Philippine Muslim Today

President Marcos and Me

The Search for Peace in an Agitated Land Mehol K. Sadain | A5

Homobono A. Adaza | A6

Faith of a BalikIslam endured the great pain rather than to partake ‘Haram’

Julmunir I. Jannaral | A5

Abdul Hannan M. Tago | A4

Muslim today PHILIPPINE

Save the Earth

BARMM Term Extension: Yes or No

(Page B2)

The Muslim National Digital Newspaper | Bearer of Glad Tidings.

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442) | 2 Sections | 12 Pages

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Bills stalling 2022 BARMM polls filed to extend BTA reign

By ALI G. MACABALANG

Editorial “United We Stand Divided We Fall” Too much strife is happening around the world and thousands are dying everyday because of division. The Ummah is the most affected victim because they are the most disunited people today. Unity must be attained.

The successful victory for the ratification of the BOL 2019 demonstrates how much a people can achieve when the majority if not all are united for a purpose. Despite some dissenting sectors, it is still a manifestation of the strength of a united Bangsamoro.

Full Story on Page A2

(Full Story on Page A4)

MinDA pushes NGP shift to fruit trees planting in Mindanao

BARMM supervision over Cotabato City begins Dec. 15

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IDAPAWAN CITY: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) wants the National Greening Program (NGP) to shift to fruit trees planting in the ―Land of Promise‖ to ensure not only the efficacy of reforestation but the economic profits for countryside stakeholders.

(Full Story on Page A7)

Meranao boy rakes honor for PH, Bangsamoro in chess tilts

gainst mental and physiological setbacks wrought by the infamous 2017 Marawi siege, 10-year old Al-Basher Buto of the wartorn Islamic city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur has been raking honor for the Bangsamoro or Muslim Filipino community in the field of chess competition.

(Full Story on Page A2)

(Full Story on Page B3)

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The Bangsamoro

BARMM supervision over Cotabato City begins Dec. 15

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OTABATO CITY: Administrative operations in this fast booming city will be placed officially under the supervision of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governance this coming Dec. 15 pursuant to a standing agreement brokered by higher authorities led by President Duterte.

Photo supplied by BARMM spokesman cum Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarmbo shows Finance Sec. Sonny Dominguez, IGRB co-chair, announcing the Dec. 15 ceremonial turnover for supervision over Cotabato City by the autonomous government at a virtual meeting on Nov. 27.

Officials of the Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) during its 5th regular meeting on Friday, Nov. 27, ―agreed to undertake the turnover ceremony‖ that will formally place this city under the autonomous government, according to BARMM spokesman cum Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo.

The IGRB was created in early 2019 to facilitate the smooth transfer of corresponding national assets and powers to the BARMM governance after President Duterte formally inaugurated the regional bureaucracy and parliament on March 29, 2019. ―We thank the President for keeping the spirit of the discussion last year in Malacañang to carry out the mandate of the Organic Law to transfer supervision over Cotabato City to the (BARMM governance),‖ Sinarimbo said his social media post immediately after the IGRB virtual meeting.

Sinarimbo was referring to the agreement forged between Cotabato City officials led by Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and BARMM leaders led by Chief Minister Ahod ―Hadji Murad‖ Ebrahim in a Palace meeting presided by Mr. Duterte early this year.

He also thanked Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año and Finance Sec. Sonny Dominguez ―for promptly implementing the directive of the President to transfer Cotabato City to BARMM this December 15.‖ Sec. Dominguez co-chairs the IGRB, for the national government, with Año as key member. His counterpart from the BARMM is Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal. ―Now the mandate of the people expressed in the (Jan. 21, 2019 plebiscite) will be fulfilled,‖ Sinarimbo added.

Majority voters in Cotabato City and 63 villages (barangays) in North Cotabato decided for inclusion in the BARMM territory in such plebiscite, implying automatic placement of their respective local government units under the regional government supervision.

The North Cotabato provincial government formally turned over to the BARMM officialdom the supervision authority on the 63 villages on Nov. 20, 2019.

Concerned officials expected a similar turnover between Cotabato City and BARMM. But city officials led by Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi opposed supervision by BARMM, invoking some reasons to include her unsettled electoral protest and absence of ordinances required for full autonomous governance.

The stalemate had brought about exchanges of tirades between the two camps, prompting Sec. Año and government representatives to the IGRB to elevate the issue to the President.

The Chief Executive listened to viewpoints from the two camps alongside Sec. Año, and later decided that the formal supervision transfer be made in December this year.

ALI G. MACABALANG

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

Bills stalling 2022 BARMM polls filed to extend BTA reign

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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aguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu has filed a bill postponing the 2022 election of parliament members of the new regional autonomous government and seeking a longer lifespan for the Bangasamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to accomplish fully its legal mandates.

BTA EXTENSION BILL FILED IN CONGRESS. Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu listening to OPAPP Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. in conveying President Duterte’s manifest support to extending the BTA lifespan to 2025 on Nov. 25, five days before the lawmaker filed a bill stalling the 2022 election of 80 regional parliament members. (Facebook) Rep. Mangudadatu, according to his legislative staff – Beverely Ballitoc, filed House Bill 8117 on Tuesday, Dec. 2, around 6:20p.m.

On the same evening, Rep. Loren Legarda and House Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez filed similar bills, Ballitoc said in a Messenger message to the Philippine Muslim Today.

Tonight (Wednesday), meanwhile regional spokesman Naguib Sinarimbo said in a Facebook post that ―the proposal to extend the period of transition in the Bangsamoro to complete important tasks in the transition has formally moved in the house and in the senate.‖ But he did not mention any specific senator(s) filing corresponding bill.

In an introductory message for his bill, Rep. Mangudadatu said the crafting and filing of the measures preceded some hearings among stakeholders by the Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity he chairs.

In the hearings, he said, ―we found out that many more important (tasks) and commitments agreed upon have not been completed or (fulfilled yet) both by the national government and BTA (as well as the) MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) because of many constraints and difficulties, the worst of (which are those) caused by COVID-19.‖ Unfinished Normaliza-

tion and Government Tracks Rep. Mangudadatu was referring to specific tasks mandated in the normalization and governmental (political) tracks provided for in R.A. 11054, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) charter, and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the government and MILF forged in 2014.

The normalization track mandates the decommissioning of the MILF‘s 40,000 members, mostly combatants, to turn them into civilian citizens in peaceful and productive fashions. The entire MILF membership is supposed to be fully decommissioned on or before the lapse of the three-year BTA lifespan that ends upon the election in 2022 of the regular members of the 80-seat parliament.

Rep. Mangudadatu told the Philippine Muslim Today on Nov. 23 that the government has been able to pay instantly only P100,000 of the P1-million rehabilitation package committed for each decommissioned MILF member, on the days of their ceremonial decommissioning.

The payment of the remaining P900,000 has been delayed because the national government‘s attention has been drawn to emergencies in the advent of the COVID19 pandemic, for which much

of the national resources have been spent, he said.

The unpaid 900,000-peso commitment covers P400,000 for the healthcare, education and other basic supports for children and dependents of each decommissioned MILF member and P500,000 for construction of decent house for each beneficiary family, he said In another recent revelation, BARMM spokesman and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said only about 12,000 of the MILF‘s full membership have been decommissioned.

In corroboration, BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua told the Philippine Muslim Today that it would not be possible for other MILF members to undergo decommission if their already demilitarized comrades were not paid fully of their shares from the P1million government package.

As supplementary income for those decommissioned, Macacua said the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) has absorbed some 2,000 of them as forest rangers, nursery workers and seedling planters under the regional Greening program.

Macacua, concurrent MENRE minister, is also chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF‘s combat wing.

BILLS | A8

The Bangsamoro

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

BARMM’s AMBAG program benefits 8K+ indigents

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180 child labor victims get cash aids from BARMM

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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OTABATO CITY: While Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim has admitted absence of “major success” to harp about yet in their three-year transitional governance, indigent constituents are praises for the benefits they continue to receive from the fledgling administration‟s special initiatives, including the Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG) Program In a recent report from the Bureau of Public Information (BPI), Ebrahim said the program has already covered a total of 8,552 Bangsamoro indigents since its launch in November 2019 or just roughly 12 months.

The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), which administers the special program, has transferred some P73million to 11 partner hospitals in the region to subsidize the medical expenses of constituent patients lacking PhilHealth and other health insurance policies, the BPI said.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) records, the OCM said that 53% of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) populace is indigent and that half of the constituent families lack health insurances.

The inadequacy has been demonstrated in the continuing influx of pleas for financial aids from indigent constituents for their patients‘ confinement needs to include medicines, dialysis, implant, laboratory, radiation therapy, medical and assistive devices, transplant, rehabilitative therapy, and surgical supplies, among others, the OCM said.

Recorded requests came from residents of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, the cities of Marawi, Cotabato and Lamitan and 63 barangays in North Cotabato, which now constitute the BARMM, the OCM said.

One of the beneficiaryindigents, Pelagio Ado, a 51year old traffic enforcer of South Upi, Maguindanao, was featured recently by the BPI in a report narrating how the AMBAG program made the difference for him and his family after he suffered fractures in the neck and left hip from a road accident on Aug. 18, 2019.

Ado was confined at the Datu Blah District Hospital in Nuro Upi, Maguindanao, where attending physicians required major surgical and implant operations that would cost no less than P125,000, something Ado‘s family could never raise.

Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Minister Romeo Sema. (File)

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AMBAG BENFICIARY. 51-year old Pelagio Ado of South Upi, Maguindanao, has availed of P50 thousand cash aid from BARMM’s AMBAG program for his major surgery on body fractures caused by vehicular accident. (BPI Photo) The municipal government of South Upi, being the employer of Ado, donated P75,000, and the patient‘s family had sought assistance for the remaining P50,000, which the OCM through the AMBAG program readily provided, said the BPI. “Maraming maraming salamat po sa AMBAG ng Bangsamoro. Dahil sa tulong nito ay malamang na namatay ako o nagging gulay (paralyzed),” Ado was quoted as saying in a BPI news story.

Program expansion After its launch last year, the OCM has embarked on widening the AMBAG program‘s reach by adding more local partner hospitals to ensure that indigent Bangsamoro and non-Moro residents receive necessary medical assistance.

“Malayo na ang narating ng AMBAG ngunit malayo pa ang ating inaasam na maaabot nito lalo na sa mga kababayan nating patuloy na nahihirapan sa mga bayarin sa ospital o ano pa mang

pangangailangang medikal,‖ Ebrahim said.

Officials of the AMBAG program were trying to ―forge partnerships with additional hospitals in Regions 9 and 12, notably those in North Cotabato, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, General Santos City, and even in Manila, the BPI said.

Initial dismay In a recent interview with the Philippine Muslim Today, a key official in the BARMM cabinet disclosed that the city hall of Zamboanga had prevented its constituent hospitals from becoming partner for AMBAG program.

Many residents of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi would prefer confinement in Zamboanga hospitals due to availability of more medical facilities, the BARMM official said. ―Unfortunately, the Zamboanga City hall has discouraged its component hospitals to receive AMBAG program funds for patients from BASULTA,‖ the official said. AGM

OTABATO CITY: Constituent-child labor victims have gained tangible attention from the Bangsamoro autonomous government, with at least 180 of them initially receiving P20,000 cash aid each for parents-supervised rehabilitation.

The Bangsamoro bureaucracy held the ceremonial cash aid distribution here on Nov. 20 in time with the observance of National Children‘s Month every November, the country‘s counterpart to the global celebration of child welfare.

Congress passed on Nov. 20, 1989 R.A. 10661 designating every November as the National Children‘s Month in the Philippines in conjunction with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) The national Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), composed of various line agencies, required the observance of the event with the theme: ―Sama-samang Itaguyod Ang Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Panahon ng Pandemya.‖ The CWC described this year‘s celebration as compliant also with the national and local directives on containing the spread of COVID-19 pursuant to Proclamation No.929 from President Duterte.

Bangsamoro Parliament Member Romeo Sema, concurrent regional Labor and Employment minister, said the initial P20,000 cash aid was handed to parents of the 180 victims of child labor at symbolic ceremony here on Nov. 20.

Minister Sema said his ministry‘s Bureau of Employment, Promotion and Welfare earlier formed the Sagip Batang Manggagawa program to address child labor issues across the autonomous region, notably Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, and the cities of Marawi, Cotabato and Lamitan as well as 63 villages in North Cotabato. ―The project is attuned to the efforts of our chief minister, Ahod Ebrahim, to address this nagging child labor problem in the Bangsamoro region,‖ Sema said.

In pursuit of the Chief Minister‘s vision for responsive and morale governance, Sema said, the Ministry of Labor and Employment had initiated strong coordinative networks with constituent local government units to cohesively ensure that child labor practices will be minimized if not eradicated.

ALI G. MACABALANG

BARMM installs weight scale kiosks in towns for fair trade COTABATO CITY: In pursuit of moral governance campaign in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MITT) has started installing weighing scale stalls or kiosks in constituent towns with market centers.

On Nov. 26, MITT Minister Abuamri Taddik led the ceremonial dispersal here of ―Timbangan ng Bayan‖ or public weighing scales with protective stalls f for 15 municipal local government units in Maguindanao. ―This project does not only assure the public of reliable, ethical and competent trading, but also contributes to the advocacy of the Chief Minister on Moral Governance as it promote honest and fair practices,‖ Taddik said in a press statement from the Bureau of Public Information (BPI). ―This pilot distribution of Timbangan ng Bayan showed our continuous effort and the pursuit of our mandate to protect consumers from fraudulence,‖ he added.

In a message, the BPI said, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim lauded the project for fleshing out desire in boosting the relationship between consumers and traders in the Islamic concept of amanah (trust).

BARMM | A8

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Editorial

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Chairman, Board of Trustees MASIDING NOOR YAHYA President/CEO JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Vice President for Internal Affairs ALI G. MACABALANG Vice President for External Affairs ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Treasurer MACOD D. RASCAL Secretary CASAN C. CANA Auditor

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor Bureau Chief for National Capital Region ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor Bureau Chief for Bangsamoro & Central Mindanao Regions ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao Region JOHNNY R. LEE Bureau Chief for Western Mindanao Region PHIL MUSLIM Layout Artist FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Advertising Sales Director for NCR NUR-ALI A. MACABALANG Correspondent COLUMNISTS | WRITERS: ATTY. HOMOBONO A. ADAZA DR. BENJ BANGAHAN ATTY. JUAN PONCE ENRILE DR. JOHNNY R. LEE DATU AMINULLAH ALONTO LUCMAN ATTY. NASSER A. MAROHOMSALIC DR. FILEMON G. ROMERO ATTY. MEHOL K. SADAIN DR. ABDUL HANNAN M. TAGO DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today nor of its management.

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Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

“United we fall, divided we stand”

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oo much strife is happening around the world and thousands are dying everyday because of division. The Ummah is the most affected victim because they are the most disunited people today. Unity must be attained.

The successful victory for the ratification of the BOL 2019 demonstrates how much a people can achieve when the majority if not all are united for a purpose. Despite some dissenting sectors, it is still a manifestation of the strength of a united Bangsamoro.

Such victory was attained because of hope for a change.

It was said that when public confidence is high because peace and order is assured and governance is void of suspicion, the public have no fear in going out into the streets, relying, without doubt, on their leaders for a good government.

A situation like this can be achieved only by democratic selfless leaders who inspire cooperation rather than instil sense of distrust on everyone.

It is not justified to Insist staying in power if one is not qualified for the job just only because of a fallacious argument invoking his sacrifices in order to capture. He must give in for the interest of the public.

A keen observer would note that in places where throngs of people gather, even pickpockets and petty criminals cannot disturb anyone. Volunteer ―watchers‖ in ordinary attires are all around.

Volunteerism is encouraged when people respond to the call for unity. In his own small way, each one strives to contribute to the attainment of the goal commonly understood and desired.

In a broader scale, a situation like this could also be achieved if there is a true democratic leader who clearly defines, communicates and persuades everyone to cooperate.

In the establishment of the Bangsamoro, people must not be divided by each own personal interest but united for the common goal of self-determination.

It is imperative to give our own leaders a chance to show in concrete action of their advocacy for a good or moral governance. Which, to some observers, however, would only be achieved if they will get rid of those liabilities who are already in their ranks.

The Bangsamoro must not also give-in to the dictates on what kind of governance they should implement as long as it is not only moral but also legal, and on how they would achieve it as obviously seen in foreign and domestic organizations involved in the BBL EIC with their huge amount of money.

Too many struggles in history failed because leaders deviate from the common interest to personal aggrandizement due to outside interference.

What happened to Bonifacio, Luna and Aguinaldo must not happen again to the Filipinos, and should also serve as lesson to the Moro leaders. Independence was delayed because the first Filipino President due to his pursuit of personal glory eventually succumbed to the superior strength of the colonizer after the death of those who fought with him and the isolation of their men from the mainstream of the struggle.

Above all, the Bangsamoros can only be victorious if they are united. Only in unity that people can stand. PMT

BARMM Term Extension: Yes or No

By ABDUL HANNAN MAGARANG TAGO

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ith the fast approaching upcoming election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) based on the agreed pact between national government and BARMM. Politicians constituents and stakeholders have started debating each other on the BARMM extension appeal.

It is now crystal clear that traditional ruling politicians are strongly opposing the extension.

Obviously they are in a hurry to grab the opportunity. While Maguindanao province is reportedly indorsing the extension of the transition government, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are apparently against the extension.

With the strong financial influence and capitalizing on what they claim failure and shortcomings of the infant BARMM administration, they are now in a position to blame the incumbent administration for every single mistake in addressing the basic needs of the Bangsamoro.

TAGO | A8

Opinion

Ijtihad MEHOL K. SADAIN

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f you are a Muslim and you live, or have relatives living, in Mindanao, thank God for the peace you are experiencing. If you are a millennial, chances are you have not gone through any war, even if you may have heard of the fighting that reduced the City of Marawi to ruins in 2017 or the Zamboanga Siege that paralyzed Zamboanga in 2013 and the Battle of Jolo and Pata that laid lives and properties to waste in the seventies. It you are older, say in your senior years or nearing that age, you know of the battles that raged between the MNLF and MILF rebels in the nineteen seventies to the early nineteen nineties, as well as the atrocities committed by armed bands in the name of religion in the sixties. You may have experienced them too if you lived in those areas

of conflict. More importantly, you know that peace was and continues to be transient, and may be disturbed anytime, just like still water may be agitated at the swish of the hand dipped into the water.

Hence, we continue to search for peace in our homeland, for we know this is in keeping with the precepts of our religion, and its very name, ―Islam‖, signifying ―Peace‖. As Ali Asghar Engineer says: ―The basic objective of Islam is to establish peace and sustain it.” In other words, a sustainable peace: one that is lasting and not merely momentary, one that reigns without interruption.

That is the peace of Islam.

Allah in the Noble Qur‘an points us to that peace in at least two verses. The first one declares, “Wherewith ALLAH guides all those who seek His good pleasure (rizwaanahu) to

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN AN AGITATED LAND ways of peace (subula ssalaami) and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way.” [5:16] When we perform Allah‘s commandments which is the meaning of seeking His rizwaan, He says He will guide us to subula s-salaam or the ways of peace. It is like being brought into the light, or gaining better understanding and perception that light up the Straight Way, the oft-repeated Siratim mustaqeem.

So what is the Straight Way? In two consecutive verses, Allah teaches us the Straight Way that leads to peace, in this manner, ―This is the Way of thy Lord, made straight: We have expounded the signs for a people who take heed. For them shall be the Home of Peace with their Lord. And He shall be their Friend (or Protector) because of what they used to do.‖ [6:126 &127] The way is detailed in the signs given by

he faith of a BalikIslam in his Islamic Faith is admirable who endured the great pain rather than to partake Haram like the roasted pig or ―Lechon Baboy.‖ This in the case of what happened to Dominick Alegro, a Balik-Islam who preferred to endure the great pain in the hands of his employer Anthony ―Watanabe‖ Vecino of Lipa City Batangas.

Dominick works as a farm boy of a poultry farm owned

by Watanabe in Lipa City. He asked the help of Ben Tulfo of the Pambansang Sumbungan of Tulfo‘s Bitag TV program.

In his complaint, Dominick said Watanabe physically manhandled him when he refused to eat Lechon Baboy, which at that time was served

by Watanabe to his guests at a party in his poultry farm. He told Tulfo how he was boxed

by Watanabe where he sustained a black eye.

He told Watanabe that he cannot eat Lechon Baboy since it is Haram and being a Muslim it is forbidden in Islam

and he is fearful of the wrath of Allah.

However, Watanabe did not listen to his explanation and even continue to physically manhandled him and even despised the existence of Allah. The arrogant Watanabe told Dominick that he should be afraid of him and not to Allah because he is also God. Dominick said he even kneeled down in front of Watanabe pleading for his life. He said his fear was in the highest level when Watanabe got a Japanese Samurai and was about to strike him when his alert driver named Obi came to his rescue and stopped Watanabe from inflicting bodily harm further on him.

Due to the Complaint of Dominick, TV host Ben Tulfo referred the case to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), after Barangay Chairman Boy Mendoza of Barangay Plaridel in Lipa City did not even lift a finger to help the victim after he reported the incident to the said barangay.

Allah to man, represented by His commands and admonitions in the Qur‘an, to which the community must be in heedful remembrance. (li qawmi y-yadhdhakkaroon).

For those who remember and heed these ―signs of Allah‖, Allah promises: “Lahum Daaru s-Salaami inda Rabbihim” or ―for them shall be the Home of Peace with their Lord!‖ And not only that, Allah further says: “wa Huwa Waliyyuhum” or ―He will be their friend!‖ The word ―Peace‖ in these verses is broad enough to include both external and internal peace, peace in this world and peace in the Hereafter, and peace with ourselves and peace with others. It also refers to a place of tranquility and blessedness, whether it is Paradise or a particular location on earth, in the concept of Dar us-Salaam or Daru l-Islam, the Abode or Territory of Islam, which is the place where

Islam reigns.

In a place, like Mindanao and the Sulu and Tawi Tawi islands where peace is occasionally disturbed by violence and atrocities, it will do well for us to remember these verses and to take heed.

What are the signs Allah has gifted us in the Qur‘an, so that by heeding them we will be worthy of Allah‘s Home of Peace? Let us identify them and live by them. How do we take heed of them, or have we even begun to take heed of them? Let us learn everything that Allah has taught us, for as He says: ―Wa yu ‗allimukumullah,‖ or ―it is Allah that teaches you‖. [2:282] Maybe, the reason why sustained peace in our homeland has remained elusive all these years and centuries, is we never found and established peace within and among ourselves to deserve the Abode of Peace with our Lord. Think about it.

MKS

Faith of a Balik-Islam endured the great pain rather than to partake ‘Haram’

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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When Ben Tulfo coordinated with NCMF, it was Commissioner Yusoph Mando who told Tulfo that the NCMF is willing to assist the victim and to give him justice through the NCMF Legal Division.

A series of negotiations went through between the victim and the suspect.

Watanabe only sent his representatives to NCMF since apparently he feared of the wrath of Muslim Ummah after many Muslim brothers learned of what happened to Dominick who is their Muslim brother.

An unconfirmed sources said that many Muslims in Metro Manila even wanted to give instant justice to Dominick by applying the ―eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth justice system‖ after Watanabe not only maligned a Muslim but the Islamic faith as a whole.

Fast forward on the case, it was learned that the suspect Watanabe now wanted to settle with the victim amicably by giving financial damages in the amount of P300K where victim Dominick Alegro just like his surname is ready for an amicable settlement

and if we are going to prepare a News Item, it will run this way, ―Balik-Islam Alegro willing to accept amicable settlement by accepting the Areglo of P300K.‖ In the earlier interview with Ben Tulfo, Dominick Alegro said he wants to pursue the case against Watanabe. But he changed his mind and instead willing already to accept financial settlement. He said it would be a hassle for him to go to Lipa City and attend court hearing if he would continue the case against Watanabe.

This was confirmed by NCMF Commissioner Yusoph Mando to Batanes To Tawi-Tawi but he said the amount of financial settlement is not yet sure as to how much.

As this developed, Commissioner Yusoph issued his official statement addressed to non-Muslims who tend to malign Muslims and Islam.

Commissioner Yusoph said despite the fact that there are so many Muslims in this world, in our country there is still a lack of understanding about Muslim people and Islam.

In addition, the increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric and the unfortunate conflation of terrorism with Muslim people contribute to biased attitudes and reinforces stereotypes.

As a result, Islamophobia—the fear, hatred and discrimination of Muslim—is manifesting itself in personal biases, rhetoric, education, politics, hate crimes and more.

Non-Muslims who maligned Muslims and Islam tend to equate Islam as a violent religion and Muslims are identified with terrorism. Little did they know that within every religion, there exists a spectrum of attitudes and behavior and extremism is not unique to one particular belief system.

There are people who sincerely view themselves as Muslims who have committed horrible acts in the name of Islam. These people, and their interpretation of Islam, is rightly called ―extremist;‖ they are a minority within Islam and the vast majority of Muslims reject their violence and consider their interpretation a distortion of the Muslim faith, according to Commissioner Yusoph.

JANNARAL | A8

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Opinion

Diliman Way HOMOBONO A, ADAZA “…the qualities required for greatness and wickedness, for heroism and monstrosity, for brilliant decent philanthropy and brutal dystopian murderousness are not too far distant from each other. The Norwegian alone has a word for this: stormannsgalskap – the madness of great men.” – Titans of History by Simom Sebag Montefiore “…the qualities required for greatness and wickedness, for heroism and monstrosity, for brilliant decent philanthropy and brutal dystopian murderousness are not too far distant from each other. The Norwegian alone has a word for this: stormannsgalskap – the madness of great men.” – Titans of History by Simom Sebag Montefiore

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have to write about the past to seek refuge from the oppressive environment created by the tomfooleries and insanities of our time. It is a much desired respite from a suffocating journey of life in our country. It is like an endless venture into a desert. You have to find an oasis to catch your breath from the burning heat of the sun to rest, relax and survive.

Rationale: Why moments of historical flashback? They are educative and memorable. They can be instructive and inspiring. They can also be revolting. But more than anything else, reminiscences of strategic times in history make you wonder of what

might have been. There is sweetness and sadness in remembering the moments.

There is delight as well as agony as you remember the elusive moments which if properly grasped your personal life and the tides of history could have changed.

Many of these moments which reveal the character of leaders have been written about in four books of speeches by one of two elected Opposition provincial governors during the period of Martial Law under President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and six other books by this author.

The moments which will be narrated in this column

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

U

nknown to most peace and autonomy advocates, appropriations or budget allocations from the national government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) bureaucracy are currently trickling down to the infant entity circuitously or through delayprone fashion.

Because of the absence of a regional office of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in BARMM, funds with corresponding notices of release are momentarily coursed through the DBM office in Region XII, according to Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael ―Toto‖ Mangudadatu.

Mangudadatu filed on Dec. 1 House Bill 8117 seeking to postpone the 2022 election for the 80 regular

members of the BARMM parliament, thereby extending the lifespan of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the governing body of regional autonomy, from 2022 to 2025.

Rep. Loren Legarda and Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez reportedly filed on same day similar bills meant to give the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led transitional governance to fully accomplish its mandates under R.A. 11054 and the MILF‘s 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the government.

The edict, also known Bangsamoro Basic Law or BARMM charter, and the CAB seek among others the completion in three-year time (2019-2022) the normalization track (decommissioning

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

President Marcos and Me have been detailed in three books – Leaders from Marcos to Arroyo, Ideas, Principles and Lost Opportunities and Capturing the Moments. But why write about them on these pages.

First, Most Filipinos don‘t read books. Second, Books are expensive. Third, Books can be read in the internet for free. But articles and essays, many Filipinos will read for information, education, and pleasure because they are much shorter than the intimidating length of books.

Controversial: President Marcos will always be controversial in this country Mere mention of his name is enough to provoke a shouting match. The Left and the Coristas consider him as the Devil. Marcos Loyalists consider him a Saint. Controversy is normal as there is a devil and a saint in every individual.

In the final analysis, it is a matter of which one in you prevails – the devil or the saint. Sometimes the devil captures a moment in a person, sometimes the angel.

But whatever is the choice, there is always excitement in the moment.

The final judgment is determined by history. The prob-

lem is that history oftentimes is written by the winners. It takes about a century to determine the eventual winner in an era. How Marcos will fare in the judgment of history would be determined beyond our time? It is tragic to be imprisoned by the ineluctable judgment of history unless if one‘s life span competes with that of Methuselah and Jared.

That would be exciting.

For now, I will relate incidents in time which may reveal the character and the disputed greatness of President Ferdinand Marcos. And in so doing, objective historians may get to have an accurate assessment of the man and historians in the academe will write history as it should be written without bias, fear or favor.

Beginning: Ferdinand Marcos during his time was a legend in the College of Law of the University of the Philippines. Topping the bar examinations while his conviction of the crime of murder was on appeal in the Supreme Court is an outstanding achievement. Nobody before and after him had done it, so the legend is well deserved.

But it did not end there. As

the popular story goes, he acquitted himself in the Supreme with his brief and arguments. And this added luster to the legend.

On his acquittal, there is a story that has gone around for sometime – that Marcos was not acquitted because of his brief and arguments, he was acquitted because Justice Jose Laurel, Sr argued for his him with his fellow justices and the story is authenticated by the son of Justice Laurel, the late VicePresident Salvador ―Doy‖ Laurel who is my valued treasured friend.

Here is how the story goes. In the inner deliberation of the Supreme Court, the majority voted to affirm the Marcos conviction. Of course, the penalty was death. Justice Laurel, however, argued passionately with his peers, saying, ―Convicting this young man will not bring back to life Julio Nalundasan. He is dead. This young man is brilliant and if allowed to live, he may one day become President of our country. Killing him is a waste. Let‘s acquit him for the sake of our country.‖ ADAZA | A7

‘Circuitous’ fund flow to BARMM of the MILF‘s 40,000 members) and political or governmental track (building of full blown parliamentary bureaucracy).

Both tracks are still halfway, even as Palace officials and BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim had admitted lack of time to enact ordinances needed for wellfounded autonomous bureaucracy and complete the decommissioning or transformation to civilian, peaceful and productive life of MILF combat-members.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has confirmed that inadvertent ―delays‖ caused mainly by the massive shift of government attention to preventive efforts against COVID-19 are main reasons in the foreseen inability of the BARMM interim governance to accomplishment its two-track key missions on or before 2022,

the year supposedly set for the election of regular members of the regional parliament.

Only 12,000 of the MILF‘s total members have so far been decommissioned, but the government has released only P100,000 of P1-million support package committed for each processed excombatant.

On the other hand, the BTA has enacted so far the regional administrative code, and is still deliberating other edicts needed to flesh out the fundamentals of better autonomous governance.

But earlier reported narratives had not mentioned about the absence of a DBM office in BARMM as another major impediment in the smooth operations of the interim autonomous government, until Rep. Mangudadatu divulged it in an interview with the Philippine Muslim

Today on Nov. 23.

Mangudadatu said the national government has so far been downloading the BARMM‘s yearly block grant and other budget supports from the Department of Finance through the KKoronodal City-based DBM field office in Region 12. ―Kahit na papaano ay nadedelay ng dalawa o tatlong araw ang pundo sa Region XII bago dumating sa BARMM,‖ Rep. Mangudadatu said.

At the Nov. 23 interview, BARMM parliament Member Khadafeh ―Toy‖ Mangudadatu corroborated his elder sibling‘s revelation, and announced that he would sponsor a bill creating a DBM office in the Bangsamoro to fill up the vacuum in the autonomous government‘s interim and regular stages of operations. (Comments on or suggestions to this column can be sent to alimac.bulletin@gmail.com)

News ADAZA | from Page A6

A7

MinDA pushes NGP shift to fruit trees planting in Mindanao

President Marcos and Me The argument was telling, Marcos was acquitted and the rest is history.

Evolving events: It was fun watching Marcos evolved into a national figure. As congressman with his ambition to become President of our country, he spotted Imelda Romualdez, niece of then Speaker Daniel Romualdez one evening at the gallery of the House of Representatives. Enticed by her enchanting beauty, Marcos courted her with lightning speed and the whirlwind romance bloomed into marriage.

Imelda became his secret weapon in the journey to the presidency.

My first personal encounter with Marcos was in the campaign for presidential nomination of the Nacionalista Party for the 1965 presidential elections. While campaigning for delegates in Cagayan de Oro City, a Pelaez stronghold, I was tasked by the President of the Misamis Oriental Bukidnon Bar Association (MOBA) to invite him to be luncheon speaker of MOBA. This was his diplomatic reply, ―Pañero, please tell them I‘m deeply honored by this invitation but I can‘t accept it as I‘m in the thick of my campaign for the nomination. When I become President, I will be here, if invited.‖ I was quite impressed by his reply. He showed determination and confidence – that he will win the nomination and eventually be elected President. It showed the three main components of a UP education – excellence, aristocracy of the mind and trained outstanding leadership.

Convention: Among the five contestants for the nomination, Marcos was a newcomer to the Nacionalista Party (NP). He left the Liberal Party when President Diosdado Macapagal failed to honor his commitment in 1961 that Marcos will be the party‘s presidential nominee in 1965. The commitment was made because Macapagal was threatened by Marcos challenge for the presidential nomination of the Liberal Party in 1961 – in exchange for the withdrawal of Marcos.

Usual among traditional politicians, Macapagal did not honor his commitment. Marcos then went to the Nacionalista Party with Speaker of the House of Representatives Pepito Laurel as his sponsor.

When Speaker Laurel brought Marcos to Senate President Eulogio ―Amang‖ Rodriguez, Sr.. President of the NP, Amang was supposed to have whispered to Pepito‘s ear, ―You have brought the Devil to the party.‖ Marcos was a long shot for the nomination. The party favorite was Macapagal‘s Vice-President, Emmanuel ―Maning‖ Neri Pelaez of Medina, Misamis Oriental. Pelaez had the support of most of the leaders of the NP – Party President Amang Rodriguez, Secretary General of the Party, Congressman Constancio Castañeda; most of the known Provincial Governors of the Party: Perdices of Negro Oriental, Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr. of Rizal, Vicente Duterte of Davao, Alfonso Dadole of Misamis Oriental and lot many more.

If anyone analyzed the political components of the NP, it was then almost obvious Pelaez would win the presidential nomination. Pelaez was more handsome than Marcos, better and more persuasive speaker than Marcos, more brilliant and a better intellectual than Marcos and a gentleman warrior as against Marcos who had no limits to his strategy and tactics.

Like Sun Tzu in the Art of War, Marcos knew his opponents. He quickly signed an agreement among the contenders that none would buy votes and talk with any delegate on the floor of the convention.

The other contenders observed the essence and spirit of the agreement but Marcos, the strategist and tactician that he was, interpreted the agreement literally. He personally did not buy votes but his trusted leaders did.

Conscious of this massive vote buying that was done by the Marcos forces, I told Pelaez, in a one and one conversation with him in his bedroom, ―The Marcos boys and girls are buying votes. Even some delegates from Mindanao are waiting for your money. If you don‘t fight back, you‘ll lose the nomination.‖ The principled and idealistic

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

K

IDAPAWAN CITY: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) wants the National Greening Program (NGP) to shift to fruit trees planting in the ―Land of Promise‖ to ensure not only the efficacy of reforestation but the economic profits for countryside stakeholders.

MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol on Wednesday said his agency ―will officially ask the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to review the effectiveness of the NGP in Mindanao as flooding continues in spite of billions spent for the program.‖ Sec. Piñol attended the 4th Mindanao River Basin Management Council meeting hosted here on Nov. 27 by North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco in partnership with the MinDA. At the meeting, he said, ―I questioned the effectiveness of the current interventions by the government on the perennial flooding in the down-streams of Mindanao‘s major rivers.‖ He said MinDA ―will also ask DENR to (harmonize) its reforestation program under NGP with the Green Mindanao Project (GMP) which promotes the planting of high value fruit trees in the deforested highlands and watersheds of Mindanao.‖ The GMP is one of the major programs of MinDA meant to address denudation of Mindanao mountain ranges and at the same time improve agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in host

By ALI G. MACABALANG

POPULAR CONSULTATION. Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr. said Lanao del Sur mayors’ clamor for BARMM transition extension should be subjected to popular consultation. (File photo) communities. ―The NGP, a government reforestation program which has been on -going for many years now, receives billions in annual budget,‖ Piñol disclosed in a Facebook post Wednesday.

For 2019, he said, the NGP ―received a budget of P2.6-B for the planting of 980,000 trees in 900 hectares which means that the government spent 2,600 pesos for every tree planted.‖ ―That same amount could buy 13 seedlings of Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit, 26 Mangosteen seedlings and 5 seedlings of the Hass Avocado variety, all of which will grow well in the highlands,‖ he averred. ―Latest satellite maps of Mindanao showed the thinning of Mindanao‘s forest covers and the negligible area covered by the NGP. A variation in the implementation of the NGP in Mindanao could serve as a template of a new strategy in the country‘s tree planting programs,‖ the MinDA chief said.

In a separate statement, Piñol mentioned some detailed recommendations he presented at the Nov. 27 meet-

man that he was, Pelaez answered, ―If that is what it takes to win the nomination, I‘d rather lose.‖ And I told myself, this man must have read Louis Fischer‘s Gandhi who he quoted as saying, ―Bad means never make for good ends.‖ In the interplay of principles, Marcos won and Pelaez lost.

Marcos, the warrior that he was, offered the Vice-Presidential berth to Pelaez. The latter refused to accept while he was nursing his wounds from the principled defeat. Marcos roundly defeat President Diosdado Macapagal, the man who dishonorably failed to redeem his

ing, viz: 1. The immediate dredging and declogging of the major rivers to ensure the freeflow of water, especially in the Central Mindanao Area where the major rivers are choked by water hyacinths; 2. The establishment of water catchment basins, small dams, levees and water impounding to mitigate the sudden rush of floodwater to the lower portions of the basins, a measure which could also benefit agriculture; 3. The construction of levees and river embankments to manage and direct the flow of flood water and minimize damage to agriculture; 4. Strict implementation of forestry laws, including legal actions to be taken against those who encroach into critical watershed areas; 5. A serious, effective and well-planned program to grow trees in the deforested highlands, watersheds and mountains, including the growing of fruit trees.

6. Finally, the creation of the singular agency which will coordinate the implementa-

tion of these programs through an Executive Order to be issued by President Rody Duterte because of the urgency of the problem.

Piñol said Go. Catamco has corroborated his recommendations as potential measures to mitigate the cycle of flood incidents in Central Mindanao and avert impending natural disasters worse than those in Luzon recently.

The national government in coordination with local government units and even foreign entities has conceived years ago the Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development Program (MRBRDP), entailing unfinished thrusts in the administrations of at least three past Presidents.

The 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh constitutes largely the Mindanao River Basin. The marsh is surrounded mostly by Bangsamoro communities in Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Maguindanao where downpours would usually bring about floods and displace thousands of families intermittently.

AGM

promise to Marcos in 1961 that he would give way to Marcos in the 1965 presidential elections, as he did..

President Marcos always did something for a reason in his journey to the presidency – married Imelda, an intelligent beauty from the politically powerful Romualdez family, joined the Nacionalista Party to become Senate President, a powerful stepping stone to the presidency. Every step was planned as necessary steps to be President of the country. The journey was amazing as detailed in his impressive biography, For Every Tear A Victory written by Hartzell Spence.

HAA

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Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

BILLS | from Page A2

Bills stalling 2022 BARMM polls filed to extend BTA reign Another major concern being considered in the proposed transition extension is the delayed enactment by BTA of all codes on administrative structure, civil service, education, local government, electoral processes, taxation and other legislations needed to build strong foundations for better autonomous governance, Sinarimbo and Macaua said.

Only the BARMM administrative Code has been enacted into law last month by the BTA. Other regional codes remain under deliberation in processes equally saddled by social movement restraints imposed in the campaign against COVID-19.

Presidential support In a podcast on Nov. 13, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod ―Hadji Murad‖ Ebrahim has

admitted that his administration has not a ―major success‖ yet, something that may impede MILF-fielded candidates under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) to obtain votes in the 2022 election for regional parliament members.

By ―major success,‖ Ebrahim was referring to a completion of the tasks in building a full-blown autonomous entity under the government track and the full transformation to civilian and productive life of all MILF members.

Amid challenges for achieving the two major tracks, Ebrahim expressed support to recommendation by the Mindanao People‘s Caucus (MPC) for an extension in the BTA lifespan. The MCP reportedly made the

recommendation after its conduct of a ―rapid midterm review‖ on the operations of the interim BARMM governance.

But Ebrahim‘s announcement had drawn mixed reactions from the public and major stakeholders, Officials from Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao had conveyed to higher authorities separate manifestations endorsing the extension of the BTA lifespan until 2025.

Provincial government officials from Sulu, Basilan and Sulu had likewise sounded off their dissenting stance against the proposal.

Amid the brewing debate, the BTA passed Resolution Nov. 332 on Nov. 17 to elevate the debate to higher quarters, notably Malacañang and Congress.

ICM Ebrahim accompanied by Ministers Macacua

and Sinarimbo met President Duterte in Davao City. Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. alongside other national cabinet members reportedly helped convince the Chief Executive that the interim autonomous government would not be able to accomplish the two-track mission on time.

In the Nov. 25 virtual committee hearing of Mangudadatu‘s special committee, Sec. Galvez echoed Mr. Duterte‘s categorical support for an extension in the BTA lifespan.

Rep. Mangudadatu said his committee had also heard views from representatives of officials from BARMM areas as well as leaders of the Inter -Government Relations Body (IGRB), an entity co-chaired

by Finance Secretary Sonny

Galvez and Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal.

Mangudadatu said he ―agreed‖ with the OPAPP and IGRB officials that ―three year is not enough for BTA and the national government to lay (down) strong foundations for stable peace in Mindanao, as well as having a responsive and well-functioning bureaucracy of Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government.

He could only wish for smooth sailing in the House plenary of his bill and its counterparts from Reps. Legarda and Romuladez.

Dissenting officials like former ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman is a House deputy speaker, while Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, who also rejects the extension proposal, has two family members sitting as lawmakers in the lower legislature. AGM

ing politicians or political dynasty are presumed emerging winners!

And, two is the term extension so the BARMM current administration will continue the hanging and unfinished projects.

Now the ball is in the hand of the Congress while Duterte administration is in a favorable position.

We have seen now sympathy for extension seemingly gaining support in apparent reasons that money again will definitely win and not the mind or principle in a situation we are living in now.

Surely, as practices here

once the election made as this moment of time this will be as usual gambling way of polling then progress and development will collapse for the benefit of few families and their cohorts.

Insurgency and rebellion in the region is again inevitable. Now BARMM has taken a serious lesson that the region is still under democratic system that people are the source of power. Selfishness and nepotism is not only against the real democracy but our very own religion Islam abhors it for the sake of inclusiveness and fairness. AHMT

175th Anniversary of our Fraternity, the Alpha Sigma Phi on December 6, 1845 that was founded at Yale University, New Haven, Connicticut, USA. I served as the National Vice President for Luzon in 1978; together with Brother James Arias, the National VP for the Visayas; and Brother Ding Kalon, the National VP for Mindanao. In those days there were 3 National VPs and Only 1 National President Brother Prof. Zaide Lomondot of MSU, Marawi City.

But the Alpha Sigs has now improved a lot. While in our time there were 3 National VPs, Today the Alpha Sigma Phi has 2 National Presi-

dents.

I have so many Brothers and Sisters throughout the Philippines. If I am going to greet them this will occupy even 1 Page of Philippine Muslim Today. Hence, with my Apology I would just like to greet Brother Wendel E. Avisado, Secretary of the Department of the Budget and Management; Brother Asisstant Secretary Mike Moslem of Malacanang; and Brother Hadji Abdurahman Pattaalam of Alpha Sigma Phi Zamboanga City Alumni Association.

For your comments and suggestions please send an E-mail to: munir1845media@gmail.com

the MITT, and assured proper use of the Timbangan ng Bayan kiosks at their respective public markets, the BPI said. ―The project symbolizes fair, balance and honest governance with the hope it would be the start of the more future engagements with the BARMM‖, Mother Kabuntalan vice mayor Datu Rahaf Diocolano said.

The project pursues the Consumer Act of the Philip-

pines (R.A. 7394), which declares as a State Policy to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare, establish standards of conduct for business and industry.

MTIT Deputy Minister Atty.

Sukarno Abas said that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring social responsibility and compliance to business ethical standards is imperative.

ALI G. MACABALANG

TAGO | from Page A4

BARMM Term Extension: Yes or No For instance, unemployment or massive termination was among serious attacks, not to mention nepotism vis-à -vis the employing of close kin including children at the expense of qualified constituents who are also members of the organization or at least helped it to win.

Such favoritism obviously contradicts their (BARMM) censure against nepotism based on their advocacy for ‗moral governance‘ in their first days.

In some cases, children or in laws of a member of the

parliament are top officials in another BARMM ministry.

Their (BARMM) strong argument, among others, was that they are from the government nominees and it was a coincidence that close peer or kin was MILF nominee.

I think this is one serious matter that must be corrected if the extension is passed.

Some MPs we met have confessed that they are really new in this government bureaucracy and need more time to learn.

Also there are serious and valid reasons of some MILF

commanders who were left behind.

Instead of making use of them, the organization now as already a government partner, LGUs or elected constituents in various municipalities or Barangays were given chance to lead the ongoing creation of political parties that also angered the veteran combatants.

Talking from the media point of views; we have now two difficult options or choices that one of them must remain.

One is to hold the elections as scheduled where rul-

JANNARAL | from Page A5

Faith of a Balik-Islam endured the great pain...

He said and I quote: ―Extremism is not unique to Islam. Muslim populations all over the world overwhelmingly expressed negative views of terrorism. It is important to keep in mind that Islam, like other religions, includes a large pool of opinions and different ways to understand the traditional holy text that was written in a different era.‖ He added ―Terrorists use radical interpretations of Islam then apply these interpretations to contemporary times. There is also a perception—even among many Muslims—that Muslim

groups and leaders do not sufficiently denounce acts of terrorism. Muslims said their own religious leaders have not done enough to speak out against terrorism and extremists.― However, it is useful to note that there are many Muslim heads of state, politicians, organizational leaders and individuals who regularly condemn these acts. Further, thousands of Muslim clerics worldwide passed a ―fatwa‖ (i.e. Islamic legal opinion) against terrorist organizations such as ISIS, the Taliban and al-Qaeda and requested that these terrorist

BAERMM | from Page A4

BARMM installs... ―Consumer‘s right is an integral part of uplifting the economy in many parts of the world. The protection we provide to them brings incredible trust, following transaction between them and the private sector […] this initiative is the least we can do to make that happen‖, Ebrahim was quoted

as saying.

The initial dispersal covered the towns of Ampatuan, Barira, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mother Kabuntalan, Northern Kabuntalan, Pagalungan, Paglat, Radjah Buayan, Sul-

groups not be branded as ―Muslim organizations.‖ It is important to remember that terrorist attacks have been committed by extremists who have adhered to a wide range of ideological beliefs including the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacy, antigovernment, Islamic extremism and others.

No one ideology is responsible for terrorism.

It is therefore a duty of every Muslims to teach about stereotypes, bias and discrimination in all forms, including religious bigotry.

PostScript: On December 6, 2020, it will be the tan Mastura, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan sa Barongis and Talayan.

Northern Kabuntalan mayor Datu Umbra B. Dilangalen personally received the unit. The rest were received mostly by vice mayors and/or local key officials of the municipality, the BPI said.

In response, recipientofficials expressed gratitude for the support they received from

Tourism

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

In Tawi-Tawi, Sports Matters

Daral, another Tausog delicacy "The Best of Home-Cooked Halal Tausug-Filipino Dishes"

By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D

I

n the Province of Tawi-Tawi, sports matters to its people especially to the youth sectors.

The long history of volleyball as the most popular sports in the area has made a tremendous impact to its people which this writer had made mentioned in his previous sports write-ups that runs in five successive issues of this paper.

Whilst many readers may find it sometimes ‗dreary and dull‘, this writer would like to open up the many beneficial advantages that the sport of volleyball has brought to every able-bodied citizen of the

specifically in volleyball, has done so many benefits and this includes: a.) Free schooling from high to collegiate levels; b.) Opportunities to travel and see what‘s on the other and farther side of their

Rizal Tech University Men’s Volleyball Coach Jukrah Hamdan is a home-Grown TawiTawian who led his Team to Successive Champions in SCUAA-NCR. community.

For many people, sport is taken for granted. It‘s something that exists in the background but isn‘t considered particularly valuable.

Maybe it‘s seen as a bit of fun on the weekend but ultimately, not all that important. This couldn‘t be further from the truth. Sport matters and the importance of sports need to be widely discussed.

Without it, says many sports buffs and aficionados, many aspects of modern society will crumble.

In sports, are the so-called the ‗intangibles‘ that ordinary people cannot see and feel because they happen on a daily basis. However, these ‗intangibles‘ are translated to the following: a.) It unites the people in the community especially the youngsters by promoting a sense of camaraderie, closeness, and the spirit of friendly relationships; b.) Encourages active and healthy physical bodies; and c.) Deter and prevent the youth from the lure of dangerous drugs and addiction which have become a menace in today‘s society.

With respect to the Tawi-Tawi youngsters, then and now, sports

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province – via attendance in regional and national competitions; and c.) A greater chance to be absolved and gainfully employed in many government institutions and schools including the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are in dire needs of Physical Education teachers, coaches, trainers and technical officials.

To sum it all, from health and happiness to education and society, sport indeed matters! Promoting sports, inspiring young athletes, and increasing healthy competition will help individuals and communities to flourish.

JOHNNY R. LEE

With MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

A

fter 25 Weeks in circulation on Digital Online Edition, we have finally reached the Vol. 1 No. 25 Issue of Philippine Muslim Today despite the Pandemic where we share to our readers well selected and edited news Stories FREE of Charge.

All of us the columnists, reporters, and correspondents do our job gratis where we don‘t receive any remunerations or payments and sometimes having sleepless nights if only to give our readers the chance to read free reading material every Friday morning for a one week period.

Here in this Column we would like to tackle another Tausug delicacy featured in The Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes, a coffee table book written by a Tausug Chef Abdulaziz H. Hamsain, where for this 25th Issue we will discuss in detail how to prepare or cook the delicacy from Sulu known as Daral.

Daral just like the preceding delicacy the ―Pitis Patani‖ we featured in the 24th Issue of this Digital Online Edition has the Hinti as the main ingredient. Hinti as we previously discussed is mainly made of grated coconut mixed with brown sugar.

As you can read the ingredients below, these can be easily sourced out.

On the other hand, the procedure of making Daral is selfexplanatory and can be easily followed and does not need a real expert in cooking.

Once the Daral is cooked it is best served during the morning breakfast or at merienda or snack time in the afternoon with hot brewed coffee and hot tea mixed with lemon.

Ingredients: For the Hinti‟ -½ kilo grated coconut -2 tbsp flour -½ kilo sugar (brown) For the wrap -2 cups of flour -1 egg -Water Procedure: Mixture for the wrap 1. Mix 2 cups of flour and egg 2. Then add water For the Hinti‟ 1. In a cooking pot (medium heat), add 1 cup of water then add the sugar 2. Mix till the sugar dissolves 3. Add the grated coconut 4. Sprinkle flour on hinti‘, mix well until it dries To form the wrap 1. Fry the mixture for the wrap in a flat frying pan, form a thin circular shape (depending on desire) 2. Allow the wrap to cook but not overcooked 3. Place the cooked wrap in a flat surface, add the Hinti‘ in the middle, then roll accordingly *Best served during merienda or snacks.

DARAL Cooked Daral, a Tausug delicacy featured in the coffee table cook book written by a Tausug Chef Abdulaziz H. Hamsain. (Photo by Abdulaziz H. Hamsain) SCUAA-NCR Champion RTU with 6 players from Tawi-Tawi.

Save the Earth

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The Calamitous Impact of Natural Disasters In The Philippines: Why?

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

Pacquiao gets 'clean air champion' award, urges tree planting

By Marita Moaje

By Yusuf Ashraf “Joey” Pamaran Tugung

Last of 2 Parts

T

he keys to risk management and emergency management are abatement and mitigation – the ―prior to‖ a disaster. In this regard, the biggest culprit has been the government. After the end of the Marcos era, the infrastructure priorities of the six administrations that came after have always been misplaced. It is geared more towards the building of highways, streets, roads, mass transit, buildings, airports, information technology and bridges. Not much public works infrastructure has been invested to mitigate the impact of typhoons, such as, catch basins, impounding dams, dikes, storm drains, sewerage, coastal flood prevention levees, earthen levee, aqueducts, flood control basin, drainage basin, and the dredging of heavily silted bays. Moreover, there is lack of strict enforcement of environmental regulations by the national government on quarrying, mining and deforestation. On the other hand, local governments do not enforce strict zoning regulations, as it relates to land use.

In short, the toll on human lives and the destruction of agricultural crops, property and infrastructures every time there will be natural disasters in our country are expected and will go unabated. It is about time then for the government to take a serious look in its infrastructure priorities, environmental regulations and land use, in the context of disaster management.

The first step is to create an agency that is exclusively designed to handle emergency management. An agency that will have sizeable budget to institutionalize all the mechanisms necessary to respond to all types of disasters and having the necessary logistics and trained manpower to make it effective. And most important, that agency should be insulated from politics i.e., run by experts and experienced people that have strong credentials in emergency management and whose employees must be career civil servants because the critical factor in disaster management is ―consistency‖ and ―continuity.‖ How I wish our government will pass a bill creating an agency that is more or less patterned after the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, whose mission is to support the citizens and first responders to promote, that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all forms of hazards.

I really have certain reservations creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (House Bill No. 5989 or the Disaster Resilience Act, which was passed on September 22, 2020) because as a department, whose head will have a cabinet rank, things will most likely become political and, thereby, it will lose its independence, and consequently, prejudicing its core mission in the process. Moreover, just like any other layered bureaucracy that we know of, it will eventually become inefficient due to ―red tapes‖ and its personnel bloated (without the necessary credentials) due to political patronage.

I hope that as Director of Risk Management and with my background in risk management for 21 years here in the United States of America, along with the natural, man-made and biological disasters that I have personally handled through the years as ―Incident Commander‖, I will still have the opportunity when I come home for good in our country in the next 7 years, to help our government, even in an advisory capacity, in institutionalizing and organizing this agency or department. For the love of our country, my services will be for FREE. Muslimedia.PH

M

ANILA: Boxing champion and Senator Emmanuel „Manny‟ Pacquiao is urging the public to plant more trees as part of measures to save the environment. ―Magtulong-tulong tayo upang maging malinis ang ating kapaligiran. Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagiging plantita at plantito. Magtanim tayo ng mga puno sa halip na ubusin ang oras sa mga bisyo (let us help one another to have a clean environment. Let us continue to be plantitos and plantitas. Let us plant more trees instead of wasting our time on vices),‖ Pacquiao said after receiving the 'Clean Air Champion' award from environmental watchdog Clean Air Philippines Movement, Inc. (CAPMI) in a ceremony at the Manila Hotel on Friday.

CAPMI said it chooses its yearly champion based on the merits done to advance their clean air advocacy and other environmental causes.

Past Clean Air awardees Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade sent video messages for Pacquiao.

As a lawmaker, Pacquiao pushed for the full implementation of Republic Act No. 8749 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

The law provides for a comprehensive air pollution control policy to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature and at the same time, promote and protect the global environment.

Pacquiao also encouraged the people to report to authorities even the simplest -belching incidents that they may observe in their neighborhood.

Planting more trees, Pacquaio said, is the answer to the current problem of serious flooding in some parts of the country that may be caused by frequent typhoons hitting the country, just like the recent typhoons ―Rolly‖ and ―Ulysses‖ which did not only destroy properties but also claimed several lives most especially in the provinces of Bicol, Quezon, Cagayan, and Isabela.

Aside from preventing soil erosion because of the capacity of trees to hold soil and water, they also cause the air to be cleaner and fresher.

President Rodrigo Duterte

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION. Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao (center) receives the Clean Air award given by environmental watchdog Clean Air Philippines Movement, Inc (CAPMI) at the Manila Hotel on Friday (Nov. 27, 2020). Pacquiao encouraged the public to plant more trees to mitigate the effects of climate change. (Photo grabbed from Clean Air Philippines Facebook page) earlier said what the country is experiencing right now is the effect of climate change, calling on his Cabinet secretaries to act immediately on the problem to prevent the same from occurring in the future.

CAPMI president Dr. Leo Olarte strongly echoed and confirmed Duterte‘s statement. ―President Duterte is correct. Climate change involves abnormal warming of our planet‘s oceans. Typhoons are born in oceans and not on land. The warmer our oceans the stronger the global wind systems will be therefore super typhoons like Yolanda and Rolly arise. Anthropogenic or simply human -caused activities result in the unabated emissions of greenhouse gases that pollute the air we breathe. This leads to global warming that causes Climate Change,‖ Olarte said.

Other awardees of the event are the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Beta Sigma Fraternity Medical Group (BSFMG), and the League of Data-privacy and Cyber-security Advocates of the Philippines, Inc.

(LeaDCAP) for PMA Doctors on Boats and PMA DOCPH free online telemedicine docph.org.

For PMA Doctors on Boats, awardees are the DOTr -Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of National Defense (DND)- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the PNP Maritime Group.

The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) also received the award for the Climate Change and Poverty Mitigation category.

Studies conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) show that more than 80 percent of air pollution in the urban areas in the country comes from the unabated emissions from motor vehicles that form part of the greenhouse gases in our planet‘s atmosphere.

These gases cause global warming eventually leading to climate change.

Aside from climate change, toxic motor vehicle emissions also cause deadly cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in humans.

PNA

Read Most widely read in the Ranao Region

News

BARMM cites Muslim kid chess wizard, offers support

Vol. I, No. 25 | December 4-10, 2020 (Rabi „ul Akhir 19-25, 1442)

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Meranao boy rakes honor for PH, Bangsamoro in chess tilts

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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gainst mental and physiological setbacks wrought by the infamous 2017 Marawi siege, 10-year old Al-Basher Buto of the war-torn Islamic city has been raking honor for the Bangsamoro or Muslim Filipino community in the field of chess competition.

BANGSAMORO CHESS WIZ KID CITED. Photos show Al-Basher Buto, above, playing online chess inside his medals and trophiesfilled home room; and regional Parliament Member Rasol Mitmug Jr., below, who sponsored a resolution citing the kid’s feats and proposing support for his strides. (Photo supplied)

A photo culled from Aljazeera’s video feature story, showing Al-Basher Buto playing an exhibition game with an adult chess player in a Lanao del Sur village.

COTABATO CITY: The fledgling regional autonomous government through its interim parliament has cited 10year old Al-Basher “Basty” Buto for consistently bringing honor to the Bangsamoro community and the country as whole in local and global chess competitions, and offered sustainable supports to enhance his rare competence.

The citation came via Resolution No. 356 filed on Tuesday at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament by lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr, a compatriot of the prospected youngest Filipino Master in the Meranao tribe, amid reports about the kid‘s preparations to represent the country to a 140-nation tourney in Georgia, USA on Dec. 11.

Fellow Parliament Members Laisa Alamia, Suharto Ambolodto, Baintan Adil Ampatuan, Amilbahar Mawallil, Rasul Ismael and Don Mustapha Loong co-authored the resolution, which MP Mitmug crafted and filed in apparent reaction to public clamor for higher authorities recognition of and support to the Buto‘s stride in bringing honor to the nation.

MP Mitmug has cited attributions to Buto‘s earlier feats in local and international chess competitions heralded since 2017 by prominent mainstream media networks, including the Aljazeera, the defunct ABS-CBN, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, among others.

Buto who has been participating in chess tournaments since the age of five, and already accomplished impressive feats, such as scoring gold in the 13th Asian Schools Chess Championship in China and capturing three individual and two team gold medals for the overall crown in the 8th Asean Age Group Chess Championship in Malaysia in 2017, the resolution said, citing published reports.

He also won a trophy at the National Age Group Chess Championship in Cebu in 2017, added the resolution, a copy of which was shared by the Philippine Muslim Today Wednesday night.

Al-Basher is one of three chess enthusiast-children of Jamellah and Bong Buto, a Meranao couple that hailed from the war-torn Marawi City and nearby Ditsaan-Ramain town in Lanao del Sur. The Buto family is reportedly engaged in small-time trade in Metro Manila and living in Cainta, Rizal.

He received no formal training, other than from his uncle

―He (Al-Basher) is the youngest Muslim and Filipino Grand Master‖ so far, according to feature reports from local and international media networks, including the Aljazeera.

The Meranao lad, having won national and international chess tourneys held in China and elsewhere since 2018, is reportedly set to represent the Philippines to the 140-nation chess competition in Georgia, USA this coming Dec. 11, according to quarters backing the young Muslim wizard. ―Please help us bring this boy to the (attention of the) President to inspire (and acknowledge him in representing) the country (to) the World Chess tournament on December 11,‖ Salman ―Ranaw‖ Ali asked the Philippine Muslim To-

day through a messenger message.

Ali, a key mover for the Bangsamoro Community Outside the BangamoroAutonomous Region (BCOBAR), furnished the PMT photos of AlBasher and links of previous reports from media entities including the Aljazeera. ―Al-Basher Buto is a great legacy to rectify the bad stereotyping against the Muslims,‖ Ali quoted the BCOBAR group president Raisonel Magangcong as saying.

Supporters from BCOBAR and other quarters were hopeful that President Rodrigo Duterte could take cognizance of Al-Basher‘s prowess, and possibly get refreshed about the need to expedite the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City and its displaced residents.

Abdul Rahman Buto, underwent self-harnessing through practicing chess and beating older players at sidewalk games in Quiapo, Manila, Mitmug‘s resolution said.

Al-Basher‘s feat in China was heralded by the Philippines Sports Writers Association (PSWA) through its members‘ respective media outlets, once of which was titled ―Greatness from Quiapo sidewalk to China.‖ Basty, as the boy is fondly called by his parents, formed part of the Philippine Team to the Nov. 28-Dec. 3, 2020 Fide Online World Cadets and Youth Rapid Championships. The team included 15 other Filipino players like International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon, woman international master Kylen Mordido, Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Franiel Magpily, coached by First Asian Grandmaster Eugene Torre, MP Mitmug said in his resolution.

The PSWA reportedly featured Al-Basher‘s feats and potentials to global chess prestige, with a hope for recognition by higher government authorities like President Duterte. The stride had initially gained the attention of Filipino boxing legend-turned -Senator Manny Pacquiao, who reportedly awarded the kid wizard cash compliments.

A group of advocates for Bangsamoro Community outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BCBAR) presided by Luzon-based Rasdy D. Magangcong posted in Facebook pages some of Al-Basher‘s narrative tributes, which the Philippine Muslim Today followed-uplately with a story that caught attention from BARMM authorities.

BCOBAR member Salman ―Ranaw‖ Ali furnished the PMT

Al-Basher had dominated the Asian Schools Chess Championships in June 2017 while state forces and terrorbound extremist guerillas from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups were fiercely slugging it out in fierce armed clashes.

Buto has since become one of only three Filipinos to have won gold medals in the series of Asian schools chess tilt, according to the Philippine Sports Writers Association (PSWA), which had cited the Meranao boy in formal rites.

Al-Basher‘s father, named only in media reports as native of Marawi and Ramain, Lanao del Sur, was reportedly all praises for the honor his son has brought for the Filipinos, in general, and the Bangsamoro, in particular. AGM with data about Al-Basher‘s stride as prospect playercontestant in the age group category of the 140-nation Chess tournament set this coming Dec. 11 in Georgia, USA. MP Mitmug in his resolution revealed a sort of financial woes preventing AlBasher‘s parents from accompanying their son personally in chess competitions in distant places and abroad. ―His (Al-Basher‘s) father has already admitted to selling their house to support his training and other necessary expenses,‖ Mitmug said, as he proposed for sustained technical and logistic supports from the BARMM bureaucracy, through the Bangsamoro Youth Commission and the Bangsamoro Sports Commission for the kid‘s strides.

ALI G. MACABALANG