The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (December 12-18, 2022)

Dipolog City wins WWF’s One Planet City Challenge

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - Dipolog City is the national winner of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 20212022,

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Sabah extends curfew anew

‘Sayyafs attempting to cross border’

to

Zambo teacher apologized for hitting student

head has apologized to the teenager’s family after the victim’s mother complained to the school.

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Catholic bishops seek mining ban in southern Philippines

joining national winners from 20 countries around the world.

Open pit mining in South Cotabato province in the Philippines. Catholic bishops are demanding a law to ban mining in the whole of the Mindanao region. (Photo from Marbel Diocese)

Zamboanga del Norte's Dipolog City Mayor Darel Dexter Uy proudly shows the award in a Facebook post on Monday, December 5, 2022.

SABAH HAS extended anew its curfew at sea following intelligence reports ABAH HAS extended anew its curfew at sea reports that Abu Sayyaf terrorists and kidnap for ransom groups from southern Phil that Abu terrorists and kidnap-for-ransom groups from southern Philippines are attempting to intrude into the Malaysian state, according to the ippines are attempting to intrude into the state, to the news site The Star Online news Online. It said the ongoing dusk-to-dawn sea curfew, which ended on Tuesday, December 6, has been ex-

tended for another 14 Continue on page 2 Continue on page 2

A Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer and two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transit the Philippine Sea in April 2017. (U.S. Navy / via Reuters)

maritime militia and navy, often denied Continue on page 5 Continue on page 5

Sabah extends curfew anew

‘Sayyafs attempting to cross border’

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 days. The curfew, which was extended for the 200th time under Section 31(4) of the Police Act 1967, was first implemented on July 16, 2014.

The curfew was enforced following a spate of ransom kidnappings that saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fen and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists.

Sabah police commissioner Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said the curfew covers areas up to three nautical

miles off Sandakan, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. He said the extension of the curfew was needed due to existing threats from cross-border criminals including from kidnap-for-ransom groups.

“Our intelligence sources found that KFR groups as well as the Abu Sayyaf group were still attempting to enter the country’s waters and carry out kidnapping activities as well as other cross-border crimes,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The curfew will allow security forces to look after the safety of people who travel at sea and those living in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone. It will also allow us to enforce and monitor the movement of vessels as well as create a sense of security and confidence among chalet operators and fishermen through the omnipresence of security vessels enforcing this curfew,” Idris was quoted as saying in the report.

He said the curfew was necessary to ensure terrorists or criminals

from southern Philippines do not intrude into Malaysian waters and subsequently ensure the safety of international researchers or foreign tourists visiting islands in Sabah.

Idris said he had also given the authority to the respective district police chiefs to issue permits to

any applicant who fulfils the necessary requirements to conduct fishing activities or to ply through the water routes in the curfew areas.

The residents in areas covered by the curfew are required to stay at home from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. while outsiders are not allowed

to enter the curfew zones.

There were no immediate reactions from the Philippine military and police authorities over the reports that the Abu Sayyaf and other kidnap gangs are attempting to cross the border and target Malaysian citizens.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Dipolog City wins WWF’s One Planet City Challenge

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Bogotá, Colombia and Lund, Sweden were selected as the OPCC Global Winners which saw a total of 280 cities participating from 50 countries.

Dipolog City government representatives received the prestigious during the OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The city was commended by the international jury of the OPCC Core Team in Sweden for its bold emissions reduction plan, which is aligned with science-based targets needed to keep global warming within 1.5°C. Dipolog has reported innovative and impactful action plans that will help achieve these targets and bring long term co-benefits.

Dipolog City plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will undertake a 100% emissions reduction compared to its 2018 baseline. As such, the mid-sized city on the northwestern island of Mindanao will convert three-quarters of city street lights to solar to reduce emissions and generate positive savings for the city.

The city will also undertake a large forest restoration project covering an area of 589 hectares in the mountain ranges of Dicayas and Lugdungan, where a variety of flora and fauna, including the

endangered Mindanao tarsier, thrive. This project will also increase biodiversity in the area to eventually sequester 4,000 tons of CO2 equivalent annually and counter deforestation in the city’s surrounding zone.

One Planet CityChallenge is a friendly global competition initiated by WWF to recognize cities for their climate actions and ambitions and assess whether they align with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement in limiting climate change to 1.5 °C.

Since its inception 10 years ago, close to 600 cities from 53 countries on

5 continents have already participated in this challenge. Dipolog, Quezon, and Davao cities were the national finalists in the Philippines. Other cities that were included in the country’s roster of qualifiers for OPCC 2021-2022 are Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi, Makati, Ormoc, Pasig, San Carlos, San Fernando (La Union), Santa Rosa, Tagum, Zamboanga and Vigan.

The cities were measured against rigorous criteria that included: ambitious climate targets, bold leadership, ability to meet upcoming challenges, and a holistic climate action plan that is well balanced towards their goals.

“As highlighted in the recently released IPCC AR6 reports, cities play a key role in avoiding the most severe impacts of global warming,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. “Bogotá and Lund are two inspiring examples of how dedicated local governments from very different contexts can drive the transition toward more liveable and sustainable cities. For the world over, both cities are showing others what can be achieved!"

(Mindanao Examiner)

Dipolog city government representatives led by Mayor Darel Dexter Uy receive the award OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden in this photo released by the WWF.

Bangsamoro Women laud improvements in regional gender equality issues

Islam, preparation of GAD plans and budgets, and submission of GAD accomplishment reports including coaching and mentoring.

The BWC is also working together with different civil society organizations to provide education about practical gender concepts, rights of men and women in Islam, and the many legal protections that women and young girls have against all forms of violence.

COTABATO CITY — “Babae ka! Hindi ‘Babae lang’!” enthused Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) Chairperson Bainon Karon in her 4th State of the Bangsamoro Women Address (SOBWA).

This is a cry that she hopes will break the stereotypes, and apparent misconception, that Islamic governments treat women like second-class citizens.

Karon’s address was the kick-off to an 18-day government sponsored campaign to end violence against women (VAW). She likewise shared achievements of the BWC and how it has been steadfast in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“On raising awareness

and building capacities of planners, policy, and decision-makers on gender and development, I am happy to share that since 2019 to present, the BWC has organized and conducted a series of training and workshops for all the ministries and offices on gender and development,” Karon said.

She also pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic did little to hamper their progress over the past two years because ‘our ministries, offices, and agencies have hired competent people to do the job.’

To date, 29 ministries, offices, and agencies have been oriented and activated on basic GAD concepts, legal imperatives, gender-responsive policy-making and budgeting, gender in

Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, in a video message during the kick-off ceremonies, expressed his congratulations, and reinforced the Bangsamoro Government’s support and recognition for the crucial contribution of women in strengthening communities, raising and nurturing families, and building nations.

“I affirm that women should be given extra protection,” said Ebrahim. “I applaud the Bangsamoro Women Commission for organizing this event that demonstrates the Bangsamoro government’s sincerity in defending the rights and welfare of Bangsamoro women and empowering them to lead and protect themselves from various forms of abuse,” he concluded. (Richard Ebona)

Catholic bishops seek mining ban in southern Philippines

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lawmakers to draft a law to impose a ban on mining across the entire Mindanao region.

In a joint statement on Nov. 28, the Archdiocese of Davao and the Dioceses of Digos, Tagum, and Mati urged lawmakers to revoke 39 mining licenses in the region to protect the environment and public health.

“Denuded forests due to the logging activities, oceans filled with filth from the waste we excessively throw, rivers quickly drying up from quarrying… These are an apt aide-memoire as we observe an unprecedented destruction of the environment now described as climate community,” the bishops said.

They said that although they support a bill that seeks to ban both small and largescale mining, including quarrying, in Davao province. it would be better if there was a region-wide ban.

The prelates insisted that lawmakers should draft another bill that would ultimately revoke the licenses of mining firms in the entire Mindanao region to preserve the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples.

“While the (Davao) bill respects existing mining permits until their expiration, we assert that given the crisis we face, it must be revoked,” the prelates added.

Besides the damage to the environment, private corporations have been accused of land-grabbing ancestral domains of several indigenous peoples in the region.

“Despite the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and the recognition of ancestral domain of Philippines tribes, ancestral lands were allegedly sold by fictitious private individuals to corporations who were able to get titles over the parcels of land,” Dennis Lugi, a member of the Bagobo tribal group told UCA News.

Lugi was referring to a demonstration held by his tribe in the Davao region after the Mindanao Private Mining Corp. recently evicted hundreds of families for allegedly settling illegally on private property.

“Of course, it was not true. The land was inherited from our forefathers. We have always been the owners and in possession of that piece of property. This was before we heard the news that a mining firm wanted to take over because of potential gold and silver deposits there,” Lugi added.

The bishops say they take their cue to safeguard the environment from Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si.

“As stewards of the environment, we should be acting as keepers of our common

home — exercising an intergenerational responsibility that we must all embrace not only in the name of the present generation but also the name of generations yet unborn,” the prelates said.

Riverband Mining Corporation, however, said mining permits were issued through due process, and so private corporations had rights protected under the law.

“We deserve to be heard. The state cannot just legislate laws without giving us an opportunity to defend ourselves. This is part of due process,” the mining firm’s lawyer Richard Ilogar told UCA News.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, a third of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares contains rich deposits of gold, nickel, copper, and chromite, among other minerals and elements. As of February 2022, there were 55 operating metallic mining sites in the country.

Mining has displaced over 389 indigenous communities involving more than 100,000 people and has contributed to over 142 million tons of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere because of smelting, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (Joseph Peter Calleja, UCAN)

27 Filipinos adrift for 4 days rescued off Sabah

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Philippine and Malaysian navies have rescued over two dozen Filipino passengers and crewmen of a motor launch off Borneo after being adrift for four days, the Philippine Navy said.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao said the joint rescue operations led to the recovery of the vessel and its 12 crewmen and 15 passengers who were reported missing since November 26. According to a report, the boat M/L Laiza 1 was sailing to Taganak Island from Tawi-Tawi's Bongao town when its engine failed, and the vessel then drifted to Sabah.

It said the Philippine Coast Guard in Bongao town reported the vessel missing and coordinated with the Naval Forces Western Mindanao to help locate it.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao immediately coordinated with

the Maritime Command Center in the southern Tawi-Tawi province. In turn, it collaborated with its counterpart in Tawau City in Sabah for a joint search-and-rescue mission under the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement Framework between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Maritime Command Center in Tawau City located the boat on Wednesday, November 30, off Borneo Island and reported it to the Maritime

Command Center in Bongao. This led to the rescue of the 27 people.

The Philippine Navy's BRP Florencio Iñigo fetched the Filipinos and towed the boat to Bongao town, where the rescued passengers and crew members were given medical attention, clothes and food and handed over to the representatives of the local and provincial governments.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade and Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi, lauded Malaysia for assisting in the searchand-rescue efforts.

"We are glad that our friends from Maritime Command Center Tawau are always ready to assist us in such events and the safe recovery was a result of the working Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement with Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines," he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Philippine Navy rescued 27 passengers and crewmen from a motor launch off Sabah after being adrift for four days.

Bangsamoro Women Commission Chairperson Bainon Karon.

Japan, U.S. and Philippines align to combat China’s reach

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access to traditional fishing grounds; its navy has engaged in literal tug of wars over missile debris found in its waters; Manila has been deceived in diplomatic negotiations over disputed territory; and it has won arbitral court rulings that were ignored or dismissed by the Beijing government. Manila’s protests go unheeded as Chinese forces carve away at Philippine territory.

That history should make the Philippines the poster child for cooperative efforts to bolster Southeast Asian security and stability. To put it another way, if concerned nations can’t rally behind Manila, then there is little chance of success elsewhere in the region. While the odds remain long — regional governments remain ready to avert their eyes to China’s misbehavior — conversations in Manila recently provide some reasons for optimism.

The U.S.-Philippines alliance, with its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), is the cornerstone of the country’s security. That relationship has been tested in recent years. Driven by personal animus and a supposed strategic reassessment, former President Rodrigo Duterte sought to rebalance Manila’s foreign policy, putting more distance between his country and the U.S. — he repeatedly threatened to end the alliance — and move closer to China.

His successor, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., elected earlier this year, has reversed course. In recent months, Marcos met U.S. President Joe Biden, talked with Vice President Kamala Harris during a visit to the Philippines in November and capped a spate of sessions with senior U.S. foreign policy and defense officials.

The revitalization of the partnership goes beyond diplomatic meetings. The two militaries are expected to hold as many as 500 joint military activities next year, more than the U.S. plans to conduct with any other regional partner. Manila is reported to be ready to expand U.S access to key bases in the Philippines, doubling the current number to 10, including those that are well positioned in the event of a Taiwan crisis.

During her visit, Harris reiterated assurances that the South China Sea is covered by the MDT, noting that “An armed attack on the Philippines Armed Forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.” This, she said, is “an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines.”

The vice president also announced that the U.S. would provide more than $80 million to develop basic infrastructure at those bases to support the newly invigorated partnership. All this has led Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine ambassador to the U.S., to say that “Our relationship with the U.S. is at its best right now.”

This is good, but it’s not enough. Also helpful are security relationships that Manila is developing with other partners, Japan among them. Japan has commenced meetings of ministers of foreign affairs and defense (so-

called “two-plus-two” meetings) with Manila; since the inaugural session this spring, the two governments have agreed to pursue a Reciprocal Access Agreement (an essential administrative prerequisite to greater cooperation between the two militaries).

Officials also said that they were considering an agreement that would allow them to share equipment, another critical step forward in the defense partnership. When Marcos met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the United Nations General Assembly in September, the two men agreed to further strengthen security cooperation (and that in other areas).

One important component has been the provision of military equipment by Japan to the Philippines. Between 2016 and 2018, Japan funded the Philippines’ acquisition of 10 Japanese-made, 44-meter patrol vessels for its coast guard; two 94-meter ships have been deployed this year. Last year Japan provided the Philippine military with lifesaving equipment adopted by the Self-Defense Forces, the first time that Tokyo has done so through official development assistance. And in November, Tokyo was scheduled to deliver an air surveillance radar unit, the first shipment since Japan relaxed export rules in 2014.

U.S. and Japanese contributions have strengthened Philippine military and law enforcement capabilities. But the transformation of the country’s security requires more than discrete efforts by partners. Genuine multilateral cooperation is the key to a qualitative shift — and the Japan-U.S.-Philippine triangle is the best way to move that process forward.

The alliance relationship with the U.S. is the foundation upon which the three countries can engage and build out. The three governments share geopolitical views and deem Chinese revisionism to be a genuine threat. They have established “habits of cooperation” through consultations on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and are working on deeper collaboration through the trilateral defense policy dialogue that was inaugurated in September. It identified areas of cooperation such as maritime security and maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, information sharing and HADR.

Obstacles to a truly enhanced and capable trilateral security partnership are formidable. Some are obvious: legal restraints on the use of Japan’s military for anything other than its national defense; the Philippines’ lack of capacity; geography and resulting differences in priority attached to incursions against each country (more simply, Tokyo worries more about Chinese actions in the East China Sea, while Manila’s focus is the South China Sea); fear that providing support to one partner could create vulnerabilities elsewhere in the region; and concern that leaning too far forward on security could imperil economic relations with China.

There is a more subtle obstacle, one that is created by China’s preferred tactic — the use of “gray-

zone” challenges that threaten a country’s interests but stay below the threshold of a kinetic conflict. China’s extensive island building in the South China Sea is a gray-zone tactic, as are regular incursions of Chinese Coast Guard vessels into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands.

In each case, the Beijing government is slowly changing the regional status quo, extending its authority and territory to the detriment of other countries. Aggrieved governments are hard pressed to respond in ways that do not threaten escalation.

One option is to respond in kind. That doesn’t mean freedom of navigation operations. They are reactive and merely reassert that waterways remain international and are not subject to Chinese domestic law. For all the attention, FONOPS don’t change the most basic fact: Regional governments have ceded the initiative to Beijing, allowing it to dictate the focus and pace of events. It may be a slower, more measured process, but China is still taking the salami, slice by slice.

Instead, this logic argues that regional governments respond in kind, finding similar interests of China’s and equally subtly carving away at them. This makes sense but assumes that Beijing will be as risk averse when it comes to escalation as its targets have been.

One way to go on the offensive is launching an aggressive campaign to rewrite the narrative surrounding Chinese behavior in the region. Concerned governments should expose the gap between China’s rhetoric of “good neighborliness” and the reality of its actions, which shift the status quo in its favor. They should include industry and nongovernment organizations that have felt Beijing’s lash to help make the case and change regional perceptions of China.

Manila is the poster child for this effort. It won the 2016 arbitral court decision, which found that Chinese actions violated international law. There is no fear of a domestic backlash against China within the Philippines, unlike other Southeast Asian nations. Yet, incredibly, the Manila government did not play up its victory. Its reluctance to make its case gave other governments license to do the same.

This assumes that China cares about any reputational damage that might be done. Beijing may bet that such harm will only be short term, a price well worth paying for the extension of its power and influence.

It’s a bet worth taking. This trilateral has, among the many Southeast Asian options, the best chance of succeeding. It has the firmest foundations. The three governments are directly impacted by Chinese behavior and the countries have worked together to protect their interests. They appear ready to take their cooperation to the next level. Success could provide a template for other nations to do so as well. (Brad Glosserman, The Japan Times)

LBC Davao assailed

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Zamboanga City, are intended for its dealers and subscribers, including its local news bureau.

The company said it noted that LBC Davao has been shipping back the newspapers every time it arrives here only to send it back again to Davao resulting in the weeklong delay in the distribution

of the newspaper.

The malpractice had been going on sporadically which resulted in loss of revenues and potential advertisements in Davao.

The Zamboanga City LBC has blamed its counterpart in Davao for the inefficient delivery services.

The Mindanao Examiner said it will ask the

Department of Trade and Industry to sanction or penalize the LBC in Davao City for its poor services to the public, especially the press, which is vital in disseminating news and information to the citizenry.

The newspaper said it will also refer the matter to its legal department. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zambo teacher apologized for hitting student

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office of the Zamboanga City High School Main Campus was present during the confrontation and the teacher has apologized. “The teacher has apologized and even signed a note saying it won’t happen again,” she told The Mindanao Examiner.

The Mindanao Examiner has phoned and tried to get a comment or reaction from the school principal Luchie Rimando on Monday, December 5, but a school clerk said she was in a meeting. The clerk quoted Rimando as saying the case is settled between the teenager’s family and the teacher and that a report was submitted to the Department of Education’s Schools Division Office under Roy Tuballa.

The same clerk also quoted Guidance Counsellor Ryan Japon as saying “the case is closed” following the recent meeting between the victim’s mother

and the teacher.

Telephone calls made to the Department of Education’s Schools Division Office were all left unanswered. It was unclear why the Zamboanga City High School Main Campus or the Department of Education here failed to sanction or penalize the teacher for his abusive action.

The student said he was hit in the head by his teacher after asking permission to go home due to the pain in his stomach. The victim said without any warning, the teacher suddenly hit him in the head in front of his classmates and another teacher inside the classroom.

The incident occurred Tuesday, November 22, inside the Zamboanga City High School Main Campus.

“I was just asking permission to go home because my stomach was really hurting, then my teacher suddenly hit me in the head, in front of my ad-

viser and classmates. I was shocked and traumatized by his action and I just left the classroom,” he told The Mindanao Examiner, adding, his adviser did not do anything.

The victim’s mother condemned the physical abuse his son suffered in the hands of his teacher. “Teachers are not supposed to inflict pain or hurt their students. This is totally wrong,” she said.

The victim alleged that other students also suffered the same humiliating incident from the same teacher.

Corporal punishment is the most widespread form of violence against children. It is any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort. It is a violation of children’s rights to respect for human dignity and physical integrity. (Mindanao Examiner)

‘Trilateral grouping could take regional security to a new level’

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A “DESCENDANT of the Sultan of Sulu” has filed leave for judicial review at the High Court, here, seeking a lump sum payment to replace the stoppage of the cession money of RM5,000.

Datu Omarali Bin Bahtiar @ Bachtiyal, who contends he is the male descendant of Sultan Syed Abubakar Shariful Hashim, said the Government should consider a lump sum compensation payment to replace the annual cession money of RM5,000 to the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate that was paid since 1939 but stopped following the incursion by the Royal Sulu army in Tanduo, Lahad Datu, in 2013.

The application, filed by law firm Messrs Marcel & Co. named the Government of Malaysia as the Respondent which is the successor to the Government of North Borneo. The leave for Judicial Review against the Respondent would be heard on Jan 5, 2023.

Daily Express understands the action is to counter the RM14.92 billion awarded by the Arbitration Court in France filed by another so-called Sulu heir over the stoppage.

The concerns the matter of the grant by Sultan of Sulu to Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent dated 22nd January, 1878; in the matter of Civil Suit No.169/39, in the High Court of the State of North Borneo between Dayang Dayang Hadji Piandao Kiram (f) of Jolo, Philippines and eight

others versus the Government of North Borneo and Others: in the matter if the Judgment dates 18th December, 1939 of the Right Honourable Charles Frederick Cunningham Macaskie, Chief Justice of North Borneo from 1934 to 1935; in the matter of a letter from the Respondent dated 28th June, 2007 to the Applicant; and in the matter of an award of USD 14.92 billion by sole arbitrator Dr Gonzalo Stampa.

The Applicant is seeking for an order of mandamus against the respondent to implement formalise effectuate and implement paragraph 2 of a letter dated June 28, 2007, namely “Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa permohonan Y.Bhg Datu bagi mendapatkan suatu bayaran pampasan secara sekali gus (one lumpsum) daripada Kerajaan Malaysia, menggantikan bayaran pampasan secara tahunan sebanyak RM5,000 setahun yang sedang berjalan itu telah diambil maklum oleh MKN.”

(Pleased to be informed that Y.Bhg Datu’s application to obtain a one lump sum compensation payment from the Malaysian Government, replacing the ongoing annual compensation payment of RM5,000 per year has been taken into account by MKN.)

The applicant also sought a declaration that the paragraph 2 of the letter dated 28th June, 2007 namely “Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa permohonan Y.Bhg Datu bagi

mendapatkan suatu bayaran pampasan secara sekali gus (one lumpsum) daripada Kerajaan Malaysia, menggantikan bayaran pampasan secara tahunan sebanyak RM5,000 setahun yang sedang berjalan itu telah diambil maklum oleh MKN” is valid, lawful and binding between the Respondent and the Applicant.

He also sought a declaration that the Judgment of the Right Honourable Charles Frederick Cunningham Macaskie, in suit no. 169/39 dated 18th December, 1939 between Dayang Dayang Hadji Piandao Kiram (f) of Jolo, Philippines and eight others VS the Government of North Borneo and Others, is valid, binding and lawful between the Respondent and the Applicant.

The Applicant is seeking damages if any for the breach of the undertaking and the promise by the Respondent in respect of paragraph 2 of the letter dated 18th June, 2007 namely “Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa permohonan Y.Bhg Datu bagi mendapatkan suatu bayaran pampasan secara sekali gus (one lumpsum) daripada Kerajaan Malaysia, menggantikan bayaran pampasan secara tahunan sebanyak RM5,000 setahun yang sedang berjalan itu telah diambil maklum oleh MKN.”

He also sought for costs and any other relief the Court deemed fit. (Daily Express)

National and Bangsamoro gov’t. leaders commit to pursue development plans for BARMM

DAVAO CITY - The Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), composed of leaders from both the National and Bangsamoro governments recently conducted its 12th meeting here.

Both co-chairpersons Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, of the Department of Budget and Management, and Minister Mohagher Iqbal called for a harmonious working relationship that strives for peace and prosperity, and for inclusive and sustainable development in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the whole Mindanao region.

The meeting was also attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Special Assistant to the President Secretary An-

tonio Ernesto Lagdameo, among others.

The IGRB was created through the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019 and is mandated to coordinate and resolve issues between the two governments through regular consultation and continuing negotiation.

Aside from the IGRB, the Bangsamoro Organic Law has placed several mechanisms to strengthen intergovernmental relations which include the creation of the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF) and the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB), among others.

According to Pangandaman, all IGR mechanisms were already created and are set to convene by the end of the year. Last month, the Philippine

Congress - Bangsamoro Parliament Forum held its first meeting and discussed legislative issues and concerns. Meanwhile, the meeting of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board, joined by the Budget Chief as well, also convened on the same day as the IGRB.

Lagdameo also assured that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr fully supports the IGRB and the policies for local development in BARMM. Bearing the message of Marcos, Lagdameo underscored that the current administration aims to assist the Bangsamoro leaders to ensure that all mechanisms are used so that the BARMM will be integrated into the national agenda for the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

U.S. Donates HIV viral load testing cartridges

AMERICAN Ambassador MaryKay Carlson led the recent handover of 86,000 U.S. government-donated HIV viral load testing cartridges worth around P85 million ($1.5 million) to strengthen the Philippine government’s HIV treatment program.

Carlson said the laboratory tests are further proof that the U.S. government is committed to working alongside the Department of Health (DOH), the community of Filipinos living with HIV, and local governments like Manila City to ensure that people living with HIV in the country have equitable access to a viral load test.

“With this donation, we aim to amplify the hopeful message of U equals U: that undetectable is indeed untransmittable,” she said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, Manila City Councilor for Health Dr. Louisito Chua, DOH Undersecretary Carolina Taiño, and members of

the people living with HIV (PLHIV) community were also present at the event.

Carlson said these cartridges will be distributed to HIV treatment hubs and facilities across the Philippines and are expected to cover the country’s viral load testing requirements for all patients undergoing HIV treatment for one year.

“This donation of more than 86,000 viral load cartridges from the United States government will be pivotal to the country’s HIV treatment program,” said Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“We are filled with so much hope that we will no longer have to lose our loved ones to HIV and that we will be able to carry on with our lives, free from worry and stigma,” Network Plus co-convenor Elena Felix said on behalf of the PLHIV community.

Since December 2020, the U.S. government has

provided more than P1 billion ($18.2 million) to the Philippine government through PEPFAR to support HIV prevention, case finding, and treatment interventions. This includes a donation of more than 81,000 bottles of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an HIV-preventive drug that is being distributed by the DOH in more than 50 facilities across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.

This donation, valued at P31.3 million ($552,996), was turned over to the Philippine government in June 2021.

These recent donations signify the U.S. government’s commitment to support the Philippines in addressing supply chain bottlenecks in the procurement of critical commodities in HIV detection and treatment and in achieving the country’s goal to end AIDS by 2030 through evidence-based strategies. (Mindanao Examiner)

U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson leads the symbolic handover of 86,000 HIV viral load testing cartridges to the DOH with the PEPFAR Philippines Interagency in the presence of Senator Risa Hontiveros, Manila City Councilor for Health Dr. Louisito Chua, DOH Usec. Carolina Taiño, representatives of the Metro Manila Center for Health Development, and members of the people living with HIV community.

It always pays to be simple, humble, child-like

by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

THOSE INTRIGUING words of Christ, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike,” (Lk 10,21) should clearly reassure us that it always pays to be simple, humble and child-like.

Reinforcing that claim are also these words of Christ addressed to his disciples who in general were just a bunch of simple and humble people with all their share of weaknesses: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Lk 10,24)

Somehow, we are reminded of what St. Paul said regarding this point: “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Cor 1,27-29) Of course, St. Peter said something similar: “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pt 5,5)

Amid the complexities of our life today, we have to learn to stay humble and simple because that is the basic way to precisely handle these complexities well. When we are humble and simple, we would know how to blend openness, tolerance and versatility on the one hand, and to stick to the truth in charity on the other hand.

It is genuine humility and simplicity that would enable us to face the complexities of our

life because these are the virtues that liken and identify us with Christ. And with Christ, we can manage to tackle anything. That is why Christ said: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Mt 11,29-30)

Of course, this is a mysterious and intriguing kind of reasoning that Christ is telling us. And that is simply because he is telling us something that is mainly spiritual and supernatural in character. He is not giving us an indication that is meant to tackle purely natural situations and predicaments.

We have to realize that our life does not only have material, temporal and natural dimensions. It has an eminently spiritual and supernatural character for which the spiritual and supernatural means are more important and necessary than the natural ones.

Humility and simplicity are the virtues that would make us acknowledge that we are nothing without God. They sort of open our soul for the grace of God to enter. And it is this grace that transforms us, irrespective of our human impotencies, mistakes and errors, into becoming children of God. And with God’s grace in our soul because of our humility and simplicity, we can manage to receive the gifts of faith, hope and charity. We can believe natural truths that not only are difficult to discover but also to understand. Even more, it is humility and simplicity that would enable us to believe supernatural truths where there is no way for us to fully understand them, much less, explain them in a human way.

Tiny Habits

by Engr. Carlos Cornejo (Cebu)

A GOOD book on helping us accomplish hard to do goals or tasks is the one authored by BJ Fogg entitled “Tiny Habits.” According to Dr. Fogg, our ability to accomplish a hard task is proportional to our degree of motivation towards it. If the task is hard, it requires a high level of motivation. If the task is easy, it requires a low level of motivation. He made an example of a hard task such as rescuing your child from a burning building. Even if there is great danger and risk since the motivation is high, you will still undertake the action.

An example of an easy task on the other hand would be brushing our teeth. Since it requires little motivation to do it, even if we are sleepy and would want to go to bed right away, we would still do it because it demands small effort on our part. A task will likely get done if it requires lesser effort. The idea Dr. Fogg is trying to get across is that if a task is big then we should break it into smaller tasks so that it requires less motivation (unless of course you already have that big motivation.)

Dr. Fogg made an example of breaking a big task of daily planning to just writing one to-do item in an index card since that is a very easy thing to do. I would add an example to this by breaking down a dreaded activity that most students would dislike, that of studying for an exam or doing a school project. I would recommend to students to break their study period to 25 minutes chunks and 5-to-10-minute rest in between. This is also known as the Pomodoro technique, a management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980’s. Instead of letting your mind focus on the need to study 2 hours straight or work 3 hours on a project, your mind will relax because 25-minute study or work is very much doable. Focus then in doing the 25-minute chunks until you reach the allotted study hours needed or once your project is finished.

Dr. Fogg’s second step is the so-called

action prompt. He says that there are three kinds of habit prompts that reminds us to do already our planned task: (1) external prompt such as post-it notes, phone notifications or alarms, (2) internal prompts or personal prompts such thoughts or sensations that remind us to act, like a grumbling stomach, (3) action prompts: the completion of one behavior reminds us to start the next behavior. For example, loading the dishwasher can be a prompt to clean the kitchen countertops. He says that the most effective prompt is the action prompt because it gives us the momentum to move to our next task.

Both the external and internal prompts are distracting and demotivating. If you use an alarm to prompt your task, you’ll need to stop what you’re doing and pivot to your task. Dr. Fogg gives us an example of an action prompt that he practices to be able to exercise daily. When he arrives at home from work, he uses the action prompt of entering his room to get his gym clothes to start exercising. To make him plan his day well, when he sits down on the train going to his workplace, he opens his smartphone. We too can choose from the many actions we do every day to designate it as an action prompt to accomplish our task.

Lastly, his third recommendation is to always celebrate your accomplished task since it will boost your confidence and motivation to do the habit and build success momentum. Time spent on social media, watching a film, or chit chat time with friends can be used as a reward for having completed our job. Oftentimes these are the activities that could make us waste our time but we can turn it into something good by making these as an action prompt to celebrate. In this way rest becomes more satisfying for having done what we are duty bound to do, which brings us to a good motto in life to have: duty first before pleasure.

Rodrigo Duterte and the Tangled Web of International Law: How fear of the ICC impacted Duterte’s approach to the West Philippine Sea

By Zach Willis

RODRIGO DUTERTE’S tenure as President of the Philippines was nothing if not controversial. Whether in playing Beijing and Washington off one another, or in gauging how much savageness public opinion would tolerate in his drug war, Duterte often walked a tightrope in pursuit of his policy aims.

One such balancing act which received comparatively minimal coverage during his tenure was Duterte’s relationship with international legal institutions.

Conflict in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea, pick your poison) has often been considered an outgrowth of regional geopolitics, hinging on a number of different parties including the Philippines, PRC, US, ASEAN, etc.

Yet the bedrock of contemporary arguments surrounding sovereignty over the Sea stems not from any of these parties directly, but from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

Beginning in 2013 under President Benigno Aquino, the Philippines petitioned the court to challenge the PRC’s historic “nine dash line,” asserting that Chinese claims were meritless under UNCLOS.

After over three years of review the court decisively ruled in favor of the Philippines.

However, during the course of the review process, Aquino reached his term limit and was succeeded by Rodrigo Duterte. In office only two weeks before the verdict was revealed, the new administration quickly back peddled from the court’s pronouncement, describing the ruling as “a piece of paper” and stating it would “take a back seat” in negotiations with the PRC.

This was widely interpreted as an appeal to Chinese investment and protection, strengthening ties by refusing to assert Philippine sovereignty over the disputed territory.

There was more at play though–influence which had nothing to do with geopolitics and everything to do with Duterte’s own domestic policy and legacy. During his election campaign Duterte distinguished himself through his promise to violently purge the Philippines of drug use, elevating the issue from a peripheral topic to the main driver of the presidential campaign.

Upon assuming the presidency he sought to follow through on these promises, authorizing extrajudicial killings and other brutal means to prevent drug use, ultimately leading to over 9,000 deaths in his first year alone.

Both he and his administration knew that these actions would eventually attract the interest of the International Criminal Court. Quoted in 2017, an unnamed senior Western diplomat even stated in reference to Duterte and the ICC, “It may be the only thing he’s afraid of.” 5 The ICC gave Duterte more reason for apprehension in 2018 when they began a preliminary examination of the government’s drug war.

Duterte pushed back by withdrawing from the ICC, although the court retained jurisdiction over actions taken between 2011 and 2019.

Given these two unconnected interjections of international law into Philippine politics, Duterte faced a dilemma: how to effectively use the legal weight of the arbitral award as a bargaining chip with China while simultaneously discrediting the legitimacy of international law in ICC’s drug war investigation?

For the first four years of his presidency, while he pursued closer ties with China, asserting the arbitral award was not a major priority, allowing Duterte to criticize both the award and the ICC investigation. However, as the Philippines drifted closer to the US, and public opinion grew more wary of China, Duterte experienced increasing pressure to assert the award.

This prompted a shift in policy, as Duterte could no longer afford a blanket rejection of international law and was thus forced to walk a thin line between observing UNCLOS and discrediting the ICC. In September of 2020 and 2021 Duterte used the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to emphasize the importance of the arbitral award, calling it a “triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition.”

In contrast, on the domestic stage Duterte continued to minimize the importance of the award, stating in a national broadcast in May 2021, “I’ll tell you son of a bitch, it’s just a piece of paper. I’ll throw that in the wastebasket.”

Based upon these vastly different approaches to discussing the arbitral ruling at home and abroad, the administration seems to have reasoned that the issue of sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea would be decided internationally, and therefore only by supporting the award on the world stage could the Philippines enforce its claim.

Conversely, the administration was aware that for the ICC investigation to progress to trial, the government of the Philippines itself would have to authorize ICC access to witnesses and evidentiary materials.

Thus, by disparaging the ICC and denigrating the arbitral award as merely a piece of paper to a domestic audience, Duterte could plant the seed that international legal mechanisms have no real power in the Philippines.

The administration hoped that this message would have lasting effects on public opinion, making it politically impossible for Duterte’s successor—now President Bongbong Marcos—to cooperate with the ICC investigation, thereby insulating Duterte from any potential consequences.

This evidence indicates that while international media and policy makers considered Duterte’s drug war and the West Philippine Sea virtually unrelated topics, the presence of international legal institutions in both policy areas bound these issues together in the mind of Duterte and of those around him.

Try as he might, Duterte could not discredit these institutions on an international stage while asserting the arbitral award. Likewise, he could not acknowledge the authority of international law on a domestic level for fear his successor would comply with the ICC and allow the investigation against him to progress.

While many pinned Duterte’s vacillating approach to the West Philippine Sea simply as an outgrowth of tumultuous relations with China, it is impossible to dismiss the integral role of international justice and Duterte’s fear of the ICC in explaining his reticence to accept the arbitral award and acknowledge the legitimacy of international legal institutions.

Since the initial drafting of this article nearly one year ago, the situation has progressed significantly. Under President Marcos the Philippines has shifted to a kinder, friendly drug war that “pioneers a different approach,” with Marcos stating,“I think we have found… that enforcement, which has been the part of the drug war that has been most vigorously pursued by President Duterte, only gets you so far.”

Meanwhile, Marcos has quietly rebutted the continued ICC investigation into Duterte, a position which has elicited only limited public outcry or backlash.

Marcos has also engaged in a fairly balanced foreign policy, continuing to play the US and China off one another, strongly asserting the arbitral award while also using it as a position of strength from which to negotiate.

From this long progression there are two lasting takeaways. First, by working to delegitimize the ICC within the Philippines and promote the succession of authoritarians like Marcos and his own daughter, Duterte has helped to ensure his legacy and avoid international punishment.

Second, while fear of legitimizing the ICC may have impeded Duterte’s ability to emphasize the arbitral award, Marcos does not possess these concerns to the same degree and will therefore have a freer hand in negotiations with the PRC. (Kyoto Review. Initially Written 12/21, Updated 11/22. The author is a recent graduate of Grinnell College specializing in International Relations and East Asian Studies. He is a former Political Intern at the U.S. Embassy in Manila and currently works for the Bulan Institute for Peace Innovations in Geneva. The ideas expressed here are his alone and do not represent the official position of any affiliated organization.)

Pictures in the News

Photos from the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Radyo Pilipinas Jolo, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz Salapuddin

Cordova cottage project is next Maldives in Cebu

Governor Gwen Garcia has already met with Cordova officials led by Mayor Didoy Suan, industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, and architect Buck Sia to initially discuss the redevelopment of these coastal cottages which will soon be managed by the local government.

Garcia also announced that a competition will be done for the design and master plan of this floating cottage project.

Just this year, the

provincial government ordered the demolition of old cottages in Cordova after they were found to have violated environmental laws. The town’s coastal waters were also contaminated with e-coli because of these poorly-managed cottages that existed without proper waste management.

With no more old cottages and clean coastal waters, Garcia said: “Now I’m going to form this group that will lay down the guidelines because we are going to launch a com-

petition for the design and total master plan of the 33 hectares of fixed and floating cottages that will now have effective and functioning water and solid waste management.”

Garcia said the design should address the environmental concerns and should contain inputs from both design and environmental experts. She cited the project’s inspiration from the well-known, picturesque floating cottages of Maldives, a famous beach destination in South Asia. (Carlo Lorenciana)

PAL opens Borongan route

sure travelers from around the Philippines and the world on board our flights in Borongan City so that they may discover a spectacular surfing haven and the home of vast natural treasures,” said Capt. Stanley Ng, PAL president and chief operating officer.

The flights to Borongan City will also benefit Eastern Samar and nearby Northern Samar towns, such as Lapinig, Gamay, and Mapanas, according to the city government.

commercial flights. “CAAP responded immediately to our request and gave us the layout of the Borongan City Airport. They were very helpful in giving us the steps we needed to take to make our airport ready for commercial flights. We are very thankful to them,” Ambil added.

He said CAAP also provided Borongan City with X-ray

machines from other airport facilities.

The Borongan City government will handle the logistics and manage the refurbishment of the airport after getting recommendations from flight specialists. “We consider these initial costs as an investment. These flights, we hope, will directly translate into more tourists visiting us,

and businesses starting in the city. We want Borongan City to be the regional sports tourism hub of Eastern Visayas, so this is just a small step towards achieving that goal,” Agda said.

Borongan City has been positioning itself as the next major tourism hub of Eastern Visayas in recent years. (Sarwell Meniano)

DILG honors partners

TACLOBAN CITY – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will launch a twice-weekly Cebu-Borongan flight starting on December 19.

This was also confirmed by the city government of Borongan following the signing of a memorandum of agreement. The maiden flight to Borongan City Airport will signal the start of PAL’s operation of the Cebu-Borongan-Cebu flights every Monday and Friday.

“We are very happy with this partnership. With these direct flights, it will be more convenient for the people of Borongan to travel to and from our beloved city. Many travelers have long lamented how inconvenient it is to travel to our city. Hopefully, these

flights will create more business and tourism opportunities for Borongan,” Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said.

Travelers to the capital of Eastern Samar province have to land at Tacloban Airport and take a five- to a six-hour land trip to reach Borongan City. The other option is to travel by land from Manila, which takes about two days.

“The entire Philippine Airlines family shares the excitement of the people of Eastern Samar over the new PAL service between Cebu and Borongan City. When we launch this service in a few weeks time, we’ll work hard to promote travel between Borongan and the rest of the Philippines.”

“We look forward to welcoming more business and lei-

“One of the main reasons why many people from Borongan who have been living elsewhere do not come and visit our city is because of the travel required to go here. With these new flights, we want to make it convenient for them to come home. Consider this the local government’s Christmas gift to our people,” said Rupert Ambil, City Information Officer.

PAL is the first commercial airline to launch a regular flight to Borongan City after the local airport’s completion in March 2013. Initial talks for the opening of the flight route started in July 2022, with the initiative of Agda who assigned Ambil to discuss potential partnerships with the country’s airlines.

The city government also got approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to make sure that the airport is ready for

CEBU - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has honored 22 government agencies and civil society organizations here for being its development partners in the implementation this year of various projects and initiatives in the province.

The honorees of “Pasidungog 2022” held on December 5 included the Provincial Governor’s Office represented by Atty. Bret Monsanto, Provincial Legal Office represented by Atty. Flornelio Ediza, and Provincial Information Office represented by Paula Joy Mendoza.

“With impeccable synergy and convergence, we have gone a long way. We have dedicated this momentous occasion to honor our trusted partner offices — government agencies and organizations — that have traveled the ex-

tra mile in assisting the DILG Cebu Province in the implementation of our programs and initiatives in 2022,” said DILG Provincial Director Atty. Ian Kenneth Lucero.

“We may have diverse fields of action, but certainly we share the same purpose, and this is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local governance; and thereby improve the lives of the people we serve,” he added.

Monsanto, executive assistant to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, thanked the DILG for the honor and even cited an African proverb relevant to the event: “If you want to go fast, you must go alone; but if you want to go far, you have to go together.”

“Surely under our great governor’s indomitable will and insurmountable spirit, we can go very far,” he said.

(Eleanor Valeros)

Atty. Bret Monsanto, DILG PD Ian Lucero, Miss Paula Joy Mendoza, and Atty Flornelio Ediza. (Photos: Junjie Mendoza)

CEBU The coastal tourism in Cordova will soon be one of Cebu’s attractions EBU – soon one as the Capitol begins planning for the town’s better and improved fixed and as the for the town’s better and fixed and floating cottages similar to those in the Maldives cottages similar to those in the Maldives.

Kanifushi Island is situated in the Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives. Kanifushi is one of the few resort islands in Laviyani Atoll; the resort started operation on 15 December 2013, managed and operated by Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts. (Photo from the he Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation.)

Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley Ng (left) and Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda show the signed memorandum of agreement between Philippine Airlines and the Borongan city government. The flag carrier will launch a twice-weekly Cebu-Borongan flight on December 19. (Photo by Borongan City Information Office)