Philippine Muslim Today

12 Pages | P20

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

For advertisement please call +63 63 2290965 or text 09152184388

BARMM registers lowest pandemic cases in PH

By ALI G. MACABALANG

The People We Need To Be

C

T

he hashtag #theleaderweneed has been going round lately in social media and elsewhere with netizens around the country, now that next year’s polls will soon be on the horizon. As expected, opinions regarding what a leader should be for the people have been thrown round, some tinged with political, becoming points of heated debate, some expressing being sick and tired of the circus that very much characterizes the past and current state of affairs in the country.

EDITORIAL | A4 LOW RISK. Bangsamoro Health Minister Bashary Latiph tells reporters BARMM has remained “low risk” at a press conference on Tuesday in Cotabato City. (Supplied photo)

OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has remained a “low risk” in the country, the region’s top health official announced this week as he urged the public to continue observing the state-required safety or preventive protocols for their own sake and the nation.

(FULL STORY ON PAGE A2)

Pacquiao set to join Labor Party — party official

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL BACOOR CITY, Cavite — Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is all set to join the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), according to one of the national officers of the LPP on Wednesday.

Shariff Ibrahim H. Albani who was designated

A2 Across BARMM

BARMM’s first female regional prosecutor sets 6 priorities

COTABATO CITY – The first lady regional prosecutor for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has pipelined six top priorities she deemed essential for sound prosecution and more convictions in cases filed before her office.

A6 Across Mindanao

P180-M multi-purpose center to rise in Naawan town

NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental – Officials have launched construction works for a P180-million multi-purpose center that higher authorities and constituents hoped to boost the fast-pace of progress in this coastal town.

as the LPP vice president for Visayas confirmed to the Philippine Muslim Today in an exclusive interview that Pacquiao will join the LPP when he comes home after his boxing championship fight in Las Vegas, USA.

A7 Foreign Across Mindanao Story Mauling of Muslim Pinay nurse in New York condemned

Amid growing uproar over the recent kidnap-slay of online Nadia Casar in Nueva Ecija, female Filipina nurse Potre Rangkamanis was reportedly mauled in New York City, USA by a black American couple while handing them face masks inside a subway train.

ELEAZAR| A3

A9 Tourism

QUO VADIS BADJAOS?

Atty. Lorenzo Reyes the then Chancellor of the MSUTCTO stressed that ‘it is high time for the government to address the plight of the Badjao to correct the neglect and historical injustices it has committed towards the ethnic group’. He surmised that “It is not just their citizenship issues but their economic status as a people as well”.

A2

BARMM’s first female regional prosecutor sets 6 priorities

The Bangsamoro

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

BARMM registers lowest pandemic cases in PH

By ALI G. MACABALANG

C BARMM’s newly-appointed Regional Prosecutor Rohairah Ampuan Lao. (Supplied photo).

C

OTABATO CITY – The first lady regional prosecutor for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has pipelined six top priorities she deemed essential for sound prosecution and more convictions in cases filed before her office.

Lawyer Rohairah Ampuan Lao enumerated her top priorities cum “major concerns” in a chat on Monday, Aug. 15 with The Philippine Muslim Today (PMT) news maid her continued receipt of well-wishes from prominent officials for her recent office assumption as first female regional prosecutor in the area of autonomy.

Lao, obviously young and gorgeous, was appointed regional state prosecutor (RSP) by Justice Secretary Mernardo Guevara last July 12, succeeding RSP Ramy Guiling, who reached the mandatory age retirement.

She had served as provincial prosecutor for Maguindanao since February 2016 prior to her new appointment cum promotion.

“As the newly-appointed regional prosecutor of Region XIV – BARMM, I am faced with the following major concerns that I want to prioritize and give special attention to (at least six thrusts),” Lao told the PMT news.

Since the evolution of regional autonomy from the Marcos regime until the birth of the 31-month old BARMM, the regional prosecution office had been administered by male appointees.

BARMM covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan and Marawi, and 63 villages in North Cotabato.

Lao said she will cause the “filling up of vacant prosecutorial positions in the field offices, especially in BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) and Maguindanao (because) we only have 40% of the total number of available positions in the entire region.”

Vacancies for other personnel and staff positions in the field offices will likewise be filled up under his watch to fully operationalize her office for optimum prosecutorial results, she said.

Another priority thrust is the setting up of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) in BARMM “hopefully beginning 2022,” Lao said.

The three other priorities, she said, include a physical renovation in the Office of the Regional Prosecutor (ORP), an introduction of reforms in the ORP management and operation, she added.

She said her sixth priority, which would stem from the five other top thrusts, is the enhancement of the performance of the regional prosecution “in terms of case disposal and conviction rate, among other things.”

While she came as the maiden female RSP in the autonomous region, Lao also appears to be the first ORP head that linked up with the media and publicized her “major concerns.”

According to published reports, Lao earned accolades during her stint as Maguindanao’s provincial prosecutor for having “secured convictions for crimes against women and children, high-profile drug trafficking, and other criminal cases.”

Observers said Lao could have secured more convictions had some witnesses refrained from backing out due to the lack of WPP in the region.

Upon assuming office last month, several known personalities had taken turns in congratulating Lao. Among them were Lanao del Sur Governor Bombit Adiong, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, North Cotabato Vice Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza, and Southern Philippines Development Authority Administrator Jerry Salapuddin. ALI G. MACABALANG

OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has remained a “low risk” in the country, the region’s top health official

announced this week as he urged the public to continue observing the state-required safety or preventive protocols for their own sake and the nation.

In a report from the BARMM’s Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO), Regional Health Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph said his ministry has recorded as of Aug. 17 recorded a total of 9,706 cases or less than 1% of the Philippines’ total cases at 1.756 million cases.

The figure simply indicated that the 31month old region belongs to the country’s “low risk” areas in the coronavirus pandemic that appeared increasing with the appearances of variants, Dr. Latiph said, adding though that the Ministry of Health (MOH) would not be complacent in dealing with the viral threats.

As of Monday, August 16, the MOH has recorded 11 fresh cases, which makes the total active cases at

(Region 10) having posted more than 30,000 cases or higher.

But Minister Latiph urged the public to “not lower their guards” against the pandemic.

“Let us continue observing the minimum health standards such as wearing of masks, face shields, social distancing; constant handwashing, and avoiding unnecessary social gatherings,” Dr. Latiph said in Filipino.

He said the government vaccination continues in the region, adding that BARMM healthcare workers have already administered 301,619 vaccinations.

Some 192,000 individuals across several priority groups were already fully vaccinated; 131,817 of them received the single dose Janssen vaccine, Latiph

454 – five in Maguindanao, four in this city, and two on combined Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, Latiph said in the BIO statement on the proceedings of a press conference here on Tuesday.

Monday’s tally also showed 28 additional recoveries that brought to total recoveries at 8,879, or 91.48 percent of the region’s total cases.

“Tayo po dito sa BARMM ay nananatili pa ring low-risk,” Dr. Latiph noted.

Comparatively, BARMM stands with the least cases of Covid-19 across the country’s 17 regions, a BIO statement said, showing the neighboring Soccsksargen (Region 12), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Davao Region (Region 11) and Northern Mindanao

said.

The region’s 23,273 frontline healthcare workers, including medicine, nursing, and midwifery students, were already inoculated with their first dose, and 19,571 of them were fully vaccinated, he added.

“We in the Ministry of Health remain steadfast in delivering possible services coupled with medical supplies to fulfill our duties in keeping our constituents away from health adversities the best we can,” Dr. said.

On the amount of vaccines received in BARMM through the MOH, Latiph said, his ministry has recorded 470,800 doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines.

AGM

Catamco, Palma lead 22 guvs in Israel water management course

K

IDAPAWAN CITY – Governors Nancy Catamco of Cotabato and Wilter Yap Palma of Zamboanga Sibugay have led 20 counterparts in Mindanao to enroll in a five-session course on “water management and conservation” launched on Tuesday by the Mashav Agricultural Center of Israel, according to event facilitators.

Twenty other governors followed Catamco’s and Palma’s registration, bringing to 22 the number of provincial chief executives to have enrolled for participation in the course, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Manny F. Piñol said in a statement.

Catamco and Palma will also lead the delegation of Mindanao governors and mayors who will be invited by the Israeli government through its Embassy in the Philippines to visit the tiny but agriculturally advanced country to inspect Water Management and Conservation facilities before the end of the year, Piñol said.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, Nir Balzam, who has engaged the MinDA in the conduct of the online course, would lead the simple opening ceremonies Tuesday evening, he said.

“I have also enrolled myself in the program along with several key subordinates in pursuit of MinDA’s advocacy for Water Conservation and Management in Mindanao,” Piñol said.

He said the MinDA through him requested former Ambassador to Israel Rafael Harpaz for the conduct of the short course for Mindanao governors and mayors before the envoy left the Philippines for a new assignment.

He said the course’s first lecturer on Tuesday was Dr. Amir Givati, chief scientific officer of the Asgard Systems who would speak on “The Climate Crisis in the

Governors Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato and Wilter Palma of Zamboanga Sibugay.

World, in South-East Asia and in the Philippines.”

The next speaker on Tuesday was Adv. Omer Vardi, commissioner of Water and Sewage Corporations Unit, Israel Water Authority, with his topic – “The Water Sector in Israel and Urban Water Management.”

The second session is scheduled next week, Aug. 24, according to Piñol.

At least 80 participants, including the 22 governors and decision-makers as well as University of the Philippines Professor Clarita Carlos, have enrolled in the course.

While MinDA is Mindanao’s top policy-direction setting agency, it has been pushing for the development of a modern waterworks system for both irrigation and potable drink supply alongside other lifeenhancing projects, Dr. Adrian Tamayo, agency’s media relations head, said.

“Water is the most basic need of man,” Tamayo told the Philippine Muslim Today news.

ALI G. MACABALANG

Across BARMM

GOCC, GFI workers lament stunted pay hike plan

W

ORKERS of state revenue-generating agencies – the government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) – have appealed to Malacañang to carry out a pay hike plan purportedly stunted for years.

They lamented that amid the freeze in the salary hike plan has deprived them “a fair share of the fruit of their labor,” claiming their lowly colleagues are receiving as dismal as P10,000 per month.

On Aug. 13, officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GOCCs at GFIs (KAMAGGFI) told Ms. Lolly Acosta, anchor of the Sulong Na Bayan daily public affairs program over DWIZ, that their concerns have been contained in an open letter they sent to President Rodrigo Duterte through the Malacañang’s Records Office.

Nanette Jarino Lati, KKAMAGGFI secretary general, said they have also lobbied with some members of Congress, notably the Senate for possible assistance in their humane clamor.

KAMAGGFI is an umbrella organization of over 200 GOCCs and GFIs across the country.

Lati pointed out that police and soldiers, before their salaries have been raised on order of the President, used to look up at GOCC and GFI workers.

“This time, police and military personnel are above us in salaries,” Lati said in Filipino, pointing out that GOCCs and GFIs are generating revenues for the government and remitting 50 percent of their income to the national coffer.

GOCCs and GFIs are involved in financing public utilities and commercial activities for profit, enabling the government to earn and deliver basic services, Baldwin Sykimte, KAMAGGFI chairman and president of the employees’ association of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDI C), said Sykimte admitted that in past decades, GOCC and GFI workers had been enjoying bigger salaries and perks until the situation turned sour in recent years.

He said the “Compensation Position Classification System” (CPCS) was drawn up by the administration of late Pres. Noynoy Aquino to streamline the compensation scale of GOCC and GFI officers and employees.

But the Duterte administration has since 2017 suspended the CPCS implementation purportedly invoking a “further review and reevaluation of GOCC employees’ salaries, allowances and other benefits,” Sykimte said.

“We are not a burden to the government. We generate revenues from our operations that support the development projects of the government,” Virginia P. Cabonce, KAMAGGFI vice chair and president of the employees association of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), said.

Cabonce said the CPCS that applies to GOCC officers and employees was approved by an executive order (203) in 2016 “to support and encourage performance driven, productive and efficient organizations.”

She said that while GOCC employees have lived up to this goal, the rewards that are meant for them by the law have not been granted to them.

The non-implementation of the pay hike plan simply means deprivation or injustice among GOCC and GFI workers, the three KAMAGGFI leaders hinted in unison.

They thanked the DWIZ station, particularly its owner-operator Aliw Broadcasting Corporation led by the late former Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, and program anchor Acosta for helping them bring out their dilemma.

ALI G. MACABALANG

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

A3

Pacquiao set to join Labor Party — party official

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

B

ACOOR CITY, Cavite — Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is all set to join the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), according to one of the national officers of the LPP on Wednesday.

Shariff Ibrahim H. Albani who was designatLanao del Sur Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid “”Mujam” RakiinAdiong, SIAP chairman, and his father, Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto–Adiong Jr., Ompia Party provincial chairman, alongside their members and supporters converged on a joint caucus in Marawi City on July 19 to formalize the alliance, Board Member Nasser Mariano-Ganda Sr. said over the weekend.

Ganda provided The Philippine Muslim Today news e-copies of the resolution and manifesto forged at the caucus, which he said was attended by board members, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, traditional leaders and politically-inclined traditional and religious leaders and representatives of various sectors from all 41 towns of Lanao del Sur as well as Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra.

“It is with great pride and honor that (all participants) have come united to support and witness this historic ceremony (meant to fortify collective political strides) for a more peaceful and prosperous province,” said the alliance manifesto.

The document said the Ompia and SIAP parties agreed to form a political alliance to pursue common interest, vision and platforms, put up a single slate for provincial, municipal and city elective positions in Lanao del Sur, and support Mayor DuterteCarpio in the event of her Presidential candidacy in 2022, the coalition covenant said.

“We believe Mayor lnday Sara can successfully carry on the reforms started by her father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Under President Duterte, Min-

ed as the LPP vice president for Visayas confirmed to the Philippine Muslim Today in an exclusive interview that Pacquiao will join the LPP when he comes home after his boxing championship fight in Las Vegas, USA.

LPP STALWARTS: Shariff Ibrahim Albani (2nd from right) leads members of the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP) who call on Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and extended their full support when Pacquiao runs for President of the Republic of the Philippines in 2022. At extreme left is Prof. Butch Valdez, chairman of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) who also signified to fully support the presidential aspirations of Senator Pacquiao; while at extreme right is Bulu Chouldhury.

(Contributed Photo) (Supplied photos) danao is not Left behind. We are confident that Mayor Sara will continue with this inclusive agenda, the biparty manifesto said.

“Like her father, Mayor Sara is a strong, fierce, and independent leader who chooses to do what she thinks is right for her constituents. She is an effective leader as embodied in her excellent track record as three-time mayor. She is wellversed about the concerns and aspirations of LGUs in both peace and challenging times,” it added.

Butig town Dimnatang “Jimmy” Pansar, president of Lanao del Sur’s leave of municipal mayors and regional chair of the Ompia Party, had reportedly admired Mayor Sara for initiating the regional Hukbong Pagbabago Party, which has sustained respect and influence in political undertakings nationwide.

The SIAP-Ompia alliance will also promote comprehensive

initiatives supportive of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) administration’s campaign for meaningful autonomy and good governance, the bilateral agreement said.

Ompia, which means progress in Meranaw dialect, was formed by late Alim (Islamic cleric) Mahid Mutilan when he ran and won as Marawi City mayor in 1989. Mutilan used the same party in his successful bid for provincial governor in early 1992. He further tapped the Ompia Party backing in winning the Muslim Mindanao regional vice governorship in 1997.

The Ompia Party is now chaired in the province by Gov. Adiong Jr. He had completed gubernatorial terms (June 30, 2007–June 30, 2016), served one vice gubernatorial term (June 30, 2016-June 30, 2019), and was elected again as governor under the Ompia Party in 2019. His mother, Soraya Alonto-Adiong

sered as governor for one term (June 30, 2016-June 30, 2019.

On the other hand, SIAP, which literally means “concern of community and constituents,” is now led as president by Vice Mujam Adiong, son of the sitting governor. It was founded by the late Engr. Mamintal Adiong Sr., a former three-term congressman of the province’s 1st district congressman (1992– 2001), said incumbent governor, popularly known as “Gov. Bombit.”

The father, who was elected governor in 2021, registered the SIAP party with the Commission on Elections after he won gubernatorial reelection in May 2004. He succumbed to cardiac arrest on July 4 of the same year, said Bombit.

Bombit said he discovered early this year that the SIAP Party registration was “still active” in the Comelec records. (AGM)

A4

Opinion

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Philippine Muslim Today Inc.

Is police brutality a case seldom committed? But can’t it be stopped to gain the trust of our people?

Co. Reg. No. 2021030008913-02 DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Chairman, Board of Directors 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

Young Bangsamoro. (File)

AMANODING D. ESMAIL Chairman, Special Committee on Administration & Finance

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor Bureau Chief for Bangsamoro & Central Mindanao Regions FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Bureau Chief for NCR-Plus ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao & CARAGA Regions JOHNNY R. LEE Bureau Chief for Western Mindanao Region & BaSulTa NUR-ALI A. MACABALANG Correspondent AMIR HUSSEIN ABBAS Correspondent COLUMNISTS | WRITERS: ATTY. HOMOBONO A. ADAZA DR. BENJ BANGAHAN IMADODIN BASAR DIMAO ATTY. JUAN PONCE ENRILE JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D ATTY. MEHOL K. SADAIN PROF. JAHARA A. SOLAIMAN MA. FHEBIE ORTIL DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today nor of its management.

BUSINESS OFFICE:

NCR PLUS SATELLITE OFFICE:

Cor. Mercury & Pluto Streets, Rabago Subd., Villa Verde, Iligan City, 9200 Phone: 0915 2184388 | 063 2290965 Email: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com Https://philmuslim.today

9052 Viscarra Compound, Molino 3, Bacoor City 4102 Cavite Province PHONE: +639778430218 | +639353138549 Email: managingeditor@philmuslim.today

Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

The People We Need To Be

T

he hashtag #theleaderweneed has been going round lately in social media and elsewhere with netizens around the country, now that next year’s polls will soon be on the horizon. As expected, opinions regarding what a leader should be for the people have been thrown round, some tinged with political, becoming points of heated debate, some expressing being sick and tired of the circus that very much characterizes the past and current state of affairs in the country.

Indeed, in this age of technology and globalization, the role of a leader has evolved and morphed, from the formerly widely accepted image of someone taking charge, but from a distance into that of someone who is involved, approachable, solicitous, and with a feel for the welfare of the common people and genuine concern for the disadvantaged. The latter view is now the ideal, thanks to the shift in thinking brought about by modern times and the social ills that has gripped the nation for a long time.

In the country’s context, it is true that this often-neglected land is in need of leaders who fit the above description, and some, to be fair, have risen to the challenge, whose accomplishments towards the betterment of their people have left the rest of the nation sighing, “sana all”.

However, to be able to have the leaders that the country needs, an electorate that is well-informed, that thinks critically and that is more after of what they can contribute to the nation’s well-being instead of being after what it can give to them is a must. After all, it is their votes that have put their leaders in positions in the first place. Unfortunately, previous elections have shown that the voters have been amiss in their duty; the upcoming elections are another chance for them to make the best choices but it remains to be seen whether these choices will be made wisely. Given the way the people of the country think and behave, there is a long way for them to go before they can even become mindful enough to cast their votes wisely, without fear, without the aid of a few thousand pesos in exchange for their dignity.

Hence, the clamor should not be for #theleaderweneed, but more for the #thepeopleweneedtobe. (PMT)

Editorial

Need for BARMM’s Human Settlement Ministry’s active visible role

W

hile the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim governance has so far been shaping generally a positive image for its rampaging manner of planning and carrying out mostly unprecedented services alongside socio-economic and infrastructure projects, there still lies a black spot in the operations of a few regional ministries.

An assessment in the volume and nature of news releases from the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO), the official media outfit of the BARMM, will simply detect which of the regional ministries is or are actively functioning.

From dozens if not hundreds of BIOproduced press releases, private journalists belonging to the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC) have yet to find one from the Ministry of Human Settlement and Development (MHSD).

MHSD is a very vital agency in the face of a sporadic cycle in BARMM areas of social displacement cases that peak in the case of thousands of war-torn Marawi City’s displaced residents, notably those still unaccounted for in different parts of the coun-

try.

MHSD officials have not also publicly issued a reaction to earlier complaints through the social media about the lack of the ministry’s field offices in Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and TawiPunchline Tawi provinces.

Sources said the MHSD has a regional office in Cotabato City and a field outfit in Marawi City, the hometown of the Minister Aminoddin Barra and most of ALI G. MACABALANG his rank and file personnel.

The BPC had asked a BIO lead news writer about three months ago about the absence of a story from the MHSD. The fellow said the agency, like other ministries, is supposed to have its own information officer to supply news articles to the BIO. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority MACABALANG | A11

Opinion

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Being Mortal or Immortal (1) “Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. .

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal, Dust thou art, to dust returnest Was not spoken of the soul.”

A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The question of being mortal or immortal hardly comes to anyone, who is almost always in good health, until his fifties. This is the rule. The exceptions are - when sickly, meets with an accident or a traumatic experience or suffers a stroke or a heart attack. When any of these confront you, the issue of being mortal or immortal comes on a daily basis almost without let-up - from dusk till dawn. Sometimes, it disturbs you in a dream or nightmare.

With the pandemic, however, irrespective of anything, the issue comes on a daily basis – poverty or wealth, youth or old age, citizenship or persuasion, beautiful or ugly. It will be here to stay for quite sometime – if the scientists were to be believed.

With the late Senator Bobby Kennedy, that issue was never relevant until the death of his brother, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1962. Before that, as the poet says, he saw the world in the palm of his hand. But after John’s death, he realized that everyone was mortal, including him. Interviewed by media men before he ran for President of the USA about his plans, he replied he could never be sure about tomorrow.

He was right. He ran for President of the States and got assassinated.

America lost an opportunity to sire a brilliant and would have been an accomplished President for the downtrodden and democracy.

I was younger then and I am not ashamed to admit that I cried when Bobby and John Kennedy died as though I lost two valued brothers – friends on the level of the heart and of the mind. As I am writing this piece, I feel a

lump in my throat and a tear fell from my eye.

I’m not being melodramatic as I always have a passion for greatness since I was in grade school. That is why I wrote a book entitled Ideas, Principles and Lost Opportunities.

They are not ideas and principles of other people – but basically mine possibly also of people with convergent ideas and principles who I quote.

But the lost opportunities are exclusively mine. I lost them because I am a prisoner of my ideas and principles, my character and integrity. Unfortunately, the country and the people also lost those opportunities because had I grabbed them by the forelock and succeeded – the country would have become a better place for our people to live in. But not everything is lost yet because, as I keep on saying – nobody can be sure about the seasons being a believer in Ecclesiastes, especially his statement that for everything there is a season.

Historical moment: There is something about Manoling Morato I remember so well. It was after the 2010 presidential elections when I was one of the lawyers of a presidential candidate during the canvassing. Manoling told me at his residence before the elections, that four top officials of the Comelec asked him to make an offer to the family of presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro that for two billion pesos – Teodoro would become President of the Philippines.

The conversation between Manoling and the Comelec corruptors ran like this: Manoling – Why did you come to me?

Diliman Way

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA Comelec Man – You are close to the Teodoro family?

Manoling – Can you deliver what you offer to do?

CM – Absolutely yes. Two of us are Comelec regional directors and the other two are top Comelec officials Manoling – Is the famous Garci of the Hello Garci Tape with you?

CM – He doesn’t have to be with us now as he is only our leg man.

Manoling – Are you not afraid to be caught doing this?

CM – No. We already have houses in Canada and if we’re discovered, we’ll just fly out of the country.

Manoling – That’s very smart. But I’m sorry I don’t think Gibo or his family will accept your offer. They are not the type.

The meeting ended with that note. After Manoling told me the story, I asked him to testify before the Locsin Committee of the House of Representatives which was investigating cheating in the 2010 elections to identify the culprits.

Manoling replied, “Bono, do want me dead. Those people will kill me if I identify them.”

Knowing Manolic to be heroic and patriotic, I had him subpoenaed by the Locsin Committee.

Manoling appeared before the committee and passing by me before he went to the resource person’s chair, he nudged me by the arm with an impish smile. He refused to name names.

By the way, CM is not the initial of any person but stands for Comelec man, as you might loss hours of sleep trying to decipher the name of the man.

ADAZA | A11

A5

Is Pacquiao destined to be in Malacanang in 2022?

S

enator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is really a “Man of Destiny.” When he was a new trainee as a neophyte boxer he said he was too poor that he could hardly made two both ends meet.

Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon and raised in General Santos, Philippines. He is the son of Rosalio Pacquiao and Dionisia Dapidran Pacquiao. His full name is Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr.; born December 17, 1978. He is a Filipino professional boxer and politician.

Nicknamed “PacMan”, he is regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time.

Manny has been serving as a Senator of the Philippines since 2016, and previously served as party president of PDP–Laban (2020–2021), and representative of Sarangani’s at-large Congressional District (2010–2016).

But his parents separated when he was in sixth grade. He is the fourth of six siblings, one of whom, Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao, is also a politician and former professional boxer.

But his skills in boxing made him of what he is now earning not only billions of dollars but eventually earned his lifetime title as “Pambansang Kamao.”

Indeed he is really a “Man of Destiny.”

Hence, does it mean despite his lack of educational or academic qualifications, who knows he might be destined to go and work as the highest government official by being the successor of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2022? In short the next President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Nobody can tell one’s destiny it is being programmed by God. Manny who converted to a good Evangelical Christian after abandoning his Catholic faith always invoked the teachings of God in his Bible Study. So he is

one who is a “Maka Diyos” and therefore “Maka Tao.” Aside from being a boxer and politician he is now a Christian preacher, and a known philanthropist, socialite, and a YouTube personality.

Unlike President Duterte whom I was able to dine together in a posh Makati restaurant a few months before becoming President of the Republic, I only know Pacquiao as a great boxer. However, I have never met him in person. In short he doesn’t know me at all.

Be that as it may, I admire him so much as a “Man of Destiny.” Who knows after several winning bouts in boxing championships he got to land in the House of Representatives as Congressman of Sarangani’s at large Congressional District where he succeeded Rep. Erwin Chiongbian on June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2016.

Then he won as Senator of the Philippines and assumed office on June 30, 2016.

Boxing career of Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao is the only eight-division world champion in the history of boxing and has won twelve major world titles.

He was the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes; the first boxer to win major world titles in four of the eight “glamour divisions”: flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight, and is the only boxer to hold world championships across four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s).

As of 2015, Pacquiao’s fights had generated $1.2 billion in revenue from his 25 pay -per-view bouts.

According to Forbes, he was the second highest paid athlete in the world in 2015.

In July 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40, and the first boxer in history to become a recognized

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL four-time welterweight champion after defeating Keith Thurman to win the WBA (Super) welterweight title.

Pacquiao has other interests in addition to boxing and politics: in basketball, he was the player-coach of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team Kia/ Mahindra for three seasons before founding the semi-professional Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League(MPBL). He also starred in films and presented television shows. In music, he has released multiple locallyplatinum albums and songs; his cover of Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We Touch” peaked at 19 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary top 20 list after performing it on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Pacquiao is all set to join the Labor Party Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is all set to join the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), according to one of the national officers of the LPP. Shariff Ibrahim H. Albani who was designated as the LPP vice president for Visayas confirmed to Batanes To Tawi-Tawi in an exclusive interview that Pacquiao will join the LPP when he comes home after his boxing championship fight in TMobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA on August 21, 2021. Pacquiao is all set to have a boxing bout with Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas.

Earlier Jimuel, the eldest son of Pacquiao has already joined the LPP as a member of the party and became the Chairman of the Committee on Youth Affairs.

Ibrahim said the election of Jimuel is a welcome addition into the LPP’s build up for political battles.

A6

News

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Dual use of Hijri, Gregorian calendars opted in BARMM

P180-M multi-purpose center to rise in Naawan town

By PMT NEWS TEAM

C

OTABATO CITY — The interim Bangsamoro parliament has mandated the synchronized use of Hijri and Gregorian calendars in

GROUNDBREAKING. The ceremonial groundbreaking for a P180-million multipurpose center in Naawan, Misamis Oriental on Aug. 11. (PMT Photo)

N

AAWAN, Misamis Oriental – Officials have launched construction works for a P180-million multi-purpose center that higher authorities and constituents hoped to boost the fast-pace of progress in this coastal town.

It is in this town where a five-hectare land will be purchased for donation as Islamic public cemetery by the provincial government as earlier committed by Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Gov. Emano and Naawan Mayor town Dennis Roa alongside Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel Herbosa Mindanao and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Manny Piñol broke ground on Aug. 11 for the construction of the center, which will become another land mark in Misamis Oriental.

The four officials delivered separate speeches, taking turns in painting rosy prospects from the eventual completion of half moon-looking edifice.

Mayor Roa said the four-storey multipurpose center will house a modern municipal hall and an array of commercial stalls as well as local government offices where residents and visitors can transact business on a onestop shop.

Gov. Roa said his office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan promptly endorsed the application for financing of the project by DBP. The P180-million loan application for the project was also approved swiftly by the DBP board, said Herbosa, who narrated his past successful experiences in private banking vis -à-vis financing of essential ventures.

Sec. Pinol, for his part, recommended that the rooftop of the building be built with solar energy-generating panels to make the edifice more multi-faceted and essential to the municipal populace.

Engineers and an architect of the contracted construction firm assured that the building would be of an international quality that the people of Naawan and Misamis oriental in general will be proud of.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by key members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Mindanao State University-Naawan Campus Chancellor Dr. Elnor C. Roa. At the sidelight of the ceremony, Chancellor Roa and DBP President Herbosa signed a memorandum of agreement for the provision of more than thousand pesos for the establishment of tree seedling nurseries to enhance watershed areas in this town.

ALI G. MACABALANG

The 80-seat legislature of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) passed last Tuesday, August 17 on third and final reading the bill mandating all ministries, agencies, local government units, offices, and institutions in the area of autonomy to observe the dual use of the two universal calendars in public transactions.

“This is considered as landmark legislation because it epitomized our exercise of right to self-determination,” Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema, a lawyer and bill principal author, averred upon the passage of the measure.

BTA Bill No. 87, titled as the “Bangsamoro Dual Calendar Act of 2021,” was approved sans opposition or abstention by the parliament members, according to the legislature’s media and public affairs office.

“Our issue on autonomy in the Bangsamoro has been there for 50 years already, and this is the first time that we have acted upon the primacy of the predomi-

official business undertakings in the new autonomous region, describing the move as a springboard for regional self-determination.

Bangsamoro member of parliament Omar Yasser Sema. nant way of life in the region, the Islamic way of life and the culture,” Sema was quoted as pointing out.

The Hijri calendar, commonly known as the Islamic calendar, is used to determine Islamic months, while the Gregorian calendar refers to the solar dating system used by most countries.

Once singed into regional law by Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim, the edict shall require the harmonized use of the two calendars in government’s formal correspondences like memo-

randums, office orders and other written documents across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), it was learned.

“The Islamic calendar has an immense importance in every Muslim’s life (reflective of) much deeper religious and historical meaning,” according to Parliament Member Baintan Ampatuan, one of co-authors.

Starting this year, public entities and instrumentalities in BARMM shall be using the harmonized calendars marking the dates

of Islamic holidays and observances, notably the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah (Mecca) to Madinah in the month of Rabi AlAwwal, the Parliament media office said.

The BARMM’s Darul Ifta (House of Islamic Opinion) would be tasked to carry out steps needed in the implementation of the regional edict, proponents said.

They said the legislation will hopefully inspire the younger generation in BARMM to learn more about Islamic history and culture.

As an implementing entity, the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta is expected to uphold the legislative measure’s requirements with the utmost integrity, efficiency, responsibility, and accountability, Sema said.

The initial implementation of the harmonized calendar system will draw a P10-million subsidy for use in the printing and publishing of the Islamic timetable and for purchase of equipment for moon sighting. (AGM)

Justice for slay of village chair in Maguindanao pressed

C

OTABATO CITY – Relatives and supporters have called for justice in the recent killing of a barangay chairman in Pandag, Maguindanao in what residents suspected to be the start of election fever in the province.

Guiamaludin Mamalinta, elected chairman of Barangay Pandag, was shot dead on August 7 outside his village hall by four bonnet-wearing armed men aboard a black Grandia van, according to initial investigations.

Hundreds of relatives and sympathizers gathered on August 11 at a covered court in Barangay Pandag to mourn the killing of Mamalinta, and demand for swift dispensation of justice.

Bangsamoro Parliament Member Khadafeh Mangudadatu, one of dozens of key mourners, batted for thorough probe in the killing and appealed for sobriety among relatives and supporters.

Mangudadatu said the incident would be better left to proper authorities to resolve, prodding bereaved relatives that “violence will only worsen when emotion is uncontrolled to spill another violent act of revenge.”

Bangsamoro Parliament Member Khadafeh Mangudadatu seeks thorough probe of the murder.

His wife, incumbent Pandag town Mayor Zihan Mamalinta-Mangudadatu, a relative of the victim, told reporters that the village chairman’s killing was the first life-taking violence so far in her municipality for about six year.

“Let us not be cowed by threats or challenges to the tranquility of our community, but we must avoid revenge as a recourse,” the lady mayor told her constituents in Pilipino through a live broadcast on Aug. 11.

Residents believed that the killing of Chairman Mamalinta could be a “sign of the start of election JUSTICE | A11 fever” in the province.

News

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Mauling of Muslim Pinay nurse in N New York condemned

A7

BARMM, UNDP bring more glad tidings to Cotabato’s SGA

By ALI G. MACABALANG

A

mid growing uproar over the recent kidnap -slay of online Nadia Casar in Nueva Ecija, female Filipina nurse Potre Rangkamanis was

reportedly mauled in New York City, USA by a black American couple while handing them face masks inside a subway train.

The assault on Rangkamanis came to fore through a broadcast report Friday, Aug. 13 by the GMA news network.

The report did not mention when Rangakamis was assaulted, stating only that she was giving face masks to a mask-less black American couple inside a subway train.

Instead of appreciating, the couple mauled Rangkamanis and insultingly asked her to return to China, thinking she was Chinese, the GMA report said.

Rangkamanis, who looked like a Chinese Muslim resembling counterparts in China’s Uighur, is a Filipina from Lanao del Sur in Mindanao working as licensed nurse in New York City for years, it was learned.

Bangsamoro regional Parliament Member Zia-ur Rahman AlontoAdiong immediately issued a statement on Friday to condemn the assault on the helpless Rangkamis.

The assault exemplified “a symptom of yet another disease called racism, and the pandemic has only (deepened the) problem of hate and discrimination more apparent,” Adiong lamented.

Adiong pointed out how “the rise of Covid19 cases has fueled anti-Asian rhetoric and xenophobic attacks around the world.”

Rangkamanis is the founder of Kinding

by five cops and two civilians. His resolution complemented a statement by Regional Parliament Speaker Pangalian Ali Balindong denouncing Casar’s abduction, slay and possible rape.

Investigators said Casar hired a Grab driver to deliver from Cavite an onlineordered item to Franklin Macapagal on July 20 in Nueva Ecija.

They said that while returning, Casar and the driver were blocked and abducted along Sta. Rosa by five cops with Macapagal and Dario Robarios, another civilian. The suspects took the driver’s P4,500 cash and his cellphone, and freed him the next day.

The driver went to theSta. Rosa police station, and recognized one of the cop-suspects on a group of photos posted on the wall, antikidnap group (AKG) investigators said.

On August 1, Casar’s burnt remains placed in a sack were recovered from a shallow pit in Palayan City.

Speculations pointed to possible rape of Casar by her captors before

Potre Rangkamanis and bangsamoro Member of Parliament Zia Adiong.

Sindaw, a nonprofit dance theater company based in New York City that aims to “assert, preserve, reclaim, and recreate” the cultures and traditions of the peoples in Mindanao, he said.

Rangkamanis like Adiong is a member of the Bangsamoro region’s Maranao tribe, to which the slain online jewelry seller Nadia Casar, 35, also belonged.

Meanwhile, Muslim groups demanding justice for Casar have expressed dismay over the absence of words from the Palace or President Duterte, who had earlier claimed having a Maranao blood through his grandmother’s lineage.

They said many Maranao traders had fallen victims to unscrupulous schemes by alleged members of the police force but “no words” have been heard yet from the President, citing Rangkamanis’ mauling as an added incident.

Earlier, Adiong filed a resolution vehemently condemning the kidnap of Casar on July 20 in Nueva Ecija allegedly

her death.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos had condemned the incident and dispatched a team accompanied by a lawyer to assist in the indictment and prosecution of all suspects.

Three of the cops were arrested alongside civilian suspect Robarios, while the two others surrendered later.

Reports said Macapagal remained at large.

The five copsuspects assigned in various Nueva Ecija police units were named as Senior Master Sgt. Rowen Martin, Staff Sgt. Benedict Matias Reyes, Staff Sgt. June Malillin, Cpl. Julius Alcantara, and Staff Sgt. Drextemir Esmundo.

PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on August 2 ordered the summary dismissal proceedings for the five cops and their prosecution alongside the two civilian suspects. He later met Casar’s relatives and renewed vow to personally monitor the aaaaaof justice.

(AGM)

ADDRESS: Consunji Street (front of Emcor), Poblacion, Iligan City 9200 PH. Tel: 63 228-3454

YOUR ONE-STOP USED RTWs SHOP

ORTH COTABATO – The so-called special geographical area (SGA) comprising 63 autonomy-opting villages in this province has continued to rake in glad tidings from the Bangsamoro autonomous governance.

The Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) officials converged on Monday in either inaugurating or launching infrastructure projects in the SGA areas in joypacked ceremonies in Pigcawayan town of this province.

The infra projects are funded under the Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development (BIRD) program led jointly by the MILG and UNDP for a period of at least five years to hasten the growth of conflict-affected communities including parts of the SGA, Philippine Muslim Today news sources said.

Monday’s convergent projects under the BIRD program’s phase I included an inauguration of 900 -meter paved road linking the 63-village SGA to highways leading to the BARMM government center in Cotabato City, and installation of solarpowered street lights at Barangay Datu Binasing in Pigcawayan town, MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said.

Senior Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, representing Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim, had touched hearts in the 12 villages with his handover of P25,000 initial cash assistance to 150 Bangsamoro widows of former mujahideens (freedom fighters).

Interviewed by reporters, Macacua said the struggle for self-determination that led to the creation of BARMM involved all facets of sacrifice, and the highest of which was the loss of lives among surviving bangsamoro families.

“Now that the BARMM governance is gradually gaining momentum, Chief Minister Minister Ebrahim wants to see all those who endured painstaking trials to reap the fruits of what they had sacrificed for,” Macacua said in Filipino.

Spectators including media workers saw elderly widows shedding “tears of joy” while receiving initial cash aids and other household items including medicines and health supplements.

The ceremonies were witnessed by North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco, who had campaigned for people in the SGA or 63 villages’ constituents to join the BARMM territory in the February 2019 plebiscite to gain supports from regional level for their faster socio-economic growth.

The 63 villages tagged now as BARMM’s SGA are predominantly Muslim communities located in the towns of Pikit, Pigcawayan, Midasayap, Aleosan, Kabacan and Carmen in this province.

Last March, Sinarimbo and BARMM Public Works Eduard Guerra alongside Gov. Catamco launched the concreting of 63-kilometer roads at one kilometer for each of the SGA villages, and the construction of modern barangay halls worth P3.6-million each in the same villages.

Monday’s event initially served 12 villages in Pigcawayan, namely Simsiman, Buricain, Balacayon, Matilac, Datu Mantil, Kadingilan, Libungan Toreta, Upper Pangankalan, Lower Pangankalan, Lower Baguer, Datu Binasing, and Patot, all formerly conflict-affected Minister Sinarimbo told reporters that Monday’s BIRD program initial phase was aimed at transforming conflict-affected areas into peaceful and productive communities.

He said the program components also include strengthening village governance through capacity building ventures, rural infrastructure development, and livelihood projects funded from the Special Development Fund (SDF) of the autonomous government.

UNDP | A11

A8 Officials settle 2 rido cases in Maguindanao, Lanao Sur

News

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

MinDA reviving plywood industry with DBP backing

By ALI G. MACABALANG

N

AAWAN, Misamis Oriental – While gaining initial success in ventures rallying both national government strides and southern Philippines-focused development interventions, the

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is eyeing this time the possible revival of the country’s plywood and veneer industry via multi-faceted tree planting drive.

Bangsamoro Social Services and Development Minister Raissa Jajurie. (Online-culled photo)

C

OTABATO CITY — Collective local pacification efforts have continued to gain momentum in the Bangsamoro region, with officials in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur succeeding lately in settling two rido cases or clannish feuds.

With reported blessing from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officialdom, cooler heads effectively reconciled the erstwhile rival camps of Pagalungan, Maguindanao Mayor Salik Mamasabulod and Member of Parliament (MP) Hadji Akmad Jack Abas on Saturday, August 14.

The kanduli (thanksgiving) ceremony was held at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF’s) Camp Rajiamuda in Pikit, North Cotabato, according to DXMY-RMN radio reporter Rahib Bansao.

Bansao posted a photo showing MP Abas and Mayor Mamasabulod seated together and cordially trading whispers to the elation of hundreds of people witnessing the event.

The groups of Mayor Mamasabulod and MP Abas, himself a field leader of the MILF in Pikit, had reportedly been at odds for years over intense differences believed to have political undertones.

Followers from both camps had traded bullets and rounds of rocket-propelled grenades, leaving some casualties early this year.

The settlement ceremony had the blessing of the MILF-led BARMM administration, Bansao said, citing the presence in the event of Ustadz Lucman Sultan as representative of the MILF Central Committee.

Pagalungan and Pikit are hometowns to the late Governor Datu Udtog Matalam of then Empire Cotabato province, and of the late Senate ProTempore Salipada K. Pendatun and the deceased MILF founding Chairman Salamat Hashim, it was learned.

In Lanao del Sur, local officials led by Picong town Mayor Alinader “Saudagar” Balindong settled a long-standing rido between his constituents families of Yasser Pagayawan of Barangay Maganding and ni Benjamin Imam Montañer of Baranay Micolabo on Tuesday, August 17.

Mayor Balindong administered the forging of covenant over the Holy Qur’an on the leaders of the two clans in a solemn ceremony at a covered court in nearby Malabang town.

The origin of the just-settled feud was not known, but sources reaching the Philippine Muslim Today news traced it for conflict over geopolitical differences.

The BARMM governance is pursuing pacification and conciliatory campaigns of Lanao del Sur Gov. Bombit Alonto-Adiong, who has already amicably settled over 180 family feuds in nine years and of then Maguindanao Governor, now Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who had reconciled some 100 clannish conflicts in about eight years.

Earlier police and military reports said rido cases are among factors affecting peace and order situation in BARMM. (AGM) PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY

Above photos include MinDA-supplied image and Philippine Muslim Today news snapshot, showing a snack pub on the heels of falcate trees, and the huddle of MinDA Chairman Piñol with Naawan town Mayor Dennis Roa, Jeannie Sandoval and Emmanuel Herbosa of the DBP on Aug. 11.

For a start, industrial tree farming stakeholders will be convened this month to discuss the prospect and fortify fresh efforts in reviving the now dormant falcata -based plywood and veneer manufacturing, MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol in one of his latest online posts.

The idea surfaced when Sec. Piñol and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) president Emmanuel Herbosa alongside their parties were hosted by Naawan Mayor Dennis Roa for snacks at the “sikwatihan” mini-pub on a hilly roadside here after the visiting officials ceremonially sowed abaca plants in a nearby village here on Aug. 11.

(Read a separate story by The Philippine Muslim Today news on abaca planting among Higaonon tribe here.)

While in a huddle over cups of hot choco drinks specialized at the newly-opened “sikwatihan” house, Mayor Roa led the attention of the MinDA and DBP teams to an array of falcata trees thickly intercropped with cacao plants in a 20hectare hilly land covering the mini-pub.

Informed that planters were gaining dismal income from growing falcata trees, Herbosa and Piñol said the MinDA-DBP partnership can also assist in harnessing

the trees to revive plywood and veneer production in Mindanao, with the state bank offering to finance the venture.

The DBP has provided a P218-million loan for the construction of six solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) units and a water supply system, which Herbosa alongside bank Director Jeannie Sandoval and Sec. Piñol initially inaugurated operations in Taraka, Lanao del Sur on Aug. 10.

The bank also financed the construction of P180-million multipurpose center Misamis Priental Gov. Bambi Emano, Mayor Roa and the visiting officials launched here on Aug. 11. The center will house a modern town hall and an array of commercial stalls, the mayor said.

The MinDA will “convene Industrial Tree Farming stakeholders in a virtual convention before the end of this month to organize the Mindanao Industrial Tree Farming Development Council (MITFDC)” for the plywood and veneer making in the island region, Piñol said.

Falcata is a fastgrowing tree species planted in many Mindanao mountainous areas, especially in Caraga Region, which had provided poor rural families

with sources of income, he said.

But since tree farmers are disorganized and most of the logs are bought by private processors or exported to China, prices had been controlled and manipulated, he added.

The logs exported to China are processed into plywood and veneer and sold back to the Philippines, thus depriving the farmers of added value for their trees, Piñol said.

He said MinDA has earlier started organizing tree farming industry players into the Mindanao Industrial Tree Farming Development Council, similar to what it did with the Bamboo Industry.

At the height of the logging operations, Mindanao was known for its quality plywood produced by such companies as Sta. Clara and others, he said.

Later, the tree industry shifted to growing falcata for the country’s largest paper mill, the Paper Industries Corp. of the Philippines (PICOP) in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. PICOP shut down operations years ago due to mismanagement, he said.

Bislig City officials led by Mayor Florencio Garay had been moving for its rehabilitation and reopening of the PICOP to boost the economic growth of the city and

the region, Pinol said.

In separate occasions, DBP president Herbosa has lauded the MinDA’s thrust of building industries and undertaking the complete value chain in its production programs for food and other commodities.

“This is the approach that we should take in undertaking development projects so that we could provide jobs and boost the economy at the same time,” Herbosa said.

Apart from its interventions for agriculturebased development, the MinDA has also opened model towns in Mindanao for the national government’s “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BPBPP), particularly in Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces to help ease heavy traffic and informal settlers’ woes in urban centers like Metro Manila.

MinDA has also organized regional monitoring bodies to oversee the implementation of various government projects and prevent undue slippage, agency media liaison officer Adrian Tamayo said.

It may be recalled that the MinDA had been primarily tapped for mostly political interventions in Mindanao in the past administrations.

(AGM)

JRL)

Tourism

By JOHNNY R. LEE Ph.D.

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

QUO VADIS BADJAOS?

A9

BELACAN YAM LEAF (SWEET POTATO LEAF) BANGSAMORO HALAL DISH

D

uring the first International Conference on the Sama Dilaut held at the Mindanao State UniversityTawi-Tawi College of

and there are many theories and recommendations that did not work,” Alejo said. Leslie Bauzon, chairperson of Division VIII of the

opinions and recommendations barely reached the attention of concerned government entities and nothing concrete came out from

Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) in Tawi-Tawi on December 1, 2015, Atty. Lorenzo Reyes the then Chancellor of the MSUTCTO stressed that ‘it is high time for the government to address the plight of the Badjao to correct the neglect and historical injustices it has committed towards the ethnic group’. He surmised that “It is not just their citizenship issues but their economic status as a people as well”.

A number of other academicians who attended the conference have expressed their ideas and concerns with regards to the plight of the Badjaos. Jesuit priest and anthropologist Fr. Albert Alejo said that governments cannot just turn a blind eye to the plight of the Badjao. ‘Let’s acknowledge it. It is a difficult problem

National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP-DOST), supported the idea that the Badjao community should be empowered and capacitated, espe-

it.

Since the government can barely provide for their basic needs, this writer would like to lay on the table some important and relevant

First and foremost is giving them education.

It is a well-known fact that only a handful of Badjaos have reached the tertiary level of education. Education is empowerment and a tool to capacitate an individual. Because of poverty and lack of means to send them to schools and be educated like a normal citizen, the Badjao children can only reach a certain level of education and instead opted to stay at home to help their parents scour the seas to augment their day-today needs, especially food for their family.

They should be given equal and if not preferential treatment in availing the government’s program like scholarship for Indigenous peoples and the so-

With Maria Fhebie Ortil

N

ow on the No. 10 issue of the Volume 2 of the Philippine Muslim Today, I find it more pleasant for me to write a Halal Dish of our neighboring Malaysia.

Hence, for this issue a Sweet Potato Leaf or in Bahasa Malayo known as Belacan Yam Leaf is hereby featured.

Belacan Yam Leaf (Sweet Potato Leaf) – Signature Malaysian dish called kangkung belacan or stir-fried water spinach/morning glory with shrimp paste.

The key ingredient is none other than belacan, the Malaysian variety of shrimp paste. (Shrimp paste is an essential flavoring medium in Southeast Asian cooking.)

BELACAN YAM LEAF (SWEET POTATO LEAF)

cially on their rights as indigenous people under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

But sad to note, all these wonderful ideas,

measures that may be of help to improve the stagnant if not deteriorating social status of the Badjaos within our midst.

called the 4Ps. To be at school, the Badjao children has always been behind their local counterparts because it takes more than just a personal presence in the classroom – where one has to be properly dressed, with minimum school supplies (paper, notebooks, pens and pencils) and a little pocket monies for their snacks and other stuffs that could hardly be met by a Badjao parents.

(To be continued in the next issue…)

INGREDIENTS 1 box yam leaf, approximately 0.8 lb (0.3kg) 1 tablespoon belacan/shrimp paste 2 red bird’s eye chilies or 1 regular red chili, remove seeds and thinly cut 3 tablespoons cooking oil 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoon roasted chili paste 1 tablespoon dried shrimp 3 dashes fish sauce ROASTED CHILI PASTE: 1 handful dried chilies 2 tablespoons cooking oil water INSTRUCTIONS Grind the dried chilies and cooking oil in a blender.

Add a little water while blending.

Heat the wok, pour some cooking oil and stirfry the chili paste for about 3 minutes. Set aside.

Soak the dried shrimp in warm water for 10 minutes, then coarsely pound them using mortar and pestle. Set aside.

Cut the stems of the yam leaf. Keep only the tender part of the stems.

Rinse with cold water and then set aside.

Fire up the wok to HIGH heat and add the cooking oil. Wait till smoke comes out from the wok then add in the chopped garlic.

Do a quick stir, add in the belacan, dried shrimp, and roasted chili paste and continue stirring.

As soon as you smell the pungent aroma of belacan, toss in the yam leaf. Stir continuously until the leaves started to wilt.

Add in a few dashes of fish sauce, continue stirring (make sure the color of the vegetable remains green).

Dish up and serve hot. (MFO)

JRL)

A10

News

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Eleazar meets Casar’s relatives, renews vow for justice

By ALI G. MACABALANG

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. (Supplied photo)

An online-generated photo of PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar with Nadia Casar’s relative.

P

hilippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar met relatives of kidnapslay victim Nadia Casar on August 9 and renewed justice for her and the bereaved family.

Following The Philippine Muslim Today news’ expressed vow to keep monitoring the progress of the PNP’s probe on the heinous crime, which many speculated to have involved gang-rape, Gen. Eleazar reiterated his commitment to personally see to it that appropriate punishments are meted on two civilians and five cops suspected in the case.

“Firstly, I convey my heartfelt sympathy with the family of Nadia Casar and I am pledging that your police entity is generally clean, swift and investigating in utmost fashion that will lead to penalizing the guilty,” Eleazar was quoted as saying in Pili-

pino in his meeting with Casar’s relatives.

Present at the Aug. 9 meeting were the victim’s sister, Mosripa Casar, relatives Fahad Tambara, Datu Bong Alonto and lawyer Al Razul Sultan, who posed with the PNP chief showcasing a black shirt printed a call for justice.

Atty. Alfegar Triambulo of PNP’s Internal Affairs Service; BGen. Rod Dimas, director of yhr Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG); BGen. Narciso Domingo, deputy regional director for administration in Region 3; and representatives from the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group attended the meeting, “Ang ganitong uri ng gawain ay hindi katanggap-tanggap sa aming organisasyon.

Kami dapat ang nagbibigay ng proteksyon at hindi ang kumikitil sa buhay ng mga

sibilyan,” a Philippine News Agency quoted Eleazar as saying.

Three cops – PSSG Benedict Matias Reyes of the Sta. Rosa Municipal Police Station in Nueva Ecija; PSSG June Malillin of the Palayan City Police Station; PCPL Julius Alcantara of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit – and civilians Franklin Macapagal and Dario Robarios were already arrested and indicted, the PNA report said.

But other published reports said Macapagal, who allegedly contacted Casar online for a jewelry deal, remained at large.

Two other cop suspects – PMSG Rowen Martin of Cabanatuan City Police Station; and PSSG Drextemir Esmundo of the Cabiao Municipal Police Station – voluntarily surrendered to their chief of police and are now under restrictive custody, the state news body

said.

Eleazar believed the case against the suspects was strong due to the testimony of witnesses to the crime.

An AKG report said Casar and a Grab driver she hired were kidnapped by at least five men at around 1:45 p.m. on July 20 in Barangay Tagpos, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. The Grab driver was robbed of his cellular phone and P4,500 cash, and released by their captors kidnappers at around 3a.m. of July 21.

The Grab driver was able to identify Reyes, one of their abductors, after seeing a group photo of police officers inside the Sta. Rosa police station, it was learned.

Casar’s burnt remains placed inside a sack were recovered in a shallow grave on Sunday, August 1, at around 2:30 PM at Sitio Pinagpala, Barangay Imelda Valley, Palayan City, the AKG said. (AGM)

SUBSCRIBE TO PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY E-PAPER. CALL +63 63 2290965

Advertise your business with Philippine Muslim Today, it brings results. Call +63 63 2290965

BIFF ex-combatants turning rescuers, entrepreneurs

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Dozens of former combatants of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are gradually becoming social assets such as community emergency rescuers and economic entrepreneurs through civil-military cohesive efforts launched in the new autonomous region to win back constituents from lawlessness.

Over 300 BIFF armed members have rejoined the social mainstream since the creation in 2019 of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 96 of them surrendering in batches this year alone, according to military accounts.

Five BIFF ex-combatants were reported as among 59 graduates of the Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training held last July 27 to August 2 by the BARMM’s Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidents (READi) unit and the military’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division (6ID), officials told The Philippine Muslim Today (PMT) news.

The transformation of the five former violent extremists into emergency responders to both natural calamities as well as human-induced disasters, which usually involved BIFF guerillas, had drawn public praises.

More sectors expressed elation after learning that two of the WASAR training graduates from the BIFF were siblings named as Mama and Mohammad, both of early 20s, who have been united after a decade of separation wrought by the deaths of their parents and their recruitment into terror-bound rebellion.

The Mama-Mohammad reunion was featured in a documentary produced by Cotabato blogger Ferdinadh Cabrera for the BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), which administers the READi operations.

A report published on Aug. 13 and attributed to Brig. Gen. Roy Gallido, Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade head, said that 26 former BIFF combatants underwent a threeday in Tacurong City to acquire skills on various entrepreneurial skills under the BARMM’s “Tulong ng Gobyerno sa Nangangailangan” to TUGON program.

The TUGON program was conceived by the Office of the BARMM Chief Minister to hasten the return to mainstream society of former BIFF members through livelihood, psycho-social, education and other humanitarian interventions, MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said in Cabrera’s documentary video.

The surrender in batches of BIFF combatants stemmed either from the intensified military surgical operations or local civilian authorities’ persuasive campaigns in towns mostly bordering Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces, it was learned.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6ID and Task Force Central head, has reportedly expressed optimism that more BIFF combatants would rejoin the social mainstream with corresponding life-enhancing assistance from the BARMM governance and other state instrumentalities.

The BIFF was founded by Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato in 2010 after he and his 300 loyal followers bolted their mother unit, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in 2008.

When Kato died of lingering illness on April 14, 2015, the BIFF had eventually splintered into three factions, one of which is reportedly adhering to the ISIS ideology.

According to MILF and BARMM leaderships, there have been backchannel talks with the two other BIFF factions for their return to the folds of law and give the new autonomous governance a chance to take its course.

PMT NEWS TEAM

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

A11

MACABALANG | from Page A4

Need for BARMM’s Human Settlement Ministry’s active visible role (BTA) parliament, in which Minister Barra is also a member, no news story on his activities has been made and released by the BTA’s Publication and Media Relations Division (PMRD).

An officer of BPC had once monitored Minister Barra holding a radio program in Marawi City – something that MHSD officials or the minister himself should also be doing in any of the broadcast entities in Cotabato City, the seat of the BARMM governance.

According to workers of private and government media entities, such as the Philippine News Agency, the Philippine Broadcasting Service and Philippine Information Agency, they would want the MHSD to be in the limelight especially amid public confusions over the snail-paced Marawi rehab efforts and its displaced residents’ plight.

The Bangsamoro Press Corps, a group of mostly private journalists organized last April 17, is invit-

ing the MHSD to be a regular guest in the BPC weekly (every Saturday) “Tapatan” Forum. The maiden episode of the forum is set to reel off at 10a.m. to 12noon this Saturday. Aug. 21.

The need for MHSD’s public visibility surfaced anew when this writer, at a webinar sponsored last Wednesday by the Philippine Press Institute, drew no satisfactory answer from the National Housing Authority (NHA) or the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) on the question of who will trace thousands of Marawi IDPs stull scattered in the country.

NHA Undersecretary Zyril Carlos was asked twice about the same question with no categorical answer.

The obvious lapse prompted me to suggest to the TFBM or the NHA to tap the National Commission Muslim Filipinos as a lead agency in tracing the unaccounted IDPs outside Marawi estimiated at 40,000 persons (but Carlos put it at 19,000). The

NCMF has regional and field offices across the nation.

The MHSD and NHA are both memberagencies of the TFBM. Marawi City-based Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr. was asked the same question over two months ago. He gave no categorical answer, too.

Tracing and sending back IDPs from the outside are imperative because the BARMM government has started giving out assistance to war-affected residents in Marawi without the unaccounted IDPs getting share. They suffer triple whammy – displacement, coronavirus pandemic and deprivation of due assistance.

The homecoming of the IDPs is equally important in the eventual completion of TFBM-touted buildings and centers in Marawi City.

Can you call buildings a home without human occupants? (AGM)

orchids and roses that blossom in my wife’s garden at Cagayan de Oro. As he was a painter, the small book contains beautiful sketches of women whom he encountered along the way – who loved him and whom he loved. It contains more than sketches but also pictures, conversations, what the women told him and what he told the women – love notes that will delight lovers, men who appreciate women and women who charmingly respond to the appreciation.

In my meandering in the world of books, the small book of Marcelo reminds me of tender moments embedded in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises, Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet, Yukio Mishima’s Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Spring Snow, D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lovers and Sons and Lovers, Thomas Wolfe’s Of Time and the River and You Can’t Go Home Again, and F.B Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night. Of course, also of Julio Yglesias’ Of All the Girls I’ve Loved Before in whose garden blossomed one of the most beautiful women in the world – Isabel Preysler of Manila.

But more than these novels that I’ve read, Marcelo’s Flowers In My Garden is a class by itself – it is tender, haunting and an undying tribute to love,

and a continuing salute to a lust for life. That makes the little book immortal as you read it in a pocket book edition soon.

Immortality: Almost every human being dreams to be immortal, more so for accomplished individuals – leaders, novelists, poets, short story writers, painters, actors and actresses, journalists, athletes, sportsmen, warriors. This is so because immortality is a celebration of life – of greatness, of outstanding achievements, of the beauty and wonders of the universe.

For ordinary mortals, like you and me, our dreams of immortality is encapsulated in what the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, once wrote about how a person can consider himself to have lived.

And it goes this way – plant a tree, sire a child and write a book. Tested by this standard, many of us, in a sense have become immortal. In my specific case, I have planted trees in my gardens in Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro City and in my home town, Catarman, Camiguin; sired children and written and published twelve books and still writing more.

And I thank the Divine Providence for making me what I am in this wondrous journey of life with a prayer that it can last as long as that of Methuselah - always greeted and gifted daily with the beauty and magic of the early morning sunrise.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

ADAZA | from Page A5

Being Mortal or Imortal (1) In hindsight, I’m wondering what if Gibo or his family accepted the offer and the Comelec men delivered as they did in the Hello Garci Tape? The drift of the country would have changed for a six year period. Since Gibo was within the top ten of his class in the University of the Philippine College of Law, first placer in the bar examinations and later became Secretary of National Defense, he certainly had better credentials than his cousin, Noynoy Aquino, who became President, Gibo would have certainly performed much better than his cousin.

Ah, but that is the law of life and the name of the game – win some, lose some. As immortalized in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men - the plans of mice and men often go astray. For Gibo Teodoro in 2010, it went astray.

Flowers in his garden: Marcelo Lim was still strikingly handsome even in his early eighties. He was very alert and engaging. The night he died in his sleep he was eating well as though he would live forever. But there was one secret his family did not know about him – he kept a hand written book which he entitled Flowers In My Garden. Well the book had nothing to do with flowers –not of roses or orchids. They are women he fondly called flowers in his garden – probably just as beautiful as the

JUSTICE | from Page A6

Justice for slay of village chair in Maguindanao pressed They said the fatality was a vocal supporter of calls for an extension in the lifespan Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and for the ratification in a referendum of the new law dividing the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto”

Mangudadatu is main author of Republic Act No. 11550, which splits the province, and of one of four bills in the lower Congress for deferment of the 2022 Bangsamoro parliament poll to extend the BTA operations to 2025.

The lawmaker, former three-term governor and relative-in-law of the slain village leader, had earlier

disclosed to the media that some quarters in Maguindanao have been opposed to the splitting of the province and the postponement of the 1st regional parliament election.

The Commission on Elections has yet to set the date for the referendum, even as the 18th Congress is deliberating on election-resetting bills.

ALI G. MACABALANG

UNDP | from Page A7

BARMM, UNDP bring more glad tidings to Cotabato’s SGA Monday’s ceremonies also covered initial handover of 20 out of 100 units of motorized banca for target fishermen- beneficiaries, and provision of wheelchairs for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the same 12 villages.

Meanwhile, Gov. Catamco renewed her full support to the public clamor for extension in the transitional operations of the BARMM government

via congressional postponement of the 2022 parliament election.

“I am supportive not only in words but with my whole heart. This is because I have already seen brighter prospects in uninterrupted BARMM transitional governance,” Catamco said in Filipino.

Also present in Monday’s events were Minister Guerra, BARMM Chief Planner Mohajirin Ali,

UNDP advisor Chetan Kumar, Pigcawayan Mayor Jean Dino Roquero, 34th Army Battalion commander Lt. Col. Edgardo Vilchez, Jr., 602nd Infantry Brigade head Col. Jovencio F. Gonzales, SGA Administrator Mohammad Antao, and Bangay Buricain chair Badruddin Awil.

ALI G. MACABALANG

Ranao Star

PUBLISHING HOUSE ADDRESS: Consunji Street (front of Emcor), Poblacion, Iligan City 9200 PH | Tel: 63 228-3454 (PLDT), 09481514695 | 09477201555 (Smart)

A10

News

Vol. II, No. 10 | August 20-26, 2021 (Muharram 11-17, 1443)

Maiden Bangsamoro Press Corps’ ‘Tapatan’ set Aug. 21 I

By Philippine Muslim Today News Team

C

OTABATO CITY – It’s all set for launch of the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC) weekly media forum on Saturday, Aug. 21, with three renowned Muslim personalities invited to provide update on focal thrusts and pressing concerns of the new regional autonomous governance.

sues and concerns: 1) The status of Congressional bills to postpone the 2022 BARMM Parliament poll & extend the BTA lifespan; 2) Update on R.A. 11550 dividing Maguindanao into two provinces vis-à-vis a referendum to ratify the law;

dia platforms or on delayed broadcast partly and fully by the broadcast entities belonging to the BPC, with related stories carried by print journalist-members.

The weekly forum’s online links will be made public, especially for media organizations and personalities interested in the workings of the 31

BANGSAMORO PRESS FORUM. Expected resource persons in the BPC maiden weekly (every Saturday) “Tapatan” forum on Aug. 21 are Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, and Parliament Deputy Speaker Zia Alonto-Adiong. (File photos) Bangsamoro Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarmbo, interim Parliament Deputy Speaker Zia-ur Rahman Alonto-Adiong and Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadato have confirmed virtual attendance in the maiden episode of the BPC weekly “Tapatan” forum from 10.a.m. to 12noon every Saturday.

The first episode of the BPC “Tapatan” will focus on the theme – “BARMM: Its Potentials and Realities.”

The three resource persons are expected to talk on their respective current thrusts in relations to specific is-

3) A controversial plan for the national government to stop subsidizing seven state universities in BARMM; and 4) Absence of funds for maintenance of national highways in BARMM. Discussions may partly tackle the brewing questions on the Marawi reconstruction and rehabilitation, which is one of the focal agenda of the Bangsamoro autonomous government, but a specific dialog on it will be done in one or more succeeding episodes of the “Tapatan.”

The proceedings of the weekly forum will be aired live via social me-

-year old autonomous government – with emphasis on members of the national press club (NPC) and the foreign correspondents associations of the Philippine (FOCAP).

The initial episode will be held and moderated at the 10a.m. to12noon at the studio of the Bandera FM news network in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Succeeding episodes will be held in Cotabato City to allow BARMM officials based in the city to be present physically. The conduct of next episodes in the studios of BPC-member broadcast outfits is highly possible.

(AGM)

Critical Analysis on the Sweeping and Rapid Victory of the Taliban

n military warfare, especially during this modern era, it takes a real good strategy and effective tactic to be executed by seasoned combatants in the ground to win a war.

Not surprisingly, upon the complete withdrawal of the American forces, the Taliban Mujahideen Forces intensified their military campaign. One after the other, cities and provinces fell to the Taliban like a ‘House of Cards.’

After two weeks, all of Afghanistan, including the national capital City of Kabul, were captured by the Taliban. The next thing we heard from the news was Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the capital to avoid bloodshed.

Even Afghan military camps were easily captured by the Taliban, while some of their troops yielded their camps without any fight.

This news spread like wildfire, causing low moral and demoralization among the Afghan population. Very clearly, we can view, the US trained Afghan Government Forces were either in very low moral or they decided not to fight each other as Afghans.

One news reports said that one of causes of demoralization among the Afghan government troops is they were not paid their salary for months.

There are some scenarios that I am considering in my mind, of what could have possibly happened behind the scene.

What if the US government may have secretly made a deal with the Taliban that after their complete withdrawal, the Taliban can intensify their military campaign?

What if the Taliban had implemented an effective psy-war on the Afghan government troops, not to fight them

as fellow Afghans, with the promise that they can be recycled into the armed forces and granted amnesty, with all their unpaid salaries and benefits given them?

Or the Taliban may have told them that we are not enemies to each other. Our enemies are the foreign forces in our land. Stop resisting us so we can quickly rebuild our country.

The mediation of the Qatari government must be with the blessings of the US. The head of the Taliban delegation was Abdul Ghani Baradar, rumored to be the new President of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Afghan government delegation was headed by Vice President Abdullah Abdullah.

By the action and statement of their leaders and their Spokesman like Sohail Shaheen who said that all government officials and those who work for government and the foreign powers were granted general amnesty. While many had decided to just leave the country, but the greater majority of Afghans are staying, opening their shops and doing their business as usual, amidst the regime change, normalcy is returning to Kabul and the other cities being secured by the Taliban security forces.

My observation on the present Taliban and the former Taliban of more than 20 years ago are greatly different.

The present Taliban look more tamed, seasoned by their decades of combat experience and mellowed by time.

The pronouncements of their leader is very firm and assuring. Their entry into Kabul was without bloodshed while there was skirmishes in the outskirts. It was likened to the entry and

Southern Frontier

GERRY SALAPUDDIN captured of Makkah by the Messenger of Allah where he declared amnesty and forgiveness to all and ordered no vengeance.

“One thing is sure, as Allah says in the Glorious Qur-an: “Inna fatahna, laka fathan mubeena!” Verily, we’ve given you great victory!”

The victory of the Taliban over two great world powers, i.e. Russia and America and its NATO allies, is no ordinary feat! It can only happen by Allah’s will because they were men of great faith. Their strong anti-colonial mindset is the fire that burns brightly in their heart. In ancient times, even Alexander The Great, failed to conquer the Afghan Kingdom by force. The proud Afghans are unconquered people from where great men of faith like the mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi and Rabia Adawiya came from.”

The Taliban leadership must have realized that while they intend to implement the purity of the fundamental teachings of Islam, however, as a member of the international community of nations, they must coexist with other nations. They must have also realized that in order to rebuild their country, they need the individual and collective support of their citizens.

That is why they vow to have an inclusive government of their new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under their new President Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the Founders of the Taliban.

SUBSCRIBE TO PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY E-PAPER. CALL +63 63 2290965