his rifle to Lt. Col. Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, commander of the 36th Infantry Battalion,

in Surigao province.

Meniano surrendered following a negotiation with tribe leaders in the Tago town.

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, the regional army commander, said: “We have many surrender feelers from the NPA and we are optimistic that more of our brothers in the mountains will soon mainstream back in the communities. Let us hand-in-hand welcome them and help them experience abundant inner peace with their families.”

He said the trio would be given financial and livelihood aid through the Armed Forces’ Guns-ForPeace Program and the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

The NPA is fighting for a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Groundbreaking ceremony of the communal irrigation system and the unveiling of the two farm to market roads worth P70 million for the municipality of Payao in Zamboanga Sibugay province from the Agrarian Reform Community Project 2. Present during the activity were ( left to right-R) former Mayor Joefer Mendoza, Assistant Regional Director Agnes Maata, DAR Sibugay Provincial Head Rizzel Villanueva, Regional Director Julita Ragandang, Payao Mayor Carol Mendoza and ARCP2 National Project Director Hernan Ongkiko.

DAR unveils multimillion projects in Zamboanga Sibugay ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY The municipality of Payao, a fourth income class coastal municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay in southern Philippines, is a recipient of a communal irrigation system and rural infrastructure projects worth over P70 million from the Agrarian Reform Community Project 2 or ARCP2, according to officials.

Officials said among the projects are the rehabilitation of the 13.5 kilometer Balungisan-Guiwan and 4.15 kilometer of Balungisan—Upper Sumilong farm-to-market roads with a total project cost of P26.3 million, and the rehabilitation of the Balungisan Communal Irrigation System amounting to P44,400,544.

DAR regional director Julita Ragandang said the projects are implemented under the ARCP2 funded by the DAR-Asian Development Bank and the local government of Payao. She said the projects will benefit some 1,098 agrarian reform beneficiaries or ARBs as well as the 10,583 residents of the five villages covered by the project.

The irrigation system

will irrigate a total of 580 hectares of rice fields that will serve 315 ARBs in the area, she said.

Ragandang said during the recent groundbreaking of the communal irrigation system and the unveiling of the two farm-to-market roads, Herman Ongkiko, the ARCP2 national project director, announced the municipality of Payao is a recipient of the Performance Based Grant System.

Of the 134 municipalities nationwide covered by ARCP2, only 22 have qualified for the award which is given to a local government unit or municipality or mayor with good performance, good financial management and strong collaboration with DAR and other partner agencies of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in implementing the program aimed at alleviating the lives of the farmers in the countryside.

With the award, the municipality of Payao will be receiving P12 million as an incentive.

Land for ARBs DAR has also recently distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Award or CLOAs to 989 ARBs with a total of 1,489 hectares of land at the Municipal Hall of Payao.

The distribution of CLOAs was funded by the ARCP2 under the component of Land Tenure Improvement, re-documentation of Collective CLOA. The distributed landholdings were located at the villages of Binangonan, Calape, La Fortuna, Lumapanac,

Nanan, Kulasian and Kima.

The CLOAs were handed-over to the ARBs by Ongkiko and was assisted by Ragandang, and assistant director Agnes Maata, PARO Rizzel Villanueva, and Payao Mayor Carol Mendoza.

Ragandang expressed her gratitude to the positive response of the local government of Payao with the leadership of the former municipal mayor Geofel Mendoza. She urged the ARBs to protect the lands awarded to them and must make it productive for them to uplift their standard of living.

Ongkiko said agri-business development will be introduced in the town, such as cacao production wherein the ARBs will have a sure market of their produce.

Some 600 hectares of land have been identified for the project by Kennemer Foods International, maker of M & M chocolates. The initial area that will be utilized for the cocoa production will only be 100 hectares. The project is in collaboration with the Kennemer Foods International.

The Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity Economic Support and Sustainability proposed P22-million project dubbed “Sustainable Rice-Duck Farming with the provision of farm equipments will also be implemented in the villages of Bulawan, Guiwan, Kulasian and La Fortuna and will benefit over 800 ARBs.(Maria Socorro Reabonanza and Suzette Lota)

Police rescue 40 fishermen off Zambo City ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police rescued over three dozen fishermen during a storm off Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said the fishermen in 7 boats were caught up in the bad weather and had been safely rescued.

He said Senior Inspector Chester Nitro Natividad, Labuan Station Commander, together with personnel of 3rd Maneuvering Company of the Regional

Public Safety Battalion 9, led the rescue of 16 fishermen who work for Rumlin Nuval Fishing Company based in Cauming town in Bohol province.

The boats just arrived from Cebu City and were being towed to Tawi-Tawi province because of the bad weather when the vessels cable snapped and eventually capsized.

Police also rescued fishermen who were in four boats off Ayala village and brought them ashore. (Mindanao Examiner)

9

The Mindanao Examiner

July 29-Aug. 4, 2013

Police agents shadow human rights confab MANILA - International peace activists and human rights defenders attending the International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines condemned the deployment of military and police surveillance agents in their activities.

Human rights group called Karapatan said security personnel of the conference apprehended a police officer and suspected military informant in two separate incidents.

Caught taking photos of delegates and conference vehicle plate numbers was a certain Kenneth Mendez, who claimed to be a reporter but could not mention what media outfit he was working for.

Also apprehended was PO2 Emilio Fetalvo Jr. who admitted being ordered by his senior officer who was only identified as Superintendent Pelibilio to conduct surveillance of the conference.

Fetalvo was previously seen shadowing staff mem-

Motorcycle gunmen shoot Cotabato doctor COTABATO CITY – A Filipino physician survived an assassination attempt on his life, but was wounded in the attack that occurred in Cotabato City in southern Philippines, police said.

Police said Dr Remus Magabilen was shot by motorcycle gunmen as he drove his truck late Tuesday in downtown Cotabato. Despite his wound, Magabilen still managed to drive until he reached the hospital.

The attackers escaped after the shooting, but the motive of the ambush is still unknown.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the failed murder, but gun attacks in Cotabato are not uncommon and many of the killings remain unresolved. ( With a report from Mark Navales)

bers of the Karapatan national office.

“I am indignant at the covert surveillance of conference participants . But we will not be intimidated from joining the Filipino people in the vigorous protests tomorrow,” Paul Murphy, an Australian labor rights activist, said in a statement sent

by Karapatan to the Mindanao Examiner.

Delegate Ron Gochez, an American teacher who joined a team that visited Davao City’s militarized Paquibato district recently, described his group’s encounter with soldiers in the area: “We were there for less than five minutes and this is what we saw - the military, and military intelligence operatives taking pictures when we arrived, taking pictures of the people and trying to intimidate the people.”

“The people do not want any more militarization. They want schools, they want health care, they want roads,” Gochez said in the same statement.

Ironically, the issue of “national security” and the consequent violation of the people’s socio-economic and civil and political rights was the focus of discussions in the past two days of the ICHRPP. Such concern was summed up by international lawyer Anna Morris from the U.K., who said the concept of national security “should center on securing the economic and political rights of the people. It is those rights that the President should put in the heart of his State of the Nation Address on Monday.”

Morris said: “This is my third visit here in the Philippines and on each occasion, the level of repression increases, not decreases, against those who are legitimately engaged in the protection and representation of the vulnerable, the dispossessed and the poor. In a modern society, it should be that impunity decreases and accountability increases, but sadly that is not the case in the current government.”

Mayor Romeo Pulomes. And a photo of downtown Pagadian City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Pagadian City mayor orders inventory of police guns PAGADIAN CITY – Pagadian City Mayor has ordered an inventory of all firearms issued by the local government to the police force are properly accounted for, state media said.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones said he instructed the City Legal Department to

conduct the inventory.

“These firearms should be used to protect the people of Pagadian,” he said.

The order came following reports that some of the weapons had not been returned by policemen assigned here during the administration of Mayor

Coca-Cola truck ambusher captured in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY Zamboanga police arrested a prime suspect behind the attack on a CocaCola truck that killed two crewmen and seriously wounded another in the southern Philippine province of Zam-boanga del Norte, officials said.

Chief Inspector Elmer Acuña said they arrested Aljari Jalani shortly after he arrived by bus at a terminal here following a tipoff from the province.

“He was positively identified by the lone sur-

vivor, who is still recuperating at the hospital here, as among those who shot them,” Acuña said.

Police said Jalani was a former government militia in Sirawai town where the truck, owned by Constantino Soriano, was traveling in the village of Piña when gunmen opened fire.

The attack killed driver Conrado Recohermoso and his salesman Joy Estrada and wounded their helper Alvin Lumonah. (Dodong Ramos)

Samuel Co, who is now in hiding after being implicated in the multimillion investment scam by the Aman Futures.

Pulmones said the legal department is conducting a thorough study on the situation wherein legal actions may be filed against policemen who failed to return the firearms, especially those who are no longer assigned at the city police office.

“These are owned by the city government. If these are owned by the Philippine National Police then they could bring them anywhere they are assigned.

But, since these are owned by the City Government, then they should return the firearms to the Pagadian City Police Station,” Pulmones said in a report by the Philippine Information Agency.

Pulmones said there were also reports that some of the guns are in the hands of civilians and have not returned them to the police.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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WAR REFUGEES DETAINED AND TORTURED, FILE CHARGES VS. SECURITY FORCES

A

gr oup of war rrefugees efugees falsely acgroup cused as M or o rrebels ebels tur ed Mor oro ebels,, and tor tortur tured and detained b y secur ity for ces by forces hav e filed char ges their captors in have charges the souther n P hilippines southern Philippines hilippines..

The Mindanao Human fighting to go Rights Action Center back to their (MinHRAC) said 8 Moro vil- homes to get lagers filed counter-charges d e s p e r a t e l y against soldiers and police- needed food men who arrested them in for their famiJune 23 in the village of Kulasi lies. And also in General Salipada Pendatun showed the a town in Maguindanao prov- soldiers copy of an ofince.

The 8 men, including ficial governthree teenagers, were arrested ment list of while on their way home to refugees from get much needed food sup- the municipal plies for their families at the social welfare office that inevacuation camps.

The human rights center cluded their said the men – now called the names, but Bagumbayan 8 after the name the militar y of their community - have instead desubmitted their sworn state- tained them ments which were supported after accusby affidavits from 16 wit- ing them of nesses who are neighbors and being rebels. “ H o w also displaced by the fighting between troops and Bang- ever, instead getting A government soldier looks at his scope during a fire fight with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom samoro Islamic Freedom of p r o t e c t i o n (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales) Fighters.

“Besides vehemently de- from the AFP nying the allegations of their and PNP after they had made ists,” according to the state- flage uniform, took him to a place wreaked heavily of burnt captors, the Bagumbayan 8 clear they are civilians with a ment.

One of those detained re- gunpowder. accused their captors of white flag and by raising their There, this detainee, who physically coercing confes- shirts to reveal they were not counted a disturbing attempt sion and planting of evidence carrying any weapon, they to manufacture evidence was blindfolded, felt someone to support the false charges were arrested, tied and blind- against them. The refugee, who grabbed his hands, pried his against them,” the MinHRAC folded while being detained. sustained a rope burn injury fingers open, rubbed his hands said in a statement sent to the They were made to spend the on his arm, attested that when and said: “Ito na, ito na ang night at an abandoned el- he and his companions were daliri na ginamit sa paghawak Mindanao Examiner.

The refugees told the sol- ementary school where they brought by the soldiers to a ng baril.” (These are the fingers diers that they were just tak- were beaten up to coerce them nearby school, several men that held the gun).

Later on, after the military ing advantage of the lull in into confessing they are terror- clad in civilian and camou-

Fighters in Maguindanao province. interrogations, he found out that both his hands and fingernails bore traces of a black substance which he believed to have been caused by the man who touched his hands and planted gunpowder.

The arrest of the refugees triggered protests among locals and called on authorities to free the innocent civilians.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Civilians flee the fighting between security forces andf Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

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