Philippine Muslim Today

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Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

5-year old boy died, 6 hurt in North Cotabato bus terror attack

By MARK NAVALES

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BARMM in Focus

OTABATO CITY – A five-year old boy died, and six others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in a Mindanao Star passenger bus at around 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, along the national highway in Aleosan town of North Cotabato.

The bus with body number 1551 was heading from Davao City to Cotabato City and was driven by Michael Sochaysing Hubabib, a 36year old resident Davao City.

NorCot 63 villages get unprecedented attention via BARMM

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OTABATO CITY – The decision of residents in 63 villages of North Cotabato to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) territory is paying off efficaciously as their communities continue to get focal and unprecedented attention from higher authorities, according to provincial and regional assessments.

“It was a gamble or an expedition on our part…amid notions about adverse consequences to be administered under a Moro-led administration,” a Christian village chairman told the Philippine Muslim Today News in the vernacular, referring to their decision to join the BARMM area via the February 2019 plebiscite.

The official, who asked not to be named and had admitted some prejudices about Muslim leaders in past decades, was all praises during a huddle with this writer that “we are now winning after the gamble.”

He is an elected councilman in one of 63 barangays of six towns in North Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the area of BARMM in the plebiscite ratifying R.A. 11054, known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), in 2019.

Of the 63 autonomy-opting villages, 22 are located in Pikit; 13 in Midsayap; 12 in Pigcawayan; seven in Kabacan; two in Aleosan; and seven in Carmen – all in North Cotabato province.

In the plebiscite, North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco and Vice Governor Emylou Taliño-Mendoza rallied ratification efforts, saying their 63 NORCOT | A2

(FULL STORY ON PAGE A2)

SPECIAL FEATURE:

A Man of High Calibre Must Head the Department of Migrant Workers The newly established Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that focuses solely on addressing the needs and ensure the well-being of OFWs, deserves a man of tested calibre to head the agency.

It needs a man of action well

A3 COVID

equipped with the knowledge on Muslim personal laws and Sharia Law. President Duterte should appoint his Presidential Adviser on OFWs Secretary Abdullah “Dabs” Mamao (One of the Prime Movers of R.A. 11641 Creating the MAN | A7

A3 NATIONAL

A7 MINDANAO

32 boat travelers with Covid isolated in Zambo

6-M Eagles frat. members urged to plant trees

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 32 passengers aboard a passenger vessel that came from Manila and Dumaguete have been isolated in Zamboanga City after rapid antigen test results showed they had COVID-19 Wednesday night, January 12.

Senatorial candidate Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol has urged the Philippineborn Eagles fraternity to oblige its six million members in planting trees to help combat global climate change, reforest the countryside, and protect the habitats of the bird symbolizing the fast growing national organization

Improvised bomb kills woman in Basilan SUMISIP, Basilan — A 42-year-old woman was killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off early Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in a village in Sumisip town of Basilan province, report said.

Police Major Faisal Tandico, Sumisip police chief, identified the fatality as Junayra Saad, single, a resident of Upper Benembengan barangay, here.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, said Saad was on her way

to fetch water and accidentally tripped on the wire that triggered the explosion.

Gobway said the wire that she tripped over was attached to a triggering device, causing the IED to explode.

He identified the signa-

Sec. Abdullah D. Mamao

Radio blocktimer shot dead in Tacurong TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – A hard-hitting radio commentator who is seeking an elective post in a nearby town was shot dead here by a riding in tandem gunmen on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, report said. .

ture of the explosive to be that of Tawakkal Bayali, a sub leader of the Abu Sayyaf.

“This planting of APM (anti-personnel mine), its components and triggering device were identified as signatures of Tawakkal Bayali,” Gobway said.

Tandico said the body of the victim was already brought to her immediate family for traditional Muslim burial rites.

The police is investigating the motive and identify the persons behind the explosion.

(PMT Desk)

For latest update, visit: www.philmuslim.today. For Press Release, email to: chiefeditor@philmuslim.today

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NorCot 63 villages get unprecedented attention via BARMM… from Page A1

News

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

5-year old boy died, 6 hurt in North Cotabato bus terror attack

By MARK NAVALES

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Bangsamoro local government minister Naguib Sinarimbo addresses leaders and constituents in Pigcawayan, North Cotabao during the simultaneous grounbreaking of 4 barangay halls. (Supplied photo) mostly Moro dominated barangays in their province could be better off in a regional autonomy. Their projection proved right.

On March 15, 2021, the BARMM government through Ministers Naguib Sinarimbo (Local Government) and Eduard Guerra (Public Works) launched works for 63-kilometer concrete roads for the 63 barangays, allocating P16-million worth of one kilometer -paved road each village.

Minister Guerra earlier announced that his ministry had allocated P1.48-billion worth of concrete roads, three bridges, and a slope protection project in the 63 villages for last year alone.

On the same March 15 ceremonies, Gov. Catamco joined the two ministers in kicking off the construction of modern two-floor village halls for barangays Lower Pangangakalan, Lower Baguer, and Datu Binasing in Pigcawayan. Each barangay hall was programmed with a P3.6-million fund from Sinarimbo’s ministry.

In her speech, Catamco said: “Truly, the newly established government is the best example of good governance.”

Sinarimbo and Guerra said the March 15 projects’ launch pursued orders from BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim for synergized development efforts for 2,590 constituent-barangays, including all 37 villages in this city that also opted for inclusion in the regional autonomy.

BARMM currently covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, the cities of Marawi, Cotabato, and Lamitan and 118 municipalities.

Last Dec. 21, Sinarimbo inked a memorandum of partnership with the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) to upgrade to three-paced level the electric lines in 11 BARMM-member villages in Pigcawayan for residents to embark on industrial enterprises.

The BARMM government, through its concerned ministries, would provide the 11 villages with heavy equipment and machines for agricultural post-harvest processing that need substantial energy supply, Sinarimbo said.

The existing Cotelco line in the 11 villages is single-paced, not enough for industrial operational requirement, Engr. Felic Canja, Cotelco general manager for PALMA area, told the Philippine Muslim Today news. (Read full details in a separate story.)

Last December 25, the MILG broke the ground for the simultaneous construction of four more two-storey barangay halls in Pigcawayan – namely Kadinguilan, Matilac, Datu Mantil and Libungan Torreta, each edifice similarly allotted with P3.6 fund cost, Sinarimbo said.

Sources from the office of Vice Governor TalinoMendoza described as “highly elating” the unprecedented attention given by the BARMM to the 63 villages.

BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who is also minister of environment, natural resources and energy, said other regional ministries have separately pipelined development projects for the 63 villages now classified as special geographical area (SGA) ALI G. MACABALANG

OTABATO CITY – A five-year old boy died, and six others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in a Mindanao Star passenger bus at around 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, along the national highway

in Aleosan town of North Cotabato.

The bus with body number 1551 was heading from Davao City to Cotabato City and was driven

by Michael Sochaysing Hubabib, a 36-year old resident Davao City.

Seven individuals were injured in an explosion inside a Mindanao Star Bus on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at around 8:10 a.m. along the national highway in Aleosan town, North Cotabato.

One of the injured died later while undergoing medication at the hospital.

Police identified the injured as Haron Solaiman Jr., 5 months old and a resident of Kidapawan City, Yushra Solaiman 3 years old and a resident of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Benjamin Solaiman, 5 years old and a resident of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Rodolfo R. Castillo, 67 years old and a resident of Toril Davao City, Lester Alkane Bautista, 17 years old and a resident of Poblacion, Pikit, Cotabato, Haron Solaiman Sr., 24 years old and a resident of Kidapawan City and Masid Benjamin, 25 years old and a resident of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The wounded victims were immediately brought to Aleosan District Hospital and Cotabato Regional Medical Center for immediate medical intervention.

One of the 7 injured, however, Benjamin, a 5year old boy, passed

Barangay Upper San Mateo, Aleosan, Cotabato Province this morning, we hope for the fast recovery of the injured and be assured that those behind the bombing will face the full force of the law.” PBGen Tagum said.

Tagum said the regional police force has also directed CPPO-EOD and Cotabato Crime Laboratory are presently ongoing at the crime scene- while the area renders safe procedure for possible secondary IED and post blast investigation is being conducted in the area.

He also ordered of additional policemen in the area to thwart possible terror attacks amid

Improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated at the back portion of the passenger bus with body number 1551 driven by Michael Sochaysing Hubabib from Davao City. Mark Navales away later while undergoing medication at the hospital.

Basit Sulaiman, who suffered shrapnel wounds in his left foot, said his son, Benjamin, 5, died while undergoing medication at the hospital.

Police Region 12 Director P/BGen Alexander Tagum told Philippine Muslim Today that he immediately organized an SITG headed by PCol Michael Lebanan, CRS to supervise the investigation of said heinous terrorist attack to a civilian target.

“We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack against the innocent commuters of Mindanao Star bus in Purok Narra,

the imposition of the election gun ban which began last Sunday.

602nd Brigade commander Col. Jovencio Gonzales said, “It’s under investigation. We are determining the kind of explosive used by the perpetrators, and also not discounting the involvement of the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah groups that are still active in the region that’s why we tighten the security in all checkpoints in my area of responsibility for the possible attack”.

In October 2010, ten people were killed when a bomb ripped through a passenger bus in nearby Matalam town, also in North Cotabato. (MN)

2 ‘Omicron’ cases in NorMin identified

By MASIDING N. YAHYA ILIGAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao (DOH-10) on Friday confirmed that two of the 43 recently recorded Omicron variant cases in the country are constituents of the region.

DOH-10 Director Jose Llacuna Jr., in an online conference, said the two patients – a student and a seaman – are residents of Cagayan de Oro City and this city, respectively.

Dr. Stephani Grace Zamora, cluster head for DOH-10’s Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU), said the Iligan case was a 40-year-old seaman who arrived in the Philippines via Qatar Airways on December 16, 2021.

“He tested positive on December 20 in an isola-

tion facility in Cebu City and was clinically cleared on December 30 when he headed back to his residence in Iligan City,” she said.

The OFW lives in Iligan City village of Del Carmen.

The second case was a 20-year-old college student who came from the United States and is currently in isolation in a facility in Manila.

Dr. Jasper Kent Ola, RESDRU-10 chief, said the tagging of the two patients was based on the place of their residence.

“While the patient in Iligan City already recovered, we will be conducting re-swabbing for confirmatory tests,” he said.

Llacuna also reiterated the importance of getting the vaccine as a basic protection for the new Covid-19 variants.

(With Agency)

News

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

Piñol urges 6-M Eagles fraternity members to plant trees

By ALI G. MACABALANG

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IDAPAWAN CITY – Senatorial candidate Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol has urged the Philippine-born Eagles fraternity to oblige its six million members in planting trees to help combat global

climate change, reforest the countryside, and protect the habitats of the bird symbolizing the fast growing national organization.

Above are photos culled from an online post and taken by the Philippine Muslim Today news, showing Piñol in a pose with officers of the Eagles fraternity in Gen. Santos City on Monday, and in an demonstrative stance of planting abaca with indigenous villagers in Misamis Oriental last year.

Piñol, a former secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Mindanao Development Authority chairman, made the call in a proposal he raised as keynote speaker on Monday night in General Santos City of officers and members of the Eagles fraternity in Region 12 or Central Mindanao.

At the meeting, he said, “I asked members of the different chapters belonging to the Central Mindanao Region under Eagle Eddie Delima what had they done or contributed to the protection of the Eagle which symbolizes the fraternity.”

A former veteran journalist-turned mayor, governor and vice governor in North Cotabato, Piñol believed the answer to his question was negative. He joined the fraternity when he served as guest of honor and speaker at the chartering of the Metro Valencia Eagles Club in Valencia City Bukidnon late last year.

“I warned the (fraternity) members and officers that unless an immediate and concerted effort is done, the remaining 6% of the national forests of the country, the habitat of the Philippine Eagle, could be gone in the next few years.”

The lull would not only lead to the extinction of the Philippine Eagles but also threaten food security as well as climate change and environmental preservation in the country, Piñol said in his social media post.

He said the “Philippine-born fraternal order has actually grown by leaps and bounds over the years with its members now numbering six million composed mainly of professionals, public servants and leaders of the communities.”

“I proposed a five-year program to be led by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles where every member of the fraternity would be obligated to plant 100 bamboo, fruit trees or native trees every year,” he said.

He asked the National President of the Regional

Governors, Eagle Larry Franco, to submit to the fraternity’s national leadership my proposal for the Philippine Eagles “to support the Green Philippines Advocacy” he espouses for more than four decades.

If adopted and carried out, he said, the proposal would redound to planting by the fraternity alone of three billion trees in five year.

This would make the Fraternal Order of the Eagles as “the first organization in the country to lead the Greening of the Philippines,” he said.

He said his proposal was “received enthusiastically” by the Eagles members and officers in Central Mindanao whom he described as pledging to take up the plan with the fraternity’s national leadership promptly.

Piñol is a pioneer member of the Duterte administration cabinet, named as Agriculture secretary in 2016. He resigned in 2019 in protest of provisions in the Rice Tarrification Law allowing unregulated influx of imported rice but proving to be disadvantageous to Filipino farmers.

In 2019, President Duterte named Piñol chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), through which he pursued his campaign for pro-farmer strides and mass reforestation in logged-over areas in the country.

Piñol’s stint in the Duterte government cabinet characterized mostly his field sorties to immerse with countryside folks and feel their pulses.

In one of his sorties in Misamis Oriental, journalists saw Piñol teaching and joining villagers in planting tree varieties.

Piñol resigned as MinDA chair to file his senatorial candidacy last October. In the Commission on Elections-printed official ballot, he is assigned the numbers 148. He once interpreted the assigned figure as “I love Emmanuel.” (AGM)

Peasant women lauds Comelec for excluding Malasakit from ballot MANILA – Amihan, the national federation of peasant women, has lauded the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in excluding Celine Pialago’s party-list from ballot.

“The COMELEC’s move to exclude Celine Pialago’s party-list from ballot is commendable. We hope that this was due to that the commission identified Malasakit Movement party-list as not representing any marginalized sectors,” Zenaida Soriano, Amihan National Chairperson said in a statement sent to Philippine Muslim Today.

Soriano said Pialago and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) only intention to run for congress is to persistently harass and red-tag progressive groups.

She said that the commission should also exclude other fake party-lists who are taking advantage of Republic Act 7941, the Party-list Act for counterinsurgency program victimizing marginalized sectors.

“In the coming days, we should be very vigilant and hope for the COMELEC to exclude more fake party-lists. We want a party-list who will represent the aspirations of the marginalized sectors for land, livelihood, ayuda, housing, and others,” Soriano said.

(PR)

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32 boat travelers with Covid isolated in Zamboanga

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AMBOANGA CITY – At least 32 passengers aboard a passenger vessel that came from Manila and Dumaguete have been isolated in Zamboanga City after rapid antigen test results showed they had COVID-19 Wednesday night, January 12.

Authorities said the boat, which docked at the Zamboanga Port at 7 pm on Wednesday, had 613 passengers – 245 of them were given rapid antigen tests, following Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco’s Executive Order No. BC 704-1022.

The order also reimposed the RT-PCR requirement for inbound travelers, especially those coming from areas with higher alert level status.

City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Dulce Miravite said those who tested positive in the initial rapid tests were given confirmatory RT-PCR tests on Thursday, January 13, in line with the city government’s measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

The CHO said, of the 613 passengers, 187 were Zamboanga City-bound, 336 others are residents of Jolo, and 13 are traveling to Zamboanga del Norte, 11 to Zamboanga Sibugay, nine to Lamitan in Basilan, and another one to Tawi-Tawi.

Officials said 56 others have unknown addresses.

Jolo-bound passengers were not tested. They were attended to by health workers from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the CHO. Mayor Climaco said city hall had to reimpose stricter measures beginning January 12 in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.

“With cases spiking, we will have to revert to safety measures. There was a child who was found positive during the antigen testing,” Climaco said.

She pointed out that Zamboanga City is an entry point for travelers bound for the BARMM, Sulu, TawiTawi, and the Zamboanga Peninsula region, and even those coming from Sabah.

City Social Welfare and Development Office chief Socorro Rojas said the local government was taking care of the needs of those quarantined. Rojas added the city’s public health front-line workers have also started contact-tracing work. (PMT Desk)

MBHTE hires 294 new teachers in Sulu SULU – 294 newly-hired teachers in Sulu took their oath of office Saturday, Jan. 8, during the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education’s (MBHTE) mass signing of new appointments for teachers held at Sulu National High School.

183 of the teachers were appointed in the elementary level, 103 in the junior high school level, and 8 in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Member of Parliament (MP) Prof. Sahie Udjah, with the verbal authority given by MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal, administered the oathtaking ceremony.

During his speech, MP Udjah, highlighted the Bangsamoro Act No. 70 or the Bangsamoro Education Code (BEC), an act providing for the establishment, maintenance, and support of a complete and integrated system of quality education in the Bangsamoro.

“We would like to emphasize the beautiful feature of the Bangsamoro Act No. 70, the act principally authored by our very own Minister Mohagher Iqbal.

This act embodied our aspiration for the Bangsamoro children to have a bright future which is an upshot of a quality education,” Udjah said.

“You are now becoming part of the sector of the Bangsamoro people (who will) provide bright future of our children, of your future children to be,” he added.

On the other hand, Sulu Schools Division Superintendent Kiram Irilis reminded the newly-hired teachers that they have to do their duty with diligence as they are now part of the ‘moral governance’ advocacy of the regional government.

“Sumumpa kayo ngayon, that you will do the service diligently under the Republic Act of the Philippines, under the Bangsamoro Government,” Kiram said during his speech.

The new teachers also underwent orientation right after the signing of their appointments and oathtaking ceremony. BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE

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

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

ADMINISTRATION DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Chairman, Board of Directors MASIDING NOOR YAHYA President/Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Vice President for Internal Affairs ALI G. MACABALANG Vice President for External Affairs ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Treasurer MACOD D. RASCAL Secretary CASAN C. CANA Auditor AMANODING D. ESMAIL Chairman, Special Committee on Administration & Finance

EDITORIAL

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor JAHARA A. SOLAIMAN Contributing Editor FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Bureau Chief for NCR-Plus JOHNNY R. LEE Bureau Chief for Western Mindanao Region & BaSulTa

Editorial

The NPC dams in the Agus River and the flooding

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he Maranao Muslims dominated province of Lanao del Sur in the south of Philippines was heavily affected by Typhoon Odette that recently hit parts of the country submerging many localities under water that damages millions worth of properties as heavy rains kept on pouring in days and nights for almost a week.

This was not the first calamity that hit Lanao del Sur. Almost every typhoon that had passed them by had made locals suffer with their livelihood severely damaged such as crops and other agricultural products.

Local environmentalists call the disaster man-made and blame the National Power Corporation (NPC) for its dams along the Agus River located in the Islamic City of Marawi as the cause of the flooding.

Environmental lawyer Bayan G. Balt said the flooding in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur is a man-made calamity produced by the NPCbuilt dams along the Agus River that obstruct the free and natural flow of waters from lake Lanao to its outlet in the Iligan Bay. “During rainy seasons, the NPC will close or partially close the 2 built regulatory dams located at the mouth of the Agus River and the Saduc dams in order to maintain the required volume of water to feed the turbine of the hydroelectric power plants, which rotate to 90RPM,” Balt said.

ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao & CARAGA Regions

SALIC G. MACABALANG Bureau Representative for Bangsamoro Regon MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL Head of Accounts Executives for NCR Plus

The Outside View

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

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Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

“If the flow of waters from lake Lanao to the Agus River exceeded the maintain volume of waters, the turbine will be damaged,” he added.

Balt said once the Dams are closed, low lying areas are flooded while the elevation of the lake’s water level cause damages to fish breeding reefs and downward ecosystem, causing losses and disappearance of fish species, and, worst, mosques and communities submerge.

The NPC generates P45 Billion annual power revenues from its 6 hydro power plants at the expense of the Maranao nation, yet 99% of these funds are sent to Manila, thousands of kilometers away from Marawi City, according to Balt who also heads a coalition against power plants called ARCAPP. The irregular closing and opening of the Dams are one of the issues raised in a legal action brought by a group of environmentalists against NPC. If the real cause is the dams built by the NPC along the Agus River, the government should stop this operation and resort to renewable energy sources to avoid catastrophe bringing to the locals and localities. All peace and nature loving leaders should unite to do this. There is no best time to end this environmental hazard at the expense of humanity. (PMT)

‘Awesome’ describes best Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao

PANAMBULAN MIMBISA Bureau Chief for Central Mindanao Region

NCR PLUS SATELLITE OFFICE:

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

by Judge Panambulan “Bing” Mimbisa (Ret.) Founding Secretary General of the UMDP

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f the myriad of things that can be said of Senator Emmanuel” Manny” Pacquiao, perhaps the closest that can describe him best is ‘Awesome.’ But even this is an understatement given what he had done to place the Philippines in the world map, recognizable many times over than any time in the past one hundred years. He has transcended geographic, racial, and historical boundaries so much so that you can hear his name, clear on audio, being chanted by spectators in all his boxing matches very much louder than those of his opponents. He has become the most discernible icon in all the sport world in the ranks of Michael Jordan of basketball, Tiger Woods of Golf, Cristiano Ronaldo of Soccer and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal of Tennis. He is the Philippines un-official Ambassador par excellence.

Senator Pacquiao is awesome in terms of kindness and benevolence as he shares his blessings out of his earnings in boxing with the poor and downtrodden sectors of our society.

He is awesome as a public servant, notably as Senator of the Philippines, having authored several legislations such as the National Bible Day, Increase in the salary of senior members of our veterans and several other bills of national significance. He is also the chairman of the Committee of Public Works and the Committee of Ethics in the Senate which he holds with poise, dignity, and honor. He is awesome as boxing champion, achieving a feat, which up to this very day, remains just a dream to all the boxers in the world, that of being the eight division world boxing champion. This achieve-

ment becomes all the more significant and unbelievable for having lost in at least two occasions in his early boxing career, to two boxers without any credential of making it big in this sport. In boxing, no one cast a bigger shadow than Senator Manny Pacquiao.

He is awesome as a father to his children, a son to his parents, a brother to his siblings and as a husband to his beautiful wife Jinky Jamora Pacquiao. He sets the example for his children to emulate the obedient son to his parents for others to follow, a doting brother to his siblings to keep the knot that binds them firmly held in his hands as the eldest among them, as a caring, protective, and loving husband to wife.

This write have had the opportunity to set down and discuss with the people very close to the Senator on his No Vote on the bill extending the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to 2025.

They were one in expressing surprise when they were told that a number of Muslim leaders look at his no vote as a manifestation of his bias against the Muslims so much so that he is now being bashed as anti-muslim. These persons who included Wahid Bualan, Barangay Chairman of Tambler, General Santos City, one of the closest friend of the Senator turned serious and began his explanation by saying that this was farthest from the truth. He told this writer that all his life Manny had been associated with the Muslims and in fact had also worked with them as a youngster in General Santos City.

Chairman Bualan said that he indeed voted no against the passage of the bill extending the MIMBISA | A8

Opinion NEW HORIZON FOR NEW BEGINNINGS – IIa

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

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GUEST COLUMN:

Stay in, sit tight as COVID sweeps the country

Diliman Way With Homobono A. Adaza

“To be willing to march into Hell For that heavenly cause And I know If I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart Will lie peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strong with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star.”

- The second half of the song “Impossible Dream” from MAN OF LA MANCHA, the musical

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he Impossible Dream is a highly elevating and inspiring song. I was not at all surprised why Doy Laurel, Ninoy Aquino and Evelio Javier were enamored by the song and probably also by the entrancing obra maestra of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, the man of La Mancha. In my point of view, they had a common problem – their dream was to become President of the country. They had no known vision of what the country should be as they were all prisoners of the system. It seemed enough to them – ambition but no vision..

That is not the case – the system is dysfunctional. It cannot be repaired – it has to be demolished but the thry were all men of the system and they did not think outside the box where the horizon glitters with promise of new beginnings.

Theory and practice: Theory unless translated into practice means nothing. Experts in all sciences will tell you that. This has become a biblical truism, especially with political revolutionaries.. To succeed in any enterprise, there must be confluence of theory and practice.

Reduced into the level of the law, the brilliant Justice Oliver Wendell Homes of the American, Supreme Court once wrote that the life of the law is not logic but experience.

It is in this spirit that I will share with you my experience in the light of what Benjamin Tiu Constreras thought I could be “that little spark that could ignite a conflagration of radical ideas.” . Decision 1977: Succumbing to pressure from the United States government, President Marcos called elections of the Interim Parlia-

ment (Batasang Pambansa) on April 1978.

When Marcos announced the call for elections sometime in 1977, the national opposition met at the offices of the Laurels in Makati City with the leading leaders of the Opposition that included Former President Diosdado Macapagal, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose “Pepito” Laurel, Jr, Senators Salvador “Doy” Laurel and Rene Espina, Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Salvador Lopez and a host of other including this writer, The prevailing view of the overwhelming majority of the attendees led by President Macapagal was to boycott the election. In so deciding to boycott the election, President Macapagal made the following rationalization, he said: “We should boycott the election because to participate will legitimize Marcos and his regime.”

Unable to agree with his argument, I asked permission to speak. This is what I said, “With due respect to you, Mr. President, I am sorry I cannot agree with you. Legitimacy in a developing country like ours is being in possession of power. Marcos holds power and that makes him legitimate.

This is not the USA, France or Britain where legitimacy means election.

Marcos is giving us an opportunity to fight him and he says we can say anything and we will be prosecuted. This is our chance to fight him. If we do not participate in the election, our only option is to join the armed revolution. (Everyone was silent about the idea of an armed revolution.)

If you’re ready to join the armed revolution, I’ll join you but since no one is

ready, I’ll participate in the elections I respect the majority decision but I expect you to respect mine as this is a decision of conscience.”

Suddenly Former UP President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lopez stood up and said in a loud voice, “I agree with Adaza. He is right. We should participate in the elections.”

Hurt that someone disagreed with him, Macpagal stood up and said, “I’m leaving. Even my Secretary of Foreign Affairs is shouting at me.” Before he could leave, Speaker Laurel got a glass of water, handed it to Macapagal and he drank it and sat down.

The spark: After that meeting, I organized the first regional political party in the country, MINDANAO ALLIANCE, to accept the challenge of President Marcos. It was only composed of a bunch of young lawyers – Atty.

Firdausi “Seng” Abbas as Secretary General, Atty.

Jesus “Jess” Balicanta as Regional Chairman for Region 12 and this writer as Chairman. That little spark which Ben mentions resulted to front page treatment in the Marcos mainstream media and the consequent mushrooming of regional parties like Zamboaga City Mayor Cesar Climaco’s Concerned Citizens’ Aggrupation (CCA), Ninoy Aquino’s Laban, Nene Madarang’s Pusyon Bisaya, Abdul Khayer Alonto’s Muslim Federal Party, Atty. Badong Princesa’s Bicol Saro, and Congressman Tito Dupaya’s Timek Ti Umile’ That little spark that led to the organization of MINDANAO ALLIANCE and the mushrooming of regional political parties eventually led to the birth of national political parties like Senator Jovito Salonga’s National Union for Liberation (NUL) Francisco “Kit” Tatad’s Socialist Party of the Philippines (SPP), Mayor Nene Pimentel’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), Senator Edgardo “Ed” Angara’s Laban ng Demokratikon Pilipino(LDP).and the giant of all political parties, the United Democratic Organization (UNIDO) which toppled the regime of President Marcos.

ADAZA | A2

by Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH

D

R. Alfredo R. A. “Alran” Bengzon, who was then-president Corazon Aquino’s health secretary, knew he had inherited a corrupted and underfunded health system from the older Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Alran would have to start by literally cleaning out the Aegean stables that was the Department of Health (DOH) as he found it. Regional directors were most affected, as he fired seven, retained three, and promoted one before he even started to pay attention to the people’s health.

The former secretary recognized health as a human right, but he had his priorities. He viewed the Filipino population as being divided among the “well;” “worried, but well;” and the “unwell.” His policies and programs were focused on keeping people well (preventive health programs on immunization, for one) and taking care of the unwell (the Generics Law was meant to make medicines more affordable, since it constitutes 60 percent to 80 percent of the cost of health care).

As one of the first doctors with a Master of Business Administration degree, Alran set his priorities for the meager budget of the DOH by setting up a management structure that reduced his supervisory load from 40 to seven. His pragmatic position on the decentralization of health services under the Local Government Code would be his undoing when he ran for a Senate seat in 1992.

Today, with the coronavirus disease sweeping the country, it is important to get our priorities right and dig in with the basics of health-resource management as Sec. Alran did.

Taking care of the unwell AT near 50 percent positivity with COVID-19, health managers at all levels can presume that everyone with flu-like

symptoms has been infected with COVID-19 (most likely), or with influenza (less likely). Nine out of 10 patients do not need hospital care and need symptomatic relief.

It would also be senseless to have them all tested, since the National Capital Region-Plus (or NCR-Plus, with the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna) is now a COVID-19transmission hotspot (areas with high effective transmission), so why overload laboratories with tests that are costly, while the money could go to symptomatic treatment?

Is it so we can know the numbers, which can only lead to the “worried well” being more worried?

Most regions in the country may well be in NCR-Plus’ current hotspot situation within the next month. The DOH no longer has direct supervision over local health systems, but it can set a treatment policy that any health provider can follow with any COVID patient that all health professionals and workers, including the barangay health workers (BHWs), need to pay attention to: One Influenza-Like Illness Station in every barangay – led by a midwife or nurse to assess everyone with symptoms, triage to the health center the moderate and severely ill, and isolate all “symptomatics” at home or isolation facilities for 10 to 14 days, dependent on their vaccine status (longer if “unvaccinated;” or, lock in all those who are unwell).

Those over 55 years of age can be prioritized for testing, as well as those with comorbidities.

BHWs conducting daily health visits – to check on symptoms of those in isolation, and report adverse events LGU health centers as COVID triage facilities, and overall health-care providers – health centers led by health officers to set up areas accepting referred patients from barangays to higher-level

facilities for appropriate care, and a regular area for other types of health care Caring for the unwell TRIAGING patients through the health system for necessary care means sending patients to hospitals only when they need it. The One Hospital System needs to decentralize to the provinces and cities with hospitals. Private hospitals should also respond to referrals from the decentralized system (as was intended under the Universal Health Care Law).

Mayors and governors need to support their local health systems so that hospitals do not get overwhelmed.

COVID 19 patients with the now-dominant Omicron variant who are critical do not all need the higher-end care that was seen with the Delta variant, so the lower-level hospitals can take on more of the load, leaving the most severe cases for the higher-end hospitals.

Assure and vaccinate all THE message on minimum-health protocols needs to be continuously promoted by all agencies and organizations, public and private. As people go about on their necessary tasks, the proper role for enforcers is to provide assistance—not enforce compliance.

The vaccination program needs to be stepped up and continued, eventually as part of the regular service of health facilities. It cannot be sustained as a national program.

Going after the unvaccinated is a complete waste of health resources, and cannot be imposed on a health system that is already overburdened. The messages need to be: “Stay in if you are unwell.”

“Sit tight with protocols in place if you are among the ‘worried well.’”

—————— (Undersecretary Juan Antonio “Doc Jeepy” Perez III is the executive director of the Commission on Population and Development, or POPCOM. For comments and reactions, e-mail juan.perez@popcom.gov. ph)

A6

Opinion

The rise of regional parties in BARMM

My tribute to a great friend, public servant

Punchline With Ali G. Macabalang

I

am greatly saddened about the untimely demise of Dr. Anshari P. Ali, my great friend and a model in public service.

My niece, Lorraine Macabalang-DagalangitSarigala, one of his trusted subordinates in The MSU-Gen. Santos City campus, called me up a few minutes after Dr. Ali suffered fatal cardiac arrest on Saturday.

I was stunned more to hear from my niece that she and MSU-GSC chancellor Ali planned to visit me this month for another round of heart-to-heart talk. We had met many times personally and virtually.

Our first meeting happened at his office in Gen. Santos City on Dec. 8, 2020, during which shared common views on good governance and I had begun writing about his vision, traits, strides and activities in public service.

I have written dozens of news items and commentaries about him and his colorful rise in public service.

How Dr. Ali earned his formal education as an orphan from BacolodKalawi, Lanao del Sur is a success story I first heralded in my media outlets.

I am not alone in admiring Dr. Ali. The international community, including the UNESCO, the embassies of Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as academes in the Middle East and Africa had honored him formal citations.

Impressed about his moral governance advocacy, I facilitated interviews by the Manilabased DWIZ and other media entities for him to propagate his knowledge and observance of ethical standards in public service.

Personally, I saw in him great potentials to be the next president of the Mindanao State University (MSU) system or any higher office in government.

In tribute to his untimely demise, I am reposting hereunder three of my several write-ups published about him and his

career, and the photo of our first meeting and an image I took of him in a huddle, viz:

Conflict in Ibada and Public Service tenets

By Ali G. Macabalang, Jan. 8, 2021 There seems to be a conflict between ibada (ideal deeds in Islam) and career service principles.

Ibada-related feats should be kept between the doers and Allah (s.w.t.) and not heralded, lest the divine rewards for the good acts will vanish.

On the other hand, the government’s transparency policy obliges public servants to unveil to the public all their activities that involved public funds.

The issue may appear trivial. But for the officials of the Bangsamoro autonomous region’s transitional governance, this stands as an imperative matter to ponder on, especially in pursuit of their commitment for moral governance. The public – comprising skeptics, critics and supporters – closely monitor the BARMM operation as to whether or not the commitment is going to be realized.

In two occasions, BARMM executive Secretary and Environment Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambay” Macacua had confessed to journalists including me about their mixed feelings in conveying through the media their initial feats in the context of Islamic tenet on ibada. .”Apart from regular programs and thrusts, we are also embarking on humanitarian activities such as providing cash aids and relief materials to needy constituents.

Initially, we thought of keeping the grants of assistance untold for fear that the barakah (Divine rewards) will be eroded,” Macacua said.

But in one of the occasions, I argued with Macacua that abiding fully by their fear is affront to government policy for transparency in all statefunded undertakings.

Besides, I said that a public official should opt

for niyat (intention) that heralding the delivery of goods and services especially in ideal fashion is meant to inspire other people to follow suit or replicate.

Similar fate The incumbent chancellor of the Mindanao State University-General Santos campus, Dr. Anshari Ali, similarly faces the dilemma.

Before we crossed paths last December, I had been hearing many feedbacks about unprecedented improvements and reforms his almost two-year administration has achieved in a fashion that earned for him citations as exemplary educator from local and foreign entities, including the UNNESCO. The accolades reportedly came one after another as subordinate officials and workers of the MSU-GenSan campus publicized Dr. Ali’s feats in their official publications and website. The satellite campus’ website is accessed regularly by dozens of searchers, possibly including the entities that awarded him in separate ceremonies.

It was during my personal meeting with Dr. Ali last Dec. 8 that I learned a lot of human interest stories about his reign that I deem worth drumbeating for the purpose of inspiring other government officials to replicate.

Of course, I know that Dr. Ali knows more about the intricacies of the relationship between Philippine government’s policies and Islamic philosophies in Islam. He holds a doctorate degree in Islamic studies and, in fact, a Sha’riah Law practitioner and professor. Allahu alam [only God know]. (AGM)

Late DPWH Director Ibrahim and ‘moral leadership’

By Ali G. Macabalang, Feb. 5, 2021 The “Moral Governance” (MG) that the Bangsamoro government is espousing to achieve has faced skepticisms from the people including Moro professionals either residing in the region or concerned with the evolution of new autonomy.

(To be continued)

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

My Legal Point Atty. Bayan G. Balt

P

olitical parties especially organized

by Mujahedin and revolutionaries are conducive to peace and stability, they are vehicle for attaining peace within the constitutional order. Just recently, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the able leadership of Datu Muslimin G. Sema led the launching of the Bangsamoro Party (acronym BaPa) at Camp Ebrahem, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Written in party’s backdraft stage is “BaPa”, the principled party of the people.

According to the English dictionary the word ‘Bapa’ has the same meaning with the word “Bapak” in Malay dialect which likewise means “father’. Other regional parties already existing in the region include the OMPIA, UMMAH and the recently organized SCIAP, all based and organized in Marawi City.

The former OMPIA and UMMAH were old regional parties draws memberships from the local religious leaders and have participated in previous elections. The MILF has likewise organized its own UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY or “UBJP party” several years ago, as a matter of fact, they have reportedly field candidates in the May 9, 2022 elections in BARMM. Peace makers and their adversaries have witnessed revolutionaries who shifted from armed struggle to organized political party and became effective instrument in realizing peace and stability.

In Lebanon, the Hezbollah or (Party of God) have actively participated in the government political processes, 14 of its members were elected in the Parliament while 2 were appointed cabinet ministers. From 1992, despite being declared as a terrorist organization by some western countries, Hezbollah has grown into an organization with a radio and a

satellite TV station and provide social services to its constituents.

In Europe, it was reported further that the revolutionary Irish Republican Army or (IRA) have allied with Sinn Fien Party (Ourselves) and become a political front of the “IRA”. Further, after signing the 1998 Good Friday Agreement between the British and Irish governments, and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, (on how Northern Ireland should be governed), Sinn Féin became one of the two largest parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly, winning one fewer seat than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) at the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly elections. In that assembly it is the largest Irish nationalist party, and it holds four ministerial posts in the powersharing Northern Ireland Executive as of 2020. In the UK House of Commons, Sinn Féin holds seven of Northern Ireland’s 18 seats, making it the second-largest bloc after the DUP. The latter participation in the pollical process have reduced tensions and improve the atmosphere of peace in said country.

In India, the great Mahatma Gandhi led his people to freedom thru his Indian Congress Party, despite his age of (76 years old), his party, fought the British empire and caused the empire to collapsed. The Indian Congress Party was Gandhi’s vehicle to gain freedom that led to Indian independence in 1947 from the British. His approach to attain freedom

and independence for his people was non- violent or “Satyagraha” a concept of protests (“holding firmly to truth”, or “truth force”), a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance, Gandhi says, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.”

Corollary, Datu Muslimin G. Sema, the great leader of the MNLF and Chairman of the Bangsamoro Party (BaPa) is correct when he said in the party’s launching, quote: “What we have started more than 40 years ago, a bloody and violent struggle for national identity and liberation, has come to a point where we can pursue the same peacefully and at a different level and framework, right after the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

“So, today’s occasion, we are putting to action that choice we inked in those peace agreements.

With firm audacity, we will achieve our aspirations thru the might of the ballot and no longer thru the barrel of our firearms” (Chairman Muslimin G. Sema’s message to the launching of the Bangsamoro Party, DOS Maguindanao, January 8, 2022).

For comments: Email me at: bayanbalt@yahoo.com ———— Atty. Bayan G. Balt is the past Chapter President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBPMarawi City and Lanao del Sur, 2013-2015), former Cabinet Secretary of DOLE-ARMM and Chairman of the Ranao Federal State Movement, (RFSM).

News A MAN | From PageA1:

A Man of High Calibre Must Head the Department of Migrant Workers DMW) as Head of the Agency for he has all the qualifications required for the said position.

Secretary Mamao’s diplomatic skills was proven effective and successful, many times, after the President dispatched him to the Middle East and GCC countries to appease and heal strained relations caused by some petty diplomatic squabbles.

His prowess on diplomatic negotiations paved the way for the release of overseas Filipino workers abducted by armed men and the lifting of the ban for deployment of household workers to Kuwait as a result of the killing of OFW Joanna Demafiles, a Filipina domestic worker in Kuwait.

In 2016, during a Cabinet Meeting in Malacanang Palace and upon the strong recommendation of the DFA 3-Man Rapid Response (RRT) Humanitarian Mission to KSA composed of Datu Omar Tahir M. Pangarungan, Ambassador Eric M. Endaya, Atty. Joel Peralta, President Duterte ordered the urgent deployment of a High level Philippine Government Composite Mission from DFA, DOLE/POEA, DSWD, OWWA, DOH, TESDA, DOJ & PAO to Saudi Arabia, In the said meeting, President Duterte verbally directed Presidencial Adviser on OFWs Secretary Abdullah “Dabs” Mamao to head the Php delegation with DOLE Secretary Silvestro Bello, TESDA Secretary Mamondiong Guiling, DFA Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes , 2 DSWD Undersecretaries Hope Hervilla and other high ranking government officials from member agencies to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to OFWs stranded in work camps in Al Khobar, Riyadh, Jeddah and nearby areas.

The high level delegation was tasked to conduct higher representations with Saudi Labor Ministry and employers to facilitate early repatriation of the more than 11K stranded OFWs and early resolution of labor problems of these OFWs. The Delegation held a series of dialogue meetings with their Saudi counterparts that led to a follow through bilateral meetings on labor issues especially on the complete abolition of the kafala system or sponsorship system!

Because of Secretary Mamao’s expertise on Sharia Laws and Islamic Diplomacy, all his numerous humanitarian missions abroad to save IDPs OFWs in the Middle East countries have been greatly successful!!

In 2018, Secretary Mamao was sent to Kuwait

by PRRD as Special Envoy to resolve a diplomatic scuffle with the Kuwaiti Government involving the DFA and rescued Filipino OFWs. He was also involved in the extraction of distressed OFWs in Libya, and the payment of backwages by the Saudi Goverment to more than 11,000 Filipino workers amounting to $4.6 billion dollars.

This is a victory for all OFWs abroad and their families. Filipino Community leaders all over Middle East are now hoping for the immediate appointment of Secretary Mamao as Head of the newly created and signed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as PRRD’s legacy for the Filipino Migrant Workers.

(A repost from @wesupportdabsmamao)

READ PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY Https://philmuslim.today/

Vol. II, No. 20 | Oct. 29—Nov. 4, 2021 (Rabiul Awwal 22-28, 1443)

A7

Radio blocktimer shot dead in Tacurong; Malacañang condemns killing

By PMT DESK

T

ACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – A hard-hitting radio commentator who is seeking an elective post in a nearby town was shot dead here by a riding in tandem gunmen on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, report said.

The Philippine News Agency (PNA) quoting police report said in its website that Jaynard Angeles, 36, of Barangay Matiompong, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, died from a gunshot wound in the head.

Angeles was former station manager of Radyo ni Juan FM station and radio blocktimer commentator.

Allan Freno, Tacurong information officer, said Angeles had resigned from Radyo ni Juan FM to run for councilor in his hometown of Lambayong.

Angeles is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

Radio DXOM in Koronadal City reported that Angeles was waiting for his car in front of a car repair shop in Purok Sampaguita, Barangay New Carmen here when two men, riding tandem on a motorbike, arrived.

One of them shot Angeles at close range who instantly died from a bullet wound in the head.

At the time of his death, Angeles still worked at Radyo ni Juan-Tacurong though as a radio commentator or blocktimer.

Malacañang condemns the killing Meanwhile, Malacañang decried the audacious killing in broad daylight of the former radio station manager on Wednesday morning.

“The government condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Jaynard Angeles, a candidate in the local election and former station manager of Radyo ni Juan. We will never tolerate any act of violence against any person,” Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), said in a statement.

“We condole with the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Mr. Angeles. The PTFoMS is now in close coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in conducting intensive police operations to pursue his assailants and bring the perpetrators before the bar of justice, the Palace Official added.

Initial report submitted by the PNP to the Task Force showed that Angeles was shot and killed at an auto repair shop in Purok Sampaguita, Brgy. New Carmen, Tacurong City at about 10 in the morning. Investigation revealed that two unidentified gunmen approached the victim and shot him in the head which caused his death. Suspects immediately fled the scene on board a Black Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle. He was 36 years old.

Prior to the incident, Angeles had resigned from Radyo ni Juan to run for councilor in his hometown of Lambayong.

CRIME SCENE. Police scene of the crime operatives conduct a post-crime probe in Barangay New Carmen, Tacurong City where radio journalist Jaynard Angeles (right) was shot dead at 10 a.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 12, 2022). Initial police report said motorcycle-riding in tandem gunmen shot the victim in the head. (Photo courtesy of DXMS Cotabato City)

“Even if Mr. Angeles is a former media practitioner, the Task Force will not stop until the masterminds and their cohorts are caught, charged, and convicted for this heinous crime. There is no justification for murder, whatever Angeles may have been involved with in the past,” Egco pointed out in the statement.

The incident occurred after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently directed the PNP to designate Media Security Focal Persons in each province and city nationwide upon the request of PTFoMS, citing the increasing incidents of violence against journalists before, during, and after the elections.

PTfoMS’ request was expeditiously and favorably acted upon by the DILG in anticipation of a possible increase in violent incidents involving mediamen during the election season.

According to Egco, as the election draws near, the Focal Persons will serve as the “first line of defense” of journalists even in the most far-flung areas of the country as they will be the first to receive and respond to all threats leveled against any media worker. They will also coordinate directly with the assigned PTFoMS Special Agents (SAs) in expediting the resolution of cases of violence against journalists.

“We took this initiative to request for high-ranking PNP officers as Focal Persons because we could foresee what will be necessary for the future in terms of safety and security for members of the 4th Estate as mandated by President Rodrigo Duterte in his Administrative Order No. 1 (AO1),” the Palace official added.

As of posting, Police probers are still trying to determine if the shooting was related to his work as a radio broadcaster or as a political aspirant.

The shooting came on the fourth day of the strict implementation of the nationwide election gun ban. (PMT News Desk)

ADAZA | from page A5

NEW HORIZON FOR NEW BEGINNINGS only that. He also told me to tell you that you will be at the top of the ticket and

Yes, Ben, it only takes a little spark to start a

day for filing of certificates of candidacy for the

conflagration. That little spark that led to the organization of MINDANAO ALLIANCE bloomed into

interim Parliament Secretary Antonio “Tony” Raquiza, a friend and client, came to our law

Pelaez will only place second to you.”

Without hesitation, I

a conflagration. All my life, I have always believed like some other good men that – it is bet-

office with a very urgent

replied, “Manong, tell the

is lost everything is lost.”

message, and said, “Bono< I just came from

President I cannot accede to his offer. You see, I

Secretary Raquiza answered by a way of

the Palace and the President sent me on urgent mission to see you and

have already appeared many times in the papers that I’m heading a slate

questions. “But you have no money, no organiza-

ask you to run under our ticket in Region Ten. Not

under the banner of MIN-

(to be continued)

ter to light a candle than curse the darkness.

More sparks and conflagrations: On the last

DANAO ALLIANCE. What

will the people say – that I have been bought. I cannot stand that as I will lose my character and integrity. As my late father said, when character

A8

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R.A. 10172 & R.A. 9048 Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province: Lanao del Sur City/Municipality: Balindong

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: This AGREEMENT made end and entered into this ____ day of December 2021 in Marawi City, by and between: ABBON M. CADAYONAN, of legal age, Filipino, widow, residing at Brgy.

Guimba, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; OMAR C. MACONDARA, of legal age, Filipino, married, residing at Brgy.

Guimba, Marawi City, Lano del Sur; AYOBKHAN G. MACONDARA, of legal age, Filipino, married, residing at Brgy. Guimba, Marawi City, Lano del Sur; ANISAH M. MANGONDADATO, of legal age, Filipino, married, residing at Brgy. Guimba, Marawi City, Lano del Sur; HASSAN G. MACONDARA, of legal age, single, residing at Brgy. Guimba, Marawi City, Lano del Sur; WITNESSETH, that: WHEREAS, we are the sole heirs of the deceased H. ABDULGANI R. MACONDARA, married to the deceased H. FATIMA G. MACONDARA, who died on February 03, 2018 at Brgy. Tolali, Marawi City, a copy of his death certificate is hereto attached as Annex A; WHEREAS, H. ABDULGANI R. MACONDARA died intestate without will or testament and without any outstanding debts in favor of any person or entity; WHEREAS, H. ABDULGANI R. MACONDARA is the absolute and registered owner of a parcel of land located at Brgy. Guimba, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, covered by Katibayan ng Original na Titulo Blg. P-1129 of the Registry of Deeds of Marawi City and more particularly described as follows: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Beginning at a point “1” of Plan F-123617-135-A, Marawi City, being N. 62-11 E, 244.88 m. from BLLM No. 2 Q-124, Dansalan Cadastre, thence N. 25-45 W., 276.19 m., to point 2; N. 49-45 E., 157.85 m., to point 3; S. 26-36 E., 302.90 m., to point 4; S. 59-35 W., 157.84 m., to point 1; Containing an area of Forty Four Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Seven (44,957) square meters.

All points are marked on the ground by old Cyl. Conc. Mons.

Bounded on the SW., along line 1-2 by Omar Macondara; on the NW., along line 2-3 by Guimbor Salonabao; on the NE., along line 3-4 by Banto Saripada; and on the SE., along line 4-1

by Langco Badio.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 74, Sec. 1 of the Revised Rules of Court of the Philippines, and being with full capacity to contract, we do hereby adjudicate unto ourselves the parcel of land described above, in EQUAL SHARES, IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we hereunto set our hand on this 26th day of December 2021 at Marawi City, Philippines.

LEGAL HEIRS OF H. ABDULGANI R. MACONDARA: (SGD) ABBON M. CADAYONAN Heir

(SGD) OMAR C. MACONDARA Heir

(SGD) AYOBKHAN G. MACONDARA

(SGD) ANISAH M. MANGONDATO Heir (SGD) HASSAN G. MACONDARA Heir

Heir

SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF: (SGD) YASRULAH D. SHEIK

PMT: Jan. 7-13, 2022; Jan. 14-20, 2022; Jan. 21-27, 2022.

term of office of the BARMM officials and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority but not because he is anti -muslim but because he believes that the Muslims have now attained a degree of literacy and audacity on contemporary events as the rest of the Filipinos.

He said that he truly believes that the Muslims have now come to a degree of discernment as would be able to elect their own leaders effectively and truly in their own terms and on their own assessments. He said that the Senator believes in the capability of the Filipino Muslims, to run their own affairs and choose the leaders whom they will place in position for their governance. The Senator emphasized that the choice of regional leaders should not be left to imperial Manila and other national leaders because the right of suffrage should be exercised directly by the people.

This write up is not about and has nothing to do with the bid of Senator Manny Pacquiao to become the next President of the Philippines. This is about his character as a person and how he is perceived by the Filipino people as a family man, and as a world boxing champion and one who has come from the bottom of society to where he is now. It was a struggle marked by a passion to survive and to overcome.

If he can, then you can and I can also be Manny Pacquiao.

Let us all be like Manny Pacquiao.

————————The Author: Atty. Panambulan “Bing” Mimbisa is the Founding Secretary General of the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP), the only Muslim political party that has attained national prominence and stature for having produced two Philippine Presidents, one Vice President and one in the making, and, a Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(PMT)

-

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Republic of the Philippines) City of Marawi ) S.S. BEFORE ME, on the date and place above written, personally appeared the following persons with competent evidence of their identity: Said persons are known to me to be the same person who executed the foregoing instrument, and he acknowledged under oath to me under the penalty of law that the whole content of this document is true and the same and that the same are his free and act and deed.

The foregoing instrument which relates to an Extrajudicial Settlement of Name

ID Document

ID No.

Issuing Authority

ABBON M. CADAYONAN

VOTER ID

3604009AG1 762AM62000 47

COMELEC

OMAR C. MACONDARA

POSTAL ID

L9621008963 0P

PHL POST

AYOBKHAN G. MACONDARA

TIN #

931-243-397

BIR

ANISAH M. MANGONDATO

VOTER ID

3616-0023BA0169AMM2 0000

COMELEC

HASSAN G. MACONDARA

VOTER ID

9817-0201AB0384HGM1 0000-1

COMELEC

Estate with Absolute Sale consisting of 3 pages including the page on which this acknowledgement is written, has been signed on the left margin of each and every page by the parties and the witnesses.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL, this 26th day of December 2021 at Marawi City, Philippines.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than January 28, 2022.

(SGD) ASMA N. MAMPAO Municipal Civil Registrar

‘Awesome’ describes best Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao

(SGD) CAMILO P. RADIA

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 7 of R.A. 10172 & Section 5 of R.A. 9048 a notice is hereby served to the public that JULYDIEN H. TAHA MAMOSACA has filed with this Office a petition for Correction of Clerical Error particularly GENDER/SEX from FEMALE TO MALE in the Certificate of Live Birth of JULYDIEN H. TAHA MAMOSACA who was born on July 7, 1997 at Cadapaan, Balindong, Lanao del Sur whose parents are LINGCOAN M. H. TAHA and SAMPORNA H. MAMOSACA.

MIMBISA | from Page A4

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE

SERVICES

Vol. II, No. 31 | Jan. 14-20, 2022 (Jumadil Akhir 11-17, 1443)

Doc. No. 30; Page No. 7; Book No. 1; Series of 2021.

PMT: Dec. 31, 2021—Jan. 6, 2022; Jan. 7-13, 2022; Jan. 14-20, 2022.

ILIGAN CITY, Jan. 14, 2022 — Kahapon, inulat ng Bombo Radyo na siyam katao ang nasawi at marami ang nasugatan nang umano'y mawalan ng preno ang sinasakyang trak ng mga biktimang mula sa bayan ng Claveria, papunta sana sa isang resort sa Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.

Nakalulungkot at nakapanghihinayang ang mga ganitong pangyayari. Tunay ngang maraming buhay ang nabago ng ganitong sakuna sa lansangan.

Para sa Bayaning Tsuper (BTS) Party-list, panahon na para tuldukan ang walang-kabuluhang humpay na road crash.

Kaya hindi ito titigil na palaganapin ng kultura ng kaligtasan sa ating mga lansangan, gaya ng pagsasagawa ng road safety education and training, road crash preparedness, at post-crash care.

Higit, isinusulong nito ang pagsasabatas ng mga programa para sa reporma ng pamamahala sa kaligtasan sa daan tulad ng pagsasabatas ng Road Safety Act of the Philippines, pagreview at pagrebisa ng mga luma at di epektibong mga batas pantrapiko, pagsasabatas ng National Data Collection System para sa road crashes, at ang reporma sa road safety education, gaya ng integration nito sa curriculum ng Department of Education.

Malayo pa ang lalakbayin natin para matamo ang zero road crash.

Pero kaya natin itong matamo kung magtutulungan tayo.

Samahan ninyo kami, mga Ka-BTS, sa paglalakbay tungo sa Road Crash Free Philippines!

(PR)