Jordanian journalist's family appeals to Jordan, Palestine for help PAGE 2
Where is Jovito Palparan? PAGE 3
Police seized cache of weapons in Dapitan beach, hunt down fugitive
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'We are Anonymous'
Eastern Mindanao Command turns 7
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Karapatan insists 'Morong 43' are health workers
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‘PORK BARREL’ SCANDAL
P
ublic outr age continues to pour as inv estigations into the por k barr el scanoutrage investigations pork barrel dal hightens with the surr ender rrecently ecently of an afluent and contr oversial busisurrender contro nesswoman JJanet anet N apoles to P enigno A quino Napoles Prresident B Benigno Aquino quino.. Napoles ansactions inapoles,, who was accused as behind alleged anomalous tr transactions volving por k barr el fund of lawmakers ender ed to A quino in the P pork barrel lawmakers,, has surr surrender endered Aquino Prresidential P alace in M anila. Palace Manila. She was accompanied edly denied all accusations Aquino is simply overrated,” by her lawyer Lorna against her and said her Benjie Valbuena, President Kapunan when she surren- wealth came from their coal of the Alliance of Concerned dered to Aquino, who ac- business abroad, among Teachers, said in a separate statement. Valbuena said companied Napoles to the others. national police headquarAquino, who previously the surrender of Napoles to ters where she was handed rejected calls to abolish the Aquino was staged and over to police director gen- PDAF, has ordered the abo- called it a “bad television lition of the pork barrel fund drama series.” eral Alan Purisima. “It is plain and simple Presidential spokes- following mounting public another bad telenovela inman Edwin Lacierda said clamor. Rep. Neri Colmenares the-making where the culNapoles fears for her life. Napoles went into hid- said there is a proposal to prits were treated like heroes ing after a court ordered turn Napoles as a state wit- in the midst of disgust and her arrest on charges of se- ness. “A Malacanang propo- isolation from the people. rious illegal detention aris- sition that Janet Napoles will We must not be fooled and ing from the alleged kid- be turned as state witness is be more vigilant. The parlianapping of her relative and unacceptable to the Filipino ment of the streets beckons people and offends the very to judge this incumbent former aide Benhur Luy. Luy exposed Napoles moral fiber of society. It is to- President who cannot give up his pork barrel for good,” alleged scam using ficti- tally revolting.” “It is an insult to the col- he said. tious nongovernmental orNo Way ganizations where law- lective outrage of the people, “To consider Janet makers channelled their who went out of their homes Priority Development As- in order to call for the aboli- Napoles to turn into a state sistance Fund, a controver- tion of the so called pork witness is adding insult to sial budget given to con- barrel system and wanting a injury, by doing this; the govgressmen and senators to better government. This ernment is only courting finance small projects in would definitely set a bad another major outburst their district. Each con- precedent,” Colmenares from people which will be a gressman gets P70 million said in a statement sent to hundredfold bigger in numannually and senators the regional newspaper ber and more determined to achieve its goals, this after P200 million each. Mindanao Examiner. Outr age successfully holding the utrage “The President turned “We somehow expected Million People March last her over to the custody of Interior and Local Govern- this because Aquino and co- August 26,” said Gie Relova, ment Secretary Mar Roxas horts who cannot give up spokesperson of the group Bukluran ng and Philippine National their pork barrel stand to called Police Director-General gain more from the media Manggagawang Pilipino in Alan Purisima for process- blitz. But then, the stink is the National Capital Region ing and booking,” Lacierda overflowing to the rim, the and Rizal province. “This does not change said. Napoles has repeat- recent stunt supporters of anything, the status quo remains. Pork barrel allocations of all the branches of government are still intact and open for horse-trading, political patronage and graft and corrupt practices. By dismissing the cry for justice and genuine change in governance of all decent and hard-working Filipinos, the Palace has not seen what the power of a disgusted people can achieve,” Relova said. Relova said no amount of reforms of good governance by the Aquino government “can ever cover up the reeking stench of corruption and moral bankruptcy not unless the system
ARMM
Southern Mindanao
Davao
Police photo of Janet Napoles. (Mindanao Examiner) of governance is altered and social justice is achieved in the country.” Scr ipted Scripted The youth group Anakbayan also branded as “scripted” the surrender of Napoles. It said the surrender seems like a “poorlywritten, telenovela inspired script meant for AquinoRoxas pa-pogi and to distract ordinary Filipinos from the fact that the pork barrel has not been abolished, and that Aquino’s pork barrel — the President’s Social Fund and other Special Purpose Funds — remains in the 2014 budget.” The group said the government must answer allegations of cover-up and alleged whitewash into the in-
Manila
vestigations of the PDAF scam. “The question must also be asked: Is there a cover-up deal between Noynoy and Napoles to exclude Palace and allies from pork barrel scam? We should not be surprised if Napoles’ scripted surrender results in whitewash of the evidence against administration allies implicated in the pork barrel scam,” Vencer Crisostomo, the group’s national chairman, told the Mindanao Examiner. He said the plan of the President to “overhaul” the PDAF system will actually lead to an “expanded, unlimited, and invisible Aquino pork barrel system.”
“The Aquino pork plan is an evil, deceptive ploy to bank on the people's anger against pork barrel and corruption in order to breed an animal more monstrous,” he said. Crisostomo said Aquino's statement that he abolished the pork is doublespeak. “Under his new system, the congressmen will merely have to propose their projects to the executive and include them as line items in the General Appropriations Act instead of a lump sum allotted for them. This, for one, means greater Palace pork concentration and more pork under Aquino control and discretion.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sept. 2-8, 2013
Jordanian journalist’s family appeals to Jordan, Palestine for help
T
he wife of a JJor or danian jour nalist seiz ed b y ordanian journalist seized by Abu S ayyaf terr or ists hav e appealed for the Sayyaf terror orists have safe rrelease elease of the captiv e being held in the captive souther nP hilippines southern Philippines hilippines.. Baker Atyani, who Atyani’s wife and her sneaked into the Abu four children live in Jordan Sayyaf territory in June while the journalist’s fam2012 to secretly interview ily is from Anza village in terror leaders for a docu- the northern West Bank, mentary film, was himself according to the news taken captive while his two agency. “The family in Anza is Filipino assistants Rolando Letrero and really worried and has sent Ramelito Vela - had been pleas to President Abbas freed unharmed this year and the King Abdullah Jordan, and efforts have been in exchange for ransom. The Bethlehem-based made to release him,” Ma’an News Agency re- Atyani’s brother Mahmud ported that Atyani’s wife, Atyani told Ma'an. Last year, the PhilipUm Khalid, has appealed to rights organizations and pine military said it would officials to help secure the arrest Atyani for espionage and interrogate him about release of her husband. Atyani’s own family his mission in Sulu provalso appealed to Palestin- ince where he was last ian President Mahmud seen. “We will arrest him as Abbas and King Abdullah of Jordan to help secure the soon as he gets out of the freedom of the journalist, Abu Sayyaf - for espionage who is Al-Arabiya TV bu- – and interrogate him about reau chief for Southeast his mission,” said Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, then Asia.
deputy commander of naval forces in southern Philippines, in an interview with the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Baker Atyani (Manila Times Photo) Cenabre said they were investigating the true inten-
NPA kills militia in Compostela Valley ambush DAVAO CITY – Communist rebels killed a government militia and wounded a soldier in an ambush in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley province, officials told The Regional Newspaper Mindanao Examiner. Officials said New People’s Army opened fire on the duo – Matrinillo Enot and Pfc. Calid Alo – who were travelling on a motorcycle in the village of Casoon in Monkayo town. The rebels escaped after the ambush allowing villagers to help the victims who were rushed to hospital in Tagum City, according to army Capt. Albert Caber, chief information officer of the Eastern Mindanao Command. Caber, quoting Lt. Col. Elmer Aterado, commander of the 25th Infantry Battalion, said the vic-
tims were unarmed and in civilian clothes heading to their patrol base when the attack occurred. “This is another deliberate violation against human rights committed by the NPA. Our troops are simply protecting the community from illegal activities of the NPA such as extortion, among others,” Aterado said. Caber said the Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, condemned the attack on Alo and Enot and ordered troops to intensify their operations against the rebel group, which has been fighting for a separate state in the country. “I directed all military units to remain vigilant in carrying out peace and development initiatives in the region,” Cruz said.
Pitogo town official survived ambush, pal killed PAGADIAN CITY – Gunmen wounded a town official and killed his companion in an attack in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said. Police said Noel Mojillo, President of Association of Barangay Councils in the town of Pitogo, was shot several times, but survived the attack, however his companion Edgen Aguilar was killed. Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said the duo was travelling on a motorcycle when seven gunmen ambushed them.
“Edgen Aguilar sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body and died on the spot while Noel Mojillo suffered two gunshot wounds on his body however, the latter even wounded, managed to run away from the crime scene,” he said. Huesca said police investigators recovered bullet casings fired from M16 and M14 automatic rifles in the crime scene. He said police are investigating the motive of the attack and who were behind it. (Mindanao Examiner)
tion of Atyani’s clandestine interview with terror leaders. “Atyani is freely moving in the hinterlands with Abu Sayyaf terrorists and we are
The NPA owned up the attack and said it was part of a harassment campaign to combat preparations for the bio-fuel, palm oil and mining projects in Agusan and Compostela Valley boundaries. It accused the military, specially its peace and development teams, of abusing villagers to pave the way for the large-scale biofuel, palm oil and mining projects. “These active NPA tactical offensives are meant to protect the gains of the anti-feudal campaign in the countryside of Agusan and Compostela Valley boundaries,” Aris Francisco, a spokesman for the rebel forces operating in the area, said in a separate statement to the Mindanao Examiner. “The masses and the revolutionary forces are persevering in advancing the agrarian revolution in these areas. In the last couple of years and more so in recent months, advances in the struggle for land reform are gaining momentum—successes which the enemy are seeking to reverse. Village-level anti-feudal struggles are gaining ground and reactivating thousands of mass activists and revolutionary mass organizations. The collective work and communal work in the farms have benefited thousands of peasant and Lumad families in Agusan,” he said. Caber denied the accusations and branded the allegations as propaganda. He also branded the rebels as murderer. (Mindanao Examiner)
monitoring the situation,” he said. But Cenabre was forced to deny his statement after the military reprimanded him for talking to the press about the foreigner. He was removed from his post in Zamboanga City and sent to the naval headquarters in Manila. He is now the commander of a joint mili-
tary task force in Sulu province. There were also reports in Sulu that Atyani was taken hostage and that militants are demanding huge ransom. Other reports claimed Atyani was a conduit for the Abu Sayyaf and that the ransom demand was only a cover to hide the flow of funding to the terror group, including Jemaah Islamiya, blamed for the string of attacks and bombings in the Philippines. Military and police said Atyani arrived in Sulu and went to the Abu Sayyaf to secretly interview terror leaders and other rebel commanders, including Jemaah Islamiya militants hiding on the island. The military said the Jordanian journalist had made prior arrangement with the Abu Sayyaf to film a documentary about the terror group. Authorities said Atyani also deceived local government officials after he claimed to be filming government projects in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. Atyani, who had previously interviewed al-Qaeda terror leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan months before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the
United States, contacted his colleagues to say that they are being held against their will. But Jainab Abdulmajid, a spokeswoman for the Sulu provincial government, said Atyani and his crew went to the Abu Sayyaf to interview its leaders. She said they received reports that Atyani was moving from one camp to another along with the Abu Sayyaf militants. Provincial officials had repeatedly warned Atyani against interviewing the Abu Sayyaf, but the trio went ahead and secretly met with terrorist leaders, among them Nadzmie Alih. They were first reported missing after failing to return to their hostel in Jolo town, but phoned local officials two days later to say that they were still filming a documentary on the Abu Sayyaf. The military’s Western Mindanao Command said Atyani had previously filmed in secret the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province. “Atyani had been in and out of Sulu in the past and secretly interviewing terrorist leaders,” said then Lt. Col. Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a regional army spokesman. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sept. 2-8, 2013
Rebels free captive army soldier
Where is Jovito Palparan? MANILA - A few days before the International Day of the Disappeared, rights group "Desaparecidos" demanded the Aquino government a report on the progress of the hunt on a former army general Jovito Palparan linked to the disappearance of political activists. "Where is Jovito Palparan? We won’t accept we don’t know - as an answer. The Aquino government should give us updates on his whereabouts, or have they laid their backs on even trying to look for him?" asked Concepcion Empeño, chairperson of Desaparecidos. Palparan went into hiding after he, along with three other military officials, were charged with kidnapping with serious illegal detention in December 2011 on the disappearance of Empeño’s daughter, Karen, and Sherlyn
Cadapan, abducted and disappeared on June 2006. A farmer, Manuel Merino, was also abducted in the same incident as ac-
counted by witnesses. "The Aquino government is beating around the bush. While we are tirelessly attending hearings and closely monitoring the case in court, we have not heard of any information whatsoever on where is Palparan
Drug woman arrested in undercover sting in Zambo
Drug suspect Susan dela Cruz. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Ely Dumaboc) ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested a 44-year old woman in an undercover drug sting in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said. Officials identified the woman as Susan dela Cruz, who was arrested in the village of Talon-Talon after allegedly selling drugs to an undercover agent. Police seized from her a packet of methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as “shabu” or “poor man’s cocaine.” Also recovered from
Dela Cruz was the P500 marked money used in the sting. The woman did not give any statement about the recovered drugs, but police said she was placed under a long period of surveillance in the village after informants tipped off authorities about her illegal activities. Police said it would send the seized drugs to the crime laboratory for examination and will be used as evidence against the suspect. (Ely Dumaboc)
now, or who’s coddling him. They bragged about posting bigger rewards for the fugitives. After that, they fell dead silent. Are they still looking for him?" she asked. According to Desaparecidos, there are at least 16 victims of enforced disappearances under the Aquino government, most of them are farmers and ordinary folk. "We are glad that the public are at least knowledgeable about the cases of our missing daughters. What many people do not know is that enforced disappearances happen to this day. This is why we continue to call for justice. Sixteen is not just a number, they are fathers, mothers and children. As long as this crime of enforced disappearance continues, we should be vigilant and hold the current government accountable," Empeño said.
DAVAO CITY – A government soldier held captive by communist rebels in the southern Philippines has been freed to a local politician, who helped secure the freedom of the prisoner. The soldier, Private First Class Rodello Canada Arigonan, who was captured August 3 in Compostela Valley province, was released to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in Maco town after the soldier’s family appealed for help. The details of the release of the soldier were not immediately known, but the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command was quick to say that the rebels freed the prisoner due to mounting public pressure. The military said the rebels seized the off-duty Arigonan in the village of Langgam in Maco town. It said the soldier, who is also an electrician, was working on a neighbor’s house when he spotted a group of men digging holes on the road. The men turned out to be rebels, according to Col. Angelito de Leon, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade. He said the rebels also detonated landmines in Mabini town where troops pursued Arigonan’s captors. De Leon also denied an NPA statement which claimed that 11 soldiers were killed and wounded in a raid by rebels on an army headquarters in Mabini town. “We have already alerted our units including the communities
upon learning that the NPA plan to bury more landmines. This is why no one was hurt in that explosion contrary to the bloated statement of NPA spokesman Daniel Ibarra that we have 11 casualties,” he said. Daniel Ibarra, a spokesman for the NPA forces in Compostela Valley Davao Gulf Sub-Regional Committee, said the soldier was captured during a rebel raid on the headquarters of the 71st Infantry Battalion in the village of Pangibiran in Mabini town. Ibarra said11 army soldiers were killed and wounded in the attack. Ibarra said the attack was in retaliation to the killings of Eddie Canon, who was a municipal coordinator of the Anakpawis party list group, and Ramil Lintas, a motorcycle taxi driver. Both were allegedly snatched and killed in May by members of the Military Intelligence Battalion under the 101st Infantry Brigade on suspicion they were rebels. Rubi del Mundo, a spokesperson for the National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao, has confirmed the release of the soldier. Del Mundo said the prisoner was released to members of the Sowing the Seeds of Peace and Duterte. Del Mundo said Arigonan's wife was prevented by the military from meeting with her husband at the NPA release site in the village of Panangan for a still unknown reason. She was, instead, confined to the
army headquarters in town. “The NDF cited humanitarian grounds as reasons for the release of Arigonan,” Del Mundo said. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, has acknowledged Duterte’s efforts in securing the safe release of the soldier. He said Arigonan will undergo a routine debriefing before being reunited with his family. “In our campaign to win the peace, local government units play a major role in achieving this. Our soldier will undergo the usual procedure after his release – medical check-up, debriefing,” he said. Cruz has repeatedly accused the NPA of human rights violations and kidnappings of innocent civilians and soldiers in the restive region. He said they recorded at least 16 landmine attacks and 24 kidnapping incidents since early this year. “These are serious human rights violations. You could see how the communists defy the CAR HRIHL and how the National Democratic Front turned its back on these issues by keeping silent. The NDF should be compelled to explain to the public all these violations,” he said. CARHRIHL refers to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law which the communist group was a signatory. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Mindanao Examiner 4 Political prisoners sell handicrafts, veggies to donate to Manila's poor communities MANILA – Political prisoners have sold handicrafts and vegetables they produce and gifts from friends to be able to respond to calls by the human rights group Karapatan for donations for poor communities devastated by floods in Manila. The human rights group said political detainees at Camp Bagong Diwa made the donation to its national office in Manila.
“The political prisoners were among the first to respond to our call for donation for urban poor communities in Manila. The money came from the sales of handicrafts they make, from vegetables they produce, and gifts from their friends,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary-General, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
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Fernando Piccoro, leader of tricycle drivers plying the streets of Manila, his group was among those benefited from the food donations of the prisoners. “Yung mga political detainees pa ang unang naka-alala sa aming mga nabaha, samantala yung mga dapat nakakulong na nagpapahirap sa taumbayan ay nagsasaya at walang pakialam sa kalagayan namin. ( The political detainees were the first to respond to needs of the flood victims, while those who are ought to be in jail are mindless of our situation),” Piccoro said in the same statement. Piccoro said the gesture of the prisoners in reaching out to poor people like them warmed their hearts because despite their being in jails they still managed to reach out to the poor. “Mas marami pa talaga silang magagawa para sa katulad namin kung nasa labas sila ng kulungan. (They could do more for people like us when they are not in detention),” he said. Palabay said they also share the same sentiments and is similarly grateful to the political detainees for their real concern to the poor. “We share the sentiments of the drivers and vendors, knowing how important the money is to political prisoners themselves – to augment their one-fish-a-day food ration inside prison, to buy medicines for their ailments. But the political detainees chose to share whatever they have to those who were affected by the flood,” she said.
Sept. 2-8, 2013
A resident of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province in southern Philippines uses a candle to illuminate her table. Kidapawan is experiencing long power outages due to insufficient supply of electricity from the Cotabato Electric Company, ironically, the city is host to geothermal power plant. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano).
Police seized cache of weapons in Dapitan beach, hunt down fugitive DIPOLOG CITY – Police launched a manhunt against a man accused of murder in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, officials said on. Officials said Alfonso Abne, alias Along, escaped a police operation in Dapitan City where authorities also arrested another man, Dindo Paglalunan, for carrying a gun. Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said Abne was
inside the premises of private beach resort when police forces tried to serve a warrant for his arrest. He said the fugitive managed to flee from the police and eluded arrest, but he also left inside a thatched hut a cache of assorted weapons, munitions and components for improvised explosives. Huesca said police forces recovered an M16 automatic rifle, eight .45caliber pistols, ten pistol magazines, five magazines for M16 and Ak-47 assault
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rifles, and a blasting cap, detonating cord, time fuses, black powder, including a motorcycle which Abne was using as his get-away vehicle. Judge Victoriano Dl Lacaya, of the Regional Trial Court Branch-9 in Dipolog City, has ordered Abne’s arrest for murder, according to Huesca. Huesca said authorities tracked down Abne’s hideout following a tip from an informant, who said the fugitive had been spotted in several occasions inside the beach premises. It was not immediately known how Abne managed to sneak his weapons inside the guarded beach resort. “The police team confiscated the weapons, however, the fugitive managed to evade arrest,” Huesca said. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sept. 2-8, 2013
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The Mindanao Examiner
‘We are Anonymous’ Government agencies hacked in protest over controversial pork barrel
D
ozens of w ebsites and por websites portals arious tals of vvar ar ious v er nment agencies in the P hilippines gov ernment Philippines go had been hacked b y a gr oup called “Anony by group Anony-otest to the contr omous P hilippines protest controPhilippines hilippines”” in pr versial por k barr el fund pr ovided to lawmakers pork barrel pro lawmakers.. Several websites have native package of still albeen restored, but many lowing the congressmen are still down and inacces- and senators to identify sible. Those that had been sponsored projects to be hacked were left with a funded, albeit as line items warning and obviously the on the annual budget, target of the message is continues to leave money President Benigno Aquino, with grasps of conniving whose pork barrel remains and corrupt public offiat his disposal. cials, in effect, this merely Aquino, who previ- shifted the timeline upon ously rejected calls to when these projects are abolish PDAF, now vowed identified and approved. to act on the pork barrel Therefore, the pork barrel fund following threats of remains. We pursue our civil unrest from various call to you to completely civil society groups and abolish the pork barrel systhe influential Catholic tem,” Anonymous PhilipChurch. pines said in a message left “We appreciate the on hacked government fact that you have now re- agencies. sponded to the public Filipinos, disgruntled clamor to abolish the over the pork barrel scanPDAF, however the alter- dal, held simultaneous ral-
lies in various parts of the country to denounce the corruption in the House of Representatives. Each members of Congress get P70 million and senators P200 million annually which they use for small development projects in their district. But the PDAF is also the source of corruption
where some lawmakers allegedly get as much as 50% kickbacks on projects, mostly covered courts, road asphalt overlay, and computer set donation for schools, and medicines for village health programs, fertilizers and pesticides for farmers, among others. The Department of
Budget and Management has posted on its website a list of where lawmakers - congressmen and senators - spent their pork barrel fund. The report - which is accessible on this URL h t t p : / / w w w. p d a f . dbm.gov.ph - included all projects where legislators channelled their pork barrel fund. It included the nature of the project, its recipient, implementing
unit, the release date and the exact amount disbursed. DBM records show that in 2012, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate received a total of P24.237 billion in PDAF releases. This year, members of Congress have so far received a total of P11.584 billion in pork barrel funds. (Mindanao Examiner)
Budget department puts up PDAF website
DBM report on PDAF allocations for Western Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management has posted on its website a list of where lawmakers - congressmen and senators - spent their pork barrel fund. The report - which is accessible on this URL h t t p : / / w w w. p d a f . dbm.gov.ph - included all projects where legislators channelled their controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund – P70 million for members of Congress and P200 million for senators annually. House Deputy Minority Leader Arnel Ty also urged Filipinos to visit the website and read the reports on how lawmakers spent their PDAF. “Citizens who want to obtain details as to how members of Con-
gress have been spending their Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations may visit the Department of Budget and Management website, he said. “Actually, the particulars of all congressional PDAF releases have been available online for all to see.” Ty said the report included the nature of the project, its recipient, implementing unit, the release date and the exact amount disbursed. DBM records show that in 2012, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate received a total of P24.237 billion in PDAF releases. This year, members of Congress have so far received a total of P11.584 billion in pork barrel funds.
The Mindanao Examiner
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sept. 2-8, 2013
Eastern Mindanao Command turns 7 DAVAO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command is celebrating its 7th founding anniversary and its commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III has vowed to continue working hard for the attainment of peace and development in the region. Capt. Albert Caber, the military’s chief information officer, said Gen. Cruz also “congratulated the men and women of the Eastern Mindanao Command and down to the units under it
for painstakingly pursuing their jobs with dedication.” He said Gen. Cruz has encouraged the “Team EastMinCom” to continue to work hand in hand for the attainment of peace and development programs for the benefit of the Filipino people. “As a team, I am confident that we shall accomplish much in the coming day and all these peace and development efforts will bear fruits and benefit our people. Let us continue in our efforts
and work hand in hand in the attainment of peace in Mindanao,” Gen. Cruz said. Capt. Caber said this year’s theme is Eastern Mindanao Command, Patuloy na kaagapay ng Silangang Mindanaw para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.” He said the celebration is marked with a sport festival and awarding of medals to soldiers and civilian employees of the Eastern Mindanao Command. (Mindanao Examiner)
Pagadian man in pawnshop Basilan ambush unresolved heist arrested in Negros Villagers rush to the scene of ambush in Lamitan City in Basilan province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Richard Falcatan)
BASILAN PROVINCE – The ambush that killed 3 people remain unresolved as gun attacks continue in the restive province of Basilan. Police said those killed in the attack were couple, Rodolfo Saavedra and his wife Gloria, both local teachers. Police said the couple’s companion Ellen Cubico,
was also wounded in the attack. The three were travelling on a motorcycle in the village of Maloong Canal in Lamitan City when an unidentified gunman attacked them. The assailant took the victims’ motorcycle and escaped towards Isabela City. Police said it is investigating
the attack and who was behind it. The killings of the teachers drew widespread condemnation in Basilan province. Gun attacks are common occurrence in Basilan where most of the murders are perpetrated by suspected hired killers. (With a report from Richard Falcatan)
Groups bat for HK$4,500 monthly wage for domestic workers in HK MANILA - Foreign domestic workers under the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body have expressed their dissatisfaction on the consultation process conducted by the Hong Kong Labor Department in relation to the annual review of the Minimum Allowable Wage. The Labor Commission invited organisations, unions and nongovernmental organizations for a series of meetings to get their views and position on the wage condition of foreign domestic workers. Among the groups invited were the AMCB and its members, the Mission for Migrant Workers, Bethune House Migrant Women Refuge and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants. But Eman Villanueva, a spokesperson for the AMCB, said they were disappointed with the consultations because of inadequate actions on the part of the organizers.
"We are gravely disappointed with these socalled consultations that we feel are inadequate and the government is just going through the motion in order to project that the decision that will come out is based on democratic consultation. We want a thorough, genuine and transparent consultation for the wage review," Villanueva said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. Viullanueva said they shared their proposal for HK$4,500 monthly minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic workers and the basis for such position, including the inflation rate and cost of living in Hong Kong. And this position was also shared by other groups in the consultations, but officials of the Labor Commission told that they will consult other stakeholders on the review of the current wage. "There was no further mention of how the actual review will go on and as to
what standards will they be using to determine the wage level, and what will be the role of migrant organisations in the said process," he asked. Foreign domestic workers have repeatedly questioned the review process by which Hong Kong set its minimum wage. They said Hong Kong government has never been explicit in making known what they use to determine the monthly wage. "The monthly allowable wage review has always been devoid of transparency, lacking in democracy, and has resulted to unjust decisions – from radical wage cuts, piecemeal increases, or increases that are not reflective of what is just and responsive to the condition of foreign domestic workers. We demand a review that is just, transparent and nor arbitrarily concluded. We demand a significant wage increase," Villanueva said.
PAGADIAN CITY – A native of Pagadian City, who was a former felon, was arrested by the police after his gang robbed a pawnshop in
Dumaguete City, the Visayan Daily Star reported. It said Jesuslou Alegria, 42, was captured during a police chase in the town of
NPA owns up attack vs. Davao militias COMMUNIST REBELS have taken responsibility for a recent attack on a group of pro-government militias in Davao City in southern Philippines as punishment for violating the rights of local villagers. Ka Tano Paragas, a rebel spokesman, said fighters from the New People’s Army detonated an explosive that targeted the militias in the village of Tapak in Paquibato district. He said the militias
were allegedly behind a series of cattle rustling and other atrocities against civilians. Paragas said: “The military also employs the classic tactic of pitting Lumads (tribesmen) against Lumads to control ancestral territories and make it easier for capitalist mining companies to enter and exploit ancestral resources.” The military has strongly denied the accusations. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sibulan in Negros Oriental, but his companions managed to elude arrest. Police said Alegria’s group barged into the Agencia Belen pawnshop and disarmed the security guard before taking 9 trays of assorted jewelleries. It said Alegria, a member of the Sputnik Gang, is believed also to be affiliated with the Alferez Group and other criminal gangs in Mindanao. Alegria and his gang members had arrived by boat in Dumaguete from Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte and with them were three motorcycles and a black SUV which they used as their get-away vehicles, according to the reports. Police launched a manhunt for the capture of Alegria’s gang. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sept. 2-8, 2013
Karapatan insists 'Morong 43' are health workers MANILA - Filipino human rights group Karapatan on maintained the members of the so-called Morong 43 are all health workers and not communist rebels as the military claimed. This after the military said that one of 43 health workers had been killed in a clash with security forces in Bulacan province in Luzon Island. The 10th Infantry Division in Davao City said Ramon dela Cruz was slain along with two other gunmen while fighting on the side of the New People’s Army rebels in the village of Kabayunan in Dona Remedios Trinidad town. It said the 43-year old Dela Cruz was among those captured in February 6, 2010 in Morong town in Rizal province. His parents have confirmed the identity of the slain rebel. Called the “Morong 43,” the military said members of the group were captured by soldiers while manufacturing improvised explosives. The Morong 43 denied the accusations and said they were only conducting health training and seminar in the village when security forces
arrested them. President Benigno Aquino ordered the release of the Morong 43 after rebels demanded the government to free the health workers before it can resume stalled peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines. In December 2010, photos of the Morong 43 have surfaced on the Internet. The pictures posted by a military official who uses the alias “Peace Builder” on the social networking site Facebook showed some of them conducting first aid training with NPA rebels. Along with the photos was a statement saying that five of the Morong 43 admitted to be members of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a bloody secessionist war for decades now. But Karapatan said the military’s continued insistence that the Morong 43 are members of the NPA is but an attempt to justify the crime they committed against the health workers. Cristina Palabay, Secretray-General of
Motorcycle gunman kills 2 in Pagadian City PAGADIAN CITY – An unidentified motorcycle gunman shot dead two people in an attack in Pagadian City in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, police said. Police said the victims – Ariel Duyag, 26, and Elroy Acain, 27 – were shot several times in the village called Gubang. Investigators said they recovered eight bullet cas-
ings fired from a 9mm pistol. “Investigation further revealed that the real target of the suspect was Elroy, who allegedly swindled bettors during cockfighting at Barangay Macasing in July,” said Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman. Huesca said police are still investigating the killings. (Mindanao Examiner)
Karapatan, accused the military of torturing the health workers. “Nothing justifies torture and illegal arrest,” Palabay said. “We stand by our previous statements that the Morong 43 are community health workers who, in 2010, were illegally arrested, detained and tortured. The military’s continued insistence that they are members of the NPA is but an attempt to justify the crime they committed against the health workers.” Palabay said they have yet to confirm whether Dela Cruz was really killed in the clash or not. “Whether Dela Cruz joined the NPA after his release or not is his personal choice. That does not in any way change the facts of the case. The military illegally arrested, detained and tortured the 43 health workers,” she said. On April 4, 2011, six of the Morong 43 members charged former President Gloria Arroyo, through a civil suit, for physical and psychological torture and other forms of human rights abuses before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. And on May 4, 2012, they also filed criminal charges against those involved in the illegal arrests and torture at the Department of Justice. “We are not surprised that until now the military never tires with their assertion that the Morong 43 are NPA members. It’s the only way they think they can come out clean of the violations they committed. But as things are under the Aquino government, some of them even got promoted to higher ranks in the military,” Palabay said. The military also linked Karapatan and its allies to the NPA. (Mindanao Examiner)
Molave house model
Villa San Ignacio, FERNDALE Int’l School, Jollibee team up for Walk and Run for a cause ZAMBOANGA CITY Filinvest Land Inc. in Zamboanga, FERNDALE International School and Jollibee partnered for a worthy get-up-and-go with their “Walk and Run for a Cause” held recently in Zamboanga City. With the theme: “One Mind, One Heart, One Voice,” the event was participated by high school students who started with a 5 a.m. walk and run from Jollibee Veterans Avenue with the final rendezvous at Villa San Ignacio – Filivest Clubhouse. Special education students, kindergarten and those in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 along with their parents and guardians joined the event. Dance competitions were also held among students in preschool, intermediate and high school levels at the basketball court culminating with a
game between the high school varsity team and the parents. In between basketball competitions, guests relaxed at the clubhouse and enjoyed the food, fun and games provided by Jollibee while brokers toured others around Villa San Ignacio. Students, parents and guests had a grand time under the hosting and guidance of masters of ceremonies Joe James M. Alob and Brave Angelo Cayanong. The walk-run for a cause was just one of many in a series of events hosted by Villa San Ignacio which puts it in the mainstream of Asia’s Latin City. Just in May, Villa San Ignacio also participated in a job fair at Western Mindanao State University in coordination with Department of Labor and Employment and the business sector. This was followed by a series of weekend open house events for the whole month of May where guests were invited to take a firsthand look and feel of Villa San Ignacio. Regular open house activities were conducted in June in coordination with Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School campus headed by Principal Conrado Balatbat. Another big event was
the McDonald's Kiddie Crew graduation, a funfilled day with games and dances at the VSI Clubhouse with lunch provided by McDonalds followed by field trips to the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant in Tetuan village and Pasonanca Butterfly Farm and the Edwin Andrews Airbase in Santa Maria village. Not the least, the Villa San Ignacio hosted a family fun day for its sales team and their families. Villa San Ignacio is the first project of Filinvest Land Inc. in Zamboanga City. Its 13.2-hectare housing project can accommodate a community of some 400 residences with a breathtaking view of the famous Mount Pulumbato, one of Zamboanga City’s landmark. Besides world class infrastructure of 12-meter main and 10-meter secondary roads, it also boasts of beautiful amenities like a clubhouse, adult and kiddies swimming pool, gazebo, trellis area, jogging path trails, tai-chi practice area and a basketball court. It is also fully equipped with electricity, potable water system and a deep well which serves as water reserve and it has a filtration system capable of producing up to 100 gallons of water a minute. (Mike Banos)
Woman killed in Zamboanga City A LONE GUNMAN shot and killed a woman, who was only seeking shelter from the rain, on a village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said. Police said the gunman escaped after killing the 28-year old Sheenalyn Gregana in the village of Recodo which is notorious for drug-related violence. Gregana, who lived in Zambowood village, was shot in the face, according
to Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman. Huesca said police are investigating the motive of the killing. “Initial investigation conducted by Zamboanga City Police Station 9 disclosed that the victim was seeking shelter from the rain when suspect approached and shot her,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sept. 2-8, 2013
Dateline Mindanao By Al Jacinto MAL AMANG maraming mga mambaMALAMANG batas ang hindi ngayon makatulog ng maayos dahil sa paglutang ni Janet Napoles na iniuugnay sa mga anomalyang may kinalaman sa Priority Development Assistance Fund o mas kilala sa tawag na pork barrel fund. Ang daming isiniwalat ng Commission on Audit ukol sa mga ma-anolmayang proyekto at ang ikinakatakot ng taongbayan ang ang posibleng pagtatakip ng pamahalaan at maging ng Kongreso at Senado dahil sa pagkakasangkot ng ilang mga mambabatas na nagbigay ng milyonmilyong pisong pondo sa mga umano’y bogus na nongovernmental organizations. At ano ang kapalit nito? Ng sumuko si Napoles kay Pangulong Aquino ay marami ang nagulat at sinamahan pa nito ang bilyonaryang negosyante sa Philippine National Police headquarters sa Camp Crame at saka inihatid kay Chief PNP Alan Purisima, siyempre naroon rin si Interior Secretary Mar Roxas na nagaambisyong maging susunod na Pangulog ng bansa. Super special VIP treatment naman ang ibinigay ni Pangulong Aquino kay superwoman Napoles. Lumutang tuloy ang isyu ng pagbibigay diumano ni Napoles ng campaign funds noon kay Pangulong Aquino at sa iba pang kaalyado nito. Hindi naman inilagay sa selda si Napoles at sa halip ay sa isang air conditioned at private room ito nakapiit at ang dahilan ng Palasyo ay nasa selda umano ang housemaid na ipinakulong ni Napoles noon dahil sa diumano’y pagnanakaw. So dapat sana ay inilipat na lamang ng pulisya ang katulong sa ibang selda upang hindi naman kahiya-hiya na ang dating amo ay makakasama nito sa loob ng bilangguan sa Makati City. Pero sadyang malakas talaga itong si Napoles na nahaharap sa kasong serious illegal detention na isinampa ng kanyang kaanak na si Benhur Luy na ngayon ay ang siyang nagaakusa sa socialite. Lubhang napakaliit ng mundo para kay Napoles. Nakatutok ang publiko sa imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad at pamahalaan sa PDAF scam at kung hindi mabibigyan ng hustisya ang taong-bayan ay tiyak nanganganib ang pamahalaang Aquino at maaaring mag-alsa ang militar o mga opisyal at ang publiko na hindi masikmura ang nakawan sa gobyerno. Matatandaang ilang beses rin nagkaroon ng pagaalsa sa administrasyon ni President Corazon Aquino, ang ina ng kasalukuyang Pangulo, dahil sa ibat-ibang isyu, kabilang na ang paguugnay sa kanya sa komunismo. SA KABIL A NG MAL AWAKANG KABILA MALA PANA WAGAN na tanggalin na ang PDAF ANAW at ibalik sa mga line agencies ng pamahalaan ang mga pondo – P70 milyon bawat taon sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso at P200 milyon naman sa mga senador –
upang mapakinabangan ng husto ng taong-bayan ay maraming mga gobernador sa bansa ang ayaw na matanggal ang pork barrel. At ang dahilan nito ay may mga asawa at kapatid o kamag-anakan sila sa Kongreso, aba eh yun naman pala ang dahilan kung kaya’t left and right ang press release ng mga ito media na dapat manatili ang PDAF! Paano nga naman kung wala ng PDAF, wala na rin bang proyekto sa kanilang distrito? Abangan natin ang susunod na kabanata sa isyu ng pork barrel fund. MA GANDA ANG PR OGRAMA nitong MAGANDA PROGRAMA si Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, ang hepe ng Eastern Mindanao Command, dahil kaliwa’t-kanan ang mga “Bayanihan” projects nito sa kanyang mga nasasakupang lalawigan – kalahati ng Mindanao! Bukod sa pagiging magaling at tapat sa kanyang tungkulin ay maayos rin makisama itong si Gen. Cruz sa kanyang mga opisyal at sundalo, gayun rin sa mga empleyado ng Eastern Mindanao Command. Mabait itong si Gen. Cruz, ayon sa ating bubwit diyan sa kampo sa Davao City. Aba, hindi naman nakapagtataka ang kabaitan at kagalingan nitong si Gen. Cruz dahil noon pa man ng ito ay commander ng 1st Infantry Division sa Zamboanga del Sur ay talagang marami na itong mga accomplishments. Ang masasabi ko dito kay Gen. Cruz ay sadyang mapagkumbaba at hindi mayabang. May bago palang PIO ngayon ang Eastern Mindanao Command sa katauhan ni Capt. Albert Caber, na dating spokesman ng 1st Infantry Division, na siyang pinanggalingan ni Gen. Cruz. Talagang masuwerte ang Eastern Mindanao Command at naroon ang mga magagaling! SP EAKING OF MA GALING, hindi SPEAKING MAGALING, naman pahuhuli itong si Brig. Gen. Felicito Trinidad, ang commander ng 1st Infantry Division. At sa unang tingin pa lamang ay talagang makikita mo ang sinsiridad nitong manilbihan sa bayan. Tulad ni Gen. Cruz ay mabait at magaling rin itong si Gen. Trinidad at masipag, mapagkumbaba at hindi masusukat ang kagalingan nito. Siyempre naroon rin sa kanya si Capt. Jefferson Somera bilang PIO ng army division. Nagulat ako sa kagalingan nitong si Capt. Somera at sa kanyang batang edad aba eh talagang marunong! Mabilis itong si Capt. Somera sa pagbibigay ng mga balita sa media kung kaya’t masaya at maganda ang relasyon ng media at ng 1st Infantry Division sa Western Mindanao. Malayo ang mararating nitong si Capt. Somera. Hanggang sa susunod na linggo mga kaibigan. Peace! DISCL AIMER: The views and opinions DISCLAIMER: expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Mindanao Examiner or any of its staffs and employees.
Pencing By Jun Feliciano (Zamboanga City) THE WORD ORD: 2 KINDS OF CHURCH. There are two kinds of church, the false church and the true church. The false church hears the Word of God, but doesn’t obey it. While the true church, it hears the Word of God and obeys it. A! ORENDAIN IS ALSO P ANG SPOR TS P PANG SPORT PA! CITY Administrator Antonio G. Orendain, Jr. hopes Gilas Pilipinas will reach 2nd round in the prestigious World Basketball Championships to be held in Spain next year. “If they can reach 2nd round, that’s a big accomplishment already,” the lanky Orendain assessed. Orendain knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the country’s number one sport, that’s basketball. Orendain, for those who are not familiar with City Hall’s top honcho (with the exception of the Lady Mayor Beng Climaco), was the top gunner in local cage-dome back in the 60’s, 70’s and even in early 80’s. He was Eagles (then Ateneo de Zamboanga)’s MVP a number of times. His patented fade-away shots then were unstoppable when he executed them with such gracefulness and with such easefulness. He was FEU’s captain ball when he decided to further his studies in Manila where big-time cage competitions were at its pinnacle then. He turned down big offers in commercial leagues as he opted to finish his studies instead. And one of which was San Miguel Corp. Just a bit of Orendain’s best years in basketball, cay c completa, palta diaton space...he he he. So, Jun Orendain isn’t only a top government employee only (he was chosen 2005 Civil Employee of the Year, nationwide, by the Civil Service Commission), cundi’ pang sports pa! BENG WEL COMES C OA PR OBE WELC CO PROBE OUR lady Mayor Beng Climaco, when interviewed on air by state-owned dxMRRadyo ng Bayan expressed her desire to have the so-called Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF thoroughly probed by even an impartial investigative body. The City Executive’s name was included as among lawmakers who supposedly diverted their PDAFs to fictitious NGOs that were uncovered as non-existent. “I am in favor of any probe to help us clear our names, as our reputation has been tarnished,” that was how Mayor Beng sounded when put on air for an early morning radio interview by this corner. (Pencing also handles radio program as he signs on for state-controlled dxMR-Radyo Ng Bayan every morning except Friday. Ironically, my last radio program will fall on a Saturday, August 31 this year... a full 25-year fruitful service to government broadcasting, thanks for the memories, as they say. In short, I’m retiring, cay mandatory ya..quiere decir, senior citizen ya verdadero he he he. IN my own honest random survey, from 1 to 10, many believe Mayor Beng is not involved in this now infamous PDAF scam. It’s equivalent to a ratio: 8 believed
the Lady Mayor is clean, cay damay lang dao, while the remaining 2 are disappointed to find out the negative side on Mayor Beng. PDAF ANOMAL Y TRIGGERS ANOMALY THE PDAF anomaly cropped up when now fugitive Janet Lim Napoles was accused for alleged serious illegal detention by her own relative Benjur Luy. Luy turned whistle blower and exposed Napoles’ big-time scam allegedly siphoning billions of PDAF funds allocated for all lawmakers, both from the Senate and from the Lower House of our bicameral congressional system. CIT Y MEDIA B UREA U APP EARS CITY BUREA UREAU APPEARS NINGAS C OGON COGON A number of private media outlets here aren’t really that comfortable with Mayor Beng Climaco’s current Media Bureau’s staff, cay ningas cogon lang dao in its needed dissemination of news information coming from City Hall. Ese pah.. CELSO VS. A GAN IF ... AGAN IF... IF former District 1 Congresswoman and now City Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar decides to run for the Senate in 2016, then a dream match is in the offing come next political exercise in the city of Zamboanga. Beng is rumored being enamored by certain groups identified with the LP hierarchy headed by his Excellency Pres. Noynoy Aquino in Metro Manila to run for Senator, instead in 2016, according to a supposed top LP source from its main party headquarters in Luzon. When interviewed to get her side, Mayor Beng remains steadfast in all her previous statements with the local media: “If my constituents want me to continue serving them as mayor, then be it.” When pressed to make her statement clear if and when P-Noy will personally persuade her to run for the Senate under his LP team: “I’ll have to think it over.. any way elections are still very far, and right now, I want to focus more on my work as the mayor of the city, ñor Jun.” Ansina Mayor Beng. CIT Y ENGR. DESP AL O BREAKS SICITY DESPAL ALO LENCE OUR City Engr. Luis Vicente Despalo broke his silence when he faced Pencing just recently. “This is Mother Nature’s work, we cannot fight Mother Nature. Even Metro Manila is being battered now by Mother Nature (Typhoons hitting the country black & blue),” explained the apparently disgusted City Engineer. Despalo and his peers (heads of office) in City Hall were invited by the City Council the other day, to give their sides as to why the city has been experiencing its worst in these days of calamities. The Council was very vocal in lambasting the City Engineer’s Office and City Environment and Natural Resources Office when several infra projects of Zamboanga were washed out when recent storms hit the city recently. DISCL AIMER: The views and opinions DISCLAIMER: expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Mindanao Examiner or any of its staffs and employees.
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Sept. 2-8, 2013
MILITARY, MILF JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT TERRORISM P
Philippine troops and police commandos join forces with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels to hunt down terrorist in Mindanao region. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)
hilippine soldiers and police commandos hav e have joined for ces with M uslim rrebels ebels in a histor ic forces Muslim historic pact to rrun un after terr or ists in the souther n rreeterror orists southern gion of M indanao wher e secur ity for ces ar e Mindanao where security forces are battling adical gr oups with links to al-Q aeda and groups al-Qaeda b attling rradical Jemaah IIslamiya. slamiya. Rebel and military against the success of the commanders welcomed current peace negotiation the local pact and said this which is now in the last would further strengthen stretch and that the admincooperation between the istration of President Armed Forces of the Philip- Benigno Aquino is not pines, the Philippine Na- spared from this. It is as tional Police and the Moro much as the target of this Islamic, the country’s larg- hate and shaming camest Muslim rebel group now paign as the MILF, it said. It said the conspirators negotiating peace with Maare not acting as one body, nila. The International but tactically they converge Monitoring Team is also to ensure that the peace supporting the joint opera- process will fail because of tion, which started just re- a common interest. “Who are these people cently in Maguindanao or groups? It is very easy to province. Army Col. Manolito know them, because some Orense, commander of the are speaking to the media 603rd Infantry Brigade, said openly or releasing “poiboth the military and the son” statements, others MILF are supporting peace spread rumors and inin the southern Philippines. trigues, and another either Orense spoke to sol- explode bombs or launch diers and rebels at the army attacks against government headquarters in the prov- military positions. Add the ince before the start of their MNLF-Nur Misuari’s decladeployment in Maguin- ration of independence of danao. the Bangsamoro Republik The region has been and we have full array of the scene of recent bomb these groups,” the MILF attacks that killed and said in an editorial on its wounded dozens of inno- website. cent civilians and the “The MILF is not totally Aquino government unaware of this developblamed so-called spoilers ment. We know that as we of the peace process as be- close-in to the finishing line hind the violence. of the negotiation, the opConspir acy onspiracy positions will intensify their The MILF has said that spoilage, because it is in the it appears there is a con- nature of things that the spiracy of all anti-peace bigger the impending sucand anti-MILF forces cess the bigger the chal-
lenge or threat ranged against it. Besides, the society of man has good number of insane, purist, extremist, and sadist. They all belong to the category of sick mind and for which history had suffered deaths and destructions. Moreover, there are those whose ego, pride or anger they cannot manage or are prisoner thereof. Similarly, they find fulfilment in the fit of their anger or their ego is praised to the highest heaven,” it said. The editorial said as long as the MILF, the Philippine government and majority of the people, including the international community are one and fully committed to pursue the peaceful track through to the end, “this dubious scheme will not succeed.” “The message of peace is so powerful that those who are not swayed to its side will be swept aside into the dustbin of history. Amidst these challenges, the MILF still pursues conciliatory approach. We know that the power of logic and reason resonates so powerfully that men of understanding will respond positively. We will continue to uphold this approach or policy without losing sight of the fact that men of the other mold will always enjoy at the sufferings of others. This is a different matter,” it said. (With a report from Mark Navales)
Filipino gunmen intrude Sabah, briefly take 9 fishers ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected Filipino gunmen intruded into Sabah near the southern Philippine province of TawiTawi and seized 9 fishermen, but freed all of them after learning they were Muslims, reports said. Reports said the gunmen, numbering about 10, posed as fishermen and hijacked a boat off Semporna town and used
ARMM
the vessel to seize other fishermen. Malaysian authorities have blamed Filipino pirates in the daring intrusion this week despite tight security in the areas surrounding Sabah. And the latest intrusion showed the inability of Malaysian security forces to protect its territories against foreign attacks. The New Straits Times
quoted Deputy Superintendent Mohd Firdaus Francis Abdullah, the district police chief, as saying the gunmen told the fishermen that they would be brought to the southern Philippines, but released them after learning they are Muslims. The gunmen spoke in Tausug, a dialect used in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces in southern Philip-
Southern Mindanao
Davao
pines. “When the gunmen asked the fishermen what their religion was, the fishermen claimed they were Muslims. The armed group then decided to turn back and when they saw another fishing boat, the fishermen were asked to jump into the sea,” the police official said, adding the armed men left the area while the fishermen swam
Manila
to the other boat before being taken to the mainland where they lodged a police report. Datuk Mohammad Mentek, the Eastern Sabah Security Command Director-General, said the gunmen had nothing to do with forces of the Sulu Sultanate which intruded Sabah this year and clashed with Malaysian forces.
“We believe the group has nothing to do with the intrusion by gunmen from Sulu. They are just pirates,” he told the New Straits Times. It was not immediately known whether the gunmen were members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for past kidnappings in Sabah. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula