Philippine Muslim Today

The Terror By Itself

Do We need Ulama Summit?

Mehol K. Sadain | Page A4

Abdul Hannan Tago Page A4

Trailblazing NCMF

Prevention, indeed, is better than cure

Tawi-Tawi COVID-19 free no more

Ali G. Macabalang | Page A6

Benj Bangahan | Page A5

Julmunir i. Jannaral | Page A5

EDITORIAL

Bearer of Glad Tidings | 10 Pages | Metro Manila

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

Dividing Lanao Sur an indirect genocide See Page A4

Tawi-Tawi: Covid-free no more Inside Section B

SITANGKAI: The Venice of the South

By JOHNNY R. LEE, PhD.

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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.

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

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awi-Tawi, the last frontier in the Philippine south and Bangsamoro region’s sixth province is no longer a COVID-Free province after a police officer arrived in the Port of Bongao and found positive of the dreaded pandemic Coronavirus 2019 on July 5.

(Full story on Page B1)

(Full story on Page A2)

Panglima Sugala adopts Sulu hornbill as flagship species

BARMM seeks proxy in anti-terror body

By FELIMON G. ROMERO, PhD.

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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he Sulu Hornbill, Anthracoceros montani, which is only found in Tawi Tawi and classified critically endangered by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is estimated of its population in the wild from a minimum of 29 to a maximum of 40 individuals. It is also considered the rarest hornbill in the world.

(Full story on Page B2) LEARNING SESSION IN THE NEW NORMAL

THE CHIEF AND THE GENERALS: Chief Minister Ahod "Al Hajj Murad" Ebrahim (center) in this file photo holds a Meeting with the top brass generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the peace and order situation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Sitting at left is Maj. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto of the Philippine Army. At right is Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command. (Photo by Mark Navales)

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earning Session – Members of the General Santos City’s Muslim Religious Advisory Council and Gensan Madaris Asatidz Federation discussed on Friday on how to learn the alternative learning methodology to be adopted by Madaris during the 'new normal’ phase of the campaign in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Ghandi Kinjiyo)

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OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) wants representation in a government body that will oversee the enforcement of the freshly enacted Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL) to help ensure that Muslim Filipinos would not be discriminated under the edict.

(Full story on Page A2)

We are inviting upcoming young Muslim writers to join the new but promising newspaper.

Email to us your articles: Muslimtoday2020 @gmail.com

News

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Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

SPECIAL REPORT

Tawi-Tawi: Covid-free no more

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor The police officer being the first case of COVID-19 positive is designated as Patient No. TWT001.

Tawi-Tawi Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has subjected to the usual health protocols and rapid antibody testing procedures the national government and military officials during their visit to the province on July 4, 2020.

Both the military and government officials strictly observe health protocols during their Tawi-Tawi visit to the province to welcome the first batch of Sabah deportees who arrived from Sandakan on board MV Antonia 1.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Medical Team led by Dr. Sangkula G. Laja with concurrence from the provincial IATF chaired by Gov. Yshmael Mang Sali performed the rapid antibody tests and health assessment to Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, IATF Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Filemon Santos and their staff.

Ministers Naguib Sinarim-

bo and Raissa Jajurie of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) and Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) respectively accompanied the said officials visit to the province to welcome the first batch of Sabah deportees who arrived from Sandakan on board MV Antonia 1.

According to Dr. Laja, the team conducted tests to 32 visitors coming from Zamboanga City and Metro Manila.

All who were subjected to health protocols had tested negative.

The health workers expressed appreciation to the officials for allowing themselves to be subjected to the health protocols of the province.

The Joint Task Force

(JTF) Tawi-Tawi military commander was very proud to declare that Tawi-Tawi remains to be COVID-free.

“Tawi-Tawi remains to be COVID-free,” said Col. Arturo Rojas, JTF Tawi-Tawi Commander.

This is in addition to the vigilance of the health frontliners together with the local government units (LGUs) and other partners who are on guard round the clock strictly implementing the health protocols.

“Health frontliners together with the LGUs and other partners are on guard 24/7 in implementing safety measures to prevent the spread of the contagion in Tawi-Tawi,” Col. Rojas added.

This even led to the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) commander to commend the Tawi-Tawi IATF on COVID-19 for their proactive approach in curbing the virus.

“I would like to personally commend Tawi-Tawi’s IATF on COVID-19 for the proactive approach in curbing the spread of the virus. Let us all

continue to work together to flatten the curve of the contagion,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom Commander.

Tawi-Tawi COVID-19 free no more However both the declaration on Tawi-Tawi as COVID19 free and the proactive approach of its IATF approach to curb the virus are now overtaken by the recent development when a police officer who arrived in the Port of Bongao last June 30 underwent Swab Test and the result came out to be Positive last July 5.

The contact tracing for this policeman is full of controversy as far as his movements are concerned.

Upon arrival at the Bongao Port on June 30 he immediately disembarked from the boat and proceeded to Bongao Port Terminal for health screening and assessment.

It was also found out that based on the manifest of the boat, TWT001 was not included in the passenger list, and that he did not undergo rapid

testing prior to boarding the motor vessel in Zamboanga City.

Then he undergone rapid test (which later resulted positive); went outside the terminal without informing the authorities; rode on a tricycle going to Bongao town proper.

Then he photocopied his documents at a photocopier shop along Datu Halun Street in Bongao before proceeding to their boarding house located at Philippine Constabulary (PC) Compound, Barangay Poblacion also here in Bongao.

Upon confirmation of his positive rapid test result, the assessment team discovered that Patient No. TWT001 was not inside the port terminal and went to the authorities to look out for him.

The companions of Patient No. TWT001 then called him up to come back to the port terminal and he obliged by riding on a tricycle and went back to Bongao Port Terminal.

Frontliners in contact with TWT001 lucky to be negaTAWI-TAWI | A6

BARMM seeks proxy in anti-terror body

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) wants representation in a government body that will oversee the enforcement of the freshly enacted AntiTerrorism Law (ATL) to help ensure that Muslim Filipinos would not be discriminated under the edict.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim expressed the quest in a statement issued on July 4, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

During Congressional deliberations, many sectors had staged protests and aired dissent to the passage of the edict. Among the opposing camps was the Bangsamoro parliament, which passed a resolution appealing to the President to veto the legislation.

“It is our fear that among the hardest hit once the AntiTerrorism Bill passes into law would be the Bangsamoro,” the Chief Minister, himself a member of the parliament, said in a statement accompanying the resolution.

Ebrahim and other parlia-

ment members feared that Muslim people as usual would be “easily tagged as terrorists.”

Ebrahim argued that the law has “a very vague definition of terrorism” that opens it up to potential abuses by the police and military.

He said the law allows the government to carry out warrantless arrests of suspected terrorists and hold them without charges for up to 24 days.

It removes a requirement that police present suspects before a judge to determine that they were not tortured while in custody.

“I cannot help but be alarmed by the language and foreseeable consequences of the anti-terrorism bill,” he stressed.

“This stems from the long history of … human rights violations and discrimination suffered by the Bangsamoro.”

When “agents of the state are given too much discretion, it often leads to abuses,” the MILF chair also warned.

Several human rights and legal advocacy groups had petitioned the Supreme Court a day earlier to issue an injunction against the law.

Critics of President Duterte have warned that it could be used to stifle legitimate political dissent against his administration.

They fervently objected to the ATL provisions that allow warrantless arrests or searches, and the detention of any suspect in a longer period up to 30 days without filing of required charges.

They also questioned the ATL’s suppression of a civil right on medical referrals for arrested suspects needed to show whether the apprehension process entailed tortures.

Since the call for veto came to naught with the President signing the bill into law on July 3, Ebrahim came up with a new statement appealing to the Chief Executive to designate a representative from the Bangsamoro government to the Anti-Terrorism Council that would govern the new law.

Ebrahim said the autonomous government “respects” the decision of the President in signing the contentious edict into law even as it is concerned.

But he stressed that “the BARMM is open to engage the National Government on preparedness against this vicious phenomenon (of arbitrary tagging), as we collectively explore new potential approaches to holistically protect our people from the menace of terrorism.”

“This engagement can

start with the Bangsamoro having representation in the Anti-Terrorism Council,” Ebrahim said, adding that having a seat in the body would help allay fears of people throughout the region particularly Muslim communities across the south.

Recently, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, main proponent of the ATL, said he would find time to meet with BARMM officials to explain the presence of safety measures against undue enforcement of the law, especially among Muslim Filipinos.

Interviewed over a national radio broadcast network, Sen. Lacson said he well understood the sentiments of Muslim Filipino officials, notably the BARMM leaders, in their apprehensions about the new law.

But he assured that the ATL has built-in provisions that will safeguard enforcement from becoming discriminatory to the minority Muslim Filipinos.

Muslim members of the House of Representatives, Congressmen Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Yasser Balindong of Lanao del Sur, had publicized their dissenting votes against the passage of the bill because of some of its uncorrected provisions that wanted amended

during deliberation.

Former Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman, now a lone Congressman of Basilan, had also opposed the bill passage, saying the government should have instead strengthened existing local mechanisms that proved effective in addressing Islamic extremism.

Hataman was referring to his province’s initial successes in winning over some 200 members of the terror-prone Abu Sayyaf guerillas back to the fold of law through the provincial campaign called Program Against Violent Extremism.

Ebrahim heads the central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which was once tagged by a past administration as "terrorist" for its armed guerilla campaigns. The tag was later removed when the government renewed peace negotiations with the MILF in protracted talks that eventually led to the passage of law establishing the Bangsamoro region and its governance.

The MILF waged a bloody battle against the government for decades that led eventually to the creation of the BARMM replacing the old autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

AGM/PMT

News

DA chief accused of nepotism, abuse of authority

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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griculture Secretary William Dar has been charged with nepotism and grave abuse of authority before the Office of the Ombudsman for designating his son-in-law as head of an agency under his department and for transferring a key subordinate appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte from one office to another that led to desperate resignation.

In a complaint dated and submitted last July 1 to the Office of the Ombudsman Samuel Martires, resigned Deputy Director John Pagaduan accused Dar of committing nepotism for designating his son-in-law, Alex Arizabal, as general manager of the Human Settlement Development Corporation, an agency under the Department of Agriculture currently undergoing liquidation.

Pagaduan, in his complaint, declared that Arizabal should also be held criminally and administratively liable along with Secretary Dar. The complainant, earlier appointed by Duterte as deputy executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), said Secretary Dar caused his “constructive dismissal/ forced resignation” by relieving him from his official position and assigning him to different offices “without specific functions.”

Pagaduan said his “floating” situation eventually forced him to resign, but not without a legal reaction via a complaint before the Ombudsman’s office.

He also accused Dar of allegedly violating RA 6713, known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees, for alleged failure to act promptly on a letter addressed to the DA chief dated Jan.21, 2020. He did not elab-

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

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DPWH turns over dorms for health workers to QC F our 'We Heal As One’ offsite dormitories purposebuilt by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for hospital workers were turned-over last Monday, July 6 to the Quezon City government.

“With these facilities at Quezon Memorial Circle, our modern-day heroes will have a safer and more comfortable space to rest”, said Secretary Mark A. Villar.

In his report to Secretary Villar, Emil K. Sadain and head of DPWH Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities said that the temporary shelter will exempt some 128 healthcare workers dealing with Covid-19 patients from daily travel from hospital to home.

bureaus said that two more dorms were completed at Quezon Memorial Circle last July 9 that can accommodate 64 frontliners working at medical facilities in Quezon City.

Each cluster dormitory will have 16 airconditioned rooms with occupancy of two person sleeping on double-decker beds per room with toilet and bath with heater.

The dormitory is made of modular components fabricated to assemble 16 rooms, eight on left and eight on right side with the middle space intended for living room complete with TV and sofa; common dining; and separate area for laundry and kitchen with available appliances.

Medical personnel that will likely benefit from the temporary shelter project are those

"These dormitories is fully furnished that it can be utilized immediately to temporarily house medical doctors and staff of major Quezon Citybased hospitals," said Undersecretary Sadain.

Undersecretary Sadain in his project inspection together with members of the Task Force from DPWH technical

employed at National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Hospital, Childrens Hospital, V. Luna General Hospital, and Quezon City General Hospital and other government hospitals in Quezon City.

JULMUNIR JANNARAL

DA Secretary William Dar orate on the nature of the letter believed not acted upon in due time.

Pagaduan said his nepotism complaint has been attached with a copy of Sec. Dar’s Special Order dated Jan. 7, 2020 designating his son-in-law as general manager of the Human Settlements Development Corporation (HSDC).

“By the looks of the Special Order No. 15, it is silent as to whether Mr. Alexander Arizabal would be holding the position of General Manager of HSDC concurrently with his existing position as Information Systems Analyst III/ Head Executive Assistant of the Department of Agriculture.

Hence, from being an IT person in the office, Arizabal would now be holding the management of a defunct corporation,” Pagaduan said.

He stressed that while the HSDC is now undergoing liquidation, he was doubtful of

Arizabal’s expertise in handling a “corporate liquidation, or at the very least, in the management of a government corporation.”

Pagaduan saod Arizabal holds a regular position of “Information Systems Analyst III” designated as head executive assistant under Sec. Dar. “The designation (of Arizabal) constitutes a gross violation of our laws and government regulations that warrants the appropriate criminal and administrative charges. The designation is tantamount to a graft and corrupt practice defined by law, particularly under Section 3, paragraphs (e) and (j) of Republic Act No. 3019,” he said.

Pagaduan claimed the DA chef is culpable of three criminal and administrative violations.

As of press time, Dar and Arizabal could not be reached for reactions on the complaint.

PHIL. MUSLIM TODAY

MinDA pushes for self-reliance as key to Mindanao recovery from COVID-19

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AVAO CITY – Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol underscored anew the need for the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Mindanao to be self-reliant as the country grapples with the effects of COVID-19.

Sec. Piñol renewed his advocacy during a Management Committee (ManCom) Meeting he presided over for his workers on Tuesday in this city, according to MinDA Communications Division Director Dr. Adrian Tamayo.

Piñol believes that in

order to restart the economy and bolster socioeconomic development in the islandregion, every Local Government Unit should rely on their own concerted efforts and abilities in this time of recovery since the national government, on the other hand, has been devoting its resources to the on-going fight against the pandemic, Tamayo said.

“LGUs cannot expect a lot from the national government.

Walang pondo ang national government ngayon. In fact, na-sequestered ang mga pondo ng mga ahensya. So, there’s not much money to talk about right now,” He

quoted Piñol as saying at the meeting.

As MinDA Chairman, Piñol is keen on refocusing the agency’s programs in order to help the economy regain its momentum once again and bring forth concrete results that will be felt on the ground despite financial difficulties and limitations present, Tamayo said.

“Our objective is to really restart the economy of Mindanao. Ang dapat nating tingnan in prioritizing our programs: ano ‘yong may immediate effect na programa na maka-benepisyo agad ‘yong mga tao natin and ma-restart

‘yong economy,” the MinDA chairman told his management team.

While efforts on the restoration of the economy are underway, he highlights that it is the right time for the Local Government Units to unleash their individual coping mechanisms and maximize resources under the new normal set-up.

“So, whatever we do in Mindanao right now will be guided by the philosophy of self-reliance. We will have to encourage LGUs to really invest,” Piñol added Citing his recent official visits to Impasugong, Ta-

lakag, Sumilao and Lantapan (IMTASULA), he encouraged the mayors of the respective areas to look for ways to prop-up their local economies, “You buy equipment. ‘Wag kayong matakot mangutang. Bumili kayo ng equipment sapagkat you have to build your own roads right now.”

Among the COVID-19 response programs that MinDA is actively taking on are the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” Program, Sustainable Agriculture Project for IMTASULA areas and MinDA Tienda.

ALI G. MACABALANG

Opinion

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Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

DO WE NEED ULAMA SUMMIT?

Ijtihad MEHOL K. SADAIN

ABDUL HANAN TAGO

THE TERROR BY ITSELF

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s expected, the signing into law of the new anti-terrorism bill by the President has resulted in the filing of cases before the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutionality of some of its provisions, and praying that the law be invalidated.

The case is now sub judice, but the law threatens to grow into metus ipsum: A terror by itself.

Terrorism, some say, was institutionalized during the French Revolution, but terror is as old as the incipience of man and weaponry. Despite its long history, however, terrorism has not come under a single, operative definition. It has only agreed to be generally described as violence and threat of violence perpetuated in pursuit of political, religious, racial or ideological objectives. States, however, are quick to add that it cannot be committed by a “state actor”, thereby unrealistically denying the existence of State-sponsored terrorism. We all know that is incorrect. And herein lies the balancing between preventing terrorism and being the terror itself.

Without going into the sub judice substance of the pros and cons; the crux of the cases filed against the new Anti-Terrorism Law is the fear instilled by the prevention of terror itself. It is a fear borne out of the authorities’ possible disregard of constitutional rights, the abuse of their enforcement power or simply a mistaken in the apprehension of suspects. It is the anticipation of the anguish and the pain that wrongful arrest, detention and prosecution will cause the victim. If this happens then terror prevention becomes the terror itself. How can we safeguard against this possibility if basic rights and redress are not recognized, or have already been swept under the rug, so to say?

We have to remember that one man’s terrorist may be another man’s hero, or a terroristic act of a particular period may be a patriotic act of a subsequent era. Acts are relative, and contextualized by the victor. In the meantime, some people may suffer when the State tightens the noose on perceived law violators, and these people may not necessarily be at fault.

Who are really the terrorists when we conveniently include and exclude categories in the definitions of “terrorist” and “terrorism”? What are “terroristic acts” when we hesitate to categorize all acts of violence or threat of violence as “terror acts”? By our indecisiveness, by our hesitance and reluctance, would it not be prudent to be more circumspect in our fight against terrorism?

IJTIHAD | A7

Tawi-Tawi now Covid-free no more!

Dividing Lanao del Sur an indirect genocide

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My World is growing smaller everyday,” thus the song goes.”

achiavelli’s “Divide and Rule” is the best weapon against the Maranaos. It is proven in the Arab world and the entire Muslim world Whoever wants to divide the province of Lanao del Sur into two with the other one to be called Maranao Province may not realize it but he is somehow committing genocide against the Maranaos.

The Maranao Homeland used to be so wide and vast. Then in the 1950s, politicians in their desire to control powers divided Lanao into two without thinking the consequence in terms of identity and territory. Such division might have favored the north part in term of development and progress. It is obvious that Lanao del Norte is more developed than its south.

After dividing the then lone province into two, Maranaos living in Lanao del Norte, despite being Maranaos, could no longer proudly say they come from Ranao for Ranao is exclusively of Lanao del Sur, their original homeland, which does not include anymore Lanao del Norte after its division.

And the people of Lanao del Norte are no longer called Maranaos, and if ever people call them Maranaos, they are thought of being from Ranao.

By dividing the Muslim world into small weak countries, the enemies of Islam won over the once powerful Muslims. This is how peoples are conquered: divide them, support each with tools and resources to fight one another and you control them.

Similarly, if a Maranao province is curved out of Lanao del Sur, they will be the ones called ‘Maranaos’ and the constituents of Lanao del Sur may have to invent another name because the Maranaos are those living in the proposed “Maranao Province” and the people of Lanao del Sur are not and they cannot be called People of the Maranao Province.

Andmind you, powerful nations in the world are big countries in terms of areas and populations.

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

Editorial

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

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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

uslim scholars “Ulama” have been playing pivotal role in shaping moral, peaceful and harmony society of a community and nation. They have a great influence on the youngsters and enjoy high respect of the people. The Almighty Allah S.W.T has placed them on a high level and status among mankind.

He said: “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees” (Mujadalah 11).

According to a Hadith, Ulama are the substitutes of the prophets as rule models not only for the youth but also for the matured including professionals who wish to seek knowledge on religious affairs.

0In this context, they should maintain and reflect a high level of their educational background and wisdom. Yet, new graduates among them are more vulnerable to the influence of today’s state and current environment where competition is essential part for a certain goal including power, job opportunity or even to have more followers on a certain platform on social New graduates returning from abroad find themselves jobless after obtaining degree abroad that opens the door for them to engage in religious debate on simple and sensitive issues that only senior scholars can tackle using (new graduates) social media platforms in their hatred exchange of comments.

Unfortunately, some of their argument goes beyond the tolerable edge. In many occasions, they became more personal attacks as we have seen recently on social media tarnishing their own reputation and what they represent, unfortunately our very own religion.

This has been a great concern of the senior Ulama and the society because of the increasing negative impact of those acts on the image of the religious leaders and the Muslim communities as followers. As such, open dialogue in decent and serious brotherly conference is needed to address this problem.

Lack of job opportunities also ignite new graduates (Arabic and Western education) to engage in a suspicious activity not necessarily knowing the political agenda behind it and the source of fund. Another important matter to be addressed is the extremism as a result of insufficient knowledge on the Islamic principle on tolerance and coexistence. As mentioned lack of opportunities where they can spend their time is a big TAGO | 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. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

Tawi-Tawi COVID-19 free no more I

n my previous topic here in this column I was happy to write that TawiTawi, which is my 2nd home Province is COVID-19 Free.

This was even announced by Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, the minister of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Dr. Dipatuan, being the health minister emphasized that Tawi-Tawi remains to be Covid-free. Well this was before July 5.

Tawi-Tawi was wearing the crown for several months and finally was dethroned last July 5 and the crown was changed into Coronavirus when TWT001 suffered a Technical Knock Out (TKO) after he underwent a Swab Test and the result came out to be Positive (+) last July 5.

Thus both the declaration on Tawi-Tawi as COVID-19 free and the proactive approach of its IATF approach to curb the virus are now overtaken by the recent development involving the person of TWT001 who is actually a 44 year old police officer or a personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP)

assigned with the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office.

Based on record TWT001 is an LSI (Locally Stranded Individual) who arrived in the Port of Bongao last June 30 and underwent Swab Test and the result came out to be Positive (+) last July 5.

TWT001 being the first COVID-19 patient in the entire Tawi-Tawi Province became a celebrity over night.

However, some of the people in Bongao have hated him for his carelessness.

He boarded the boat last June 30 in Zamboanga City without observing the health protocol of undergoing the required Swab Test in order to determine that he is in his pink of health or not.

But unlike other boat passengers, who have been tested with Swab Test, TWT001 bypassed all the protocols.

In fact confident that he is a police officer anyway he boarded the boat without his name being listed in the passengers list or the Boat Manifest.

The contact tracing for Patient TWT001 is full of controversy as far as his

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

T

he age-old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, has been the favorite dictum of old folks when they would like to impress upon their young ones the wisdom of being cautious ahead of the game the kids intend to play which has some potential dangers to themselves, to the extent that modern internetsavvy youngsters have considered the saying as nothing more than a good-fornothing cliché. Never have they known, however, the weight of the clichéd old advice, most especially in the context of health care of people, no matter what age, until they have been made conscious of it.

In the field of medical care and clinical and surgical caution, steps aimed at

avoiding the growth of any disease and preventing the spread of a small one have always been given more importance than the actual therapy itself, for such a precautionary medical attitude has always meant safety and convenience to the patients primarily, and secondarily, also to the doctors. Such medical outlook has led to the categorization of preventive medicine as primary, secondary and tertiary.

Primary methods of prevention have aimed to target the known risk factors of diseases through eliminating them totally, or at least minimizing their potentials to lead to the enhancement of the serious forms of what initially is considered minimally dangerous.

Patients should therefore not feel offended when their

movements are concerned.

His point of origin started in Barangay San Isidro in Quezon City. Then he went to Zamboanga City then proceeded to Basilan and returned to Zamboanga City.

Then took a boat to Bongao and arrived on the 30th of June. A journalist friend in Bongao told me as per record of Contact Tracing, TWT001 although asymptomatic got in contact with more or less 300 persons.

However, Health Minister Dipatuan also emphasized that to date, there is no recorded local transmission in the region, adding that the "rise in numbers is due to returning BARMM residents classified into Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI), Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF) and those availing of the Hatid Probinsya Program."

Be that as it may, TawiTawi has now its own COVID -19 which in the past people thought that it was just a myth and has no way of reaching this southernmost province.

In fact my good friend Dr. George R. Lee, Al Haj whom I know for several decades was very consistent in advis-

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JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL ing the people of Tawi-Tawi particularly those residing in Bongao.

Everyday I read his post in the social media particularly the Facebook advising his town mates to take extra careful that who knows one day COVID-19 will reach the town of Bongao.

However many think that he is just mere "paranoid" or according to MerriamWebster dictionary of being "extremely fearful". Dr. Lee being extremely fearful does not mean he is not only afraid for himself nor his family alone. But he is afraid for the entire people in TawiTawi from being infected with this Coronavirus.

"Wayruun na susunan sin kami, dain sin katagnah sambil bihaun wayruun da nalawa in pagpatumtum namuh sin paghallih sartah ha hunah -hunah hambuuk adlaw mamisita ra mari pa hulah natuh kalasahan in COVID-19 ini," was the emotional answer in

Tausug dialect of Dr. Lee when asked for his reaction that there is now a COVID-19 case in Tawi-Tawi. (We have nothing to regret from the very start until now the reminder to all has not stopped to be extra careful that who knows one day this COVID19 will visit our loving province.)

"But let us pray to the Almighty Allah (SWT) that there will be no more additional COVID case that would happen here in our place," said Dr. Lee as he prayed to the Almighty.

Then he reiterated his favorite health advice to the people whether one will believe him or not. "Lets not forget the usual preventive measures: 1. STAY HOME unless when necessary 2. Wear FACE MASK when with other people outside your JANNARAL | A6

Prevention, indeed, is better than cure types of relaxation, sources of comfort and means of social recognition have been suddenly clumped by their doctor under the no-no habits that they should promptly abandon. Smoking is proscribed – they should stop it, and those who are not yet in the habit should not entertain the idea of going into it. Smoking is a killer; it has been tagged as responsible for about 20% of total deaths in a year by an American medical journal.

So is eating delicious food items; this habit can lead to obesity and chemical imbalance of blood contents, and, of course, has been responsible for about 15% of deaths, also according to that American journal. Alcoholic drinks have more dangers than benefits and are considered as responsible for about five percent of yearly deaths. The practice of immunization has been included as a primary method of prevention, hence there are established tried and tested immunizations against some diseases, and

many have been helped by their benefits.

Secondary preventive methods are different laboratory techniques that are recommended by the attending physicians for their patients to undergo, which are able to detect diseases at an early stage, and therefore still not able to show signs or symptoms, hence still clinically unrecognizable.

If the tests show positive results, the physicians are given the advanced option to prescribe the appropriate medical or surgical management, thereby rendering a much advanced treatment, preventing the worsening of a simple stage, or sometimes, adequately eliminating the disease process and obviating its recurrence. These include the routinary examinations like complete blood counts (CBC), which detects an early stage of infection; urine analysis, stool analysis and xray procedures. Other examinations that fall under this category are Papanicolauo smear

(Pap’s smear) of the cervix or the tip of the uterus, an examination that can recognize presence of cancerous process in the area; and tuberculin skin testing which can diagnose the presence of a tuberculous process that may not be detectable by chest xray. Positive results of these methods can make physicians start their therapy at such an early stage.

Tertiary preventive measures address the presence of newly diagnosed disease processes, and the purpose is to make the attending physicians decide as to the most beneficial medical or surgical management, with the patients as the one given the benefit of the doubt or the top priority in regard to saving lives.

From the description above, it is quite obvious that the most beneficial of the different preventive measures is the primary category; it now underscores the wisdom of the considered cliché.

Massalāma.

News

A6

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

T

he Filipino Muslim community should really be represented in the national council that will govern the enforcement of the just-enacted AntiTerrorism Law (ATL) as sought by the leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

President Duterte’s designation of a Muslim representative, notably an official of BARMM, in the ATL governing body will make the difference in appeasing apprehensions that the new law might worsen age-old discriminations against the minority sector – something the former Davao City mayor has aptly called “historical injustices.”

The welfare and concerns of the minority community in the national dimension are

being addressed by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, but incumbent NCMF Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan has expressed support to the BARMM’s call for membership in the ATL governing council.

“You can tell the Chief Minister (Ahod “Al Hadju Murad” Ebrahim) that I am sully supportive of his call,” Pangarungan told this columnist in a telephone call Wednesday night, noting the essence of a Muslim member in the ATL body.

It may be recalled that the BARMM Parliament, through a resolution, had appealed to the President to veto the ATL over growing apprehensions among different sectors that it might stifle the rights of innocent citizens, notably Moro people who have long

TAWI-TAWI | from A2

Tawi-Tawi: Covid-free no more tive.

At this juncture all the identified frontliners (LGU personnel), and all the other staff at the designated facility of Patient TWT001 whom he had contact upon his arrival were all lucky they were tested negative after the rapid test were conducted on them.

As of this writing on July 6, Contact Tracing according to Mobin Nuruddin Gampal, the Focal Person of Tawi-Tawi IATF COVID-19, is still undertaken and several quarantine are declared lockdown, and based on the same date the following protocols are observed momentarily: 1) Entry of LSIs and ROFs including Frontliners from Zamboanga City and nearby provinces is suspended until further notice; 2) All issued Certificate of Prior Coordination/Entry Permit/Acceptance Letter by

the IATF Tawi-Tawi are hereby revoked and declared void; 3) No motor launch ferrying passengers shall be allowed travel to and from Bongao except for essential services; 4) Everyone is advised to Stay At Home and observe Health Protocols.

Finally who is this Patient with Case No. TWT001 the historic first COVID-19 case of Tawi-Tawi?

Profile of TWT001 Based on his profile he is 44 years old male and a personnel of Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned in Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office. He is an LSI with travel history starting from San Isidro, Quezon City to Zamboanga City. Then he traveled to Basilan Province and back to Zamboanga City and then to Tawi-Tawi.

He arrived at Bongao Port

JANNARAL | from A5

Tawi-Tawi COVID-19 free no more homes 3. Practice SOCIAL DISTANCING when in a crowd 4. WASH HANDS properly when you arrive home.

5. Proper cough etiquette.

"May Allah (SWT) bless us all," is the closing prayer of Dr. Lee who like any other medical doctor is well guided by his "Hippocratic Oath" to heal and care the sick people.

This is an oath embodying a

code medical ethics usually taken by those doing medical practice.

MP Alih urgent appeal As this developed, TawiTawi Member of Parliament Hadji Eddie Mapag Alih made an urgent and emotional appeal to the national government.

MP Alih asks the national government to pay attention also to the island provinces of Southern Philippines.

"Bigyan ninyo po kaming pansin nasa Southern part ng

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

Trailblazing NCMF been easily tagged as “terrorists” by whimsical government elements. *** Moro people’s apprehensions are for real. In past media representations of this columnist, many wellmeaning Moro traders in Metro Manila, mostly Maranaws, fell victims to “hulidap” by unscrupulous law enforcers.

The modus operandi usually came in the form of raids, planting of evidence, and declaring arrests on suspicion of target persons’ alleged possession of illegal things to include shabu or unlicensed guns. It was always coupled with arresting officers’ offers to “forget” the arrest if the suspects coughed up bribe money..

Because traders would not want to undergo the rigors of court battle, they readily yielded money.

The evil scheme, if not quelled, will turn rampant in

the implementation of the ATL. This is one concern that makes the call for Muslim representation in the national enforcement council more essential.

In the still unresolved issues surrounding the aftermath of the 2017 Marawi siege, then Colonel Brawner, when he was head of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, had confirmed at least one case concerning some soldiers “caught” red handed in “looting” of abandoned residences in the war-torn city. He claimed that the soldiers were subjected to proper administrative sanctions.

What about the criminal aspect of the crime? I can only guess. *** Speaking of the NCMF operations, I believe that the present leadership of the commission has been trailblazing in its operations despite limited fiscal appropriations.

In the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sec. Pangarungan alongside his central and regional workforces have proven their worth, tracing the locations of affected Muslim Filipinos across the nation and providing tem relief aids courtesy of donations from concerned sectors.

Sec. Pangarungan said even movie personalities contributed funds for the NCMF to sustain its voluntary provision of relief goods. This is impressive in the face of reality that NCMF has no fund for relief operations.

His stint in the commission has successfully made representations in the freedom of Muslim Filipinos arrested over false suspicions.

It popularly reformed the processes of the annual hajj operations. It achieved a lot, something that I can proudly say: “Congrats, Sec. Pangarungan.”

ALI G. MACABALANG

last June 30, 2020. He is asymptomatic and currently isolated in Bongao.

MP Alih urgent appeal As this developed, TawiTawi Member of Parliament Hadji Eddie Mapag Alih made an urgent appeal to the national government.

"Bigyan niyo pong kaming pansin nasa Southern part ng Pilipinas- Zamboanga, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa)," MP Alih said. (Please give us attention we in the Southern part of the Philippines, the ZamBaSulTa) "Maybe it is unknown to you, these four provinces are considered the backdoor entry of Filipinos travelling from Sabah, Malaysia. Many are travelling illegally and cannot be monitored even by the government. They use wooden boats and dock at many ports in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi," he said.

According to MP Alih

when Malaysia declared a national lockdown, thousands of illegally documented Filipinos in Sabah escaped and travelled to BaSulTa. Hence, the number of PUMs and PUIs in these provinces ballooned in a matter of days.

He said Malaysia now has the most number of positive cases for COVID-19.

As of 2015 Census the population of ZamBaSulTa are: Zamboanga City- 917,477; Basilan346,579; Sulu824,731; and Tawi-Tawi 390,715.

These population have increased already. Population combined is more or less 3-5 million.

MP Alih also revealed how hard is the access to health care that is difficult "for BaSulTa, we need to travel to Zamboanga City if cases of patient is severe already. For Basilan alone, we don't have

a Level 2 hospital in the province, cases need to be referred to Zamboanga City if it needs a level 2 facilities.

What more for Sulu and TawiTawi.

As of this moment, he also disclosed they don't have COVID test kits in ZamBasulTa region. Cases of PUMs/ PUIs are increasing. Medical supplies are scarce, personal protective equipment (PPEs) are limited, some health workers and frontliners innovate already by making do it you can (DIY) PPEs. Are this enough to keep them safe?

"The answer maybe yes, maybe not," he said.

MP Alih have these litany of questions that must be answered by the national government.

"Do we have food? Yes may isda at gulay pa po kami."

"Are people panicking?

YES TAWI-TAWI | A8

Pilipinas- Zamboanga, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa)," MP Alih said.

(Please give us attention we in the Southern part of the Philippines, the ZamBaSulTa) "Maybe it is unknown to you, these four provinces are considered the backdoor entry of Filipinos travelling from Sabah,Malaysia. Many are travelling ilegally and cannot be monitored even by the government. They use wooden boats and dock at many ports in Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi," he said.

According to MP Alih when Malaysia declared a national

lockdown, thousands of illegally documented Filipinos in Sabah escaped and travelled to BaSulTa. Hence, the number of PUMs and PUIs in these provinces have increased in a matter of days.

He said Malaysia now has the most number of positive cases for COVID-19.

MP Alih have these litany of questions that must be answered by the national government.

"Do we have food? Yes may isda at gulay pa po kami."

"Are people panicking?

YES Why? Because there is no way for us to find out if these PUIs are positive or not. We don't know if they are carrier or not. Hindi po kaya ng mga albularyo namin diagnose kung positive sa COVID o hindi."

"Malayo man kami sa Metro Manila, pero napakalapit po namin sa Malaysia, bigyan nyo din po kami ng pansin, Pilipino din po kami," MP Alih stressed.

Finally his strongly worded reminder to the national government that " we are Filipinos too!" JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

News

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

A7

Suspects in Basilan BARMM bureaucracy to premise soldier killing surrender operations on BDP goals I

By ALI G. MACABALANG

C

OTABATO CITY: Workforces of all ministries and offices in the Bangsamoro bureaucracy must premise their own respective operations on the target goals set forth in the autonomous government’s first development plan, starting from budgeting stage to actual implementation.

Regional Chief Minister Ahod “Al Hadj Murad” Ebrahim issued the directive on July 7 in a message meant to formally introduce the nature and salient points of the First Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) approved by the Regional Parliament four days earlier for 2020 to 2022 build a robust foundation of the autonomous governance.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was formally established by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 29, 2019 after the overwhelming ratification of its charter, R.A. 11504 in plebiscites in January and February of the same year.

Congress passed the Bangasamoro Organic Law (BOL) with the President signing it into law by the President in July 2018 in legal translation of the government’s major peace accords with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2013 and 2014.

The BOL mandates that “no public money, including the block grant and other national government subsidies and support funds given in lump sum, shall be spent without an appropriations law clearly defining the purpose for which it is intended. The Parliament shall pass an annual appropriations law.”

Since its formal inauguration by the President, the BARMM bureaucracy has embarked on a transitional operations ruled by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and the enabling target goals have been formally set clearly in the BDP. In his July 7 presentation dubbed as “Bangsamoro Budget Call,” Chief Minister Ebrahim enumerated eight (8) target goals in the BDP, namely: 1.

Establish the foundations for inclusive, transparent, accountable, and effi-

cient governance; 2.

Uphold peace, security, public order and safety, and respect for human rights; 3.

Create a favorable enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable economic development; 4.

Promote Bangsamoro identity, cultures, and diversity; 5.

Ensure access to and delivery of quality services for human capital development; 6.

Harness technology and innovations to increase socio-economic opportunities and improve government services; 7.

Increase strategic and climate-resilient infrastructure to support sustainable socio-economic development in the Bangsamoro Region; and 8.

Improve ecological integrity, and promote and enhance climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction to sustain resilience of communities in the Bangsamoro.

The forum, organized by the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM), was attended by budget, planning, and accounting officers of the BARMM’s different ministries, agencies, and offices.

It tackled the policies and guidelines in preparing the ministries’ budget proposals, which include the expenditure management framework, general and specific guidelines in budget preparation, and the indicative budget preparation calendar.

Ebrahim, also serving as Finance Minister, said: “We should plan our operations so that all our programs, projects, and activities are geared towards the gradual achievement of those eight development goals.”

He noted that a wellplanned budget is a step closer to achieving the goals.

Ijtihad | from page A4

The Terror By Itself Would it not be more judicious to protect rather than indict suspects indiscriminately?

Experience has taught us that not all suspects are adjudged guilty, and not all those adjudged

guilty are criminals. Some are victims of arbitrary arrests, overzealous prosecution and erroneous judgments.

The petitions before the Court plead for a judicial de-

At the forum, BARMM Regional Darul Ifta Grand Mufti Abu Hurairah Udasan and MFBM Deputy Minister Atty. Ubaida Pacasem presented the budgeting in the Islamic perspective and the budget call, respectively.

On July 3, 2020, the MFBM released the Bangsamoro Budget Memorandum No. 2020-01 or the Bangsamoro Budget Call for the Fiscal Year of 2021, signaling the rollout of the first of the four-phased budget cycle of the BARMM. The Chief Minister also mentioned the regional government’s adoption of the Cash Budgeting System (CBS) as well as the consolidation of autonomous regional government funds to the Single Treasury Account (STA), among others.

“This strengthens the focus and accountability of the government,” Ebrahim stressed. “Making sure all targeted operations are on schedule, all budget entrusted are fully disbursed within the fiscal year.”

The CBS requires the appropriated budget to include “adequately planned and coordinated” programs, projects, and activities that will be delivered and executed within the fiscal year of 2021.

Last year, the BTA approved the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 3, the legislation which appropriated the funds for the operation of the Bangsamoro Government for 2020.

The appropriations act laid down all the funds allotted to each ministry and office in the BARMM. The 2020 legislation was crafted anchoring the Twelve Point Priority Agenda (12PPA) of the Interim Chief Minister as aligned with the Duterte Administration’s 0+10 Point Socio-Economic Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan. ALI G. MACABALANG termination of acts that are punishable, punishments that are justified, and justifications that are within our mores and civilized ways in this war against terror. We await the wisdom of the Court; and in the meantime, we hope it comes before hopes are dashed and lives are wasted.

MEHOL K. SADAIN

SABELA CITY, Basilan: Four of the suspected gunmen who allegedly killed Private First Class Mark Anthony Monte and three others, submitted themselves to the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Barangay Cabunbata in this city in the afternoon of July 5, after they sought the assistance of their barangay chairman.

“The relentless efforts of the combined elements from the 18th Infantry Battalion, 4th Special Forces Battalion, and the local members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), pressured the gunmen to yield," said Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, Joint Task Force (JTF) Basilan commander.

The four were identified as Karim Manisan, 31 years old; Saham Mohammad, 45 years old; Lito Manisan, 45 years old; and Ayatula Mohammad, 40 years old, all of Bohe Lebbung, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

They handed over four

high-powered firearms including two M16A1 rifle, one M14 US rifle, and one M1 US carbine with several magazines and ammunitions.

"According to the suspects, they are aware of the charges filed against them and they are ready to face the consequences of their actions," Brig. Gen. Reyeg added.

Reyeg said the subject personalities were turned over to the local PNP for further investigation and proper disposition.

"We will closely monitor the development of the case to ensure that justice will be accorded to the victims,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom commander.

“Rest assured that we will continue to assist the PNP in the conduct of LESO to thwart lawlessness in the province,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Hermoso lauded for launching of Zambo-Basilan broadband link

By Mark Navales COTABATO CITY: Minister Dickson Hermoso of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) was congratulated by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) for the successful launching of the ZamboangaBasilan Broadband Link.

In an official communications, Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal also lauded the good accomplishment of his colleague, Minister Hermoso for establishing also the free Wi-Fi to at least 20 locations in the Province of Basilan. "It is one big leap for a digital Bangsamoro Autonomous Region," Minister Iqbal said.

As this developed, Iqbal also profile made a request to the MOTC minister to include the MBHTE-TESD Provincial Office in Basilan for the next roll-out and in the identification of prospective sites in the free Wifi program of MOTC where communications are among its mandate.

Iqbal said the Basilan

Provincial Office and Basilan Provincial Training Center (PTC) of MBHTE where the PTC trains around 1,000 trainees every year. He said it houses computer laboratory that is supposed to provide trainees an access to online information.

According to the Education minister due to very poor internet connectivity, the vision of digitalizing the skills training is simply unattainable. This is the reason why MBHTE is requesting from the MOTC to internet connectivity.

He added that installing a free Wi-Fi at the said location will not just improve productivity of the employees and accelerate work process, it will also fundamentally enhance the delivery of skills training.

Iqbal also emphasized that this will benefit the unemployed and unskilled Bangsamoro who are hoping for a better future by learning new skills. MARK NAVALES

Virus infects top echelons…. From page A8 Franck Riester, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, Polish Environment Minister Michael Wos, and EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Speakers Iran's former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were also diagnosed with the virus.

Members of royal families Prince of Wales Charles and Prince of Monaco Albert I also tested positive for Covid-19.

A8

World

Round Up

South Korea:

Seoul mayor found dead hours after reported missing: police S

eoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead in Seoul on Friday, hours after he was reported missing, police said.

A police search team found his body in the forested hills of Mount Bukak near his official residence, one minute after midnight. He is presumed to have taken his own life.

Police plan to investigate the exact cause of his death.

Park, 64, had reportedly faced a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against a former female secretary. She filed a formal complaint with the police on Wednesday over unwanted "physical contact" and "inappropriate" messages from Park, according to sources.

"A complaint has been received by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency," a police official said on condition of anonymity, declining to elaborate on an ongoing investigation. "(The body) did not show particular signs of homicide," the official said, noting that an investigation will be conducted in accordance with procedures for a suicide.

Park's daughter filed a police report at 5:17 p.m. Thursday that he "had left home four to five hours ago" after leaving a message that sounded like a will and his phone was turned off.

Park left his residence in the central Seoul ward of Jongno at around 10:44 a.m., wearing a black hat, a dark jacket, black pants, gray shoes, and carrying a black backpack.

CCTV footage showed him arriving by taxi at Waryong Park in a hilly

Seoul city mayor Park Won-soon (Photo by Yonhap) neighborhood in Jongno at 10:53 a.m.

Shortly after receiving the report of him missing, police officers launched a massive search operation around the area involving hundreds of officers, drones, and sniffer dogs.

The body was found near a bag, a water bottle, a cell phone, writing utensils, and Park's own business card.

At 3:30 a.m., the body was placed in the morgue of Seoul National University Hospital in the same ward. His supporters could be seen waiting at the hospital, with some wailing and shouting," Get up, Park Won-soon," "We love you, Park Won-soon," and "We're sorry, Park Wonsoon."

Police plan to consult Park's family on whether to

conduct an autopsy.

Park, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, had served as mayor of Seoul since 2011 and he was regarded as a potential candidate to run for the 2022 presidential elections.

He was once a human rights lawyer and civic activist. Park had two more years in office. By law, Seo Jeonghyup, first vice mayor for administrative affairs, will serve as acting mayor until the byelection slated for April 7, 2021.

Seo plans to give a public statement Friday morning, according to city officials.

The main opposition United Future Party expressed its condolences over Park's death.

YONHAP

Virus infects top echelons of governments world over

A

NKARA: The novel coronavirus has spread to the top echelons of governments across the world.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has so far been the highest authority diagnosed with Covid-19.

Prime ministers British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol

Pashinyan, and GuineaBissau’s Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam all contracted the virus.

Iran’s Vice President for Women's and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar, South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar, and Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo also tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

TAWI-TAWI | from A6

Tawi-Tawi: Covid-free no more Why? Because there is no way for us to find out if these PUIs are positive or not. We don't know if they are carrier or not. Hindi po kaya ng mga albularyo namin diagnose kung positive sa COVID o hindi."

"Malayo man kami sa Metro Manila, pero napakalapit po namin sa Malaysia, bigyan nyo din po kami ng pansin, Pilipino din po kami," MP Alih stressed.

Dr. George R. Lee is vindicated To sum it up a respected and veteran doctor of TawiTawi was very consistent in giving his medical advice to the people of Tawi-Tawi near or far using the social media so that his advice will reach to all whether they believe or not about the menace of this COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Muslim Today tried to reach this

Ministers Among the ministers who tested positive for the virus are British Health Minister Matthew Hancock, Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Afghan Health Minister Firuziddin Firuz, Ghanaian Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Australian Interior Minister Peter Dutton, French Culture Minister VIRUS | Back to A7 medical doctor and he is no other than Dr. George R. Lee, Al Haj but he begged off not to be interviewed for he does not want to be misinterpreted as interfering with government doctors of TawiTawi regarding the COVID19 pandemic.

At present he works in a private hospital in Bongao as a senior physician.

He told this editor that there is nothing to regret about since from Day 1, as a physician he is aware how deadly this pandemic that

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

France charges teens for death threats over anti-Islam remarks Prosecutor in France's Vienne says three teens charged after schoolgirl received death threats for insulting Islam.

T

hree teenagers have been charged in France after a high-school girl received death threats for expletive-laden social media remarks about Islam, according to a prosecutor.

Mila's family was placed under police protection amid the fallout, and she had to change schools.

On Wednesday, Vienne Prosecutor Audrey Quey said three teens - one aged 16 and two aged 17 - have been charged in the case.

Vienne is a city in the Isere department in southeast France where Mila is from.

Charges The 17-year-olds admitted to investigators earlier this month that they had collected Mila's private online data and passed it on to the younger boy.

The two face charges of theft and possession of stolen data and were placed under judicial supervision pending the outcome of the investigation, Quey said in a statement.

One of them was also from Isere, the other from the neighbouring Rhone department.

The 16-year-old, Quey said, was questioned in Feb-

ruary and admitted to having distributed Mila's personal online data.

Charges against the boy, who comes from Besancon north of Isere, include possession of stolen goods, electronic harassment, and distributing a third party's personal data. He, too, was placed under supervision.

Arrest A fourth person, alleged to have been behind death threats to Mila, was arrested in May, the prosecutor said.

"Investigations are continuing with a view to identifying others behind the threats," said Quey.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron came out in defence of Mila, saying the right to blaspheme was enshrined in the constitution and that she needed to be protected.

An investigation into possible charges of provoking racial hatred against Mila was abandoned in January.

The controversy came just over five years after gunmen shot dead a group of French cartoonists from the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had poked fun at the Prophet Mohammed.

NEWS AGENCIES

Tago | from page A4

Do wee need Ulama Summit? factor making them soft target for the extremism influence.

Mindanao State University (MSU) is the ideal place to host such important conference where modern knowledge, coexistence and tolerance are being in place.

The university where housing the King Faisal Islamic and Arabic Studies is a neutral venue for such important event. MSU has been part of the global peace advocacy while teaching moderate discipline and curriculum meant to produce highly educated, moral and peaceloving generation.

The summit should deal with the new graduates’ differences: Its roots and reason behind it, extremism and its solutions, coexistence and

tolerance. It should also address the unemployment issue.

The summit shall identify the very cause of the subject matter and recommend sustainable solutions.

Strengthening and revisit the normal understanding among scholars with special focus on new graduates differences.

To establish a unified entity that would handle and organize a yearly or twice a year forum on the same issues.

To coordinate with relevant departments that would create training, job opportunities and livelihood for the youth and fresh graduates particularly Arabic-speaking graduates.

ABDUL HANNAN TAGO

had spread worldwide affecting several people already.

Dr. Lee said he has foreseen that one day COVID 19 will arrive in Bongao.

Every time he issued his warning, some think that he is merely "paranoid" about it.

Thus when July 5 arrived and the 1st COVID-19 Pa-

tient came to be in Bongao, the question now "who is paranoid?" Hence, Dr. Lee is vindicated according to a resident of Bongao who knows that Dr. Lee is just guided by his Hippocratic Oath as a Medical Doctor.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Section 2 Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

Peoples, Places and Events

B1

SITANGKAI: The Venice of the South

By JOHNNY R. LEE, PhD.

W

ith barely 1.5 hectares of sandy patches of land, Sitangkai main island is literally a ‘waterworld’ where most of its residential houses, including government offices and commercial business establishments, are erected atop a piled-up coral stones and residential houses built on stilts. According to the 2015 National Census the whole municipality has a population of 33,334 and is a first class municipality.

A very unique community, Sitangkai Island is made up of 5 barangays adjacent to each other and connected by footbridges. The other four island barangays are detached from the main island. During high tides the residents in the area utilized small mechanized boats and bancas as mode of transportation to reach the market area and commercial centers from their homes.

According to old residents of the place, Sitangkai during the 50’s were inhabited by purely Sama Dilaut or Badjaos and

a dozen families of pure Chinese immigrants from Sabah, Malaysia and neighboring provinces of Sulu & Zamboanga Peninsula. The latter find the then small community a good place for doing business selling basic commodities like foodstuffs, grocery goods and clothings.

Fishing paraphernalias like fishing lines, nets, hooks and sinkers were in demand.

In turn, due to the long and vast territorial tidal flats of the island, make it a rich fishing ground for the Badjao fishermen; and as a consequence a lucrative source of income for the entrepreneurial Chinese traders who buy and sell it to companies in Zamboanga City and Cebu City.

Water is scarce, as they depend on rainfall for their domestic use. In the absence of rainwater, they buy their supply from a ‘sea ambulant vendor’ fetched from the neighboring island of Sibutu municipality.

Businessowners and well-off family households build their own huge concrete tank to store rainwater.

However the emergence of bottled mineral

water has somehow ease their dire needs on drinking water especially so it is relatively cheaper to order supplies from Sabah, Malaysia.

Due to its proximity to Sabah (an hour ride by fast seacrafts), the place is flooded with goods and food items from Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysian ringgit is even accepted as a medium of exchange. Local dialect is

sionals and workers in construction projects.

The introduction of seaweed culture, starting in the 80’s, makes it a more busling hub of business and trading in the southernmost part of the province.

Today, the municipality of Sitangkai produces the biggest bulk of raw dried seaweed in the province of TawiTawi supplying around 75%

Sinama. Tausog tribe is increasing in population and are mostly traders and buyers of marine products. There are Christians of different denominations either profes-

of the marine products with Zamboanga City and Cebu City as main markets. The province, by the way, is the biggest supplier of commer-

‘Lake Dapao’ among the beautiful tourist spots of Lanao Sur

By ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL YAHYA

A

mong the beautiful spots that a tourist should not miss to see is that freshwater lake in Lanao del Sur, one of the provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Don’t mistake it with Maranao’s pride Lake Lanao, but Lake Dapao is a deep water lake located isouthwest of Lake Lanao that has its own unique and mystical traits.

It is one of the deepest lakes in the country, reaching a maximum depth of 120 metres.

It has an estimated surface area of 1,011 hectares.

The lake receives water from local run-off and several small rivers.

In 1965, the lake and its vicinity was declared as a protected national park under Republic Act 4190 that covers an area of about 1,500 square kilometres.

Plants growing in the lake

includes hydrilla and the filamentous alga.

The lake is also rich in fish that includes dalág, Mozambique tilapia, common carp, goby and catfish.

Lake Dapao can be reached either from Marawi City, Cotabato City or from Lanao del Norte.

From Marawi, one can only drive about an hour going southwest along the Don Narciso Ramos Highway which leads the road towards Maguindanao and Cotabato City.

From Lanao del Norte, one can traverse from Sultan Naga Dimaporo going to Malabang to turn left to Pualas.

(Photos sourced from Facebook. RSOY)

B2

Tourism

Vol. I, No. 04 | July 10-16, 2020 (Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 19-25, 1441)

Panglima Sugala adopts Sulu hornbill as its flagship species P

ANGLIMA SUGALA, Tawi-Tawi: The Sulu Hornbill, Anthracoceros montani, locally known as TAWSI in Tausug or KAAK in Sinama is an endemic species of bird which is only found in Tawi Tawi.

Recent estimates of its population in the wild is from minimum of 29 to a maximum of 40 individuals making it classified by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Critically Endangered. It is also considered the rarest hornbill in the world.

Currently, the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PBCFI), and the local government of Panglima Sugala under Mayor Nurbert M. Sahali are working together to monitor and update the status of Sulu Hornbill populations in forest and migration site habitats.

By FELIMON G. ROMERO, PhD.

Sulu Hornbill, Anthracoceros montani is now a critically endangered species that needs the conservation of its habitat in Panglima Sugala Municipality, Tawi-Tawi.(Contributed Photo) Through this project which is supported by Protect Wildlife of the USAID shares in the partnership to conserve and protect the remaining individuals of this critically endangered bird. This project aims to assess the status of the

RESEARCHERS AT REST: Dr. Filemon G. Romero at left and a fellow researcher takes time out for a rest after walking deep inside the Malum Forest at the jungle of Panglima Sugala while conducting bio diversity studies. (Contributed Photo)

Sulu Hornbill and its critical habitats in the Upper Malum Watershed in Panglima Sugala Municipality, TawiTawi Province, and assess the remaining forests in the watershed.

Information generated by this project will provide input to the declaration of Upper Malum Watershed as a Local Conservation Area and a Malum River Watershed Management Plan is being formulated. This is being done because the decline of its population has been attributed to the destruction of its habitat which is the forests.

The trees especially the fruits of the ficus trees are their main sources of food and also serve as their nesting grounds in association with other biodiversity important species of birds, fauna and flora.

Project results will also be packaged into information materials as technical support to local government units and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MENRE-BARMM) in TawiTawi, in raising community awareness of the global importance of the Sulu Hornbill and its habitat for biodiversity conservation and management.

Finally, the project will contribute to best practices in Sulu Hornbill assessment that can be replicated in other ASEAN countries.

In order the ensure the protection of this critically endangered bird, the Local Government of Panglima Sugala plans to declare the known extent its habitat as a Bird Sanctuary and a potential Ecotourism Site.

In addition, pursuant to

section 35 of Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 which provides that Local Government Units can initiate conservation measures for endemic species in their areas.

For this purpose, Panglima Sugala has decided to adopt through a municipal ordinance the Sulu Hornbill, Anthracoceros montani as their flagship species which shall serve as the emblem of conservation for the local government.

This will conserve and protect the species and its natural habitats particularly those that are threatened and facing extinction and promote awareness of the communities on the importance of the Sulu Hornbill, Anthracoceros montani as a critically endangered species and the conservation of its habitat.

FELIMON G. ROMERO

WATERSHED AREA: A river flows freely non-stop inside the upper Malum watershed area deep inside the forest of Panglima Sugala Municipality. (Photo by Filemon G. Romero

Palawan wins world's best island title in T+L list

By JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA

P

alawan was cited as the world's best island in the Travel+Leisure (T+L) 2020 World's Best Awards.

With a score of 94.83, Palawan bested 24 others in the world's islands category, which included the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, Maui in Hawaii, Bali in Indonesia, and Great Barrier Reef Islands in Australia, among others.

Citing one reader, T+L said Palawan "offers the most beautiful beaches, resorts, and scenery anywhere”.

“Though it’s difficult to reach from many parts of the world, once travelers get

there they can dive in World War II wrecks, explore oldgrowth rain forests, and paddle one of the world’s longest subterranean rivers at Puerto Princesa," wrote T+L writer Sara Clemence, as she praised the island's "dramatic" view at sea level.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who recently visited the island for its future reopening to tourists, welcomed the citation.

“It’s wonderful to see that our rehabilitation and sustainable development efforts last year, especially in El Nido and Coron, were wellreceived by tourists everywhere,” she said.

The World's Best Awards 2020 results, published on

July 8, reflects an annual survey conducted by the New York-based magazine prior to the widespread border closures and lockdowns due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In the island category, readers rated each destination based on natural attractions and beaches, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and friendliness, and value.

Boracay also made it to

No. 14 in T+L’s World Best Island list and was hailed fifth in Asia this year.

According to the Department of Tourism, this is the third citation reaped by the Philippines since community quarantines were enforced in various parts of the world.

Forbes magazine earlier ranked the Philippines among the seven countries “that have the potential to become a major tourist destination in a post-Covid world". Last month, Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) cited the Hidden Beach in El Nido, Palawan, as one of the 30 Best Beaches in the World.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY