Philippine Muslim Today

Education as a Challenge

Presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Roa Duterte: A Comparison

The heartburn feeling

Mehol K. Sadain | A3

Homobono A. Adaza | A4

Benj Bangahan | A5

Protect your brother Muslims

Marawi displacedreturnees with empty hand to repair their homes

Abdul Hannan M. Tago | A5

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Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442) | 12 Pages | Philippines

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Revamp in Task Force Bangon Marawi pressed anew

By Ali G. Macabalang

S

takeholders in the campaign for rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City and the recovery of its thousands of displaced resident families have continued to air dismay over the slow implementation of enabling state interventions, notably those being mandated for the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) to lead, coordinate and harmonize.

Their demands for transparency in the expenditures of public funds and dona-

tions for rehabilitation efforts as well as criticisms on the lack of official pronouncements in true status of intervening projects and programs have remained unanswered by state authorities like the TFBM. This writer took the cudgel to float lately in the Facebook social media the question: “Are you in favor of a popular call for reorganization of Task Force Bangon Marawi and appointment of its new chairman?” as an in-

formal survey meant to help gather public sentiments as guide for higher authorities like Malacañang and Congress to possibly consider.

The survey question was posted in seven Facebook pages being frequented by Bangsamoro audiences including the people of Marawi City.

From the different Facebook pages, the question gathered more than 300 responses mostly asserting that a revamp on the TFBM

was “long overdue.” But it also drew three replies from netizens opposed or adamant about the revamp, arguing that reorganizing the task force might even cause further delay in the snail-paced rehabilitation stride.

Some netizens even suggested the choice of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, MinDA Chair Manny Pinol and DPWH Sec. Mark Villar in replacement of Sec. Eduardo del Rosario as TFMB chairman.

REVAMP | A2

Abd

EDITORIAL

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Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY The Muslim National Newspaper Operated by Muslimedia.PH Founded in June 2020 BOARD OF EDITORS: MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

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

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

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.

REVAMP | from Page A1

Revamp in Task Force Bangon Marawi pressed anew TFBM was formed weeks after the socalled “liberation of Marawi City (from presence of extremist rebels).” President Duterte named Housing and Urban Development Council Chairman Eduardo del Rosario, a former military general, to chair the multiagency TFBM. In the early planning works for Marawi reconstruction, the TFBM leadership had drawn criticisms from residents and stakeholders, including a key official of the DPWH due to the absence of representatives from displaced residents in the mapping of works.

In subsequent meetings, Del Rosario tangled with the officials of the Moro Consensus Group in emotional debate for his past unfulfilled promises for the homecoming of IDPs in the Most Affected Area (MAA) of Marawi City.

Issues about delays in the Marawi reconstruction and recovery of its displaced residents have resurfaced when Del Rosario encountered bypass twice in the Congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) in a bid for confirmation of his ad interim appointment as secretary of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development.

The first bypass was reported last March and second happened on Sept. 16.

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 moved for another panel hearing since “there are several members of the House contingent who still want to ask questions.” “[Issues] 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.

-----------“Manila, Philippines – Makalipas ang tatlong taon matapos ang madugong Marawi siege ay hindi pa rin natatapos ang mga ipinangakong proyektong imprastraktura para sa rehabilitasyon ng syudad.

Maging ang 14 na pipeline ay hindi pa nasimulan ang konstruksyon, ayon sa iprin-

isintang update nitong Lunes ni Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, na chairman din ng Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Sa kabila nito, ani del Rosario na “maganda naman po ang development sa ating Marawi rehabilitation.”

Sa ngayon ay may lima naman na umanong proyekto ang nakukompleto kung saan ang dalawa ay matatagpuan sa less affected areas (LAA), at tatlo naman sa most affected areas (MAA).

Kabilang dito ang: LAA PNP COMPAC 1 Marawi Fire Substation MAA Mapandi Bridge Banggolo Bridge Maritime Outpost 13 proyekto naman ang kasalukuyan pang binubuo: Transitory Shelters; Marawi Police Station; Salintubig Reservoir; Correctional facility; Transcentral roads; Permanent shelters; Pumping bridge; Marawi Museum; Four-storey school building; School of Living Tradition; Peace Memorial Park; Grand Padian Market; at 24-Barangay Complex.

14 namang proyekto ang hindi pa nasisimulan pero diin ni Del Rosario na matatapos ito hanggang Disyembre 2021: Tourist Police Building (November 2020) Multi-Modal Transport Hub (January 2021) Hospital with Basic Equipment (November 2020) Multi-Level Carpark (January 2021) Halal Slaughterhouse (January 2021) Marawi City Health Office (April 2021) Road Infrastructure (September 2020) Sewage Treatment Plant (October 2020) Bulk Water System (October 2020) Maritime Building (November 2020) Port Facilities (January 2021) 9 School Buildings (January 2021) Lanao Promenade (January 2021) Tinatayang nasa P60.506 bilyon ang pondo ng Marawi rehab kung saan P47.387 billion ang sa LAA, at P13.118 para sa MAA. Nasa P22.240 billion pa lamang ang naipalalabas — P15.522 billion sa LAA, at P6.717 billion sa MAA.” ALI G. MACABALANG

Opinion

Ijtihad WITH MEHOL K. SADAIN

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ducation as a method has been defined as the process of teaching and learning in an established system. The system may range from one-on-one tutoring to classroom instruction to laboratory or shopwork, to distance mentoring, and now, to online teaching. Whatever the method used, education is simply a transfer of knowledge. These days, however, the transfer is not as simple. The pursuit of education that we used to take in stride has become a challenge, not just in developing mastery, but also in searching for connectivity.

Apart from subject contents which have been increasingly modularized, the recent change consists in setting up the necessary hardware and software components of online schooling (which can be expensive for many students and schools alike) and establishing reliable and consistent network

connectivity. The former can sometimes be meticulously tortuous, while the latter is often frustrating, especially in a country which has one of the lowest megabits per second bandwidth.

The pandemic, however, has given us no choice except to digitalize education in virtual classroom scenarios, where the teacher can lecture, and the students can listen, from their respective homes, instead of meeting physically. Classrooms can now be created, presentation materials uploaded, and discussions done, online; and the vital requirement is both teacher and students can simultaneously access the internet. In a country like the Philippines, the challenge is real, and exists even in urban centers where there are blind spots or areas where the connectivity is weak or nil.

Schools have been forced to adapt to these educational changes, and confront the

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

EDUCATION AS A CHALLENGE corresponding challenges that online schooling entails. Making things even more difficult is the projected decrease in enrollment this year due to financial difficulties, thus adversely affecting the operational viability of many schools. According to recent government data in the Philippines, 30% of students will not be able to enroll this schoolyear, and around 440 schools will not open.

The bigger, wealthier and adequately subsidized schools, colleges and universities may have managed these changes and challenges well into the initial months of classes. But they still have to contend with operational exigencies, like weak connectivity and impaired online access, which will definitely impair the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.

Among the Muslims, one of the hardest hit educational institutions are the madaris or religious schools that operate the traditional way in both teaching methodology and

t is not only objectionable but a taboo to feature the Beauty of Muslim women in Digital Online Muslim newspaper like the Philippine Muslim today whose mandate is to disseminate wholesome information to Muslim clientele and not to spread out the beauty of Muslim women as what glamour magazine or newspaper with a lifestyle section are doing.

Hence, I can recall my true to life experience while assigned as a News Reporter for People's Television (PTV4) the beauty pageants like Binibining Pilipinas and the Mutya ng Pilipinas, Miss Asia Pacific International, etc. at the now Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City and other venues. Almost all provinces in the Philippines have their contestants in the Beauty Pageant.

Obviously there is no contestant from among the Mus-

lim provinces not because they cannot send a beautiful contestant for the beauty pageant but because of some restrictions that a Muslim candidate cannot just indulge in.

One of these is the wearing of swimsuit where contestants are obliged to wear a one piece or 2-piece swimsuit while doing a fashion show in order to show to the Board of Judges the contour of their bodies or vital statistics.

In a nutshell, no Muslim women who adhere to the true teachings of Islam would dare to perform a fashion show in a 2-piece bathing suit and covered live by a national television that is beamed throughout the world especially when it is an international beauty pageant like the Ms. Universe, Ms. World, Ms. Asia Pacific International, etc.

I have came across with the first Muslim woman to win the Miss Asia Pacific International crown. But I am sorry I failed to cover her as

course contents. It is a pity that many of them cannot meet face-to-face in actual classroom settings due to the pandemic restrictions, and neither can they meet online due to financial limitations of both the madaris and their students. It is a pity that they cannot operate, as many of them have indeed opted to go on a forced break for lack of necessary resources.

This, in spite the many exhortations in the Qur’an about acquisition of knowledge: “And say O my Lord, increase me in knowledge!” (20:114) “And whoever is given knowledge is indeed given abundant wealth.” (2:269) “Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge to high degrees.” (58:11) The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) reiterated the value of acquiring knowledge in the following wise: “He who goes forth in search of knowledge is in the Way of Allah until he returns” (Tirmidhi 39:2) and

“The seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon all Muslims” (Bhq. Msh. 2).

The madaris must be able to transcend this latest hurdle, as it has done so with past hurdles, which include the unfinished business of upgrading its curriculum so that it is able to respond to the needs of the contemporary Muslim. The ability and capability to operate uninterruptedly, as well as reform continuously, will ensure the educational relevance of the madaris to the Ummat ulMuslimeen, and its fidelity to the concept of education prescribed by the Noble Qur’an and preached by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Urgent educational challenges now confront our school institutions. In the case of the madaris, these challenges have grown more imperative and more multifarious. It is time they respond so the Muslims continue to be gifted with abundant wealth (khayran khaseeraa) and knowledge of a high degree (‘ilma daraajat). (MKS)

Objectionable and Taboo to Feature Muslim Women in Beauty Pageant

WITH JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

I

A3

among the winners of the Mutya ng Pilipinas in 2018 since I was no longer assigned as Television News Reporter at that time but I was performing my Tour of Duty as Station Manager of PTV-4 in Cotabato City.

Anyway there are so many good stories about this first Muslim woman winner of the Miss Asia Pacific International who bagged the Crown in 2018.

I am referring to the tall and tan lovely Muslim native of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat Province, and Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018 Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel is the first Muslim woman to win the Miss Asia Pacific International crown in history.

Being part of the Muslim Ummah, a Filipino Muslim and Qatari father and wearing a swimsuit in a beauty pageant presented its own set of challenges for Sharifa Akeel.

The then 21-year-old Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018 also bagged the Miss Asia Pacific International crown, giving the

Philippines its first win in the 2018 pageant since 1993.

When Sharifa Akeel won the Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty title, she started of experiencing “Cyberbullying,” instead of being congratulated for the honor she has brought to the Muslim community.

She admitted of being not stranger anymore to cyberbullying, recalling how she experienced a lot of bashing especially on her Facebook page since she started joining beauty pageants at the age of 19.

“The bashing hurts, especially because it came from my brothers and sisters in the Muslim community,” Akeel said.

Sharifa Akeel critics did not know that joining beauty contests was something she did, not for herself, “but for the whole country.” It was a way to give the Muslim Ummah a better representation, she added.

She said her critics were even using the Islam religion to attack her, especially

"when I wore a swimsuit." All I wanted (to do) was erase the stigma that we, Muslims, have been portrayed in the media as killers, bad persons and terrorists. I am proud to say that we are compassionate and kindhearted,” Akeel said.

This Batanes To TawiTawi column has no moral ascendancy to criticize Ms. Sharifa Akeel of what she did during the beauty pageant like wearing 2-piece bathing suit in a fashion show. She said all she wanted was to erase the stigma against us Muslims of being labeled as bad Muslims. I appreciate for what Ms. Sharifa Akeel is doing for the sake of the bringing honor to Muslims.

However, if my unsolicited advice is being asked for, I will tell her thank you so much for your efforts to erase the stigma against us Muslims.

But never mind please don't wear a 2-piece bathing suit while having a fashion show.

Be that as it may this can no JANNARAL | A8

Opinion

A4

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

D

ue to the latest interruption in my internet connection, I ran out of time to beat the deadline for writing and submission of this column and important news articles.

Thus, I opted for

this shortest column I have ever written in my over four decades of media practice.

Public officials need to observe delicadeza in holding office. When their honesty and efficiency have be-

Diliman Way With

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

Need for Delicadeza in governance come a question in their domains, public officials should step down.

This advocacy is especially directed to DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario as chairman of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).

Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, Marawi rehabilitation csar. (File)

Presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Roa Duterte: A Comparison

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA (First of 2 Parts)

“

Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country.

It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” - President Theodore Roosevelt President Trump of America and Duterte of the Philippines are two very interesting politicians. They are not run of the mill. They are political aberrations in an otherwise traditional landscape. They defy normal classification.

They appear complex to a number of people but when you listen to them and watch their body language, they are as transparent as a glass of water from a mountain spring.

Narcissism and lust: They are both astoundingly narcissistic. They are involved in one unchanging romance throughout their lives up to this point in time – romance with themselves. They both lust for women and treat women as their playthings.

In Duterte’s own words, women are just a matter of biology. In the world of

Trump, all he needs to do is touch women in the right places and the rest will just follow. And this Trump admission is well documented in videotape.

They are both intractable since they only believe in themselves. If you are a member of their Cabinet, you are as good as long as you agree with the master. If you don’t agree with the lord, you are likely to end up in the cold. They both praise their subordinates as the best and the brightest with the both of them giving the impression that the President is the best and the brightest of them all.

Their cabinet secretaries and high ranking officials sing hosannas to them like parrots in a cage.

Both of them have a bagful of braggadocio as though they are the only ones who know the world and their fellow human beings. They curse as fast as they open their mouth. They demonize and insult their opponents and those who do not agree with them. They behave as though they are authorities on the Chinese corona virus better than scientists.

Trump does not even wear a mask and encourages his followers and other Americans not to wear mask.

Trump thinks the Chinese corona virus is not deadly even if almost two hundred thousand Americans are dead from the inception of the pandemic until this day and about six million Americans are infected.

Duterte on the other hand

like a non-believer in science has an Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Chinese corona virus with generals and lawyers as majority members as though the pandemic is a legal and security problem.

Thus, both of them have disasters in the management of the Chinese corona virus.

Both Trump and Duterte appear not to believe in science. They do not believe in climate change, thus there is no science in their madness.

Racism, cults and Hitlerism: Both of them are accused of being racists. Trump is the more scandalous in his racism. He believes in the superiority of the white American as against the colored members of mankind – red, yellow, black and brown. He refuses to denounce the Ku Klux Klan and similar fanatics and fanatical organizations.

Duterte’s racism is subdued. By his words and actions, he gives the impression that the Chinese are a better race than the Filipino. That’s understandable because he claims his grandfather is Chinese. He even flirts with the idea that the Philippines should be a province of China, though when with a completely Filipino audience he is quick enough to say that it is merely a joke, probably to tickle the fancy of the powerful Chinese community in this country.

Both of them, by their words and action, give the impression that they are the disciples of Adolf Hitler. Why? Hitler guided by his propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels, had developed lying as an art. The first principle of lying as an art is couched in

the following statement – “A lie said once remains a lie. A lie repeated many times becomes the truth.” If you listen to Trump and Duterte implementing the Goebbels principle in their speeches, you will be amazed at the reaction of approval from their audiences.

On serious reflection, one should not really be amazed.

Why? Both leaders have grown a cult in their respective country, without even trying. Cults exist where there is ignorance, innocence, laziness to think, and opportunism. You examine the fanatical followers of both leaders you will easily find these types among their base – not in thousands but in millions.

Minority President and oratory: Duterte and Trump are minority Presidents. They did not get the majority of the votes cast during their election. Duterte won by sixteen million votes as against more than twenty-two million votes cast for his opponents. Trump lost by more than two million votes to his opponent, Hillary Clinton. So why is Trump president when he lost by two million votes? In America, the popular votes are only important in winning in every state so the presidential candidate who wins in a state gets the electoral votes. It is the electoral votes that determine who becomes President in America, not the totality of all the popular votes cast in the whole country.

Both are not good orators but they are good communicators. They both meander in their speeches but the crowds lap them up like tasty food in a birthday party. They crack jokes which come natu-

rally to both men, even green ones. Most of the time, the two jokers are wild and the wilder they are, the more they are applauded. But in so far as jokes are concerned, Duterte outsmarts Trump in any day.

Promises and impeachment: Duterte and Trump are good in making political promises but slow in honoring them. Their followers remain loyal to both men and offer excuses from the irrational to the ridiculous.

They are both perceived as strong men – meaning dictators or with dictatorial temperament. They are not known to honor their respective Constitution. If at all they honor the Constitution, they honor it by their breach rather than by their performance, as the saying goes.

Both are guilty of committing impeachable offenses but they can never be impeached.

Why? They both control their respective House of Representative where impeachment process begins. Without an approved articles of impeachment coming the House, the impeachment process ends.

Duterte is even in a better position than Trump because he also controls the Senate.

Even assuming a miracle happens in America and its House of Representatives approves an article of impeachment Trump still cannot be convicted because it takes two thirds vote of all the members of the Senate to convict him. The Democrats control the Senate by a two-vote majority and it takes sixty-seven votes to convict him which is a stellar parallax from conviction.

(To be continued)

Opinion

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

A5

My two-cents

Rx

WITH BENJ S. BANGAHAN, M.D., FPCP, FPCCP a number of peoQuite 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

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-

BY Abdul Hannan Magarang Tago

I

missed my weekly piece for the last two weeks not because of lack of interesting issue, but I was merely busy fixing my residence at the most affected area (MAA) in Tolali, Marawi City.

Like any victim of the popular Marawi Siege in 2017, the situation is totally different when I was still in Saudi Arabia as OFW from 19922016.

We’re almost back to zero despite the fact that my home is still intact. And to repair a luxury vehicle is almost the same with purchasing a simple model.

Yes, looting took place before and after the liberation. We have seen some incidents during the clearing

HURRY!

operation by our troops trying to open doors by force and that what exactly happened to all my doors including the main gate.

Our main gate unique design was originally from Saudi Arabia. We brought with us decoration from there and the whole work was done here in Cagayan De Oro City.

Now, not only my doors were broken by force the other side of my expensive gate was gone and the only option is to order — under financial constraints — a new local design main gate. A total of 14 doors and a main gate need replacement and total repair.

Many IDPs are now living in Sagongsongan Shelters and getting assistance from

The heartburn feeling 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 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.

Marawi displaced-returnees with empty hand to repair their homes the government. Some others opted to live somewhere or what they termed homebased IDPs. They do get assistance but in our case, we have been living in the capital as renter.

May be for the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) we don’t deserve to have shelter too like many IDPs. That was the direct answer to me by TFBM head, Secretary, Eduardo Del Rosario when I requested one for my family.

“Titira ka ba doon?,” (Are you going to live there?), the official told me.

This clear denial statement indicates that; first the housing is not up to my expectation or to give priority to those IDPs loyal to the local government unit (LGU) for the political gain.

Now we are allowed to return to our district within the MAA with empty hand, nothing from the government or the TFBM any financial assistance for the returnees to start with — may be to repair at least the stolen doors and main gates.

Instead we underwent all LGUs strict requirements not free. We have to pay almost every paper.

Thanks to the quick response of Lasureco (Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative) to provide electricity power.

We did also submit all requirements including the occupancy permit again from the LGU. How about the water system.

Before, we did have water pump in my residence to gen-

erate water. The expensive water pump did not spare from the looting.

With all promises and the budget being released according to a source, there is no any water project so far in the area.

As such, we have to make our own while people in Sagongsongan enjoy free electricity as far I know, and water being provided by TFBM. How about the road that we expected to see before returning.

Then TFBM head needs our support for his confirmation by CA and with all these legal reasons and the very slow move in the rehabilitation, IDPs would not show sympathy.

ABDUL HANNAN MAGARANG TAGO

This is the last call for those interested to become incorporators of Muslimedia.PH, the owner and publisher of phiippine muslim Tofay. You may call 09152184388 or write to: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com

Opinion

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Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

An International Bill of Rights and Obligations of States A Proposal Towards the Promotion of Peace and the Prevention of War*

Atty. NASSER MAROHOMSALIC Former Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines; and Former Governor for Western Mindanao of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines

W

ar is a supremely socialistic activity.

[1] In times past, tribes and nations from both sides of the hemisphere bound in their asabia[2] or commonality rose to military power, undertook conquest and expanded their dominions or built empires.

Anatomy of War The causes of war are manifold as man’s dispositions. Men waged war for the acquisition of territory, markets or raw materials,[3] which economic reasons actuated Imperial Japan into conquest that brought forth World War II. Others, like the European nobility who led the Holy Crusades to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims, are driven by prestige and power, [4] including the promise of their accession to new political titles for vainglory. Still others, sucked in their messi-

T

he underlying story behind the recurring itch claw on the Sabah claims issue whenever the urge become too overwhelmingly irresistible too itchy to let go, is drown all other issues; Philhealth investigations as much as heavy borrowings in trillions would be issues best kept dead.

So why not divert attention, make it more dead by keeping alive dormant issues like ‘near war’ scenario with neighbor Malaysia?

It worked during which time Marcos while instituting reign of terror harness in full martial law powers, bought off people everywhere, silenced everyone including perhaps the UN, or why would institutions like the UN remain mum despite war crimes, heinous crimes indiscriminately committed as a matter of pursuit and with impunity, with UN herself say not a whimper?

Too much too greater the pain whenever resulting ends redound on us the expendables, innocent victims in Mindanao’s perennial warring.

There is tumult by and large power gripping, or grabbing? Each with gold and silver lining, the game play is

anic complex as were the religious zealots of Ancient and Medieval Times and the fascists, ultranationalists and supremacists of contemporary history, embarked on war and conquest to secure people from the morass of their belief system and embedded their own in the psyche of the conquered. Also, in the pursuit of realpolitik and containment as was the case behind America’s interventionism in Vietnam, Korea, Iran, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, men waged war against a country and adopt measures to stunt its growth and development and forestall thereby its becoming a rival sovran partaking of the privileges of power, including the spread of its sphere of influence and ideology.

Observed Millis and Real in their book, The Abolition of War, “War is a social institu-

tion, a rather special form of the organization of violence, developed by man precisely because he is a man.”[5] In brief, it is man’s inheritance to get violent and subdue weaker souls or exhibit destructive egotistical predilection towards his fellow men. Ethologistsare blinded to the idea that man is shaped by circumstances of his experiences and environment, as geneticists are drawn to their science of heredity to explain man’s disposition.

An Islamic Concept Antedating this intellectual discourse is Islam’s concept of man’s nature as component of two (2) dimensions: The physical or material and the spiritual. Where he tends more to his material pedigree, he debases himself and draws from his instinctive desire to propitiate his ego and physical needs, foregoing his

spiritual dimension or inheritance that subsumes his ego to a greater identity, Mankind. Where he serves only himself, he becomes an outlier.

The question therefore is: Can man reclaim his belongingness to his spiritual realm, that bigger part of his identity, The Humankind, where as a social corporate, his ego is a part, and if and when a part aches, the whole body suffers? Thus, man as a part of the collective has to rationalize his affairs for the greater good of the body politic, which, in the lexicon of Islam is called, The Ummah or the Community.

Man the Recusant “War is all hell,” said Sherman, a general of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. But history teaches that man’s recusancy and truculence knows no bound, and political and military leaders have had walked the stage and led their countries to war against other countries, their avidity for warfare and mass murder not befitting their human nature but that of some wilding.

To this day, the proponents of the two world systems, Communism and Capi-

The Sabah Claims issues

By AMINULLAH ALONTO LUCMAN how power can wrest be tacitly kept, it is the aim and the game is power no matter who gets hurt.

Sabah by her wit and inherent treasure have to herself people with heads spinning wanting her for her oil, and why not?

Marcos was so sure in 1968 Sabah was almost in the bag. Unknown to many, Marcos had Indonesian generals in his upkeep helping him make diabolic lusting for Sabah, a reality. Malaysia was well aware of the danger she faced, but she had a leader in Tengku Abdulrahman, a brave royal prince.

Then and then, Malaysia had Moros in her ward who by accident was drawn over to the mayhem. A group of Moro youth from Sulu had been recruited previously to be vanguard invasion army make the Marcos greed take Sabah forcibly, a rousing reality satisfy uncalled vanity.

All of which youthful unsuspecting Moro boys perished in the infamous Corregidor massacre incident in

1968. Ordered all of them killed by Marcos, however, two got away, one was Jibin Arula who spilled the bean on

the Sabah invasion.

This was our issue, they killed our boys, our gov’t their murderers!

talism, have been carrying on their rivalry for world domination through proxy or limited or strategic war and by other means of violence and stratagems, including assassination, gunboat diplomacy, interdiction, siege and embargo.

The International Order In the aftermath of the First World War (1914-1918), countries organized the League of Nations to promote diplomacy in the settlement of conflict between countries and prevent war. But the body failed due to the absence of the United States in the organization and its lack of army to enforce peace, among others. Twenty-one years later, World War II (1939-1945) broke out. In its wake came the United Nations with elaborate structures and the same mandates as the League of Nations. But, largely, the international organization did not go far in settling conflicts, for not critically altering for the better normative standards in the conduct of international relations. In fact, it left untouched the principle of equality of states and the supremacy of its sovereignty which provide MAROHOMSALIC | A10

Malaysia faced peril of losing Sabah indeed, and us Moros? Marcos murdered our boys.

This was our twin issues that incinerated Mindanao in wars that has yet to end. Of course, we share same disdain with Malaysia against the Marcos gov’t. Everybody in the world knew, none objected. Nobody in the world insinuate we are in the wrong, or say we are rightly in line with what the UN say is self-preservation, defending self.

There neither was word to stop us or word to encourage us, really weird.

But there now nonetheless are foreign officials of high esteem, Philippines’ foreign secretary Teddyboy Locsin and Hishammuddin Hussein, the foreign affairs minister of Malaysia, exchanging incendiary barbs over Sabah, like he says she says, as though ‘not knowing’ of once times in 1968 of near war scenes Malaysia and the Philippines almost to have engaged in ‘real warring’ over from what they crackle to do ‘again’ with Sabah.

Well, ask for the Sabahan people. They own Sabah. (AAL)

News Birth registration needed in Islam: Bangsamoro Mufti GUIDELINES ON BIRTH REGISTRATION IN ISLAM BARED JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

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Bangsamoro gov’t starts 2nd wave of Covid-19 relief aid in Ranaw region

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

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ARAWI CITY: BARMM’s Project TABANG allots 300,000 sacks of rice for Marawi City and the rest of the municipalities of Lanao del Sur

Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abuhuraira A. Udasan. (BPI-BARMM Photo)

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OTABATO CITY: Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abuhuraira A. Udasan emphasized the significance in Islam of the issuance of birth certificates for newly born children.

During the launching of the campaign “So Ngalan Ko, Kawagib Ko” (My Name, My Right) on Wednesday, September 16, at Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Mufti Udasan underscored the Islamic guidelines with regard to birth registration.

“Parents have to remember the importance of instant issuance of birth certificates for newly born children. In fact, Islam views it as direly needed required for varied purposes and occasions,” Udasan said.

He did not however mentioned if the dates for birth registration shall include the Hijri calendar which is the Islamic lunar calendar.

The following are some of the Islamic guidelines related to birth registration mentioned by Mufti Udasan: 1. Affirmation of the precise date of birth of the child which will be required for the preservation of his/her true lineage and ancestry from both parents. This is to be processed by proper certification and documentation of the birth of the child.

2. Upon the child’s growth to the age of enrolment to educational institutions from primary up to university level, authentic birth certificate is absolutely required for the child’s official registration.

3. On travelling abroad for the pursuance of higher education and other circumstantial purposes birth certificate to be availed for the application of passport, health certificate and other legal documents.

4. On entering into a contract such as commercial transactions and other social dealings. According to the law of inheritance authentic documents are direly needed in asserting and attesting the heir’s right to inherit from the wealth of the parents from other members of the family circle.

To support and strengthen this campaign, the Bangsamoro Government’s Regional Darul Ifta (RDI) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the Islamic Relief Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among three Municipalities of Maguindanao.

These are the municipalities of Datu Piang, Datu Hoffer and Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

Due to decades of struggles of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao, securing of identification and registration of birth certificate was absent in those mentioned municipalities.

The birth registration, being a fundamental right, ensures that a person’s rights are upheld—a foundation for achieving sustained human and economic development.

PSA-BARMM Director Razulden Mangelen said that based on United Nations (UN) Article 7, “a child shall be registered immediately after the birth, and shall have the right to have a name, the right to acquire a nationality, as far as possible.”

Meanwhile, Sittie Najidah Montud, Officer-in-Charge Country Director said, “the Islamic Relief of the Philippines would facilitate the registration of 2,000 community residents across the project areas with the respective office of the Municipal Registrar through the support of PSA-BARMM.” “My name, My right” is anchored to social justice, a core value of Islamic Relief as one of its contents. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Bangsamoro Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali B. Solaiman, 3rd from right, and Maranao leaders in a meeting. (File) Project TABANG, or the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan, has allotted 300,000 sacks of rice for Marawi City and the rest of the municipalities in Lanao del Sur as it started its second wave of relief operation to residents affected by the coronavirus crisis in the Province of Lanao del Sur. As of September 21, a total of 13,912 sacks of rice were already distributed to 22 barangays in Marawi, including Barangay Sagonsongan where internally displaced persons from the Most Affected Area (MAA) during the Marawi siege are sheltered.

Among the beneficiary barangays also include Bito Buadi Itowa, Bito Buadi Parba, Bubong Lumbac, Bubong Pagalamatan, Bubonga Punud, Emie Punud, Miphaga, Rorogagus Eastphase 1 & 2, Rorogagus

Proper, and Somiorang from Cluster 6; and Bangco, Cabasaran, Dulay Proper, Dulay West, Lilod Guimba, Malimono, Matampay Kormatan, Pantaon, Papandayan, Papandayan Caniogan and Tolali from Cluster 7.

Members of the Parliament (MP) from Ranaw region, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali B. Solaiman, led the said relief operation in the city.

Solaiman was represented by Salahudin Bin Hamza, head of Project TABANG’s Ranaw Region Management Team and chief-of-staff of MP Abdullah Macapaar.

“This Covid-19 crisis will not hinder us in helping our fellow Bangsamoro people.

Project TABANG has allotted 300,000 sacks of rice to Marawi and will deliver them to each barangay,” said Bin Hamza.

Bin Hamza and his team

led today a house-to-house distribution to 2,500 families in barangays Matampay and Tampilong.

Each family received 25 kilos of rice.

“Malaking tulong ang rice assistance na ito.

Nakakapag-pagaan sa pasanin ng mga mamamayan na dulot ng health crisis na nararanasan ngayon,” said Matampay Barangay Chairman Mohammad Jaafar C. Casanguan.

Matampay barangay local government unit (BLGU) and barangay peacekeeping action team ( BPAT) also assisted during the relief operation.

TABANG’s second wave of relief operation in Marawi is on top of Bangsamoro Government’s other assistance in keeping with its commitment to assist its constituents during the pandemic. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

PEZA, SPDA to develop ecozones in Lanao Sur

I

LIGAN CITY: THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Southern Philippine Development Authority (SPDA) entered into a partnership to develop special economic zones in Lanao del Sur. In a statement on Monday, PEZA said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last week approves the creation of economic zones in the province, as well as an agro-industrial development on a 24,000hectare site in the municipali-

ties of Wao and Bumbaran.

In the MOU, the two parties are to fast-track the development of economic zones in priority areas, whether in properties controlled by the SPDA or those co-developed with other government agencies or the private sector.

PEZA is an agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) tasked to promote investments, extend assistance, register, grant incentives to and facilitate the business

operations of investors in export-oriented manufacturing and service facilities inside selected areas throughout the country proclaimed by the President of the Philippines as PEZA Special Economic Zones.

It oversees and administers incentives to developers/ operators of and locators in world-class, ready-to-occupy, environment-friendly secured and competitively priced Special Economic Zones.

MASIDING NOOR YAHYA/Muslimedia.PH

News

A8

BTA calls PNP, NBI to fast track Kabacan massacre probe

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL | Managing Editor

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OTABATO CITY: The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is urging the law enforcers like the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Commission on

Human Rights (CHR) to fast track the investigation regarding the massacre of nine civilians in Kabacan, Cotabato Province via a resolution approved on Thursday, September 17.

PROTEST RALLY. Concerned Moros hold a protest rally on the broad daylight carnage of nine Moro farmers in Kabacan, Cotabato province. (PMT file photo by Ali G. Macabalang) The Proposed Resolution No. 302 strongly condemns the massacre of nine civilians in Kabacan, Cotabato Province, that occurred on August 29, 2020 around noon time near the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

“The BTA needs to have a stand regarding the massacre in Kabacan,” Member of Parliament (MP) lawyer Paisalin Tago, the principal author of the resolution, said.

The said resolution also respectfully urges the PNP, NBI, and CHR to fast track the investigation as well as bring the perpetrators to justice, as proposed by MP Jose Lorena.

MP Deputy Speaker Hatimil Hassan, lawyer Nabil Tan, Alim Ali, Eduardo Guerra, Mohammad Yacob, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, Lorena, Abraham Burahan, Abdullah Hashim, Dr. Marjanie

Macasalong, Alim Shiek, Suharto Ambolodto, and lawyer Ubaida Pacasem coauthored the said resolution.

Lawyer Maisara Damdamun-Latiph, Princess Maleiha Candao, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Diamila Ramos, Nabila Pangandaman, Ali Salik, Amilbahar Mawallil, Rasol Mitmug, Dr. Susana Anayatin, Alim Mujahid, Abduladzis Esmael, Eddie Alih, lawyer Lanang Ali Jr., Ziaur Alonto-Adiong, Mohagher Iqbal, and lawyer Omar Yasser Sema, are also coauthors of the Proposed Resolution.

“Because of its necessity, we have to approve this. It reflects our dignity, our culture, and us as human beings and Bangsamoro people,” Tago stated.

The Bangsamoro Government has released a statement regarding the said mas-

sacre on August 30, 2020.

“These senseless violent acts have no place in a progressive society, especially at a time when people are in grip of a global pandemic. We want justice,” the statement affirmed.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod "Al Haj Murad" Ebrahim also assigned public order and safety minister MP Hussein Munoz to lead the investigation.

Fifty-four MPs attended the session via online teleconferencing.

Meanwhile, only 15 individuals are allowed inside its Executive Lounge during the session.

This included Majority Floor Leader Lanang Ali Jr., the Speaker of the Day MP Omar Yasser Sema, and BTA Secretary General Prof. Raby Angkal and their respective staff.

(JIJ)

JANNARAL | From page A3

Objectionable and Taboo to Feature Muslim Women longer be avoided being part of the beauty pageant.

According to the Ulama like Aleem Said Ahmad Basher, a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, Islamic teachings prohibit women to show too much skin like the wearing of a 2piece where the woman in reality wears only a "panty and bra."

In fact, Aleem Basher said a Muslima is even prescribed that they cover up by wearing the “hijab” (head covering) as a sign of modesty and protection.

In fact in Miss New Zealand-Universe pageant, one of the finalists was 20-yearold Malaysian Muslim Nurul Shamsul, who was allowed to wear a hijab.

As a Muslim, Sharifa Akeel is familiar with religious and cultural practices associated with Islam.

“I personally see the swimsuit as a piece of art. Nothing wrong with that. Allah (God) knows what is inside my heart,” said Akeel, an elementary education graduate of Notre Dame of Salaman College in Lebak, Sultan

Kudarat.

She emphasized being a beauty queen had always been her childhood dream, wherein she has joined eight beauty contests so far.

Still, she admitted, she asks forgiveness every single day, and prays that her intentions would remain pure, and that her bashers would understand her intentions.

“Please just let me do this.

Let me promote my advocacy because I want to live with a purpose,” Sharifa Akeel emphasized. JIJ

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

19 of 39 OCM-BARMM employees recover from Covid-19

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OTABATO CITY: Nineteen of 39 infected employees of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have already recovered from coronavirus (Covid-19) disease, a regional official announced on Tuesday.

“We are expecting more recoveries in the coming days as soon as the remaining active cases complete their 14-day quarantine,” BARMM’s Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) on Covid-19 spokesperson Asnin Pendatun said on a virtual presser here.

He said the remaining 20 OCM employees were still completing their quarantine at the BARMM’s Covid-19 facility in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The Bureau of Public Information (BPI) earlier said BARMM’s Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan and his wife also recovered from the virus.

23 new cases Pendatun said the BIATF has recorded 23 new cases as of Monday around the region.

He said 20 of the new cases are from Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, two in Tawi-Tawi, and one in Maguindanao.

Since March this year, a total of 941 confirmed cases were recorded with 719 recoveries, 186 active cases, and 36 deaths indicating a three percent (3%) fatality ratio, Pendatun said.

Pendatun also pointed out that of the 186 active cases, 62.9 percent are asymptomatic, mild cases (32.3 percent); severe cases (3.2 percent); and critical cases (1.6 percent).

ALI G. MACABALANG

Bangsamoro gov’t starts 2nd wave of Covid-19 relief aid in Ranaw region

M

ARAWI CITY: Project TABANG, or the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan, has allotted 300,000 sacks of rice for Marawi City and the rest of the municipalities in Lanao del Sur as it started its second wave of relief operation to residents affected by the coronavirus crisis in the Province of Lanao del Sur. As of September 21, a total of 13,912 sacks of rice were already distributed to 22 barangays in Marawi, including Barangay Sagonsongan where internally displaced persons from the Most Affected Area (MAA) during the Marawi siege are sheltered.

Among the beneficiary barangays also include Bito Buadi Itowa, Bito Buadi Parba, Bubong Lumbac, Bubong Pagalamatan, Bubonga Punud, Emie Punud, Miphaga, Rorogagus Eastphase 1 & 2, Rorogagus Proper, and Somiorang from Cluster 6; and Bangco, Cabasaran, Dulay Proper, Dulay West, Lilod Guimba, Malimono, Matampay Kormatan, Pantaon, Papandayan, Papandayan Caniogan and Tolali from Cluster 7.

Members of the Parliament (MP) from Ranaw region, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali B. Solaiman, led the said relief operation in the city.

Solaiman was represented by Salahudin Bin Hamza, head of Project TABANG’s Ranaw Region Management Team and chief-of-staff of MP Abdullah Macapaar.

“This Covid-19 crisis will not hinder us in helping our fellow Bangsamoro people. Project TABANG has allotted 300,000 sacks of rice to Marawi and will deliver them to each barangay,” said Bin Hamza.

Bin Hamza and his team led today a house-to-house distribution to 2,500 families in barangays Matampay and Tampilong. Each family received 25 kilos of rice.

“Malaking tulong ang rice assistance na ito. Nakakapagpagaan sa pasanin ng mga mamamayan na dulot ng health crisis na nararanasan ngayon,” said Matampay Barangay Chairman Mohammad Jaafar C. Casanguan.

Matampay barangay local government unit (BLGU) and barangay peacekeeping action team ( BPAT) also assisted during the relief operation.

TABANG’s second wave of relief operation in Marawi is on top of Bangsamoro Government’s other assistance in keeping with its commitment to assist its constituents during the pandemic.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

News Popcom slams Senate for stalling teen pregnancy bills

By Multimedia.PH

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ANILA: The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) has slammed the Senate of the Philippines for not immediately acting on the discussions about the proposed bill on the prevention of teen pregnancy.

In a statement, POCOM said the fate and the future of more than 60,000 young girls have been left in a precarious state, as the leadership of the Senate decided to delay the discussions on Senate Bill (SB) No. 1334, or the proposed “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act,” which seeks to fully and appropriately address the alarming prevalence of teenage pregnancies nationwide.

“We need to address minor parents’ lack of access to family planning services,” Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, POPCOM executive director, asserted.

“POPCOM believes it is high time for our lawmakers to acknowledge the glaring fact that the numbers of minors who are becoming vulnerable to social and economic pressures, on top of their health needs, are escalating yearly,” Perez said.

Perez said that if passed into law, SB 1334 will greatly benefit minor girls who are already mothers and those who are currently conceiving, as it will enable their unimpeded access to reproductive health programs, as well as age-and development-appropriate education and information on sexual health and family planning.

The POPCOM’s executive director said that the government agency has been relentlessly campaigning with policymakers, including Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros —principal sponsor of SB 1334—to address the needs of an increasing number of minors who have been giving birth since 2013. This, despite the hampered implementation of the Supreme Court (SC)’s ruling in April 2014 of the implementation of Republic Act No. 10354, or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, which was declared as “not unconstitutional.”

The SC ruling, however, struck down a part of the RPRH Law which would provide access to family planning services to minors below 18 or young girls who are already mothers or are currently pregnant, as it declared that it is the role of their parents to give consent to the adolescents’ use of artificial or natural methods of contraception.

The number of adolescents who gave birth have increased, “with only a marginal decline,” according to Perez, “because of various efforts in-place, which still require broader policy support—including budget and resources.”

In 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the country had 62,341 minors who delivered babies— counting those with repeated pregnancies. That same year, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia sounded the alarm on the glaring incidences of teenage pregnancy, which he said had already reached a level of being a “national social emergency.” The National Economic and Development Authority even cited the occurrence as “a drag on the Philippines’ economic growth,” as it has identified existing evidence on social and economic impact.

Perez explained that with this national social emergency, POPCOM is extending support to comprehensive sexuality education, or CSE. This ensures that public and private schools, as avenues for development, will provide young people a supportive environment where they have access to age- and development-appropriate information on responsible parenthood and reproductive health, as stated in Rule 11 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the RPRH Law. “The public, as well as our solons, should now be cognizant of the fact that families started by minors year-in and year-out, especially the young mothers who have experienced repeat pregnancies, are the real beneficiaries of the RPRH Law,” the POPCOM chief explained. “It will be further complemented and supported by SB No. 1334 if eventually enacted, as both will provide necessary protection to our young mothers who now have become among those most vulnerable in Philippine society.” (PR)

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

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Lawmaker wants e-scooter riders to get LTO permits, permanent recording of traffic violations

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

I

ligan City lone district representative Frederick Siao wants riders of electric scooters to get permits from the Land

Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure they have basic knowledge and understanding of laws on road safety.

Iligan City lone district representative Frederick Siao.

In a statement, Siao, author of House Bill 1987 or the Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act, said that electric scooters can be deadly if the driver is irresponsible or incompetent.

“Electric scooters are motorized and can speed up faster than bicycles. Permits should be a requirement prior to purchase of electric scooters,” Siao said.

“LTO permits should be required for those who own, use, or buy electric scooters since these scooters can be just as deadly as bicycles if driven irresponsibly,” he added.

The Department of Transportation is currently drafting a memorandum circular that will oversee over all kinds of electric vehicles in the country — including electric scooters and two-wheeled e-bikes.

Permanent recording of all traffic violations Siao also proposed the permanent electronic recording of all traffic violations and road safety incidents in every barangay, as well as establishing a national and barangay-based road safety incident recording and monitoring system.

“This will ensure that culpable individuals are held responsible of their actions,” he added.

“This system shall be linked to the LTO and LTFRB so these agencies can have a more comprehensive way to determine who should be given the privilege to drive on our country’s roads,” he said.

“Every day, we have many road crash incidents, hit-andrun, and traffic violations which are not recorded either on CCTV recordings or blotters. This means, those culpable are not held responsible,” he said in a written statement.

He cited as an example the recent hit-and-run incident that killed the nurse frontliner Renz Perez.

“Nabangga niya si Perez habang nagbibisikleta pero

imbes na tinulungan, tinakasan niya ang kawawang frontliner,” said Siao.

(He hit Perez, who was riding his bike, but instead of helping him, he left the poor frontliner.)

Not recording traffic violations and road safety incidents by the assigned enforcers and officials will be subject to administrative, civil, and criminal action.

LAWMAKER | A11

News

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MinDA rallies DavNor town reforestation drive

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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AVAO CITY: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has assured full support for the reforestation initiative of residents and stakeholders of Talaingod, a tribal town in Davao del Norte, painstakingly reeling for years from the ills of unregulated logging operation that had fueled communist insurgency in the locality.

DENUDED MOUNTAINS. Photos culled from a MinDA video showing Sec. Pinol, above, interviewing Talaingod Mayor Jhonnie Libayao, and an overview of barangay Sto. Nino’s denuded mountains, below. (AGM Photo) MinDA Secretary Manny Piñol expressed the assurance after spending lately an episode of his agency’s “Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao” informative tour in some areas of Davao del Norte, particularly Talaingod municipality.

Piñol and his team engaged residents and officials of Davao del Norte led by Governor Edwin Jubahib and Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao, who toured the visitors to various parts of the municipality, especially in vast maintain ranges that had been heavily logged over.

Gripped with 56.4 percent poverty incidence rate, Talaingod was created as town in 1991 and has an area of 74,000-hectares with a population of only 27,000 living in only three barangays, comprising mostly Ata-Manobo tribesmen. One of the three barangays is Sto Nino, which suffered the brunt of past irresponsible logging.

Sec. Piñol described what he witnessed as “a painful reminder of how tribal lands were stripped bare of forests trees by logging companies owned by the rich and powerful then abandoned leaving behind an impoverished people”.

In a statement, Piñol committed support to rally the local government units’ reforestation campaign through the Green Mindanao Project (GMP), a family-based tree farming program of MinDA for mass tree planting with highvalue crops as intercrop.

He said the GMP for Talaingod will involve a financing package from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to build nurseries and fund livelihood programs such as high-value vegetable farming.

An off-taker of the lumber produced from the tree farms will also be engaged to ensure the sustainability of the GMP, he added.

“When the logging company, C. Alcantara and Sons (ALSONS) which operated in the area for decades pulled out in the early the late 1990s, the communist New People’s Army (NPA) exploited the tribal people’s anger and penetrated the area, establishing the controversial Salugpongan School,” Piñol recalled.

He said that freeing the town from the grip of the NPA did not come easy “as it took the sacrifices of many lives,” among them the former mayor of the town, Datu Jose Libayao.

Reports said Gov. Edwin Jubahib, Mayor Jonnie Libayao, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines had led a team of volunteers in a treeplanting activity to reforest the town with endemic species

such as Narra, Molave, and Dao. High-value vegetable farming has also been introduced to tribal families who are now selling their produce to high-end establishments in Tagum and this city, Piñol said.

“Mayor Libayao, with the help of Governor Jubahib, is developing the tourism potentials of the town starting with the Uraya Peak, a high point near the highway which connects Talaingod to San Fernando town in Bukidnon,” he added.

Piñol noted that from the Uraya Peak, tourists could see the vast span of Davao del Norte, including the Island Garden City of Samal across the Davao channel.

In his tour of Talaingod town, Sec. Pinol and his team also huddled with AtaManobo residents on their daily life concerns.

Out of the huddles, the MinDA chairman conceived another agency program called “adopt-a-tribal family” program he meant for more affluent sectors and LGUs in Mindanao to adopt and assist the Ata-Manobo families. (AGM)

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

MAROHOMSALIC| From Page A6

An International Bill of Rights and Obligations of States member-states a way out from the reach of the judicial and investigatorial or administrative processes of the United Nations. Lacking real coercive power to enforce their order and decision, the judicial instruments of the Regime of International Law, such as, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, get projected more popularly as a paper tiger. Mandated to settle conflict between and among member-states and with authority to impose sanctions and use force to maintain international peace, the Security Council is a central agency of the United Nations. Sadly, it is stymied by the politics of its five (5) permanent members that are possessed of veto power.

Arrayed into two (2) antagonistic camps: The United States of America, the United Kingdom and France on one side, and China and Russia on the other side, they exercised their prerogative to foil each other’s interest in keeping with their opposing ideologies.

The International Bills of Rights of the United Nations – The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, The International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – only provide for the recognition by signatory states of the rights of their citizenry and are urged therein to do so by way of legislation and other measures. It is not a bill of rights and obligations of states in the conduct of foreign relations.

Indeed, under the present regime of international law, “Many today find it almost impossible even to conceive of a system of international relations not ultimately founded upon war.”[6] To echo the observation of Millis and Real, “War is a legally recognized activity…”[7] The United Nations has largely become a forum of speeches and propaganda of its membercountries.

The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War There is a need to touch up and pick up the United Nations without necessarily taking on the permanent members of its Security Council or bucking the status quo. And I refer to the introduction of an international covenant or an international treaty that defines the rights and obligations of states and put them on notice about the extent and limit of their actions between and among themselves. Efforts towards this end were started in 2013 in Seoul, Korea, by a nongovernment organization, The Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), chaired by the Venerable Man Hee Lee of South Korea. Renowned peace and interfaith advocates and international law experts the world over forged in 2018 a final draft of a document entitled, Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War. Notables from many countries have already appended their agreement to the proposed document for filing in the United Nations General Assembly. HWPL is still gathering more signatures. In a nutshell, the proposed bill of rights and obligations of states provides the following ten (10) provisions: Prohibit the threat or use of force Reduce war potential and repurpose weapons to benefit humanity Develop friendly relations and prohibit acts of aggression Prohibit coercion against internationally recognized state boundaries Ensure the right to self-determination of both people and states Settle international disputes through peaceful means Acknowledge the right to self-defense Foster religious freedom Promote peaceful coexistence among religious and ethnic groups Spread a culture of peace If passed by the United Nations and becomes an international treaty, protocols could be forged and appended thereto for its effective enforcement and the march towards world peace would go by in stride.

Or, better still, an International Bill of Rights and Obligations of States may be crafted and enacted by the United Nations within the formwork of The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War. Thank you. _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ *Delivered on the occasion of the launching of the First International Law Forum via ZOOM, sponsored by HWPL-Philippine Branch on September 18, 2020 [1]Walter Millis and James Real, The Obligation of War, Macmillan Co., New York, p. 3.

[2]See Ibn Khalbun, The Muqaddimah or Introduction to History/ Philosophy of History.

[3] Millis and Real, supra, p. 28.

[4] Id. [5] Id. p.2 [6] Id., p. 2 [7] Id., p. 3

News

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

Global coronavirus cases surpass 30M A

NKARA – Global coronavirus cases exceeded the 30-million mark Thursday, according to a running tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The number of deaths from the virus has reached 943,203, with recoveries topping 20.39 million.

A woman wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic in Madrid, Spain on Sept. 16, 2020. Several regions in Spain are considering tightening restrictions as new coronavirus infections continued to accelerate on Wednesday, with the Health Ministry reporting nearly 11,200 new daily cases. (Anadolu photo) The US remains the worst -hit country with over 6.66

million infections, while its death toll exceeds 197,500.

India follows the US with the second-highest number of infections worldwide at over 5.11 million.

Brazil, which has the largest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in Latin America, comes in third globally with over 4.41 million infections.

Russia, Peru, and Colombia are also among the hardest-hit countries in the world.

China, ground zero of the virus, has registered 90,262 cases so far, including 4,736 deaths and 85,174 recoveries.

The virus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions since it was first detected late last year. (Anadolu)

77% conflict-hit people lost income amid virus: study

A

DDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – More than three-quarters of displaced and conflict-affected people The Norwegian Refugee Council’s report – titled Downward Spiral: the economic impact of Covid-19 on refugees and displaced people – said a survey was conducted in Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Uganda and Venezuela and additional research in Somalia, DR Congo, Lebanon, Jordan, Burkina Faso and Yemen.

“The devastating economic impact is tipping many into a hunger, homelessness and education crisis,” it said.

According to the findings from the 1,413 people surveyed, 77 percent of people had lost a job or income from work since March, 70 percent of people had to cut the number of meals for their household since the pandemic broke out, and 73 percent reported that they were

have lost income since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a humanitarian group said in a new report on Monday.

less likely to send their children to school due to economic hardship.

“The world’s most vulnerable communities are in a dangerous downward spiral. Already forced from their homes by violence, often with limited rights to work or access to government services, the economic impact of the pandemic is pushing them to catastrophe,” said Jan Egeland, the secretary general of the council.

Compounding numerous existing crises and

challenges, Covid-19 related travel restrictions, closure of markets and businesses, and the general economic downturn have caused conflict- and displacement-affected populations to lose work and income, the council said.

“The recent loss of income, limited access to social safety nets, a drop in remittances and increased debt, have created severe negative knock-on effects for those affected,” it added.

(Anadolu)

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1 killed, 4 wounded in Maguindanao explosion

By Muslimedia.PH

Z

AMBOANGA CITY (Sept 19) — An explosion transpired on the roadside of Barangay Lipongo, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao on Friday evening, September 18, the military said.

Western Mindanao Command, in its official Facebook accounts, said while the convoy of the 5th Military Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 was traversing the road along Barangay Lipongo, an anti-personnel mine exploded resulting to the death of one marine and the wounding of four others.

“Investigation is ongoing to identify the perpetrators of this inhumane act of terrorism,” said Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force (JTF) Central Commander.

As of posting, identities of the victims are yet to be disclosed pending notification to their next of kin.

“This horrendous act perpetrated by the terrorists is simply unacceptable,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., WestMinCom Commander.

Westmincom

Gov’t forces nab 2 communist terrorists in Zamboanga del Sur ZAMBOANGA CITY: Two communist terrorist group (CTG) members were arrested by the government forces in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur last September 21.

While conducting blocking and checkpoint operations following an encounter in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, combined elements of Midsalip Municipal Police Station (MPS) and 53rd Infantry Battalion apprehended two personalities believed to be members/ supporters of the CTG who allegedly escaped from the encounter site bringing along with them assorted war materiel, supplies, and garments.

“The apprehended personalities were identified as Jaymar Balaas Bellano and Gemma Donsalo Ayas, all of legal age and residents of Purok 2, Barangay Saad, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur,” said Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade Commander.

Seized from the duo’s possession were: cash worth P6,400.00, and other personal belongings.

“We relentlessly conduct focused and civil-military operations to eradicate all threats here in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Lanao provinces,” said Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, JTF ZamPeLan Commander.

Bellano and Ayas were brought to Midsalip MPS for proper disposition and filing of appropriate charges.

Meanwhile, the cadaver of the CTG member killed during the encounter in Dumingag was turned-over to LGU Dumingag headed by Mayor Joan Abejuela for proper disposition. Said individual was identified as Bernie Nuñez, a.k.a. Gogo, the political guide of the group.

“This commendable accomplishment is attributed to our gallant soldiers, our police counterparts, and the peace-loving people of Zamboanga del Sur,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“Let us continue to converge all our efforts to eliminate terrorism and lawlessness here in Western and Central Mindanao,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

LAWMAKER | from Page A9

Lawmaker wants e-scooter riders to get LTO permits, permanent recording Such incidents and violations, Siao further added, should still be recorded despite the concerned parties agreeing on an amicable settlement because “such incidents are a matter of

public safety, public health, and public policy” and are “not private incidents of the kind which are not subject to law enforcement.”

“Hindi iyan makatarungan sapagkat hindi nito naiaalis

sa kalsada ang mga iresponsable o incompetent na motoristang wala na dapat lisensiya para magmaneho ng anumang sasakyan,” he said.

(That is not fair for it does

not take the irresponsible or incompetent individuals who shouldn’t have licenses to drive anymore off our streets.)

As part of this system, he suggested installing user-

friendly mobile apps for incident reporting on the smartphones of barangay officials and tanods.

(Muslimedia.PH)

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Eco-Tourism

The Sama Dilaut: Their Life During and After the Mindanao War

Vol. I, No. 15 | September 25-October 1, 2020 (Safar 8-14, 1442)

Utak Utak, another Tausug delicacy in the Province of Sulu The Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes

By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D.

T

he life of Sama Dilaut was never the same again after that ‘war’ which devastated not only their peaceful way of life but also caused their lives as victims of atrocities committed by forces from both sides.

For instance they were made as slaves to procure food supplies from the sea at no cost at all for their efforts. In some extreme cases they were made as human guinea pigs ‘to test the efficiency and effectiveness’ of certain guns and firearms issued or obtained by violent rebel groups. There were also reported cases of rapes among their women. Human rights violations against the Sama Dilaut were never so pronounced at those times but who cares when lawlessness prevails within their midst?

Just like small fishes seeking protection from their predator, the Sama Dilaut has to blend with the mainstream populations no matter how ‘awkward’ it is for them because all their life from generations to generations has been confined to live among their kinds and the sea is their homeland.

Living outside the realm of their comfort zone, the Sama Dilaut has to embrace the way of life that is entirely different from theirs. Their social and economic activities have to be restrained in conformity with the social norms of ‘modernity’ as dictated by the community where they live.

JOHNNY R. LEE

With MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

A

lhamdulillah we have now reached the 15th Digital Edition of the Philippine Muslim Today, and we don't stop but go on with our advocacy of disseminating to our readers among the Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes.

This Column is still focused on the Tausug delicacies as one of the mandates of Tausug Chef Abdulaziz H. Hamsain of sharing to this generation up to the next generation the popular Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino dishes particularly the "Utak -Utak" delicacy of the Province of Sulu.

And so with the easy to find ingredients as well as easy to follow procedures narrated by Chef Abdulaziz, may I invite our mothers or housewives to cook this Utak-Utak delicacy while most of us are engaged on "Stay At Home" during this Pandemic.

UTAK UTAK Serves 4-5 Ingredients -2 medium-sized mackerel tuna -1 medium onion minced -3 cloves garlic minced -Thumb size ginger minced -3 inch turmeric grind -¼ teaspoon black pepper -¼ cup grated coconut -Banana leaves (optional) to form shape Coating: -¼ cup flour -1 egg -Water Procedure: 1. Boil the mackerel tuna then shred the fish cooked meat.

2. Mix the shredded fish, onion, black pepper, garlic, turmeric, and coconut then slightly smash/pound.

3. In a separate bowl, mix flour and egg then add water (to be used as a coating before frying).

4. Using your hand or a banana leaf, form the mixture into a round flat shape or any desired shape.

5. Before frying, dip the shaped mixture in the mixed flour and egg then fry.

6. Allow to fry till golden or brownish color is reached. . *Best served at any meal of the day..

MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

Utak Utak, another Tausug delicacy in the Province of Sulu. (Photo

by Abdulaziz H. Hamsain)