Tabak Division gets 138 new soldiers PAGE 2
'Cash-for-work'sa Zambo balot sa katamaran
Book donation benefits Davao day care center PAGE 4
PAGE 3
NPAs strike anew, raid police headquarters in Misamis Occidental
Hilaw na mangga, bayabas kayo riyan!
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Mindanao Examiner Opinion
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END OF THE ROAD! Ex-Pagadian mayor accused in trading scam arrested
Remembering the scandalous past. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
A
uthor ities arr ested a for mer may or and his uthorities arrested former mayor wife who w er e both accused as inv olv ed wer ere involv olved in a multi-billion tr ading scam in the trading countr y. country The former arrested by a court in Pagadian City Mayor Iligan City in southern Samuel Co and his wife Philippines. He was Priscilla were arrested linked by authorities to by the agents of the Na- the Aman Futures’ scam tional Bureau of Investi- that duped investors of gation while partying at more than P12 billion last a posh condominium in year. Taguig City. The warrant of arrest Co has been ordered was signed by Branch 1
ARMM
Judge Alberto Quinto of the Regional Trial Court in Lanao del Norte. The politician, along with 9 others, is facing charges of syndicated estafa, and is not allowed to post bail. Among those ordered arrested were Malaysian national Manuel Amalilio, founder of Aman Futures; Fernando Luna, Lelian Gan, Eduardo Lim,
Southern Mindanao
Davao
Welanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez, Lurix Lopez, Jerome Sanchez and Oliver Dequinto. The mayor has repeatedly denied all accusations against him and blamed his political opponents for linking him to the P12-billion Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Aman Futures. Co insisted he was not part of the scam, but a victim.
Manila
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that based on documentary evidence, the mayor allegedly played a role in the scam. Maria Dona Coyme, one of the finance managers of Aman Futures, who earlier surrendered to the authorities, also implicated Co and wife Pricilla Ann Fernandez, saying they allegedly sought investors for the group.
Amalilio has escaped last year to Malaysia after the collapse of his company, but had been arrested in Sabah on charges of holding a falsified document. Amalilio duped thousands of people in the southern Philippines by promising them 50% interests of all their investments. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
Man electrocuted in Zambo City A MAN was electrocuted when a metal pole he was using to fix a jeep hit a power line in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said. Police said the 34-year old Allan Jen Calberto was rushed to hospital due to electrical burns. Calberto was repairing the jeep at Morning Glory Drive in Putik village when the pole hit the power line of the
Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative. It was not immediately known if the electrical wire was exposed. But it was not the first time that such electrocution incident occurred here. Just this year, a nineyear old boy, Russel Cabugza, was electrocuted after he climbed up a tree and touched an electrical wire in Malagutay village.
Cabugza suffered seconddegree burn on the body. Cabugza, a student of Malamute Elementary School, was returning home with friends when he decided to climbed the tree. Police said an electric line of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative was tangled in the tree and accidentally hit the boy. (Mindanao Examiner)
Awarding of candidates soldiers who finish Jungle Warfare Mountaineering Operation Course.
Tabak Division gets 138 new soldiers
Linemen of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative work on a high-tension electrical wire without safety helmet, leather or rubber gloves and safety shoes. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Thousands flock to Sulu sports meet ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thousands of people trooped to the Sulu provincial sports complex for the opening of the sports festival that featured the talents of the local Tausug athletes. Governor Totoh Tan led the opening of the Sulu Provincial Athletic Association Meet with senior education and sports officials. Tan also carried the ceremonial torch and
flamed the huge concrete chalice that signal the formal opening of the event. Students also performed cultural dances in their traditional Tausug costumes that draw applause from the huge crowd. Tan urged the students and athletes to excel in sports and vowed to support sports development in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)
PAGADIAN CITY – Some 138 candidate soldiers finished the Jungle Warfare Mountaineering Operation Course at an army base in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said. Officials said candidate soldier Rodel Babao, of Isabela City in Basilan province, topped the course and was followed by Richard Aninion and Nover Rillera, both from Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur province. Captain Jefferson
Somera, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said the class which opened in June originally had 144 candidate soldiers and only 138 graduated the rigors of military trainings and discipline. He said among the 138 candidate soldiers, 42 of them were college graduate, 62 college level and 28 finished vocational courses. He added that 25 were high school graduates, but proved to be deserving candidates as they possessed the skills re-
quired to qualify for enlistment. Brigadier General Felicito Virgilio Trinidad, Jr, the division commander, praised the soldiers. “You are the new breed of the Philippine Army under the Army Transformation Road Map. We are expecting from you as your parents and relatives do, to perform your duty to the best of your ability. You are now a soldier of the people, serve them well,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
UNESCO condemns murder of journalists
Governor Totoh Tan
COTABATO CITY – The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization denounced the recent murders of three journalists in the Philippines and urged authorities to ensure the killers are brought to justice at the earliest. UNESCO DirectorGeneral Irina Bokova has condemned the killings of radio broadcasters Rogelio Butalib, Michael Diaz Milo and Joas
Dignos who were murdered in separate attacks. "I condemn the attacks that claimed the lives of journalists Rogelio Butalib, Michael Diaz Milo and Joas Dignos," the UNESCO Director-General said in a statement issued by the agency. "It is very important
that those responsible for these murders be brought to trial. Media workers in the Philippines have been paying a heavy price for exercising their right to free speech and providing society with independent news and reports," she added. ( With a report from RTT News)
KISMET Cable Channel 63 Pagadian City
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
Police detain man who stoned bus POLICE detained a 20year old man accused of stoning a provincial bus on a highway in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said. Officials said Aldrin
Timpangco was positively identified by the bus driver Carlos Catan, 54, and his conductor Ellemar Bulanday, 20. Timpangco’s cohort is still being hunted by the police. Catan said a 68-
A Rural Transit Mindanao bus passes a village in Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
yearold passenger Antonietta Lim was also hurt in the stoning which also damaged the windshield of the bus, operated by Rural Transit Mindanao. The bus was traveling to Pagadian City when it was stoned in the village of Boalan. Both Catan and Bulanday sought assistance from the local police force headed by PO2 Marvin Surbano and village watchmen that led to the immediate apprehension of Timpangco. Provincial buses and vans have been stoned by gangs in the past along the Zamboanga highway. (Mindanao Examiner)
Guard dies in duel in Dipolog City ONE SECURITY GUARD was killed in a gun duel with another guard in the southern Philippine city of Dipolog, police said. Police said it arrested the shooter, Elmer Caemare, 39, and his weapon was also recovered. Caemare is being in-
Army troops clash with NPA rebels DIPOLOG CITY – Government troops clashed with communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, police said. Police said troops from the 6th Special Forces were patrolling the village of Bato in Sindangan town when they ran into a small group of New People’s Army rebels and a firefight ensued. There were no reports of casualties from both sides. Soldiers recovered a Garand rifle and 5 clips with ammunition, bags and assorted clothes, including provision. Several hours after the clash, the detachment of the 6th Special Forces in the village of Bucana also came under sniper fire. There was no casualty from the attack. (Mindanao Examiner)
vestigated by the police for the killing of Felmor Javier, 45. Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said both security guards were detailed at the Paragon
Group Distributor Corporation along Quezon Avenue. He said the two had a heated argument that led to the duel. It was unknown what sparked the argument. (Mindanao Examiner)
Man stabs partner POLICE arrested a 31-year old man who attacked and stabbed his own partner following a heated argument in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said. Officials said the 26year old woman was hospitalized due knife wounds inflicted by Jeffrey Briones inside the house in the village of Mangusu.
The woman was stabbed in the back and rushed by neighbors to the hospital. Policemen who were informed about the stabbing rushed to the village and arrested Briones. It was not immediately known whether the woman or her family would file criminal charges against Briones. (Mindanao Examiner)
Robbers strike in Pagadian City PAGADIAN CITY – Gunmen struck in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province disarming a security guard and robbing a woman in two separate incidents, police said. Police said motorcycle gunmen attacked Jerry Masibay, Jr. who was guarding Chiong Consumers Mart and stole his .38-caliber revolver.
He told policemen that gunmen struck him in the head and then took his weapon and wallet before fleeing. Police also said that robbers also held up Isabel Guanzon, 33, at Purok Bagong Silang in the village of Balangasan and carted her shoulder bag. The gunmen escaped after the stickup. (Mindanao Examiner)
Ang mga refugees na kabilang sa cash-for-work program. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
'Cash-for-work' sa Zambo balot sa katamaran ZAMBOANGA CITY - Sa halip na maglinis ng kapaligiran ay mistulang namamasyal lamang ang mga grupong ito ng war refugees habang bitbit ang kanilang mga walis at dust pan sa Zambanga City - sila ay ilang lamang sa daandaang pamilya na binigyan ng pansaman-talang hanap-buhay ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng 'cashfor-work' program. Ngunit malaking puna ngayon mula sa mga ito ay ang katamaran ng ilan mga
refugees na gawin ang kanilang trabaho. Kalimitan ay isang malaking grupo ang nagkakasamasama sa halip na maghiwahiwalay ng mga lugar. Wala umanong pagsisikap ang mga refugees sa pansamantalang hanap-puhay na ibinibigay ng pamahalaan. Ang cash-for-work program ay inilunsad ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at iba pang ahensya ng ng pamahalaan at nongovern-
mental organizations upang makatulong sa ikabubuhay ng mga residente dito na apektado sa tatlong linggong sagupaan noong Setyembre sa pagitan ng mga rebeldeng Moro National Liberation Front at militar. Sa ilalim ng programa ay binibigyan ang mga refugees ng P214 bawat araw sa loob ng isang buwan at tinatayang mahigit sa 23,000 pamilya ang makikinabang dito. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
Provincial bus hinoldap sa Zambo ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY Isang provincial bus ang hinoldap ng 5 mga armado na nagpanggap na pasahero at nalimas umano ang mahigit sa P50,000 mula sa kanilang mga biktima bago tumakas sa highway sa bayan ng Ipil sa Zamboanga Sibugay. Nabatid na isang pasahero rin ang isinugod sa pagamutan matapos itong bigwasan ng baril ng isa sa mga holdaper matapos na umabno'y
tumangging ibigay ang kanyang salapi. Kinumpirma ng pulisya ang naturang insidente at sinabing pinaghahanap na umano ang mga salarin. Galing ang bus - na pagaari ng Rural Transit of Mindanao - sa Pagadian City at patungong Zamboanga City ng maganap ang panghoholdap. Sumakay ang mga armado sa bayan ng Kabasalan na katabi lamang ng Ipil. At
habang tumatakbo ang bus ay nagdeklara ng holdap ang 5 lalaki na nasa ibatibang bahagi ng sasakyan at agad na nalimas ang mga salapi, cell phone, alahas at iba pang mga bagay mula sa kabilang biktima. Hindi pa mabatid kung may nakilala sa mga salarin. Walang security camera o secret marshal ang naturang bus. Talamak ang holdapan sa kahabaan ng Zamboanga highway. (Mindanao Examiner)
Troops donate 500 books to the Linusotan Day Care Center on Talicud Island in Davao del Norte province. (Mindanao Examiner)
Book donation benefits Davao day care center Isang bus ng Rural Transit of Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
For P2500, man murders widower FOR ROUGHLY P2500, a man in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur has admitted murdering a 62year old widower and then surrendered to the police a week later to confess that he was paid to do the hit. The mastermind, he said, is a 68-year old resident of Kumalarang town who contracted him to murder Mamerto Balud in exchange for money.
Police said the alleged killer, Edgar Silagan, 37, waited for Balud to go to his farm in the village of Lumbia and then attacked him until he was dead. Police, citing forensic reports, said the old man sustained fatal blows at the back of the head. His body was discovered in the morning of December 9. It was unknown what drove Silagan to surrender
and confessed to the killing, but police said it is investigating the murder and the man’s own admission of the crime and who was behind it. (Mindanao Examiner)
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IN MINDANAO
DAVAO CITY – Philippine troops donated 500 assorted books to a day care center in the southern Filipino province of Davao del Norte and benefiting about three dozen children, officials said. Officials said the soldiers, who are members of the army’s Task Force Davao, handed over the
books to representatives of the Linusotan Day Care Center on Talicud Island. The donation was in partnership with a USbased nongovernmental organization called Bagong Kulturang Pinoy California and other stake holders. “The activity is part of the Task Force Davao’s continuing effort
of reaching-out people in the community through the conduct of civic actions,” said Lieutenant Danilo Mapacpac. Village chieftain Gene Muana and members of the local council and the day care center praised the donors for the book program. (Mindanao Examiner)
Van overturns in Zambo Sur highway PAGADIAN CITY – A policeman died and three others injured after the government van they were riding overturned on a highway in Josefina town in Zamboanga del Sur province, police said. Police said SPO1 Ferdinand Macion died from the accident. His companions PO3 Marcelo Andale, Jr, and PO2 Benjoe Carator and the driver Jacinto Delusa, 49,
were rushed to hospital. Delusa lost control of the van, owned by local government of Pagadian City, and overturned in the village of Upper Bag-ong Tudela. The
van was heading to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte when the accident occurred. Police are still investigating the accident. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
NPAs strike anew, raid police headquarters in Misamis Occidental NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY rebels stormed a police headquarters – the second in just two days in the southern Philippines – and seized assorted weapons, officials said. Officials said the rebels, numbering about 30, disarmed policemen guarding the headquarters in Don Victoriano Chiongbian town in Misamis Occidental province. The raiders seized a machine gun, an M203 grenade launcher, seven automatic rifles and nine hand guns from the police arsenal before escaping towards Zamboanga del Sur province.
Troops sent to pursue the fleeing rebels clashed with the NPA band in the village of Bag-ong Tudela in Josefina town. Captain Jefferson Somera, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, has confirmed the fighting and said members of the 55thInfantry Battalion were dispatched to take down the rebels. “The fighting lasted over 25 minutes and we foiled the NPA plan to detonated landmines in the area to sow down the military pursuit,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said in September,
army troops killed a senior NPA commander, Henry Celajes, in a firefight in Misamis Occidental’s Tudela town. Celajes was the deputy secretary of the communist group in western Mindanao. Rebel forces recently raided the police headquarters in Kibawe town in Bukidnon province near Misamis and killed and wounded 5 officers and carted at least 13 assorted weapons. The NPA has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tight security in Isabela City BASILAN – Unidentified men exploded an improvised bomb outside the house of a mayor in the southern province of Basilan, but officials said there was no casualties from the blast. The explosive, assembled from a mortar
round, detonated around 2 a.m., near the house of Isabela Mayor Cherry Akbar, whose husband Wahab Akbar, a lawmaker, was killed in a bomb attack at the entrance of the House of Representatives in Manila in November 2007. Captain Jefferson
Teacher gunned down by nephew A TEACHER who was accused of poisoning two animals of his relative was shot and killed by his nephew during a heated argument in Dinas town in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said. Police said Cayetano Igano, 46, died instantly from the shooting which occurred in the village of Legarda. His nephew accused him of poisoning their
two piglets and this led to the argument, according to Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman. Huesca, citing a police report, said Igano was shot three times with a .45-caliber pistol after he alleged uttered words that further angered his 22-year old nephew, who fled after the shooting. He said police are searching for the gunman. (Mindanao Examiner)
Somera, a spokesman for the army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the blast left a two meter crater. “Two motorcycle men were spotted in the area prior to the explosion and we are closely working with the local police to determine the identities of the bombers,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. Other reports said a second improvised bomb which did not explode was also recovered by authorities. It was unknown if Akbar was the target of the explosion. But if she was, why would the bombers detonate the bomb outside her house instead of the sprawling compound of the politician. Last year, a motorcycle rigged with explosives was also detonated outside Akbar’s house in Sunrise village while the convoy of her political rival Abdulbaki Ajibon, who was unhurt from the blast. (Mindanao Examiner)
Filipinos who attend Rooster's Mass in Kidapawan City in southern Philippines flock to this stalls to buy their favorites rice cakes.(Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano).
Villager shot in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY – Motorcycle gunmen shot and wounded a villager near a military base in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said. Police said Adrian
Solisa, 27, was shot at the Southcom Village in Upper Calarian. The gunmen fled after the attack. The motive of the shooting is still unknown and police are investigating the attack on Solisa, who was shot in the back.
He was rushed to the hospital after the gunmen escaped. Gun attacks are common in Zamboanga and authorities largely blamed hired killers as behind the attacks. (Mindanao Examiner)
Police arrest Zambo village official abductor PAGADIAN CITY – Police arrested one of three gunmen who abducted a village chieftain in the southern Philippines, police said. Police said Jasser Siddik was arrested after he was positively identified by the son of Cecilia Alas-as, village chieftain of Officials said masked gunmen also barged in the house of Cecilia Alas-as, village
chieftain of Paniran in Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte. His two companions Yusoph Maliki and Jumrani are still at large. The trio barged in the house of Alas-as and dragged the woman to the shore where a motorboat was waiting. Police are still searching for Alas-as. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Dec. 23-29, 2013
Hilaw na mangga, bayabas kayo riyan! ZAMBOANGA CITY Dedma at hindi alintana ng mga vendors na ito ang peligro sa kalusugan ng mga estudyante na dulot ng kanilang maruming mga kamay sa pagbabalat at pagkakalkal ng manggang hilaw at bayabas na ibinibenta sa labas ng gate ng Ateneo De Zamboanga University dito. Walang gamit na mga gwantes ang mga vendors sa paghawak ng mga prutas na ibinibenta at expose rin ito sa alikabok, usok, langaw at kung ano pang dumi na inililipad ng hangin sa kapaligiran. Pati ang mga
sawsawan tulad ng toyo, bagoong at patis ay hindi rin sigurado kung malinis. Lantaran rin sa publiko ang kanilang maruming gawain. At karamihan sa mga bumibili nito ay mga estudyante ng grade school, pati na rin ang mga nasa college at mga nakatambay sa labas ng unibersidad na nangangasim at naakit ng masarap na manggang hilaw. Talamak rin ang ganitong tanawin sa mga pampublikong paaralan. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na may mga nagbebenta ng kung anu-
anong pagkain at sitserya sa labas ng tanyag na paaralan sa Zamboanga. Hindi naman mabatid kung bakit hinahayaan ito ng naturang unibersidad o kung alam ba ng pamunuan na may naglipanang ganito sa labas ng gate. Seryoso ang banta sa kalusugan dulot ng marumi at kontaminadong pagkain at iba pa na madaling kapitan ng mikrobyo, bacteria, viruses na siyang nagdudulot ng mga sakit tulad ng diarrhea, pagsusuka at kung anu-ano pa. (Mindanao Examiner)
Mga vendors sa labas ng Ateneo de Zamboanga University. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
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The Mindanao Examiner Opinion
Dec. 23-29, 2013
Zambo Muslims Showing The Way by Jess G. Dureza A LADY COUNCILOR in Zamboanga City got so peeved at published articles recently that carried my appeal for "social cohesion" otherwise the armed incident might recur following the armed siege that she asked the council that I be declared "persona non grata" and barred from visiting Zamboanga City again. The proposed resolution was discussed in last week's council session. Wow, I was almost floored there. But on second thoughts, my guess is that she had not read my series and she was shooting from the hip. But that's understandable. She's a neophyte and on her first term. I didn't realize that my effort in raising the alarm that an ethnically polarized Zamboanga would be received in that light by one of the political leaders of the city itself . Good that the other city councilors thought it was a rash judgment call and wanted to hear me expound some more on my written thoughts. I committed to appear before the august body in January after the holidays. I was glad this happened because then I can officially take my advocacy of helping Zamboanga to another level. I guess it's about time that some wakeup call be made on some Zamboanguenos. No one is talking about the distrust and the hatred arising amongst groups due to the 3-week Zamboanga siege. The terrorism inflicted by MNLF's Ustadz Malik had polarized the locals. There is now quiet but seething anger and distrust against Muslims, specifically Tausugs, even if many of the unfortunate innocent victims were Muslims themselves. When I was there recently, even the well-intentioned and earnest plan of the city in not allowing the return of Muslims to where their houses were burned was being viewed as discriminatory against the tribes. Some said it was better to clear those squatters areas, mostly by Muslims and Badjaos, to avoid
similar incidents in the future. I talked with ordinary folks in the streets, mostly christians and they were angry and distrustful at Muslims. They knew only Christians were taken and held as hostages by Malik during the siege while Muslims were freed and allowed to go. Let's face it. We must rebuild these broken relationships amongst groups because Zamboanga is the focal center of diverse peoples coming from the neighboring island provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi. Unless we heal those "social wounds", incidents such as this one could recur. I felt warm when I learned that recently, as a gesture of reconciliation and a way of rebuilding trusts, a group of Muslims armed with hammers and carpenter tools helped rebuild a Catholic chapel that was destroyed during the siege. I hope the good lady councilor, instead of her proposed measure in the city council, lead a group of Christian Zamboanguenos in repairing the destroyed mosques in return. Her mindset , unfortunately, may be reflective of that gap that we must all help to bridge. I had several thoughts. Perhaps, she wanted to keep Zamboanga an exclusive enclave . She'd rather that those who "do not belong" to keep off Zamboanga. I do not blame her for being traumatized by the MNLF incident, just like many Zamboanguenos I have talked to. But as I said, her formula would not work. It is a prescription for more trouble. It's better to rebuild broken relationships and restore trust for sustainable peace. I learned this in my long work in other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. And by the way, the last time I checked, we are still in a democracy. DISCL AIMER: The views and opinions DISCLAIMER: expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Mindanao Examiner or any of its staffs and employees.
Letters to the Editor The case of Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie vs. Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan TEMOGEN “Cocoy” Tulawie is charged of criminal case as a result of Bombing incident that took place at the provincial Capitol compound years ago, hitting former governor Abdusakur Tan’s car and wounding several security guards aboard the car. The case was formally filed in court by virtue of the witnesses who appeared openly and “Cocoy” was arrested in Davao City by government operatives after long months of hiding when the warrant of arrest was issued. Both Parties- “Cocoy” and Sakur Tan have submitted their case to legal court battle; both also spoken that they will leave the case to court’s decisions but outside of the legal environment there are hard papers coming out from the camp of “Cocoy” hitting Sulu Vice Governor Tan making the story appears that the case is the consequence of the use of political power to abuse human rights of “Cocoy”. There are people also outside of Sulu supporting these allegations of abuse of power by local politicians in Sulu that somehow deepen the rift between families/parties. The propaganda did help neither Cocoy nor Sakur and the people
of Sulu are at the loosing ring on this expose’. There seems to a one sided information that those people are receiving; whether the accusation and description of Sulu and Sakur Tan are true or not, those people must see to it that what they are supporting will not affect the legal prosecution that is in progress and will not jeopardize the image of Sulu and its governance. For the information of supporters of this propaganda, the civil society groups and Ulama groups in Sulu and Tausugs in Zamboanga are not blind and ignorant of Human Rights. They rightfully distinguish Human Rights case from Criminal Case. We indict those who inflict the good refutation of Sulu and its Tausug people for just one personal case of conflict. We pray those people who Godly believe in Human Rights should be spared of being used and misled of the one sided stories that hurt the principle of Human Rights being used as a tool to destroy one’s reputation and morale. PROFESSOR JOHN ASKALI BASILAN PROVINCE
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Zamboanga’s patron, the Virgin Mary. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
ala na umano sa Z amboanga City ang ngunit naganap ito halos Zamboanga dinukot na gur o, ngunit patulo y pa rrin in isang linggo lamang guro patuloy ang paghahanap sa biktima na matapos na hilahin rin hinihinalang dinala sa B asilan pr ov- ng mga armadong grupo Basilan pro ince o sa ibang bahagi ng Z amboanga P eninsula. ang fish trader na si Zamboanga Peninsula. Ito ang sinabi ni In- statement. Kilala na Cynthia Caboverde sa spector Joel Tutuh na natin yun isa sa mga bayan ng Ipil sa katabing siyang nangunguna sa dumukot," wika nito at lalawigan ng Zambopagtugis sa mga dumuAerial view of Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) kot kay Cathy Mae Casipog, na nagtuturo sa Sibogtok Elementary School sa Limaong Island ng Zamboanga. Hinila ito kamakalawa ng 10 armado na sakay ng apat na motorboat. Sinabi pa ni Tutuh na inamin rin ni Tutuh na anga Sibugay, at bakilala na nito ang isa sa ka-alyado ng isang kid- rangay kapitan na si mga dumukot at kaha- nap-for-ransom group Cecilia Alas-as sa bayan ng Sibuco sa Zamboanga pon ay nakunan ng rin ang tumira sa guro. Hindi sinabi ni Tutuh del Norte. ng pahayag ang ilang kung may kinalaman ang Nadakip na ng mga saksi sa naganap. "Meron tayong mga Abu Sayyaf sa naganap. pulisya ang isa sa mga witnesses ngayon dito at Hindi pa mabatid ang dumukot kay Caboverde nagbigay ng kanilang motibo sa pagdukot, at nakilala itong si
Adznar Chiong, at naisampa na rin ang kaso laban sa kanya at sa lider nilang si Nurhassan Jamiri, na isang notoryosong Abu Sayyaf leader na nakabase sa lalawigan ng Basilan, na katabi rin ng Zamboanga City. Dinukot si C a b o v e r d e matapos na magpasweldo sa mga fishing crew sa Barangay Magdaup. Wa l a naman balita kay Alas-as na dinukot ng 3 maskaradong armado sa loob ng kanyang bahay sa Barangay Paniran at hinila patungo sa karagatan na kung saan ay naghihintay ang isang motorboat. (Mindanao Examiner)
Clan war errupts in Basilan province BASILAN – Four people were wounded in a clash between two warring Muslim clans in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, an army spokesman said. The fighting broke out in the village of Bohe Lebong in Tipo-Tipo town and lasted over one hour, according to Captain Jefferson Somera, of the 1st Infantry Division. He said the clashes between the groups of village councilman Ustadz Haider Haya and Saham Mohammad triggered panic among civilians in the area. “We have deployed troops in the town to prevent the escalation of hostilities. This is a family feud,” he told The Manila Times. The wounded villagers were identified as Tutuna Kadapi, Kamal Mohammad, Norhada Kadil and Iyob Isnain. It was not immediately known whether the wounded were part of the warring clans or not. General Felicito Trinidad, the regional army commander, warned warring clans to stop the fighting or face ar-
ARMM
Basilan province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) rest. Somera said troops remain in the town as part of a security aimed at protecting innocent
Southern Mindanao
civilians. “Troops will remain in the area and are closely working with local police forces to protect the villagers from
Davao
harm,” he said. Clan war is not uncommon in the southern Philippines and in July, at least 12 people were
Manila
killed and wounded in fierce clashes between two warring Muslim families in Lanao del Sur province. The protagonists – Capal and Macugar families – incidentally crossed path in the village of Linao in Bayang town and started shooting at each other. The fighting lasted almost an hour leaving 4 people dead and two wounded on the side of Capal family and 3 more slain and three others wounded on Macugar family. The clashes only stopped after security forces arrived and pacified the two warring groups. Troops helped recovered the dead and turned them over to their families. It was not immediately known whether the military or police arrested any of the leaders or followers of the two warring families. But among those killed were Hajji Naim Capal and Latip Capal, who were reportedly clan leaders. The military said the families are locked in a bitter political feud in the town. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula