MBLT-1 sa Cotabato may bagong commander na PAGE 3
President Aquino leads Good Governance Summit
Sulu Provincial Women’s Council abala sa mga programa
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EX-SAYYAF HOSTAGE LINKS JOURNO TO KIDNAPPING
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Philippines improves ranking in Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom MANILA - The Heritage Foundation’s 2014 Index of Economic Freedom ranking the Philippines as the 89th freest in the world strengthens the Aquino administration’s resolve to continue implementing reforms, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. “ The Heritage Foundation’s recently released 2014 Index of
ARMM
Economic Freedom is yet another affirmation of the gains that our country is reaping along the straight path,” he said. Lacierda said the countr y has jumped eight more notches, from 97th in 2013, to 89th this 2014. “This jump reflects the significant improvements that our country has made in seven of the ten economic freedoms,
including significant gains in investment freedom, business freedom, monetary freedom, and the control of government spending,” he said. The Heritage Foundation also cited the “high degree of resilience of the economy” as well as the legislative reforms that have been laid down “to enhance the investment environment and incentivize broader-
Southern Mindanao
Davao
based private-sector job growth.” The factors were also cited in the 2013 report, displaying the government’s consistency in its reform agenda. The Index of Economic Freedom rates 186 countries in 10 categories of economic performance which include rule of law, regulatory efficiency, limited government, and open markets.
Manila
The Index promotes individual empowerment, free and open competition, government transparency, and equal opportunity for all. “It is worth noting that the data used in the 2014 Index were based mostly on 2012 statistics. We believe that there have been significant improvements since then despite the challenges we had to over-
come as one nation,” Lacierda said. “ The positive results of this evaluation only strengthen our admi-nistration’s resolve to continue implementing reforms founded on good governance and true public service, which are necessary prerequisites to fostering lasting and inclusive growth in the Philippines.”
Zamboanga Peninsula
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 20-26, 2014
Ex-Sayyaf hostage links journo to kidnapping
M
ANIL A-F or mer A bu S ayyaf hostage or ANILA For ormer Abu Sayyaf hostage,, JJor or-nalist B aker A tyani, has imjournalist Baker Atyani, danian jour plicated a F ilipino jour nalist whom he Filipino journalist accused of setting him up that led to his captur e b y the al-Q aeda-linked terr or ist gr oup in capture by al-Qaeda-linked terror orist group the souther n P hilippines southern Philippines hilippines.. Atyani, the Pakistan deal in the hands of his bureau chief of Al- captors and said the unArabiya television, named journalist whom sneaked into camps of he met in the Philippines, the terror group along may be involved in his with his two Filipino as- kidnapping. “I cannot accuse him sistants, Rolando Letrero and Ramelito Vela, to film directly, but there are Moro National Libera- many indicators that tion Front and leaders of make me point a finger at the Abu Sayyaf that au- him. He might have been thorities have linked to involved in kidnapping al-Qaeda and Jemaah me. I mean, he might Islamiya, but had been have known that there is taken prisoner. His two a kidnapping process, Filipino companions had and he might have been freed in February handed me to this group in order to get a share of 2013. Military and police the ransom which will said Atyani arrived in probably be paid,” Atyani Sulu on June 11, 2012 and said. He said one of those went the next day to the Abu Sayyaf with the help in the Abu Sayyaf group a local guide. The Jorda- has told him that they nian journalist had made were provided informaprior arrangement with tion about him and his the Abu Sayyaf to film a trip to Sulu. “The (Abu Sayyaf ) documentary about the man started to speak with terror group. Filipino authorities me about some of the arsaid Atyani deceived lo- rangements that precal officials after he ceded the kidnapping claimed to be filming and about the person government projects in who gave them the goal Sulu, one of five prov- or the victim, who is the inces under the Muslim journalist. I have until now evidence and I filed autonomous region. Provincial officials in the Philippines an ofhad repeatedly warned ficial lawsuit against the Atyani against interview- group, and among the ing the Abu Sayyaf, but suspected people is the the trio went ahead and journalist,” Atyani said. Atyani, a veteran secretly met with terrorist leaders, among them journalist who had clanNadzmie Alih. They were destinely interviewed alfirst reported missing af- Qaeda leader Osama bin ter failing to return to Laden before the 9/11 attheir hostel in Jolo town, tacks in the United States but phoned local officials in 2011, did not identify two days later to say that the journalist, but he met they were still filming a several Filipino journaldocumentary on the Abu ists in Manila before flySayyaf until the terror ing to Sulu, where he also met a few journalists. group detained them. Or deal Narrating his ordeal, Ordeal Speaking to Al Atyani said he was surArabiya’s Panorama pro- prised after the Abu gram, Atyani told his or- Sayyaf group told him
that he was being detained. Atyani said his mission in filming the documentary was to convey scenes of the daily life of the Muslims in Sulu to
the world. Documentar y film Documentary He said the essence of his mission was to attempt to draw the attention of the Arab, Islamic
Baker Atyani (Photo by The Manila Times) and international community to the situation of the locals in Sulu and thus help them overcome their life difficulties. “I was working on a documentary film that discussed the conditions in which the Muslims lived, and the crisis in Mindanao, the second biggest island in the Philippines which is inhabited by Muslims. The mission is to shed light on their conditions and the ongoing crisis in southern Philippines and in light of that we went to Manila, and from there one of the parties of the conflict and mainly Abu Sayyaf group, and of course there were other parties that met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, the
Government of Philippines, the army of Philippines and some Islamic political figures,” Atyani said. Atyani said Radulan Sahiron largely controls the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and that several leaders, including Rajlan Sahir and Kasman Sujan, also operate in the province and are being supported by Sahiron by providing them munitions. He said Sahir’s group held him captive and at one time was attacked by security forces and that Sahiron sent him munitions to fight the military. The boxes of ammunition had “Government Arsenal” written on it, he said. “They (Abu Sayyaf ) cooperate together in some kidnapping opera-
tions sometimes, they distribute hostages among them and when the (ransom) money comes, the main group (of Sahiron) for the kidnapping takes the ransom and as I indicated twenty percent go to first leader (Sahiron,” Atyani said. “It does not matter if the kidnapped (victim) is Muslim or non-Muslim from a foreign country, or from any other religion, they do not think about this issue, and do not care about it. What matters is that this person is a hostage and they can get a ransom because of him. The main funding source of this group is kidnapping operations and it has no other funding sources other than kidnapping and pillage,” he added. Un-I slamic n-Islamic He said the Abu Sayyaf and its actions have no relation to Islam at all. “They know nothing even about life, they know only about Islam. They know nothing about Islam, just Islam. Some of them did not come out of the jungle for 20 years. One of them was shocked and asked me if we are in 2007. I am talking about something I heard. The people are not living in this world, they live in a jungle and without knowing what is happening in the world,” Atyani said. “The issue of Islam here, the issue of being Muslim or not is not very important here, what is important is that they found a source of money, some of them used to say, yes you are Muslim, and we are very sorry for what happened, but we want the money, simply we want it. The sad thing is that the people who follow them believe that this is Islam, and this is how people deal with each other in Islam. In the West when they hear about Abu Sayyaf, they think that Muslims are terrorists,” he said. Fear During his captivity, Atyani said the Abu Sayyaf brought him a local nurse to look into his health condition and she told him that the armed group threatened to kill his family if she will not come to the Abu Sayyaf camp. “I remember that I got sick lately, so they brought me a nurse into the woods, and she told me that she has been living in fear and terror because of them since 2003 and if I do not come at the time they asked, they would kill my family, there is a threat against her family, living in the same island, in the same area. If she does not come at the time set by the gang, they would kill her family,” Atyani said. Atyani said an Abu Sayyaf translator, who spoke English to him eventually fled after the group discovered that he was helping him plot his escape. “They were prepared to kill him, he knew
this and managed to escape and moved to another island, it is a gang, they kill the person who does not accept to be governed by them or doesn't want to abide by the agreement or their way of life,” he said. He said he also saw children carrying automatic rifles during his captivity. “You see a child carrying an M16 weapon that is longer than him. I witnessed that, it is a shame for a person to see this, to see people living without education, without any target in life, with only goal that is kidnapping. They used to say to each other, if you want to get married, kidnap someone and with the ransom money, you can get married. If you wanted to buy clothes or a new mobile phone, kidnap someone and you can buy whatever you want. Kidnapping has become a source of livelihood the only source of livelihood for them,” he said. Atyani said he was constantly moved from one hideout to another – eleven times in three different areas during his captivity and stayed in bamboo houses or slept on hammock. He said civilians fear the Abu Sayyaf and was forced to cooperate with them. “They are people whom Abu Sayyaf group imposed itself upon them, and there are some people who cooperate with them, but they do not do it because they love them or they are convinced with their views, but because they fear them,” he said. Atyani said he was not harmed by the Abu Sayyaf despite his attempt to escape twice, but the psychological torture of being a prisoner, he claimed, had affected him. At the end of the program, when Atyani was asked if he would still go back to the Southern Philippines after his harrowing ordeal, he said: “I do not think that I was performing a press assignment, I was looking for the truth. I would never regret the fact that I was looking for the truth, so on the contrary, I will continue this mission that we believe is a noble mission and I am personally convinced about it. There is no doubt that this was a hard experience and tragedy, but it made me stronger and increased my faith in the necessity to convey the truth and the honest word to the viewers.” The Philippine military previously said it would arrest Atyani for espionage after security officials started investigating the true intention of his clandestine interview with terror leaders in Sulu, but it shelved the plan for a still unknown reason. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 20-26, 2014
Ang turn-over of command ng Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 sa Cotabato City sa Mindanao na kung saan ay itinalaga si Lt. Col. Ronaldo Juan bilang hepe ng Philippine Marines doon. Pinalitan ni Juan si Col. Custodio Parcon, Jr. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Mark Navales)
MBLT-1 sa Cotabato may bagong commander na COTABATO CITY – Pormal ng umupo sa kanyang puwesto si Lt. Col. Ronaldo Juan bilang bagong hepe ng Philippine Marines sa Cotabato City sa Mindanao. Pinalitan ni Juan si Col. Custodio Parcon, Jr, bilang commander ng Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, na itinalaga naman sa Palawan province. Mismong si Philippine Marines Comman-
dant, Maj. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, ay nagtungo sa Cotabato City upang pangunahan ang turnover ceremony. Nagpasalamat naman si Parcon sa pamunuan ng Philippine Marines at maging sa pamahalaang-lokal at publiko sa suportang ibinigay sa MBLT-1 sa ilalim ng kanyang liderato. Gayun rin si Juan, nagpasalamat rin ito kay
Tanalgo sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob sa kanya bilang bagong commander ng MBLT-1. Nangako naman si Juan na lalo pang pagiibayuhin nito ang kanyang pamunuan sa Cotabato City. Malaki ang naitutulong ng MBLT-1 sa peace and order situation sa Cotabato City at sa ibat-ibang programa ng Philippine Marines na naaayon sa isinusulong
Davao mayor’s daughter fined for over speeding DAVAO CITY – Traffic enforcers fined a former mayor in Davao City in southern Philippines after being flagged down for over speeding. Lawyer Sara Carpio was driving at least 60 kilometers per hour, way above the 40 set by her father, lawyer Rodrigo Duterte, the current mayor of Davao City. Carpio paid a fine of P1,000 and got back her li-
Atty. Sara Carpio cense which was seized by a traffic enforcer. The
former politician said she was not aware that the speed limit is 40 kilometers per hour. Duterte signed the Executive Order 39 last year that sets the speed limits in Davao to prevent accidents due from reckless driving and over speeding. Davao, under Duterte’s political rule, is one of the safest cities in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at ng pamahalaang Aquino. (Mark Navales)
Gunmen rob lending firm employees GUNMEN held up two employees of a lending firm and took their collections in the town of Ipil in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga Sibugay, police said. Police said Jennylyn de Jesus, 27, and Maximino Barcillano, 26, were on a motorcycle when gunmen stopped them on the highway near the village of Upper Pangi. The two are employees of the firm called KFI. The victims told police that three gunmen were involved in the robbery and the gunmen also took a gold bracelet, 10 passports and their personal belongings. Police are investigating the incident.
3 Police tag Abu Sayyaf behind ambush MAGUINDANAO – Police have tagged the Abu Sayyaf as behind the recent ambush on a convoy of patrol cars in the souther n Philippine province of Sulu. Gunmen ambushed the convoy in Luuk town and sparked a 45 minute firefight that wounded three policemen. Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, the provincial commander, who was in the convoy, said they were attacked by a small band of Abu Sayyaf gunmen that eventually swelled to about 400 after armed supporters of the terror group blocked the village of Tanduh Bato to prevent them from getting out. He said two wanted Abu Sayyaf gunmen have been positively identified by the police as among those who ambushed them. The fighting was so fierce that police managed to hold their ground until police reinforcement arrived, but the gunmen broke into smaller groups and dispersed. Some of those who survived the ambush also denied media reports released by the military in Sulu that the clash was between police forces and government militias. The militar y also said
that soldiers were accompanying the police convoy when it was attacked and that the clash was only brief. The military also said that the wounded policemen were rushed to a marine hospital in Jolo town, but the police dismissed all military statement and claimed the reports were simply not true. “We were on our own and we stood our ground and fought the attackers for 45 long minutes. Our wounded were brought to a civilian hospital in Jolo,” one policeman said. “Higher authorities can investigate or ask my companions or our superiors so they would know the truth.” In May 2009, the police commander of Sulu, Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim and three of his aides and a brother, were killed in an ambushed staged by Abu Sayyaf group in Maimbung town. Kasim had been in the front line in battling the Abu Sayyaf. The Abu Sayyaf, which means “Bearer of the sword,” has been linked by authorities to the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya and is blamed on the spate of bombings in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga ferry escort drowns ZAMBOANGA CITY – A government militia assigned to escort a ferry fell off the vessel while docked at a wharf in the town of Olutanga in Zamboanga Sibugay province, police said. It said Rober to Morano, 41, was apparently drunk when he fell off the ferr y MV Ever Sweet. His body was recovered by 2 civilian divers hired by the com-
pany. Police said witnesses spotted Morano, a native of Zamboanga City, walking near the edge of the ferry when he lost his balance and fell to the sea. The crew of the ferry tried to rescue him, but they failed to find him in the water until the company decided to hire the two divers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Jan. 20-26, 2014
Gunmen tagged behind Zambo Sur fire PAGADIAN CITY – Police are investigating reports that gunmen were spotted on a village in Zamboanga del Sur’s Labangan town shortly before a mysterious fire gutted five houses there. Police said the fire broke out in the village of Noburan and estimated the damage at around P2.5 million and that one of the houses was owned by a former mayor of the town, Kitty Nandang. The rest of the houses were owned by Remedios Surdilla, Jaime Lumusad, Mary Jean Banagan and Florencia Cotongan. The fire allegedly started in the house of Surdilla and quickly spread to the neighbor-
hood. Police said the fire could be a case of arson and that the gunmen were probably behind it. The identities of the armed men were not immediately established. But another police report said Nandang's caretaker, Victor Galgan, allegedly shot and wounded Joy Ponce, 25. Police said Galgan barged into the house of Ponce and was looking for the woman's husband and shot her when he did not find him there. Galgan fled after the shooting. It was unknown whether the attack was connected to the fire. (Mindanao Examiner)
President Benigno Aquino delivers his speech during the Good Governance Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. (Photo by Rey Baniquet)
President Aquino leads Good Governance Summit MANILA - The Philippines on Wednesday opened the Good Governance Summit in Manila where President Benigno Aquino and his administration marked the country’s successes in governance reform. The summit drew many of the country’s key stakeholders in good governance and gathered champions of
2 Iranians accused of harassing journalists in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police detained 2 Iranian nationals who harassed local journalists covering a government order closing the foreigners’ illegal roadside eatery in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Television journalists accused the foreigners Abdel Kamal and Mohammad Mohaimi of threatening them and for breaking their video cameras while authorities were serving the closure order of the eatery for operating without a permit. "Mohammad Mohai-
mi and Abdel Kamal were detained at the Zamboanga City Police Office for public disturbance. Investigation disclosed that the duo were inside the videoke house located along Pilar Street, while thereat, Mohammad Moahimi was too noisy, thus, created disturbances inside the videoke house, while Abdel Kamal collard the reporter of RMN Radio Station, identified as Paul John Gotib. His camera was damaged by Abdel Kamal. Both Iranian nationals are de-
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
Alan Navales North- South Cotabato Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat
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
tained at the Zamboanga City Police Office. Appropriate charges will be filed against them in court," a police report said. The Iranians also verbally abused the chief of the local licensing division, Benjie Barredo, for the closure order. Barredo inspected the establishment after receiving several complaints against the foreigners. The eatery was earlier padlocked for several violations, but the foreigners continued on with their operation. They also put up a karaoke in the eatery which was not included in the original business permit. The journalists said their outfit will file charges against the two foreigners. The Zamboanga Press Club condemned the attack on the journalist. (Mindanao Examiner)
reform in both the public and private sector, as well as leaders in the development industry, civil society and members of the academe. Local and international experts in government transparency, public procurement, and members of the public will likewise comprised the event’s speakers and participants. "The Summit is not just a celebration of the progress we have so far made in instituting transparent, accountable, and participatory governance. More crucial is its forward-looking approach, where we look at the challenges of bureaucratic reform square in the eye—as daunting as they are—and use our experience in the previous four years to overcome these same challenges." “While it’s true that we’ve accomplished much in our campaign to reform government, so much still remains to be done. The Good Governance Summit is essentially an expression of our continuing readiness and commitment to effecting fruitful transformation in the Philippine bureaucracy,” Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said. Some highlights of the event included the ceremonial turnover of the Cashless Purchase Card as well as the official launch of Open Data Philippines. The Cashless Purchase Card program is a joint effort
between the Aquino administration and Citibank, through which the government’s financial transactions will be made entirely through electronic means instead of cash or checks. The Cashless Card will function in much the same manner as a corporate credit card, which government employees and offices can use for their procurement needs. The launching of the pilot phase of the Cashless Purchase Card system will be implemented across three agencies - the DBM, the Department of National Defense, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “The bureaucracy’s dependence on petty cash and checks for various official purchases has unfortunately made many of our financial transactions prone to abuse and corruption. The Cashless Purchase Card will strike at the root of these irregularities by allowing government to enter into transactions through purely electronic means, and within a system that’s updated in real-time, easy to monitor, and completely trackable. Best of all, it makes the subsequent auditing and accounting process much quicker, easier, and more transparent,” DBM Undersecretary and Chief Information Officer Richard Moya said. Meanwhile, Open Data Philippines will be the single and comprehensive portal
for government data, with more than 400 data sets spanning all departments and agencies made accessible to the public through http://wwww.data.gov.ph. "The official launch of Open Data Philippines underscores the exact same spirit of openness and participative governance that President Aquino’s reform agenda is founded on. With hundreds of data sets now accessible to anyone with an internet connection, the public can now take a better look at government data and subject them to closer scrutiny. Are government agencies fulfilling their targets? Are we spending public funds properly so that basic services are promptly and efficiently delivered?" “The information in Open Data Philippines can help answer these and many other questions, and we believe that the accessibility of this information will help spur public engagement further, so that more and more Filipinos will become our partners in instituting lasting reform,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. Other highlights in the event included the presentation of results of the 2013 Annual Enterprise Survey on Corruption, the presentation of the Seal of Good Local Governance, and the presentation of Public Financial Management Reforms under the Aquino administration.
Jan. 20-26, 2014
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The Mindanao Examiner
Sulu Provincial Women’s Council abala sa mga programa
Si Hajja Nurunisah Tan ng Sulu Provincial Women's Council sa panayam sa mga mamamahayag sa lalawigan ng Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
P
atulo y ang magagandang mga pr ogr ama ng atuloy progr ograma on ouncil at ngay Prr ovincial Women omen’’s C Council ngayon Sulu P taon ay inihahanda na nito ang mga bagong pr oy ekto na ilulunsad sa lalawigan upang pro makatulong aming mga mahihir ap at maraming mahihirap m akatulong sa mas mar nangangailangan. Matatandaan na ang ang nangangalap ng Sulu Provincial Women’s pondo upang magamit sa Council ang siyang mga programa at mga nanguna sa pagpapadala prayoridad nila. “Target namin ng maraming tulong at relief aid sa mga refugees babaan ang maternal sa Zamboanga City death rate kung kaya’t evmatapos ng kaguluhan er y Sunday may free doon sa pagitan ng Moro clinic kami at medicines National Liberation (kaming ibinibigay) at we Front at militar noon attend to mothers and children. nakaraang Setyembre. Malaki rin dito ang Abala ngayon ang mga miyembro ng Sulu percentage ng maternal Provincial Women’s rate at bumababa na rin Council sa pangunguna kami sa municipal level, ni dating First Lady, Hajja sa RHU (Regional Health Nurunisah Tan, sa mga Unit) at tulong-tulong lahat para ibat-ibang medical mis- kaming sion at feeding program bumaba talaga ang masa koordinasyon sa Inte- ternal rate,” ani Hajja grated Provincial Health Nuriunisah sa mga Office at iba pang sector. mamamahayag. P r ogr ama Maging ang mga kaso ograma Tinututukan na rin na may kinalaman sa Reng Sulu Provincial public Act 9262 o VioWomen’s Council na ma- lence against Women and kontrol ang maternal their Children Act of 2004 mortality sa lalawigan, ay tinututukan rin maiigi Sulu Provincial ayon kay Hajja Nur u- ng nisah, na isang registered Women’s Council sa nurse at butihing may- pakikipagtulungan sa bahay ni Vice Gov. Sakur Department of Social Tan, na todo-supor ta Welfare and Developnaman sa programa ng ment. “Actually ang data eh naturang grupo. Sinabi ni Hajja nasa DSWD, pero mula Nurunisah na sila mismo ng mag open kami ay ev-
ery week mayroon cases ng VAWC, tapos mga child abuse, one or two (cases) every week at pag nag complain ang victims at may mga witnesses sila ipakukulong talaga namin. May isang bata nga talaga na puro pasa dahil yun sa step father na tumakas pero hinabol talaga ng mga pulis dahil nag-complain ang mother kaya ngayon nasa jail siya,” salaysay naman ni Hajja Nurunisah. Supor ta uporta Maging ang kahirapan sa lalawigan ay ginagawan na rin ng paraang ng Sulu Provincial Women’s Council upang matugunan o mabigyan ng pagkakakitaan ang mga kababaihan. Noon nakaraang buwan lamang ay nangako umano si Gov. Mujiv Hataman na tutulong sa mga programa ng Sulu Provincial Women’s Council, partikular sa pagtatatag ng mga maliliit na negosyo para sa mga kababaihan. “Pover ty, yun ang pinakamalaking problema dito kaya nga last December 24 ay nandito si RG (Regional
Governor Hataman), sabi ko sa kanya tulungan mo kami kasi yun mga kababaihan dito eh walang hanap-buhay... almost 80% walang hanap-buhay at nasa bahay lang tapos yun mga asawa nila minsan wala rin hanap-buhay so at least ang sabi ko sa (pamamagitan ng) tulong ninyo eh makakapaglagay ng mga small scale na mga businesses at pwede na natin tulungan sila kahit papaano..mga vendors matutulungan natin,” wika pa ni Hajja Nurunisah. Todo naman umano ang suporta ni Gov. Hataman at ipinangako rin nito na maging ang kanyang asawa na si Rep. Djalia Hataman ay tutulong rin upang maisa-ayos ang mga programang. Pangkabuhayan Ayon kay Hajja Nurunisah ay tinanong siya ni Gov. Hataman kung anong programa ang kailangan sa Sulu at sinabi nito na livelihood ang mahalaga para sa mga kababaihan. “Dito sabi ko livelihood (program) so yun nga nagkatugma dahil yun din daw ang plano ng misis (Rep. Djalia
Hataman) niya...small scale businesses... vending, papahiram ng capital tapos small businesses, mga vendors, tapos every week sabi niya kahit konti lang ay dapat may return (ng capital) at hindi yun dole out para naman hindi sabihin na dole out o bigay lang yan, so ang iba eh hindi na nila gagamitin para sa business kasi bigay naman ito, so ang labas eh hindi dole out at maghanapbuhay sila... talagang residente sila ng area na yan at namo-monitor namin na hindi yun come and go na bibigyan mo ng konting halaga eh hindi na babalik dito sa Jolo o hindi namin alam kung ang municipality, hindi , so we will involved all the 19 municipalities lahat yan at may kanyakanyang papel yan kung anong plano ang gagawin namin na makakapaghanap-buhay talaga sila and at saka may returns na yun returns every month may iba na naman grupo ang matutulungan,” wika ni Hajja Nurunisah. “When I brought out the plan of small-scale business (for the women), so sabi (ni RG) pagbalik ng asawa niya
gusto nilang makipagusap sa amin para daw lahat ng tulong sa kababaihan ididirekta na sa Sulu Provincial Women’s Council at sinabi ko na I can assure you na pag Sulu Provincial Women’s Council ay talagang makikita ninyong implemented (ang mga proyekto) at sabi ko monitored kasi,” dagdag pa ni Hajja Nurunisah. “Sa ibang province daw ay marami silang naibibigay tapos hindi masyadong namo-monitor at tapos wala na raw at hindi na nila alam kung ano ang nangyayari kung nandiyan pa ba ang pera o kung may natulungan o wala at sabi ko (naman) I can assure you na lahat ng officers ko, head of offices ang sabi ko, ang members ang mga mayors lahat babae...puro president ng municipalities nila so nakaka-monitor talaga kami kung ano ang mga activities namin.” Suportado naman ng mga mayors ng lalawigan at iba pang mga sektor ang programa ng Sulu Provincial Women’s Council na aktibo sa ibatibang mga proyekto dito. (May dagdag na ulat mula kay E. Dumabo)
The Mindanao Examiner
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 20-26, 2014
9 NPA sumuko sa Mindanao DAVAO CITY – Inanunsyo ng militar na 9 rebeldeng New People’s Army ang umano’y sumuko sa Mindanao kasabay ng panawagan ng pamahalaan sa mga ito na bumalik sa batas at mamuhay ng mapayapa kasama ang kanilang pamilya. Sinabi ni Capt. Alberto Caber, ang spokesman ng Eastern Mindanao Command, na 3 rebelde ang sumuko sa 39th Infantry Battalion sa Sitio Balagonon sa Barangay Managa sa bayan ng Bansalan sa Davao del Sur. Maging ang mga automatic rifles na ibinigay sa kanila ng NPA ay isinuko rin ng mga rebelde sa militar. Kinilala naman ni Caber ang mga sumuko na sina Charlie Pasco, Jeffrey Pasco at Guiller Ombaoy. Inamin umano ng tatlo na ang matinding kahirapan ng buhay sa bundok ang siyang dahilan kung bakit silang napilitang sumuko sa pamahalaan.
Nahimok umano sila ng NPA na sumanib sa kilusan kapalit ng kung anu-anong pangako, ngunit lahat umano ito ay pawang mga pang-akit lamang upang makakuha ng recruit. Sinabi ni Caber na sa Lake Sebu sa South Cotabato province ay 6 pang mga rebelde ang sumuko rin sa mga tropa ng 27th Infantry Battalion sa Barangay Tasiman. Kabilang sa mga ito ay ang tea leader ng NPA na nakilalang si Rudy Sawang at ang vice tam leader na si Anita Dalugan at kanilang mga tauhan na sina John Tomo, Lemuel Nalon, Luna Kaong, at Dina Daludo. Sila umano ang nasa likod ng maraming pagtatag ng mga kilusan sa South Cotabato at kabilang sa mga nagrerecruit sa mga magsasaka at sibilyan, gayun rin sa mga kabataan na sumanib sa NPA. Kasalukuyang iniimbestigahan ng militar ang mga sumuko at pinuri
naman ni Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III ang mga sumuko dahil sa ipinamalas nilang katapangan upang makapagbagong buhay. Maging ang mga tropa ay pinuri rin ni Cruz dahil sa pagpupursige nitong mahimok ang mga rebelde na sumuko at mamuhay ng mapayapa. “The dedication and discipline shown by the (army’s) peace and development teams responsible in the surrender of the rebels is a big accomplishment itself because this clearly shows the trust and confidence of the community to our Bayanihan efforts and to the sincerity of the Aquino government in bringing peace and development in Mindanao,” ani Cruz. Matagal ng nakikibaka ang NPA upang maitatag nito ang sariling estado sa bansa. (Mindanao Examiner)
Rebels raid town
SARANGANI TOWN – Communist insurgents torched heavy equipment used in government road projects in the southern Philippine province of Sarangani, officials said. Officials said New People’s Army soldiers struck in the village of Daan Suyan in Malapatan town and failed extortion was likely motive of the attack. “The constr uction equipment is being used
in road projects by the local government,” Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said the rebels escaped after the burning the equipment, but Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cr uz III, the regional army commander, deployed troops from the 72nd Infantry Battalion to pursue the raiders. “I encourage every-
body to help our soldiers and police elements in their efforts against NPA extortion and attacks on civilians and their properties. These attacks are a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law,” Cruz said. The rebel group, which is fighting for a separate state, is a signator y to the accord. (Mindanao Examiner)
Emergency personnel attend to a motorcycle crash victim in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Man seriously injured in motorcycle crash in Zambo City ZAMBOANGA CITY – A motorcycle rider was seriously injured after he rammed on a tricycle on a busy road in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Emergency workers rushed the unconscious man to the hospital after stabilizing his vital condition in the village of Guiwan just several meters away from the provincial bus terminal. Tricycle driver Balao
Intang, of Arena Blanco, said he the motorcycle rammed his vehicle and hit him on the side pinning his leg. “I was hurt when that motorcycle rammed by vehicle. The driver was speeding as you can see that marks on the road over there,” Intang said, pointing to the skid mark on the middle of the road. Intang said he lost control on his tricycle and also hit another tricycle, but
none of their passengers were hurt. The identity of the injured motorcycle rider was not immediately known, but blood was seen on the road where the man landed. The impact of the collision was strong that he was thrown off his motorcycle. It was unknown if the victim was using a crash helmet while driving his motorcycle on the wet road.(Mindanao Examiner)
11 people wounded in grenade blast near burning North Cotabato school COTABATO CITY – At least 11 people were wounded in a grenade explosion during a fire inside a school compound in the southern Philippines, officials said. Officials said the explosion occurred near a fire engine which was among that responded to the fire at the guard house of Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Tech-
nology in North Cotabato’s Arakan town. “Civilians were helping put out the fire when the explosion occurred. Investigation is going on,” Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said troops from the 57th Infantry Battalion
rushed to the town to help local police secure the area. He said among the wounded was a policeman. Other reports said as many as 2 dozen people were injured in the grenade explosion. Police said the grenade was lobbed near the crowd just several meters away from the fire truck. (Mindanao Examiner)
8
The Mindanao Examiner
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)
Jan. 20-26, 2014
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Mga vendors sa labas ng Ateneo de Zamboanga University. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jan. 20-26, 2014
Storm surge destroys 200 houses in Sulu
Chief Superintendent Mario Yanga, of the regional police force, shows a photo of an alleged gun-for-hire Denver Cabuyao as behind the 2012 killing of Dr. Arturo Eustaquio III, President and Chairman of the Board of the Universidad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - E. Dumabo)
Police identifies killer of university president ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have tagged a hired killer as behind the murder of a university president in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Before he retired, Chief Superintendent Mario Yanga, of the regional police force, said Denver Cabuyao, who has several aliases, was behind the 2012 killing of Dr. Arturo Eustaquio III, President and Chairman of the Board of the Universidad de Zamboanga here. He said Cabuyao is cur-
rently in jail in Zamboanga Sibugay province after police captured him for the murder of a tourism official, Jocelyn Luna, in Tungawan town in November last year. Yanga said they have filed criminal charges against Cabuyao, a resident of Arena Blanco village in Zamboanga City. Police are still investigating Cabuyao to determine the motive and mastermind in the murder of Eustaquio, who was shot several times by one of two motorcycle gunmen near
his home in Santa Maria village here. Police had offered a P100,000 bounty for anybody who could help or lead authorities to the identities of Eustaquio’s killers or the mastermind to the murder. The killing drew strong condemnation from various civil groups and organizations. The spate of gun attacks and killings are not uncommon in Zamboanga where hired killers actively operate. (With a report from E. Dumabo)
SULU – More than 200 houses were destroyed following a storm surge on the coastal town of Jolo in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials said. Officials said at least 236 families were affected by the storm surge brought about by a low pressure area over much of the region. There was no immediate report of casualties, but the surge also damaged a portion of the Port of Jolo. Nearly 200 passengers were also stranded in the port after authorities cancelled all boat trips due to the dangers posed by huge waves. Fazlur-Rahman Abdulla, executive director of the Sulu Area Coordinating Council, said they are collecting other reports from various coastal towns and island municipalities affected by the bad weather that had already killed more than a dozen people across Mindanao. “Governor Totoh Tan has inspected the damage brought by the storm surge and we are still awaiting reports from other areas so we
can assess the extent of the damage and help those affected by the calamity,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner by phone from the Sulu province. The Department of Social Welfare said it would send some 2500 relief packs to families affected by the storm surge in Jolo. There was no immediate statement from Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin. In Mindanao, a government militia assigned to escort a ferry fell off the vessel while docked at a wharf in the town of Olutanga in Zamboanga Sibugay province, police said. It said Roberto Morano, 41, was apparently drunk when he fell off the ferry MV Ever Sweet. His body was recovered by 2 civilian divers hired by the company. Police said witnesses spotted Morano, a native of Zamboanga City, walking near the edge of the ferry when he lost his balance and fell to the sea. The crew of the ferry tried to rescue him, but they failed to find
him in the water until the company decided to hire the two divers. A policeman’s son is also missing after their jeep overturned while trying to cross a flooded spillway in Zamboanga del Sur. Officials said the policeman, PO1 Nemesio Batingal, and 12 other passengers, survived the accident which occurred in the village of San Jose in Mahayag town. The jeep was also loaded with bags of fertilizers when strong river current swept the vehicle. The missing boy was identified as Cyrus Jade Batingal while those who survived were Jerson Bacus, 19; Jervy Bacus, 18; Julito Paraiso, 52; Alberto Tejero, 38; Elizer Gaed, 31; Tarot Untag, 37; Roger Managing, 44; Alvin Parba; Derio Alvarico, 53; Edward Marababon, 36; Roel Quizon, 25; and a still unidentified person. Police said 10 of the passengers just hitched a ride so they can cross the swelling river. (Mindanao Examiner)
Police intercept marijuana shipment in Zamboanga airport Airpor t police intercepted a cargo of marijuana after it passed a routine security inspection in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said. Officials said the marijuana was concealed in several plastic bags along with coffee and milk powder and bound for the town of Jolo. The cargo, passed through a courier company, LBC, was shipped from Las Pinas City by Abdusahar Albi with Nadzmer
Murajam as its consignee. Police made no arrest, but officials said investigation is going on to determine whether the names on the package were fictitious or not. Officials said the illegal cargo is estimated to be around P1 million. Marijuana is still illegal in the Philippines and listed as among dangerous drugs whose medical usage and sale are strictly prohibited. Just late last year, police arrested two men Mohammad Daud and Salim Sabtari - who tried
to smuggle some 20 kilos of illegal drugs called shabu, also methamphetamine hydrochloride, at the Zamboanga airport. The men were supposed to fly to the capital town of Bonggao in TawiTawi to deliver the drugs in Sabah, Malaysia when it was intercepted. The drugs were hidden in milk boxes when discovered by airport police. Daud and Sabtari arrived on November 7 in Zamboanga City from Manila where the drugs originated. (Mindanao Examiner)
Lalaking gustong makatikim ng kapit-bahay binoga ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Isang lalaki ang binoga ng live-in partner ng kanyang kapit-bahay matapos nitong pagtangkaang gahasain ang bebot sa bayan ng Buug sa Zamboanga Sibugay province sa western Mindanao. Patay agad dahil sa tama ng shotgun si James Fajardo, 26, matapos na birahin ni Gary Arpal, 28, ng marinig nito ang sigaw ng paghingi ng saklolo ng kanyang live-in partner sa kanilang bahay sa Barangay Muyo. Pinasok pala ni Fajardo ang bahay ng magatab ng makitang wala doon si Arpal. Sinunggaban pa umano no Fajardo ang
babae at tinangkang takpan ang bibig nito upang hindi na makasigaw, ngunit narinig naman ito ni Arpal na noon ay pauwi naman sa kanilang bahay. At ng matunugan ni Fajardo na dumating si Arpal ay agad itong lumabas ng bahay upang makatakas, ngunit sinalubong naman siya ng putok ng shotgun sa katawan na siyang ikinamatay agad nito. Mabilis naman tumakas si Arpal matapos ng krimen at ngayon ay pinaghahanap ng pulisya. Hindi naman agad mabatid kung maghahain ba ng demanda ang pamilya ni Fajardo sa pagkamatay nito. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Jan. 20-26, 2014
PINAY CAREGIVER IS X FACTOR CHAMP IN ISRAEL
Filipina caregiver Rose Fontanes sings in this screen shot from YouTube of the finale of X Factor Israel. (Mindanao Examiner)
F
ilipina R ose F ostanes came to IIsr sr ael sev er al Rose Fostanes srael sever eral years ago to wor k as a car egiv er ow, R ose work caregiv egiver er.. N No Rose Fostanes is a bona fide rreality eality TV star in her host countr y IIsr sr ael, after she was declar ed the wincountry srael, declared ner actor IIsr sr ael". Factor srael". ner of the "X F Fostanes' younger sis- tion to many, particularly ter, Nancy, and long-time overseas Filipino workers partner, Mel Adel, were (OFWs). brought to Israel by the Many OFWs in Israel show and were present voted for her, and thousands during the finals night. expressed their support for After she entered the her via social media. top 3 following the elimi"Thank you for giving nation of the group Fusion, me the chance to be in the Fostanes also sang the Ali- 'X Factor Israel,'" the 47cia Keys hit song, "If I Ain't year-old overseas Filipino Got You," with her mentor worker turned singing senShiri Maimon. sation said. She was part of "Thank you so much the show's "Over 25s" catfor those Israeli who like egory. my voice...thank you for Placing second was giving me the chance to be Eden Ben Zaken (Girls catin the X Factor Israel," egory), and third was Ori Fostanes said after she Shakiv (Boys category). won. She also thanked the She has been one of the thousands of Filipinos who favorites to win the reality supported her. show's first season, with per"I love you, I'm so formances regularly lauded proud of you," said by the show's judges. Maimon. For the final showdown, Placing second was a she sang "My Way" by Frank young female singer, Eden Sinatra, and Alicia Keys' "If Ben Zaken, who was I Ain't Got You" in a duet mentored by rock singer, with her mentor Shiri Rami Fortis. Maimon. Osang, as she is fondly Her rendition of "My called by close friends, Way," with an orchestra as continues to be an inspira- her backup, got a standing
ARMM
ovation from the judges: rock singer Rami Fortis, singer and composer Moshe Peretz, pop singer Ivri Lider, and Maimon. Fostanes was once part of a faceless crowd of foreign workers who clean homes and tend to Israel's sick and elderly. But her success and shot to stardom drew much surprise. Belting out hit songs by the likes of pop stars Queen and Christina Aguilera, Fostanes surprised Israeli viewers and swept the judges of the Israeli X Factor off their feet with her soulful renditions and swinging beat. Fostanes said the show had turned her world upside down. "Being in the X Factor really changed my life because before I had a very low self-esteem and now I got a good confidence for myself and I got friends and people love me on the street and I got many compliments from them, good compliments," she told Reuters. There are about 20,000 Filipinos working legally in Israel, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, with most working as cleaners
Southern Mindanao
Davao
and caretakers for the elderly and disabled. So much so in fact, that in Israel the word "Filipino" is often considered synonymous with "caregiver". Fostanes, 47, said she has been working for about 20 years across the Middle East, and came to work in Israel four years ago. She had always wanted to be a professional singer, and the Israeli X Factor, she said, gave her a final shot at a dream she hoped could inspire others. "Being in this competition, I think I that I am, how do you say this, I will be a leader for them because of what I did," she said, referring to her compatriots and fellow caregivers. "I think also they will be proud of me, and they will be - and everybody in the world will know that Filipinos, even working as a cleaner, or whatever a foreign worker can also share their talents and they can also be a part of a big event like this," she added. At first, Fostanes said, she thought Israelis would not vote for a foreign worker and that she would be an
Manila
underdog in the competition, in which viewers and a panel of judges comprised of four Israeli musicians determine at different stages which contender moves up and which gets dropped. But, to her surprise, the votes, cast via text messages or on the show's website, kept on coming in, and have catapulted Fostanes to celebrity status in Israel. "I think she made an amazing journey here in Israel and I think the Israeli people gave her so much strength, and now she believes in herself," she told Reuters Television. "She knows that she can be a singer, she needs to stand on a stage, to perform, that's what she needs to do and hopefully she is going to be one of the best singers in Israel," she added. Fostanes told Reuters there were still things she needed to return to even after winning the competition. "But I have to go back to my work as a caregiver," she said. Fostanes has been compared to Scottish singer Susan Boyle, 52, who shot to fame in 2009 after appearing
on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent" and performing a flawless rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables." In southern Philippines, many Filipinos also watched Fontanes' final performance on YouTube and were awed by her great voice and talent as she sung before a jampacked crowd at the finale of the X Factor Israel. "She's really good and she touched the heart of not only many Filipinos or OFWs working in Israel and elsewhere, but the heart of every Israelis and the Filipino nation as a whole," said housewife Virginia Toledo in Zamboanga. "Nearly moved (me) to tears by the magnificent performance of Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes in her beautiful rendition of 'My Way'...Mabuhay! You make Filipinos proud," newspaper editor Al Jacinto, said on his Facebook account. (Reuters. With a report from Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula