Philippine Muslim Today

AGEING

Mehol K. Sadain | A3

Help Muslim talent !

President Duterte and his health (2)

In defense of press freedom

The symptom of palpitations

Homobono A. Adaza | A4

Ali G. Macabalang | A4

Benj Bangahan | A5

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Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442) | 12 Pages | Philippines

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“Get out of Marawi” * Maranaos ask Del Rosario anew to resign from TFBM; * CA suspends confirmation of Del Rosario’s appointment

By Ali G. Macabalang

A

group of Marawi’s internally displaced persons (IPDs) was reported as asking members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to hold in abeyance if not reject the confirmation of Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, pending the resolution of controversial issues surrounding the stunted Marawi rehab efforts.

Inside Stories

Japan has new prime minister Yoshihide Suga, the newly elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was officially appointed as the country's new prime minister by parliament on Wednesday, becoming the country's first new leader in nearly eight years..

See Page A10

Party chief: Only Malay-Muslim unity can save Malaysia The president of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), the Malaysian Islamic party, said on Sunday a Malay-Muslim unity is needed to save and lead the country to the right direction.

See Page A10

Retired general Eduardo del Rosario, above, taking oath on Wednesday before the Commission on Appointments (CA) that heard and suspended later his confirmation.(Provided Photo)

(Full story on Page A6)

Special report

BARMM health minister, 3 workers recover BTA Parliament approves, from Covid-19; OCM reopens adopts Committee Report on Marawi (1)

By ALI G. MACABALANG

BARMM-Task Force on COVID-19 Mohammad Asnin Pendatun. (BPI)

C

OTABATO CITY – The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) of the Bangsamoro autonomous government announced on Wednesday its formal reopening of office following disinfection efforts prompted by the reported infection in the COVID-19 disease of 38 members of the regional workforce, including its health minister.

“The OCM resumed its operation and transactions today (Sept. 16), with work shifting schedules for its employees.

However, visitors are reminded to strictly follow Public Health Standards, or they will be denied entry,” Mohammad Asnin Pendatun, Bangsamoro Inter Agency

Task Force (BIATF) spokesperson, said in a virtual presser.

“We advise our constituents to stay at home, unless it’s for essential or important matters,” Pendatun stated, adding that “the OCM is asking our visitors to secure an appointment for their transactions.”

He said that “since most of the visits are related to the AMBAG (aid-giving) Program, we will answer transactions via online and phone.”

Pendatun confirmed that 299 employees of the OCM were subjected to tests and, only 38 resulted positive with three (3) recoveries.

He said the remaining 35 Covid-positive employees were in stable condition in their strict quarantine in an isolation center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

BARMM | A3

By JULIUS DISAMBURUN

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OTABATO CITY: The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament during its 2nd Regular Session held on August 27, 2020, approved and adopted Committee Report No. 35 presented by the Special Committee on Marawi (SCM).

Constituted in September 2019, the SCM serves as “BTA’s mechanism for data gathering and monitoring on status of the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts planned and/or implemented for Marawi City and offering recommendations for the Bangsamoro Government’s appropriate action in relation there”.

BTA | A6

MP Diamila Disimban-Ramos, the principal author of PR 130 and a Member of the Special Committee on Marawi. (Photo by Julius Disamburun)

EDITORIAL

A2

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY The Muslim National Newspaper Operated by Muslimedia.PH Founded in June 2020

Yes, I read it in their facebook accounts. But does the public buy their show.

Hey, Masukat! Did you hear the Boss get infected?

BOARD OF EDITORS: MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor PHIL MUSLIM Layout Artist FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Advertising Sales Director for NCR COLUMNISTS | WRITERS: HOMOBONO A. ADAZA BENJ BANGAHAN JUAN PONCE ENRILE MACABANGKIT B. LANTO JOHNNY R. LEE FILEMON G. ROMERO MEHOL K. SADAIN ABDUL HANNAN M. TAGO DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today.

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Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

Of Covid-19 and revisiting the old Marawi

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

T

he Pandemic is real but the trial and errors approach, the mistakes, the lies and inconsistent pronouncements of government agencies and allied NGOs mostly based on cascades from the World Health Organization (WHO) instill phobia or paranoia among many Filipinos that whatever information or advisory as far as the Coronavirus disease 2019 they hear, read or see as coming from authorities are unreliable. It is the feeling, of course.

The only thing is special laws on this pandemic are more fearful than the Anti-Terror Law. In the past few weeks, officials in the Bangsamoro region themselves announced in social media platforms as having infected by the dreaded virus. The region’s health minister Saffrullah Dipatuan and his wife publicly announced that they were found positive of Covid-19.

The Lanao del Sur provincial governor did the same announcement. Then other government officials including municipal government chief executives announced too of their infection. Many however doubt the veracity of such infections.

The way of announcing it appeared done systematically in same format which reveals certain sense of somewhat a pride but only done in dissimulation. And observers both netizens and not alike began to ask, “What is the purpose of such pubic revelation?”

The development creates more persons to shy away from believing on what are being announced.

REVISITING THE OLD MARAWI AND LANAO Marawi is my hometown. I have grown up in the city since childhood. Although at times I was brought by my grandparents in the business ventures to such cities as Butuan, I always came back to Lanao.

I spent years in enjoying taking bath in the fresh water lake, which at that time was the sweetest drinking water I ever knew.

Throw a needle to the lake and you can clearly see it below of even six to ten feet deep.

During those days, every morning, I took with me a couple of water containers and paddled my awang (banca) a little far from the shore to be sure that water to fill my galloons was clean enough to drink, or for my mother to use for cooking, or washing dish or clothes and other chores which needed water.

Even most of our neighbors got their

drinking water from the lake shore of our barangay in Raya Madaya.

Top water was a luxury, but who cared?

Ranao gave us everything and that was why we were so proud to be called Meranaos because we are the people of Ranao — or Lake — our lake, the best, and incomparable, that only us had the right to enjoy what it used to give us: when there was no Napocor, nor Transco, nor power plants, nor institutional loggers yet; when there was no alien or migrantinterference which killed our tropical fishes and replaced them with such undesired Katulong, Katipa, or even Tilapiya.

We were proud we owned the Ranao, our lake.

Now, many of us, especially the young ones, feel somehow uncomfortable when they are called Meranaos. Ironical, isn’t it?

Perhaps, they feel embarrassed of the degraded lake now which is sometimes sarcastically called biggest toilet on earth (I beg your pardon for the blatant term) because the people no longer care for their environment and make the lake a big garbage bin and toilet. What a sigh!

I took my early college days at a downtown private school. College students would attend classes from 4 PM to 9 in the evening. Nobody was afraid of anybody. It was such a peaceful city that we enjoyed the serenity of the night and coolness of the day. There was a few land transports but we just loved walking our way home or visiting friends and relatives even in the middle of the night.

Family ties and friendship were two upheld and dignified tradition of the Meranaos. Of course, the two still exist in our midst but san the sincerity and honesty against the hypocrisies, pretenses and lies that engulf it today.

In those days, life was beautiful. There was no fear, no hunger.

It is true we did not have the amenities that people of today are enjoying. We did not have the luxury of sporting today’s latest cars, or eating in nice restos, or sleeping in mansions. Although rido was still there, it was not this worst as it is now.

And if I had my way, I wish to relive the past.

(MNY)

Opinion

Ijtihad

A

geing is a process of growth then deterioration, progressing then retrogressing in time. It is biological and psychological, as it is metaphysical and spiritual.

The quote above says it all: our lives begin when we

are created by God, and this signifies conception, which predates our birth. It involves ensoulment which is the element taken from us when we die, and the breathing of God’s Spirit into our soul which is what distinguishes us from the rest of the animate creations.

Then we grow and mature, and learn in the process. Like young plants growing sprouts, leaves and branches; and young animals learning to hunt for food. Unlike the plants and the animals, however, there is something else that grows in us: the spiritual Force that links us to the Divine. It is a

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi WITH JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

T

his Column would like to zero in on the plight of our Maranao brothers who are still suffering until now though the Marawi Siege is over many years ago.

Hence, I fully support the immediate resignation of Eduardo del Rosario as Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) secretary and most of all as chairman of the Task Force Bangon Marawi should he fails to get the Confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.

As suggested by Dino Lucman of Marawi City, Del Rosario should resign and must be replaced by someone who works so fast efficiently. Borrowing the words of Dino "one who has the efficiency in getting things done."

Dino, the son of former Lanao del Sur Gov. Tarhata Lucman was referring to Secretary Manny Piñol who chairs the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) based in Davao City. Thus President Rodrigo Duterte should designate Piñol as the chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi in order to revive

the grandeur of the once beautiful Islamic City of Marawi.

I have work in the past with Manny while working as a member of the FVR Media Bureau when former President Fidel V. Ramos ran for the presidency. My past experience working with Manny Piñol as our Media Team Leader for Mindanao you need to work past and efficient too.

He is a type of a guy who works by MBO (Management

By Objective). If he gave you a deadline of your assignment you should accomplish it on time or as scheduled.

Just like a Classroom Teacher he will tell his students "Pass your paper, finish or not finish." That's the Manny Piñol type of leadership.

So if he is given the chance to chair the Task Force Bangon Marawi, I am optimistic "tiyak makakabangon ang Marawi" very soon and with no unnecessary delay just like what is happening now under the stewardship of Del Rosario.

I can remember in our Media Team headed by Manny Piñol, we are a group just like the composition of

A3

AGEING

WITH MEHOL K. SADAIN “It is Allah who creates you And takes your souls at death; And of you there are some Who are sent back to a feeble age, So that they know nothing After having known much.

For Allah is All-Knowing, All Powerful.”

(Surat un-Nahl: Ayat 70)

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

natural Force that wells and swells within us, guided by inspiration and revelation and Messengers who lived inspired lives and relayed the revelations to their communities.

During this process of growing and maturing, before we reach “a feeble age” (ardhali l-‘umuri), we are expected to “know much” (‘ilmin shay’an) because that is how and why we were created. Thus, Suratu l-Ghaafir, Ayat 67 says: “It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does He get you out as a child, then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you

become old --- though of you, there are those who die before --- and lets you reach a term appointed in order that ye may learn wisdom.” (la’allakum tahqeelun) Thus, after enumerating the process of conception and growth of a child in the womb of the mother, as well as the child’s birth and growth to full strength in the outside world, the verse reiterates the need for a person to “learn wisdom” or acquire aql. The purpose of this aql is for man to lift the lowest level of his soul (Nafs Ammara or the Inciting Soul) to its highest degree towards perfection (Nafs Mutma’innah wa rRaadiyata m-Mardiyyah or the Soul at Rest, Well-

pleased and Well-pleasing), befitting one who received the Breath of God’s Spirit at conception.

Informed Muslims, especially the elderly, subscribe to this view and engage in this quest for knowledge, before such knowledge is taken away from their senses by either death or senility. As we grow old, we usually lessen our mundane concerns and deepen our spiritual yearning and learning. This should be part of our reason for existing, the why of our creation after Allah has shown us how we were created. This is the message of the two verses earlier quoted, and the meaning of our life on earth.

(MKS)

MinDA Sec. Piñol favored to take over TF Bangon Marawi if Sec. Del Rosario fails to get CA's nod BARMM composed of several tribal groups. In my case a Tausug; Ali G. Macabalang, a Maranao; Blah Bagundang, a Maguindanao and yet Manny Piñol dealt with us fairly just like real brothers. Of course a non-Muslim journalist in our group was Charlie Senase. But Manny treated all of us not just mere friends but as brothers. He himself being from Mindanao particularly from M'lang, North Cotabato can fully understand the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Mindanao.

Hence, putting someone like him as chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, I am optimistic he can go along very well with the stakeholders especially the Marawi IDPs (internally displaced persons) who have been clamoring to the administration of Del Rosario to return to their damaged houses especially those who were staying before in the Most Affected Areas (MAAs).

It can be recalled that last Wednesday, Sept 16, the Commission on Appointments suspended its hearing on without approving the AdInterim Appointment of Eduardo del Rosario as DHSUD Secretary.

Senator Francisco Tolentino chaired the CA's Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development where the fate of Del Rosario is still hanging.

I understand also there are several Congressmen who are members of the House contingent to the CA who still want to grill Del Rosario with several questions especially on the problems now besetting Task Force Bangon Marawi.

If the Marawi’s IDPs' request to CA will be given due course by the appointment body, then most likely the confirmation of Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, will be

rejected not unless he can explain very well the controversial issues surrounding the too much delay Marawi rehab efforts.

Be that as it may, if Del Rosario will not be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments can a full-blooded Mindanaoan take over as the replacement?

Just a like a substitution in basketball when one player has incurred so many fouls he must be substituted so that the game will go on smoothly against the rival team to win the game. Thus if I were the Coach of the Team, I will say Del Rosario Out, Manny Piñol IN. (JIJ)

BARMM | from Page A1

BARMM health minister, 3 workers recover from Covid-19...

The families of the 35 employees were being assisted by the Bangsamoro Government in obtaining food and basic supplies for consumption pending the isolation of their bread winners, the Bureau of Public Information said.

Meanwhile, the BPI also announced that Bangsamoro Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan also recovered from Covid-19.

In an official statement, Dipatuan said he and his wife have been in the hospital for the past two weeks for isolation and treatment after testing positive for Covid-19.

“We have already surpassed that challenge and are now fully recovered,” Dipatuan was quoted as saying.

(AGM)

Opinion

A4

Diliman Way With HOMOBONO A. ADAZA

I

(Continued rom last issue)

f China is abusing us in the West Philippine Sea when he is healthy, how much more if he is not and not around? If China keeps on sending the Chinese POGO workers together with the Chinese Wuhan corona virus to the Philippines when the President is healthy, how much more if he is not and not around?

If the insurgents continue with their illegal activities when the President is healthy, how much more if he is not and not around? If the terrorists are active when the President is healthy, how

much more if he is not and not around?

We can fire a lot of questions of the same significance on the importance of the health of the President but it is needless to do that as all questions are rhetorical.

Jolo trip: Duterte fanatics may contradict Harry Roque, the presidential spokesman, and insist that the President is not in perpetual isolation because he went to Jolo kissing the ground where the soldiers had fallen. But the usual Duterte dramatics are meaningless if you see what’s happening to the country today.

Punchline

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

President Duterte and his health (2) The pictures on the Jolo trip generated further speculation. Some people are saying Duterte did a Marcos, one of his idols. Complete with pictures, a netizen compared the real right ear of President Duterte to that of the man who kissed the ground in Jolo. There are noticeable difference in the size and shape of the ears of both persons.

Are they one and the same person? As MacBeth would have it – that is the question.

Settle the issue now: The question of the President’s health is simple. Is he healthy? If he is not healthy, can he still ably perform his powers and duties as mandated by the Constitution? If he loves this country, and he

claims he does, why does he not tell the country the truth about his health? If he tells the truth, it is good for the country and for him. If he does not tell the truth, it is bad for the country and for him. It is only good for the crooks, the grafters, the abusive, the misbehaving public officials, the oligarchs and their kind, if he does not tell the truth. It is about time he acts as President instead of acting like a small time city mayor.

American precedent: President Woodrow Wilson, one of the most brilliant intellectual Presidents of the United States of America, suffered a paralytic stroke during his second term. Like our pre-

sent situation in this country, there was also a lot of speculation about his fitness to continue in office.

However, his able and competent First Lady, Edith Bolling Wilson, was able to manage Wilson and his presidency till the end of his term.

The Wilson situation is well documented in Gene Smith’s book –When The Cheering Stopped. If President Duterte is really in “perpetual isolation” and unable to perform the powers and duties of his office as mandated by the Constitution, can Honeylet do an Edith Bolling Wilson? That is the interesting and intriguing question?

Homobono A. Adaza

In defense of press freedom

ALI G. MACABALANG

A

t the height of recent debates on the plight of ABS-CBN’s bid for franchise renewal before the House Committee on Franchises, some fans, workers and backers of the media entity had criticized me for taking the side of officials that exposed violations by its managements on issues of faithful tax payment, land property, handling of personnel, and etc.

I created two episodes in my YouTube blog channel questioning the improper lumping of press freedom aspect with the debate on renewal of the entity’s franchise. I said there was no breach of freedom in the debate because in the absence of franchise, the entity continued its broadcast operations via the internet links. In fact, it is still operating in such a fashion that the public still could view Vice Ganda and etal running noontime shows daily.

In my explanation of my stand in separate Facebook posts, two or more nitizens accused me of becoming a bogus media for not defending press freedom in the case of ABS-CBN. Of course, I lashed back at the critics and told them they had no idea how I fought for free press in real life.

Let me cite some instanc-

es where I risked my life and that of my family in defense of free press, particularly in Cotabato City where impunity by influential families once reigned.

Dalumpines-Hofer rift One morning while taking a cup of coffee and writing two or more stories for transmittal to my Philippine Daily Inquirer desk, the Catholicrun dxMS heralded about a physical attack on its public affairs anchorman Gilbert Dalumpines by Assemblyman John Hofer right in the vicinity of the broadcast outfit. (Both of them are now deceased).

Because media practitioners then in Cotabato City were in disarray due to lack of organization by ourselves, I brokered a meeting with local broadcasters during which I raised options: Mediation, retaliation or court battle.

Gilbert then could not decide until ARMM First Regional Governor Zac Candao brokered a meeting between him and Hofer. At the meeting, I sat between the two protagonists. One or two escorts of Hofer were at the meeting.

On our way to the meeting, I offered to Gilbert any of my two side arms – a .22 cal. pistol and a .38 cal. revolver – for self-defense in case of adverse consequence.

I brought both guns kept in my shoulder-bag at the meeting.

He did not take any of the two, but sought my company.

Gov. Candao delivered a brief but precise message, and asked the two personalities to reconcile. At that juncture, I whispered to Gilbert, and asked again of his judgment call in choice of options.

I told him I will fire my gun in case he suddenly opted for revenge.

Gilbert, with obvious heavy heart, opted for reconciliation, and a trade of handshake and embrace followed.

While exiting from the meeting venue, Hofer talked to me in Maranao vernacular, telling me that he sensed my takking cudgel for Gilbert. I answered him also in the dialect, saying that in my media practice, friendship is a priority but I valued equally the essence of press freedom.

The rift stemmed from misunderstanding over an unsuccessful conduct of liveinterview by phone of John over dxMS’ “Bantayan” public affairs program.

Gilbert claimed that John without prior notice called off the interview, but John argued that he waited for almost an hour in vain at the expense of discarding his earlier set morning appointments.

Nolasco-Tamse rift Months after the Dalumpines-Hofer event, the dxRO (now non-operational) also complained in newscasts about the mauling of its an-

chorman Romy Nolasco by then elected city councilor Ferdinand Tamse, a lawyer.

I went to the dxRO and talked to Romy, his station manager Jess Cortez and their peers. I offered similar options to Romy and his colleagues. I told them I would stand by them in all of the options.

But unlike the past incident that drew a third person like Gov. Candao to mediate, Romy’s grievance had never been addressed for reasons he and his peers kept to themselves.

The reason behind Tamse’s mauling of Romy was not also clarified. Meanwhile, the media people in Cotabato City were one in belief about Tamse’s highhandedness, especially when he was under liquor influence. I had also seen the councilor wielding a handbag reportedly containing a gun.

One night at a then popular night spot called “Broad Street” near the city Cathedral, which some media workers including me patronized, I saw Tamse and then firstterm councilor Jojo Guiani seated in a separate table.

Four relative-companions and I occupied another table.

While in a huddle with my companions, we suddenly heard a noise apparently caused by the breakage of some bottles of beer being served by a waiter, who stum-

bled on the floor in front of Tamse’s table.

The waiter fell on the floor again when Tamse slapped and punched him. I did not know why the official made the attack.

In sympathy to the helpless waiter, sparked by my emotion over Tamse’s unsettled rift with Romy Nolasco, I approached the two council men and pacified further attack on the waiter.

I bluntly told Tamse to attack other persons capable of retaliating. I asked then neophyte councilor Guiani (who would eventually become a city mayor) not to get along often with Tamse because his political reputation was at stake.

Since that encounter where Tamse failed to manifest his usual high handedness, he had behaved well in dealing with media people.

(NOTE: My wielding of guns started when a relative politician punched me alone inside a coffee shop in Cotabato City in 1992. I filed a case in court and at the same time organized an armed group to retaliate. My attacker, who was enraged by my reportage of his wrong doings in the defunct autonomous government, and his elders begged for reconciliation and coughed up P40,000 cash as “diat” or blood money in feud. The PDI rallied behind me, publicizing the case in news stories and one editorial.)

Opinion

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

A5

My two-cents

Rx

The symptom of palpitations

WITH BENJ S. BANGAHAN, M.D., FPCP, FPCCP a number of peoQ uite ple do complain about palpitations, that disturbing feeling engendered by a person’s awareness of the beating of the heart. Usually they are brought about by an increase in the speed or rate of the beating, an alteration of the rhythm or the cadence of the heart beats, or by the enhancement of the strength of the heart’s contraction.

Most people describe palpitations as pounding or skipping, and usually pain is a much less mentioned associated feeling compared to the fear that he or she may be having a heart problem, which naturally makes the person much more confounded.

While the generation of palpitations arises in the heart, they are not immediately considered a diagnostic basis of a heart’s abnormality per se, for there are noncardiac factors that can be responsible for their presence. A person with anxiety or with any form of psychological disturbance, even with

W

ars can be oft deceiving for a number of reasons; it can be lumped then limp out vanquished, or be irresponsible owners over countless territories conquered or bought, and in the end, wouldn’t know how to handle, like the British empire.

As we can see, Hong Kong is in trouble big time, a former British colony not knowing what to do. At worst, nightmarish for democracy orientated former British subjects. Of course, UK may be hard put grapple with big bully and bulky China, understandable of course.

In all cases as these, the Moro people had the worst.

Iberians would have moniker Moro to make out, Spaniards make imprints identify Muslims in Mindanao who warred with them, Moro people. In fact, a byword to pit of Muslims in Morocco who otherwise were their nemesis, their colonizers of almost half of Spanish territory for quite a number of centuries, quite long as a matter of discourse.

Insatiability may have been conundrum like tie wire around necks of most superpower nations, hungry and hungrier after every gulp, Philippines by every known alien greed, is byproduct.

a normal heart, is apt to complain of palpitations; the medical concern should be directed to the basic problem, and their relief will eliminate the palpitations.

Then, a person who exerts effort like in exercise or heavy work, which naturally increases his cardiac work, may experience palpitations.

Same is true when one has a non-cardiac condition that requires a compensation from the work of the heart, like anemia or hyperactive thyroid gland, whose successful medical therapy will eliminate the palpitations. Some people are under different kinds of drug therapy for non-cardiac conditions, and some of the drugs used might be potential causes of palpitations, for which reason doctors will routinely ask them to enumerate their medicines; alteration of the involved medicine is done if found necessary. Then, other people have the habits or life style that can be the reason for the development of palpi-

tations, like coffee drinking and smoking; they therefore need to be stopped.

The conditions that cause palpitations that arise from the heart itself, are themselves variable in location and are of different kinds of abnormality, but any one or more of the above -mentioned basic physiologic disturbances, nonetheless, are still the mechanisms involved – that is, it may be in the rhythm, in the rate of beats, or in the strength of cardiac function.

A heart may have an abnormality in one of the doors of its compartments, or valves as more technically known in the medical field, in such a way that the doors are abnormally wide as a result of a disease, called regurgitant valve. Such condition can lead to an additional volume of blood to be pumped per beat, which naturally stimulates the heart muscle to push with more power. The volume and the strong power will be felt by a person as palpitations.

The heart may beat, for one reason or another, quite slowly, like much less than

60 per minute, attaining its rate that is described as bradycardic by doctors. For the purpose of preventing an abnormal physiologic consequence as a result of inadequate supply of blood to the different anatomic parts due to the slow rate, the heart is naturally designed to compensate such condition as it is triggered to pump more strongly, therefore pushing bigger volume per beat, which becomes a potential cause for palpitations. The management of this condition is primarily to target the basic cause of the slow rate. This bradycardia is a condition that is normally arrived at by professional athletes on account of their routine training, but athletes somehow adapt to the compensatory mechanism, becoming a part their normal lives.

The heart can go into an abnormally high rate per minute, which is termed as tachycardia. Whether the origin of the speed is in the area of the atrium, the smaller superior divisions of the heart, or the ventricle, the bigger portion located at

The Inexplicable Mindanao Wars

By AMINULLAH ALONTO LUCMAN But in naturally tracing roots how greed could have created wars, conflicts, rifts of magnitude among nations, Mindanao in likelihood, is helluva puzzle like maze of snake pits, through crevices of issues counter issues.

Measures and countermeasures, such of which her wars a-never-ending-story.

But greed by her elaborate diabolic propensities pervade more the rule than options as appearing like, by which I mean respect for law and order. In the 19th century mantra however, greed spells power and conquest. So that America sensing weaknesses free herself from British rule, such I say ‘the colonial tie wire’, and then Spain was next, devour some of hers.

As down the grapevine, rumour was abuzz the Spanish American war in 1898 ‘triggered’ from a ship’s boiler apparently American owned, alleged sabotaged by a Spanish naval fleet blowing it up.

But some would say it was an accident, not deliberate. Mysterious incident as such declared an act of war by America over Spain, was primal justification. Hence, the Span-

ish American War of 1898.

This was the hullabaloo called the 1898 Treaty of Paris ending in same year 1898, the Spanish American war.

Philippines only role was her being a territory of Spain part of the loot now declared American property by virtue of the 1898 Treaty. Plus a hefty US$ 20 million, paid by America to whom?

Perplexities by every steps like resisting against superpower nations Spain, America and Japan, during the last world war, make me even wonder how had we Moro people ending up a subdivision of the Philippines, by what grant of international law does it warrant that we be again ‘colonized’ people after USA, by the Philippines?

Preposterous but true.

But let us be educational and modular with our wars like the pandemic. The Moro people successfully defended against Spain for more than 300 years, it is allowed under international law to selfpreserve.

The UN charters cannot disavow on this, and we should call this the 1st module.

And then the 1902-1915 Moro American war, thus ending in a truce caveat being conditional, withdrawal of American troops with commitments American educators allowed access unfettered in all Moro territories to be guaranteed by the Moro rulers unscathed, to introduce American style schooling.

Thus, truce shall in the immediacy concludes.

Challenge accepted, but was it really the shunning planting the American flag prompting ending the first siege of Marawi or Marahui, deny American generals their victory not planting the American flag?

It is suspicious nonetheless, but let it be in other storytelling and let us instead designate both America and Japan war with the Moro people the 2nd module, or the 2nd Moro war model.

The third war model would be the Marcos stigma, like provoking war with neighbor Malaysia, violating international law and trashing our own Constitutional laws, the 1935 Philippine Constitution.

Uncovered no less by the Philippine legislature of a

the lower portion, the tachycardia can produce frequent irregular palpitations.

This tachycardic conditions merit a very attentive medical management.

Sometimes, palpitations are due to the disruption of the normal cadence or rhythm, producing arrhythmia. Usually while the regular rhythm is normally functioning, premature beats get abnormally inserted between them, producing palpitations that sometimes are described as “skipped” beats. If the premature beats originate from an area of the atrium, it is called “atrial premature beats”, and if the origin comes from the larger ventricle, it is termed “premature ventricular beat”.

Either of them can engender palpitations, and may merit a form of therapy if the attending doctor finds it necessary.

Like any other symptoms, disturbing palpitations must be given attention and brought to a doctor for analysis and diagnosis, in order for the patient to be therapeutically ahead.

Māassalāma.

Marcos schemed secret annexation of the State of Sabah by military means, this painstakingly, was a violation of international law and was by all creed, rapacity, an act of war.

This all figured in the horrifyingly Marcos ordered massacre of Muslim army trainees in the 1968 Corregidor massacre incident, the Muslim army trainees would have been the vanguard army to sabotage important Sabah military and public infrastructures, prelude to the surreptitious Sabah invasion.

That said, Hishamuddin the Malaysian Foreign minister shocked by counterpart Filipino Foreign Affairs boss Teddyboy calling the State of Sabah Philippines’ own, fidgety irked, the Foreign Minister threatened filing case with the UN for the blabbering.

The Malaysian Foreign Affairs minister could have simply mentioned about the bad secret scheming invade Sabah such of which figured in a Philippine congressional investigations way way back 1968, the infamous Jabidah massacre. Hishamuddin ignored it nonetheless.

In this instance Marcos rankled the Sabah issues his AMPATUAN | A10

A6 BTA | From page A1

BTA Parliament approves, adopts Committee Report on Marawi The said committee is composed of 29 members - with Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali Solaiman as Chairperson and Members of Parliament (MPs) lawyer Anna Tarhata Basman, Dr. Hamid Aminoddin Barra and Abdullah ‘Commander Bravo’ Macapaar, as Vice-Chairpersons.

The 127-page document is a product of series of committee meetings, field visits, public hearings and consultations with various stakeholders such as the IDPs, local government officials, CSOs, iNGOs, experts and concerned government agencies from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).

It details among others issues and concerns raised by the residents displaced and affected by Marawi siege; various interventions of the regional and national government and other private institutions; and recommendations by the Special Committee on Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

Issues highlighted in the report includes land specifically on property rights and ownership, core necessities which include basic utilities, clearing and demolition, taxes, temporary and permanent shelters, livelihood, education, health, public works, financial aid, data profiling, military reservation, transitional justice and security.

Proposed Resolution No. 130, "A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MARAWI SIEGE SURVIVORS FROM GROUND ZERO FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND/OR REPAIR OF THEIR DAMAGED HOUSES AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS THEREFOR has been included as part of the recommendations in the report.

MP Diamila Disimban-Ramos, the principal author of PR 130 and a Member of the Special Committee, noted that while existing measures are in place to assist displaced survivors get back on their feet, such financial aid intervention is yet to materialize. In fact, the Marawi City Master Development Plan by the TFBM provides only “for the construction/reconstruction of public infrastructure.

The reconstruction of private properties (except for those that will be prescribed as historical sites) shall be undertaken by the respective homeowners. Hence, MP Ramos believes, this form of assistance is one of the best interventions the Bangsamoro Government can give to complement the initiatives of the National Government.

This recommendation is made in view of the clamor of the Marawi IDPs to return to their homes. They repeatedly raised in the public hearings and consultations their dire need for financial assistance to reconstruct and/or repair their damaged houses in the Most Affected Areas (MAAs).

Moreover, this proposal has the strong support of the local government of Marawi City as manifested in City Council Resolution No. 033-02, Series of 2020 dated February 24, 2020 and also with the letter dated February 28, 2020 sent by the City Mayor lawyer Majul Gandamra to the Chief Minister seeking for the immediate passage of the said resolution.

“Marami sa kanila ang ina-allow ng bumalik sa Marawi katulad po ng Sectors 1 and 2 sa Brgy. Tulali, however 20-30 percent lang ang nakakabalik dahil wala pong resources ang ating IDPs para ipatayo po ang kanilang bahay, yan po ang malaking nagpipigil sa kanila” (“Many of them are already allowed to return, like in Sectors 1 and 2 in Brgy.Tulali, however, only 20-30 percent are able to return because our IDPs lack the resources to construct their houses and that's what's stopping them from returning”.) - said MP Ramos in her statement during the adoption of the Committee Report in the Parliament.

The support to the ongoing Marawi Rehabilitation by the Bangsamoro Government was included in the 12-point priority agenda of Chief Minister Ahod 'Al Haj Murad' Ebrahim. While it is true that the National Government through the TFBM is the one funding and implementing the programs, projects and activities for Marawi Rehabilitation, the Bangsamoro Government can actually supplement funding to the TFBM. This is why the Chief Minister allotted P500 Million for Marawi Rehabilitation which is due for implementation this 2020.

This is beside the 1,000 houses that will be constructed, with the help of land donors, for the displaced families affected by the siege.

Deputy Chief Minister Ali Solaiman, who chaired the Committee, said the Bangsamoro Government seeks to link the efforts of the different offices and organization involved in the rehabilitation efforts in order to fast-track its process.

BTA | A7

News

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

“Get out of Marawi” * Maranaos ask Del Rosario anew to resign from TFBM; * CA suspends confirmation of Del Rosario’s appointment.

By ALI G. MACABALANG

T

he Commission on Appointments (CA) suspended its hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 16 without approving the ad interim appoint-

ment of Eduardo del Rosario as Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSDU) secretary.

Sec. Eduardo del Rosario taking oath on Wednesday before the Commission on Appointments (CA) that heard and suspended later his confirmation. (Photo supplied) Members of CA’s Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development suspended Del Rosario’s confirmation hearing to make way for questions on different topics. The committee is chaired

by Senator Francisco Tolentino.

Committee vice chair San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora suggested that the panel hold a second hearing since “there are several members of the House contingent who still want to ask questions.” “[The questions] involve pretty substantial issues not just on the tenure of the nominee as Task Force Bangon Marawi head but even in past incumbencies during the time of the Yolanda disaster, and of course we’d like to know exactly what his plans are in the department,” Zamora said in a published report.

During the hearing, lawmakers had quizzed Del Rosario on updates on the Marawi rehabilitation led by the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), which he chairs.

“We don’t have enough time so can I suggest to the chairman that we suspend these deliberations in the meantime and perhaps we can go for another hearing, is that possible, Mr. Chairman?” he asked, referring to Senator Francis Tolentino.

Senator Panfilo Lacson and several members of the

CA panel agreed with Zamora’s suggestion.

“I would just like to manifest my support to the suggestion of the vice chair (Zamora) that we suspend consideration of the confirmation of the appointee (Del Rosario),” Lacson said.

A notice of hearing on Del Rosario’s appointment mentioned two Maranao personalities for having manifested earlier formal request to witness the proceedings and interpose objection. They were Ms. Dayalyn Acoon Tingaraan and Bai Padoman Paporo, PhD. Earlier, a group of Marawi’s internally displace persons (IPDs) was reported as asking members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to hold in abeyance if not reject the confirmation of Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, pending the resolution of controversial issues surrounding the stunted Marawi rehab efforts.

In an open letter, Drieza Lininding, convenor of civil society group, Moro Concensus Group, said Del Rosario was accountable allegedly "for all the lies and deception he did for Marawi that resulted to sufferings of Marawi IDPs." "Just to cite one example: In the recent hearing of the Senate Special Committee for Marawi in Iligan City, he (Del Rosario) assured the mem-

bers of the senate that in the conduct of the demolition (of houses and structures inside the most affected area), the footing of buildings or structures were preserved so that home owners can easily identify of where their house used to stand,” Lininding recalled.

He debunked the claim as a “complete lie because our witnesses (who) are those privileged to tour around Marawi's ground zero said there is no such (footing)."

Reliable information sent to the Philippine Muslim Today also cited a questionable purchase by TFBM of at least two bulldozers without proper bidding and at the behest of Del Rosario.

PMT informants also mentioned about Del Rosario’s alleged arbitrary designation in the DHSUD three officials in purported circumvention of civil service rules.

Online posts by Marawi residents also raised questions on the whereabouts of huge cash aids donated by foreign and local entities for the Marawi rehab and recovery of its displaced residents.

One Facebook netizen, Dino Lucman, son of former Lanao Sur Governor Tarhata Alonto-Lucman, suggested the resignation of Del Rosario and his replacement by MinDA Secretary Manny Piñol, whom he cited for efficiency in getting “things done.” (AGM)

News

Dr. Mombao Benito-Abdul is Lanao Sur-I division new Focal Person

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

A7

Army, LGU give fertilizers to farmers in Lanao Sur 2 isolated villages

By Muslimedia.PH

By ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL

M

ARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur: The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao In a memorandum, MBHTE minister Mohagher Iqbal has designated Dr. Mombao Benito Abdul, education program supervisor 4, as the new Focal Person of the division.

She replaced Aleida Nameerah Mangata-Noor.

In her acceptance speech of her designation, Dr. Abdul said the news came as a great surprise to her.

“But I cannot deny the fact that I am very happy and proud because I feel (my effort,) that I have to harvest the several years of my true service and commitment,” she said.

“I’m here today not because I’m better or more naturally talented than anybody else. I’m here because I strongly believe that I am qualified academically and professionally to the position and above all it is the MERCY OF ALLAH [S.W.T.],” she added.

Abdul is a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, a MAED in school management and holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) degree. She has been in government service for 26 years.

She is married to Custom Officer Menor D. Abdul and blessed with six children.

Abdul vowed to continue working hard towards the success of the division of LDS1, “and will not let down anyone of you Nsaallah (God willing).”

She believes the position comes with great responsibility and even so, “it is an in-

(MBHTE-BARMM) has designated a new ‘Focal Person’ of the schools division of Lanao del Sur-I.

M

Dr. Mombao Benito-Abdul, new Lanao del Sur-I schools division Focal Person. (Photo provided) credible opportunity for me to demonstrate my abilities and whatever I have learnt.”

Dr. Abdul pledged to continue the important and valued works of those that came before me.”

Functions of a Focal person The Focal Person performs many of the functions and roles of a schools division superintendent (SDS).

Minister Iqbal concurrently acts as SDS of Lanao del Sur -I from the very time he assumed the leadership of the Bangsamoro education ministry.

Abdul’s functions as enumerated in Iqbal’s memorandum dated 15 September 2020, that designates her as Focal Person are: Perform routinary functions such as receiving and

releasing of office documents; Supervision and regular monitoring of schools within Lanao delSur-1 Division and submit report thereafter; Indorsement to the undersigned (minister) of all disbursement vouchers and checks of the Division for his (minister) approval and signature; Preparation of all Letter Orders, Office Orders, Detail Orders, and Rvocation Orders shall be subject to the approval of the undersigned; Inform the local ban of the Schools Division Office (SDO) for Lanao del Sur-1 for the new designation and submit thereafter signatories to the bank; and Such other functions as may be required by the undersigned (minister).

Muslimedia.PH/TRS

BTA | From page A6

BTA Parliament approves...

“Let us not despair. The Bangsamoro Government is here to bridge the gaps in the efforts of the National Government, the different Ministries, NGOs, and other stakeholders so as to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi”.

Member of Parliament and Committee Vice-Chair Anna Tarhata Basman, emphasized the urgency of the report especially given the outbreak of COVID-19.

“As much as the Bangsamoro Government is eager

to solve the concerns of the IDPs on its own, it must call on other government instrumentalities if a comprehensive and satisfactory Marawi rehabilitation and reconstruction is to happen,” Basman said.

Former Peace Process Undersecretary and now Parliament Member lawyer Jose Lorena likewise hoped that the Bangsamoro Parliament will take this report seriously because the people of Marawi is now expecting too much

from Bangsamoro Government.

"Because [this] report has given our people from Marawi the hope that actions will be taken by the Parliament and the Bangsamoro Government to address nagging problems," Lorena reiterated.

On the other hand, MP lawyer Maisara DandamunLatiph manifested and explained the importance of one essential element in this rehabilitation, the Kambalingan, as it should be reflected in the committee report.

(To be continued)

ARAWI CITY – On Tuesday, the military and local government officials of Madalum municipality in Lanao del Sur have extended assistance in an outreach program in two isolated villages identified as “vulnerable” to the threat of the Islamic State-inspired Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terror group, military said.

In a statement on Saturday, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division said Tuesday’s outreach was led by Col. Nolie Anquillano, deputy commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City, and Vice Mayor Sultan Usman Sarangani Sr. of Madalaum town.

They visited barangays Liangan Uno and Basak, two farremote villages in Madalum, and delivered 20 sacks of fertilizer as initial support to both communities whose primary source of livelihood is agriculture..

The Army division said the two barangays have been identified as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), making them priority areas for the “clearing and development” initiatives of the Philippine Army, particularly the 55th Infantry Battalion (IB).

It said the visit was a follow-up to the deployment of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 55IB’s Alpha Company to protect the residents from terrorist threats and recruitment by resolving social issues, which are reportedly exploited by DI recruiters.

The outreach also aimed to assess the situation in the area to determine the necessary interventions and approaches to resolve existing issues, according to the 1ID. Currently, 1ID CSP personnel from the 55IB’s Alpha Company, headed by 1Lt. Rodwin Biloza, are assisting the leaders of the two barangays to attain better governance.

It said Biloza’s team is also organizing the farmers and linking them to appropriate agencies so they could benefit from the agriculture-based programs of the government.

Sarangani encouraged the residents of the two villages to cooperate and support the CSP being conducted by the military in the area.

He also persuaded the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members who reside in barangays Liangan Uno and Basak to support government initiatives for peace and development and abide by the normalization process being implemented by both the MILF and the government.

Earlier, the MILF said it has agreed to convince the DI members to return to the fold of the law and play their part in society as law-abiding citizens.

The agreement was reached during the meeting on Tuesday of Lt. Col. Franco Raphael Alano, 55IB commander, and Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, of the NorthWestern Mindanao Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces – MILF (NWMF-BIAF-MILF), who is also a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Johary Malindato and Saiba Ali, barangay chairpersons of Liangan Uno and Basak, respectively, thanked the military’s development initiatives in their communities and pledged their support and cooperation to the effort.

Anquillano persuaded the residents of the two barangays to cooperate with the CSP teams so that necessary government programs could be implemented soon.

He said the youth should be protected from terrorist recruitment and this can be addressed by education and “since education is free these days, there should be no excuse for illiteracy in their communities.”

(With PNA)

A8

News

OCM building opens to the public on Wednesday

Navy troops rescue 4 Pagadian fishermen, 1 died in sea waters off Zamboanga City

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

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OMULO ESPALDON NAVAL STATION, Zamboanga City: The Philippine Navy troops onboard BA492 rescued four Pagadian based fishermen with one of them died in the sea waters off San Mateo

COTABATO CITY: The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) Building in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) here in this city was opened again to the public starting Wednesday, September 16 after two weeks of continuous disinfection to prevent the spread of Covid-19 Coronavirus.

However, based on an advisory, OCM employees shall observe their respective Work Shifting schedules approved by the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua said the transacting public is reminded to strictly follow the minimum public health standards.

Macacua warned that non-compliant visitors may be refused entry to the premises. He said it is still highly encouraged for the visitors to secure prior appointments or their transactions be done, electronically.

The OCM shall continue to impose stricter measures to protect the health of its employees and the public alike. "We therefore seek everyone's understanding for any inconvenience these measures may cause," the Executive Secretary said.

The advisory was issued last 15th day of September 2020 at the Bangsamoro Government Center here in Cotabato City. JIJ

Jolo blasts victims received full hospital assistance from BARMM’s AMBAG

COTABATO CITY: The Bangsamoro Government’s ‘Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government’ (AMBAG) Program has released over Php425,000.00 worth of hospital assistance to aid the Jolo blasts victims in Sulu.

Cabinet Secretary and AMBAG Program Head Mohd Asnin Pendatun of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said the assistance covered thirty-one (31) admitted patients at Sulu Provincial Hospital, who were victims of twin bombings that happened downtown Jolo on August 24, 2020.

Pendatun said, “the Chief Minister wanted to ensure that these victims will be discharged from the hospital without paying any bills with the help of our AMBAG Program.”

All of the 31 admitted patients have already recovered and discharged by the hospital.

The said hospitalization assistance of the Office of the Chief Minister’s (OCM) AMBAG Program is on top of the cash assistance provided by the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) last August 28, 2020.

The AMBAG Program is a flagship program of the OCM designed to help indigent patients receive medical assistance, and is in partnership with 12 hospitals across Bangsamoro region. By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Point, Sinunuc, on Monday afternoon. The Philippine Navy boat was underway from Naval Station Romulo Espaldon to Varadero de Cawit, all of Zamboanga City.

NAVY TROOPS TRYING TO APPLY CPR ON THE BOAT MASTER: Enricky Brocka, the 55-year old boat master of ill-fated fishing boat, M/B ELSA 3 is being revived by Navy troops by applying a CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as an emergency procedure. But the victim was not revived and died on arrival at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. (Philippine Navy Photo) The Navy troops noticed four fishermen standing on a capsized Banca named MB Elsa 3 seeking help.

Immediately, the BA492 crew proceeded to the location and rescued the four after which they were informed that the boat master was still inside the capsized Banca.

Appropriate rescue techniques were applied to retrieve the boat master and coordination was made with the 4th Boat Attack Division and the Naval Special Operation Unit-6 for the deployment of the emergency response team to the area.

The boat master was unconscious upon retrieval, was immediately provided with first aid treatment, and was subsequently rushed to Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) but was unfortunately declared dead on arrival and

the attending physician said it was due to Asphyxiation secondary to accidental drowning.

The four others were brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital at the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) for proper medical attention and debriefing.

The casualty was identified as Enricky Brocka, 55 Yrs Old, Boat Master while the survivors were identified as Erickson Broka, 19, Richard Brocka, 30, Oroy Gay, 27, and George Alvarasen, 36, all from Pagadian City.

“We provided the necessary assistance to the victims of the sea mishap and communicated with their respective families,” said Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, Commander,

Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

Two of the four survivors are sons of the boat master.

They were fetched to ZCMC to inform the status of their father while the two others were temporarily housed onboard the 4th BA Division. Clothes, toiletries, and food packs were provided to the rescued fishermen.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the sons and relatives of the boat master who perished after their boat was capsized due to foul weather yesterday afternoon,” said Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., WestMinCom Commander.

“Rest assured that we will provide all sorts of assistance to the victims of this very unfortunate incident,” Maj. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added. (JIJ)

M/B ELSA 3: A fishing boat from Pagadian City figured in an accident at the waters off Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. Enricky Brocka, 55 Yrs Old, Boat Master was the lone fatality and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. (Philippine Navy Photo)

News

MinDA initiates ‘adopt-a-tribal family’ program T

he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is embarking on another life-enhancing program concerning tribal families living in far-flung areas seldom reached by government services. It called the new venture an “adopta-tribal family” project as a component of MinDA-initiated interventions in bringing Mindanao to greater heights.

MinDA chairman in a huddle with a family of Ata-Manobo living on a hilly village in Kapalong, Davao del Norte, whose underprivileged condition prompted the initiation of an “Adopt-a-Tribal Family” project indended to be replicated across Mindanao. (Photo supplied) government in sponsoring one tribal family,” Piñol said.

He said the provincial government will provide each sponsored family with a prefabricated house worth P80,000 while the sponsoring family will be asked to provide a counterpart amount of P50,000 which will be used in providing the family with livelihood projects like free-range chicken, native pigs, vegetables seeds and planting materials of fruit trees.

The sponsoring families will also be asked to donate clothing and old household wares including school needs of young tribal children, he said.

The MinDA will assist in providing a profile of each sponsored family and a database to give sponsors updates on the progress of the

A9

PTFoMS denounces the killing of Ex-Sorsogon Radioman

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Bureau Chief | Metro Manila News Bureau

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By ALI G. MACABALANG

In one of his latest online statements, MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol said his agency conceived the new venture after spending an episode of his “Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao” continuing tour in Davao region last week.

“I conceptualized the ‘Adopt-A-Family’ Program following our visit to Kapalong, Davao del Norte on Friday (Sept. 11) where government officials led by Gov. Jubahib, Cong. Pantaleon Alvarez, Kapalong Mayor Tess Timbol and Maj. Gen. Ruben Basiao of the 10th Infantry Division of the Army met with leaders of an isolated AtaManobo community in Barangay Gupitan,” Piñol said.

On the way back to the town, he said, their group stopped by the side of a newly-opened road to talk to a family living in a house made out of tree bark, bamboo slats and tarps as roofing.

He believed the family was among tribal people “dispossessed of their Ancestral Lands by large logging companies which virtually cleared the forests of centuries old trees many years ago (and) the tribal families now rely on farm chores to make a few hundred pesos for food.”

The pilot project involves the provincial government of Davao del Norte as a partner entity.

Under the program as proposed to Gov. Jubahib, “generous Filipino families will be asked to enter into a partnership with the provincial

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

families, he added.

“While there are government agencies which could provide support for this program, I have decided to present a concept which involves generous sponsors to show to these tribal families that they are cared for and loved by their fellow Filipinos,” the MinDA chief said.

Next week, MinDA will submit to Gov. Jubahib the blueprint of the "Adopt-ATribal Family" program for the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and subsequent implementation.

By next week, he said, MinDA will share the concept paper with governors of other Mindanao provinces with large tribal population and convince them to replicate the program, Pinol said in his statement titled “Caring for Forgotten Filipinos!” (AGM)

Duterte ready to work with Japan's new PM Yoshihide Suga

ALACANANG PALACE, Manila: The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) based here denounced the killing of former radioman Jobert “Polpog” Bercasio who was gunned down by motorcycle “riding-intandem” gunmen near Seabreeze Homes in Brgy.

Cabid-an, Sorsogon on Monday evening.

Jobert “Polpog” Bercasio. (FB) According to the PTFoMS Quick Response System, based on the initial investigation conducted by the Sorsogon City Police revealed that Bercasio was shot several times at point blank range while on-board his motorcycle by two armed men wearing helmets and black jackets and riding a blue Mio motorcycle, resulting to the victim’s immediate death. Witnesses said that the suspects came from Bolago and fled to the Diversion Road after the shooting.

While the motive and identity of the suspects are yet to be determined, local media say the victim was no longer working for any mainstream radio station at the time of his death. Reports show he also ran as vice mayor in his hometown but lost.

It was only recently that he put up his own Facebook-based program that he managed himself.

PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco pointed out that the death of Bercasio has sounded alarm bells over the growing number of purely Facebook-based broadcast platforms being used by a lot of people.

USec Egco said he would ask the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and other media organizations on how these “online news” outlets should be treated and how the practice is regulated by any existing group, if any.

“It is important to know how they survive and how they really operate. There are certain privileges here that are lacking.

First, the clear non-requirement of a franchise. Second, their business operations. We need to know how they could pay for their salaries and of their staff members if any. Any ‘guerilla’ type of broadcast operation is dangerous, as it would be vulnerable to all sorts of threats, “ the Palace official explained.

PTFoMS Co-Chair and Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Martin M. Andanar, for his part, said: "The government strongly condemns the heinous killing of Mr. Jobert Bercasio. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of the victim.”

It is the mandate of PTFoMS to ensure the safety and security of media workers. The Presidential Task force initially presumes all forms of violence against media workers to be workrelated until further investigation proves otherwise.

“We are relentless in pursuing perpetrators behind any attack against our media workers,” Egco said in a press statement.

“Mark my words, it will just be a matter of time before the suspects of this brazen act are identified and put behind bars.

We will not rest until the killers face justice," Egco added.

PTFoMS is on top of the situation and is closely coordinating with all law-enforcement agencies to identify and arrest the suspects in the killing. (JIJ)

greater strength. Congratulations po sa bagong Prime Minister po ng Japan (Congratulations to the new Prime Minister of

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Japan)," he added.

MANILA – The Duterte administration is looking forward to Suga is a close confidante of outgoing Japanese Prime working with Japan's new prime minister Yoshihide Suga to Minister Abe. His term in office will continue until Japan's genfurther boost Manila and Tokyo's bilateral cooperation, eral elections in September 2021.

Malacañang said on Thursday.

His predecessor Abe announced his inten"The Duterte Administration is ready to work tion to resign from office due to health reawith Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in further sons on August 28. He is suffering from ulstrengthening the strategic bilateral cooperation cerative colitis. building on the special relationship established In a previous statement, President Rodrigo with former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō. The Duterte hailed Japan's contribution to the Philippines considers Japan as a close friend, a peace and security in Asia Pacific under friend closer than a brother," Presidential Abe's leadership. In the past few years, he Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual said Tokyo had proactively advanced represser. gional security and the rule of law especially "We are committed to do everything to Japanese Primie Minister Yoshihide in the maritime commons in the region.

Suga (Anadolu photo) make these ties move from strength to the (PNA)

News

A10

Yoshihide Suga appointed new Japanese prime minister Y

oshihide Suga, the newly elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was officially appointed as the country's new prime minis-

R

Party chief: Only Malay-Muslim unity can lead and save the country

By Muslimedia.PH

ter by parliament on Wednesday, becoming the country's first new leader in nearly eight years.

NEW JAPAN PRIME MINISTER: Yoshihide Suga (standing at the center), the newly elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was officially appointed as the country's new prime minister by Japan parliament on Wednesday. (Agency Photo) He won 314 votes out of 462 cast by parliament's lower house members. The chamber takes precedence in electing a premier over the upper house, which was also expected to pick Suga because of a ruling bloc majority.

Suga was born in 1948 and graduated from Hosei University in 1973 and obtained a Bachelor of Laws.

He has pledged to pursue many of Abe's programs, including his signature "Abenomics" economic strategy, and forge ahead with structural reforms, including deregulation and streamlining bureaucracy.

A plethora of challenges are ahead for the new PM, including tackling COVID-19 while reviving a battered economy and dealing with a rapidly aging society.

New cabinet, same faces Suga later on Wednesday named his new cabinet, with roughly half of the ministers carried over from those of predecessor Shinzo Abe in line with his pledge to continue Abe's policies.

Taro Aso, a core member of Abe's administration, re-

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

mained in his position as finance minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi kept his job as foreign minister.

Kato, 64, named to Suga's previous post of chief cabinet secretary, is close to both Abe and the new prime minister, under whom he served as deputy chief cabinet secretary.

Taro Kono, who served as defense minister in Abe's last cabinet, is now appointed as administrative reform minister.

Hiroshi Kajiyama retains his post as minister economy, trade, and industry while Shinjiro Koizumi retains his post as environment minister.

Among new cabinet members was Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi, Abe's younger brother.

Chinese leader to send congratulatory message According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese leader will send congratulatory messages to the new Japanese prime minister.

"We have noted that Prime Minister Kan Yiwei has said many times recently that he wants to build stable diplomatic relations with China

AJSHAHI, Bangladesh — A rape victim was found dead in her room in Rajshahi’s Godagari Upazila early on Thursday, an hour after the local municipal councillor let her rapist walk free instead of handing him over to police, media report said.

The Daily Star said the body of Sakhina Begum, 35, was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

It added, “Khairul Islam, Godagari police station’s officer-in-charge, said the rapist, Mofizul Islam, has been on the run, while police arrested councillor Lutfar Rahman of Kakonhat municipality and two of his associates — Akbar Ali and Merajul Islam.”

Sakhina had been living with her two children in Rajshahi while her husband was residing in Chattogram for his job.

and other neighboring countries," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the Wednesday's press conference, adding that China agrees with him.

Saying China and Japan are close neighbors and important countries in Asia and even the world, Wang noted long-term stable, friendly, and cooperative Sino-Japanese relations are in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the broadbased expectations of the international community.

China is willing to work with the new Japanese government to uphold the various principles stipulated in the four political documents between China and Japan, jointly promote China-Japan relations and constantly achieve new and greater development, he added.

When asked about China's views on Japan's new defense minister, who was reported to have close ties with the Taiwan authorities, Wang said China hopes Japan will refrain from developing official ties with Taiwan.

He hopes the new Japanese government can adhere to the one-China policy.

JIJ/PMT

Yoshihide Suga

PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (left) with PAS Secretary-General Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (right) after delivering the opening speech of the 66th PAS Annual Congress at the Kelantan Islamic Training Center in Pengkalan Chepa, September 13, 2020.

(Bernama photo)

K

UALA LUMPUR — The president of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), the Malaysian Islamic party, said on Sunday a Malay-Muslim unity is needed to save and lead the country to the right direction.

Speaking at the party’s annual convention Sunday morning, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said based on AlQuran’s Islamic politics, philosophy and history, the Arabs and Turks who first dominated the world using Islam lost their mandate as their leaders started abandoning the religion.

“The nation that is with Islam must rise so that it is not swept away by the influence of non-Muslims who lose their identity.

“The nation may also be saved by other races who embrace and accept Islam without letting them be drowned by non-Muslims who are forbidden to be guardians or leaders of Muslims based on the word of Allah,” Abdul Hadi Awang told the 66th Muktamar in Kota Bharu that was streamed live online today.

Abdul Hadi, however, insisted that in this case, non-Muslim rights are still guaranteed.

He said Islam allows to establish relations with a nonMuslim plural society with strong boundaries, to maintain Islam as the aqeedah (creed) of the country.

“The role of non-Muslims in politics is allowed to the extent of holding the positions of Cabinet Minister, State Government EXCO and Local Government Council Member related to management and administrative matters that are not related to policy matters in Islam.

“What Islam emphasises is not racist fanaticism. The most important thing is that Islam accepts the nature of love for one’s own race and specifically takes care of one’s own family,” he said.

In Sept last year, PAS signed a cooperation pact with their traditional rival – Umno in the name of Muslim Unity.

Earlier this year, PAS joined the Perikatan Nasional coalition after taking over the government together with Umno, Bersatu and Sarawak parties.

(Muslimedia.PH)

Woman found dead after councillor lets her rapist walk free WHEN JUSTICE IS NOT FAIR.

At around 1am on Thursday, Mofizul burst into her house and raped her. When she cried for help, locals caught Mofizul. They took Mofizul to Lutfar Rahman, the OC said, quoting the victim’s father.

Rahman and his aides blamed the woman, and released Mofizul Islam as an innocent man.

At 2am, locals found Sakhina hanging with a rope from the ceiling fan in her room and informed police. Police responded and investigated the matter, OC Khairul added.

At 3pm on Thursday, police arrested the ward councillor and his men. Sakhina’s father Muntaj Ali filed a case with Godagari Police Station, accusing the four men of rape and provoking her death.

(Muslimedia.PH)

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

PH Covid-19 cases rise by 3,375; recoveries now 208K

Siyagul, a special type of seafood The Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes

BY MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR Philippine News Agency

With MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

M

ANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported 3,375 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, raising the country’s overall tally to 276,289 with only 63,408 active cases.

Of the active cases, it said that about 87.5 percent of the patients have mild symptoms, 8.7 percent are asymptomatic, 1.1 percent are severe, and 2.7 percent are in critical condition.

The majority of the newly announced cases are from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 963, and the provinces of Bulacan, 448; Cavite, 274; Negros Occidental, 153; and Batangas with 119 infections.

It also logged 317 new recoveries and 53 deaths, bringing the total number of recoveries to 208,096 and the number of deaths to 4,785.

Of the 53 deaths, 36 occurred in September (68%), 13 in August (25%) and four in July (8%).

NCR has 25 deaths or 47 percent, Calabarzon has 12 or 23 percent, Western Visayas has four or 8 percent, Northern Mindanao has four or 8 percent, Zamboanga Peninsula has three or 6 percent, while Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa,

CAR, and returning overseas Filipinos have one each or 2 percent.

"There were 19 duplicates that were removed from the total case count and of these, 11 recovered cases have been removed. There's one recovered case found to be negative and was removed from the total case count after final validation, and there were 67 cases that were previously reported as recovered but after final validation, they were 11 deaths and 56 active cases," the DOH said.

As of Wednesday, the 97 licensed reverse transcription

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-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratories and 29 licensed GeneXpert laboratories have conducted a total of 3,039,945 tests nationwide.

The DOH said it has a 21,500 total bed capacity dedicated to Covid-19 patients.

Occupied are about 46 percent of 1,900 intensive care unit beds; 45 percent of 13,800 isolation beds; and 46 percent of 5,800 ward beds.

About 27 percent of 2,200 ventilators are also in use.

(PNA)

I

T is now on the 14th Digital Edition of the Philippine Muslim Today and we continue to feature among the delicacies of the Tausug of the People of Lupah Sug or Sulu.

In this issue we would like to feature the Tausug delicacy known as Siyagul, a special type of seafood. Usually the main ingredient is the Page or ray fish, or it is usually spelled as Pagi a Tausug term for Ray Fish.

Abdulaziz H. Hamsain, a Tausug Chef who authored The Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes has listed Siyagul as one of the Tausug delicacies. However only few households cook Siyagul simply because Ray Fish is not sold everyday in the wet market. Most of all there are species of Ray Fish that are listed endangered.

Dr. Filemon G. Romero, an oceanographer based at the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi explained that species of Ray Fish known as Mobulid ray is a genus of ray belonging to the taxonomic family Myliobatidae (eagle rays). Species of this genera are often collectively referred to as "devil rays", "flying mobula" or simply "flying rays".

Scientifically, according to the Dr. Romero the mobulid rays belong to one family called Mobulidae, which contains two Genera; the Mobula Rays (9 species) and the Manta Rays (2 species). They are cartilaginous fishes (no bones) and characterized by diamond shaped bodies and wing-like pectoral fins which they use to propel themselves through open water.

The giant mantas a called pagi sanga or pagi bulan.

They are classified in the Red List of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Vulnerable and listed as Appendix II under Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species.

In Tawi-Tawi, there is an existing mobulid fishery which is not distinguished with mantas. While the exploitation of other rays like the kyampaw is not banned, the exploitation of this species still continues because they are as source of food as native delicacy like siyagul pagi and source income for the fisherfolks.

Global tourism industry lost $460 billion due to pandemic: UN

Sergei Konkov/TASS

M

ADRID – The global tourism sector lost about USD460 billion in the first half of 2020 due to the drop in international travel worldwide caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN World Tourism Organization said on Tuesday.

"The massive drop in international travel demand over the period January-June 2020 translates into a loss of 440 million international arri-

vals and about USD460 billion in export revenues from international tourism. This is around five times the loss in international tourism receipts recorded in 2009 amid the global economic and financial crisis," the UN agency said.

According to the organization, international tourist arrivals dropped by 65 percent during the first half of the year as countries started to introduce travel restrictions

and close borders to contain the infection.

Asia and the Pacific, the first region to feel the impact of Covid-19 on tourism, was the hardest hit, with a 72percent fall in tourists for the six-month period.

Europe is second, with a decline of 66 percent. The Americas (-55 percent), Africa, and the Middle East (both -57 percent) also suffered.

About 29.3 million cases of the coronavirus infection have so far been registered worldwide.

More than 928,000 people died.

(TASS)

Read

The Ranao Star ranaostar.net

SIYAGUL Serves 4-5 Ingredients -1 kilo ray fish (pagé) -1 medium-sized onion chopped -3 cloves garlic minced -1 cup of coconut milk -3 green peppers -2 tbsp pipis itum (refer to pipis itum recipe) -2 inches minced turmeric -1/4 tsp black pepper powder -1/4 tsp salt -Oil Procedure: 1. Cut the ray fish into medium-sized cubes.

2. Place ray fish in a large pot..

3. Add water and allow it to boil.

4. Remove from the pot once the meat is tender.

5. Strain then set aside.

6. In a clean pot, sauté the following ingredients: garlic, onion, black pepper, turmeric, and pipis itum.

7. Add the ray fish in coconut milk then mix well.

8. Add an amount of salt depending on taste then cover.

Lastly, add the green pepper (optional) then serve. ** Siyagul is best served at any meal of the day..

Eco-Tourism

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The Sama Dilaut Then and Now

Vol. I, No. 14 | September 18-24, 2020 (Safar 1-7, 1442)

Dolomite in bay project not related to fish kill incident: DENR

By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D.

BY MARITA MOAJE

T

he Sama Dilaut, also known as Badjao, Bajau or Baju, are found scattered along the shores of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan & western part of Zamboanga Peninsula.

They are a gentle tribe that roams the Sulu Sea in their houseboats called ‘Lepa’ making the vast ocean the source of their livelihood.

They never run out of food supplies as the sea has everything to provide for their simple diet that consists only of fish & their favorite staple food called 'kinuha' made from grated cassava stir-fried in a pan.

The latter can also be steam-cooked into 'puto or piyuto’ topped with grated coconut meat. Side dish consists of boiled bananas & sweet potatoes. All of these land-based items can be had via fair 'bartering' of goods or money earned from their 'catches'.

Life has never been so good for these simple and quiet-mannered people, who have no history of violent records among themselves much more with other tribes.

Until the revolutionary war ( Moro struggle against the Marcos government) in Mindanao in the 70's, things became different and changes took-over in the life of Badjaos practically in all areas they used to live and the seas and shorelines where they converged.

Seeking for a safe haven rather than being with where the abundance is only underneath their dwellings, their 'world' started to drastically diminish. They were driven away by force of sporadic 'wars' that took place in high seas and more along the shorelines putting their lives on the line of fire. Dispersion and migration is the only way to escape the ravages of war then.

(To be continued on succeeding PMT issues with the following headings: 1. The Badjaos: Their Life During the Mindanao War; 2. Integration with the Mainstream Sama Population; 3.

Sama Dilaut Beliefs, Traditions and Cultural Practices.)

JOHNNY R. LEE

M

ANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the crushed dolomite used in the Manila Bay beach nourishment project is not in any way connected to a fish kill reported in Baseco on Wednesday.

This, after groups that posted a video of floating dead fish in the Baseco area reportedly connected the incident to the dolomite used in Manila Bay. “Very erroneous yung allegation na yun kasi if you will look at the distance talagang napakalayo and at the same time yung direction ng hangin which is habagat ay hindi nagpo-point sa lugar na yun (that allegation is very erroneous because if you look at the distance, the two areas are very far from each other and at the same time, we have the southwest monsoon which means that the direction of the wind does not point to the area where the alleged dead fish floated)," DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said.

Showing a map, Antiporda said the Manila Bay beach nourishment project is about five kilometers away from the Baseco area where the alleged fish kill happened.

Aside from the distance and the wind direction, Antiporda added that there is a breakwater between the two areas.

He added that the DENR immediately instructed its Biodiversity Management Bureau to conduct an investigation and look at the possible cause of the reported fish kill.

Antiporda said during early October last year, a similar incident occurred at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) where about two tons of dead fish were found floating.

An assessment made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that time, he said, showed that poor levels of dissolved oxygen and higher levels of ammonia and phosphates than the standard level caused the incident.

The DENR, he said, is looking at the same possibility.

Another angle being studied by the agency is whether somebody used cyanide for fishing, which Antiporda said, may have caused the fish kill.

“We will check on the water quality first to see if this was not done intentionally or if there was a change in the salinity of the water. We are now looking at the possibilities,” Antiporda said.

Antiporda added that the DENR is also not discounting the possibility that somebody might be trying to sabotage the situation.

"We want to set the record straight but we are not discounting na me mga ganung moves na ngayon, kasi these are desperate moves eh, desperate times eh, eto na lang yung paraan nila para i-discredit yung ginagawa ng gobyerno kaya sa atin naman, nag-iingat din kami, we're trying to look at all the angles na makita kung ano talaga yung tunay na nangyari (that there may be similar moves. These are desperate times, desperate moves, this is the only way they see to discredit government efforts, so we are also cautious and are looking at different angles so we would know what really happened),” he said.

(PNA)