The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (June 5-11, 2023)

Jihadi groups continue to fundraise in cryptocurrency

SINCE THE Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Continue on page 2 Continue on page 2

Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa and Allison Fluke-Ekren are arrested on charges of having sent funds in virtual currency to ISIS-controlled accounts. (MEMRI)

Ex-Malaysia Prime Minister wants early trial in money laundering case

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Najib Razak wants the High Court to fix an early trial

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Former Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak faces three charges of money laundering involving SRC International funds amounting to RM27 million.

Marcos

‘China continues harassments in Philippine territories’

Sea have fueled military expen-

Maranaos still cry for justice six years after siege

MARAWI CITY – Six years after the deadly siege of Marawi City in southern Philippines by pro-ISIS militants, various civil society organizations are still demanding justice, human rights protection and peace towards the full realization of safe

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diture by Association of Southeast Asian Nations members. The Philippines

Bus firm thanks police, military for

COTABATO CITY – Husky Tours thanked the police and military for their quick response in disarming improvised explosives planted recently at their

A photo released by the Philippine military shows policemen and a soldier at the Husky Tours bus terminal in Cotabato City where the improvised explosives were found. (Mindanao Examiner)

swift action

Security heightened in South due to terror threats

MAGUINDANAO – The Philippine military heightened its security in the restive region of Mindanao following fresh threats of attacks from pro-ISIS militants, blamed by Continue on page 6 Continue on page 6

Photo uploaded on ISIS Live Map shows jihadists during the May 23, 2017 Marawi City siege. (Mindanao Examiner)

The ballistic missile submarine USS Maine surfaces to receive a vertical replenishment from Marines assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force in the Philippine Sea. Vertical replenishments enable Navy vessels to quickly receive critical resources without disrupting maritime security operations. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (see photo inside) bares plans to acquire submarines for the Navy as part of the modernization program called Horizon 3 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Photo by Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Emily Weiss / Caption by The Mindanao Examiner)

Marcos to acquire submarines

‘China continues harassments in Philippine territories’

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the Spratly Islands with Brunei, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Chinese intrusions into the Philippines’ waters will also drive naval modernization initiatives.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr himself has said the plan to acquire submarines for the Philippine Navy is not off the table, adding there are offers from different countries not only for submarine acquisition, but also other military requirements.

“There is a plan. But it’s still being developed dahil ang commitment para mag-operate ng submarine is not a small commitment. It is a very large commitment because of the training that is involved, the equipment that is involved and the operational requirements that are involved are quite significant,” said Marcos, who was a former member of the elite Army Scout Ranger.

Marcos was also present recently during the 125th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy in the capital city of Manila where he said that “multiple countries made an offer not only for completely-built submarines, but also to build them here in the Philippines.”

He stressed the importance of the offer particularly for the country’s

defense and local job generation. “If they are built here and we can actually build submarines here and provide those submarines to other countries then that’s another source of jobs, and of income and increased capability for our Navy,” he said in his speech at the Philippine Navy headquarters.

“So, it is still part of our plan. But right now, we are in the middle of developing mostly our anti-submarine capabilities. So, ‘yun ang uunahin natin and then hopefully when the time comes and the conditions are agreeable then we might be able to acquire those submarines,” he added.

Last year, the Department of National Defense said that procurement of submarines for the Philippine Navy was not a priority, stressing that it was focusing on the implementation of modernization contracts signed by the previous Duterte administration.

It said that although submarines were on its wish list for the ambitious Horizon 3, the Department of Defense is prioritizing the implementation of such contracts, cognizant of the limitations in the resources available to the government.

Horizon 3 is the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the

Philippines. Against the backdrop, the Philippines defense market is set to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%, with the projected cumulative defense spending reaching $26 billion in 2028, said forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “The Philippines Defense Market Size and Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Key Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2023-28,” reveals that the territorial disputes in the South China Sea have raised serious concerns among the Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines. As a result, the country’s acquisition expenditure is expected to maintain an average annual growth rate of more than 9% between 2024 and 2028.

It said Philippines defense market budget is worth $4.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Debt Rate of more than 6% during 20242028. Territorial claims in the South China Sea and the increasing strength and assertiveness of China’s armed forces have spurred the Philippine government to enhance its military capabilities.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 published its seminal report The Coming Storm – Terrorists Using Cryptocurrency on August 21, 2019, the JTTM research team has continued to monitor jihadi use of cryptocurrency along with MEMRI's Cyber & Jihad Lab (CJL), which focuses on jihadi use of emerging technologies such as encryption, artificial intelligence, drones, bots, and cryptocurrency.

Since its inception 15 years ago, it has worked with legislatures and tech companies to develop strategies to counter terrorists' use of such technologies.

These groups have most recently been using cryptocurrencies in a range of ways: Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) websites are raising funds using cryptocurrency and have published English-Arabic dictionaries of cryptocurrency terms; Pro-Al-Qaeda groups in Syria and jihadi groups in Gaza have raised cryptocurrency to fund military action; Russian-speaking pro-jihadi groups have called for donations using cryptocurrencies; Iranbacked militias in Iraq have promoted a website that purports to sell U.S. and NATO weapons using cryptocurrency.

The following report will review recent arrests and notable examples of jihadi groups' use of cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin, Monero, Ethereum, Zcash, Toncoin, and others – covering activity since MEMRI's previous report on this topic was released.

Such fundraising efforts have often been taken up by jihadi supporters in the West, and in recent months there have been a number of notable high-profile arrests, including examples of usages found in MEMRI's previous report on terrorist use of cryptocurrencies.

In early May 2023, authorities arrested 33-year-old Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa at his Virginia apartment on charges of having sent $61,000 in virtual currency to ISIS-controlled accounts.

Chhipa reportedly has a “husband-wife relationship”

with Kansas native Allison FlukeEkren, likely meaning that the two are religiously but not legally married. In Syria, Fluke-Ekren led an all-female ISIS batallion of 100 woman and girls, some as young as 10 years old, who were taught to use automatic weapons and grenades and to detonate suicide belts. Fluke-Ekren is now serving a 20-year prison sentence.

On December 14, 2022, the New York Attorney General's Office announced that four men had been arrested in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey, and charged with conspiring to provide material support to the ISIS, having used "cryptocurrency, Bitcoin wallets, GoFundMe, and PayPal" to raise over $35,000 in funds.

On January 31, 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney's office announced the indictment of 43-year-old Victoria Jacobs, aka Bakhrom Talipov, for using cryptocurrency to provide financial support to violent terrorist groups operating in Syria.

She is alleged to have sent over $5,000 to Malhama Tactical, a terrorist group that fought with and trained Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). She also allegedly laundered $10,661 on behalf of Malhama Tactical by receiving cryptocurrency along with Western Union and MoneyGram wires from supporters around the globe and sending the funds to Bitcoin wallets controlled by Malhama Tactical.

In addition to those arrests, this past year there have been developments with U.S. government agencies and activity on capitol hill to address jihadi use of cryptocurrencies. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent U.S. government agency, sued Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange on March 28 this year for allegedly allowing Americans to trade in crypto derivatives.

A CFTC court filing asserts that Binance was aware that Hamas terrorists were using its platform for illegal activity. It

reads: “Internally, Binance officers, employees, and agents have acknowledged that the Binance platform has facilitated potentially illegal activities.”

For example, in February 2019, after receiving information regarding HAMAS transactions on Binance, Lim explained to a colleague that terrorists usually send small sums as large sums constitute money laundering. Lim’s colleague replied: “Can barely buy an AK47 with 600 bucks.”

“The National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) reported that two Binance accounts had been seized in January 2023 to thwart the activity of ISIS and impair its ability to further its goals.

Reflecting authorities’ increasing ability to track cryptocurrencies, on April 26, 2023 the ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, announced on its official website that it is no longer accepting donations in Bitcoin. The group explained that its decision was “out of concern for the safety of donors and to not expose them to any harm, particularly in light of the intensification of harassment and the redoubling of hostile efforts against anyone who tries to support the resistance using this currency.”

It was reported, on May 4, 2023, that in the past two years Israel has seized nearly 200 cryptocurrency accounts at the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, including two it said were linked to ISIS and dozens of others it said were owned by Palestinian firms connected to Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by dozens of countries, including by the U.S. since 1997. Israel Defense Ministry documents dated January 12, 2023 gave details of the seizure of the two accounts it said were linked to ISIS.

In addition to U.S. government activities to address terrorist usage of cryptocurrencies, countries around the world have become aware of this problem

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Jihadi groups continue to fundraise in cryptocurrency

Maranaos still cry for justice six years after siege

oro and all other inhabitants of Mindanao,” they added.

The group said that while their calls are a refrain of still persisting demands, they also commend the Marawi Compensation Board in formulating the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 - a law that will provide monetary compensation for the families of those who perished and lost their properties due to the Marawi siege in 2017.

Jihadi groups continue to fundraise in cryptocurrency

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“Six years after the Marawi Siege, the protracted displacement still puts many lives in crisis and grave peril, depriving the IDPs (internally displaced people) of their fundamental human rights. Amid much publicized rehabilitation efforts in the city’s most affected areas, the promise to rebuild the lives of the victims and survivors of the siege remain heavily unfulfilled,” said a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner by a dozen organizations.

They also cited a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) which claims that approximately 80,300 people (about 16,070 families) remain displaced since May 2017. Around 70% of the internally displaced population are in home-based settings while the rest are in transitory sites or temporary shelter communities.

“We urge both the national and regional Bangsamoro governments to take into account equally relevant challenges confronting the IDPs, which include, among others: the land conflict and dispossession in Marawi, which affects especially four barangays within Ground Zero that will result to permanent displacement of thousands of residents occupying these lands prior to the siege; building of large-scale public infrastructures inside most affected area which are reportedly unfit to the needs of residents.”

“The continuing militarization of the entire province of Lanao with the intimidating presence and mounting of various military camps; human rights violations committed during the siege, illegal demolition, and the critical issue of delivering justice to the innocent victims of the siege, a number of whom after six years remain unidentified. For the longest time, the IDPs remained to be on the receiving end of systematic marginalization, dis-inclusion and discrimina-

tion,” the statement said.

The groups said rebuilding Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, must go beyond rebuilding the streets, setting up traffic lights, and building barangay halls destroyed during the siege. Rebuilding the city, they added, must begin with rebuilding the lives of the displaced population by pursuing truth, justice and accountability within a transitional justice framework to comprehensively address the roots of conflict and to ensure that another Marawi siege or a similar tragedy will never happen again.

Transitional justice is an approach to systematic or massive violations of human rights that both provides redress to victims and creates or enhances opportunities for the transformation of the political systems, conflicts, and other conditions that may have been at the root of the abuses.

They also said that a truth-seeking process on the roots of Marawi siege and documentation of the dead in the mass grave (Maqbara) must be initiated by conducting an independent legislative inquiry on what really happened in Marawi and how the budget for rehabilitation of the city has been spent since 2017.

“Delaying justice for the victims of the siege is resulting in prolonged emotional and psychological trauma to the families and survivors. It goes without saying that this can provide the conditions for their further vulnerability,” the 12 organizations said.

“More importantly, the government must recognize the imperative to listen to the IDPs, Meranaw leaders, civil society, and the broad peace movement in Marawi in order to attain the full realization of a better future for Marawi and fulfil the promise of the Bangsamoro peace process. There is an urgent need to institutionalize relevant peace and social justice measures to end decades of conflict and structural poverty in the region, and most importantly address the historical injustices committed against the Bangsam-

“We have long been clamoring for the legislation of a just Marawi compensation law and the formulation of its IRR is a significant victory for the victims and survivors of the siege as it is a critical step towards ensuring Marawi’s full recovery. This is a flickering light that will hopefully blaze brightly in our struggle for justice. The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act is limited, and the government has an obligation to address the pressing issues, challenges, and concerns faced by the IDPs by going beyond providing compensation for the victims of the siege,” the group said.

The statement was released by the following organizations: Marawi Advocacy Accompaniment, Reclaiming Marawi Movement, Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation, Inc.; Maranao Women Transformation for Inclusion and Democracy, Ompongan Youth Organization, Ranao Rescue Team, Moro Consensus Group, Reconciliatory Initiatives for Development Opportunities, Inc.; Thuma Ko Kapagingud Service Organization, Inc.; Gender and Development, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. and the Initiatives for International Dialogue.

The siege on May 23, 2017 began after members of the Abu Sayyaf group, Dawlah Islamiya, Maute group and foreign militants seized Marawi and battled security forces for five months. It was unknown how many civilians and hostages were killed in military air strikes and artillery fire since the fighting began, but the military insisted over 670 militants had perished in the battle, although it provided little or no proof at all for the huge number of enemy casualties. It said nearly 150 soldiers and 47 civilians were also slain in the war with nearly 2000 troops wounded in the battle.

The militants occupied Marawi in an effort to put up an Islamic State province in the troubled region, home to some four million Muslims and 17 million Christians. The region of Mindanao was previously under the rule of sultans. (Mindanao Examiner)

Continued from page 2 Continued from page 2 and as a result there have been arrests and other activities. For example, in France, two men who had sent $280,000 worth of cryptocurrency to jihadis in Syria were sentenced to prison, on September 19, 2022.

Two years previously, in September 2020, French authorities had arrested 29 people in connection with a complex scheme to finance Islamist extremists in Syria using cryptocurrencies. A 31-year-old Uzbek man and a 29-year-old Kazakh man living in South Korea were arrested in February 2023 for sending about $8,500 in cryptocurrency to Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, an anti-Syrian-government terrorist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on April 27, 2023 – the Financial Technology Protection Act –calls on the federal government to study how cryptocurrencies are used for illegal activity and to recommend ways to mitigate these uses.

The act would establish a working group to study how terrorists or other criminals might use cryptocurrencies and other new financial technologies, and to propose means of countering these uses to Congress and regulatory agencies.

Jim Himes (D-CT), who is the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee and one of the bill's co-sponsors, said: "The rapid evolution of our financial systems demands increased attention to reduce risk and combat abuse by terrorist organizations."

If formed, this working group would comprise representatives from the U.S. Treasury Department, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of Foreign Asset Control, the Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the CIA, FBI, and IRS, as well as representatives from the industry and from analytics firms, financial institutions, and research organizations.

Last March 22, a user of the

ISIS-operated Rocket.Chat server posted a message from a popular pro-ISIS website along with a link to it. The message opened with congratulations for the advent of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The site is protected by the U.S.-based reverse proxy service Cloudflare and is hosted on the French Association for Cooperative Internet Naming server in the French South Pacific Wallis and Futuna Islands. The website’s message stated: “We congratulate Muslims on the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, asking Allah Almighty to make it a month of conquests and empowerment for Muslims and of misfortune for the unbelievers.”

The website solicits donations but provides no information as to how the funds would be used. The website includes an embedded QR code for donations in Monero and the wallet address. (By Steven Stalinsky, R. Sosnow, A. Smith, S. Ali, K. Choukry, Matt Schierer, N. Mozes, Y. Kerman, G. Pacchiani, and Y. Kulka / MEMRI)

Energization continues in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY - The Iligan Light and Power Incorporated (ILPI) in southern Philippines has finally energized a small district here as part of its continuing efforts to fully provide the whole city with uninterrupted power supply.

Jeffre Opema, of the ILPI, said Purok Dungo-an in the village of Rogongon has been energized and that the project will provide additional assistance to their businesses and students.

"Hopefully kini karon nga project na naabot sa inyong lugar makahatag ug kining dugang kaninyong tabang sa inyong negosyo man gali or sa mga estudyante nato sa ilahang pagtuon adunay sila’y suga sa gabii na magamit aduna’y tay mga makinarya na nagkinahanglan og kuryente aduna tay karon makuhaan og supply," he said, adding, the ILPI is committed to provide electricity to all villages.

Opema also highlighted that almost 100% of the city is now covered with electricity, showcasing the progress made in improving access to power.

Jonel Perez, the purok

president of Dungo-an, thanked ILPI as their long wait of almost seven years for electricity supply to their area has finally been fulfilled.

"Dako kaayo ang pasalamat namo sa mga katawhan na niabot na gyud ang among gipangayo na makuryentehan ang among sitio na mahatagan mi og kahayag," he said.

As part of the project, Opema said ILPI personnel conducted a brief orientation on the proper application process for connecting electricity to homes. They also discussed important guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of residents and prevent illegal activities such as electricity

tapping. The briefing served as a reminder of the related punishments and the importance of adhering to the law, according to Opema.

Villagers also lauded ILPI for the project. "Dagko gyud among pasalamat na ang kuryente niabot na jud sa amoa since 2014 niabot mi diri ngitngit jud sa tanan karon nagsunod-sunod among swerte kay unang-una niabot ang among kuryente unya among kalsada na pud gasugdan na pud siya'g concreting mao na nga dagko jud among pasalamat gyod nga nakit-an mi sa gobyerno nga among kinahanglanon ilahang nahatag na gyod," said Ailyn Hundilay. (Jamalodin

Mutto)

and dignified return of all displaced residents back to their homes.

Enabling brighter futures: Torre Lorenzo turns over child development center to Pindasan, Davao de Oro

DAVAO DE ORO - In a continuing effort to enable communities, Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) recently turned over a daycare center in the village of Pindasan in Davao de Oro's Mabini town in southern Philippines.

TLDC said it aims to provide a conducive learning environment for the children of the community where its flagship hospitality development, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort is located.

The turnover ceremony was led by TLDC CEO Tomas Lorenzo (4th from left) and TLDC COO Cathy Casares-Ko (3rd from left). The ribbon cutting was graced by Mabini Mayor Emerson Luego (rightmost), Barangay Pindasan Councilor Janel Andigan (2nd from left), and Child Development Worker Mia Prado (leftmost).

“When we first saw the daycare center, we felt that

there were things that we could do to improve it, to make it more conducive for learning. After all, that is what we do with the study spaces we have in our residential condominiums," said TLDC COO Cathy Casares-Ko.

Ko said TLDC sought the assistance of Corazon Aguinaldo-Lim and Karen Ann Vera, who volunteered their expertise in selecting the appropriate educational materials and toys for the facility. They also conducted a teacher’s training and sharing session for child development workers of Mabini.

Dula, who spoke on behalf of the parents, said:

“We’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Torre Lorenzo for initiating this and giving its full support for this project. Our children will have a spacious and safe classroom where they can learn.”

Ko said TLDC ensures that it gives back and con-

tributes to the progress and development of the communities where it operates.

In 2022, TLDC turned over an ambulance unit to the municipal government of Mabini.

TLDC CEO Tomas Lorenzo said Torre Lorenzo has various community development programs in place that focus on providing livelihood, supporting access to education and health services, and protecting the environment.

"In Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, 70% of the employees are from the town of Mabini, while the rest are from other municipalities of Davao de Oro providing equal employment opportunities to residents," he said. “As Torre Lorenzo grows, Mabini will also grow with us. We are here for the long-haul and be assured that we will continue to support the community’s growth and development,” Lorenzo said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Pure Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce and Chili Powder

U.S. releases grants to 11 organizations

MANILA – The United States awarded local civil society organizations some P240 million ($4.3 million) in grants to help them address the unique climate challenges faced by local communities across the Philippines.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson joined Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna and Gerry Roxas Foundation Executive Director Glen de Castro announced that the 11 grants will support efforts to conserve biodiversity, protect wildlife, and implement natural climate solutions.

The recipient organizations are BaiAni Foundation, CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation, Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Diliman Science Research Foundation, Impl. Project Philippines, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Mabuwaya Foundation, Surigao Economic Development and Microfinance Foundation, Tanggol Kalikasan, University of Santo Tomas Research and Endowment Foundation, and Xavier Agricultural Extension Services Foundation.

The grants were provided under United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Investing in Sustainability

and Partnership for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems Project (INSPIRE).

The Mabuwaya Foundation plans to use their grant to protect the intact forests of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Cagayan by addressing illegal logging and conversion of forest lands for agricultural use. While Xavier Agricultural Extension Service Foundation’s grant will strengthen community-based initiatives to restore and protect the mangrove forests and other marine ecosystems in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Carlson affirmed civil society organizations’ critical role in translating conservation agreements into actions. “Through these grants, we are advancing sustainable local solutions that will help communities address the unique climate challenges they face. These grants contribute to our shared goal of a more

resilient future where both people and nature thrive,” she said.

“We are one with USAID and INSPIRE in the quest for an increased and a more meaningful participation and engagement of all sectors (of society).

DENR is grateful for the continued partnership and we look forward to deepening our engagement as we work toward creating a more equitable world for all,” Cuna said.

For more than six decades, USAID has partnered with the Philippine government and local organizations to conserve the country’s rich biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Since 2021, USAID has provided more than P620 million ($11.7 million) to civil society organizations to amplify their efforts in achieving environmental sustainability and uplifting the lives of Filipino communities. (Mindanao Examiner)

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson with representatives of the 11 organizations who received new grants under USAID’s INSPIRE Project.

Ex-Malaysia Prime Minister wants early trial in money laundering case

Security heightened in South due to terror threats

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 authorities for the series of bombings and killings in the South.

The threats were made following the recent capture of four young fighters of the local ISIS group called Dawlah Islamiya (DI) - Arabic words for Islamic State - in Lanao del Sur province in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, a hotbed of Muslim insurgency in the South.

Security officials said intelligence provided by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led to the May 25 capture of the DI fighters in Pabrika village in the town of Marugong.

The MILF, in a rare operation, joined security forces in capturing the DI fighters, but the threats of attacks in retaliation to the arrest of the four young men, sparked an exodus of civilians in the town. The capture was announced only recently.

It was unknown whether the military delayed the release of the information to the press due to continuing operation between the army and the MILF against the DI, or the ongoing interrogation of the captured Islamists, two of them 18 years old and the other pair 14 and 16.

One of the fighters, Saidi, is the younger brother of DI sub-leader known by his nom de guerre Abu Sham, according to Army

“Troops of the 32nd Infantry Battalion acted on information from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front members under Esmail Cosain regarding the presence of unidentified armed men in Barangay Pabrika, Marugong, Lanao del Sur. While moving towards the target area, operating troops, composed of a platoon of soldiers and five MILF members, sighted a group of armed men. Sensing the presence of the government forces, the armed men scampered in different directions prompting the troops to execute a hasty raid,” Nafarrete said.

He said the four DI fighters are all under Juhari Sandab, whose group is operating in the province. “Accordingly, they were waiting for supplies and foodstuffs coming from their supporters in the area,” the officer said, adding, soldiers also seized weapons and explosives from the four fighters.

Among the seized weapons were one M14 rifle, one M16A1 rifle, one Remington R4 rifle, one M1903 Springfield rifle, M203 grenade launcher and five 40mm grenades; including five improvised explosives and assorted magazines and ammunition.

Army Lt. Gen. Roy

Galido, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, commended Nafarrete for the capture of the four fighters and cited “the good relationship between the MILF and the military in the area, which resulted in the successful operation.”

The MILF signed a peace deal with the government in 2014, but despite the accord, the members of the former rebel group are still heavily armed and continue to maintain dozens of strongholds in the region. The DI considers the MILF a rival and branded its members as “apostate Moro militia” and declared a total war with them.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) which monitors, tracks, translates, researches, and analyzes cyber jihad originating from the Middle East, Iran, South Asia, and North and West Africa, reported that members of the “Islamic State East Asia Province” (ISEAP) claimed responsibility for the May 13 attack against MIF positions with machine guns in the village of Tuayan in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town in the neighboring province of Maguindanao causing MILF members to flee. ISEAP fighters also burned the MILF positions and seized an anti-tank rocket launcher. (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipino scientist heads int’l study on dark quantum matter

FILIPINO PHYSICIST Dr. Jayson Cosme from the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) recently led a team of six German researchers in pioneering a way to make a special kind of “dark” matter that can’t be observed using standard laboratory methods. His team’s findings were published in the prestigious international journal, Physical Review Letters.

Scientists are able to use laser beams to slow down the movement of the atoms in a material, causing its temperature to drop. When the temperature goes down almost to absolute zero, the individual atoms

can condense together into a new state of matter with quantum properties that behaves almost like a single giant atom. Renowned physicists Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose were the first to predict its existence, hence it was named after them and is now called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). BECs can be observed and studied using special cameras. However, Dr. Cosme’s team was able to use lasers to further manipulate them so that they can’t be observed using these standard methods.

“By shaking BECs in the right way, we can cause them to become quantum objects that don’t absorb, reflect, nor emit

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 date should the Attorney-General (AG) decide to proceed to trial on money laundering charges brought against him involving RM27 million in SRC International funds.

“This case has been long standing but I have no objection to the prosecution asking for another mention date,” Najib’s counsel Shafee Abdullah informed Justice K Muniandy.

However, he said, the defense would want the trial to commence as soon as possible and asked for trial dates to be fixed soon after August if the AG, who is also the public prosecutor, makes an “adverse” decision. “I understand this matter (the three money laundering charges) is being actively reviewed by the AG,” he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Ashrof Adrin Kamarul earler informed Muniandy

he had been instructed by the AG to ask for another mention date in August pending the disposal of British lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw’s appeal to represent Najib in the already concluded SRC International corruption case.

The Federal Court has fixed August 10 to hear Laidlaw’s appeal. Muniandy fixed the case for mention on August 17 and said he would decide on the trial dates then.

On February 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to the three money laundering charges in which he is said to have accepted proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million through three AmPrivate banking accounts. He allegedly committed the offenses at AmIslamic Bank Berhad at the AmBank Group building at Jalan Raja Chulan here on July 8, 2014.

If found guilty, he fac-

es a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, for the charges which were framed under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

On August 23, 2022, the Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction for misappropriating SRC International funds of RM42 million. The apex court also upheld the sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million imposed on the former prime minister. Najib began his jail sentence on the same day.

On March 31, the Federal Court, in a 4-1 split ruling, dismissed his application for leave to have his conviction and sentence reviewed.

Anwar Ibrahim is now the current Malaysia’s Prime Minister. (V Anbalagan / Free Malaysia Today)

Bus firm thanks police, military for swift action

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 bus depot in the southern Filipino city of Cotabato..

A security guard of the bus company phoned the police last week to say that homemade bombs were discovered at the front gate and at the perimeter wall of the depot. Police quickly dispatched members of the bomb squad and disarmed the explosives as soldiers cordoned the area.

posal and Canine Unit (CECU) and Regional Explosive Ordnance and Canine Unit immediately carried out a safe procedure to the suspected IEDs and disrupted it using a water cannon disruptor,” he added.

The military said there were four improvised explosives, not two.

“Rest assured that we will continue to strengthen security measures to foil any other criminal or terrorist attacks and ensure a safe and secure Bangsamoro region,” Nobleza said.

light—hence, ‘dark,’” he explained.

Dr. Cosme expressed pride and gratitude at being given the opportunity to helm an international team composed of some of the foremost researchers in his field. “I’m very honored and thankful to have been the last author on this paper, as my colleagues are all from Germany,” he said.

“This has been a very deep cooperation between myself and the group of Prof. Andreas Hemmerich, who studied under Nobel Laureate Theodor W. Haensch; as well as Prof. Ludwig Mathey’s group, which includes my close collaborator, first author Jim Skulte,” he explained. (Mindanao Examiner)

“The Police Station 2 of Cotabato City Police Office received a phone call from the duty guard of Husky bus company and reporting that suspected improvised explosive devices found at the perimeters of the bus terminal, one placed at the gate and another at the concrete fence of the terminal,” said Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, the regional police chief.

“The Cotabato City Explosive Ordnance Dis-

Nobleza said police were investigating the foiled bombings and who was behind it. “The identification of the two IEDs are still to be determined by the CECU and will be subjected for chemical analysis while motives of these actions are still being investigated,” he said.

He also lauded various police units involved in the operations for their swift response and for handling the situation safely, and urged the public to immediately report any suspicious baggage or persons to the nearest police stations.

Last April, a powerful bomb explosion ripped through a bus owned by Husky Tours in North Cotabato’s Isulan town and wounded at least six passengers. The blast occurred at the bus terminal while passengers were alighting and boarding the bus.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the daring broad daylight attack, but radical Islamist groups allied with ISIS are actively operating in the restive region and have targeted civilians in the past. The bombing happened just as Muslims were observing the holy month of Ramadan. (Mindanao Examiner)

Mother visiting son in jail arrested for sneaking meth

PAGADIAN CITY – A widow visiting her son in jail in Pagadian City in southern Philippines was arrested by guards after she was caught smuggling crystal meth inside the facility, police said.

Maj. Shellamie Chang, a regional police spokeswoman, said the 56year old Flordeliz Castro

Panong, who sells duck eggs for a living, tried to sneak into the jail a sachet of the illegal drug worth nearly P2,000.

Chang said the woman was visiting her son when guards inspected her things and went through a body search.

“Upon checking of the duty guard, one small sa-

chet of suspected shabu was spotted inside the pocket of the suspect that resulted in her arrest,” she said without further elaborating. It was unknown whether the woman’s son was jailed for drug use or whether Panong was peddling meth in the guise of selling duck eggs. (Mindanao Examiner)

Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan.

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2 men nabbed for bogus PCG recruitment

ISABELA CITY – Police in the southern Philippine province of Basilan arrested two men who were accused of collecting money from unsuspected victims in exchange for enlistment with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Yazier Tanji Balling, 32; and Rodel Alehre Lagayan, 44, were arrested recently by members of the Philippine Coast Guard and local police force who set up an entrapment at the Kasinnahan Hotel and Resort in Isabela City. “The

operation resulted in the arrest of Yazier Tanji Balling and his cohort Rodel Alegre Lagayan after receiving marked money -one genuine 1,000 pesos and 90 pieces of 1,000 pesos boodle money from PCG personnel, who act as aspiring PCG applicants,” said a regional police spokeswoman, Maj. Shellamie Chang.

“The subject persons were illegally recruiting aspiring PCG applicants in exchange for money. Recovered from their pos-

session were several PCG application folders, one iPhone 11 Pro Max and one black sling bag containing the marked money,” she added.

Chang did not give details of the joint operation and how many people had been duped by the duo - both residents of the Muslim provinceor the amount of money they had collected. It was also unclear whether the PCG application form they were using was official or not. (Mindanao Examiner)

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT

IN LOVING MEMORY OF Felipe Tampil Janier

FEBRUARY 12, 1946

JANUARY 15, 2017

Felipe was a genuine soul that radiated happiness to everyone around him. He motivated all of us to live a happy and simple life. May he rest in peace.

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5,000 pigs dead in Negros

BACOLOD CITY – Over 5,000 pigs had died in Negros Occidental province due ACOLOD CITY – Over 5,000 had died in Occidental due to Hog Cholera or Classical Swine Fever, a highly contagious, viral disease to Cholera or Classical Swine Fever, a viral disease of swine that in its most virulent form causes morbidity and mortality ap- of swine that in its most virulent form causes and approaching 100% 100%.

Jose Albert Barrogo

, the acting regional director of the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas, confirmed the report, citing data provided by the provincial government. “When we talk about the cases of Negros Occidental as reported by the province, this is the biggest issue now,” Barrogo said in a recent radio interview.

He said of the one of two batches of pig blood samples submitted by Negros Occidental to the Department of Agriculture yielded negative results for African Swine Fever (ASF), but it came out positive for Hog Cholera based on the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmatory report. The report on the remaining batch has not come out, he said.

According to a report

from the Provincial Veterinary Office, the swine deaths brought an estimated damage or losses of P63.5 million to the local hog industry. Out of the 5,252 deaths, San Enrique town logged the highest number with 1,936 heads, which is equivalent to almost 72% of its total hog population.

Some 406 raisers in the southern Negros locality, located in the Fourth District, have reported losses of more than P22 million. Other affected areas in the same district included Valladolid town with 936 swine deaths; Bago City, 852; Pontevedra town with 461; Pulupandan town, 374; and La Carlota City with 268.

Hog deaths were also reported in the municipalities of E.B. Maglona, Murcia, Manapla, Binalbagan, Hinigaran as well as the

cities of Talisay, Cadiz and Silay.

Negros Occidental, tagged as a green zone by the Department of Agriculte for its ASF-free status, has already banned the entry of live pigs, pork meat and pork-related products from the neighboring Negros Oriental, which has reported swine deaths in Dauin town due to ASF.

Having a P6-billion hog industry, Negros Occidental also imposed a total ban on the entry of all live pigs, boar semen, pork, pork products and other pork-related items from Luzon, Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Panay Island and Guimaras Island, which all have reported cases of ASF between 2019 and 2022.

Last March, neighboring Cebu province was included in the ban, including Bantayan Island and Camotes Island, after the ASF virus was detected in Carcar City.

Classical swine fever (CSF) occurs only in swine, and all age groups are susceptible. The disease occurs in most major

swine-raising countries where eradication programs have not been successfully implemented. It is

caused by a virus of the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae, which is closely related to the viruses that

cause bovine viral diarrhea in cattle and border disease in sheep. (Nanette Guadalquiver)

Employer sued for violating labor laws

CEBU CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas said it aided in the recent release of about P1 million in compensation for 13 workers, who sued their employer for money claims before the agency.

Lilia Estillore, DOLE regional director, the awards covered the claims for underpayment of wages, non-payment of night shift

differential and failure to pay overtime premium. The affected workers also claimed underpayment of 13th month pay, underpayment to non-payment of incentive leave pay, illegal deductions as well as non-payment of rest day premium.

Estillore said each worker’s monetary awards range from P5,000 to as high as P115,000 depending on the nature of their claims.

“Both parties agreed to settle through the release of the cash bond, which the employer deposited with the DOLE-7,” she told the Philippine News Agency. She urged workers in the region to report establishments that are not complying with the labor laws after a group of employees sued their employer for money claims. (John Rey Saavedra)

Independent DPWH district sought for Lapu-Lapu

CEBU – Mayor Junard Chan of Lapu-Lapu City has sought the support of provincial and national lawmakers in their bid to host an independent DPWH engineering district in order to speed up various public works on the island.

Chan said members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez have already expressed their support. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the members of the House of Representatives led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other congressmen and congresswomen who supported our plan to have a separate engineering district,” Chan said.

The mayor recently visited the House of Rep-

resentatives to personally witness the third and final reading of Lapu-Lapu’s appeal to establish a separate DPWH district there.

Lapu-Lapu City is the major link of Central Visayas’ big-ticket projects, which include the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, apart from the privately-funded Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway linking Cebu City and Cordova town.

The regional office of DPWH has an ongoing study for the construction of the P76-billion fourth bridge linking mainland Cebu and Mactan Island which is expected to begin next year.

Chan also said that they are appealing to the House of Representatives to grant its wish to secure

a seat at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA). Although Lapu-Lapu City is the host of the region’s premier in-

ternational airport, it has no representation before the MCIAA’s 11-person Board of Directors. (John Rey Saavedra)

Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan