Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (September 6-12, 2021)

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September 6-12, 2021

Governors support Duterte VP bid

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T LEAST 40 provincial governors are supporting the vice presidential bid of President Rodrigo Duterte in next year’s elections.

Duterte was en- to run for vice president dorsed by his own politi- so he can continue what cal party, the PDP-Laban, Continue on page 2

‘Nabudol kami!’

Senator Manny Pacquiao (wralinea/OSMP) PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte’s handling of the government has left many members of

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) extremely Continue on page 5

President Rodrigo Duterte talks with his good friend and political ally Governor Sakur Tan as Pastor Apollo Quiboloy looks on during a visit in Sulu province. (Presidential Photo)

Polyeto kontra Covid, bakuna NIHATAG OG katin-awan ang Department of Health (DOH) kalabot sa nikatap nga polyeto sa social media nga nag-ingon nga dili tinuod ang Covid-19 ug dili luwas ang mga bakuna.

Matud pa sa DOH nga ang Covid-19 makatakod ug makaingon sa grabeng sakit nga nahimong hinungdan sa pagkamatay sa daghang mga tawo sa tibuok kalibotan sulod lamang sa usa ka tuig ug unom ka buwan. Dugang pa sa ahensya nga ang Covid-19 gideklarar sa World Health Organization (WHO) Continue on page 9

De Lima seeks probe into DOTr funds, project delays SENATOR LEILA de Lima has urged Congress to investigate the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) deficient disbursement of its allocated aid funds under the Bayanihan 2 Act, as well as other delays in its project implementation.

She also filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 884 underscoring the need to hold officials accountable Continue on page 2

(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Duterte refuses to release SALNs PRESIDENT DUTERTE has refused to release his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to which have been kept secret since

ARMM

2018 despite repeated calls for him to make all documents public.

Even Vice President Leni Robredo called on Duterte to release his

SALN. “The SALN is just one of the many ways through which you can prove that you are truly transparent and show you Continue on page 6

Eastern Mindanao

Senator Leila de Lima (Senate.gov.ph)

Support national ID system, DILG tells barangay officials THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered barangay officials to support the implementation of the national ID system and encourage

Western Mindanao

their constituents to register at the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) website.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, citing records from the Philippine Statis-

Cebu

tics Authority (PSA), said over one million national ID cards have already been delivered and another three million were dispatched.

Continue on page 3

Manila

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

Governors support Duterte VP bid

President Rodrigo Duterte embraces Governor Sakur Tan during a visit in Sulu province.

Continued from page 1 he has started when he won the presidency in 2016.

Melvin Matibag, the PDP-Laban Secretary General, said the country’s provincial governors are strongly supporting Duterte’s vice presidential bid. The Philippines has 81 governors.

Matibag released to

the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner a list of governor’s supporting Duterte’s vice presidential candidacy and they are the following: Governors Sakur Tan – Sulu; Jose Alvarez - Palawan; Dale Corvera - Agusan Norte; Damian Mercado – Southern Leyte; Humerlito Dolor Oriental Mindoro; Dakila Cua – Quirino; Nancy Cat-

amco – Cotabato; Arthur Yap – Bohol; Edgardo Tallado - Camarines Norte; Wilter Palma - Zamboanga Sibugay; Francisco Matugas - Surigao Norte; Jim Salliman - Basilan; Reynolds Michael Tan – Samar; Esteban Contreras – Capiz; Edwin Ong Northern Samar; Dominic Petilla – Leyte; Roger Espina – Biliran; Antonio Kho

– Masbate; Imelda Dimaporo - Lanao del Norte; Vic Yu - Zamboanga del Sur; Philip Tan - Misamis Occidental; Ayik Pimentel - Surigao del Sur; Jecoy Villa – Siquijor; Pacoy Ortega - La Union.

And Joel Degamo Negros Oriental; Joseph Cua – Catanduanes; Eduardo Gadiano - Occidental Mindoro; Samuel Gumarin – Guimaras; Steve Solon – Sarangani; Jun Ebdane – Zambales; Migs Villafuerte - Camarines Sur; Mariam Mangudadatu – Maguindanao; Suharto Mangudadatu- Sultan Kudarat; Samuel Gumarin – Guimaras; Joe Riano – Romblon Rodora Cadiao – Antique; Al Francis Bicharado – Albay; Bonifacio Lacwasan - Mountain Province; Florencio Miraflores – Aklan and Ben Evardone - Eastern Samar.

Matibag said if Duterte wins as vice president, he could influence his successor to pursue his war on drugs, his Build, Build, Build infrastructure plan, projects for the poor, and his post-Covid 19 pandemic economic recovery roadmap, among other programs.

“Despite the inroads in the campaign against illegal drugs, the drug menace continues to persist.

Indeed, this problem is no longer confined to urban areas; it has spread to

the countryside. The next administration, with the help of President Duterte, should relentlessly pursue the war on drugs,” he said.

He also released a collective statement from the governors, saying: “We, provincial governors, are witness to the gains of the Build, Build, Build program. New road networks, school buildings, airports, seaports, medical facilities, and river protection and drainage systems have mushroomed in the provinces, generating economic activities, jobs and income for our people. We have to continue building and improving infrastructure to speed up urban and rural development.”

“The nation was on a high economic growth path until the pandemic struck in early 2020. It’s unfortunate that Covid-19 derailed economic progress. But with President Duterte’s guiding hand, the next leadership could do it. The President’s war on drugs, his campaign against corruption, his prudent use of government resources, and his incessant pursuit of good governance will all contribute to a post-pandemic environment conducive for faster economic growth. We hope and pray that the next President and President Duterte as

his Vice President could work together in making life better for our people.”

Duterte has chosen his longtime aide-turned-politician Senator Bong Go to run for president.

The governor of Sulu, a close political ally of Duterte, said his municipal mayors and constituents are all behind Duterte and cited the president’s leadership and concerns for the poor, and the government peace and development efforts not only in his province, but the entire Muslim autonomous region.

“Alam mo kaya gusto ko si President Duterte tumakbong vice president kasi as far as Sulu is concerned, napakaganda na ngayon ng Sulu. Tahimik, walang kidnapping, wala lahat, puro development ngayon. Kailangan may continuity, kung mawala yun continuity babalik na naman kami sa gulo,” Tan said.

The government’s anti-insurgency and peace and development campaign in Sulu has drastically reduced the number of Abu Sayyaf members due to the mass surrender of militants under the auspices of the provincial government and the Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict. (Mindanao Examiner)

De Lima seeks probe into DOTr funds, project delays Continued from page 1 for said deficiencies and delays. De Lima, De chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said the 2020 Commission on Audit (COA) report on the DOTr noted several deficiencies, delays, and irregularities in DOTR project implementation.

“The underutilization of DOTr’s aid funds not only hindered its optimum use towards much needed programs, it also immobilized already scarce funds which could have been appropriated towards the health and education sectors especially in this time of pandemic. Concerned offices and officials must therefore be enjoined to

explain their failure to perform their mandates,” she said.

Aside from DOTr’s deficient disbursement of allocated funds under the Bayanihan 2 Act, the COA report also revealed that there was delay in 15 DOTr Foreign Assisted Projects for 2020 with an aggregate cost of 1,312,605,770,000 as well as misstatements in financial statements.

The report likewise highlighted the agency’s failure to deliver license plates despite acquiring 2,159,036,340 amount of funds from registrants and failure of several regional offices of the LTO Disposal Committee to dispose 2,595 units of Impounded Motor Vehicle, which prevented

the agency from earning more revenues.

De Lima said Congress must inquire into the gaps in existing laws that cause delay in public service. “It is also imperative that DOTr’s policies are looked into to ascertain whether existing bureaucracies in its system hamper the performance of duties,” she said. “There should be no room for ineptitude and gross negligence in government service, especially at a time when such services are essential to the very survival of our citizens.”

There was no immediate reaction from DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade on issues raised by De Lima. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

Support national ID system, DILG tells barangay officials Continued from page 1 “Nasa gitna man tayo ng pandemya, tuloy pa rin ang paghahatid ng serbisyo publiko sa mga mamamayan. Kaya hinihimok ko ang mga punong barangay na makiisa sa adbokasiya ng aational ID campaign upang mapabilis ang pagpapatala sa ating mga mamamayan, lalo na ang mga nasa kanayunan,” said Año.

“Napakaimportante ang pagkakaroon ng national ID lalong-lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya kung saan madalas

ginagamit ang ID para sa mga online transactions, pagkuha ng ayuda, pagpapabakuna at marami pang iba,” he added.

The PhilSys Act, or Republic Act 11055, was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte to create a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident foreigners which will serve as the official government-issued identification document of cardholders dealing with all national government agencies, local governments, govern-

ment-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, and all private sector entities.

Año urged all barangay chairmen to share registration-related updates from the official PhilSys Facebook page - https://www.facebook. com/PSAPhilSysOfficial - and facilitate barangay roving announcements to keep their constituents informed about the processes of availing the said ID card.

Pinoy mother publishes new trilogy on Amazon

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

EVER SINCE she wrote her very first story on yellow ruled paper using a manual typewriter some 30 years ago, I.S.A. Crisostomo Lopez knew writing would always play a great part in her life.

After working for 15 years as a corporate communications officer in a multi-national company, she retired several years ago and became a full time wife and mother. Now she has her hands full, running a household - cooking, washing, cleaning, and taking care of three daughters and an 18-month-old son.

Having a baby late in life who would pull her arthritic hand and ask to be carried despite a bad back was part of her daily struggles.

As a Catholic, she always found solace in prayer.

During times when she felt

low, she turned to prayer and began writing down her thoughts. Writing, according to her, never failed to lift her spirit. “We all get our low moments. But we need to ask for grace and pick ourselves up because no one will do it for us,” she said.

She would write in between house chores or late at night, particularly when her baby is asleep. “One big realization I have is that we’re living on borrowed time, literally and figuratively. So we should not put off doing the things that we know we ought to do,” she said.

Thinking about her growing children and how many young people today are struggling silently with peer pressure, bullying, addiction, isolation, depres-

sion, and many other issues, she thought about writing a story about a young Filipino immigrant who is trying to find his place in the world.

This formed the germ of the idea for “58 Minutes in Driftland,” the first book in the Driftand trilogy.

“58 Minutes in Driftland is my first attempt at combining my faith journey with science fiction. It’s a story of struggle and hope, a story about nightmares and dreams, about friends and bullies. It’s also about believing in yourself. Or if you don’t, it’s about believing in the self which you have yet to discover,” Lopez said.

Lopez said she hopes that her stories can delight and amuse, inspire and motivate young people to find light and hope in whatever situation they may be.

‘Magparehistro Ka! Challenge launched

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 re-

sellers 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)

THE VOTE Pilipinas, the non-partisan, non-profit online and offline campaign on voter registration, has launched the “Magparehistro Ka! Challenge,” a social media campaign set to incentivize newly registered voters who are encouraged to post their “selfies” for all to see with the caption detailing why it’s important for them to register to vote.

It said entries will be accepted until October 10 and winners will be announced on the Grand Draw on October 15, where prizes such as tablets, smartphones, bicycles, pocket Wi-Fi devices, and various discount vouchers await participants.

To participate in this challenge, newly registered voters simply need

to post a photo of themselves on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, answering the question in their caption: “Bakit mahalagang magparehistro?”

It said participants must follow @votepilipinas, use the hashtags #MagpaRehistroKa, #VotePilipinas, #RegisteredtoVote, and #LiveSmartVoteSmart and send a photo of their registration stubs and proof of entries to the Vote Pilipinas account.

The challenge was announced during the August 27 MindaNOW! Magparehistro Ka! town hall meeting, which rallied residents in Mindanao to register and presented the latest data on Mindanao registrants.

During the meeting, Atty. Elaiza Sabile, Direc-

tor of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Education and Information Department, announced that deactivated voters can now reactivate their registration status online and that COMELEC will have a synchronized schedule for mall registration with partners Ayala Malls and Robinsons Malls on September 11.

The COMELEC said starting September 6, registration in both COMELEC offices and satellite registration centers will resume in all areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and holidays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (With additional reporting from Malou Cablinda)

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut)

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

New antiviral drug Codivir shows promising effect vs. Covid-19

Two Chinese brands of bicycles may pose health risks to kids THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against the purchase and use of “Good Boy” and “FANHX” bicycles, which are marketed for children’s use.

In separate advisories posted on the FDA website, the agency confirmed that the toy bicycles have not gone through the required notification process and that the use of such “violative” products may pose health risks to consumers.

The FDA also warned concerned establishments not to sell the violative products and further directed its field regional offices and regional enforcement units to ensure that such products are not sold in areas under their jurisdiction.

The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the issuance of FDA Advisories 2021-2104 and 2021-2105 banning the sale of the bicycles that it reported to the agency last June. The China-made bicycles are targeted for young children one and half to six years old.

“We welcome FDA’s action to protect children from being exposed to preventable health risks from unauthorized toys, including health-harm-

ing exposure to lead,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition, noting that “children can be exposed to lead if they pick up and eat flaking paint chips from a lead coated bike, or ingest or breathe in lead dust.”

On the occasion of the World Bicycle Day last June 3, the group alerted the FDA regarding the online sale of lead painted FANHX and Good Boy bicycles, which violates the ban on lead paint as per DENR A.O. 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order (CCO) for lead and lead compounds.

The CCO, which bagged the 2021 Future Policy Award (special category for lead in paint), prohibits the use of lead in the production of paints and certain products, including toys, and sets a maximum limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) for lead in all types of paint.

Based on the laboratory tests commissioned by the EcoWaste Coalition, the Ateneo-based Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry found the yellow paint on Good Boy bicycle laden with 6,850 ppm of lead, while that of FANHX bicycle had 6,950 ppm.

“There is no level

of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), stressing that “young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting the development of the brain and nervous system.”

“Children’s innate curiosity and their age-appropriate hand-to-mouth behaviour result in their mouthing and swallowing lead-containing or lead-coated objects, such as contaminated soil or dust and flakes from decaying lead-containing paint,” explained the WHO. In light of the public health warnings issued by the FDA, the EcoWaste Coalition appealed to online shopping platforms to immediately take down product advertisements of violative toys sold by third-party dealers.

“Please take action to make online shopping a safe experience where consumers can find not only affordable, but also quality and non-toxic products, especially toys and other childcare articles,” the group said. (With additional report from Malou Cablinda)

CODE PHARMA, a Dutch pharmaceutical company, is developing a direct antiviral drug against Covid-19 following the successful completion of a phase I study and the company said it is now initiating a phase II double-blind controlled study in Spain, Brazil, South Africa, and Israel.

Codivir, a short synthetic 16 amino-acid peptide, derived from the HIV-1 integrase, was originally discovered at the Hebrew University in Israel. Code Pharma discovered that the peptide had a direct antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2, the novel Coronavirus causing Covid-19.

In-vitro studies conducted at the British virology research laboratory Virology Research Services in London then demonstrated a potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses.

Subsequently, a phase I clinical trial of Codivir in patients with Covid-19 was approved in Brazil by the National Research Ethics Commission. The trial was conducted at Casa de Saúde - Vera Cruz Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, with Dr Florentino

Cardoso as the principal investigator.

The results of the study showed that Codivir has a high safety profile while significantly suppressing viral replication in most of the fully assessed patients with an antiviral effect noted as early as three days. All patients recovered quickly after the treatment with Codivir and didn’t show any signs of side effects very often associated with Covid-19 infections. Manuscripts describing these results have been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Dr. Yotam Kolben and Dr. Asa Kesler, from the Department of Medicine at Hadassah Medical Center, who are the lead authors on the paper said: “The preclinical data, and the results of the clinical trial support the safety of Codivir administration in humans and suggest its significant anti-COVID-19 effect. Using a direct anti-viral drug carries the potential for improving the current therapies available for COVID-19.”

These results indicate that the drug can be used to treat Covid-19 patients suffering at different levels of severity. Due to its direct

anti-viral effect, Codivir may have a similar beneficial effect on other RNA viruses, such as influenza.

In view of the ongoing global pandemic, Code Pharma has submitted emergency approval requests to several countries. To answer the expected demand, the company said it is preparing for mass production of Codivir in different sites worldwide.

“In the first and second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, most drugs with putative or proven antiviral mechanisms of action have not proven themselves to significantly prolong life expectancy,” said Prof. Shlomo L. Maayan, Director Infectious Disease division at the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

“Codivir has a very good safety profile and a very impressive antiviral effect, both in laboratory conditions and in phase I clinical trials in humans.

We eagerly await the results of the double-blind studies using Codivir. It may be a breakthrough in the field of antiviral therapy for Covid-19 patients,” he said. (With additional report from Mindanao Examiner)

‘Nabudol kami!’

Continued from page 1 disappointed, an official of the faction led by Sen. Manny Pacquiao said.

PDP-Laban vice chairperson Lutgardo Barbo, a former Senate secretary, criticized Duterte for failing to deliver on his promises in what he described as a form of deception on the people who voted for him.

“Marami na kasing nasusuka sa presidente,” said Barbo on One News’ The Chiefs. “We have not only been taken for a ride, we’ve been taken for a merry-go-round and I think something is wrong with the president. I think nabudul-budol kami.”

Duterte was elected with the vow of ending government corruption and the drug problem within three to six months.

He eventually admitted that this promise was unrealistic considering the intricacies of the issues, with around 30,000 people getting killed under his brutal drug war.

Barbo admitted he supported Duterte as the campaign manager of PDP-Laban in 2016, lauding the tough-talking leader for his ambitious pronouncements in changing the government.

“Para kaming mga unggoy, naglukso-lukso pa ‘yung iba, palakpakan nang palakpakan,” said Barbo. “Ang masama, pagkatapos sasabihan ka, ‘Mga stupido kayo, mga bobo, bakit kayo bumoto sa akin? Bakit kayo naniwala na ako’y magje-jetski, hindi naman ako marunong lumangoy.’ - We didn’t know that.”

An internal rift within PDP-Laban started earlier this year when Pacquiao started hitting some of Duterte’s policies, particularly on the West Philippine Sea dispute. Pacquiao also lambasted the corrupt practices still existing in public offices.

But Duterte, who proclaimed not to tolerate “even a whiff of corruption,” took offense upon hearing Pacquiao’s comments, challenging him to unearth graft practices in the government. The boxing icon took on the challenge but his quest paused due to his recent fight with Yordenis Ugas last month.

Duterte has also regularly used his weekly public addresses as a chance to insult officials leading inquiries into irregularities in some government transactions, putting into question his sincerity in ending corrupt practices especially when his allies are involved.

The two factions in PDP-Laban, the other being led by Department of Enegry Secretary Alfonso Cusi, have retaliated against each other by electing their own sets of officers. The Commission on Elections will soon rule which of the two factions will be considered legitimate to field candidates in the 2022 elections.

“I cannot take it anymore na another six years of a similar administration,” said Barbo. “Siguro tama si Ninoy Aquino when he said na, ‘I cannot forgive myself if I did nothing when I could have done something.’” (Beatrice Puente / News 5)

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

Duterte refuses to release SALNs Continued from page 1 are not corrupt,” she said.

Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, said it is up to the Office of the Ombudsman to release the President’s SALNs. “The stance of the Office of the President has been clear and consistent: We leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman, an independent constitutional body, to release to the public President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

The President has complied with his constitutional duty to submit or file his SALN. Interested parties may therefore wish to write a formal communication to the Office of the Ombudsman, which has copies of SALNs of all public officials, asking for a copy of the said document,” Roque said.

But Ombudsman

Samuel Martires, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, has restricted public access to the SALNs of Duterte and other government officials, saying “they have been weaponized.”

“Nagiging weaponized ang SALN, ginamit po ito na means para siraan ang isang tao o siraan ang isang kalaban sa pulitika,” Martires said last year during the House of Representatives’ deliberations on the Office of the Ombudsman’s 2021 budget.

He also issued new guidelines on the request for copies of a government official’s SALN, decreeing that release would be limited only to requests from the declarant himself or herself and from government officers conducting investigations.

Senator Leila de Lima also criticized Duterte for refusing to release his SALNs. “Ginagawa na naman tayong tanga ng

mga ito. Mr. Duterte, how difficult is it to release your SALN to the public if you really want to and are sincere in adhering to your constitutional duty to be transparent and accountable to the people?

Do you really still need the help of the Ombudsman to decide for you whether or not to disclose your SALN to the people?” she asked.

“Sabi mo wala kang kinakatakutan. Bakit naduduwag ka sa paglabas ng SALN mo? Masyado na bang malaki ang kinita mo sa gobyerno mula nung umupo ka sa Malacañang? Sa ilalim ng saya ng Ombudsman mo pa napiling magtago. Stop hiding under the skirt of the Ombudsman. Man up and show the people that you have nothing to hide. Otherwise, you are just another coward who does not deserve to be in government,” she added.

(Mindanao Examiner)

RECIPE

Beef in Creamy Mushroom Sauce

MANILA ADVERTISING For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our MANILA Sales Execu ve at this phone number:

CHARDEE BONE

Phone: (0915) 0070927 Email Address: chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

CEBU CITY ADVERTISING For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our CEBU CITY office at this phone number:

RODIL YBANEZ G/F Dreamfield Bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan, Cebu City Phone: (0923) 1670009

DAVAO REGION ADVERTISING kawalingpinoy.com INGREDIENTS : • 3 pounds beef sirloin • salt and pepper to taste • canola oil • 1 can (8 ounces) whole mushrooms, drained • 1 tablespoon butter INSTRUCTIONS : 1. Cut the beef across the grain into 1/4inch thick slices.

2. In a bowl, season beef with salt and pepper to taste.

3. In a wide pan over medium-high heat, heat about 1 tablespoon oil. Add mushrooms and cook for about 30 seconds.

Remove from pan and keep warm.

4. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan if needed. Add beef in a single layer and sear for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Do not overcrowd pan, cook beef in batches as needed. Remove meat from the pan and keep warm.

5. In the pan, add the butter.

6. When melted, add onions and garlic

• • • • •

1 onion, peeled and chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1/4 cup flour 3 cups beef broth 1 cup table cream

and cook until softened.

Add flour and continue to cook, stirring regularly, for about 1 to 2 minutes.

8. Gradually add broth, whisking regularly to prevent lumps.

9. Add beef. Bring to a boil, skimming scum that floats on top. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender. Add more broth or water in 1/2 cup increments if the liquid is getting too thick before the meat is fully tender.

10. Add all-purpose cream and stir to distribute. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

11. Add mushrooms. Continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes or until mushrooms are heated through. Serve hot.

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For all your ADVERTISING and PUBLICATION needs, please call our DAVAO REGION office at these following phone numbers:

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September 6-12, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

7

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

Across : 1. Swindle 5. Accompanying 9. That girl 12. Buddhist monk 13. Farm measure 14. Graceful tree 15. Revise 16. closeness 18. Jeans fabric 20. Shakespeare’s river 21. Pebble 22. High military rank 26. Painter’s stand 28. Boxer Muhammad ___ 29. Concur 32. Pass, as time 35. Pod inhabitant 36. Televised again 38. Fast auto (2 wds.)

41. Achievers 45. Diva’s solo 46. Undress 47. Sham 51. Expectation 52. ___-gallon hat 53. Young adult 54. Genesis garden 55. Sum up 56. Slips up 57. Housing payment

MANILA / NCR chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com (0915) 0070927

Chardee Bone

CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009

Rodil P. Ybañez

DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021

Marilou Cablinda

Answer to last week’s crossword:

Down : 1. Winter toys 2. west Pointer 3. ___ acid (nutrient) 4. Afternoon movie 5. Pale 6. Cold era (2 wds.)

7. Wanderer 8. Long-legged bird 9. Laughing sound 10. City railways 11. Hotel units (abbr.)

17. Compass pt.

19. Nasty 23. Knock 24. Capone and Pacino 25. Fib 27. colander 29. Spring mo.

Paolo De Jesus (0927) 4757936

30. Neptune’s domain 31. Defunct USAF branch 33. Young fellows 34. One more 37. Blackboard cleaner 39. Consume 40. Greek island 42. Wash away 43. Mature 44. Used money 47. School group (abbr.)

48. Scarlet 49. Complete 50. Certain dashes

Weekly Sudoku:

NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY PAGADIAN CITY

Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600

Richard Suarez

ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / (0915) 3976197 / (0935) 6123587

Maritess Fernandez / Ramon MaƟas

Answer to last week:

The Mindanao Examiner The Zamboanga Post Newspaper, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief / Producer

Reynold Toribio Graphics / Video Editor

Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily / Business Week / Mindanao Star

ADVERTISING Chardee Bone (0915) 0070927 Manila City Eduardo A. Sode (0917) 3087366 044 Mabini St. Cebu City

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Paolo De Jesus (0927) 4757936 Central Mindanao/ Kidapawan City/Cotabato City North Cotabato Marilou Cablinda (0997) 3172021 Davao Region/ Eastern Mindanao Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula

Richard Suarez (0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.

ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197

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HEALTH

Maitim Na Kili-Kili: Ano ang Lunas?

Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong Maraming dahilan ng pag-itim ng kili-kili.

1. Ang mga taong may diabetes ay puwedeng mangitim ang kili-kili. Gamutin ang diabetes para mabawasan ang pag-itim.

2. Puwede namana sa magulang. May mga tao na maitim ang kulay ng balat, kasama ang kili-kili.

3.

Ang sobrang pag-kuskos ng kili-kili at paggamit ng nakaka-iritang deodorant ay puwedeng magpa-itim ng kili-kili.

4. Ang sobrang pagbunot o pag-ahit ng buhok ng kili-kili ay puwede magdulot ng impeksyon at pigsa. Dahil dito, puwedeng magbukul-bukol ang kili-kili.

5. Huwag magsuot ng masikip na baro dahil magki-kiskis ang kili-kili sa baro.

6. Magpapayat din dahil kapag malaki ang ating braso, gagasgas at maiipit din ang balat ng kili-kili.

Ayon sa dermatologists, heto ang napatunayang paraan para pumuti ang kili-kili: 1. Puwede gumamit

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The Mindanao Examiner

September 6-12, 2021

ng “gentle cleanser” at tuwalya at dahan-dahang kuskusin ang kili-kili.

Dahan-dahan lang para matanggal ang “dead skin cells” o matigas na balat.

Huwag sosobrahan ang pag-kuskos at baka lalo umitim ang kili-kili.

2. Puwede gumamit ng moisturizer at oils para lumambot and balat.

3. Ayon sa dermatologists, puwede naman ang honey bilang panlinis. Ngunit mag-iingat sa paggamit ng kalamansi at lemon, dahil puwede ito makasugat sa balat kapag nasobrahan.

4. May nire-reseta ang doktor na cream, ang tawag ay tretinoin (Retin-A) na puwedeng magpa-puti ng balat. Kumonsulta sa doktor.

5. Sa mga department store, puwede bumili ng alcohol-free deodorant.

May mga home remedies na posibleng makatulong, pero hindi pa ito tiyak: 1. Baking soda – Ihalo ang baking soda sa konting tubig. Ipahid ito sa kili-kili para bahagyang matanggal ang dead skin cells.

2. Pipino – Pigain ang

katas ng pipino at ilagay ito sa kili-kili. Iwan ng 30 minutos.

3. Lemon o kalamansi – Ihalo ang katas nito sa 2 kutsara ng tubig para mabawasan ang pagiging matapang o acidic nito. Iwan ang katas ng 10-15 minuto at hugasan ito. Gawin ng 2 beses bawat linggo.

4. Coconut oil – May taglay na vitamin E ang coconut oil. I-masahe ang coconut oil sa kili-kili. Iwan ng 10-15 minuto.

Hugasan ng tubig at mild soap. Gawin 2 beses sa maghapon.

Tandaan: Ang mga lunas na ito ay hindi 100% epektibo. Maghihintay pa ng mga 6 linggo bago magkaroon ng konting pagbabago. Kumonsulta sa dermatologist para sa inyong katanungan.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COVID-19

Love for Nature

COVID-19, go away!

We don’t want you to stay Too much damage you convey Everyone is so dismayed

Precious pearls to see in the deep blue sea Fish around coral reefs, playing with glee

by Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

Many precious souls have perished Coz you are extremely selfish I pray tomorrow you’ll demise So lives will once again flourish COVID-19 stop devastating Our dear front-liners are exhausting World economy is now suffering And every employee is worrying Have pity to our children They badly miss their school friends Learning would never be the same Now just online from face to face We appreciate lessons you’ve taught It would forever be in our thoughts Anyway pack now all the things you’ve brought And allow us to wear our new clothes Cherish people of the world Everyone must get involve Heed guidelines being unfold For this crisis to resolve

by Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

Green hued scenery invigorates perfectly Breathing in and out oh how so refreshingly We hike to entertain in the summit mountains Seeing beautiful things that no words can explain Fresh fruits and vegetables nourish us to survive Like forever in this world we all shall be alive Sounds of singing birds, isn’t it relaxing?

For the world, a message of love proclaiming Crystal water flows freshly in a river so cool Bathing in it cures stress for the body and soul For such Gift of Nature, everyone must be grateful Weeping, seeing her sadly ruined is SHAMEFUL Tranquility and happiness She gives that’s gratis for sure Yet for selfish gains, Nature people foolishly destroy Thus today, if we all fail to give Nature its protection Our next generation would suffer great repercussions Didn’t heartily Mother Earth, love us with no expectations?

Woefully so badly drained, why must we leave her heartbroken?

(gamzmuhammadtulawie_msauz@yahoo.com)

Another Zambo cop arrested ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local cops arrested another policeman accused of being involved in illegal drugs, officials said, adding he is the eighth policeman arrested since early this year on various charges.

Officials said the 42-year old Cpl. Junhavier Alam Ahmahdul was arrested on August 29 by members of the Police Station 1 where he is also assigned. “He was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 under criminal case number 48799,” said Maj. Shellamie Chang, a regional police spokeswoman.

Chang did not give details of the criminal case against Ahmahdul or whether he was selling or using illegal drugs,

but she said Judge Shene Chiong Cañete, of Branch 35, who issued the arrest warrant against the policeman has recommended bail bond of P200,000 for the temporary liberty of the suspect.

Maj. Jivertson Pelovello, the chief of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office, was also sacked from his post in January after he tested positive for illegal drug use. He was among 60 members of the local police force who underwent drug testing in December.

Maj. Orlyn Leyte, police station commander in the village of Ayala, and four other cops were also arrested in March by members of the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and En-

forcement Group (IMEG) led

by Lt. Col. Mario Cortez, after they allegedly robbed jewelleries and extorted money from a store owner during a drug raid.

The others who were reportedly involved in the robbery and extortion were SSgts.

Hegenio Salvador, Asser Abdulkadim, Cpls. Ismael Sasapan and Juman Arabani – all members of Leyte’s Drug Enforcement Unit.

And on August 21, IMEG agents arrested the 37-year old Cpl. Alexis Castillo Garcia in an entrapment in downtown Zamboanga after he allegedly extorted money from the families of people he had arrested on various crimes in exchange for their freedom. (Zamboanga Post)

Polyeto kontra Covid, bakuna Continued from page 1 isip usa ka global pandemic. Kusganong gipahinumdom sa DOH nga ang mga bakuna niagi sa makuting pagtuon sa Vaccine Expert Panel ug nahatagan og Emergency Use Authorization sa Food and Drugs Administration nga luwas ug epektibo.

Giklaro usab sa ahensya nga walay kamatuoran nga ang pagpabakuna makamatay o makaapekto sa kinatibuk-ang panglawas sa

tawo. Ang mga bakuna wala usab sulod nga mga sangkap sa Genetically Modified Organisms o aborted cells.

Subling gipahinumdom sa DOH nga ang paggamit og face mask ug shield makatabang aron dili matakdan sa virus. Gipahinumdoman sa departamento ang publiko nga kanunay e-beripika ang mga impormasyon nga makita online sa mga lehitimong tinubdan lamang. (Elvira Bongosia)

OPINION

Pencing by Mario O. Feliciano Jr. ‘Where are the night foot patrols?”

NO USE of those CCTV cameras during this pandemic. The wearing of face masks and other covers to protect us from the deadly coronavirus helps the criminals commit all wicked acts all the more with impunity these days. Crimes therefore exacerbate if no effective countermeasures are being done on the part of our law enforcement agencies, especially from the PNP. The recent broad-day heist that occurred inside a marketing firm at Morning Breeze in Barangay Tugbungan could be only its tip of the iceberg in our hapless La Bella Zamboanga - considered for decades as the “melting pot” in the whole region of Western Mindanao.

Its viral video footage clearly depicted the manner by which the perpetrators carried out their movie-like sting. They came first on board their single motorcycles, pretending to serve a search warrant, as one of them even presented a copy of an alleged warrant to the firm’s security. Then, suddenly, all hell broke loose, as they hogtied the guard, and forcibly entered the office, looking for its cashier. Stunned office workers readily yielded to their demand, and their unwary female cashier who got terrified, as well, and just withered at their sight, obliged to what they were mainly after for - robbed its firm of money. They managed to flee from the scene with P200,000 cash stashed from the firm, as they hurriedly boarded their getaway motorbikes, with all their faces well concealed.

Can our authorities figure out their identities, so hard to find out who they are, up to now, albeit the installed CCTV cameras on our streets?

“Best way to prevent crimes is still round-the-clock foot-patrolling, Sir Jun. We don’t have them anymore Sir,” reacted a concerned folk in the area.

Yes, sirs, where are our foot patrols that we saw in the past, huh?

“Todo lang quiere man patrol de motorcycle. Bueno man se, but don’t ever deny the public of its effective round-theclock foot patrolling on our streets that are prone to crimes,” another concerned citizen commented.

“We urge our local gov’t to encourage the use of the foot-patrol system also.

Don’t just focus on donating expensive motor vehicles to our local police forces.

We want our taxpayers’ money put in good use,” still another disgruntled local resident expressed a similar dismay.

Along our main thoroughfares of Climaco Avenue, formerly Guardia Nacional, the street urchins are among the city’s known felons, yet they’re seen freely roaming around even before the very noses of our police enforcers. How many robbery incidents are committed on stores along that busy street right in our downtown section as reported to our police blotters, yet, most, if not all, have remained unresolved, even up to now and why? Well, it all boils down to the absence of our roundthe-clock foot patrols on the streets. That’s exactly why we have all these crimes going on unabated.

Poor us, taxpayers. The police are well paid and compensated by taxpayers’ money, yet unfairly not well protected. Where’s your conscience? Trabaho lang este, nohay personalan.

Enlightenment: Passage of the Day Question: Many doubters still don’t believe that Jesus rose from death, so what’s the proof, or evidence then that he indeed rose from the dead?

Answer: The words of God said: “The Lord died for our sins, He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day He was seen by Peter and then by the other apostles.” (1 corinthians 15:3-5) (jayfeliciano2@yahoo.com)

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September 6-12, 2021

September 6-12, 2021

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September 6-12, 2021

DOH: Presyo sa RT-PCR test sa nasod, ubsan

P

OSIBLENG UBSAN ang price cap sa RT-PCR test aron daghang katawhan ang mahimong maka-akses.

Sa usa ka pahayag, mi- siderar nga “gold standard” nga mao ang operational costs ingon si Department of Health nga mokabat sa kantidad nga tungod kay donasyon sa DOH (DOH) Usec. Maria Rosario P3,800 sa kasagarang public ang mga test kit.

Vergeire nga nag-presentar na laboratories ug hangtod P5,000 Matud pa ni Vergeire nga og bag-ong price cap alang sa sa mga pribadong laboratories kasagaran sa mga pasyente dili Covid-19 tests ang Inter-Agen- sa nasod. mopaubos sa RT-PCR testing cy Task Force for the ManageGipasabot ni Vergeire nga tungod kay mahal ang presyo ment of Emerging Infectious ang gipatuman karon nga pa- niini. Giingong labi na karon Diseases (IATF-MEID). takaran ang angay nga bayran nga nagkasaka ang mga kaso, Ang RT-PCR test gikon- lamang sa usa ka indibidwal ang DOH ang naghatag og li-

Public warned against use of fake vax cards The Mandaue City government, he said, is still investigating as to the owner of the vaccination card or the vaccine lot number.

Arcilla will be charged with violation of falsification of public documents under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code. (John Rey Saavedra)

Photos show the fake vaccination cards seized from Clifford Susana Arcilla. (John Rey Saavedra / PNA) CEBU CITY – Councilman Dave Tumulak has warned the public against unscrupulous persons peddling fake vaccination cards to be used as travel or work requirements.

Tumulak said carrying a fake vaccination card would not serve a purpose because authorities can still find out the authenticity of the document that only the government can issue. He stressed that faking the inoculation document will not help its holder and his family from being protected against Covid-19.

“It is better that every LGU (local government unit) has to introduce security features like unique QR code of their vaccination cards issued to their vaccinees in order to avoid it being counterfeited by unscrupulous individuals,” Tumulak told the Philippine News Agency.

ARMM

The QR code, he said, will determine the name of the vaccinee, the vaccine brand administered, the date and time injected, and the date of registration.

To achieve a genuine figure of population protection and communal immunity against Covid-19, Tumulak said authorities must also be vigilant against the production of fake vaccination cards which presents a possibility to be patronized by those who do not want to be inoculated.

He said the police recently arrested Clifford Susana Arcilla, 46, of Talamban village, for selling vaccination cards. Tumulak said he coordinated with Mandaue City Administrator Ed Ybañez to verify the lot number written on the vaccination card found in Arcilla’s possession as it belongs to Mandaue City’s inoculation rollout.

Health workers (Cebu Examiner) breng testing kits sa mga LGUs aron mapatuman ang ilang active case finding ug makahatag og libreng serbisyo sa katawhan.

Gipasabot pa ni Vergeire nga ang angay masabtan sa

publiko mao ang pagdugang og mga pagsusi ang ginahimo aron makita ang mas daghang positibong kaso, aron nga malahi kini ug malikayan ang mas daghang viral transmission.

Kahinumdoman nga gi-

manduan ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang DOH ug Department of Trade and Industry nga magtakda og price ceiling sa Covid-19 test human sa gitahong overpricing.

(Elvira Bongosia)

Consolacion targets herd immunity before end of year CEBU - The municipal government of Consolacion said

it is targeting to reach herd immunity among its constit-

Home quarantine sa mga pasyente sa Covid, apil na sa PhilHealth package MAAPIL NA sa Philippine Health Insurance o PhilHealth Covid-19 package ang mga pasyenteng kwalipikadong adto magpaayo sa ilang balay o mag-home quarantine.

Matud pa sa PhilHealth nga aron mabayran ang ilang mga gastos sa pagpaayo sa Covid-19, angay moduso ang usa ka pasyente og “social and clinical criteria” nga gitakda alang sa home quarantine.

Siguradong maapil dinhi ang mga pasyenteng adunay mild ug asymptomatic sa Covid-19, base sa PhilHealth circular 2021-0014 o ang Covid-19Home Isolation Package (CHIBP) nga gi-post sa social media sa buhatan.

“This PhilHealth circular shall apply to all claims for home isolation services filled by accredited PhilHealth isolation facilities, infir-

Eastern Mindanao

maries, hospitals and Konsulta providers who have accomplished the necessary documentary requirements to provide the CHIBP,” nakalatid sa PhilHealth circular.

Giklaro sa PhilHealth nga ang nahisgotang package mahatag lang sa mga accredited nga pasilidad sa mga lugar nga may surge o pagsaka sa mga kaso sa Covid-19 nga gitumbok sa Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases.

Samtang mahimong moduso og aplikasyon ang mga pasilidad hangtod sa Disyembre 2021.

Ang mga pasyenteng mopaubos sa CHIBP angay nagpuyo usab sa high-risk area. “Patients shall shoulder payment for services not included in the package,” pagklaro sa PhilHealth. (Elvira Bongosia)

Western Mindanao

uents before Christmas in an effort to control or slow down the spread of the Covid-19.

Mayor Joyjoy Alegado said to be able to attain herd immunity, the local government is already looking for more strategies to make the Covid-19 vaccine accessible to the people, noting that the number of people who are coming to the jab sites is dropping.

“Actually, our team really has a target of November in reaching herd immunity with 2,000 jabs per day. If we could really achieve that we will be able to reach herd immunity before Christmas,” he told Secretary Martin Andanar, of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, during a recent virtual briefing.

According to Alegado, they are studying the possibility of replicating the drive-thru vaccination sites currently done in Metro Manila. He also cited the “Bakuna Nights” strategy for the benefit of the working class.

Cebu

He added that they will be starting with their barangay rollout this week.

“Maybe people do not want to travel anymore so we will be the ones going to the barangays and we will also be doing house-tohouse vaccination among those who are bedridden individuals including their families,” he said.

Alegado said that the said barangay and houseto-house rollout will be part of their information drive as well, since vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge for the local government. He said they are also planning to incentivize the vaccination program in order to encourage other residents to get vaccinated.

“We’re almost finished with those who have registered and that is still a meager amount, and we really need to add more people to get the jabs. With that, we are hoping that our numbers of vaccinated individuals will increase,” he said.

Manila