Filipino oil firm to put up depot in Maguindanao
IDPs humihingi ng tulong
Peace process dialogue dinagsa sa Sulu PAGE 2
Troops favor EMC commander as next CGPA
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Negosyante naghagis ng bulto ng salapi
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Top Abu Sayyaf leader escapes military assault in Basilan
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Jan. 13-19, 2014
MILF: We Want Peace
President Benigno Aquino and MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim.
C
OTABA TO CIT Y- The M or o IIslamic slamic Liber ation F ABAT CITY Mor oro Liberation Frront (MILF) which is negotiating peace with M anila the past 17 yyears ears Manila expr essed optimism that it would be able to sign a comexpressed pr ehensiv e accor d this yyear ear prehensiv ehensive accord ear.. “Within the first quarter of It said 2014 is a crucial year for this year, the parties must sign the the peace talks. The MILF stressed comprehensive peace agreement the need to forge the peace deal in to enable the Bangsamoro Tran- the first quarter of the year because sition Commission to finish the fi- the Bangsamoro basic law should nal draft of the Bangsamoro ba- be ratified by the people in the sic law for submission to Presi- Bangsamoro territory preferably dent Benigno Aquino, who will towards the end of this year or early certify it as an urgent bill, in order 2015 to pave the way for the estabto give just enough time for Con- lishment of the Bangsamoro Trangress to pass it into law,” the MILF sition Authority. said. The peace negotiations is ex-
pected to resume this month following the signing of the annex on power-sharing in December in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides also signed the annexes on transitional arrangements and modalities, and revenue generation and wealth-sharing. Still up for discussions are the annex on normalization and an addendum on the issues of Bangsamoro waters in order to complete the peace accord. The MILF said the peace accord "is not just a piece of paper but will contain principles likely on
how the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is going to be abolished, the conduct of the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro basic law and the manner of amending the Constitution, if necessary. The rebel group said although it is optimistic with the peace process, the "road ahead would still be rough." “[But] we are still very hopeful and upbeat that the two parties will finally settle all the remaining issues in the negotiating table. Two sincere, willing, and committed part-
ners, like the Aquino administration and the MILF, will always find ways to overcome any issue that stands on their way. This has been proved by them time and again,” the rebel group said. The Philippine peace panel said all of the accomplishments in the peace process were made possible through the collective efforts, trust, and goodwill of both parties and their respective principals, and the unwavering support of various sectors to push the process forward. (Wally Dar)
1000 Sulu teachers get free LET reviewer SULU – Nearly 1000 teachers were provided free book reviewer for the upcoming Licensure Examinations for Teachers in Sulu province in southern Philippines. Fa z l u r- Ra h m a n Abdulla, the executive director of Sulu Area Coordinating Center, said the free LET review program has been going on for years to help public school teachers pass the rigid written examination by the Philippine Regulation Commission. The recent distribution of the reviewers lasted until nighttime due to the
ARMM
huge number of teachers who availed of the program. “Nearly a thousand Sulu teachers flocked to Sulu ACC late this afternoon to receive a free review book for Licensure Examinations for Teachers sponsored by Governor Totoh Tan. The only requirement was each of them should present copy of their registration, SACC staff counter-checked those in the master list and then the book is theirs. The distribution was completed until night time because beneficiaries begged to wait for their turn until all will be called. The review sessions is free,” Abdulla said.
SACC Executive Director Fazlur-Rahman Abdulla,reads a copy of the book reviewer. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - AhlFranzie Salinas) The book reviewer entitled “The LET Roadmap:
Southern Mindanao
Davao
Onward to a new career in teaching” was authored by
Manila
Lydia Hilboro, Bert Tuga, Von Anthony Torio and Delfin Baquiran. The free LET review classes was originally introduced by then Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, now the provincial vice governor, in an effort to professionalize the teaching in government schools in the 19 towns there. Now, the program is continued by new Sulu Gov. Totoh Tan with the support of his vice governor. Abdulla said the teachers praised Tan and the provincial government for the continuation of the annual LET review program. This
includes free review classes conducted by professionals from Manila who are regularly hired by the provincial government to conduct the review in Sulu. The provincial as well as the municipal government are also providing allowances for public school teachers to help augment their meager salaries. Aside from the LET review classes, Sulu now has launched free review classes for civil eligibility examinations that will benefit those who are aspiring to work in government. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 13-19, 2014
Peace process dialogue dinagsa sa Sulu
Si Sulu Vice Gov. Sakur Tan habang nagbibigay ng kanyang talumpati sa peace dialogue ng GPH peace panel at ng OPAPP sa bayan ng Patikul. SUL U–M ahigit sa 2,000 katao dito ang dumalo sa isang SULU Mahigit quino sa Aquino dialogue ukol sa peace talks ng pamahalaang A rebeldeng gr upo ng M or o IIslamic slamic Liber ation F grupo Mor oro Liberation Frront sa lalawigan ng S ulu upang ipaalam sa mga Tausug ang Sulu pr ogr eso ng negosasy on pangkapayapaan sa M indanao progr ogreso negosasyon Mindanao indanao.. Isa ang Sulu sa 5 meron ng mga possibilities lalawigan na kahabahagi ng in the participation and Autonomous Region in Mus- management of specific arlim Mindanao na siyang eas and in principle, meron sentro ngayon ng peace ng some wealth-sharing at talks, subalit ang dialogue ay patuloy yun pag-uusap at nag-iwan ng mas maraming patuloy ang pagpapaliwatanong kaysa kasagutan nag natin na itong matapos na magreklamo (Bangsamoro) Framework ang maraming mga Tausug Agreement at ang kalalana hindi sila na-konsulta sa basan ng Bangsamoro basic naturang negosasyon, law na dapat ay para sa gayun isa ang probinsya sa Bangsamoro ito kaya ang stakeholder sa peace pro- hinihingi talaga ay isipin ang mas mataas na pangacess. Dinaluhan ni presiden- ngailangan ng Bangsamoro tial peace adviser Teresita at nararapat lamang na Deles ang isa ng maliit na makilahok sila,” ani Deles. Ngunit karamihan sa grupo ng peace panel members at sinigurado nito na mga taga-Sulu, at gayun rin ang konsiderasyon ng ng Basilan at Tawi-Tawi ay pamahalaang Aquino ay ang halos hindi alam ang kinabuhasan ng lahat, nagaganap sa peace talks, at partikular ang mga Muslim ang Bangsamoro FrameAgreement na at natibo ng Mindanao, work gayun rin ang mga nilagdaan ng mga peace Kristiyano upang makamit panels at ito ang siyang ipapalit sa ARMM na ang kapayapaan. “We are optimistic with kinabibilangan rin ng the peace talks and this will Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao at benefit all peoples in Maguindanao, gayun rin Mindanao and the country ang lungsod ng Lamitan at in general. All we need now Marawi. is the support of everybody Karamihan sa mga to achieve peace and the dumalo sa dialogue, na talks are getting better.” ipinatawag ni Sulu Governor “Meron ng mga hugis, Totoh Tan, ay nagbato ng GITATAW sa Malakanyang nga dili kinahanglang sundon ang international standards sa pagpatukod og "bunkhouses" o mga kasamtang balay alang sa mga residenteng naapektuhan sa super typhoon Yolanda.
mga katanungan ukol sa peace talks at sa mga nilagdaang annexes sa wealth at power sharing, at maging si Deles at miyembro ng peace panels ay nagpaliwanag ng mahaba ukol sa isyu. Isang participant ang nagtanong kay Deles kung ang peace talks ba ay isang paraang ng pagbibigay sa MILF, na kumalas noon 1978 sa Moro National Liberation Front, dahil hindi na nakunsulta ang mga Tausug ukol dito. “Ang pagpasok ng gobyerno sa negosasyon sa MILF ay hindi lamang to appease the MILF but for the entire Bangsamoro people. It is not just the MILF who will run the new Bangsamoro,” wika ni Deles. Subalit wala na rin saysay ang anumang inputs ng mga taga-Sulu sa peace talks dahil wala na rin ito sa agenda ng kasalukuyang paguusap. Sinabi pa ng mga Tausug na dapat ay ginawang mga observers ang 5 governors ng Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao at Maguindanao sa peace talks upang makuha ang kanilang panukula gat maipaliwanag sa kanilang mga nasasakupan ang progreso ng paguusap. Isang beses lamang dumalo ang mga ito
sa peace talks sa Malaysia, ngunit buo at solido naman ang kanilang suporta sa peace process. Tanging si ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman lamang ang iniimbitahan ng peace panel sa peace talks at hindi rin umano nito nabibigyan ng executive briefing ang kanyang mga governors, ayon pa sa ilang mga participants. Kaya isang Tausug ang nagtanong kay Deles sa question and answer forum kung ano ang gagawin ng pamahalaang Aquino kung sakaling hindi aprubahan ng mga Muslim sa Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi, at maging ng Lanao ang plebisito o ang Bangsamoro government na siyang ipapalit sa ARMM. Nahirapan naman si Deles na sagutin ito at sa huli ay nasa mamamayan na umano ang desisyon kung susuporta o hindi sa panukalang Bangsamoro. Hindi rin umano naisama ng pamahaan ang MNLF sa ilalim ni Nur Misuari sa peace talks, ngunit inamin ni Deles na ilang ulit nilang inimbitahan si Misuari ngunit maraming beses rin itong tumanggi. Inakusahan rin ni Misuari ang pamahalaan ng hindi pagtupad sa 1996 peace
agreement sa MNLF kung kaya't lalong naging komplikado ang peace talks sa MILF. “I want to repeat the instructions of the President to the GPH panel negotiating with the MILF. Hindi dapat lumabag sa parameters ng constitution but maximize the flexibility of the constitution. Two, learn from the lessons from the past. So we will not commit the same mistake and reach a just peace agreement. Third, we will implement whatever we sign. We should be able to implement politically, culturally, and economically. Finally, it has to be inclusive,” wika ni Deles. Maging si Tan ay natanong rin ukol sa kanyang katayuan at tahasan nitong sinabi na kung ano ang kagustuhan ng mamamayan ay iyon ang dapat masunod. “Maiksi lamang ang sagot ko dito. Kung ano ang gusto ng nakakarami ay iyon ang dapat masunod dahil ayaw namin na sa dakong huli ay kami ang masisi at sabihin na pinilit namin kayo o kami ang nag-desisyon para sa inyo. Kung saan kayo ay doon kami," ani Tan na ilang beses na pinalakpakan ng mga nasa dialogue. Ito rin ang naging
Malakanyang: Di kinahanglang sundon ang int’l standards sa pagpatukod og bunkhouses
Kini taliwala sa mga pagsaway nga nadawat sa gobyerno kalabot sa giingong substandard nga pagpatukod sa
maong mga bunkhouses. Sa usa ka press briefing karong adlawa, gipasabot ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda nga adunay gisunod nga kaugalinong sumbanan ang Pilipinas sa pagpatukod sa maong bunkhouses.
Matud pa ni Lacierda nga ang mahinongdanon, adunay kasamtangang mapuy-an ang mga naapektuhan sa bagyong
katayuan ni Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan at umapela pa ito sa pamahalaan na isama naman ang lalawigan sa konsultasyon dahil bahagi ito ng mga pinaguusapan sa negosasyon sa MILF. “I, we support the peace process that why we have this consultation here so the government can explain to the people the progress of the peace talks,” sabi pa nito. Sinabi naman ni Deles na ang Tausug ay well-represented sa peace panel at sa katunayan ay ang mga tagaSulu ang may pinakamaraming bilang sa government team negotiating sa MILF, at sinigurado nito na lahat ay pantay-pantay sa peace process. Inaasahan rin umano na magkakaroon ng comprehensive peace agreement sa 2014. “At the start of the new year, we hope to achieve a comprehensive agreement. Let's celebrate diversity. Imagine a rainbow with all those colors banded together rather than just a single dull grey color. This is what we envision in the peace process. Despite our differences culturally and politically, we can work together and come up with a common understanding.” (Mindanao Examiner) Yolanda. "Our concern right now is to house them. Number one, safety and number two, you don't want to have congestion. It's not substandard. Our standard is we follow the building code," matud pa ni Lacierda.
Jan. 13-19, 2014
The Mindanao Examiner
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SULU PICTORIALS IN THE NEWS (Provincial officials led by Gov. Totoh Tan during a recent dialogue and public consulation on the peace process with Peace adviser Teresita Deles and members of the government peace panel.)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 13-19, 2014
IDPs humihingi ng tulong ZAMBOANGA CITY – Patuloy ang paghingi ng tulong ng mga war refugees sa pamahalaang Aquino dahil halos wala na rin umanong matanggap o kaya ay kakapiranggot na lamang ang tulong na kanilang natatanggap sa Zamboanga City. Karamihan sa mga refugees ay nasa mga evacuation centers pa rin at ang taning reklamo ay pagkain at gamot at ang pabalikin sila sa kanilang mga barangay na nasunog noon Setyembre sa kasagsagan ng labanan sa pagitan ng mga rebeldeng Moro National Liberation Front at militar. Nitong nakaraang buwan lamang ay daandaang refugees ang dumagsa sa tanggapan ng
Commission on Human Rights dito matapos na mabalitaanang magbibigay ito ng financial aid sa kanila. "Dito kami kasi may balita na magbibigay ng tulong ang gobyerno o ang Commission on Human Rights, pero ilang oras na kaming nakapila ay wala pa rin kaming natatanggap na kahit isang sentimo," ani ng isang babaeng Muslim sa Mindanao Examiner at ipinakita pa nito ang kanyang mga papeles upang patunayan na siya at ang kanyang pamilya ay mga refugee. Kinumpirma naman ng Commission on Human Rights sa Mindanao Examiner na magbibigay ito ng ayuda sa mga biktima ng sunog sa tatlong linggong
sagupaan dito. Mahigit sa 400 mga rebelde ang lumusob sa ibat-ibang barangay at nagkaroon ng sagupaan na ikinasugat at pumatay sa mahigit 400 katao. Mahigit sa 120,000 katao rin ang apektado ng labanan. "We are overwhelmed by the number of fire victims that showed up and we can only accommodate and document about 500 people today," ani Atty. Sharon May Belisario. Sinabi nito na sa ngayon ay processing muna ang kanilang ginagawa at posibleng abutin ng ilang buwan ito bago mabigyan ng P3,000 bawat pamilya ng nasunugan na bahay. “We
hope to distribute P3,000 for each family of fire victims, but this will take more time to process considering the thousands of people affected by the conflagration caused by the war,” wika nito. Maraming mga refugees mula sa ibat-ibang evacuation centers ang nag-apurang makapunta sa CHR sa akalang titulo sa lupa at bahay ang matatanggap. At sa dami ng mga refugees at nagkabuhol-buhol ang trapiko sa labas ng tanggapan ng CHR sa Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue at kinailangan pa ng sapat ng puwersa ng pulisya uoang ma-kontrol ang pagdagsa ng nga tao doon. (Mindanao Examiner)
Deputy chief ng Eastern Mindanao Command binigyan ng promosyon
Ang mga war refugees sa labas ng tanggapan ng Commission on Human Rights kahapon sa Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
DAVAO CITY – Buong pusong pinasalamatan ni Eastern Mindanao Command deputy commander Severino Vicente David ang mga sundalo, opisyal at pamunuan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines dahil sa promosyon na natanggap nito. Nagpasalamat rin ang opisyal sa kanyang pamilya
dahil sa kanilang walang humpay na suporta. Binigyan rin ng honor si Commodore David na miyembro ng Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, ayon kay Captain Alberto Caber, ang chief information officer ng Eastern Mindanao Command. “The AFPs Eastern Mindanao Command wel-
For all your publications and advertisements in Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur, please call Richard Suarez 062-2142706 and 0910-7348600 The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Ahmed Baldomero Joanna Valerie Wee Graphics/Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales Central Mindanao Richard Suarez Pagadian City Zamboanga del Sur
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Richard Falcatan Basilan Province Ely Dumaboc Zamboanga Peninsula The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines. The Mindanao Examiner Television is broadcast in KISMET Cable TV and Pagadian Cable Television Channel 63. Our business and editorial offices are located at Units 15, 3rd Floor, Fair Land Bldg., Nuñez St., Zamboanga City Phone & fax: 062- 9925480 Mobile: 0917-7103642 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Si Eastern Mindanao Command deputy commander Severino Vicente David sa arrival honor na ibinigay sa kanya ng mga sundalo dahil sa nakuhang promosyon.
comes its newly-promoted Flag Officer who is the Deputy Commander Commodore Severino Vicente T. David in an arrival honor at the Eastern Mindanao Command. Commodore
David is a member of the PMA Class of 1983 and has been assigned to various positions in the AFP,” ani Caber sa Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper. (Mindanao Examiner)
Woman shot, body thrown into ravine in Zambo town PAGADIAN CITY – Police said a young woman was shot and killed by an unidentified assailant and her body thrown into a ravine in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur. Police said the woman was shot in the head with a .45-caliber in the village of Guling in Guipos town where her body was discovered. Villagers said they heard what appeared to be a motorcycle rushing in the
area and then followed by a gunshot, but did not go out of their houses for fear the assailant would also attack them. The woman, according to a police report, was wearing a striped red and white blouse and a pair of denim pants and black sandals. She had long black hair and a little less than 5 feet in height and could be around 18 or 20 years old. The motive of the killing is still unknown. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Mindanao Examiner
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 13-19, 2014
Filipino oil firm to put up depot in Maguindanao COTABATO CITY - A Filipino oil company, Iron Blaze Petroleum, Inc. is putting up a P90 million oil depot in the Port of Polloc in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The depot will have a capacity of about 9 million liters, according to the ARMM’s Regional Board of Investments. It said the company has already made two deliveries of 260,000 liters of fuel from Sabah since December, according to Shamera Abobakar, the information officer and senior investment specialist of the Regional Board of Investments. "Iron Blaze Petroleum is a Filipino company which gets its oil supply in Malaysia and they are putting up a depot in Maguindanao province, at the Port of Polloc," she told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. The Regional Board of
Investments said the fresh supply of fuel in the market was good, but it was not enough to bring down the coast of gasoline in the region which is now at P60 per liter. “The reception of the market was quiet positive as it brought fresh oil supplies (and) the next step (now) is to bring lower oil prices in Central Mindanao by increasing the volume of shipments of oil in Polloc Port and for that a bigger oil tanker boat is needed,” Abobakar said. The Regional Board of Investments said the two shipments of fuel was considered a landmark achievement for the economic linkage of ARMM with its neighboring countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia which are all part, including the Philippines, of the East ASEAN Growth Area. “Increasing economic linkage with BIMP-EAGA countries will be the trend as
ARMM transforms into the new political entity of Bangsamoro as envisioned by the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Abobakar said, adding the Department of Energy in Manila has endorsed the depot project. The MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group, is currently negotiating peace with Manila in an effort to sign an accord that would put an end to bloody fighting in the South and bring more developments to Muslim-dominated areas in Mindanao. Peace panels have signed the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement that would pave the way for a new Muslim autonomous region, replacing the current ARMM which is also composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Lanao provinces, including the cities of Marawi and Lamitan. (Mindanao Examiner)
18th Infantry Battalion soldier killed in road accident PAGADIAN CITY – Police said a government soldier was killed after his motorcycle collided head on with a car whose tire had blown out on a highway in Imelda town in Zamboanga Sibugay province in southern Philippines. Police identified the soldier as Technical Sergeant Alger Entera, 51, and a member of the well-awarded 18th
Infantry Battalion deployed in Basilan province. Entera was travelling with a minor Archie Pegrero to Ipil town from Pagadian City when the accident occurred. Pegrero was also wounded in the collision. The car, driven by Nolie Roble, overtook a motorcycle, when one the tires blew out and swerved on the
other lane of the highway hitting Entera’s motorcycle. Police said the car, owned by Rizalinda Hu, of Cebu City, had two passengers Restituto Roble and Louisa Roble, both 78 years old. They were unhurt from the accident. The car’s driver surrendered to the police after the mishap and is immediately detained.
Ilan lamang ito sa mga kaawa-awang mga refugees sa Zamboanga City na walang tirahan. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
TB society tumugon sa kahirapan ng war refugees sa Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA CITY - Laking pasalamat ng pamahalaan ng Zamboanga City sa Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc. matapos nitong payagan na matirhan pansamantala ng mga war refugees ang halos isang ektaryang lupain dito habang patuloy na inaayos ng gobyerno ang relocation program para sa kanila. Todo ang pasasalamat ni Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar sa magandang loob na ipinakita ng PTSI, isang non-stock, nonprofit, non-governmental organization na aktibo sa advocacy na mapigilan ang paglaganap at paggagamot at control ng
tuberculosis sa bansa. Isang memorandum of agreement ang nilagdaan ng PTSI at ng Zamboanga City Council upang magamit bilang pansamantalang relocation site ang malaking lupain nito sa Barangay Upper Calarian. “The City Government shall carry out the removal operations upon the termination of the agreement. The settler-families will sign a waiver of their right to continue occupancy on the property upon the expiration of the MOA,” ani Salazar. Tinatayang 100 pamilya ang lilipat sa lugar. Pawang mga biktima ito ng
labanan noon Setyembre sa pagitan ng Moro National Liberation Front at militar. Mahigit sa 400 ang nasawi at sugatan sa tatlong linggong sagupaan at apektado ang 120,000 katao sa kaguluhan na kung saan ay maraming barangay ang nasunog. Libo-libo refugees pa rin ang mga walang tirahan at hindi na rin sila pinayagan na makabalik sa kanilang mga lugar dahil mga informal setllers umano ang mga ito. Karamihan sa mga refugees ay mga taga-Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi na Matagal ng naninirahan sa Zambanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 13-19, 2014
Troops favor EMC commander as next CGPA PAGADIAN CITY – Government troops de- ippine Army. “Pabor kami kay General Cruz dahil ployed in Mindanao said they favor a decorated military commander in Mindanao as bukod sa magaling at matino at walang bahid ng anumang eskandalo at subok na the next Philippine Army chief. General Noel namin si General Cruz at talagang Coballes, the curmasipag,” one army rent army chief, is retiring on February sergeant here said. He said many at age 56 and troops in the southern resoldiers and officers gion said they want also favor Cruz because of his loyalty General Ricardo and dedication to Rainier Cruz III to service and his unsucceed as the next blemished military Commanding Genrecords and accomeral of the Philipplishments. pine Army. Cruz was Cruz, who belargely credited for longs to Class 1980 his extraordinary of the Philippine peace and developMilitary Academy, ment outreach prois the current chief gram that until now of the Eastern is being used by the Mindanao Comarmy to address the mand based in insurgency probDavao City. Prior to General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III lems in Mindanao. that, Cruz was the Under Cruz’s stint as army comcommander of the 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga del Sur province in mander and later as military commander in Eastern Mindanao, he introduced variWestern Mindanao. He also served as deputy commander ous reforms advocated the rights of indigof the 10th Infantry Division and chief of enous people and strongly supported the Task Force Davao, brigade commander President Benigno Aquino’s peace process and also an intelligence officer of the Phil- in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zambo Sibugay village chieftain killed in ambush ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Gunmen killed a village chieftain and wounded another official in an ambush in Buug town in Zamboanga Sibugay province in southern Philippines, police said. Police said Wiliro Elisan, village chieftain of Santa Cruz in neighboring Diplahan town, was fatally
shot, while his companion Juanito Encallado, the village treasurer, is wounded in the attack. The two officials were on a motorcycle driven by Reynaldo Baldicasa, a village councilman, when gunmen who were tailing them on another motorcycle, attacked them. Baldicasa was unhurt in the ambush, police said,
adding the two ambushers fled after the attack. Police investigators recovered 7 bullet casing of 9mm pistol in the area. They also recovered a .45-caliber pistol of the slain village chieftain. The motive of the ambush is still unknown, but police are investigating the attack. (Mindanao Examiner)
Contaminated Spam (Black pepper) bought at Yubengco Supermarket in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Contaminated Spam in Zambo ZAMBOANGA CITY – A grocer in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines who bought five different flavors of Spam was shocked to find that one of the cans – Black pepper – was contaminated. The shopper opened the can and saw molds inside. The 12 oz. Spam Black Pepper flavor was bought from Yubengco Supermarket a week ago. The expiry of the bottom of the can shows it is
best by June 2016 and carried production number EST199N F050134 13546. It was packed by Hormel Foods Corporation in Austin, Minnesota, United States. “I was shocked to find these molds inside this can of Spam. It was one of five cans we bought at the Yubengco Supermarket. We may change brands now following this (discovery of) tainted Spam,” the grocer said.
Two of the four remaining Spam were opened and no molds were found. Yubengco Supermarket refused to replace the tainted Spam, saying the grocer has to produce the receipt. But the victim said they do not keep supermarket receipts, and would not know whether the canned goods purchased at Yubengco is fit for consumption unless all are opened at once. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Negosyante naghagis ng bulto ng salapi PAGADIAN CITY – Isang negosyante ang naghagis ng bulto ng salapi matakasan lamang ang grupo ng mga armado na humarang sa kanilang delivery van sa bayan ng Dinas sa Zamboanga del Sur. Upang hindi mahabol ng mga armado ay naghagis ng salapi sa halagang P4,000 ang may-
ari ng Ogis Fresh Chicken na si Araceli Templado, 32, na kasama sa naturang van. Mabuti na lamang umano at hindi huminto ang driver ng van na si Joar Templado ng makita ang mga armadong nakaposisyon sa highway sa Purok Makopa ng Barangay Nangka. Galing sa bayan ng Pitogo ang grupo ni
Templado at pabalik na sana sa Pagadian City ng maganap ang insidente. Hindi naman mabatid kung pawang holdaper o kidnappers ang mga armadong lalaki. Agad rin nagsuplong sa pulisya si Templado, ngunit hindi na umano naabutan ng mga alagad ng batas ang armadong grupo. (Mindanao Examiner)
Jan. 13-19, 2014
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 13-19, 2014
Top Abu Sayyaf leader escapes military assault in Basilan BASILAN – A notorious Abu Sayyaf leader tagged as behind the spate of kidnappings and terrorism in the southern Philippines escaped a military operation on Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, officials said. Officials said Nurhassan Jamiri who was with 11 other gunmen escaped rocket attacks from a military helicopter on a sandbar at Kalang Sibubong just a kilometer away from the village of Bato-Bato in Al-Barka town. The gunmen were having a picnic when troops spotted them. The rebels escaped on a motorized boat to a mangrove area in the neighboring village of Cambug while the military dispatched a gunboat to pursue the Abu Sayyaf band, but lost them, according to Captain Jefferson Somera, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division.
“We have alerted troops and government militia forces in Basilan about the group of Jamiri. They were told to stay alert and take precautionary measures to pre-empt hostile enemy plans,” Somera told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said there were no casualties in the military operation, but the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center said two minors who were among a group of 70 picnickers were injured in the airstrikes on Kalang Sibubong. It said the victims were residents of Al-Barka town. The Mindanao Human Rights Action Center said the two victims were part of an Arabic school picnic organized by their teachers. “The victims sustained various injuries to their bodies. They were taken to St. Peter Hospital in Lamitan City for emergency medical treatment. One of the injured
was already sent home today while the other is still recovering at the hospital,” it said in a report obtained by the Mindanao Examiner. “The picnic was composed of students and teachers as well as parents. There were 70 persons who joined the picnic, as well as other civilians who were also in the beach but not part of the school excursion. According to the parents of the students, their children were traumatized by the incident. Witnesses estimated that the air strike lasted for about 30 minutes and that the shells fell around 30 meter from them,” the report said. A government official of Lamitan, who also volunteers for the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center, immediately phoned a military commander to stop the air strike as soon as he received a frantic call from the picnickers. (Mindanao Examiner)
Ang nagliyab na jeep sa Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - E. Dumabo)
Jeep sa Zambo nagliyab sa gasolinahan ZAMBOANGA CITY – Naagapan ng isang pump boy ang posibleng pagsabog ng pampasaherong jeep matapos na magliyab ang makina nito habang nagkakarga ng diesel sa isang gasolinahan dito. Bigla umanong nagliyab ang makina ng lumang jeep na minamaneho ni Cesar Isidro, 58, sa Shell gasoline station sa Mayor Jaldon Street sa Barangay Canelar.
Mabuti na lamang umano at buo ang loob ng pump boy na si Raden Parba at pilit nitong itinulak ang jeep palayo sa gasolinahan dahil sa malaking posibilidad na masunog ito o kaya ay sumabog ang jeep. Pinuri naman ng supervisor ng gasolinahan na si Henry delos Santos sa katapangan at dedikasyon sa trabaho ng kanyang pump boy at hindi nito alintana ang peligro
mailigtas lamang sa tiyak na kapahamakan ang gasolinahan at ang jeep. Dahil sa insidente ay ilang oras rin sarado ang gasolinahan at malaki rin ang inilugi nito dahil sa naganap na sunog sa jeep. Muli naman nagpaalala ang mga awtoridad sa nagkakarga ng diesel o gasolina na patayin ang kanilang mga makina habang nasa gasolinahan upang makaiwas sa sunog. (E. Dumabo)
Amok who attacked watchman, militia is killed in Zambo Norte DIPOLOG CITY – Security forces shot a man who ran amuck and attacked a village watchman and government militia with a bolo in Labason town in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga del Norte, police said. Police said James Bagioso, 26, was shot
while he was about to attack an army soldier, Staff Sergeant Edcil Salave, a member of the 2pth Special Forces Company; and militiaman Romel Francisco in Kipit village. Bagioso first attacked Romeo Patayon, 49, who was only pacifying him. Patayon was hacked in the head and rushed to hospital. Bagioso then again
challenged anyone to stop him until the soldier, along with militias and other watchmen arrived and urged him to surrender his weapon peacefully. But Bagioso attacked the group until he was shot in the legs and body. He was rushed to the hospital, but died along the way. (Mindanao Examiner)
Motorcycle gunmen strike anew in Pagadian PAGADIAN CITY - Motorcycle gunmen shot and wounded a local resident in an attack as police continue in vain to put a stop to the spate of shootings and killings in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province. The victim, Osion delos Reyes, 27, was rushed to hospital following the shooting in front of Healing Touch Massage Parlor along Datoc Street in Santa Lucia village.
Delos Reyes was talking to his neighbor when the gunmen arrived and without any warning shot him and hitting his hand and neck with the bullet exiting the cheek. The gunmen fled on a black Honda XRM motorcycle. The motive of the shooting is still unknown, but gun attacks are not uncommon in Pagadian where hired killers actively operate. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Jan. 13-19, 2014
ZAMBO, A FORGOTTEN CRISIS IN THE SHADOW OF HAIYAN
F
our months on fr om an from attack b y by rebels e ebels,, mor more than 59,000 people ar e still displaced in are Zamboanga City on the souther n P hilsouthern ippine island of M indanao the indanao,, ation's OfUnited N Nation's difice for the C oor Coor oordination of H umaniHumanitar ian Affairs said. tarian It said the refugees are living in the 10 remaining evacuation centers scattered across the port city. They are living in overcrowded conditions and have limited access to basic sanitation facilities, it said. Putli Suhaili, 45, a widowed mother of five lives at the city’s sports stadium that was turned into an evacuation centre in the days after the fighting began. She feels that her family has been forgotten. “We are having a very difficult time,” War refugees in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) she says. “There is not enough food and water, activities, like clean water and 128,000 people affected in and our kids are dying in these latrines could improve the situ- Zamboanga and on the nearby conditions. I have nowhere to ation.” provinces of Basilan, Sulu and go.” Healthcare, emergency Tawi-Tawi. Heavy fighting Destr oyed homes and estro shelter and protection are also brought Zamboanga – a city of r uined liv elihoods livelihoods priorities, say aid groups. nearly 1 million – to a standstill. Between early September Many families say they can- Over 10 percent of the city’s and mid-December, forty- not return to their homes be- population was displaced. seven deaths were reported at cause they were destroyed or An estimated 46,000 jobs the stadium evacuation cen- because their livelihoods were were lost or disrupted due to ter, almost half of them chil- lost. Boging Gamilay, is a fish- the conflict and more than dren below five years old and ermen from Mariki, a village 6,600 homes completely demost of them resulting from outside Zamboanga. His house stroyed by fire. The total daminadequate access to clean was destroyed and his boat and age is estimated at US$73.2 milwater and sanitation. More nets were burned. He is now liv- lion according to the Filipino than 20,000 people are vulner- ing in an informal camp just government. able to disease outbreaks. outside the stadium. The situation worsened in “The camps are very “Living conditions are not October when days of heavy crowded, living conditions are good here but we have nowhere rains triggered flooding across not healthy,” said Safia to go back too. My boat, house the city, submerging some Crisostomo, a Camp Manager and livelihood… everything is evacuation centres and infor the Department of Social gone now.” creasing health risks for people Mor e than $70 million in Welfare and Development, the ore living in them. damages Decongestion of lar gest government agency leading largest ev acuation cent ers the humanitarian response. The fighting between a facevacuation centers “One of our major concerns is tion of the Moro National LibThe Aquino government child health related to water- eration Front (MNLF) and gov- and humanitarian community borne diseases. Some expan- ernment forces left over 200 are now working to decongest sion in water and sanitation people dead, with roughly some of the largest evacuation
ARMM
Southern Mindanao
Davao
centers as well as schools that have been used as places of refuge. The larger ones pose increasing health risks, say government officials. Efforts are already underway to move the 3,700 people from seven schools to transitory sites so children can return to classes. However broader relocation efforts have been delayed by a lack of appropriate sites. In the longer-term, the government and aid agencies will support communities to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods and repair schools. They will also prioritize counselling services for the thousands who have been traumatized by the events of the past four months. Slo w rresponse esponse fr om donors low from In late December, the government announced the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction, a plan that will provide more than 7,200 families with longerterm support. However funding
Manila
is urgently needed to meet short-term needs. OCHA has issued repeated calls for support for this “forgotten” crisis. However, only $6.1 million has been contributed to the international community’s $24.4 million appeal. This appeal covers activities up to March this year. Some aid workers are warning that there is only a short window of time to provide people with the assistance they need. “The risk of further disease outbreaks is alarming as the sanitation and health conditions in the camps are insufficient”, said Sharon Pacaldo, a Philippines Red Cross nurse. “Urgent funding is needed to ensure these people have access to sufficient food, clean water, sanitation, shelter and livelihoods as well as to provide tools and equipment to enable them to rebuild their lives and homes,” said the United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Chris Kaye. “There is a need to start the process of rehabilitating or reconstructing schools and houses in the conflict zones, to install water and sanitation facilities and re-start long-term livelihood activities,” Kaye said. “It is time to place some attention on this forgotten emergency to ensure these people receive the continued assistance they require.” OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. It also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.
Zamboanga Peninsula