Philippine Muslim Today by Philippine Muslim Today

Editorial | Page A4

‘The danger in

delaying the Marawi rehab

Strengthening the Halal Industry

“I can’t breathe” resonates with Moros

When is it better to take medicines, before or after meals?

Thank you for helping us to digitally move on

Mehol K. Sadain | Page A4

Macabangkit K. Lanto | Page A4

Benj Bangahan | Page A5

Julmunir I. Jannaral | Page A5

Punchline ALI G.

MACABALANG

Bearer of Glad Tidings

See Page A6

| 10 Pages | Metro Manila

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Pinoy expats homecoming from Sabah starts By ALI G. MACABALANG Chief of Correspondents

INSIDE SECTION B

Barter System In Tawi-Tawi’s Panglima Sugala By JOHNNY R. LEE, PhD.

Lanao del Sur’s Covid-19 lab gets accreditation from DOH

OTABATO CITY: Amai Pakpak Medical Center’s (APMC) Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) laboratory in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur received its License to Operate (LTO) from the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, June 29, 2020. Dr. Shalimar Rakiin

Full story on Page A7)

NCMF issues guidelines on the 2020 Hajj refund ntending pilgrims to the

Makkah in Saudi Arabia may now refund payments they made after the Kingdom has finally cancelled this year’s Hajj due to the dreaded pandemic Covid-19. President Duterte and NCMF Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan, left. (Photo Supplied)

NCMF | A3

Bangsamoro autonomous region local government minister Naguib Sinarimbo. (Contributed Photo)

OTABATO CITY: Cohesive efforts for the safe return of repatriated Filipinos from Sabah have reeled off, with the Bangsamoro autonomous government dispatching on Tuesday, June 30 a team to receive the first batch of returnees within this week, a regional executive announced Wednesday. Sabah, once a part of the Sulu sultanate and still claimed by the Philippines has been a favorite destination of Filipinos from the Philippine South for a greener pasture. PINOY EXPATS | A2

NBI probe on deaths of 4 soldiers in Sulu police ops sought

OUR soldiers in civilian clothes were slain last Monday, June 29 in what initially appeared to be a police operation in Jolo, Sulu. Reports reaching the Philippine Muslim Today said the fatalities were elements of the military’s 9th Intelligence Service Unit of the 11 Infantry Division based in Sulu. (Full story on Page A2)

A photo taken by of the shooting scene by the NCMFSulu field office

WestMinCom chief dons ranks to Maguindanao gov, mayor By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL (Full story on Page A2)

News

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Pinoy expats homecoming from Sabah starts By ALI G. MACABALANG Chief of Correspondents Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro government spokesman, said there are at least 5,300 Filipinos from Sabah who have been repatriated by the Malaysian government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Zamboanga Citybased Aleson Shipping Lines has been commissioned as regular carrier of the repatriates to load at least 309 returnees for the first batch, he said. “Our team is now in Zamboanga City, and the commissioned vessel was expected to arrive in Sabah on Thursday to load the first batch,” Sinarimbo, also Bangsamoro Local Government minister told The Philippine Muslim Today over the phone. The frequency of shuttling the repatriates from Sabah has been set at bi-weekly (every two weeks) in conformity with the 14-day selfquarantine required by health authorities for people returning home to their respective

home places, he said. All of the 5,300 Filipino repatriates from Sabah will be brought home orderly and safe under prearranged cohesive efforts between the regional and national governments, according to Sinarimbo. The national government is represented in the joint venture by the Inter-Agency Task Group Western Mindanao – Management of Returning Filipinos from Sabah (IATGWM-MREFS). The Task Group is composed of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Immigration. In an earlier press statement, Defense Undersecretary Cesar B. Yano, a key official of the Task Group,

said both the national and local government units pooled knowledge, resources and expertise to come up and carry out a plan of action for the safe repatriation of Filipinos from Sabah. The group’s memberagencies were clustered according to their focus areas:

International Humanitarian Assistance, Transportation and Logistics, Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Services (CIQS), Law and Order, Health, Social Services, and Strategic Communications. The “command and control” of the repatriation program shall be led by the

DSWD in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as in Region 9, the group’s press statement said. Prior to departure from Sabah, the Filipino returnees will undergo Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing, to ensure that they are free from the novel COVID-19 disease, the statement said. Only half of the ships’ capacity between 309 and 400 passengers shall be allowed to board the ship to ensure social distancing, it added. The returnees will disembark at Zamboanga City, before being ferried to their respective provinces. Their receiving local government unit (LGU) may subject them to further quarantine procedures, the Task Group said. Some 50 percent of the 5,300 repatriates are bound for Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi, while 30% are headed for Zamboanga Peninsula, while the remaining 20% will return to their provinces in other parts of the country, added the Task Group. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

NBI probe on deaths of 4 soldiers in Sulu police ops sought The fatalities were identified as Major Marvin Indammog, commanding officer of the Intelligence Service Unit9, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Eric Velasco, and Corporal Abdal Asula. Indammog, a full-blooded Igorot warrior from Tanudan, Kalinga, is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 2006, and a battle-tested Scout Ranger. He spent his younger days in the military as a Scout Ranger fighting the Abu Say-

yaf Group in Sulu and other rebels in Mindanao. Maj. Indammog is also a recipient of several combat awards. He was then transferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Intelligence Service in 2014. The AFP is all set to give military honors to the Army fatalities and they will be buried at the AFP Libingan ng mga Bayani except Asula the lone Muslim fatality in the group who was laid to rest immediately in accordance

with the Islamic rites. Immediately after the incident, Secretary Eduardo Ano of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) instructed Chief PNP General Archie Gamboa to subject the PNP personnel involved in the shooting to be disarmed and to be placed under the custody of the Sulu Police Provincial Director. Sacked from their posts were Staff Sgts. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Iskandar Susulan and Ernisar Sappal; Patrol-

men Alkajal Mandangan, Rajiv Putalan and Moh Nur Parsani; Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri and Cpl Sulki Andaki. In a statement titled “soldiers shot (dead) by police in Sulu,” Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) based at Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City urged the public, notably the media, not to sensationalize the issue

surrounding the fateful incident. "We are yet to establish the motive of the police," said Sobejana, who asked the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct in-depth probe of the incident to “ensure impartiality.” "We don't want any escalation of hostilities out of the incident. Our interest is to know the facts and give justice," he said.

NBI | A8

WestMinCom chief dons ranks to Maguindanao gov, mayor By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

ULUAN, Maguindanao: The commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) graced the donning of military ranks to two newlycommissioned reserve officers in the province of Maguindanao. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of Western Mindanao Command graced the donning of military ranks to two newly-commissioned as reserve officers to Maguindanao Governor Bai Mari-

am Mangudadatu with the rank of Lt. Colonel and to her son Datu Abdullah Sangki Municipal Mayor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu with the rank of Captain. The mother and son were officially welcomed into the military reserve force in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol of the municipality of Buluan last June 24. Among those present during the ceremony were the husband of the Maguindanao governor himself Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, Alhaj, PNP BARMM and PRO 12 Regional Directors, Brigade and Bat-

talion Commanders of 6th Infantry Division (6ID), 12th Regional Community Defense Group commander Col. Redentor Mojares, and other invited guests.

In his message, Lt. Gen. Sobejana said, “I would like to extend my felicitations to Lt. Col. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu and Capt. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu.”

“You are truly indispensable in our genuine campaign. Your role, as citizen soldiers, forges greater alliance and amelioration of gains, as your civic and military service gives the Bangsamoro people a strong and patriotic vision and encouragement. You have, in your hands, the capacity to lead, enlighten, and guide your constituents,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added. “I am certain that the ranks conferred on you will impel you to do more and not rest on your laurels,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana concluded. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

News

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

towns now receive Model ‘Balik Probinsya’ opened 12 IRA-less subsidies from BARMM in Lanao Norte town C

AVAO CITY: Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) along with government and private sectors has launched the first "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2)" model village in Kauswagan, Lanao del Sur for returning informal urban dwellers. MinDA chair Secretary Emmanuel Piñol led the ground breaking rites at the 6.8-herctare project site at barangay Tacub on June 24. The land donated by a private corporation would be patterned after successful models of communities involved in one common production activity with a complete value chain, according to Sec. Piñol. It will have 50 units of Quadruplex housing to accommodate 200 families who will be involved in the production of organic chicken and vegetables, he said. "This program in Kauswagan is the first and the model for the whole country. BP2 will be the start of the equitable sharing of the national wealth, shifting the focus of economic priorities from urban centers to the countryside," the former journalist-turned politico bureaucrat said in a MinDA statement. Earlier MinDA statement said BP2 program had initially identified four pilot provinces in Mindanao, namely Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon and North Cotabato. In Lanao del Norte, Piñol said, he chose Kauswagan as a model community of BP2 due to the sound and transparent governance of the present

UEZON CITY: The Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (BPENCMF) has issued guidelines for monetary refund of plane tickets and Mutawiff fee to the intending pilgrims in view of the cancellation of the Hajj 2020 brought about by the worldwide menace of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. BPE-NCMF Director Malo Manonggiring told the Philippine Muslim Today that they have prepared a pro forma letter addressed to NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan thru the NCMF regional director

GROUNDBREAKING ceremony for the first “Balik Probinsya” program model at barangay Tacub in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on June 24. (Photo courtesy from MinDA.] administration, which will be an ingredient to make the program successful. In subsequent meetings, Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado and Sec. Piñol selected barangay Tacub, where the municipal government has been carrying out massive organic farming and being the location of the donated project lot. "BP2 is a challenge to Kauswagan, but it is never a burden to help our fellow men. We dream that BP2 will be the key for the upliftment of Filipino lives, the key to food security and sustainable development," Piñol said. After the groundbreaking ceremonies, the Project Management Office (PMO) for the Kauswagan Organic Balik Probinsya Village signed a marketing agreement with the Eng Seng Foods Corporation, a Mindanao private agritrading company. Eng Seng Food Products will buy and market the organic chicken and vegetable production of the village. "The private sector support for the project was actually started by a Kauswaganbased GN Power Kauswagan (GNPK), which donated PHP10 million. The fund was used in acquiring the 6.8-

hectare property and the construction of the first model quadruplex unit," he said. Piñol assured that all member agencies of the BP2 Council would contribute to the village's development. "BP2 will be our strategy to maximize our own resources to boost our industries- that will provide jobs and economic development in the local community," he further added. Mayor Arnado thanked the MinDA chair for bringing BP2 in his municipality, assuring that "Kauswagan is ready for this type of program, while we are still planning and trying to conceptualize BP2, this already saw the potential of this town. I saw Kauswagan as the ideal place for the BP2 program." A press conference at the sidelight of the launch rites, Sec. Piñol clarified anew that no beneficiary people have been moved yet under the “balik Probinsya” program. Media reports about government shuttling of stranded people and overseas Filipino workers involved efforts through the government “hated probinsya” project as a measure covering the COVID -19 containment campaign, he said. ALI G. MACABALANG

OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro government now provides regular monthly subsidies to 12 constituent towns created over a decade ago by the legislature of its defunct predecessor sans internal revenue allotments (IRA), the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) announced. The 12 towns are Shariff Saidona Mustapha, Datu Hofer, Datu Salibo, Anggal Midtimbang, Blah Sinsuat, Pandag, Mangudadatu, and Northern Kabuntalan, all in Maguindanao; and Akbar,

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim (facing back camera) and regional Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo (right) conducting one of a series of meetings with elected officials of 12 constituent towns lacking internal revenue allotment (IRA) since creation in 2006.(Supplied) Mohammad Ajul, Hadji Muhtamad, and, all in Basilan. “They (12 towns) have been receiving regular internal revenue allotments since last January,” MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo told The Philippine Muslims Today over the phone Wednesday. Such towns have been established one after another since 2006 by the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). But the national government refused to accord them IRA because of reported failure to meet the requirements set under R.A. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991. For humanitarian and political considerations, the 12 municipal governments sub-

NCMF issues guidelines on the 2020 Hajj refund where the intending pilgrims or jamaah are given options for the refund of their plane tickets and Mutawiff Fee to be paid in dollar or peso currency. Manonggiring said the intending pilgrims are also given the two options either to refund the amount entirely or to reserve it for the 2021 Hajj. He said as requirements for the approval of the monetary refund, the intending pilgrims have to submit the following: 1. Certified xerox copy of machine validated PNB payment slip

2. Certified xerox copy of valid Philippine passport of the intending pilgrim Manonggiring said he issued on June 28, 2020, a comprehensive memorandum for the refund of Plane Tickets, Mutawiff Fee, and Vaccinations Fee wherein he outlined the following guidelines: Item A - STEPS: 1. Filing of application for claims for refunds of cancelled 2020 Hajj shall start at the Hajj Registration and Processing Centers (HRPC) where the pilgrim or jama’a

sisted on special fiscal aids from the national, regional and provincial administrations in cumbersome fashions with fluctuating sums of contribution, it was learned. Ironically, old barangays absorbed by the 12 towns have been receiving regular IRAs from the national government, it was learned. The past ARMM administrations, notably of former Regional Governors Ansaruddin Adiong and Mujiv Hataman had made several representations to national authorities, but failed to gain favora-

has registered his/her intended Hajj. (Except when the claimant pilgrim personally appears at the NCMF-BPE for his/her refund, in which case, the BPE will facilitate his/her refund) 2. The pilgrim who desires to refund shall prepare a letter request for refund addressed to the Secretary of the Commission thru the Regional Director of the Hajj (HRPC) where he/she registered his intended Hajj and shall specifically state therein the reason why such refund is being initiated. The letter-

ble attention in their quests for possible relaxing of criteria vis -à-vis the situation of the 12 predominantly Muslim towns. The quest for relief in the virtual “state of mendicancy” of the 12 towns finally gained momentum in the enactment in July 2018 of R.A. 11054, which mandates the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in replacement of the 29-year old ARMM. Bangasamoro Autonomous Region Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim and his cabinet met with the elected executives of the 12 towns in a series of conferences, which ended last January with the start of their regular receipt of IRA. IRA-less | A6 request for refund shall be valid only when it is properly signed and affixed with the mobile contact number of the pilgrim/jama’a for validation and personal confirmation purposes. 3. The pilgrim shall then submit the letter together with the requirements specifically mentioned in Item B of this guidelines to the concern Pilgrimage Officer for properverification and transmittal. 4. The Pilgrimage Officer after verification of the registration of the pilgrim and the authenticity of the submitted requirements shall prepare a NCMF | A7

Opinion

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Ijtihad

MACABANGKIT B. LANTO

MEHOL K. SADAIN

“I can’t breathe” resonates with Moros

STRENGTHENING THE HALAL INDUSTRY

n the 1989 sports fantasy film “Field of Dreams”, a voice resounds, audible only to the main character, Kevin Costner: “If you build it, he will come.” The Costner character proceeds to build a baseball diamond on his farm, and the departed baseball greats of the past start emerging from the corn crops to play baseball. The halal industry may not be a baseball field, and the halal stakeholders may not be spirits of baseball players, but the process of listening to the voice that urges, building from a dream, and witnessing not just the players but also the spectators, come to the game, is also the stuff that should make a successful nation-wide halal undertaking. In the halal industry, “listening to the urging voice” is heeding Allah’s prescriptions in the Noble Qur’an telling us: “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah, if it is He whom ye worship.” [II:172] On a broader scale, Allah in the Qur’an prescribes: “O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things that Allah had made lawful to you, and transgress not. Lo, Allah loveth not the transgressors.” [V:87] The foundation of permissible acts, and consequently, the halal way of life are built upon these verses and similar ones. They represent the Voice of the Almighty, reverberating more sacred and more imperative, than the voice in the field of dreams. Listening, so must Muslims build from a dream; that dream being the halal way of life. In a country where Muslims are a minority and the Constitution handicaps the State by dichotomizing the religious and the secular, the actualization of Islamic-laden values depends mainly on the Muslims themselves, rather than the majority population that cannot be expected to empathize with the minority. Hence, initiatives must spring from the Muslims, and their leaders and political representatives who are knowledgeable on the intricacies of the faith. They cannot, and must not, wait on the majority who understand little of their needs, and know practically nothing on how to respond to these needs. This does not mean, however, that the non-Muslim legislators must remain ignorant of the needs of their Muslim constituents. In the exercise of their mandated legislative duties, they must be conscious that there should be consultations where expert suggestions and consensus are respected and accepted. IJTIHAD | A7

The danger in delaying the Marawi rehab

Lot1, Blk1, Vizcarra Compound, Molino 3, Bacoor City 4102 Cavite Province Phone: 09152184388| 09778430218 Email: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com Http://www.philmuslimtoday.wordpress.com

he Maranaos of the devastated city who had fled their homes and properties and displaced as evacuees in various parts of the country had high hopes their homeland would be reconstructed soon and that they would be able to return. Such hopes have never materialized. More than three years after the fateful day, many are still living in temporary shelters which the government readily provided, others renting somewhere and still others dwelling in tents — situation bitterly swallowed by the evacuees for having no other choice. Maranaos blame the Task Force Bangon Marawi for what they call failure to rebuild the damaged city. Many times, they asked for the replacement of Eduardo del Rosario as TFBM chairman, or the total revamp of the task force. Even some legislators in the two chambers have sympathized with the Maranao evacuees and called for the TFBM to explain. But these all fell on deaf ears and del Rosario still continues acting all his lies as the Maranaos call him. They believe more than a three-year time is too long to rebuild Marawi. Thus doubting the government sincerity dwells in their hearts, even suspecting that the city’s most affected area is taken away from them with the government invoking that over 75 percent of the city are military reservations, an argument the residents seem to never understand. Is the delay in the reconstruction waiting for a right time when residents of the Most Affected Areas (MAA) or Ground Zero (GZ) will have no more reason to claim or reclaim their untitled lands and the government can proceed to whatever it intends to do with the city? Maranao legal minds think this is the danger posed by an Executive Order No. 693 which, quoting Wikepedia, declared 17,076 acres or (6,915 hectares) of Marawi City as Military Reservation. In that case, with a total land area of 21,630 acres or (8,755 hectares), 79 percent of Marawi land area is a military reservation. According to lawyer Bayan G. Balt, Section 48(b) of Republic Act No. 2874 or the Public Land Act gives MAA or GZ residents and other Marawi landowners or landholders to file a petition in Court for the “Judicial Confirmation of their imperfect title until December 31, 2020. These include those who have no title of their lands but physical possessors or holding a color of titles such as Tax Declarations, Deeds of Sale or any evidence of possession or ownership. With less than six months left, do these residents have enough time to secure Judicial Confirmation of their untitled lands? They must not waste time. They must do it now. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

INTERIM BOARD OF EDITORS: TEMPORARY BUSINESS OFFICES:

“

Dean Masiding Noor Yahya Interim Chairman, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief Ambassador Macabangkit Lanto Commissioner Nasser A. Marohomsalic Julmunir I. Jannaral, J.D. Benj Bangahan, M.D. Abdul Hannan Tago, PhD. Johnny R. Lee, PhD Ali G. Macabalang Allan Afdal Nawal

Racism resonates with Moros of southern Philippines. It was the font of their struggle for merdeka or independence.”

ome may find this odd. While studying in university, I was more interested in reading bestsellers than the prescribed textbooks. Perhaps it was to break boredom or I found the classroom books dull and unengaging. Even when engrossed with assignments, I always squeezed the time to read fiction. This fascination continues even when I studied law, pressed for time to read assigned syllabus and jurisprudence. One of the top grossers during the ’60s, which caught my fancy, was the book written by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird. I must have read the book three times, one of my prized collections lost in the Marawi siege. The novel unravels the dark past of America, which haunts it to this day. It tells the story of Negroes in the 1930s in the small county of Maycomb in the South who were victims of racism and discrimination. Two characters, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, personified the victims of skewed social and justice systems then prevailing. The book comes to mind in the heat of the emotional and fiery protests, vandalism, rioting and lawlessness engulfing the United States like wildfire. This has caught the imagination of the world. It has become a blockbuster issue what with the regular replaying in world media, like CNN, of the revolting scene where a Caucasian policeman was kneeling down on the neck of and killing black George Floyd. The video showed Floyd gasping for breath, calling his “mama,” and repeatedly pleading, “Please, I can’t breathe officer… you’re gonna kill me.” The phrase, “I can’t breathe,” has now become synonymous with racism. This has stoked the indignation of human rights advocates and the public from London to Lebanon and outstaged the campaign for the presidential primaries. Racism resonates with Moros of southern Philippines. It was the font of their struggle for merdeka or independence, the battle cry of the mujahideens and separatists who felt treated as second-class Filipinos. They decried injustice and bigotry. The struggle culminated in the grant of autonomy with the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. LANTO | A8

INTERIM EDITORIAL STAFF JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Acting Managing Editor & Metro Manila News Bureau Chief ALI G. MACABALANG Acting News Editor & Chief of Reporters KIM BAGUNDANG Acting Bangsamoro Region Bureau Chief ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Acting Lanao Provinces Bureau Chief MARK EDRIEL “TWISTER” ORTIL Cartoonist FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Acting Advertising Sales Director

SAID AHMAD BASHIR Religious Affairs Adviser FILEMON G. ROMERO In Charge of Environment and Conservation JOHNNY R. LEE In Charge of Tourism & Photography COLUMNISTS: MEHOL K. SADAIN MACABANGKIT B. LANTO BENJ BANGAHAN JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL ALI G. MACABALANG

Opinion

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

Thank you for helping us digitally F

or the 3rd Issue of this column allow me to extend in behalf of the Management and Staff of Philippine Muslim Today to all people who were kind enough to share their nice words, efforts, and prayers for us to move on and come out this e-newspaper in a Digital Format. First and foremost, I would like to salute and say "Thank you Sir" to Gov. Jim S. Hataman Salliman of the Province of Basilan for he is the only governor among the chief executives of the Five Provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who sent us his message on the operation of the Philippine Muslim Today as the only national Muslim newspaper that is published weekly in a Digital Format. For our readers especially in Luzon and Visayas who are not aware of these five BARMM Provinces, these are of course Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur. In the Message of Basilan Governor Salliman, and I quote, "I take pride in know-

ing that beginning its maiden issue, Muslims all over the country will now gain access to the mainstream media and actively participate in the promotion of peace, unity and justice especially in this day and age when racism and discrimination are once again gaining momentum. To this I am thankful to the people behind this media outfit." Then for the Members of Parliament in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) of BARMM, of the several MPs that we wrote asking for their messages only MP Eddie Mapag Alih, Al Haj of Tawi-Tawi who did not hesitate to give his message. I know MP Ed Alih when I sent him the request for message for Philippine Muslim Today, and I was very optimistic that he won't fail me. Our acquaintance is time tested way back in our student days in the 70s at the Mindanao State University- Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. We were both Student Leaders in MSUTCTO and since it was still Martial Law during the ad-

My twocents Rx BENJ S. BANGAHAN, M.D., FPCP, FPCCP

he laymen sufferers of symptoms, who have found comfort, convenience and ease in the google service provided in the internet in as far as self-treating their complaints, as touched in last week’s topic, have now a common issue that has kept most of them wondering as to when is the best time to take oral medications -before, or after, meals? As can be expected, like any other day-today confusion, it is solved by the supposed to be easiest and the most readily available talent, the common sense, because of which, in the area of clinical problems, so many missed hits would result. Anything done or propounded in medicine, may it

be a simple move that apparently looks trivial, or a complicated one that sounds or appears befuddling, has a clinical reason relevant to the patient. These are usually carried out by the attending doctors when they find them applicable to their patients. Talking about them here we have to stay fundamental in order for us to get across easily. The basic criteria that necessitate some rules of thumb are, absorption of the drug in the stomach, the physical effects of the food particles upon the drugs taken and the metabolic and chemical interactions of the drug with food particles. Good absorption of drugs are often correlated with empty stomach, though not always, and empty stom-

ministration of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos we were not allowed to organize the Student Government but what we have then was the Student Council of Leaders. MP Alih was our Chair in the Council of Leaders that actively ventilate the grievances of the student body against the college administration of MSU-TCTO. In 1977 I became one of the staff members of the rank and file of MSU-TCTO and MP Ed became one of the members of the faculty. Finally he became the head of the college as the Chancellor of MSU-TCTO and I left the college when I pursued my media career in the national mainstream when I joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1986 writing for the "Batanes To Tawi-Tawi" page. In the message of MP Alih to this digital newspaper he said and I quote also, "The establishment of Philippine Muslim Today as a strong media outfit of Muslims in the Philippines is indeed a welcome development in our lives as a minority. It is like finding a missing piece that completes the puz-

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL zle in our quest for the furtherance of our collective right to self-determination. This affords our people not only access to reliable news and information through the lens of Muslims in the Philippines, but is also a platform to articulate our views on the pressing issues affecting the Bangsamoro and the country at large." However my attachment to Tawi-Tawi as my second home province did not end even though physically I am not there anymore. The fact that I titled my column "Batanes To Tawi" goes to show that I could not forget this southernmost province since it was there where I acquired my baccalaureate degree that had helped me a lot in my pursuit of my career development. Then so much with this the Management and Staff are also very grateful to the kind accommodations of the

two BARMM Ministers whom I know both of them several years back. I am referring to Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) who also greeted this digital newspaper wherein he said, "For the MBHTE, we hope that you will become our partners in proper communication engagement with the people in the Bangsamoro, wherein we will share important updates on the Ministry's programs, projects, and activities." He added and said, "we also hope you will help us highlight milestones in the BARMM to inspire the Bangsamoro people. Similarly, we will welcome news or articles from the Philippine Muslim Today that we can use as reference in our decisionmaking process. JANNARAL | A6

When is it better to take medicines, before or after meals? ach refers to those periods about one or so hours before eating and two hours post food intake. Good absorption of course guarantees that the drugs administered are absorbed almost totally and subsequently metabolized, for the simple reason that there is nothing to stand on the way to serve as physical barriers for the newly swallowed medicines. Most of the drugs that are classifiable in this group are the gentle ones – that is, stomach-friendly, since they do not have the potentials for damaging the stomach -and even include almost all the antibiotics. On the other hand, newly taken in food particles still have their physical property to serve as hindrance to the rapid absorption of a newly taken medication, thereby serving as a barrier to the contact of the drug with the stomach per se , offsetting side effects. When

such drug happens to be one that is potentially stomach damaging, such hindrance rendered by the food particles obviate the possible secondary problems that can possibly be created, like gastritis, gastric ulceration or subsequent stomach bleeding, conditions that can bother the patient with pain, anxiety, and of course monetary expenses. While the rate of the absorption is staggered, the absorption still goes on and gets completed, but of course longer, hence no problem of the effect not being rendered. Most of the drugs that belong in this group are the pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the steroids. There are other peculiar metabolic changes that occur with the presence of food in the stomach, which are all part of the physiologic changes naturally designed. Blood flow to the gastrointes-

tinal areas is increased together with the release of bile, while acidity of the stomach is increased (pH becomes lower) and the movement of the gastrointestinal area is also enhanced. All together these are meant to render physiological care upon the food items that have been brought to the stomach.These changes are for the purpose of enhancing the absorption of the food taken, the ultimate purpose of which being to supply the needs of the organs. At such time, the absorption of drugs given timely with the physiologic phases is also enhanced. Massalāma.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

News

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

High-powered loose firearms handed over to troops in Basilan By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

‘Punchline’ revival: More pressing than ever

Alhamdulillah. I am pleased with the birth of The Philippine Muslim Today last month, with fellow veteran Muslim scribe Masiding Noor Yahya taking the cudgel to publish it to flesh out an age-old dream for an alternative newspaper to mostly Metro Manila-based dailies. I am in the fourth decade of continuous media practice. And candidly, I had attempted many times to organize a pool journalists and put up a paper, through which the issues, concerns and aspirations of Muslim Filipinos can be raised sans the usual editorial biases by Manila-based editors. I chose “Punchline” as a title to my column in revival of one that I used to maintain with the Manila Bulletin starting in 1994 until early 2000 when field correspondents’ columns were indefinitely suspended after a fellow columnist was slapped with a libel suit. I felt the suspension of provincial columns in MB was unfair because it had a semblance of a military rule – “fault of one is a fault of all.” Inshaa allah, I will devote this revived column on the presentation of pressing concerns involving Muslim Filipinos, such as the plight of thousands of Maranaw families displaced for three years by the infamous 2017 Marawi siege. I hope this space will be able to help put things in proper order and perspective, just the way by past column in MB led to the stoppage of operations in Maguindanao of a logging company involved in unsolved harassments on native residents opposed to deforestation and eventual titling of forest lands. My past column also led to the dismissal from service of some unscrupulous military officials on various grounds, mostly abuse of authority. Watch for my presentation of pressing issues in the succeeding PMT issues. Dear readers should support this young e-newspaper. Initially, the Bangsamoro government has acknowledged the essence of this newspaper, even as Local Government Minister conveyed intention to host a meeting with the people behind PMT for discussion of things of mutual interest. Abangan and supportahan po ang Philippine Muslim Today. Salamat. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

Mayor Mansul handed over were ten Cal. 30 M1 Garand, two 5.56 M16A1 Rifle, one US Carbine Cal 30 M1, two 9mm LUGER MOD TECHKG9, and one 1911 Cal .45. “On behalf of the men and women of JTF Basilan, I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Mansul for handing over 16 loose firearms to the 4th SF Battalion,” said Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, JTF Basilan commander. Also handed over were two Clips for Cal. 30 Garand, two magazines for KG9, two magazines for 5.56 M16A1 Rifle, and one magazine for Cal. 45. “Significantly, one of the efforts of the command is diplomatic mentoring where we continuously earn the local officials and communities’ trust and support in our campaign to free the communities from the cradle of violence,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom commander. Said firearms were brought to 4SFBn headquarters in Barangay

JANNARAL | from A5

Thank you for helping us digitally Again, congratulations to the Philippine Muslim Today for the initiation of your publication. May you productively engage with the Education Ministry as we work to ensure that "no child will be left behind." Then the other BARMM Minister where our acquaintance is quite for a long time already is Minister Dickson P. Hermoso, of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). I knew Sir Dick when he was in the active service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He used to be the Colonel Dickson P. Hermoso and the spokesman of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division of Camp Siongco, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. I was then the Vice President for Television of the Kampilan Defense Press Corps during my tour of duty as the Station Manager of PTV-4 in Cotabato City. In his straightforward message, Minister Hermoso said, "Philippine Muslim Today can serve as a vehicle of transporting better information to our people and be updated on events affecting their lives. It can also serve as an effective medium of their voices, sentiments and grievances seldom carried by national mainstream media outlet." Of course we are thankful also to BTA Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian M. Balindong who somehow greeted us also in the launching of Philippine Muslim Today.

SABELA CITY, Basilan: Mayor Nerwelyn Mansul of the Municipality of Hadji Muhtamad handed over to the troops of the 4th Special Forces Battalion

IRA-less | from A3

12 IRA-less towns... President Rodrigo Duterte formally inaugurated the BARMM parliament and bureaucracy on March 29, 2019 after the overwhelming ratification of the law in a plebiscite held two months earlier. In his ceremonial message, the President expressed confidence that sev-

The Speaker said, "The Philippine Muslim Today as the first-ever Muslim national newspaper to be published in the country in this digital age, this is indeed a great milestone not only to the Bangsamoro homeland but also to the rest of the Filipino Muslims worldwide." Finally, in ending my message of thanks to all great personalities whom we will never forget and they became parts of the history in the making of the Philippine Muslim Today as the first Muslim national newspaper in Digital Platform, my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks in behalf of our management and staff to one of our benefactors the Masirikampo sa Marawi or "Traditional Royal Ruler of Marawi." He is no other than Datu Yusoph "Boyog" Mama, a philanthropist and sportsman.

13 high-powered and 3 low-powered firearms in Sitio Luuk, Barangay Lubukan, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan in the morning of June 24.

BASILAN LOOSE FIREARMS: Several loose firearms are on display after these were turned over by Mayor Nerwelyn Mansul of the Municipality of Hadji Muhtamad to the military in Basilan in order to sustain peace in their community. (Contributed Photo) Kabbon Bata, Isabela City, Basilan for documentation and proper disposition. “We would like to urge other officials and populace to do their share of commitment to sustain

peace in the community while we continue to fight against the invisible enemy,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

eral gray areas in the defunct ARMM will find remedies in BARMM because of its immense autonomy and resources. During Wednesday’s interview, meanwhile, Minister Sinarimbo said the regional cabinet discussed a day earlier here its submission of the draft BARMM Local Governance Code to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s par-

liament for deliberation before September. He said the draft regional code envisioned among other matters the increase of constituent towns’ monthly revenue ceiling to P12.5 million. The 1991 LGC pegged the ceiling at P2.5 million, which Sinarimbo was an “outdated” amount nowadays. ALI G. MACABALANG

He was also the past President, National Council of Career Executive Service Organizations (NCCESO); and former Philippine Commercial Attaché and Economic Adviser to the IAEA-United Nations. Due to the ongoing pandemic my communications to DYBM was temporarily cut off but it was reconnected thru his son and namesake Yusoph "Champ" Mama II, that I was able to touch base with him again. In his message, DYBM said, "reportage today that address the most pressing issues for Filipino Muslims, truthfully and objectively, such as public concerns on social welfare, equal opportunities, and even "racial or ethnic justice" need to be brought to the fore of national consciousness in order to elicit effective public engage-

ment and help the leaders and decision-makers weigh in more judiciously and responsibly as they dispense their roles. I am confident that "Philippine Muslim Today" is up to the task of professional journalism and more, and that it can meet head on with these challenges with utmost competence. Best wishes!" To all these gentlemen who greeted the Philippine Muslim Today, the Management and Staff would like to say to you thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts. ********** Trivia: Batanes To TawiTawi would like to greet sincerely the former Provincial Governor of Tawi-Tawi, GOV. NUR GASPAR JAAFAR. Happy Birthday Governor and may you have long life. Keep safe too!

News

Lanao del Sur’s Covid-19 lab gets accreditation from DOH According to Dr. Shalimar Rakiin, Medical Center Chief of APMC, the hospital underwent a series of accreditation processes: (1) application for accreditation; (2) utilization self-assessment tool assessed by the DOH-10 staff; (3) identification of laboratory area within the hospital using the required floor plan; (4) procurement of the equipment needed; and (5) orientation/training of staff. “The DOH-10 sent us the GenExpert Machine and cartridge, after their endorsement that we have met all the requirements in the assessment tool,” Rakiin said. “Then, finally, upon passing all the different stages, they sent us the LTO,” she added. The laboratory is now operational. Dr. Rakiin said as of today, they have received 40 swabs from the Sagonsongan community quarantine facility. Rakiin stressed that the accreditation of the said facility will greatly help in the Province’s quick response for

Covid-19. “We used to send the swabs to Cagayan de Oro at Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU-10), and then they send it to Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). We are also sending our swabs to BARMM RESDRU para isend nila sa Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC),” Rakiin said. “It takes 2 to 5 days for the results, because marami rin silang tini-test. Now that we will operate the lab, mas mabilis na po ang testing at mas malapit na rin,” she added. However, the LTO for the said facility will be effective from July 29 until September 29, 2020, only. Rakiin added that the provincial hospital is about to set up the biomolecular laboratory, which will be supported by the Bangsamoro Government, through the Office of the Chief Minister, amounting to P15 million to purchase the equipment needed. “We are just awaiting for

Ijtihad | from page A4

Srengthening the Halal Industry Instead of a commercial emphasis on halal products for instance, as R.A. 10817 now provides, legislators must be aware that halal certified products will only sell if their halal integrity is beyond question. The best way to do this is to allow Muslims to have primary charge of the halal determination and assurance tasks. Halal, after all, is spiritually based on the religion of Islam. The second major aspect of building our halal dreams is the promulgation of uniform halal accreditation procedure and product certification standards to be followed by all Philippine halal certifiers; and the continuous training of halal experts and auditors

who will be in the forefront of ensuring the integrity of Philippine-certified halal products. This may be done by selfless cooperation and coordination by both the private and public sectors --- something which I observe to be lacking for a long time now. Muslims should remember that true halal does not only stand on routine processes and set standards. The true practice of halal emanates from our intentions and actions to live according to the teachings of Islam, and that includes observing harmony and camaraderie among Muslims; instead of competition and fitnah. The third major aspect should involve forming a

the turn-over of the assistance from the Office of the Chief Minister to help in the operations of our biomolecular lab,” Rakiin said. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim expressed his enthusiasm over the recent development. “The accreditation of APMC to conduct Rapid PCR tests further puts the Bangsamoro region in a better position in combating Covid-19. I would also like to assure the people of Lanao del Sur that the Bangsamoro Government will continue to provide assistance to APMC in setting up the much needed biomolecular laboratory,” Chief Minister Ebrahim said. For the infra component, the provincial Local Government Units (LGU) of Lanao del Sur, through the Office of the Governor and Office of the Mayor, will assist P10 million and P2 million respectively. The biomolecular laboratory is expected to be completed by August 20. BPI-BARMM strong and conscientious halal consumer movement that can check administrative and technical lapses and excesses in halal accreditation and certification, patronize legitimate halal products, and further enhance their quality and viability. Having listened to the urgings, having built the dream into reality, all halal stakeholders will now come together, eager to patronize products that have legit halal guarantees and exude heavenly blessings. And just like in the field of dreams where baseball fans trekked to the farm with the baseball diamond, so will the consumers, domestic and international, flock to our halal industry where the field is not just diamond-shaped but also divinely sanctioned. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

NCMF | from A3

NCMF issues guidelines on the 2020 Hajj refund recommendation addressed to the Secretary of this Commission thru the BPE Director duly signed by his Regional or Provincial Director and transmit the same immediately to the BPE thru its email at ncmf.bpe@gmail.com together with the scanned requirements for BPE’s proper evaluation and action. 5. The BPE shall then facilitate the refund and notify

the pilgrim thru his/her given mobile contact number or thru his/her authorized representative for the release and receipt of the check/s for refund. The release of the refund shall be made only after the pilgrim or the representative has surrendered the original copies of the Machine validated payment slips. For the Authorized Representatives, release of the re-

fund shall only be made after a personal confirmation with the pilgrim thru phonecall is done. For those pilgrims who cannot come to NCMF Central Office to receive the check/s for refund, you may claim your check/s after surrendering theoriginal copies of your machine validated Payment Slips from the concern HRPC after it is mailed to them thru LBC. 6. The Pilgrimage Officer

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Sec. Piñol’s nephew positive of Covid-19 By ALI G. MACABALANG

IDAPAWAN CITY - A 20 -year-old nephew of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol had tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid -19) disease, but is asymptomatic and physically well. Reports about the infection of Shane Matthew Piñol spread widely via the traditional and social media here sans his name, but his uncle Sec. Piñol opted to give his identity and others details Shane Matthew Piñol about the test result ostensi- positive for SARS Cov2, the bly to inspire other individuals virus that causes COVID-19. Board Member Piñol said in coming out openly to undergo proper containment his son has been living alone in a house near the provincial protocols. “A young member of the government capitol comPiñol family has tested posi- pound here since he started tive for COVID-19 but he re- working for the provincial govmained asymptomatic and ernment. He was not in contact with strong,” Secretary Piñol said other members of the family, in a statement on June 25. He believed Shane ac- not even during Father’s Day quired the virus in his frontline gathering on Sunday (June works in helping shuttle North 22), he added. Shane turned 21 on June Cotabato residents stranded in the community quarantine 28 while on a government designated isolation facility in campaign measures. Shane, son of former North Cotabato, said his unBoard Member Socrates Pi- cle, who posted the social ñol, is employed under the media some photos showing Office of the North Cotabato the patient doing routine governor and has been in- physical exercises. The MinDA chief said the volved in the provincial government’s Sagip Cotabateño tracing of all people that his program bringing home nephew had come in contact stranded natives of his prov- with had started and that Shane himself had furnished ince. Shane’s father said the the names of all people he young man submitted himself had mingled with during the for isolation right after the rescue missions he conducttests that showed he was ed. (AGM)

If you have unpublished stories about Muslims Filipinos, their history, culture or way of life, please send it to us: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY of the concern HRPC is enjoined to submit all the original copies of the machine validated Payment Slips and the Acknowledgment Receipts signed by the claimant over his/her printed name to the BPE Director, NCMF Central Office thru LBC immediately. Item B - REQUIREMENTS: 1. Accomplished REQUEST LETTER FOR 2020 HAJJ REFUND FORM; 2. Photocopy of the machine validated copy of the

PNBPayment Slip for the payment of Mutawiff and/or Vaccination Fee/s. (The Original copies are to be kept by the pilgrim and will be surrendered to the releasing NCMF personnel); 3. Recommendation Regional/Provincial Director of the concern HRPC. 4. In case of illness or inability of the pilgrim to come to the regional office, a Special Power of Attorney, shall be executed by the pilgrim. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

World Round Up

UN Security Council adopts resolution on Covid-19 UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution on Covid-19, demanding a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda. Resolution 2532, which won the unanimous support of the 15 members of the council, calls on all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days, in order to enable the safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, provisions of related services by impartial humanitarian actors, and medical evacuations. It affirms that this general and immediate cessation of hostilities and this humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaida and Al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida or the IS, and other Security Councildesignated terrorist groups. The resolution requests the UN secretary-general to help ensure that all relevant

Photo taken on March 10, 2020 shows the visitors' entrance to the United Nations headquarters in New York. (Xinhua photo/Wang parts of the UN system accelerate their response to the Covid-19 pandemic with a particular emphasis on countries in need, including those in situations of armed conflict or affected by humanitarian crises. It requests the secretarygeneral to instruct peacekeeping operations to provide support, within their mandates and capacities, to host country authorities in their efforts to contain the pandemic. It requests the secretarygeneral and UN member states to take all appropriate steps to protect the safety, security, and health of all UN personnel in UN peace opera-

tions while maintaining the continuity of operations. It acknowledges the critical role that women are playing in Covid-19 response efforts, as well as the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic, notably the socioeconomic impact, on women and girls, children, refugees, internally displaced persons, older persons and persons with disabilities. It calls for concrete action to minimize this impact and ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and youth in the development and implementation of an adequate and sustainable response to the pandemic. (Xinhua)

Asian family farmers call to strengthen UNDFF amid COVID-19 In a statement, leaders and members of the Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) strongly emphasized the role Asian family farmers have taken as frontlines and key actors during the COVID19 pandemic. In the 27 countries covered by AFA members and their partners, partial or total lockdowns continue to adversely affect not only public health but also economic food and nutrition security, and peace and order— showing that the challenges brought by COVID-19 are multidimensional. Asian FFO initiatives As early as March and at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, AFA has documented family farmer initiatives and responses to the challenges at this time. This June in Myanmar, the Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar (AFFM) initiated to directly sell the products of their farmer members to urban consumers of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM). In the Philippines, PANAW Sumilao, a local agricoop and

member of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA) allocated a portion of their community development fund to provide food aid to 900 households in their local community. In a presentation to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Esther Penunia AFA Secretary-General emphasized that “Family farmers are frontliners, too, especially in the work to build the body’s resilience and resistance to COVID-19 through healthy and nutritious food.” UNDFF Post-COVID-19 AFA sees the UN Decade of Family Farming (20192028) as a key instrument to build more resilient and sustainable food systems postCOVID-19—an instrument that needs to put family farmers front and center. As a member of the World CSO Coordinating Committee (WCC) and International Steering Committee (ISC) of the UNDFF, AFA strongly supports the statement of the WCC and recognizes the “UNDFF [as a concrete] and consensus instrument of great importance for defining

comprehensive policies in support of family farming and offers a framework of collaboration facilitating the implementation of these policies” AFA joins the call of the World CSO Coordination Committee and urges “governments, agencies, and institutions of the United Nations, international and bilateral cooperation institutions the International Steering Committee of the UNDFF, its secretariat and other interested parties to “(1) Involve family farmers, their organizations and National Committees of Family Farming … in achieving the Global Action Plan of the UNDFF and the SDGs, (2) offer strong, decisive and the highest level of support to family farmers and their cooperatives and organizations that support them (3) allocate necessary resources to accelerate the implementation of the UNDFF, (4) maintain and reinforce continuous dialogue with family farmers’ organizations and the NCFF.“ For more information on the United Nations Decade of Family Farming, visit https:// www.familyfarmingcampaign. org/en/

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Lanto | from page A4

“I can’t breathe”... Racism is poison. It’s the oppression of one race against another. It is a dragon that must be slain on sight. If left unchecked, it eats up and erodes society’s foundation and core values. It comes in many forms. And there are legions of its manifestation. When police authorities singled out Muslim students in schools and universities in Metro Manila for listing for alleged security reason; when Muslim women wearing hijab or burka enter malls and other public places and are subjected to the indignity of excessive, if not abusive inspection by guards but spare non-Muslims; when Maranaos before were not allowed to buy a lot or house in exclusive gated subdivisions in Cagayan de Oro City — this was relaxed but lots for sale abutting the Pueblo de Oro Golf course are still off limits to Maranaos; when a Muslim woman gasping for breath was rushed to a hospital’s emergency room in Cagayan de Oro, but was

prematurely moved out to give way to a victim who belonged to a prominent Christian family, which caused the infection and death of the former (I lawyered for the complainant and won the case before the trial court of Iligan city); when the local government of Iligan City singled out the Maranaos for strict implementation of safety health protocols amid the COVID-19 threat because of past misdeeds of other members of the tribe; and when these and many more discriminatory policies happened, we call these under any definition plain and simple racism. Check out for a litany of such injustices in my past articles. The author of the book I described has a poignant message. Speaking through the main character, Scout, she said “Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity… You should respect people regardless of how different they are.” (This article was published in the Daily Tribune) PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

NBI | from page A2

NBI probe on deaths... Sobejana, who earned his Medal of Valor Award, the highest service medal and considered by the AFP as a living hero, earned the award during his younger days during his tour of duty in Sulu, said the military “will wait for the investigation to be completed” and appealed to the public “not to sensationalize the incident through the social media or any other means.” The field office in Sulu of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) led by Regional Director Kenny Tan was the first to report out the incident. NCMF spokesman Jun Alonto-Datu Ramos, citing Tan’s report, said Jolo police elements including drug enforcement unit operatives sighted first the Montero sports utility vehicle carrying the four soldiers while conducting patrol, and ordered the subject persons to join them to the Jolo police station “for verification.” pon arrival at the PNP station, the Army troopers allegedly drove towards Martirez, Barangay San Raymun-

do, a suburb in Jolo town, prompting the police elements to give a chase, the NCMF report said. The pursuing police elements caught up with the fleeing soldiers and engaged them in an alleged exchange of fire leading to the killing of all four soldiers, the report said. The shooting scene happened around 2:26 p.m. Monday in front of the Jolo Central Fire Station at barangay Walled City, according to the WestMinCom statement. The NCMF report said the four ISU soldiers were on surveillance mission against suspected suicide bombers under the group of Mundi Sawadjaan in coordination with Joint Task Force Sulu when spotted by patrolling police elements. Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay confirmed that the soldiers were on a mission to identify the location of terrorists in Sulu. (With additional reports from the Metro Manila News Bureau)

Read PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY, your reliable source of news and information.

Section 2 Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Peoples, Places and Events

Barter System in Tawi-Tawi’s Panglima Sugala By JOHNNY R. LEE, PhD.

long-time traditional trading called ‘barter system’ is very much in active operation in this southernmost part of the country, reviving the ancient practices of exchanging goods without the use of money. Located at Barangay Bato -Bato, Panglima Sugala in the Province of Tawi-Tawi, every Saturday of the week, one can witness real exchanges of goods, specifically marine products vis-a-vis agricultural yields. Marine products are brought in by Sama Dilaut also known as Badjaos and the latter by agricultural farmers of Panglima Sugala. The Municipality of Panglima Sugala is dubbed as the ‘food basket’ of the province owing to its fertile soil and having a good source of water from its Ma-

lum River. They are the province’s biggest supplier of cassava, bananas, sugar cane, rice, coconut and, during fruiting season - durian, marang and rambutan are in abundance. Meanwhile, the marine products are sourced from its satellite island barangays which is rich in all kinds of fishes, shellfishes and exotic foods like sea-urchins, coral plants and animals like sea anemones, octupusis, cuttlefishes, squids and sea cucumbers. Marine products are either fresh, salted and dried. Exchanges of goods be-

Golden Mesjid Kapunan of Bato Bato. (Johnny Lee)

Raw and processed Cassava part of barter trade items in Panglima Sugala. (Johnny Lee)

ers or shoppers coming from neighboring municipalities particularly from the Municipality of Bongao who travel by land ( 30 kilometers away) in their private vehicles. BatoBato is connected to Bongao by a kilometer-long bridge and has a well-paved highway. It is also frequented by local tourists from outside the province who finds the the products, both marine & agricultural, to be comparative cheaper in price yet, qualitywise, is better and always fresh. Panglima Sugala is also known to be the Home of Rare Sulu Hornbill bird and the much-sought bird species by ornithologist, the vanishing Bleeding-Heart Pigeon. The biggest mosque in the province called Golden Masjid Kapunan can be found here. It also hosts a Naval Base Station. PMT

tween the farmers and fisherfolks take place during the first few hours of the ‘market day’. After the ‘barter exchanges’ interested buyers and customers can come in to buy the goods using money. The market day or ‘tabuhtabuh’ termed by the natives is always filled with custom-

BTA Parliament to start tackling priority codes, bills before September By ALI G. MACABALANG

BARMM Parliament majority floor leader Lanang Ali Jr.(Supplied)

OTABATO CITY - The Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is set to start tackling priority bills in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in September this year, officials said. Among the priority measures set for deliberation upon submission by proponent parties are the BARMM’s Administrative Code (AC) and the Local Governance Code (LGC), according

to parliament Majority Floor Leader Atty. Lanang Ali Jr. and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo. BARMM’s Attorney General Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba and Minister Sinarimbo presented the CA and LGC drafts, respectively, at separate cabinet meetings, it was learned. Pending refinement discussions, the cabinet has set the submission of both drafts to the parliament in July or before September, Sinarimbo said. The Bangsamoro Government is currently following the Bangsamoro Transition skeletal operations pending the passage of the Administrative Code, a law that will define the administrative structures in the BARMM, including the creation of line offices, among others. The Bureau of Public Information (BPI) quoted Ma-

jority Leader Ali as conveying confidence that the passage of the Bangsamoro Administrative Code would smoothen the operations of the regional bureaucracy. The current Bangsamoro transition plan was approved and adopted last year by the BTA, its provisions were also used as the basis of drafting the Administrative Code, the BPI said. “And once we pass the administrative code, this will be the permanent procedures and structure that we will use,” Ali was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Ali also underscored the urgency of filing the LGC before September, though citing the need for refinements in some of its provisions. Interview by The Philippines Muslim Today on Wednesday, Minister Sinarimbo mentioned the provi-

sions on proposed hike in monthly income of elected barangay officials and a regulatory action on political dynasty in the autonomous region. “The coverage of this code (LGC) is broad and we need public consultations from the ground. We will go to the LGUs and ask them about their proposed provisions that we can possibly include in this code. Because this code will consume a lot of time, we need to file this right away,” Ali was quoted as saying earlier. Also set for immediate submission to the parliament are the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, the Civil Service Code, Revenue Code, and the Law on Indigenous People. The priority measures will undergo plenary deliberations in October and beyond, it was learned. AGM

News

Vol. I, No. 03 | July 3-9, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 12-18, 1441)

Local officials yield undocumented firearms in Maguindanao By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor DATU UNSAY, Maguindanao: Local officials of the Municipality of Datu Unsay in this province led by Mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan, handed over to the 1stMechanized Brigade (Mech Bde) eight assorted loose firearms with magazines and ammunitions at the municipal hall of said municipality in the afternoon of June 25.

LOOSE FIREARMS: Different kinds of loose firearms and mostly high powered are turned over to the military and police officials by the local government units of Datu Unsay Municipality in the Province of Maguindanao. (Contributed Photo)

“The handing over was their gesture of commitment on the government’s campaign against loose firearms,” said Col. Jesus Rico

Atencio, 1st Mech Bde commander. “This significant accomplishment was facilitated by

the 1st Mechanized Infantry (Lakan) Battalion,” Col. Atencio added. Handed over were one US

Carbine Cal. 30 M1, one US Rifle Cal. 30 M1 Spring field, one M79, one 7.62mm Sniper Rifle Barret, one Cal. 50 Barret, one Cal. 45 Pistol, and two Rocket Propelled Grenade and assorted magazines and ammunition. “I would like to attribute this accomplishment to the local government officials and the peace-loving people of Datu Unsay,” said Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, Joint Task Force (JTF) Central Commander. The handing over of firearms was witnessed by 1st Mech Bn commander Lt. Col. James Fernando, Maguindanao-PPO Provincial Director Police Col. Arnold Santiago, Datu Unsay LGU

and barangay officials, and other invited guests. “I would like to extend my commendation to the troops of the Joint Task Force Central for accomplishing your mandated tasks vigorously,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom commander. “Through our convergence of efforts we are able to sustain the momentum and attain significant gains in our peace campaign,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added. Firearms and ammunitions were placed under the custody of 1st Mech Bn for safekeeping. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

MAFAR-BARMM leads 'harvest' festival' in Maguindanao

RICE HARVEST FESTIVAL: Dr. Mohammad Yacob, minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM) leads farmers in the rice harvest festival in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. (Contributed Photo)

ATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao: The Bangsamoro Government on Sunday, June 28, has organized a harvest festival on a 150-hectare model farm for community-based hybrid rice production at Barangay Sapalan, here in this town in Maguindanao. The event, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR-BARMM), showcased the importance of technology on hybrid rice productions for the model farm. The MAFAR also conducted field visitation and crop-cutting activities, and provided information dissemination on inbred and hybrid rice productions. MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob said this is to

accustom farmers in the Bangsamoro region on hybrid rice production and its economic impact. “Our demo farm is undeniably the fruit of your (farmers’) coordination, effort, and unity, especially with the support of our Local Government Unit (LGU),” Yacob said. He said the harvest festival showcases the accomplishment and laborious efforts of farmers and a clear manifestation that rice production, including harvesting and marketing in the region is being closely monitored by the ministry. The Bangsamoro Government also turned over farming equipment such as one set of Walk-Behind Transplanter and one set of Rice Thresher machine to further

improve the rice productions of Barangay Sapalan community. Alex Ibrahim, president of Local Farm Technicians – BARMM said, “Before, we can only harvest a maximum of 40-sacks of rice per hectare. Now, we were able to procure almost 115-120 sacks of rice per hectare after we utilized hybrid production. This is such a great help for us farmers especially with our profit.” Meanwhile, Cheryl Rose Mary Ann Rose F. Lu- Sinsuat, mayor of Datu Odin Sinsuat (DOS) Maguindanao, expressed her commitment in supporting the activities of BARMM. “The LGU of DOS also showcased a MAFARlengke Program in our municipality. We just want to say ‘Thank you’ as you have chosen our municipality again to introduce this model farm on hybrid rice productions,” Sinsuat expressed. Philippine Statistics Authority – BARMM, Bureau of Plant Industry, National Irrigation Administration, Municipal and Provincial Agricultural Officers, Local Farmer Technicians, and around 500 farmers and stakeholders from 36 municipalities of Maguindanao participated and witnessed the demonstration farm of hybrid rice varieties. Julmunir I. Janaral/ PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

‘They Want to Kill Me’: Many Covid Patients Have Terrifying Delirium TENNESSEE, USA: Paranoid hallucinations plague many coronavirus patients in intensive care units (I.C.U.s), an experience that can slow recovery and increase risk of depression and cognitive issues. Kim Victory was paralyzed on a bed and being burned alive. Just in time, someone rescued her, but suddenly, she was turned into an ice sculpture on a fancy cruise ship buffet. Next, she was a subject of an experiment in a lab in Japan. Then she was being attacked by cats. Nightmarish visions like these plagued Ms. Victory during her hospitalization this spring for severe respiratory failure caused by the coronavirus. They made her so agitated that one night, she pulled out her ventilator breathing tube; another time, she fell off a chair and landed

on the floor of the intensive care unit. “It was so real, and I was so scared,” said Ms. Victory, 31, now back home in Franklin, Tennessee. To a startling degree, many coronavirus patients are reporting similar experiences. Called hospital delirium, the phenomenon has previously been seen mostly in a subset of older patients, some of whom already had dementia, and in recent years, hospitals adopted measures to reduce it. "There may be an increase in cases in the winter or next spring, but I don't think the outbreak will be as big as the first wave of the pandemic," said Zhong Nanshan, a leading respiratory expert who spearheaded China's response to the SARS pandemic, on Wednesday. PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

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