Philippine Muslim Today

BARMM in Focus

Climate Change

World leaders make historic pledges on forests, methane emissions GLASGOW, Scotland – World leaders on Tuesday made remarkable pledges on real action at the COP26 summit to limit rising temperatures and support small island developing states (SIDS) and Africa to adapt to the changing climate.

A wide range of announcements were made on day three of the UN climate conference, focusing on green innovation and historic commitments on deforestation and methane emissions.

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Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

CM Ebrahim calls for cohesion towards robust Bangsamoro CM EBRAHIM | Page A2

Solon affirms ‘moral governance’ in BARMM, cites P6.8-B fund return to national gov’t SOLON | Page A3

BARMM hires over 2k new ‘asatidz’ SOLON | Page A3

Inside More than 100 leaders took a landmark step forward at a meeting of world leaders on Climate Change, committing to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

Former TESDA director new member of SPDA Board. — Page A3 Lanao Sur jail-mates undergo Islamic values seminar. — Page A3

* First regular elections deferred

* PRRD to appoint new 80 BTA members

BY ALI G. MACABALANG

C

OTABATO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte has reset the 2022 first regular election of the Bangsamoro parliament members and extended the transitional period of the regional autonomous government to 2025, drawing praises from proponents and supporters tangled in months of debate with some opposing quarters.

He signed on Thursday, Oct. 28 Republic Act (RA) No. 11593 legislated via Senate Bill 2214 and House Bill 10121 to give the interim Bangsamoro governance ample time to complete efforts in building its bureaucracy and transforming Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members into peaceful

Major Indonesian Islamic organization declares crypto ‘haram’

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he East Java branch of one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has issued a fatwa deeming the use of cryptocurrency “haram,” or forbidden, under Islamic law. .

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Photos of the UBJP leaders and Rep. Mangudadatu with PRRD, and rival camps of Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and Gov. Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu at the Palace on Tuesday night.

and productive civilian life.

The new edict amends R.A. 11054 or

Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which set the date of the regional parliament elections in

COTABATO CITY – Police and military hierarchies have warned about use of goons and guns for intimidation in the 2022 elections, announcing the disbandment of 13 private armed groups (PAGs) operating in Mindanao.

National Police Chief General Guillermo Eleazar and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Jose Faustino Jr. made the announcements in a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP).

The OPAPP issued the statement on Saturday, even as Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu urged higher authorities on the same day to sanc-

time with synchronized national and local polls on May 9. 2022.

It thus extended the lifespan of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) from 2022 to 2025. The BTA, the interim ruling body of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has 80 members named by Duterte before he formally installed the BARMM entity here on March 29, 2019.

PRRD | A3

tion the recruitment of paramilitary men and activation of military reservists that may be used as “partisan” fronts in the electoral processes for next year’s synchronized elections.

“Higher authorities should regulate use of Special Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units Active Auxiliary (SCAA) and military reservists in prelude to ensuring peaceful and free elections in Mindanao,” Rep. Mangudadatu said in Filipino on Saturday live over the Tapatan Forum of the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC).

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Bangsamoro

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

CM Ebrahim calls for cohesion towards robust Bangsamoro

PRRD extends BARMM transition to 2025

COTABATO CITY – Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim has called on the constituents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to start working cohesively towards the common dream for robust and progressive governance.

Ebrahim made the call on the same day President Duterte officially deferred the 2022 BARMM elections and extended the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) operations to 2025 after nine months of processes that had ostensibly divided political quarters in the autonomous region.

“It’s time to move forward; it’s time to set aside our differences; it’s time to help one another in transforming the Bangsamoro,” Ebrahim said in a statement conveying also his administration’s “warmest gratitude” to the President for signing into law the consolidated Congressional bills BARMM on October 28.

The signed measures, Senate Bill 2214 and House Bill 10121, translated to R.A. 11593, which amended R.A. 11054 or Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that originally set the BARMM parliament election in time with the May 9, 2022 synchronized local and national polls.

The call for BARMM transition extension was suggested in November 2020 by the Mindanao People’s Caucus, a confederation of many civil society organizations, in its “midterm review” of the interim regional governance.

| FROM PAGE A1

The review concluded that the interim operation of the regional governance could not complete in three years (2019-2022) its major thrusts mandated under the BOL and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) due various delaying factors compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CAB and BOL prescribed for two thrusts: The Normalization Track that will decommission the MILF fighters and transform them to peaceful and productive civilians; and The Political or Government Track meant to build a robust autonomous entity requiring passage of basic regional codes.

The BTA Parliament consequently passed a resolution urging Congress to amend R.A. 11054 to postpone the 2022 BARMM elections and extend the transition period to 2025.

From the proposition stage up to the enactment of enabling law, proponents and supporters had mobilized people in street caravans, media briefings and signature campaigns. But minority quarters also staged opposing efforts. The two blocks had traded contrasting views that filled spaces in both traditional and social media channels.

Because of contrasting information reaching him, the President once announced opting for “neutral” stance in the debate until he later certified the bills as urgent, and finally signed the ratified and consolidated measures into law.

“We thank President Duterte and his administration for making sure that the GPH-MILF Peace Process will succeed. This is our shared legacy to Mindanao and the rest of the country,” Ebrahim, who also chairs the MILF, said.

The President’s approval valued the “collective desire of the Bangsamoro people (for) a strong regional bureaucracy that can address our decadeslong challenges and make sure that a brighter future awaits (us) – free from corruption, from manipulation and from any ills of government,” he added.

But he assured anew that the extension “was and will never be about power” by a few people but “for the triumph of the whole of Bangsamoro.”

ALI G. MACABALANG

R.A. 11593 authorizes the President to retain the present BTA members, whose office term ends on June 30, 2022, or appoint new members to

Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim alongside civil society groups had aggressively pushed for the regional poll postponement. They said the

Macacua construed the remark with two meanings: Either the bills were signed before the meeting or would be left to lapse into law by end of

purported suggestion for the withdrawal of UBJP’s certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) of the regional candidates in the city and Maguinda-

Rep. Mangudadatu and regional officials led by CM Ebrahim in a pose with Pres. Duterte, and of a separate pose by the Cotabato City mayor and Maguindanao governor’s camp in Malacañang. (File photos) serve until the election of successors in 2025, according to Philippine Muslim Today news sources including Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

The edict also allows the next President to review the performance of Duterte’s appointees or name new members, Rep. Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu is lead sponsor of House Bill 10121, which was harmonized with Senate Bill 2214 authored by Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino.

The bills became law to take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of wide circulation, reckoned upon their signing by President Duterte last Thursday, Oct. 28, according to legal minds.

The law would ensure the fulfillment of provisions under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) forged by the National Government with the MILF in 2018. The CAB is the basis of R.A. 11054 or BOL enacted in July 2018.

The CAB and BOL prescribe for two main thrusts: The Normalization Track meant to decommission MILF members so as to transform them to peaceful and productive civilian life; and the Political Track for building a parliament setup in BARMM. BTA members led by MILF chairman and BARMM interim Chief

BTA needed more time to implement the BOL, given delays in implementing their mandated thrusts aggravated by the COVID -19 pandemic.

Their campaign had drawn division among elected officials in BARMM, with the local governments of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi rallying it, while those of Sulu and Cotabato City opposed openly.

When the enabling bills were filed in Congress, BARMM officials said, the Maguindanao provincial leadership shifted stance and allied with the opposing quarters “discretely.”

After the passage of SB 2214 and HB 10121 and their ratification in September, opposing quarters allegedly lobbied for a Presidential veto.

The alleged veto campaign prompted the BARMM leadership and Rep. Mangudadatu to meet the President on Oct. 20 and enlighten him, regional officials earlier said.

On Oct. 26, the proponent team and the opposing group led by Maguindanao Gov. Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu and Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi returned to the Palace to hear from President Duterte his decision on the BTA extension and its political implication among the protagonists.

The President reportedly said the “BTA extension is already a law.”

Senior Minister Abdulraof

this month.

But Rep. Mangudadatu said he was assured by the President to “affix his signature” before Oct. 30 and Duterte was brokering a covenant for peaceful, orderly and honest conduct of elections in Cotabato City and Maguindanao where the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) has fielded full slates of candidates.

BARMM Spokesman Naguib Sinarimbo had explained that the fielding of UBJP candidates, led in Maguindanao by Rep. Mangudadatu as gubernatorial standard bearer, in return of gratitude to those who painstakingly rallied the BTA extension campaign.

Sinarimbo, the BARMM local government minister and UBJP deputy secretary general, said the MILF party wanted to ensure that elected provincial, city, municipal and Congressional leaders in the autonomous region would cooperate with the Bangsamoro administration.

The UBJP fielded a city slate led by mayoral candidate Bruce dela Cruz-Matabalao to face reelection-seeking Mayor Guiani-Sayadi, who had openly voiced objection to the inclusion of her turn in the BARMM territory and that she did not recognize administrative authority over this city.

In her Facebook page on Oct. 27, Mayor Guiani -Sayadi posted a statement mentioning a national cabinet cluster’s

nao.

She said the Oct. 26 Palace meeting tackled a “small group discussion between the Mangudadatus to clear certain issues” and that Rep. Mangudadatu and Gov. Sangki-Mangudadatu agreed on the conduct of the gubernatorial race in honest and peaceful fashion.

Mayor Sayadi said their allied camp also sought a restriction for the BTA and MILF organizations not to be used in the UBJP electoral campaign.

She claimed there was also a “deadlock” on the apportionment of MILF’s 41 nominees would be appointed BTA’s 80 members.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mangudadatu said joined the “Tapatan” forum today (Saturday) of the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC) to update in details on what transpired before and during President Duterte’s signing of R.A. 11593. A story on this will follow in the Philippine Muslim Today news.

He earlier appealed to political supporters not to fan fire between his camp and that of the Gov. Mariam backed by husbandGovernor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, a province not part of BARMM territory.

“We are relatives,” said the lawmaker, who assured to reach out to his second cousin Gov. Mangudadatu and offer reconciliation after the May 9 elections next year. (AGM)

Read PMT Digital @ www.philmuslim.today

News

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

Solon affirms ‘moral governance’ in BARMM, cites P6.8-B fund return to national gov’t

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BARMM hires over 2k new ‘asatidz’

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

By ALI G. MACABALANG

C

OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Automous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governmentof-the-day had returned to the national coffer at least P6.8-billion fund left by preceding administration in what a lawmaker affirmed as a show of pursuing its avowed “moral governance” campaign.

“It was unprecedented in the history of autonomous governance as far as the huge amount involved is concerned,” Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu averred on Saturday, referring to the way the BARMM officialdom decision to return the unspent fund back to the national government.

The act even caught national officials, particularly Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado in “surprise,” Rep. Mangudadatu told the weekly Tapatan Forum regular episode on Saturday, Oct. 30.

He said he once visited Sec. Avisado to lobby for a budget in his Congressional district and huddle with him being a longtime friend.

He said he asked the cabinet official for confirmation about information

A screenshot photo of Rep. Mangudadatu in the latest Tapatan Forum of the Bangsamoro Press Corps on October 20. he had received that Bangsamoro officials led

by Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim returned to the national government some P6.8billion fund left unused by the Hataman administration of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Mangudadatu said Sec. Avisado confirmed the report in awe, and exchanged inquisitive views with the lawmaker in Cebuano vernacular.

“I told Sec. Avisado that the administration of CM Ebrahim has a standing pledge to observe moral governance in the Bangsamoro region,” the lawmaker told the media forum in Filipino.

On October 2, Rep.

Mangudadatu narrated the same story first before leaders and members of the United Bangsamoro Justice presence of United (UBJP) led by Ebrahim at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

He jested that ordinarily, other officials could have manufactured documents just to liquidate and keep the money.

“The rare story lingered in mind in belief that the BARMM’s (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s) governmentof-the day really meant business in its vow for moral governance,” Mangudadato told the Tapatan forum.

The story has “inspired

me more to push hard for the BARMM administration’s call for extended transition period by filing an enabling bill” in Congress 2020, Mangudadatu said.

Three similar bills were filed by Representatives Loren Legarda, Isidro Ungab and Martin Romualdez that were later consolidated with the version of Mangudadatu, who subsequently voted upon by 40 jointcommittees members as main sponsor.

House Bill 10121 passed and reconciled with Senate Bill 2214 authored by Senator Francis Tolentino. The reconciled and ratified bills were signed into law last October 28. (AGM)

Newsbriefs

Former TESDA director new member of SPDA board DAVAO CITY — A former Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Basilan Provincial Director Hansaman ‘Sam’ Adang Salasim was appointed as the new member of the Southern Philippines Development Authority’s (SPDA) Board of Directors by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently.

Salasim, a Yakan who hails from Isabela City, Basilan Province, was a former officer of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC).

Dr. Celestine B. Siglos, an SPDA spokesman said Salasim is the fourth member of the SPDA Board to represent the private sector.

Salasim is also a Sheikh or leader of the pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest city, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He took his oath of office recently before SPDA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Abdulghani ‘Gerry’ Ajul Salapuddin at the main office of the Authority here in this city. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

NEW SPDA BOARD MEMBER: Former TESDA Director for Basilan Hansaman ‘Sam’ Adang Salasim, center, newly appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as member of the Board of Directors of Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), was sworn to office by SPDA chief Abdulghani “Gerry” Ajul Salapuddin, right, in Davao City recently. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Lanao Sur jail mates undergo Islamic values seminar MARAWI CITY, Lanao Sur — In a post at Facebook on Saturday, October 30, 2021, the provincial government of Lanao del sur said the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBTHE-TESD) and the RLM Multi-Skill Training and Assessment conducted an Islamic Values Seminar to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Provincial Jail here.

It said a counselling session followed conducted by the officers of the Provincial Warden’s Office. This is in line with the goal of the Provincial Warden to develop and empower the PDL in preparation for their reintegration back into society. ROXETTE YAHYA

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), through its Directorate General for Madaris Education, hired 2,374 new Islamic Studies and Arabic Language (ISAL) teachers or asatidz for the 11 schools divisions in the Bangsamoro region.

On Friday, Oct. 29, 241 asatidz from BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) and 245 from Cotabato City signed their contracts of service in a ceremony held at the Bangsamoro Government Center in the city.

Contract signing ceremonies for the divisions of Lanao del Sur I and II, and Marawi City were already held last Oct. 20-21, while those for the Maguindanao I and II, Basilan, and Lamitan City were held Oct. 2829.

Meanwhile, new asatidz from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are scheduled to sign their contracts this weekend.

According to Prof. Tahir Nalg, MBHTE director general for Madaris Education, the main objective was not only to hire more ISAL teachers but to have a balanced and quality education for the young learners.

JOB ORDER CONTRACTS: Newly hired “asatidz” or Arabic language teachers show their job order contracts after they got hired in Cotabato City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO “Tuturuan po natin sila na ma-improve ang Islamic studies nila pero sinisigurado po natin iyong quality ng edukasyon,” said Nalg.

“Dahil doon, continuous po iyong ating program para sa kanila (asatidz), yung enhancement ng kanilang knowledge at capacity building nila,” he said, adding that the MBHTE will conduct capacity trainings to further enhance the asatidz’s methods of teaching.

The teachers will receive a monthly salary of Php16,200.00 until March 2022. According to Nalg, their contracts are renewable every 6 months while they wait for the ministry’s special eligibility exams for permanent positions for Madaris teachers.[Read related story: BARMM to grant special eligibility for Madaris teachers in new education code] Of the 2,374 new asatidz, 639 and 307 are from Maguindanao I and II, respectively, 83 from Basilan, 40 from Lamitan City, 48 from Sulu, 14 from TawiTawi, 115 from Marawi City, and 505 and 137 from Lanao Sur I and II, respectively.

“Alam ko po na hindi naging madali ang pagpili sa amin, kaya naman po pagbubutihin ko ang responsibilidad na ipinagkatiwala sa akin upang maipaabot sa lahat ang katuruan ng Islam,” said Ismael Kawan, one of the contract signees on Friday. (With story from Bangsamoro Information Office-BARMM)

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opinion Philippine Muslim Today, Inc. Co. Reg. No. 2021030008913-02

Editorial

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Four Years On: Healing Delayed is Healing Denied

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EDITORIAL

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

R

ecently, October 16 marked the day when, four years ago, a protracted siege that created a huge humanitarian crisis and which had shattered the lives of Marawi citizens came to an end. Or at least, that could be said of the hostilities.

However, there is not much need to return to what had happened four years ago; it has been etched forever in every man, woman, and child who had fled Marawi City in a bid to save themselves from the crossfire between the military and their adversaries. In the aftermath, however, new questions have sprung up and need to be answered: When will the rehabilitation of Marawi be finished? How has Marawi fared so far since the gunfire and

airstrikes stopped? Have the people healed? What happened exactly to the aid that was received? importantly: Whose war was it?

Most of these questions do not have clear answers. Either these have yet to be answered by time, or the ones who are in the position to answer them are not yet ready or worse, not yet willing to answer them. But the people who have been most affected can say that they have yet to heal from what had befallen them, and only a speedy and genuine addressing of their plight can assuage their grief.

But only until the other questions are questioned could this kind of healing happen. Four years on, how long will Marawi need to wait?

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor

The Muslims in the Crossroad of the Clash of Political Titan in General Santos City

JAHARA A. SOLAIMAN Contributing Editor FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Bureau Chief for NCR-Plus JOHNNY R. LEE Bureau Chief for Western Mindanao Region & BaSulTa ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao & CARAGA Regions PANAMBULAN MIMBISA Bureau Chief for Central Mindanao Region SALIC G. MACABALANG Acting Bureau Representative for Bangsamoro Region MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL Head of Accounts Executives for NCR Plus

BUREAUX NCR PLUS SATELLITE OFFICE:

CENTRAL MINDANAO BUREAU:

9052 Viscarra Compound, Molino 3, Bacoor City 4102 Cavite Province Phone: +63 9778430218 | +63 9353138549

Blk. 8, Lot 19, Molave St., Brgy. Lagao General Santos City, South Cotabato Phone: +63 9157922846 | +63 9472359113

Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

T

he city of General Santos is at the southernmost tip of the Philippine archipelago.

It is even farther in distance coming from Manila than going to Hongkong but it is nearer to Manago Indonesia with which it maintains sporadic trade partnership. It used to be part of the so-called Cotabato Empire before its subdivision into fine provinces, now six after the creation of the new province of Maguindanao Oriental.

The city is host to one of the royal houses of the province, Rajah Buyaan and its principalities which constitute a major and respected component of the cultural structure and heritage of Maguindanao.

There is a wealth of prognosis that given the right policy direction and development programs, General Santos is ready to take a major pivotal role in the over-all efforts to catapult the country in the ranks of industrialized nations of the world similar to Singapore as the next destination hub of foreign and local business and capitalist.

In this growing, metropoles there are about ten to fifteen percent Muslims of its total population of 700,000 more or less. Consequently, they, constitute as much a percentage in its number of electorates.

These Muslims are now caught in the crossroad of the clash of the political bigwigs in General Santos City.

For years, politics in General Santos had been dominated by such political stalwarts as the Antoninos and the Acharons. There was only one brief time in their fabled dominance which was interjected by the election of the first lady mayor and political neophyte, Rosalita Nunez in 1988 to 1992. Of late, however, some names would emerge to seriously challenge and possibly change the political landscape as the Riveras under the tutelage of their patriarch business tycoon Don Rodrigo Rivera and son now Mayor of the city Ronel C. Rivera. There is also the Banasis then jonnily under the wings of brothers Dodo and Rufino Banas and the Pacquiao clan of course under the baton of the eight divisions world champion, Senator Emmanuel M. Pacquiao. Except for the Antoninos who decided to temporarily

take a break from actively participating in politics, all the other families are well politically entrenched with each of them holding positions of power and influence in government.

The Outside View Judge Panambulan M. Mimbisa (ret) The Acharons are represented by Lawyer Loreto Acharon who is the present vice-mayor of the city and before him is former congressman Jun or Pedro Acharon Jr. The Banas family are now carried on her shoulder by congresswoman Shirlyn Banas-Nograles of the 1st District of South Cotabato following the demise of her father Dodo and uncle lawyer Rufino Banas. The Riveras are under the comfort of Mayor Ronel C. Rivera of General Santos City and the Pacquiaos at the helm of which is Senator Manny Pacquiao.

In this coming May 9, 2022 elections, the Antoninos are fielding Broadcaster and Pharmaceutical magnate Elmer Catulpos for the mayoral post. He will square off with incumbent South Cotabato 1st District Congresswoman Shirlyn Banas-Nograles and Kagawad Lorelei Pacquiao. As for the congressional seat incumbent Mayor Ronel C. Rivera will face the incumbent Vice Mayor Lawyer Ton-ton Acharon.

This will be exciting.

These candidates will vie for the vote of the 320,000 registered electorates of the city a measly 10 percent of which are Muslim voters.

Very clearly, this is an insignificant number of votes which cannot determine the victory or defeat of anyone of these candidates, however, if we look at ourelectoral history where a single vote, in fact, even a toss of coin can spell the difference and catapult a candidate to the throne of power, and if we consider further the political acumen and prowess of the Muslim it is not impossible for them to make a candidate win or cause the defeat of the other.

As of this writing and considering the disTHE MUSLIMS | A9

Opinion PRESIDENTIAL CLASHES IN 2022 – Part 12 “And we are here as on darkling plain Swept with confused alarms Of struggle and flight Where ignorant armies Clash by night.”

– From Dover Beach by Mathew Arnold We live in a confused and confusing time. Everyone seems lost. No one appears to know what to do. Year 2022 is a bench mark year – election or no election. Why? There is hardly any choice – all candidates are discredited traditional politicians except one who filed his certificate of candidacy on October 8. So that is the sad situation with cascading tears that threatens not to end.

Rodrigo surprise: Before October 1, 2021, President Duterte declared he is running for Vice-President for so many reasons – from queer to irrational, personal to constitutional.

But that is Rodrigo Duterte for you – queer like the owl. A few days ago, the queerest happened, he went to the Comelec accompanying his man Friday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and declaring he was no longer running for Vice-President. Instead, Duterte raised the hand of Bong Go who filed his candidacy for Vice-President – surprise of surprises! It even caught media and political experts flatfooted. I predicted he will not eventually run but not in this smashing sort of way.

Marcos declaration: A few days ago, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos filed his certificate of candidacy for President in the May 2022 election. As usual, like other presidential candidates, he has not presented or identified any vicepresidential candidate as his running mate. Does he want to pull a surprise? It is no surprise for me if he does not run for President at all. For the moment, the Marcos and the Duterte families, I suspect, are still busy negotiating on who will run for President or they have already decided but they just want the propaganda mill going. It is good political tactic to keep the voters and their opponents on edge. This is the typical Rodrigo Duterte gimmick in the 2016 elections – I will run, I will not run but

eventually he did run and the rest is history. Rodrigo and possibly Imelda want this trick repeated. It worked then, it can work again.

Possibly, it will work. It is next to impossible for Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte to run against each other – it’s simply insane. Why? This will disperse their forces.

With them running together, it’s a blockbuster – a surefire formula for winning. It is formidable but not impregnable or invincible. Why formidable?

The tandem has everything to win Philippine elections – money, power and machinery as well as influence. This enumeration is a repeat of what I have previously written on this page.

Money - they have the Marcos and Duterte billions. Power - they have the Comelec, military, police, teachers and the board of canvassers. Influence – they have the oligarchs who are like their marionettes plus the Solid North and the Solid North.

Who in the Opposition has these? Isambayan – you must be kidding. Vice -President Leni Robredo – she is an attractive and lovable woman. But beyond that – what has she go? You may say – the Bicol region. But that is not enough to win. You may tell me – some of the oligarchs discontented with Duterte and his administration. But that is not enough either. The people – they are as volatile as the weather and so unpredictable.

A joke: The 2022 elections have become a scandalous joke. Why? Never in the history of this country has ninety-seven (97) candidates filed to become President. This country has really sunk so low – thanks to Presidents Cory, Gloria, Erap, Noynoy and Digong.

Now, even a security guard thinks he can do a better than President Digong in securing this country from invaders and rebels. A garbage collector thinks he can do better than Presidents in collecting the garbage of our

leaders, oligarchs and our people. Susmariayjosep – Nakakahiya. I am appalled at being a citizen of this country. We are all guilty for what this country has become – for our collective indifference, cowardice and rot-

Diliman Way

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA ten concern only for ourselves and our families.

Very despicable and lamentable! We should all be ashamed for what we have become.

The promises: I have listened to the presidential candidates, before and after filing their certificates of candidacy – from Senator Manny Pacquiao to Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Ping Lacson to Former Senator Bongbong Marcos, Vice-President Leni Robredo to Senator Bato dela Rosa. They made the same promises and motherhood statements like other Presidents before and now. They are all traditional politicians – without exception.

Who is a traditional politician? One who believes in the present system – that all our problems can be solved within the system. All candidates for President and Vice-President for the May 2022 elections are true believers of the current system. They are operating within the box – nobody is thinking outside the box. The box is dark. It is good for the blind. In the kingdom of the blind – the one-eyed is king. No wonder we have Duterte and a chain of one-eyed kings and queens like Cory, Gloria, Erap, and Noynoy.

Need: If we must have a better life for ourselves and a country worthy for us, as a people – we need to change system. But before we can change the current system – we need a leader who thinks outside the box where there is light. With these as content of his thinking – revision of the Constitution which should be brief in form, broad in scope and

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

A5

No basis to disqualify BBM, COMELEC says At this early on the 5th of November 2021, a lot of “mental gymnastics” are going on among netizens from the AntiBBM and the Pro-BBM. These mental gymnastics are quite prevalent from Batanes To Tawi-Tawi where the anti -Marcos or those who have shown not supportive of the presidential candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., or BBM for short are happy since they believe a petition filed with the poll body to disqualify him from joining the electoral race in 2022 due to the alleged failure to pay his taxes will prosper.

But as a rebuttal, Prof.

Hamid K. Ladjakahal, president of the TawiTawi Chapter of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), which is the same political party that pushed for BBM’s presidential candidacy and made him as the PFP standard bearer are quite optimistic that the disqualification petition will not prosper. They have also called on all Filipino voters both young and old to support BBM in his concept of unifying leadership, and make the Philippines great again, God willing!

On the other hand,

the opposition are also quite optimistic that “the law takes its course, BBM shall be disqualified.” However, the optimism of the opposition is short lived for no less than an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said there was no basis to disqualify former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM) from the presidential race.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the disqualification case filed against Marcos had no clear basis.

Jimenez explained that in order to be disqualified, a candidate must have been convicted of a crime constituting "moral turpitude" or an offense with at least an 18-month jail term.

"Right now it does not, because the Supreme Court said that it does not, so right now there is no clear case for disqualification," Jimenez added.

BBM also said he was not afraid of the disqualification case filed against him, saying it was just a political harassment.

At this juncture, a group of Marcos critics consisting of political detainees and members of human rights and medical organizations filed

before the Comelec on Tuesday a 57-page petition to cancel Marcos' certificate of candidacy (CoC) for president, citing his tax conviction Quezon City Regional Trial Court 1995 conviction for tax evasion.

However, the Federal

clear in meaning; a political system that is federal in form with thirteen states and parliamentary system with a unicameral Parliament with only thirty -nine members, three from each state; a Prime Minister to be elected by the members of Parliament and who shall form a Cabinet composed of members of Parliament and exceptional individuals coming from outside of Parliament; a judicial system where all cases are finally decided within six months from the date of filing; a Supreme Court with only five members with jurisdiction on constitutionality, validity of treaties and death penalty only; an appeal system where cases from metropolitan courts can only be appealed to the regional trial courts; and original cases in the Regional Trial Courts can be appealed only to the Court of Appeals.On the nature of the country and government – it should be lean and clean; a welfare

state with those who have less in life should have more in law; nationalize all public utilities – on water, electric power, transportation, telecommunication; nationalize all schools to give free education from the elementary to colleges and universities; nationalize health services to provide free medical care; nationalize the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment; establish an automotive, air and marine industry; establish a nuclear arsenal as a deterrent not for purposes of aggression; acquire fast moving vessels armed with Exocet missiles; acquire a nuclear submarine armed with nuclear weapons; acquire the most modern aircrafts with the best fighting equipments; develop a mining industry for our uranium, titanium, deuterium, oil and gas; develop wind, solar and nuclear power to generate electricity; develop agriculture industry producing

more rice, corn and high value crops and establish self-contained agricultural communities with parks, medical services, transportation and telecommunication facilities; solve the illegal drug problem in a year; eradicate the graft and corruption problem in three years; terminate the political dynasty in six months; re-orient the military and police as well as the bureaucracy; reorganize the bureaucracy to be lean, clean, efficient based on meritocracy; change the school curriculum with three years of primary education on reading, writing and arithmetic coupled with value formation, development of character and integrity and immersion into love of country; have three years of high school with courses on humanities, skills training, history and always loaded with having the right values, love of God, country and people; two years preparatory

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL party of Tawi-Tawi gave an unsolicited advice for BBM. They said as shown by the many surveys that “you are heading for a landslide victory, please just humble yourself more and more as you had already shown. Take extraprecaution to make yourself healthy, safe and secured at all times. We care and have the strong support for you BBM as the next President of the Republic of the Philippines in 2022. Signed by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) TAWITAWI PROVINCIAL CHAPTER! For your Comments/ Suggestions, please send an email to: julmunir1845@gmail.com

A6

opinion

Martial Law (2)

F

urthermore, as far as I was concerned, when I left Camp Aguinaldo that evening, martial law in he country was already a matter of fact. I already ordered the military to operate. The troops were already deployed. Whether I was ambushed or not, whether I was alive or not martial law in the country was already imposed and irreversible. So, what for was the need, the necessity, to fake an ambush, mine or someone else’s, to justify the declaration of martial law?

That same evening of the ambush, Marita Manuel of the Philippine Daily Express met Ninoy. She interviewed him. Ninoy, as always, was bragging and lying. Marita said Ninoy told her about his “celebrated series of meetings with Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, PC chief . . the circumstances behind these meetings, and how Enrile could have concluded that he (Aquino) met with Chairman Jose Ma. Sison of the Communist Party of the Philippines on the night of Sept. 7 (1972) in Dasmariñas Village, Makati.”

In the same interview, Marita said Ninoy bragged that he said to me: “I’ll never be around for martial law. If you don’t get me in the first few hours, you’ll never get me.”

I never heard those words from Ninoy. I never had any “series of meetings” with him. I had only one meeting with that man. And that was in the evening of September 7 in the house of Ramon Siy Lay in the presence of his younger brother Paul Aquino.

As for Brig. Gen. Ramos, I doubt that there was ever a meeting between them. Ramos was too busy in those days to meet him or anyone else.

Ninoy obviously fabricated those fake stories. He was lying again.

I stayed awake most of the time during that night. The military operation was precise. Thanks to the careful and skillful planning of the AFP. Everything went smoothly and efficiently.

The whole nation became suddenly quiet. Radios were silent. Television screens were blank.

The only thing one could hear over radio or televi-

sion was martial music.

There was no traffic in the streets and on the roadways in Metro-Manila.

Hardly any bloodshed occurred during military operation. The only exception was when a unit of the Philippine Constabulary went to the Iglesia ni Kristo compound in Quezon City to close a radio station there. The security guards of the Iglesia ni Kristo resisted.

A gun battle erupted. A constable was shot and killed. This nearly led to a bigger and graver encounter.

Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos called me up and asked my permission to use a recoilless rifle to hit the security guards in the compound of the Iglesia ni Kristo. I told him not to.

I called Bishop Eraño “Ka Erdie” Manalo, head of the Iglesia ni Kristo. I asked him to allow the soldier to close his radio station temporarily. He agreed. The radio station was closed.

And a bloody carnage was averted.

Thus, before daybreak everything was under military control. I was tired and exhausted. I fell asleep.

After an hour or so, my wife woke me up. My phone was ringing. It was past seven o’clock.

Malacañang was calling. I lifted my phone. The one at the other end of the line said “Sir, the President wants you to come to the Palace.”

I closed the phone and rushed to my bathroom for a quick cold shower.

I dressed up quickly and had a cup of coffee and bread for breakfast. Then I boarded my car and told my driver to take me to the Palace.

It was Saturday morning – September 23, 1972. It took me no more than fifteen minutes to reach the Palace. The roads were empty and the whole Metro-Manila was quiet. There were no vehicles and people in the streets. It was like a ghost town.

When I arrived in the Palace the first person to meet me was the First Lady. She said to me while I was climbing the stairway to the second floor of the Palace, “Ang dali pala nang martial law.”

I just smiled. She had no ides about the amount of work we did and the

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

Bongbong does not deserve Muslim votes

effort and time we spent to prepare the military operation for the declaration of martial law. All she knew was the ease with

Commentary

JUAN PONCE ENRILE which the military operation was carried out.

I walked to the office of the President. When I entered, he was with Press Secretary Francisco “Kit” Tatad. He was preparing his public statement about the declaration of martial law.

The Palace was swamped with calls from Senators and Congressmen who were going abroad.

They were stranded, along with others, in the airport. The military people controlling the airport refused to allow them to take their flights. All domestic and international flights were cancelled and disallowed.

The President asked me to handle the problems of the Senators and Congressmen. I ordered the military controlling the airport to allow international flights and to let the members of Congress to depart.

The President also asked me to remain in the Palace that day. He ordered me to attend to some matters of administration while he was preparing his public statement and attending to his other responsibilities. He directed me to meet the other Cabinet members and inform them about the military operation and to acquaint them about the new martial law regime.

I met the Cabinet members at four o’clock in the afternoon at the Executive Building. During that meeting, some of the members of the Cabinet expressed their misgivings about the wisdom and validity of the declaration of martial law. Arturo “Bong” Tanco of the Department of Agriculture asked me bluntly, “How sure are we that the declaration of martial law was valid and lawful?”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

B

ismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.

In my Facebook wall – Mindanao Tapatan Lane, a large number of guest-posts evolved, still growing, around pros and cons on the presidential candidacy of former Senator Bongbong Marcos.

His candidacy has ostensibly divided all sectors, including Muslim Filipinos and even our ulama (spiritual leaders).

Those wanting Bongbong to sit in Malacañang invoke about sparing him from the offenses of his father’s martial rule that left hundreds if not thousands of ethnic Muslims massacred (women raped) in Kausuwagan, Lanao del Norte; Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat; and Carmen, North Cotabato, among others.

The massacres happened because the Marcos military establishment recruited uneducated street guys, whose mere qualifications were their knowledge to handle guns and kill.

But the positive feats of the Marcos era are conveniently harped about Bongbong, such as the building of the LRT, CCP, ICCP, San Juanico Bridge, construction of diversion canal on Agus River to magnify hydroelectricity generation from Lake Lanao, and etc. (The building of the bridge and Agus I Dam, by the way, allegedly involved kidnapping of poor children and adults, made as human sacrifices.)

Those aforementioned infrastructures were indeed monumental. But I would like to ask the BBM Muslim supporters, have they benefitted from those infrastructures that are located outside Mindanao – except for the Agus I Dam? The Agus I Dam had adversely affected the ecology of Lake Lanao.

One tangible example is the loss of many local fish species – Bonggaong, Lindeg, Baolan, Tomaginting.

The Marcos regime was known for sowing dissension among the MNLF, luring key revolutionary leaders to “return” to the folds of law and offered them logging concessions – a scheme that

left many of our forests bald and had opened the gates of flooding in surrounding low areas.

The Marcos regime failed to pave the Lanao del Sur circumferential road and the MarawiCotabato highway, both road networks deemed as Mindanao’s original reference point (as evidenced by the Kilometer 000 in Marawi City.)

Parts of both road stretches were paved only during the time of President Fidel Ramos, who defied his own second cousin FM because of the latter’s abuses.

Ramos’ withdrawal of support led to the EDSA Revolution I that deposed the dictator.

The Agus I Dam has indeed magnified hydroelectric generation from Lake Lanao. But do the people living around the lake have ample electrici-

ty until now?

The rise of Bongbong to the national leadership as an elected senator happened at a time when the MILF was on the verge of completing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The MILF peace panel incorporated a provision in the BBL that would provide the Bangsamoro governance to enjoy authority over Lake Lanao management.

But Bongbong, being the chair of the Senate Committee on local government, rejected the MILF desire. Lanao Sur’s youth leader Drieza Lininding attended one Senate hearing to convey the Maranao’s sad plight and concerns in the unilateral grip of “Imperial Manila ” over the lake.

Bongbong ignored him as evidenced in a recorded video.

Another video clip showed Bongbong pointing out: “Mr. (Senate) President, I cannot support BBL in its present

form, hindi ito magbibigay ng kapayapaan.”

The BBL was archived (killed) when senators rode on the public out-

Punchline

ALI G. MACABALANG rage over the Jan. 25, 2015 bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 SAF troopers alongside MILF, BIFF and civilian residents.

The BBL has been resurrected into Bansamoro Organic Law (BOL), courtesy of PRRD. The BOL prescribed comanagement with the national government over Lake Lanao.

Personal experience When Bongbong as senator visited Cotabato City, I had interviewed him exclusively for Manila Bulletin. I sensed in him an obvious elite stature in answering my questions – too different from dignitaries I had mingled with.

I had interviewed the late FM, Cory, FRV, PGMA, PNoy, Erap and also PRRD when he was mayor. These VIPs were more humane in answering questions. Bongbong, on account of his birth on a silver platter, is too high to reach for me, much more for an ordinary Juan or Abdul.

Some groups have arranged a one-on-one talk with Mayor Isko, who reportedly agreed. I had huddled with Isko in a rare meeting in Buluan, Maguindanao and he was so humble – a characteristic shaped by his poor family history.

I guarantee whatever I earned in my 44 years of media practice that Bongbong will be more elite when he is elected president.

So, my own choice of a next President will never be Bongbong. I am afraid he will torpedo again the half-carried mandates of the BOL. May Allah (SWT).

(AGM)

News

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

A7

destroys hundreds of houses PRRD appoints Cruz as new Agrarian chief Firein GenSan coastal community P G RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Bernie F. Cruz as the new DAR

“I believe that one of our projects that will boost agricultural productivity in the country is the department’s Mega Farm. We will continue to seek the Congress’ approval to allocate funds for this project,” Cruz said.

He stressed that Mega Farm is a cluster of contiguous farms that are consolidated to form a sizeable plantation capable of producing large volumes of farm products to meet the demands of institutional and commercial buyers and is open to different high-value cash crops.

“It will be beneficial for individual farmers who now own land to enter into commercial and agriventure arrangements so that they can enter into supply contracts. We hope to shift them away

secretary.

Cruz vowed that he would lead the department in bringing progress in the countryside.

Newly appointed Agrarian Secretary Bernie F. Cruz .

(PHOTO SUPPLIED)

from subsistence farming – or merely planting and harvesting so they have something to eat – towards trade and product exports,” Cruz said, highlighting the importance of the project.

The newly-appointed chief also said that under his leadership, the agency would double its effort to distribute all the remaining undistributed lands to the landless farmers, provide support services to agrari-

an reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and bring social justice in agrarian communities.

Cruz divulged that the government still has a balance of more than 700,000 hectares of agricultural lands – including private lands, which are mostly problematic landholdings, and idle public lands suitable for agriculture.

“If these lands were awarded to qualified and

deserving ARBs, the country would have a sustainable agricultural sector that would contribute in ensuring food security,” Cruz said.

“I am committed to bring industrialization in the agricultural sector and through provisions of support services such as various livelihood opportunities, infrastructure projects, farm machineries and equipment, capability-buildings training, loan facilities, among other support, we can achieve a stable rural economy,” he added.

Cruz replaces former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones who is running for senator under the PDP-Laban party in this coming 2022 election.

Department of Agrarian Reform

USAID enhancing digital connectivity in PH MANILA, October 29, 2021—The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), formally launched on Oct.

-billion ($33 million) Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) project will promote economic growth via better information and communications technolo-

28 a new project to increase digital connectivity in the Philippines, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said in a press statement today.

The five-year, Php1.65

gy (ICT), helping bridge the digital divide in the country, said the statement emailed to the Philippine Muslim Today news.

“The COVID-19 pan-

demic has highlighted the urgent need for expanded digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity,” said USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Sean Callahan. “We are pleased to partner with the Philippine government, private sector, and other organizations to accelerate the country’s economic growth and regional competitiveness by supporting a stronger, more competitive digital ecosystem.”

Through the BEACON project, USAID will help improve the Philippines’ ICT and logistics infrastructure; strengthen the regulatory, business, and innovation environment; and bolster cybersecurity.

To help bridge the digi-

tal divide in the Philippines, BEACON will assist the government in automation and digitization efforts, and support community networks to expand low-cost internet access for underserved communities.

BEACON supports the Philippines’ national strategies and the U.S. government’s goal to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region through an enhanced digital connectivity.

The United States government has been a key development champion in the Philippines for six decades, working with individuals, communities, and the government to improve everyday lives. (U.S. Embassy)

2 Customs employees nabbed for extortion MANILA – Authorities nabbed a Customs appraiser and an examiner for alleged extortion in Manila, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday.

In a statement, the bureau identified the suspects as appraiser Zosimo E. Bello and examiner Salvador V. Seletaria, who are both assigned at the Port of Manila, during an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Ermita on Tuesday.

Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero immediately directed an entrapment operation against the two following a report by an importer that they were demanding PHP300,000 in exchange for the release of their shipment.

The operation was conducted at the agreed meeting

place of the two suspects and the importer, who was accompanied by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) undercover agent.

Within the plain view of the NBI and BOC agents, a white envelope was handed by the complainant to Bello and Seletaria, prompting the operatives to arrest them.

The seized envelope contained marked money worth PHP30,000.

Bello and Seletaria are temporarily detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila and will be subjected to inquest proceedings.

The BOC is also preparing criminal and administrative charges against them. (PNA)

ENERAL SANTOS CITY – Hundreds of houses and other structures were gutted down in a huge fire that hit a crowded coastal community here on Wednesday afternoon.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said there were no casualties reported as a result of the fire, which started around 1 p.m. and rapidly spread to the four residential zones of Purok Saeg in Barangay Calumpang.

Citing accounts from residents and barangay officials, he said it reportedly started in one of the houses in the area that are mostly made of light materials.

“There were reports that someone was cooking before it happened as it was around lunchtime then but we’re still validating that,” the mayor told reporters.

He said a child was initially reported missing but was eventually found safe by one of the barangay social workers.

The Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire, which reached fifth alarm, as under control around 4 p.m. but “mapping operations” are still ongoing as of 5

BURNED. Photo shows a portion of coastal community Purok Saeg in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City that was hit by a huge fire on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 3, 2021).

Officials said hundreds of houses mostly made of light materials were destroyed by the blaze, which started around 1 p.m. and was declared under control three hours later. (PNA photo by Richelyn Gubalani) p.m. to totally extinguish portions that are still burning.

Barangay officials placed the affected houses at 500, although the mayor said he received different reports ranging from 300 to 600.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr. estimated the damaged houses at “less than 200.”

Rivera said they have mobilized the city’s social workers and other responders to attend to the immediate needs of the affected residents, who were initially brought to the Barangay Calumpang gymnasium.

He said they have prepared the gymnasiums in the neighboring barangays to accommodate the other fire victims.

“We’re doing everything to provide the needs of the affected residents,” he said.

Ryan Dupalco, Calumpang barangay chairman, said they provided vehicles to ferry the victims to the barangay gymnasium.

“We're working double-time to validate the number of affected households and individuals,” he said.

Dupalco said he will convene the barangay council in a special session to facilitate the immediate release of their calamity funds to assist the concerned residents.

He said the affected area, which was estimated at over a hectare, is one of the most populated communities in their barangay.

It covered portions of Zones 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Saeg and within a private property that has a pending ownership dispute.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

READ

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY Https://philmuslim.today/

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Foreign News

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

GLASGOW, Scotland/JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – World leaders on Tuesday made remarkable pledges on real action at the COP26 summit to limit rising temperatures and support small island developing states (SIDS) and Africa to adapt to the changing climate.

A wide range of announcements were made on day three of the UN climate conference, focusing on green innovation and historic commitments on deforestation and methane emissions.

More than 100 leaders took a landmark step forward at a meeting of world leaders, committing to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

The pledge is backed by USD12 billion (PHP600 billion) in public and USD7.2 billion (PHP360 billion) in private funding.

Countries including Canada, Russia, Brazil -which also increased their national commit-

ments, China, Colombia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all endorsed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use. Together, they pledged to support 85% of the world's forests, an area of over 13 million square miles that absorbs around one-third of global carbon released from burning fossil fuels each year.

This was also the first time that a COP conference included a major

event on methane, with 105 countries, including 15 major emitters such as Brazil, Nigeria, and Canada, signing up to the Global Methane Pledge.

The historic commitment, led by the US and EU alongside the UK COP26 presidency, equates to up to 40 percent of global methane emissions and 60 percent of global GDP. South Africa to receive USD8.5 billion in

Yahoo exits China citing ‘challenging’ business environment ISTANBUL – US internet services company Yahoo has pulled out of China amid an “increasingly challenging business and legal environment,” it said on Tuesday.

“In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo’s suite of services will no longer be accessi-

ble from mainland China as of November 1,” Yahoo said in a statement.

“Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet. We

thank our users for their support,” it added.

The move comes as gaming giant Epic Games said it is shutting down its popular

battle-royale game Fortnite by Nov. 15. In China, the game’s beta version was known as Fortress Night and operated

by Tencent Games, a major investor in Epic.

In August, China restricted online gaming for children under the age of 18 to three hours a week – only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Last month, Microsoft -owned LinkedIn said it will end operations in China due to “greater compliance requirements.”

While Google left in 2010, Facebook and Twitter have been blocked for more than a decade.

(Anadolu)

climate assistance The third day of COP26 also featured an international partnership between South Africa on one side and the US, Britain, France, Germany, and the EU on the other to provide USD8.5 billion over the next three to five years to help the African country transition to a low-carbon economy.

"Climate change is an existential challenge that

confronts us all, and South Africa is committed to playing its part in reducing global emissions.

The partnership that we have established today is a watershed moment not only for our own just transition, but for the world as a whole," the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa quoted him as saying in a statement.

South Africa is the world's most carbonintensive electricity producer and is struggling with the aging coal-fired power plants that produce 80 percent of its electricity.

The partners will mobilize funds through a range of instruments, including grants and concessional finance, to support the implementation of South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribu-

tions (NDC) to reduce domestic carbon emissions to within a target range between 420 CO2eq and 350 CO2-eq by 2030.

The partners said they were supporting South Africa as it needed a just transition from coal, especially since several important sectors stood to be negatively affected by such a transition, including mining, energy, manufacturing, and transport.

South Africa is ranked the 12th biggest climate emitter in the world and the top emitter on the continent. The country said it would use the funds to accelerate investment in renewables and the development of new sectors including electric vehicles and green hydrogen. (Anadolu)

Microsoft surpasses Apple as most valuable US company ANKARA – US software company Microsoft surpassed technology firm Apple as the most valuable US company on Friday right after the US stock market opening.

Microsoft’s stock price climbed to $326.52 per share with a 0.67% gain at 9.30 a.m. EDT on the Nasdaq, giving the company a market value of $2.45 trillion, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Apple stock price declined to $147.75 per share with a 3.16% loss at the opening bell, as the firm’s market capitalization fell to $2.44 trillion on the Nasdaq.

At 9.45 a.m. EDT, Microsoft maintained the lead with $2.45 trillion, against Apple’s $2.42 tril-

lion.

The recent overtake came just hours after Apple released its financial results on Thursday after the closing bell, in which revenue came below mar-

same period of last year, the recent revenue came short of the $84.9 billion market estimate.

Microsoft’s revenue, on the other hand, increased 22% to $45.3

ket expectation.

Despite posting a record quarterly revenue of $83.4 billion in the JulySeptember period of this year, which was up 29% from $64.7 billion the

billion July-September period, from $37.1 billion the same period of last year, according to its financial results statement released Tuesday after market closing (Anadolu)

Major Indonesian Islamic organization declares crypto ‘haram’ — Or forbidden The East Java branch of one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has issued a fatwa deeming the use of cryptocurrency “haram,” or forbidden, under Islamic law.

A fatwa is a nonbinding legal opinion on Islamic law, which is reached through a discussion called a bahtsul masail. Representatives from the Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Management and several Islamic boarding schools throughout East Java attended the bahtsul masail.

Interest in cryptocurrency has surged in Indonesia over the past year. Earlier this month, a report by Coinformant reported that Indonesia saw a massive 1,772% increase in the number of people engaging with articles about crypto during 2021.

Indonesia is home to the largest population of Muslims in the world and has a booming crypto industry.

According to the Indonesian Trade Ministry, the nation had gained around 6.5 million crypto investors by May this year, overshadowing the 5.7 million retail investors registered with the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

An announcement published on the website of the East Java Nahdlatul Ulama branch on Sunday quotes chairman Kiai Azizi Chasbullah as saying: The group came to the conclusion that cryptocurrency was deemed haram because it involves too much speculation and, therefore, can’t be used as a legitimate investment.

“Based on several considerations, including the prevalence of fraud, it is considered unlawful,” said a representative from the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School Kediri.

Some Muslim scholars believe that cryptocurrency is similar to gambling, which is prohibited under Islamic religious law. However, opinions vary, and other Islamic organizations around the world say that Islamic law permits cryptocurrency.

Last year, the Malaysian authority that oversees compliance with Islamic law in finance announced that it would permit digital asset trading.

There are also efforts currently underway in Australia to build the world’s first Sharia-guided decentralized finance (DeFi) platform to navigate a course between the advantages of DeFi and the beliefs of Islamic finance.

In September, the Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Muhammad Lutfi, told local media that Indonesia didn’t plan to follow China’s footsteps and impose a ban on cryptocurrency transactions, mining or trading. Source: cointelegraph.com/

Tourism News

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

SALT AND PEPPER SQUID

PH remains Asia's top beach, dive destination

BANGSAMORO HALAL DISH

By JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA MANILA – The Philippines was once again hailed as Asia's leading beach and dive destination at the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA).

This is the Philippines’ fifth time to win Asia's Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said this boosts the agency's efforts to keep the Philippines as a top-of-mind destination for foreign tourists as it awaits the resumption of international leisure travel to the country, consistent with its “More Fun Awaits” global campaign.

“We are elated that the country’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots have once again been cited as the best in Asia by the prestigious 2021 World Travel Awards," she said Tuesday. "We share this recognition with our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and all Filipinos who have been helping us promote our country’s attractions, products, and culture.”

Some of the country’s top beach destinations, such as Boracay in Aklan, Siargao in Surigao del Norte, and El Nido and Amanpulo in Palawan, have already opened to domestic tourists and are ready to welcome foreign tourists once international borders reopen, the DOT said.

The agency also continues to identify potential destinations that may be developed for dive tourism.

Among the country's top diving spots are the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Malapascua, and Moalboal in Cebu, Balicasag, Panglao, and Anda in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.

Anilao is open to domestic tourists from areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ as long as they have a negative RT-PCR test result, proof of reservation, valid ID, and medical clearance.

With Maria Fhebie Ortil

Leading Beach Destination and the third time in a row since 2019 to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award.

Siargao Island (Photo courtesy of Beautiful Destinations/ DOT) The DOT said only MGCQ destinations are allowed to accommodate recreational divers, with the exception of Anilao, which is under GCQ. "Based on Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving health and safety protocols only MGCQ destinations allowed to accommodate recreational divers. GCQ only Anilao is allowed. All are still subject to local government unit restrictions/issuances," it said.

In Mindanao, DOT Re-

gion 10 Director Marie Elaine Salvaña-Unchuan recommended visiting the pristine dive spots in Camiguin and Balingoan, Talisayan, Medina, Magsaysay, and Gingoog in Misamis Oriental.

"I am very happy that we were given that citation. We have been pursuing dive tourism in Camiguin and Misamis Oriental and we are very happy to report that Region 10 has world-class dive sites," she said.

Camiguin is set to open its shores to tourists this coming October 25.

The WTA aims to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

The Philippines is still in the running for the following World categories of the 28th World Travel Awards: ·World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021: Philippines ·World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021: Philippines ·World’s Leading Island Destination 2021: Siargao, Philippines ·World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021: Intramuros, Philippines ·World’s Leading Tourist Board 2021: Philippines, Department of Tourism (PNA)

Fully vaxxed people regardless of age can now travel: DOT MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday said fully vaccinated individuals regardless of age from Metro Manila are now allowed to travel on a point -to-point basis.

This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force amended Part 1 Section 3 of the guidelines for areas under alert level 4 to allow the following persons to travel in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ: – Those below 18 years old; – Fully vaccinated individuals over 65 years of age; – Fully vaccinated individuals with immunodeficiencies, comorbidities, or other health risks; and – Fully vaccinated pregnant women Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat welcomed this development, citing its significance in the revival of the country’s local tourism industry.

“Further easing of travel restrictions will allow more of our fully vaccinated individuals to enjoy interzonal

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travel, especially families who wish to travel together.

Traveling is a way of bonding, and with all the precautions and protocols in place, we can still do it safely together. More importantly, this will encourage more Filipinos to secure their jabs as well,” she said.

“As restrictions are lifted, more tourism workers and stakeholders will get back the jobs and livelihoods they lost due to the pandemic,” she added.

The DOT will be releasing the guidelines for P2P travel to ensure that health and safety protocols are complied with.

Meanwhile, RT-PCR test requirements would depend on the protocols imposed by the destination.

Travelers from Metro Manila can avail of the subsidized PHP750 RT-PCR test from the Philippine Children’s Medical Center by visiting http:// www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel-application should the local government unit require a negative test result.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

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ssalamu Alaykum to everyone. Thanks for your continued and unfailing support to read the Bangsamoro Halal Cuisine that is now under Vol. 2, No. 21 Digital Online Edition November 511, 2021 (Rabi Al-Awwal 29, - Rabi Al-Thani 6, 1443).

Be that as it may, Salt and Pepper Squid is the easiest and the best recipe with few ingredients: squid, salt, white pepper, scallion and red chilies.

INGREDIENTS 10 oz. (330 g) cleaned squid tubes, cut into rings Oil, for deep frying 1/2 tablespoon oil, for stir-frying 2 tablespoons chopped scallions 1 teaspoon chopped red chilies 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper FRYING BATTER: 1/2 cup (65 g) all-purpose flour 1/2 cup (65 g) corn starch 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 egg white 1/2 cup (125 ml) water Pinch of salt INSTRUCTIONS 1. Rinse the squid with water, pat dry with paper towels.

2. Mix all the ingredients for the Frying Batter until well combined.

3. Add the squid to the Frying Batter, stir to coat well.

4. To deep-fry the squid, heat 2 to 3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm) of the oil in a wok or a frying pan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

5. Gently drop the squid into the oil and loosen them up immediately with a spatula to prevent the squid from clumping together.

6. Deep-fry the squid until golden brown or crispy. DO NOT OVER FRY. 7. Dish out with a strainer or a slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the squid on a dish lined with paper towels.

8. To stir-fry, heat the 1/2 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over high heat.

9. Add the scallion, red chilies and stir quickly.

Return the fried squid to the skillet and add the salt and white pepper.

10. Stir to combine well. Dish out and serve hot.

(MFO)

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News

314 civilians graduate Barangay Defense Force training in Basilan

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

C

OTABATO CITY – Some 314 civilians from Basilan that used to be an area where the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists conducts their atrocities including the beheading of their kidnap victims have turned the other way around.

That is after they successfully participated in the 5 -day Barangay Defense Force (BDF) Training in Basilan that concluded on October 29. The training was facilitated by the 64th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Renante Besa, the battalion commander.

These 314 volunteers participated in the training and attended the culminating activity held at Sumisip Gymnasium, Barangay Buli-buli, Sumisip, Basilan last Friday morning. The activity was graced by the presence of Sumisip Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman and Joint Task Force Basilan Commander, Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway.

A GRADUATE OF BARANGAY DEFENSE FORCE: A Yakan of Basilan Province that used to be hotbed of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf terrorist group whose atrocities included the beheading of kidnap victims is shown here executing his snappy hand salute to the military officials headed by Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of Task Force Basilan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Mayor Hataman lauded the efforts and willingness of the new breed of Barangay Defense Force volunteers to maintain and forge peace, security, and development in Sumisip and the whole province of Basilan.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Gobway expressed his gratitude to the civilians who volunteered to be protectors of the state. In his own words Brig. Gen. Gobway interpreted the acronym BDF as B - “Bagong mga hukbo na nakahandang ipagtanggol ang bayan; D - Disiplina, bilang isang Barangay Defense Force, dapat dala-dala natin ang ating disiplina sa sarili, sa bawat galaw dapat isipin natin na may katungkulan tayo; and F - Freedom, dapat patuloy nating itaguyod at panatilihin ang kapayapaan dito sa Basilan.”

Presidential Decree No. 1016 Section 1 states that subject to the approval of the Secretary of National Defense, an Integrated Civilian Home Defense Force may be organized in such provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays that are threatened by insurgency, rebellion, subversion, criminality, and/or disorder, for the purpose of defending the community against the violence and lawlessness and of assisting law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of peace and order.

Western Mindanao Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr. extended his felicitations to the graduates. “Let us work together to sustain the peace and security in your respective communities”. (JIJ)

THE GRADUATES FOR DEFENSE: 314 civilians of Sumisip municipality in Basilan are READY to receive their certificates after graduating as members of the Barangay Defense Force in a rigidly conducted military training by the Philippine Army . CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

Media newbie amazes Rep. Mangudadatu, bares being his past scholar

By ALI G. MACABALANG COTABATO CITY – Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu was amazed to learn that one young journalist interviewing him on some occasions was once one of his scholars.

He was talking about the Maguindanao Program on Education Assis- A screenshot photo of Rep. Toto Mangudadatu and his scholar-turned media worker during the Tapatan Forum of tance and Community the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC) last Saturday, Oc. 30.

Empowerment dubbed as (MagPEACE), which he Rep. Mangudadatu 2019 and he was elected said had benefited almost instantly beamed in awe Congressman.

7,000 students from poor and later asked the forum Mangudadatu, too, families and produced technical section to take a expressed dismay about over a thousand profes- screenshot photo of him the discontinuation of the sionals including a lawyer and Lorenzo for a souve- MagPEACE program, and a physician, when nir. saying it was a regular Crizbell May Lorezon inLorenzo, sitting as co- program of the provincial terrupted him to say she host of the forum, con- government meant to knew the MagPEACE fessed though she was abate high illiteracy rate program. not able to fully enjoy her and capacitate poor fami“Alam ko po yong pro- scholarship in college lies in seeing their chilgram kase isa po ako sa because the MagPEACE dren finish college and mga scholars ni- had been discontinued by even post-graduate deyo,” Lorenzo told the law- the present provincial grees, and become promaker, who was the guest government when fessionals. of the Bangsamoro Press Mangudadatu’s threeHe said education deCorps’ (BPC’s) Tapatan F term as governor of velopment was one of his orum last Saturday.

Maguindanao ended in administration’s eight-

point agenda premised even on Islamic tenets mandating mankind to seek knowledge from cradle to the grave.

The lawmaker, who runs for a fourth gubernatorial term under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), said he would reactivate the MagPEACE if he is elected on May 9, 2022.

He highlighted the scholarship program among various accomplishments during his three-term gubernatorial reign (2010-2019) at the media forum to answer allegations by political critics that he had performed dismally as governor of Maguindanao.

Contrary to the criticisms, the lawmaker said, Maguindanao had slid down from second to ninth place in the list of the country’s top 10 poorest provinces in the country, under his administration. (AGM)

Eight communist terrorists surrender to soldiers in Sultan Kudarat ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat: Eight members of the communist terrorist group surrendered to the military in the 7th Infantry Battalion (7IB) here in Sultan Kudarat Province on Thursday November 3.

Major Andrew Linao, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) on Thursday said the eight submitted themselves to the soldiers at the 7IB headquarters at the Old Capitol Compound, Barangay Kalawag II, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The identities of the former rebels are withheld for their security.

According to Western Mindanao Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., the surrendered personalities felt that it is time for them to end their armed struggle after realizing that their sacrifice is not worth it. “I am positive that the others will soon follow and we encourage them to do so, before it’s too late.” Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. stated.

The former rebels handed over their firearms including an M14 rifle with magazine and five ammunition, two cal.

30 Garand rifles with six clips loaded with 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Browning automatic rifle (BAR) with magazine loaded with four rounds of 30mm ammunition; one cal. 45 pistol with magazine; and two 12-gauge Shotguns.

Lt. Col. Romel Valencia, commanding officer of 7IB said

the eight were members of the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee (FSMRC).

“Their successful surrender is attributable to the collaborative efforts of the 7IB, Bagumbayan PNP, Senator Ninoy Aquino PNP, and Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office,” Lt. Col. Valencia said.

The surrendered personalities are currently undergoing custodial debriefing while the surrendered firearms and other war materials were deposited at 7IB headquarters for safekeeping.

“I am personally elated by the turn of events. The snowball of CTG submission is an affirmation of the group’s downfall,” Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Central said.

From January 2021 to date, JTF Central successfully neutralized a total of 108 CTG members of which 1 was killed, 105 surrendered, and two were apprehended. The unit also reported a total of 166 firearms gains 29 of which are highpowered and 137 are low-powered.

“I would like to congratulate our Joint Task Force Central for this accomplishment. I am well aware of your efforts to end terrorism and insurgency in Central Mindanao. Your numerous successes are the rewards of your sacrifices. For that, I once again congratulate you all,” Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. further stated. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Drug personality with 1 kilo of Shabu apprehended in Tawi-Tawi BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi: A drug personality was apprehended by combined elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12, Provincial Mobile Force Company, and PDEABARMM at Punduhan Tapis Imam Laja, Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi on Friday morning, October 29.

According to Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) based in Zamboanga City, the apprehended personality identified as Bashir Daud was served a warrant of arrest for the crime of attempted murder.

“While scouring the vicinity, troops recovered more or less one kilogram of unknown substance believed to be illegal drugs, an M16A1 rifle, five long magazines, 104 live ammunition, and assorted drug paraphernalia,” he said.

Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi Commander, Col. Romeo Racadio said, “We continue to

collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to effectively execute the operations against the wrongdoers and prevent them from inflicting havoc in the peaceful communities.

The arrested suspect and confiscated evidence were immediately brought to Sitangkai Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.

“We remain steadfast in performing our duty as a force multiplier in the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government.

Rest assured that we will continue to pursue our mission and brave every obstacle for our future generations,” Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. said.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Business News

Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

World's largest trade deal RCEP to enter into force on Jan. 1 JAKARTA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Secretariat has announced that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the world's largest trade deal so far, will enter into force on Jan. 1, 2022.

The secretariat, which made the announcement on Wednesday, said it has received instruments of ratification from six Asean countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as from four nonAsean signatory states of Australia, China, Japan, and New Zealand.

"The expeditious ratification process by signatory States is a true reflection of our strong commitment to a fair and open multilateral trading system for the benefit of the people in the region

and the world," Secretary-General of Asean Dato Lim Jock Hoi said.

The implementation of the agreement will provide a tremendous boost to post-Covid-19 economic recovery efforts, the secretary-general said.

Signed in November last year, the RCEP is a mega trade deal between 10 Asean member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ratifications from at least six Asean countries and three of the other five non-Asean countries are needed for the trade deal to take effect.

Once in effect, the deal will eliminate tariffs on as much as 90 percent of goods traded between its signatories over the next 20 years.

(XINHUA)

Unemployment uptick in September due to extended MECQ

By KRIS CRISMUNDO MANILA – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Thursday that the unemployment rate in September slightly increased to 8.9 percent from 8.1 percent in August.

Labor force participation also declined to 63.3 percent from 63.6 percent in the same period.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said these numbers led to an employment loss of 642,000.

“These results were expected as many parts of the country remained under stringent and blanket quarantines for most of the survey period. In particular, the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was extended in the National Capital Region (NCR) up to September 15,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Karl Kendrick Chua said.

Aside from the extended MECQ in September, weather disturbances particularly Typhoon Jolina affected some 30,000 hectares of agricultural land in regions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas contributed to the employment losses in the said month.

NEDA added that some 414,000 jobs were created that tempered the net employment loss in September.

Most of these jobs are in the wholesale and retail trade.

“Overall, the economy has generated 1.1 million employment above the pre-pandemic level. This signals the Philippines’ continuing recovery. We look forward to the expansion of the alert level and granular lockdown system to the whole country to recover more jobs and livelihoods,” Chua added.

On the other hand, Chua is expecting better employment labor force numbers for October as the govern-

ment started to ease quarantine measures in Metro Manila and some parts of the country.

Further reopening Amid the call of the business sector to lower the alert level system in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 3 to Level 2, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said he supports the further reopening of the economy.

In a radio interview with DZXL, Lopez asked businesses to respect the announcement of maintaining NCR under Alert Level 3 and wait for another week before the alert level system will be lowered to Alert Level 2.

“By November 15, there is a high chance that we will be under Alert Level 2,” he said.

He added that the economic managers have been supporting and pushing for gradual and safe reopening of business activities to manage the daily Covid-19 cases.

The country recorded 8-month low Covid-19 cases on Wednesday at 1,591 cases.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

October inflation seen at 5% MANILA – The rate of price increases likely increased to 5 percent last October given the continued increase of crude oil prices in the international market.

According to the October 2021 issue of the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) joint publication, The Market Call, which was released on Wednesday, prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) averaged at USD71.65 per barrel last September while price of Brent crude registered an average of USD74.49 per barrel during the same period.

It, however, said this was not reflected in the September 2021 domestic inflation rate because local oil companies adjust their prices with an average of twoweek lag.

“The big impact will show in October, when prices continue to spiral,” it added.

Citing government data, the report said transport

prices decelerated to 5.2 percent year-on-year last September from the previous month’s 7.2 percent despite the about 80-percent expansion in crude oil prices.

“However, we still see headline inflation to go below 4 percent starting December since the huge uptick in November-December 2020 wouldn’t repeat,” it added.

The rate of price increases last September eased to 4.8 percent from month-ago’s 4.9 percent, which is the highest since January 2019.

Average inflation to date stood at 4.5 percent, above the government’s 2 percent to 4 percent.

Monetary authorities expect inflation to decline within target level by December.

The Philippine Statistics Authority is scheduled to report the October 2021 inflation rate on Friday.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

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Checkpoints in BARMM intensified CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao, Nov 1 – Stricter checkpoints will be set up across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the death of Dawlah Islamiya leader Salahuddin Hassan in this province last week.

Brig. Gen. Eden T. Ugale, BARMM police director, said Monday all police units in the region have been placed on heightened alert for possible retaliatory attacks from followers of the slain DI leader.

“We vow to remain relentless against the terrorist groups to sustain the peace and development that we have attained in the BARMM,” Ugale said in a statement.

Ugale said they believe that Hassan still has active followers hiding in Maguindanao who can carry out retaliatory attacks to avenge his death.

He ordered all police provincial offices, municipal, and city police stations as well as provincial police mobile groups, and all police force multipliers to ensure everyone in the region is safe following Hassan's death, which he said was a huge blow to the DI terror group in Maguindanao and other parts of the region.

Parallel with the alert status of all police units, especially in Maguindanao, the police are also seeking the help of the general public on the matter.

“We urge the public to continue to cooperate and report any threat or suspicious unlawful activities in their locality for us to effectively perform our mandate,” Ugale said.

A joint police and military pre-dawn operations in Talayan, Maguindanao on October 29 led to the death of Hassan, the emir of Islamic State-linked DI terrorist group in the country, and his wife, Jehana Mimbida, the DI finance officer, in remote Barangay Damablac, Talayan town.

The wanted couple resisted arrest and engaged government troops in a brief gun battle, eventually resulting in their death.

Hassan, a student of slain foreign bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, was blamed for the separate bombing and torching of two Yellow Bus units in North Cotabato in January and June this year, and also the Rural Transit Bus bombing in Bukidnon in 2014.

The DI was also tagged in the 2018 twin bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat that killed five persons and hurt 40 others, and also the Davao Night Market explosion in Davao City in 2016.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

PNP, AFP | from Page A1

PNP, AFP warn... law, three years preparatory medicine; abolition of the bar examinations and adopt a system where there are only two law schools in every state except the National Capital Region which should have four with strict government control and supervision that those who fail in fifty percent of the subjects during the first semester should not be allowed to continue to study law, those who fail in twenty-five per cent of his subjects in the second semester should also be out of law school and those who fail in ten per cent of his subjects in two consecutive semesters should be out of law school; the same standards should apply to all other courses, including the military and police academies.

The main offices of the military commands and police shall be dispersed throughout the country – Army in Cagayan de Or City where the military academy for the Army will be located; Navy in Puerto Princesa City where the Naval Academy will be located; Air Force in Lapu Lapu City where the Air Force Academy will be located, and the Police Headquarters shall be in Iloilo City where the Police Academy will be located; the curriculum of these academies should be loaded with courses on proper values, development of character and integrity, love of God, country and fellow human beings.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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Vol. II, No. 21 | Nov. 5-11, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 29-Rabiul Akhir 5, 1443)

PNP, AFP | from Page A1

PNP, AFP warn vs. political intimidation SCAA units are meant to serve as AFP auxiliary forces assigned to protect private companies, particularly natural resources firms, according to published government guidelines.

But Mangudadatu said he had received a report that SCAA units and military reservists in Army uniforms were poised in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat to serve allegedly in political activities relative to the 2022.

He said he had conveyed the report privately to President Duterte when regional officials and political leaders including him met in Malacañang on October 26 and 27.

PNP and AFP remarks The OPAPP statement, a copy of which reached the Philippine Muslim Today news, contained pronouncement from Generals Eleazar and Faustino concerning the forthcoming elections and the thrusts of the National Task Force on Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTFDPAG).

“I am humbly asking all (politicians), especially those who are running for a position in the local government (units), to cease from using your

goons and guns to intimidate the voters because we will not allow it,” OPAPP quoted Eleazar as saying.

OPAPP added that Gen. Faustino echoed Eleazar’s position to renew the AFP commitment to disband PAGS. “The whole AFP gives its full support and commitment to ensure that we sustain the success and victory from past gains in the creation of the NTFDPAGs,” Faustino said.

Gen. Eleazar, the OPAPP statement said, reported the disbandment of 13 PAGs with 67 members and 64 firearms in the NTF-DPAGs campaign in the Bangsamoro region and Region 12.

The disbandment came via voluntary surrenders of the PAGs and their guns by incumbent elected municipal leaders in Maguindanao and Region 12, Eleazar’s report showed.

“The disbandment…is a no compromise government commitment to the Bangsamoro people. Let us work together to bring lasting peace and sustainable development here in Mindanao,” OPAPP quoted Eleazar as telling reporters in Gen. Santos City.

Eleazar warned candidates in 2022 elections not to use PAGs in their

campaign sorties, urging stakeholders’ unity “to realize our shared aspirations of a Bangsamoro that is free from armed groups, threat, intimidation and violence.”

Moro fronts vs. PAGs The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Sema group expressed full support to the national governments’ efforts against lawless elements, OPAPP said.

“MILF Chairman and BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim emphasized how private armed groups can adversely affect the peace and security situation in Mindanao by propagating the culture of fear and violence,” it said.

Ebrahim reportedly added: “To truly put peace in place, the Bangsamoro and other regions should put their weapons down and participate in nation-building. By having PAGs roaming around, our people cannot live in peace and trust that Mindanao has departed from its conflict-stricken history.”

“I thank our dear partners from the National Task Force for putting this into work. The (MILF) as the leading entity of the interim Bangsamoro Government will stay true to

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its word and assist the GPH (government) in all efforts related to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” he added.

For his part, MNLF Chairman Muslimin Sema recalled how the PAGs can undermine the conduct of elections based on the region’s history.

“PAGs are the primary instruments in the disenfranchisement of the electorate.

The MNLF supports by all means the disbandment of PAGs. We have experienced it. It was the PAGs of the 70s who massacred our people which caused the Moros to rise up in arms,” OPAPP quoted Sema as saying at a press conference in en. Santos City.

Sema also called on all sectors of society to support the peacekeeping efforts of the task force, saying “This is not a one man job so we must support the NTF on DPAGs.” Cabinet commitments Meanwhile, OPAPP said, Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año underscored the crucial mandate of the task force to maintain peace and order as well as protect the democracy in the region.

“At present, we are upfront in realizing the mission of the NTFDPAGs to (convening) government instrumentalities to thwart the proliferation of PAGs in the BARMM and its adjacent regions,” Año reportedly said.

“Our work experiences a lot of challenges but we will not falter in our quest to address threats in the communities and see peace in the Bangsamoro,” he added.

For his part, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., who is the NTFDPAGs special adviser, said the gains of the task force stemmed from its “whole-ofgovernment approach.”

Secretaries Galvez and Año were present at the BARMM regional officials and constituentpoliticians’ meeting at the Palace on Oct. 26 and 27, Rep. Mangudadatu said. (AGM)

OBITUARY PAULI BANI GANDA, 75 The immediate family of PAULI BANI GANDA, also known as NURHAIFA/NORHAIFA of Brgy. Cadayonan II, SPDA, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, expresses their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to their relatives, friends and all those who condoled with them at the time of their bereavement and sorrow for the loss of their loved one PAULI BANI GANDA who passed away on June 19, 2021, at Kialilidan, Binidayan, Lanao del Sur, at the age of 75.

The death certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar Marawi City, Lanao del Sur as furnished to the Philippine Muslim Today, revealed that the Immediate Cause of her death was Cardio Respiratory Arrest, and the antecedent cause Cancer of the Lungs.

As a Muslim practitioner whose religion is Islam, the decease’ remains was buried in accordance with Islamic Rites at a Macbara Muslim cemetery in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. PMT: Nov. 5-11, 2021; Nov. 12-18, 2021; Nov. 19-25, 2021.

DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG LEGAL HIERS WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

WE, POTRE NORHARA B. GANDA and SITTIE RAHANA JHAN GANDA, all of legal age, married and a resident of MSU, Marawi City, after having been sworn to an oath in accordance with law, depose and sand declare as follows: 1. That we are the only legitimate children and heirs of the deceased PAULI B. GANDA who died on June 19, 2021 at Cadayonan, MSU, Marawi City.

2. That said deceased died intestate without any last will or testament and without any outstanding debts at the time of her death.

3. That our late mother as above mentioned left to us her savings Account with the UnionBank, Iligan City, under S.A. No. 109576936297 with an outstanding balance of P81,347.89.

4. That in order to withdraw from the said account of our late mother, I, POTRE NORHARA B. GANDA hereby WAIVED my rights over the said account in favor of my sister/co-heir SITTIE RAHANA JHAN GANDA who may withdraw the outstanding balance from our late mother UnionBank Account; and 5. That we are executing this DEED in order to attest to the truth and correctness of the above mentioned facts and to support the withdrawal of my sister SITTIE RAHANA JHAN GANDA from the UnionBank Account of our late mother PAULI B. GANDA and for any other legal purposes.

IN WHEREOF, we have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of October, 2021 at Marawi City, Philippine.

(SGD) POTRE NORHARA B. GANDA (Affiant/daughter)

(SGD) SITTIE RAHANA JHAN GANDA (Affiant/daughter)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BEFORE ME, a Notary Public, for and in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, personally appeared POTRE NORHARA B. GANDA and SITTIE RAHANA JHAN GANDA with Passport No. P1193308A issued by DFA, Cag. De Oro City, known to me to be the same person who executed the foregoing instrument and she acknowl;eded to me that the same is her free act and deed.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL this 28th day of October 2021 art Marawi City, Philippines.

(SGD) ATTY. CAIRODING P. MARUHOM Notary Public Until December 31, 2021 Roll No. 35712-4/27/89 PTR No. 7550308b; 11/19/19; Marawi City IBP No. 095377; 11/21/2019 MOLE Compliance No. VI-0026691 DOC. NO. 21; PAGE NO. 6; BOOK NO. XXV; SERIES OF 2021.

PMT: Nov. 5-11, 2021; Nov. 12-18, 2021; Nov. 19-25, 2021.

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