Duterte’s peace offer to Misuari PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE continues to talk peace with Nur Misuari, the chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), as part of his commitment to the former rebel leader and Muslims in Mindanao. Duterte has spoken many times in private with Misuari and convinced the former Libyan firebrand to continue the
Founded July 2019
peace talks between Manila and the MNLF, and help the government in attaining long and lasting peace in the troubled region, especially in Basilan and Sulu provinces which is under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The President has repeatedly offer Misuari the same peace deal the
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government granted to rival group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) whose chairman, Ahod Ebrahim, is the Chief Minister of the BARMM. Manila signed a peace accord with the MILF in 2014, ending more than three decades of secessionist war in the South. Duterte said he is open to the creation Continue on page 5
September 9-15, 2019
Remembering ‘Zamboanga Siege’ Read R ead Story y on on pa page age 3
Security forces in action during the 2013 September siege in Zamboanga. See more pictures inside. (Mindanao Examiner Photos)
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IBT parking fee collection hits record high
Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Divisoria. (CMO Photos) FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE months now, the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) in Barangay Divisoria has collected more from parking fees and the local government continues to improve the facilities at Zamboanga’s premier provincial bus depot serving huge numbers of passengers and travellers alike. For the month of August, the IBT collected some P178, 370 as compared to July’s record of P172, 820 and P152, 080 in June. Comparing collections of the month of August to the same period in 2018, the IBT recorded a whopping 97% increase in parking revenues, according to IBT Supervising Transportation Regulation Officer Rafael Derick Evangelista III. He said the collections soared due to the close collaboration between the IBT management and the City Treasurer’s Office. “August 2019 is the new all-time high income for the private parking area. Parking income has been breaking records for the past three months,” he
said. Evangelista said they have collected a total of P463, 460 from January to June. The local government is also set to install more surveillance cameras and additional X-ray baggage scanners at IBT as part of security upgrade and improvements to the facilities to ensure safety of travellers. Evangelista the bus terminal is currently undergoing improvements in both the infrastructure aspect and streamlining of processes and procedures to further boost its revenues and subsequently to better serve the public. He said these include
the construction of covered court and installation of iron grills to reinforce the perimeter fence around the terminal. The improvements at the rest rooms are also scheduled this year. The projects are being supervised by the City Engineer’s Office. Mayor Beng Climaco, whose priority program includes safety and security, again praised the collection efforts of BT where provincial buses and commuter vans ply between Zamboanga and other key cities in Mindanao such as Dapitan, Dipolog, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Davao, among other areas in the South. (Zamboanga Post)
New Task Force Zamboanga commander, Army Colonel Antonio John Divinagracia pays his courtesy call on Mayor Beng Climaco. Also in the photo is Vice Mayor Rommel Agan and Divinagracia’s staff.
September 9-15, 2019
September 9-15, 2019
The Zamboanga Post
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Remembering ‘Zamboanga Siege’
S
IX YEARS AFTER the deadly siege of Zamboanga by hundreds of armed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members, residents here are still crying for justice which remains elusive for the victims of the September 9, 2013 attack. Mayor Beng Climaco be accountable with the 2001, hundreds of MNLF set September 9 as a “Spe- killings and devastations members occupied the cial Day of Remembrance” we are suffering from,” Cabatangan Complex and in honor of all those who Climaco said in the past. held hostage dozens of perished in the siege that “The destruction civilians, including chillasted for 3 weeks. wrought by the 2013 dren; and another group Supporters of Nur siege continues to linger, also attacked a military Misuari, the MNLF chair- as internally displaced base in Sulu province in man, attacked Zambo- persons – both Muslims, an effort to stop the elecanga after declaring in- Christians and Lumads, tions in the Muslim audependence and their most of whom are those tonomous region after failed attempt to raise the who eluded the conflicts Nur Misuari, leader of the Bangsamoro Republik in Sulu and Basilan – have MNLF was ousted as govflag at City Hall. The siege suffered the brunt of the ernor. displaced over 100,000 MNLF attack in ZamboMore than 100 people people and affected the anga,” she said. were killed in the fighting economies of Basilan and Misuari signed a and in the end, then MaySulu which are dependent peace deal with Manila in or Maria Clara Lobregat on Zamboanga for their September 1996 ending allowed the attackers to trades and goods. decades of bloody war. leave Zamboanga in exMisuari has publicly After the peace agree- change for the hostages. denied involvement in the ment was signed, MisuMisuari then escaped siege of Zamboanga. ari became the governor by boat to Malaysia, where In 2016, Climaco - of the Muslim autono- he had been arrested and who stood firm against mous region. But despite deported to the Philipthe MNLF during the en- the peace accord, he said pines and was eventually tire period of the crisis - there was a widespread pardoned and released by has banned any so-called disillusionment with the President Gloria Arroyo in peace rally or gathering weak autonomy they were exchange for MNLF supof the MNLF members in granted. port to her election bid Zamboanga City. Under the peace as well as her allies in the She said such rallies agreement, Manila Senate and Congress in will not be allowed in the would have to provide a 2004. He also ran several as this might disturb Zam- mini-Marshal Plan to spur times for governor in Sulu boanga anew. economic development in even while under deten“I am giving you a cat- Muslim areas in the south tion, but lost. egorical no; you must not and livelihood and housNow, President Rodridisturb Zamboanga any- ing assistance to tens of go Duterte said he wanted more. If you want to come thousands of former reb- to resume the peace proup with your rally, make it els to uplift their poor liv- cess with Misuari and orin your area, Zamboanga ing standards. dered police and military will not welcome a rally It was the second at- not to arrest the MNLF by MNLF, not at this time tack by MNLF in the past chieftain. (Zamboanga because you still have to decade. In November Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
All set for Z3R sewer project
Local government representatives inspect a transitory site in Barangay Rio Hondo. (Photo by Kathy Wee Sit) THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT is set to start the construction of a sewerage treatment plant in Barangay Rio Hondo as part of the “Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R).” Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, of the Housing and Land Management Division (HLMD), said families mostly victims of 2013 failed rebellion by the Moro National Liberation Front - staying at transitory sites in the area have started demolishing their temporary shelters. Pagotaisidro said Mayor Beng Climaco has ordered all government agen-
cies concerned to work together and to clear the remaining 5 transitory sites in Masepla 2 and 3 in Mampang; Rio Hondo; Buggoc and Asinan in Kasanyangan of all illegal structures to allow government projects to start. Beneficiaries of the permanent Z3R houses in Mariki were also told to demolish the extensions they built as these will be affected by the pipe laying project for the water and sewer systems. Pagotaisidro and representatives from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Engineer’s Office, National Housing
Authority, Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative and Zamboanga City Water District assisted in the relocation of over three dozen families to permanent shelters provided by the National Housing Authority. The clearing of transitory sites and its eventual demolition were also taken up during the Local Inter-Agency Committee meeting last week. The sewerage treatment plant is a joint project of the Local Water Utilities Administration and Zamboanga City Water District under the Z3R and shall benefit the public. (Zamboanga Post)
September 9-15, 2019
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The Zamboanga Post
September 9-15, 2019
Duterte’s peace offer to Misuari Continued from page 1 of a regional government for Misuari’s group in the Sulu and ordered his peace adviser, Carlito Galvez, to convene a coordinating committee with the MNLF to start the talks. Galvez said they are studying Duterte’s offer to Misuari, who is facing criminal charges in connection to deadly attacks by his loyal followers in Zamboanga City and Sulu in 2001 and Zamboanga City again in 2013 in a failed rebellion. To appease Misuari, the government is also looking into possibility of appointing a leader of the MNLF as Ebrahim’s deputy in BARMM. But this may not sit well with Misuari, who is campaigning for the establishment of a federal government in the country and eventually become Chief Minister. “We will look into this because we see that the BARMM is subdivided. We have what we call a deputy for the mainland, and then a deputy for Lanao, and then deputy for the BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area. And I believe the MNLF-Misuari group is more predominant in the BASULTA area,” Galvez was also quoted in a news report by the Philippines’ oldest daily, The Manila Times,
as saying. But Misuari’s stronghold is only in Sulu, although he has small, but heavily-armed fighters scattered in Basilan and in Maguindanao, also in the BARMM. While Ebrahim’s forces are all over in Maguindanao, Basilan and few areas in North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur. It was not immediately known whether political leaders and Muslims in BASULTA would accept Misuari as their regional governor or federal minister. Misuari had previously threatened Duterte that he would go to war if his demand for federalism fails and Defense Secretary Delfin said the ageing MNLF leader and his loyal followers are still capable of creating trouble. “They are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege. But war? Not anymore,” Lorenzana said, explaining that Misuari no longer has manpower. But Lorenzana’s view of Misuari as incapable of waging war is naïve, according to residents of Sulu where the MNLF continues to maintain thousands of heavily-armed members and civilian supporters. “They cannot just arrest Misuari and that proves
President Rodrigo Duterte and Nur Misuari (PCOO) the government is incapable of putting him behind bars for his alleged crimes against humanity in so far as the siege in Zamboanga and Jolo. The MNLF is more stronger now and have more weapons, powerful that your ordinary soldiers,” the 60-year old Ibrahim said, describing Misuari’s firepower. “He may not be as popular as other politicians, but Misuari has this charisma, the way he talks to the people, just like Duterte. They know how to deal with ordinary people and let them believe what he wants to say,” he added. Lorenzana said Misuari is just bluffing when he
threatened the President with war. He dismissed Misuari’s threat as a mere sound bite in an attempt to make himself be noticed. “But he is missing a great chance to be really relevant. He should accept the BARMM, work within it and lend his leadership, stature and expertise to make it succeed. My guess, he’s bluffing,” Lorenzana said. In July, Duterte also offered Misuari, his best friend and political ally, the same concession Manila gave to the MILF. Duterte said he hope to sign a new peace deal with Misuari despite warrants for his arrest in connection to dead-
ly attacks in Sulu and Zamboanga. He said he is ready to offer Misuari the same structure of government and concession. Misuari had openly opposed the government’s peace talks with the MILF and the BARMM and insisting the MNLF signed a deal with Manila in September 1996 that led to the creation of the Muslim autonomous region which was abolished this year to pave way for the new autonomous region under Ebrahim’s rule. But despite the peace accord with the MNLF, Misuari said there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted. Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards. Misuari’s loyal forces and former MNLF rebels, who joined the Philippine Army following the signing of the peace accord, attacked a key military base in Sulu and civilian targets in Zamboanga in 2001 in an effort to stop the govern-
ment from calling an election in the autonomous region where Misuari wanted to be a perpetual governor. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. He also ran several times for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably. And he was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support for her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004. Misuari’s loyal forces again attacked Zamboanga City in 2013 and for three weeks security forces battled rebels that left dozens of people dead and wounded. He is also facing graft charges at the Sandigan Bayan over the alleged anomalous purchase of education materials when he was the regional governor of the autonomous region. Despite all charges against Misuari, Duterte ordered police and military authorities not arrest the MNLF chieftain and even offered him safe refuge in his hometown in Davao City. Misuari has repeatedly denied all criminal and graft accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner and Zamboanga Post.)
DTI launches food processing facility in Zambo as as part of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Celebration and September 2020 Zamboanga Peninsula Exposition in Manila. Ho thanked DTI, the Philippine Coconut Authority, Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agriculture, and also the WMSU Research Unit for the successful completion and launching of the processing facility. WMSU is the co-oper-
ator of the project. “The purpose of the SSF Project blends with the vision and mission of the University along with its function which center on instruction, research, extension and production. She also recognized the need for the MSMEs and student-entrepreneurs to enhance its competitiveness glocally as Zamboanga and the Philippines are now part of the ASEAN market,” she said. Ho likewise thanked
Alavar for his presence in the launching of the SSF Project, saying, “with his presence, gaps will also be filled concerning legislations that will strengthen the convergence and the implementation of the project.” The SSF Project is the 140th project of DTI in Zamboanga Peninsula and DTI is set to turn over the equipment to WMSU after two years and take full ownership of these. (Rick Dalid, Zamboanga Post)
DTI Assistant Regional Director Engr. Rolando Acuña, DTI ZC Provincial Director Ceferino Rubio, WMSU President Milabel Ho and Zamboanga City Councilor and Entrepreneur Mike Alavar. THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched its “Shared Services Facilities (SSF) Project – Food Processing Facility” in Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in San Ramon. DTI Assistant Regional Engr. Director Rolando Acuña and DTI Zamboanga City Provincial Director Ceferino Rubio led the recent launching of the P5-million project with Dr. Milabel Ho, WMSU president; and Councilman Mike Alavar. Acuña underscored that small or medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) Development are the key in achieving inclusive growth and employment generation. He also hopes that with SSF, jobs will be created by the Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who will be maximizing the equipment and facility. “These employment opportunities will hopefully increase the current 63% jobs generated by MSMEs,” he said. He further emphasized that bringing SSF to the MSMEs will now fill the technology gap which concerns mostly in production of any products.
This gap, he added, centers on machine which is one of the seven “Ms” that is currently promoted by DTI for entrepreneurs to attend to if they want to sustain their chosen ventures. Acuña even challenged the MSMEs and student-entrepreneurs who are the direct users and beneficiaries of the facility to come up with an operations manual, directory of suppliers, and quality market-driven products that can possibly be showcased come October 2019 Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK)
SSF PROJECT-Food Processing Facility consists of 17 different equipment worth P5 million.
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September 9-15, 2019
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Barangay officials listen to Mayor Beng Climaco as she speaks during a recent training-workshop entitled “Building on the BasicsK: Harnessing Barangay Police Powers and Fortifying Leadership and Local Governance at the Grassroots Level” held at Centro Latino in Paseo del Mar. The training was sponsored by the local government and facilitated by the Office of City Administrator.
2 killed in foiled Sabah intrusion MALAYSIA STEPPED UP its security after two gunmen were killed in a sea battle off Lahad Datu in Sabah near the southern Filipino province of Tawi-Tawi. Malaysian media said the recent fighting erupted after security forces intercepted two motorboats trying to sneak into Lahad Datu. The passengers from one of the boats opened fire on a patrol vessel sparking a sea chase which ended in a deadly shootout. The other boat managed to escape and headed towards the southern Philippines, but security forces retrieved the bodies of the slain gunmen and their boat, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah. “They were acting suspiciously so the security forces turned on their siren and blue lights and tried to intercept the two. Immediately a shot was fired from one of the boats towards the security forces while another started leaving, heading in the di-
rection of southern Philippines,” he said. There were no reports of casualties of the side of security forces and the identities if the slain gunmen remain unknown. It was unclear whether they were Abu Sayyaf militants on a kidnap-for-ransom mission. A rifle was also recovered from the boat. Indonesia, citing an intelligence report, earlier warned Malaysia that Abu Sayyaf militants may strike inside Sabah, according to a report by the Malaysian Mail. “Security forces are on the alert after Indonesia issued a warning about raiders from southern Philippines seeking hostages to fund their militant activities,” it said. Omar said the slain gunmen could be part of a “scouting party” and possibly looking for potential kidnap victims. “If they were fishermen, they won’t have firearms on them. We also didn’t find smuggled goods on board so they’re likely either spotters looking for victims to kidnap or mili-
tants looking for violence. We are looking into a few possibilities,” he said. “They are estimated to be between 30 to 40 years old. We have taken their fingerprints for identification. The pump boat they were on did not have any registration number. We believe the two suspects and the other boat were attempting some crime when we came across them,” he added. There were also intelligence reports that 3 groups of Abu Sayyaf militants were targeting several ships in Sabah and among them are Kapal Batubara, Kapal Tanker, Nelayan Kapal Lengkong and Kapal Tarik Udang. And militants may also strike in several places there, including the islands of Bakongan, Bahala, Sandakan, Mamiang, Tambisan and Taganak. The Abu Sayyaf has raided Sabah many times in the past and brought their victims to the southern Philippines and ransomed them off to private negotiators. (Zamboanga Post)
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Follow traffic rules, ordinances ‘Vehicles illegally parked will be towed’
The covered path walk in Pettit Barracks are now cleared from illegally parked vehicles. See ‘before and after’ photos below. (Zamboanga Post)
M
AYOR BENG CLIMACO has renewed her calls to motorists and automotive owners to strictly follow traffic rules and regulations and city ordinances as the local government started towing illegally parked vehicles in downtown Zamboanga.
“Just follow the law and there will be no problem, but if you break our traffic rules or local laws then your actions shall have its consequences. We need discipline here and I urge everyone to follow the law,” Climaco said. City Administrator Apple Go said members of the Task Force Ordinance and policemen have begun towing illegally parked vehicles. She said they are only implementing City Ordinance 248 otherwise known as “The Revised Traffic Code of Zamboanga City” which also prescribes fines on those who violate the law. Go said the towing operations will be sustained in adherence to the ordinance that seeks to clear the streets of illegally parked vehicles. She said under the ordinance, drivers and
operators whose vehicles have been towed for illegal parking shall pay the fines of P800 and storage fee of P50 per day for light vehicles with engine displacement of 0 to 1600cc; and medium vehicles with engine displacement of 1601 to 2800cc shall pay P1,000 towing fee and P75 per day as storage fee. And heavy vehicles with engine displacement of 2801cc and above shall pay P1,200 towing fee and P100 a day for storage. She said stalled and illegally parked vehicles will be towed, as well as those “attended and unattended” illegally parked vehicles. “All towed vehicles will be impounded at the City Engineer’s Office facility in Barangay San Roque,” Go said. Just last week, The Zamboanga Post published several photos showing illegally parked vehicles occupying the
stretch of a covered path walk at Pettit Barracks. Despite the “No Parking” signs, private vehicles, motorcycles and even passenger jeeps turned the covered path into a private garage and depriving pedestrians of their safety and forcing them to walk on the streets. There were no barangay officials and barangay watchmen or policemen to impose the laws on illegal parking and it took Climaco and Go and her assistant Cesar Raz to personally implement the ordinance and ordered authorities to issue a traffic citation to all violators. “The law applies to all. We will implement the ordinances and put back discipline on the road and this is for the benefit of all, the public in particular,” Raz told The Zamboanga Post. (Zamboanga Post)
Members of the Task Force Ordinance tow illegally parked vehicles in downtown Zamboanga. (Kathy Wee Sit)