Philippine Navy sends Alcaraz for biggest Aussie war games
Charter change to open floodgate to 'wholesale' amendments PAGE 2
Rumors of attacks, kidnappings spark panic in Zambo City
Korean peace advocate visits China in historic journey
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Power corrupts P-Noy
OFWs oppose proposal to extend Aquino's term
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Ramon Bautista (Photo courtesy of Ramon Bautista Facebook fan page)
D
edma lamang ang militar sa lumalawak na suporta ng ilang grupo mula Mindanao sa ISIS o Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” na siyang kinakatakutan ngayon sa Iraq at Syria. Sa Lanao del Sur ay ilang mga grupo ang sinasabing sumusuporta sa ipinaglalaban na Islamic caliphate ng ISIS at nais rin ng mga ito ang kapareho sa Mindanao na dating nasa ilalim ng pamumuno ng mga Sultan. Bagamat hindi agad matukoy ang laki ng puwersa o ang bilang ng mga sumusuporta sa ISIS sa Lanao at sa ibang bahagi ng Mindanao ay marami naman ang hindi sangayon sa pagka-brutal ng naturang grupo sa kanilang pananakop sa Iraq at Syria. Sa sobrang brutal ng ISIS maging ang Al-Qaeda ay ayaw na dumikit sa kanila. Pinalaya rin ng ISIS ang maraming Sunni prisoners sa Iraq na nakulong matapos na sakupin ng Amerika ang nasabing bansa. Nakadagdag pa sa galit ng ISIS ay ang kalupitan ni Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, na isang Shiite, at
kamakailan lamang ay nagresign ito. Pawang mga Sunni ang karamihang miyembro ng ISIS sa Iraq at Syria at maging mga dating sundalo ni Sadda, Hussein ay sumanib na sa nasabing Katipunan na ngayon ay may malawak na kontrol sa malaking bahagi ng dalawang bansa. Nasa kamay na rin ng ISIS ang ibat-ibang armas, kabilang ang mga missiles at tangke, na noon ay nasa pangangalaga ng Iraqi at US forces. Maging ang mga oil fields sa Iraq at ang yaman ng bansa ay bihag rin ng ISIS na naglalayong palawakin pa ang kanilang teritoryo na Islamic caliphate. Kamakailan lamang ay pinugutan ng ISIS ang isang bihag nitong Amerikano na si James Foley, isang freelance photojournalist, bilang ganti sa panghihimasok ng kanyang bansa sa kaguluhan sa Iraq. Dinukot si Foley noon November 2012 sa Syria habang nasa isang assignment para sa online news website na GlobalPost. Sinabi naman ni dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos na mayroon 100 mga Pilipino ang sumama sa ISIS sa Iraq, ngunit dedma lamang ang
militar sa naturang pahayag at wala umanong kumpirmasyon ito. Ngunit maging ang Abu Sayyaf sa ilalim ni Isnilon Hapilon ay nakiisa na rin sa ISIS at nagpahayag na ng kanilang suporta sa grupo. At pati ang Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters sa Central Mindanao ay nagsabing sinusuportahan rin nito ang ISIS. Parehong Islamic state ang ipinaglalaban ng dalawang grupo sa Mindanao na ngayon ay siyang kumukupkop sa ilang mga lider ng Jemaah Islamiya at Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia. Kinondena naman ni Saudi Arabia Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh na ang ISIS at Al-Qaeda dahil sa kanilang pagiging brutal at tinawag pa itong "enemy number one of Islam" at walang kinalaman sa pananampalataya. "Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilization, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims," ani ng Grand Mufti sa pahayag na inilabas ng Saudi Press Agency. (J. Magtanggol)
Mga umano'y supporters ng ISIS ideology sa Lanao del Sur bitbit ang kaparehong bandera ng ISIS sa isang rally kontra Israel aggression sa Palestine. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
ARMM
Southern Mindanao
Davao
‘Hipon’ N
abagansya ng husto si “Science of Stupid” host R amon Bautista sa kalagitnaan ng Kadayawan Festival matapos nitong sabihin na maraming “hipon” sa Davao City. Ang “hipon” ay isang street slang na ang ibig sabihin ay “babaeng sexy, ngunit pangit ang mukha” na sinabi ni Bautista habang naghohost ito, ngunit hindi naman nagustuhan ni Vice Mayor Paulo Duterte ang pangiinsulto ng komedyante sa mga kababaihan dito. Mabilis rin humingi ng tawad si Bautista sa mga manonood sa “Kadayawan Invasion” sa Crocodile Park matapos itong sitahin ni Vice Mayor Duterte. Ngunit dineklara naman ng City Council na “persona non grata” si Bautista at tinanggap naman ito ng aktor. “I respect the decision of the Davao officials, and I will abide by it,” ang huling tweet ni Bautista matapos na ito’y mabalitaanan. Naunang nag-tweet si Bautista na: “Unanguna po, tinatanggap ko po na ako ay mag nagawang pagkamali sa event sa Kadayawan na iki-offend ng mga tagaDavao at iba pa po nating mga kababayan. Humihingi po ako ng Paumanhin sa aking
nagawa. Tatanggapin ko po kung anumang maging consequence o kahinatnan ng pagkakamaling ito. Taospuso po akong nagpapakumbaba sa pagpapaumanhin at humingi ng kapatawaran sa inyong lahat.” Sinabi naman ni Mayor Rodrigo Duterte na masuwerte si Bautista dahil kung naroon umano siya ng sabihin nitong “maraming hipon sa Davao” ay baka nasampal nito ang komedyante. “Everyone, whether you are a Tagalog, Bisaya, Muslim or Bicolono, you should avoid the slur kasi maraming magagalit niyan. Balita ko kasi si (dating) Mayor Sarah (Duterte) nag-react (rin)...ang hipon kasi is a slur sa Maynila, ang hipon parang maganda ang katawan pero ang mukha pangit, yan Maynila kasi eh usonguso.” “You know yun sensitivity ng tao when you talk lalo na mga ganoon, lalo na sa ibang lugar eh it’s always the sense and sensibility, kaya dito mag(ing) careful, dito (sa Davao) maraming tao, kasasabi ko lang eh dito maraming mga Lumad, Muslim at Kristiyano (kung kaya’t dapat) respeto pati pakikisama, do not demean or degrade anybody, as long as you are a human being you must (respect) yun dignity ng
Western Mindanao
Cebu
tao. Ang balita ko nag react daw si Vice Mayor Pulong (Paulo) and I do not blame him kasi kung ako ay naroon din ay baka masampal ko pa. Mahirap eh yun ganoon lalo na yun babae, mga babae mainsulto, so my advise kahit saan ka pumunta iwasan mo talaga yan. Eh dito buti na lang ganoon eh kung may mga Muslim doon na babae...the most sensitive dito sa mga ganoon eh yun mga Muslim at kapag nagkamali ka eh talagang papatayin ka,” ani Mayor Duterte. Hindi naman agad mabatid kung paano makakaapekto kay Bautista ang pagiging persona non grata nito, ngunit tiyak dito ay hindi na ito makakaraket sa Davao ito. Maging ang mga diumano’y sponsors ni Bautista sa Davao kabilang ang ayosdito.ph, Napoleon Nazareno ng Smart Communications, at Andrew Santiago ng radio station Magic 89.9 - ay binigyan rin ng kopya ng (persona non grata) resolusyon ng City Council. Panandalian naging host ng “Science of Stupid” sa National Geographic Channel si Bautista ngunit hindi naman mabatid kung bakit agad rin naputol ito. (Mindanao Examiner)
Manila
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Aug. 25-31, 2014
Charter change to open floodgate to 'wholesale' amendments MANILA - Opposition lawmakers warned that any form of Charter change now whether it be economic or political is dangerous because it will open the floodgate for any or wholesale amendments to the Constitution. Allies of President Rep. Neri Colmenares Benigno Aquino proposed said its proponents want to to amend the Constitution open up aspects of not only to address its eco- economy that are not yet nomic provisions, but also liberalized, deregulated or to extend his term and to privatized. All their talk accommodate the provi- about supposed inclusive sions on the expanded growth is just designed to Muslim autonomous re- sugar coat the fact that the gion under the Bangsa- neo-liberal policy would moro Basic Law. mean more disadvantages
for the people - higher unemployment rates, displacement of peasants from their lands, higher prices for basic commodities and depressed wages. "Itaga man sa bato kapag nailusot ang Charter change, maliban sa term extension at pagpilay sa Supreme Court, tataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo. Garantisadong mas hihirap ang buhay ng mga Pilipino," he said.
Rep. Carlos Zarate said that the proposed Charter change now in Congress would certainly open the gates for lobby money of big foreign corporations to flood in Congress and Malacanang. At the same time it would mean more foreign plunder and bureaucratic corruption. Zarate strongly denounced the blatant interference in the country’s internal affairs by American,
European and other foreign chambers of commerce by ramming into our throats the Constitutional amendments. The foreign chambers are the spearhead of the pro-imperialist and antiFilipino Charter change lobby but they cannot do it without the consent of the President and Congress serving as a willing tool, he said. "If this Charter change succeeds then we are going
to be more at the mercy of big foreign business groups that wants to buy our country and unscrupulous politicians who are all too willing to sell it. It may not be long that we may become squatters in our own country because foreigners would own most if not all of it; we will become a new colony by multinational foreign masters. It is therefore imperative that we must do all we can to stop it," he said.
SC has new Associate Justice
City Hall photo shows Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar during the recent inauguration of a new market complex.
New Zamboanga City Market Complex Inaugurated ZAMBOANGA CITY Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar led the inauguration of the new market complex which is expected to boost the local government rev-
enue. Local market vendors have welcomed the inauguration of the new and modern complex located in downtown Zamboanga. The complex houses 9
new market buildings with complete rest rooms and other amenities. A total of 240 original stall holders are expected to occupy the complex. (Mindanao Examiner)
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino has appointed Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The 64-year old Jardeleza replaced Associate Justice Roberto Abad who retired in May. “President Aquino has appointed Solicitor General Francis H. Jardeleza as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The appointment was transmitted to the Supreme Court,” a government spokesman Herminio Coloma, Jr., said. He said Jardeleza bested four other nominees for the post - Court of Appeals Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas and Jose Reyes Jr.; Commission on Audit Chair Grace Tan, and Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Reynaldo Daway. Jardeleza had served as the Aquino administration’s Solicitor General since February 2012, following his stint as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon from July 2011 to February 2012. He graduated salutatorian/cum laude from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1974, then he placed third in the bar exams the same year. In 1977, he obtained his Masters of Law from the Harvard Law School. Jardeleza has practiced law for more than three decades. He joined Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz (ACCRALAW) in 1975. He made partner in 1981 and became the Chairman of the ACCRALAW Litigation Department. After earning
Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza his master’s degree, he trained in securities, litigation, and public offerings as a foreign associate in the New York law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell. He left ACCRALAW in 1987 and founded Jardeleza Sobreviñas Diaz Hayudini and Bodegon, where he started practicing labor law. In 1990, he established the Jardeleza Law Offices as a solo practice. He joined Roco Buñag Kapunan Migallos and Jardeleza in 1992 as partner, and headed the litigation and labor law practice groups. His varied exposure has enabled him to gain a wide experience in litigation, appearing before the regional trial courts and administrative agencies. Furthermore, he has also employed his litigation skills for pro bono work. In 1996, he became Senior Vice President and General Counsel of San Miguel Corporation, a position he held up to June 2010, when he opted for early retirement. As General Counsel, he broadened his practice, this time specializing in mergers
and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, securities, intellectual property, and corporate governance. He is a professorial lecturer in Constitutional Law at the U.P. College of Law, where he has lectured since 1993. His other fields of interest in the academe are Civil Procedure and Administrative Law. He has also been a lecturer at the U.P. Law Center in Commercial Law, and in various Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) forums on governance. He is presently writing a treatise on “The Constitution and the Laws on Libel” as part of the U.P. Law Centennial Textbook Project. He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. In 1997, he was also admitted to the New York State Bar and the US Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He is active in alumni activities, both at the U.P. College of Law and at the University of the Philippines - Visayas.
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Aug. 25-31, 2014
Philippine Navy sends Alcaraz for biggest Aussie war games
Personnel on board BRP Ramon Alcaraz make most of the remaining minutes calling their families and love ones while their mobile phones has still signal. Just 30 minutes after the ship’s recent departure from Subic en route to Australia, the signal was lost. The Filipino ship will participate in Exercise KAKADU.
MANILA – The Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) has sailed recently to participate in the multilateral naval exercise dubbed as “Kakadu 2014” from August 25 to September 12, 2014 at Northern Australia Exercise Area. The exercise is participated by 180 strong personnel that include the crew of PF 16, the crew of helicopter Augusta Westland PNH431, medical team, and the exercise directorate members. Rear Admiral Isabelo Gador heads the event. KAKADU is the largest international maritime exercise hosted biennially by
the Royal Australian Navy and represents an opportunity to promote and enhance regional interoperability and cooperation among the participating navies. This year’s exercise will be participated by 12 countries - Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Pakistan and Australia while Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vanuatu, South Korea, and India will be sending personnel as observers. This is the second time the Philippine Navy has sent its ship to participate since the exercise began in 1993.
The first time that the Philippine Navy sent a ship was in 1999. The Philippine Navy’s participation is expected to enhance its surface warfare capabilities and interoperability with regional navies. It will also be an opportunity for the Philippine Navy to enhance cooperation, camaraderie, and good working relationship with the participating navies. Its participation in multilateral exercises is an affirmation of its commitment in collaborating with other navies to promote peace and stability in the maritime region.
Aquino leads commemoration of Ninoy's death anniversary PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on led the commemoration of the 31st death anniversary of his father - former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. Aquino and his sisters Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris, attended a mass last week at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. But this turned into politics after the priest - Presidential Security Group chaplain Monsignor Daniel Tansip - prayed that Aquino should stay longer in power so he can continue the reforms in government. “Let us ask the Good Lord for continuous guidance, for the grace and strength, so that we may be able to continue our mission to serve and be always part of the straight path our beloved President is determined to push through,” he said.
“Kung ako lang po ang masusunod, ako’y isang ordinaryong pari lang, on this personal note: Sana hindi na matapos iyong paglilingkod ng ating mahal na Pangulo, para tuluytuloy pa r in ang magandang nasimulan sa pagtutuwid at pagtatama ng daan,” he added. The Constitution only allows one term of six years for the presidency, but Aquino said he is open to amending the Charter to allow him to extend his term, among others. But various civil groups and progressive organizations criticized Aquino for trying to prolong his presidency. “We may talk endlessly of the contributions of Ninoy in the struggle against the dictatorship and his selfless dedica-
tion to the ideals of a democratic nation but more importantly, we are compelled by a higher political circumstance to launch intensified mass actions for the reason that a looming dictatorship is in the offing,” said Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, Secretary General of Sanlakas and Kongreso ng Maralita ng Lungsod. Aquino’s dictatorial tendency, Pedrosa said, “may have been fanned by his utter pigheadedness to salvage his declining popularity, the entire political system of patronage elite politics by resurrecting the pork barrel system in the 2015 budget and his own self from prosecution after his term ends in 2016”. Gie Relova, of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, said: “We, the ordinary wageearners, loyal taxpayers
will suffer the heaviest brunt if Aquino succeeds in amending the Constitution. Economically, our wages will continue to deteriorate, the govern-
7th Halad sa Kabataan sucessful CEBU - The Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children has recently showcased the 7th Halad sa Kabataan, which carried the theme, “Pagpasigarbo sa Katakus sa Batan-ong Sugbuanon”, as part of Cebu Province’s 445th Founding Anniversary. This year’s Halad sa Kabataan was held on August 15 at the Capitol Grounds. Halad sa Kabataan is an annual activity that gives children the opportunity to embrace and show their love for Cebu’s culture and heritage through traditional music. It is also a chance for them to hone and display their talents. Young artists from local government units in the province showcased their talent with seven participants in guitar duet, nine participants in vocal duet competition, and five groups
playing the rondalla. Mandaue City guitar players Glyze Allen Marie Bordadora and Henry Hude Maningo were selected grand champions. The contestants from San Remigio and Carcar City got the 2nd and 3rd place slots, respectively. In the vocal duet competition, Mike Angelo Allaga and Rachel Anne Caramugan of Consolacion were declared as grand
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champions. “We’re proud and happy to have been selected as winners among so many very good players. We never expected to win because we felt that there were better than us,” said Allaga. Caramugan said they practiced their winning piece entitled “Bitoon Mo” for a week and it was hard for them to get the blend of the song. Caramugan is in Grade 8 while Allaga is a Grade 9 student. Both are students of Consolacion National High School. Mariella Linea Enad and Jessical Villarubin of San Fernando and Rex Anthony Suico and Cathy Capangpangan of San Remegio got the 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively. The Tayuktok Children’s
Rondalla of Argao was selected the grand champion for the rondalla category. Talisay City Rondalla and CBSAA Rondalla Ensemble of Bogo City got the 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively. Each winner received a cash prize and a trophy. Meanwhile, Governor Hilario P. Davide III expressed his gratitude to Vice Governor Agnes Magpale for the success of the event. Instead of giving a message, he just serenaded the audience with a song titled “Greatest Love of All” by George Benson. Magpale, in her speech, said that the program is really intended for the children and to discover their talents. She added that the Halad sa Kabataan will be held annually. (Lee De la Cerna)
ment’s tactic is to depress wages to sub-human standards in order to attract investors. Truth be said, the ASEAN nations shall not compete in
terms of superior products and services but shall compete only in lowering labor costs to get the nod of exploitative multinationals.”
Kidnappers free Zambo school supervisor KIDNAPPERS have released a school supervisor after more than eight months in captivity in the southern Philippines, police said. Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, a regional police spokesman, said Rudy Luna was freed last week in the town of Tukuran in Zamboanga del Sur province. Luna told police investigators that he was transported by four gunmen on two motorized boats and abandoned him at a local wharf and walked alone until he reached his brother’s house. “The kidnapped victim was fetched by the members of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Group and Zamboanga Del Sur Provincial Police Office and subsequently brought to Pagadian City Medical Center where he is now confined,” he said. Samuddin did not say if ransom was paid by the family to the kidnappers in exchange for Luna’s safe release. Luna is the supervi-
sor of the Kumalarang Central Elementar y School. He said Luna and his wife Tessie were both seized by eight gunmen inside their house in Zamboanga del Sur’s Kumalarang town in January, but the woman managed to escape and told authorities about the incident. Police captured one of the alleged kidnappers Ryan Tumalas, 22, during a follow operation in Kumalarang’s Picanan village. Tumalas was tracked down by the police after a village councilman Virgilio Bayona spotted him acting suspiciously and phoned the authorities. Luna’s wife has identified Tumalas – a native of Zamboanga del Norte’s Siayan town - as among 8 gunmen who barged in their house. It was unknown whether the man is a member of a rebel group or a kidnapping syndicate. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Guard killed in failed heist in Zamboanga
776 OFWs escape Libya MANILA - At least 776 Filipino workers in war-torn Libya have recently arrived safely in Manila as the government continues its effort to bring as many Filipinos out of there. “Ikinalulugod naming ibahagi ang ulat ng Department of Foreign Affairs hinggil sa maayos na pagbabalik ng 766 na Pilipino mula sa Libya,” a government spokesman Herminio Coloma, Jr said. Coloma said the repatriated Filipinos where first brought to Malta via chartered ship, then flown to Manila via Philippine Airlines through the cooperation of the DFA, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration. He said the government is committed in bringing home Filipinos from Libya as the heavy fighting between rival militias continues. He said the government continues to urge Filipinos in Libya as well as their relatives in the country to coordinate with authorities to bring them home safely. “Nananawagan muli ang pamahalaan sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na nananatili sa Libya na makipag-ugnayan sa embahada sa Tripoli at magparehistro na para matulungang makabalik sa bansa sa lalong madaling panahon,” Coloma said.
Rumors of attacks, kidnappings spark panic in Zambo City ZAMBOANGA CITY – False text messages warning of impending rebel attacks and kidnappings targeting school children have triggered panic among residents in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Parents rushed to schools to fetch their children after rumors spread quickly that kidnappers would strike in Zamboanga and this despite public pronouncement by the local police not to believe these reports. Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar has repeatedly appealed to the public to remain calm and sober in an effort to douse the rumors. She told residents to refrain from spreading unverified cell phone text messages. “Please refrain from
forwarding unverified text messages as these sow panic and confusion. Despite the challenges, Zamboanga City situation remains normal. Reports about security threats in schools are negative.” “Our police and military remain in control of the situation as they exhaust all means to curb all forms of lawlessness. Barangay officials and volunteers and the public in general are urged to help keep peace and tranquility. Let us remain vigilant, but calm,” she said. Local police Angelito Casimiro also made a similar appeal to the public. He said it was unknown who started the false text messages. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) 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 EDITOR: Ely Dumaboc/ Jun Feliciano 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
Aug. 25-31, 2014
DPWH Regional Secretary Emil Sadain (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
DPWH inaugurates road projects in Maguindanao THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways have inaugurated two road projects worth some P40million in the town of Parang in Maguindanao province in the Muslim autonomous region. Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain and Mayor Ibrahim Ibay, of Parang town, officially opened the P30-million, three-kilometer road linking Parang to the
neighboring town of Barira and another access road worth P10-million that leads to the Padang-Padang Adventure Park. The inauguration of the road projects was among the highlights of the culmination of the 67th founding anniversary of Parang town where other infrastructure projects are still ongoing in several villages, including the improvement of the Polloc port.
Troops pursue Sayyaf gunmen GOVERNEMNT troops continue to pursue Abu Sayyaf militants tagged as behind last week’s attack that wounded a total of eight soldiers in Basilan province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an army spokesman said. Capt. Franco Suelto, of the 1st Infantry Division, said soldiers tracking down Abu Sayyaf militants headed by Puruji Indama, who ambushed an army truck in Ungkaya Pukan town. The attack sparked a 15-minute gun battle near Sungkayot village, he said, adding, there were no immediate reports of enemy
casualties. The clash occurred just a day after security forces arrested two wanted Abu Sayyaf militants – Nur Hassan and Ustadz Alih – in Zamboanga City. The two, both natives of Basilan, were being investigated by the police in Zamboanga City. Authorities did not say whether the two men were on a mission or planning to launch attacks in Zamboanga, where suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen recently kidnapped a grocery owner, Michelle Panes, in Labuan village. (With a report from Ely Dumaboc)
POLICE continue to search for the lone gunman who shot dead a security guard during a failed robbery at a copra trading station in downtown Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Police said the attack occurred at the Luzon Copra where the security guard Renato Bendanillo, of the JKB Republic Security Agency, was fatally shot by the gunman. Bendanillo was shot once in the abdomen and
the gunman also tried to shoot the owner of the establishment Fredrick Chua, but the pistol jammed. Police said the assailant has escaped to Sulu province where he is also being hunted down. A surveillance camera managed to record the whole incident and police appealed to the public for the identity of the attacker. (Mindanao Examiner)
Ex-militia killed, wife hurt in ambush ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR – Motorcycle gunmen ambushed three family members on another motorcycle and killing the 51year patriarch in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said. Police Rolando Vics, a former government militia, was killed in the attack and his wife, Leticia, 49, had been shot and wounded in the arm. Their son, Marlon, was un-
scathed from the attack which occurred near a bridge at Sitio Alegre in Lower Landing village in Dumingag town. The gunmen fled after the shooting. Police said it is investigating the motive of the attack or if communist rebels were involved in the ambush. The province is a known stronghold of the New People’s Army rebels fighting for a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
5 hurt in explosion COTABATO CITY – At least 5 people were hurt in an explosion in Cotabato City in southern Philippines, police said. Police said the explosion occurred near a public square, but it was unclear whether the blast
was from a fragmentation grenade or homemade bomb. The wounded were rushed to hospital and police said they are investigating the blast or who was behind it. (Mindanao Examiner)
SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO
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Korean peace advocate visits China in historic journey A KOREAN part of his WAR veteran, 13th Peace World Tour Man Hee Lee, who repto spread resents the the message of Heavenly peace. TerCulture World Peace ritorial disputes in Restoration Asia and of Light - a denuclearnon-profit, ization on non-governthe Korean mental interpeninsula national orwere the ganization two topics and his world discussed peace delduring the egation, have forum. The recently eminternabarked on a tional mehistoric sixdia, includday journey ing the Chito China nese media where he had a meeting Korean veteran Man Hee Lee, of Heavenly Culture World Peace - Central with Zhang Restoration of Light, receives an award from Zhang Meiying, Radio StaMeiying, the Vice President of the National Committee of the Chinese tion, China Vice Presi- People's Political Consultative Conference, during his tour in D a i l y News, and dent of the China which started on August 14, 2014. National Committee of the meetings were held - on Au- People’s Daily, covered the Chinese People's Political gust 17, he had a meeting peace forum and the activiConsultative Conference, to with the President of Social ties of Lee. The visit coindiscuss peace on the Korean and Population Manage- cided with the 70th anniverPeninsula and Northeast ment Graduate School of sary of the end of World War Renmin University of China II. Last January, Mr. Lee Asia. At the Great Hall of the and held a press conference brought peace to the warPeople in Beijing, Lee urged with the media on the topic torn region of Mindanao in southern Philippines where leaders of every country to of peace. The next day, a peace fo- religious conflicts between sign a peace agreement that will bring the cessation of rum was hosted with various Catholics and Muslims war and world peace. Fol- national and community caused over 10,000 casuallowing Lee’s speech, Zhang leaders to discuss how to ties. This time around before agreed to his claim and an- achieve peace in Northeast visiting China, the represennounced she will also strive Asia and the world. A high- tative of HWPL hosted a for peace in China. profiled delegate who par- Peace Walk with about Inspired by his speech ticipated in the forum men- 12,000 participants in and work for peace, the tioned that the world peace Zamboanga City and Zhang granted Lee the pres- can be achieved when the showed the world that world tigious Peace Advocate of people of Korea and China peace is possible. (With a rebecome one and focus on port from the Mindanao ExWorld Peace award. During Lee’s visit to the work of peace. aminer Regional NewspaLee’s visit to China was per) China on August 14, various
Aug. 25-31, 2014 Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Ninth Judicial Region BRANCH 19 Pagadian City
MILAGROS JAIME
CIVIL CASE NO. 5003-2K13 -forCOLLECTION OF SUM OF MONEY WITH DAMAGES
Plaintiff, -versusAZRALF MANUPAC, Defendant.
SUMMONS BY PUBLICA TION PUBLICATION WHEREAS, plaintiff throught counsel filed with this Court a verified complaint for Collection of Sum of Money with Damages againts defendant AZRALF MANUPAC, the vital portion of which is quoted as follows: "C OMPL AINT "COMPL OMPLAINT The plaintiff, to this Honorable Court, most respectfully alleges: 1. The plaintiff is of legal age, married, Filipino and a resident of Binayan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines, whereas, the defendant is likewise of legal age, Filipino and a resident of Upper Campo Islam, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines, where both parties maybe served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court; 2. The defendant is a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and a close family of the plaintiff, as such, plaintiff response trust in him; 3. That on July 3,2011, the defendant borrowed the amount of Sixty Thousand Pesos (Php60,000.00), Philippine Currency, from the plaintiff with a promise to pay on July 7, 2011, the photo copy of the promissory note is hereto attached marked as Annex "A and made as part of this complaint; 4. That on July 7, 2011, the defendant failed to pay the plaintiff instead be issued check on July 19, 2011, in favor of the plaintiff in payment of the aforementioned amount of indebtedness but the check bounded and up to this point in time, the defendant did not pay the plaintiff, the photo copy of the check is hereto attached marked as Annex "B" and made as part of the pleading; 5. Likewise, on July 7, 2011, the defendant took Two Hundred Sacks (Bags) of rice from the Sepada Rice and Corn Mill in the equivalent amount of Three Hundred Forty Thousand Pesos (Php340,000.00), Philippine Currency guaranteed by the plaintiff with a promise to pay upon the release of the calamity fund of Combo, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur but upon verification said calamity fund was already released. The land title of the plaintiff was put up as a guaranty by way of Real Estate Mortage, photo copies of the promissory note, the real estate mortage and land title of the palintiff are hereto attached marked as Annexes"C","D" and "E" and made as part of this complaint; 6. That series of verbal demands were made to the defendant to pay all the above-stated indebtedness but likewise, series of promises to pay were answers of the defendants; 7. That on April 16, 2013, the plaintiff have formally demanded from the defendant to pay all the above-stated indebtedness but up to this point in time, plaintiff was never heard from the defendant and/or ignored the demand of plaintiff, photo copy of the letter of demand is hereto attached marked as Annex "F" and made as part hereof; 8. That through the acts of the defendant, plaintiff will be compelled to engage the services of a lawyer from Twenty (20%) percent to Thirty (30%) percent as embodied in the IBP Revised Schedules of Minimum Fee for lawyers, Series of 1999-2001 of the total amount demanded as Attorney's Fee; 9. Likewise, plaintiff will be spending the amount of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php15,000.00) as litigation, necessary and incidental expenses in the filing of this case and coming back and forth to this Honorable Court; 10. The defendant should be sentenced to pay exemplary damages to be determined by this Honorable Court during trial on the merits. WHEREFORE PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that judgement be rendered in favor of the plaintiff and againts the defendant to wit: a. Sentencing the defendant to pay plaintiff the amount of Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php400,000.00) plus Ten (10%) Percent monthly interest as embodied in the real estate mortage; b. Ordering the defendant to pay plaintiff the amount of Twenty (20%) percent to Thirty (30%) percent as the case may be as attorney's fee; c. Sentencing the defendant to pay exemplary damages to deter others from doing the same act as that of the defendant to be determined during the trial on the merits. Plaintiff prays for such other relief and remedies consistent with law, justice and equity in the premises. Pagadian City, Philippines, April 26, 2013. (SGD) MILAGROS JAIME Plaintiff VERIFICA TION AND CER TIFICA TION OF NON-FOR UM SHOPP ING VERIFICATION CERTIFICA TIFICATION NON-FORUM SHOPPING (As rrequir equir ed)" equired)" WHEREAS,on June 30, 2014, the Court issued an Order directing plaintiff to publish her Complaint againts defendant Azralf Manupac including the Summons issued by this Honorable Court dated November 5,2013 in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City for three (3) consecutive weeks. WHEREAS, by virtue of the Order of the Court dated June 30, 2014, SUMMONS in the aboveentitled case is now issued and served upon the defendant thru publication. NOW, THEREFORE, in compliance with the Order of this Court dated June 30, 2014, you defendant, AZRALF MANUPAC, whose present exact address is unknown, is required to file with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 19, Pagadian City, your responsive pleading within SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF LAST PUBLICATION OF THIS SUMMONS, otherwise, the plaintiff will take judgment againts you and demand from this Court the remedies and reliefs prayed for in said petition. Let this Summons be published at the expense of the plaintiff in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks. WITNESS the HONORABLE ROMEO T. DESCALLAR Presiding Judge of this Court, this 30th day of July, 2014, at Pagadian City, Philippines.
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The Mindanao Examiner
Aug. 25-31, 2014
Barangay chairman at marines, 2 iba pa tigok sa atake PAGADIAN CITY – Apat na katao ang napaslang kamakailan sa hiwalang na atake sa Zamboanga del Sur province, ayon sa pulisya. Patay ang isang barangay chairman at ang kanyang asawa matapos silang pagbabarilin ng tatlong armadong kalalakihan sa bayan ng Dumingag. Himalang nakatakas naman ang kanilang dalawang anak na may edad 3 at 9 habang pinapatay sina Arlon Luceñara, 46, at Mary Jane Tablon Luceñara, 35. Hindi pa nasiyahan ang mga salarin ay pinagsasaksak pa nila ang mga biktima bago tumakas.
Nabatid sa pulisya na naganap ang pamamaslang sa Barangay Dilud kamakalawa ng umaga, ngunit hindi pa malinaw ang motibo sa atake. Nakilala naman ang isa sa mga salarin na si alias Tisoy Enlab. Shot gun umano at patalim ang ginamit ng mga salarin sa pamamaslang sa magasawa. Sa bayan naman ng Pitoto sa naturang lalawigan ay niratrat rin ng di-kilalang salarin ang isang marines na si Merjun Disapor, 22, at ang kasama nitong si Renell Alastra habang nasa inuman sa isang gym. Pinasok umano ng
salarin ang gym at saka tinira ang dalawa gamit ang isang M16 rifle at napatay agad si Alastra, samantalang si Disapor naman ay binawian ng buhay habang isinusugod sa pagamutan. Walang motibo na maiisip ang pulisya habang patuloy ang imbestigasyon sa kaso. Nabatid na si Disapor ay naka-assign sa bayan ng Indanan sa Sulu province. Parehong residente ng Pitogo ang mga biktima. Hindi mabatid kung may kinalaman ang New People’s Army sa pamamaslang sa dalawang magkaibigan. (Mindanao Examiner)
OFWs oppose proposal to extend Aquino's term MANILA Filipino workers in the Middle East have rejected any term extension for President Benigno Aquino and branded it as a desperate move to hang into power. "We will certainly oppose President Aquino's term extension either via Charter change or by declaring martial law if he is that desperate just to remain in office beyond his term limit," said John Leonard Monterona, the Riyadh-based regional coordinator of MigranteMiddle East (M-ME). Aquino's term ends on 2016, but his allies led by Interior Secretary Mar
Roxas are pushing lawmakers to amend the Constitution that would give the president another six years in office. But this early, citizens were enraged by the proposal and vowed to fight any attempt to prolong Aquino's stay in office. Monterona said Aquino has miserably failed to address woes of overseas Filipino workers. "Our opposition is grounded on a simple equation that if Aquino remains in office, the number of broken families, victims of forced migration, and OFWs abuses and maltreatment will in-
Shabu itinago sa sandals, nasamsam Z AMBOANGA CITY – Nasamsam ng Philippine Dr ug Enforcement Agency ang mahigit sa P2 milyon halaga ng shabu sa Panabo City matapos itong ipadala sa LBC mula Zamboanga City. Nakatago sa mga sandals na pambabae ang mga shabu, ngunit natunugan naman ng PDEA ang pagdating nito sa Panabo matapos na makatanggap ng impormasyon. Ipinadala umano ang package ng isang Antis Mariana ng
Barangay Baliwasan Tabuk at kinuha ito ng tricycle driver na si Ruel Raes. Nakipagtulungan naman ang LBC sa PDEA kung kaya’t ng kunin ni Raes ang package ay doon bumungad ang mga shabu na nakatago sa sandals. Iniimbestigahan pa ng PDEA si Raes at kung paanong nakalusot sa Zamboanga City ang LBC package na may laman shabu. (Mindanao Examiner)
crease directly proportional to the number of peddled OFWs now numbering to 4,800 daily leaving the countr y from 3,800 since he assumed presidency in 2010," he said. “Aquino is the number one exporter of cheap Filipino labor via the government’s lucrative labor exportation program. His government remains too dependent on billions of OFWs remittances that set a yearly record high of about 21-B US dollar last year,” Monterona added. He said the Philippine economoy under Aquino remains "export-oriented, import-dependent" and "it is even worst now because OFWs are merely treated as commodity for export thus thousands of OFWs have been victims of abuses and maltreatment abroad."
Sinubong village chairman Rolando Soler Jr. receives the Philhealth insurance cards from Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng Climaco” Salazar. The Philhealth cards are intended for indigent residents in the village. Salazar also distributed school bags to Grade 7 students of the Sinubong National High School. (Photo by Joey Bautista)
Zambo City releases P21-M health insurance for poor residents ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng Climaco” Salazar has allocated some P21 million for the renewal of Philhealth insurance cards of 8,857 mostly indigent beneficiaries here. Salazar distributed the health cards Wednesday to the villages of Limpapa, Labuan and Sinubong. Just recently, she also distrib-
uted health cards in the village of Manicahan. Other beneficiaries of the City Governmentsponsored Philhealth program are village officials, including local village watchmen, members of the village intelligence network and government militias, among others. Salazar said the program is an affirmation that
villagers are given importance by the local government. The distribution of the Philhealth cards in Limpapa, Labuan and Sinubong coincided with the distribution of school bags to high school students in the said barangays. The bag distribution is a personal advocacy of Salazar.
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The Mindanao Examiner
Government militia ambushed in Zambo Sibugay ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Police said unidentified gunmen ambushed a government militia in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay. The victim, Roberto Fabuesa, 31, died instantly
from the August 17 attack which occurred along the highway near Purok Gemelina in the village of Tenan in Ipil town. Police said Fabuesa, a native of Lapaz village in Naga town, was traveling on a motorcycle when
gunmen attacked him. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the ambush, but the province is a known stronghold of the communist rebel group New People’s Army. (Mindanao Examiner)
Videoke singer binaril ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – Isang lalaki ang sugatan matapos itong barilin habang kumakanta sa isang videoke house sa bayan ng Rizal sa Zamboanga del Norte province. Kinilala naman ng pulisya ang suspek na si Elmer Culanag, 36, at dating
bilanggo. At ayon sa pulisya ay nasa kalagitnaan ng pagkanta si Noel Saycon, 40, ng pasukin ni Culanag ang Videoke house at saka binaril sa hita gamit ang isang kalibre-22 at saka tumakas. Naganap ang pamamaril kamakalawa ng
hapon sa Barangay San Roque. Agad naman dinala ng kanyang kaanak sa pagamutan si Saycon. Hindi pa mabatid ang motibo sa pamamaril, ngunit posibleng hindi nagustuhan ng suspek ang boses o pagkanta ni Saycon. (Mindanao Examiner)
Rebels execute farmer in Zambo del Sur ZAMBOANGA CITY – New People’s Army rebels executed a farmer in the town of Midsalip in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, police said. Police said Liberato Lodiomon, 47, was killed at
rice field in the village of Piwan. Lodiomon was shot four times and died instantly. The communist rebels also left a note for his family and villagers to see, but police did not give any details about its content. The
note was signed by Ka Boki, who identified himself as a member of the NPA. The NPA has been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
Aug. 25-31, 2014
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2 marines shot in Southern Philippines TACURONG CITY – Two marine soldiers, who were on a break, had been shot in separate attacks, in the southern Philippines, police said. Police said Private Janry Boston, 24, was killed inside a rest room of a gas station in Tacurong town in Sultan Kudarat province by a still unidentified assailant. Boston, a native of Esperanza town in Sultan Kudarat province, was assigned in Sulu province. The motive of the killing
is still unknown, but police said prior to the attack, the soldier had an altercation with another man inside a bar. Police said crime investigators recovered four shell casings of a .45-caliber pistol. It was not immediately known whether Boston had a weapon or not. The soldier was rushed to hospital in General Santos where he is under observation. In the town of Pitogo in Zamboanga del Sur province, marine Merjun Disapor, 22, and his com-
panion Renell Alastra were both killed after being attack by a man armed with an M16 rifle inside a gym. Police said the victims were drinking when the assailant barged and shot them. Disapor, a native of Pitogo town, was also assigned in Sulu province. The attacker fled after the shooting. It was unknown if the communist rebel group New People’s Army was involved in the killing. (Rose Muneza and Sheen Pania)
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Asian migrants in HK bat for increase in wage, food allowance MANILA - The Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body-International Migrants Alliance in Hong Kong is lobbying for a HK$4500 minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and HK$1600 monthly food allowance. The group trooped in front of the Labor Department to express their sentiments. "Our burdens are too much, and our wage is too low. It is high time for the Hong Kong government to rectify its ill-treatment of foreign domestic workers and give us a significant wage hike this year," the group's spokesperson Eni Lestari said. The action was done just before the consultation called by the Labor Department to solicit views for the review of the minimum allowable wage (MAW) this year. "In 1998, the MAW for FDWs was HK$3860 and was drastically cut in 1999 and again in 2003. Since that 1998 level, the MAW was only increased to
HK$4010 or by 3.8% or by HK$10 per year. This is a travesty of labour rights, this is modern-day slavery," Lestari said. According to the group, FDWs are finding it almost impossible to make ends meet as the cost of even the most basic of commodities increased almost every year since 1998. Government data itself has shown that inflation from then up to the current year has reached more than 11.7%. "Even a casual observer can see that prices of food and cost of transportation, and even the products needed by FDWs for personal hygiene and care, have been steadily rising and no way can the cumulative HK$150 increase for the past 15 years catch up to such increases," Lestari said. Meanwhile, the demand for an increase in food allowance was based on a study by Oxfam on the minimum food expenditure that an individual needs in Hong Kong. Protesters said that
FDWs deserve a significant wage hike and increase in food allowance also because it is a recognition of the contributions of FDWs to the Hong Kong’s economic and social condition. With more than 300,000 FDWs in the city, FDWs comprise a significant sector of consumers of various industries and services such as food, retail, transportation and communication. "We take care of Hong Kong’s household especially the children and the elderly and thus, are indispensible members of the Hong Kong’s workforce. We were already excluded in the statutory minimum wage, and we will not let the HK government to again give us a pittance for this year’s MAW decision," Lestari said. She said their group and othe r FDW organizations will continue to increase pressure for their demands. "We suffer from social exclusion and are forcibly maintained by HK policies as slaves. This must end," she said.
1 killed, 2 others wounded in Pagadian City shooting ONE PERSON was killed and two others wounded when motorcycle gunmen opened fire on them in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said. Police said the original targets of the gunmen were seaman Elmer Baniares, 39, and Carlo Galvez, 28, who were earlier involved in a melee at the Olympus Music Lounge in downtown Pagadian.
It said Baniares slapped another customer inside the bar for a still unknown reason. He was also pacified by other people in the bar and left together Galvez. Police said the two were later tailed by two motorcycle gunmen who shot them with a pistol, but missed. The gunmen fled only to return minutes later with an automatic rifle and opened fire on a crowd that gathered
around Baniares and Galvez and killing John Paul Dinsay, a 20-year student. Two other kibitzers Cielo Dinsay, 51, and Alvin Sebuco, 24, - who works at a gas station, were also wounded in the shooting. Police said the young Dinsay died in the hospital. It was unknown if the shootings were connected to the melee at the bar. (Mindanao Examiner)
Carenderia owner shot PAGADIAN CITY – Police are searching for two gunmen who were tagged as behind the murder of a small carenderia owner in Pagadian City in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur. Police said the assail-
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The Mindanao Examiner
Aug. 25-31, 2014
ants, who covered their faces with a surgical mask, barged into the restaurant of Rio Gilbuena, 46, in Santa Lucia District and without warning shot him in the head at close range. Gilbuena was talking to his wife when the at-
tack occurred. The attackers escaped after the shooting, leaving the victim’s horrified wife unhurt. The motive of the killing is still unknown and police are investigating the murder. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Power corrupts P-Noy by Perry Diaz AFTER repeatedly denying it in the past, President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino had let the cat out of the bag: He wants a second term! And he wants it for a strange reason: To curtail the power of the Supreme Court. Whoa! What happened? Going back to Day One of the Aquino presidency, it reminds us of the promise of hope and pagbabago (change) that P-Noy made to the people whom he called “boss.” He promised in his inaugural speech that there would be no more “wang-wang” and the bosses roared in approval. But what was really the centerpiece of the mandate his bosses gave him on Election Day was predicated on his campaign promise of “Walang korap, walang mahirap” (No corruption, no poverty). Yes, there will be no more corruption, no more poverty! That pumped the people up. Finally, here is a man who would deliver the poor from their hellish lives. Hope… Pagbabago… No more pagpag for food. How sweet. For the next four years, the poor experienced the taste of sweetness. But it was not the sweetness of progress. It was artificial sweetener to keep them contented from day to day. And for as long as they get a taste of “sweetness” they’d be out of harm’s way. Indeed, feeding the poor has always been the ultimate act to pacify the malcontents. Feed them and everything would just be sweet and sassy. The “sweetener” that P-Noy gives to the poor is called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, a form of conditional cash transfer (CCT). Its goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by implementing health and education programs for households that have children ages 014. It operates in 79 provinces covering 1,484 municipalities and 143 cities. Currently, the program has more than four million registered households. P lunder But no sooner had the program been implemented than allegations of “ghost” beneficiaries were made triggering demands for investigation. However, the Aquino administration had repeatedly denied the requests. But nothing is more serious than the plunder of pork barrel funds, which were intended for projects that would have benefitted the people – particularly the poorest of the poor and the hungry or “food-poor.” Instead they were diverted to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) controlled by Janet Lim Napoles – the “Pork Barrel Queen” – who, with the connivance of elected officials, had siphoned off at least P10 billion from Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations to lawmakers. In exchange for the lawmakers’ “cooperation,” Napoles gave them kickbacks anywhere between 40% and 70% of the scammed funds. Napoles pocketed the rest. Prominently involved in the pork barrel scam was Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad who issued the Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) approved and signed by the President authorizing the National Treasury to release the funds from PDAF. In 2011, P-Noy set up the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) – a brainchild of Abad -- drawing funds from purported “savings” in budget items and funneling them into a huge “piggy bank.” Since its inception, more than P150 billion were transferred to DAP. But what was anomalous was that DAP funds were spent without congressional authorization. Double whammy Then the unthinkable happened! On November 19, 2013, the Supreme
Court by a unanimous vote of 14-0, declared the PDAF unconstitutional. Seven months later, on July 1, 2014, it ruled that three parts of DAP are unconstitutional. It was a stunning setback for PNoy. He accepted the ruling on PDAF but he stood his ground on DAP insisting that it was legal. This set the tone for his “war” against the Supreme Court, which he treated with contempt. He swiped at the Judiciary for “meddling” too much into the affairs of the other two co-equals, the Executive and the Legislative branches. In my article, “Is DAP worth fighting for?” I wrote: “P-Noy’s tirade against the Supreme Court is like a little boy throwing a tantrum, making unreasonable and foolish demands. He knows better that the Supreme Court’s ruling, once it became executory, is final and there is no appeal. Perhaps his legal staff should give him advice on the legality – and futility – of what he’s doing. “What he should have done was do a mea culpa routine just like when then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appeared on TV and said she was sorry for the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal. She did it without admitting guilt. It was brilliant! Indeed, there is nothing more profound than admitting a mistake. It’s the best defense.” Char ter change Charter Then the unexpected happened! Last August 14, a Manila newspaper reported: “President Aquino is now amenable to amending the Constitution and extending his term apparently to check the power of the Supreme Court, a coequal of the executive branch. The President said the judiciary appeared to be using its power to check the executive and legislative branches without restraint. ‘When I took this office, I recall that it was only for one term of six years,’ he said. ‘Now, after having said that, of course, I have to listen to my bosses [the people].’” But the following day, P-Noy backed off after a tsunami of opposition flooded the airwaves, the broadsheets, and the social media. Ninety percent of those who commented in the social media were against a second term for P-Noy. Many commented that his mother, the late President Cory Aquino, had opposed former presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s attempts to amend the Constitution allowing them to run for a second term, which begs the question: Would Cory have opposed her son’s attempt to stay in power longer than what the 1987 Constitution allows him? Judicial independence But regardless of whether P-Noy would extend his term or not, it has become apparent that his hubris was born out of the power that he amassed during the four years of his presidency. Now that he has full control of both houses of Congress and had placed generals loyal to him in key positions in the military, only the Judiciary remains independent, which had demonstrated in the PDAF and DAP unanimous rulings that “judicial independence” still reigns supreme. Indeed, the Supreme Court’s judicial oversight and review – which PNoy objects to -- and the checks and balances inherent in our trilateral form of government, guarantees that our country shall be governed by the rule of law and not by the rule of man. I must also add that for as long as we have an independent Judiciary, nobody – not one man or group -- should ever have absolute power. And as Lord Acton had once said: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This is a mantra that should always remind our leaders that corruption thrives on power. Has power corrupted P-Noy? (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
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DILG nipasidaan batok sa gun smuggling
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ipasidaan si Department of Interior and Local Governm ent (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas nga manubag gayud sa balaod ang mga gun dealers ug pipila ka opisyal sa Philippine National Police (PNP) nga nalambigit sa gun smuggling. Nipasidaan ang kalihim human sa tawo nga pipila ka armas nga angay naa unta sa kustodiya sa PNP, nadiskubreng nangawala sa PNP warehouse human sa gipahigayong imbentaryo. Matud pa ni Roxas, sa panig sa gun dealers nga mapamatud-ang nalambigit sa gun smuggling, dili lamang pagka-
bilanggo ang ilang atubangon apan bawian usab kini og permit nga maka-operate. Sa tawo sa PNP-FEO, naa sa 60 ka mga armas ang nangawala o missing sa storage facility sa FEO sa sulod sa Kampo Crame nga nagkantidad og kapin sa P11 milyon. Matud pa sa kalihim, kun mapamatud-ang may sala usab ang mga kawani sa PNP, uban usab kini nga mapahamtangan og silot. Gimando na sa kalihim ang padayong imbentaryo sa tanang pribadong armas nga naa sa PNP warehouse aron mahibaw-an ang gidaghanon sa mga nangawalang armas nga giingong makonsiderar na nga illegal firearms.
Mandaue's poor families get help
M
ore than 3,000 indigent families have rec eived their respective Member Data Record certificates from the Philippine Health Insurance and Mandaue City government. Local government officials headed by Mayor Jonas Cortes and Philhealth Social Insurance Officer Cherry Ruiz held a ceremonial distribution of certificates to ten beneficiaries from each of the 27 villages here. “This project initiated by the Aquino administration aims for a universal health coverage to include the poorest among the poor which the city is also comple-
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menting,” Cortes said. Ruiz for her part said the beneficiaries identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Services under the National Housing Targeting System can now avail of free hospitalization in any government hospital and out-patient check-ups. “Dako kaayo nako kalipay nga ang tibook pamilya maapil sa benepisyo,” said 31-year old Jessica Heyrosa, a mother of 6 children, who resides in Barangay Cambaro. Heyrosa said she only depends on the income of her husband who is a carpenter. Tagging along her two children, Heyrosa expressed gratitude to the government officials for the lasting benefits.
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alipay na ang publiko sa inspeksyon ni Mayor Michael Rama ug Bise Mayor Edgardo Labella sa mga dalan sa Bacayan hangtod sa USC-Talamban Campus niadtong Martes. Tumong sa walk-thru ang pag-susi sa mga dapat ayohon sa maong mga lugar labi na ang sitwasyon sa trapiko. Plano sa mayor ngapalapdan ang dalan ug ipa-ayo ang mga guba’ng parte sa kadalanan ug tangtangon ang mga poste nga nakababag ug mga
Inspekyon! istruktura nga nilapas sa sidewalk. Ipa-implementar sa di magdugay ang ‘No Left Turn’ policy sa mga sakyanan sa pipila ka mga lugar. Gimando sa mayor nga ipatangtang dayon ang ‘center island’ dapit sa Gaisano Grand Talamban nga usa ka accident prone area ug sanglit kay dako nga parte sa dalan ang nakaon niini. Plano niya ipa ‘taper’ ang
dalan ug butangan ug traffic barrels. Pabutangan sab og mga traffic signs ang mga kurbadang dalan nga peligro sa aksidente. Sa may Cabancalan intersection, gimanduan ni Mayor Rama nga Citom ngaipa alternate angpag-agi sa mga sakyanan diin hatagan og prayoridad ang parte nga mas daghan ug sakyananaron ma minusan
anghuot nga trapiko. Pabutangan sab og ‘No Stopping’ sign ang pipila ka mga lugar ug hustong jeepney stop kung asa ang mga tawo mag-atang. Ang paglapas sa mga tao sa sidewalk atol sa paghuwat og jeep maoy nakitang usa sa mga hinungdan sa trapiko. Uban sab ni Mayor Rama si Raquel Arce head sa Probe, Citom Operations Chief Joy Tumulak ug Kapitan sa Barangay San Jose nga si Joe Ardaba, ug pipila ka mga empleyado sa City Hall. (C.L.K. Aznar)
DSWD, adunay tanyag nga educational assistance hangtud P75,000
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dunay tanyag nga educational assistance ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) taman P75,000 alang sa mga angayan nga benepisyaryo. Gibutyag ni DSWD Assistant Secretary Javier Jimenez nga karon lamang nitanyag og educational assistance ang ilang buhatan tungod kay karong tuiga lamang kini gibutang sa ilang GAA. Pasabot pa ni Jimenez, parte kini sa kapin P4 bilyon nga nasudnong pondo sa DSWD. Alang kini sa gitawag nga Crisis Intervention Pro-
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tion form, student ID sa gusting mahimong benepisyaryo, certificate of indigency gikan sa barangay ug valid ID sa aplikanteng nag-proseso niini. Ang kantidad nga mahimong makuha alang sa educational assistance mao ang mosunod: P5,000 (makuhang cash sulod sa 1 hangtud 2 ka adalw); P6,000P10,000 (makuhang tseke ug kinahanglang aprubahan sa assistant regional director sa DSWD Central Office); P25,000 (kinahanglang moagi og pag-aprubar sa regional director); ug P75,000 (alang sa "extremely justifiable cases" apan kinahang-
lang aprubahan sa mismong kalihim sa DSWD nga si Dinky Soliman). Pahimangno pa sa DSWD, dili na kinahanglang pa sa estudyante ang endorsement letter gikan sa bisan kinsang politiko alang niining tabang. Apan matud pa ni Jimenez, kinahanglan og laktaw nga tulo ka buwan sa pagpangayo alang sa susamang matang sa assistance nga gitanyag sa DSWD gikan sa 5 ka kategorya - burial, medical, transportation, food o nonfood ug educational assistance.
Cebu media get a break
ocal media personalities spent a night of fun and music at Cebu Capitol’s first Media Night dubbed as “Songhits sa Capitol”. “In delivering vital information to the general public, mass media is undeniably among our strongest partners,” said Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera. “Through the special night specially organized for them, we thank and acknowledge media’s help in reaching out to Cebuanos who can avail of our various development programs.”
Southern Mindanao
gram, gi-gahin alang sa mga indibidwal ug pamilyang nakasinati og krisis o emergency situations. Ubos niining programa, apil sa mga tanyagan og ayuda mao ang pagpalubong, medikal, transportasyon, mga pagkaon o butang man ug ang educational. Giingong prayoridad niini ang mga naa sa listahanan o National Household Targeting System, informal settler families ug ang mga naapil sa general category nga "poor, disadvantaged ug vulnerable." Gikinahanglan lamang ang mga mosunod: certificate of enrolment o registra-
Davao
Aside from media, Capitol’s department heads, Provincial Board members and Governor Junjun Davide with First Lady Mrs. Jobelle Davide were also present. Capitol-beat reporters grooved to the tune of Survivor by Destiny’s Child showcasing Cebuano’s resilience after three disasters that hit the province in a year. The Night’s highlight was “Songhits sa Capitol” game wherein contestants were to guess the missing word and phrase from the lyrics of the song being played.
Victor Silva of Cebu Daily News won as champion and took home P1,000 and overnight stay for two with breakfast at Radisson Blu Hotel. Taking the second spot, Ryan Sorote of TV 5 received P1,000 and overnight stay for two with breakfast at Marriot Hotel. Another P1,000 with dinner buffet for two at Harold’s Hotel was awarded to third placer Alex Badayos of SunStar Cebu. A first-time Capitolbeat reporter, Silva admitted enjoying the unexpectedly fun event. “I was overwhelmed because we (media) were so pampered. This became a de-stressor after a
Western Mindanao
Cebu
whole week of haggard coverage”, he said. Silva also received a special award as the earliest guest to arrive. Another special award was given to Michael Vencynth Braga of The Freeman and Angelica Fay Saniel of DYAB 1512 as Best Dressed. Media Night guests witnessed Capitol’s homegrown talents’ performance from the Capitol Choir, Live Band and Dance Troupe. The Night is a part of the month-long celebration of Cebu Province’s 445th founding anniversary. (Lianne Llesol)
Manila