Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News May 2015

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

DOH-ARMM offers free cervical cancer screening

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 20 (PIA) --- The Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) is offering free cervical cancer screening to women in the region in line with the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month this month.

The agency has created teams composed of doctors, nurses and midwives in identified hospitals and health centers in the core provinces of the region to conduct the screening process.

“The screening in ARMM is scheduled every Thursday but some of our facilities conduct the screening every day,” said Dr. Tato Usman, Regional Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator of DOH-ARMM.

The Dr. Serapio Montaner Memorial Hospital and Tamparan District Hospital are open to residents who want to undergo such process in the province of Lanao del Sur.

In Maguindanao, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, and Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital has been the identified medical facilities while the Sulu Provincial Hospital and Datu Halun Sakilen Provincial Hospital will cater to residents from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

At least 700 women aged 21 and above in the region are expected to avail of the free screening.

“We do not limit our services to the targeted number; as long as there are women in the region who are willing to be screened, we will not hesitate to serve them,” said Usman.

Dr. Tato said his team is encouraging women to take the screening process emphasizing that early detection and prevention may help minimize the cases of death caused by cervical cancer.

DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding said cancer of the cervix is the leading killer among various cancer cases that afflict women. While it is deadly, he said it can be prevented through vaccination and direct cervical visualization with acetic acid.

In the ARMM, at least 718 women were afflicted with cervical cancer yearly.

The Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month is a campaign held in May to raise awareness in the prevention, early detection, and control of cervical cancer in the Philippines. It was promulgated by virtue of Proclamation No. 386, series of 2003.

ARMM eyes on topping municipal fishing boat registration

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 19 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) is eyeing to top the national government’s boat registration program.

“There are at least 10,000 municipal fishing boats in the region that we would register,” said Janice Musali, BFAR-ARMM’s director, noting the registration would eventually result in improved performance of the region’s municipal fishery sector.

Compared with other regions, ARMM has a bigger municipal fishery area with the island provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan under its jurisdiction.

Musali said it is estimated that up to 70 percent of the region comprises municipal waters, or waters 15 kilometers from the coastline, that provide livelihood to small fisherfolk in coastal communities.

The registration program, dubbed ‘BoatR’, targets to document fishing boats with capacities up to three gross tons. The drive, BFAR national officials earlier told media, is aimed at capturing a more accurate picture on production volume and type of fish caught in municipal waters as well as the sector’s contribution to national and local economies.

The program also seeks to determine projects that would be launched by the government in order to help small fisherman and coastal communities. A government-issued card would make it easier for boat owners to access assistance from government agencies.

ARMM is currently coordinating BoatR’s implementation with local government units, from the provinces to towns and coastal communities.

The region’s municipal fishery output in 2009, the latest available, was roughly 104,000 metric tons, or about 12% of the 887,000 metric tons total reported during that year. Such estimate would be more accurate under the BoatR program.

Aside from the three island provinces mentioned above, ARMM also includes Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the main island of Mindanao.

DOST-ARMM disperses water filter system for region's remote communities

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- To ensure that residents of remote communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will have safe drinking water, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ARMM) has distributed ceramic water filter system that “can remove contaminants in drinking water.”

Myra Mangkabung, DOST-ARMM secretary, said on Monday the ceramic-based water filter can purify tap water, deep well water, and even raw water from ponds and spring.

“Through the filters, safe, potable drinking water is readily available and accessible even in remote areas,” Mangkabung said.

DOST-ARMM provided ceramic water filter systems to 78 households in four barangays in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan which have problems in accessing potable water.

It was the first tranche of ceramic water filters distributed in the region. Other provinces of ARMM will also receive the same assistance in the coming months.

Mangkabung said the DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) has developed several models of water filters that will address the region’s problems, specifically access to potable water.

“Three water filter models have already been developed. These ceramic-based water filters can remove contaminants in drinking water, making them perfect for home use,” Mangkabung said.

Data gathered last year showed the most common food and water borne-diseases in the region were diarrhea, with 52 deaths out of 14,252 cases; typhoid fever, with eight deaths out of 933 cases; and amoebiasis, with four deaths out of 237 cases.

Noor-Leila Wahab, water filter focal person, said the device was made from red clay added with nano-antimicrobial agents that can eliminate water-borne organisms.

“Researchers said the filtered water from the system passed the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water in tests or counts for coliform and Escherichia coli, the most common form of water-borne disease-causing microorganisms,” Wahab said.

“Silver ions in the filter deactivate and kill the pathogens in the water, including coliform bacteria and protozoa,” she added.

Another 200 water filters would be distributed to pre-identified barangays in Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur this year.

Turkey gov't, MILF dev't agency put up orphanage center

(PNA), CTB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- The development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Insano Yardim Vakfi of Turkey, today inaugurated an orphanage center that will cater to orphans from Moro communities, officials said.

The orphanage center was officially opened Sunday afternoon in Barangay Tamotaka 1, Cotabato City.

The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests from the international and local organizations, members of the parliament of the republic of Turkey, the Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF, city government of Cotabato and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

In his opening remarks, City Vice Mayor Abdullah Andang thanked Turkey government and expressed pride that the orphanage is established in the City.

Accordingly, the opening of the orphanage clearly showed the continuing progress of Cotabato, with the coming in of people from other countries all over the world.

Omer Kesmen, IHH representative to Cotabato City presented a brief history of the orphanage.

He explained the naming of the center after Ugur Suleyman Soylemez. The latter, accordingly, is among the martyrs in Turkey who fought for justice for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Palestine.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of MILF peace panel commended the government of Turkey for the deep commitment and support to the peace process, being a major member of the International Contact Group (ICG), the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).

Iqbal thanked IHH for the help extended through this orphanage. He stressed the importance of education as long term resolution to the Bangsamoro problem.

Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the GPH peace panel, having listened to the brief history of the orphanage, convinced that indeed, everyone in the event is united by a common humanity.

“We are united, not because of any ideology, not that we have the GPH-MILF peace agreement, not that we are friends with Turkey, but is because we share the common humanity. We have to care about the future of our children”, Ferrer said.

Major Gen. Dato Sheikh Mousin Bin Sheikh Hassan, Head of Mission of the IMT, called for an importance of peace towards better community. He stressed the importance of family where children are molded.

“If we have to teach peace in this world, we shall begin with our children. This orphanage is the foundation of the well-being of the children, abandoned by their parents, so let us give them peace,” Maj. Hassan stated.

H.E. Esra Cankorur, Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, stressed also the importance of taking care pf the children especially the orphans.

“Caring the children, investing them thru proper education, guidance and support is in fact the best investment for a society. This becomes more important and scared if orphans are involved, since they are the most vulnerable member in any society,” Cankorur said.

“This project is a work of helping hand, a hand of affection and compassion,” she added.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director thanked the government of Turkey for entrusting to BDA the orphanage management thru IHH.

“BDA promises to give the best we can in providing the children a safe and secure home,”Yacob said.

He likewise thanked development partners, international and local non-government organizations, the government, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and its line agencies and called for support and possible convergence for future assistance to the children.

The orphanage formally opens this year 2015. The management is currently accepting applicants from Bangsamoro communities.

At least 1,000 orphans are targeted per year for the program. In-house orphan service provides full accommodation for children at the orphanage, with support for education and food.

Distant orphan service provides monthly allowance for the accepted children, not necessarily housed in the center.

BDA and IHH partnership began in 2014 thru several humanitarian programs already such as the Qurbani program, relief assistance to displaced families and this orphanage.

ARMM to distribute 100K hectares of land to farmers

By Nonoy E. Lacson

The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM) is working on the distribution of 112,290 hectares of landholdings covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms in the region to qualified farmers.

DAR-ARMM Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan said the landholdings, make up around 30 percent of the total lands comprising the ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, remain undistributed to this day.

Sangcopan said her office is currently “cleansing” the records of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the region, which includes the reconciliation of the records in the regional office with those found in their provincial offices.

Army, PNP, Maguindanao province sign MOA for joint action during disaster

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, May 15 (PNA) -- The 6th Infantry 'Kampilan' Division (6th ID), the Philippine National Police Regional Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) signed with the Provincial Government of Maguindanao a Memorandum of Agreement that is intended to synchronize all future efforts of the three government organizations during disasters, an official said today.

The memorandum specifically intends to maintain an open line of communication and to serve as complimenting and supporting body in the conduct of disaster response to both human induced and natural calamities within the 6th ID and PNP-ARMM in Maguindanao.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the memorandum also speaks the coordination efforts of the three parties in supporting the Local Chief Executives and the Local Government Units and Agencies in the rehabilitation of the conflict and disaster-affected areas and in the implementation of peace and development projects in the locality.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, in his opening statement, said that he believed that the initiative to sign memorandum of agreement will be positively agreed by the other two parties.

"It will help the military and the PNP get closer to the people without being questioned why they are in the area where they are not seen before," he said.

He also thanked the military and the PNP for the continued support both organizations had provided especially during difficult times and he is optimistic that they will eventually be successful in the future endeavors for peace if they do it in one synchronized effort.

Major General Edmundo R. Pangilinan, 6th ID commanding officer, also expressed his gratitude to the Province of Maguindanao for initiating the signing MOA.

He said that the meeting is very significant considering the issues and concerns confronting the security sectors tht need local chief executives and LGUs backing and support.

The newly installed PRO-ARMM regional director, Police Chief Superintendent Ronald R Estilles, also welcomed the opportunity to serve the people together with the other two parties in the MOA.

He was accompanied by his competent staff and all the Chief of Police in the different towns of Maguindanao.

Pangilinan said the 6th ID remains committed in undertaking major steps in pursuit of peace and sustainable development especially if it is together with other organizations which are working for peace within its area of operations.

The Army has shifted to aggressive all out offensive to aggressive all out peace and development with the government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as its partner in bringing peace in troubled Maguindanao.

'Syensiya-bilidad’ helps 68 ARMM students qualify for DOST scholarships

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 14 (PIA) --- The conduct of ‘Syensiya-bilidad’ has helped 68 students from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) passed the undergraduate scholarship programs of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), this year.

Mon-em Abangad, DOST-ARMM scholarship co-coordinator, said the number of qualifiers almost doubled compared to last year with only 35 students.

It is also the highest number of qualifiers for the region so far.

He said of the 68 scholars, 65 are under Republic Act 7687 also known as the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, while the three are under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.

The ‘Syensiya-bilidad is an enrichment program that involved a two-day comprehensive review that was composed of two parts – the Intellective Speed and Intellective Power Test.

It was aimed at developing the skills of the students in taking tests. It was designed to help them remember and master the skills and concepts needed to pass the DOST-SEI scholarship examination.

The ARMM, according to Abangad, is among the regions that have implemented the program.

DOST-ARMM also administered an online review and pre-test in the five provinces of the region for free.

In addition, DOST-ARMM conducted an intensive information drive dubbed “Push 4 Science” to raise awareness on DOST-SEI scholarship programs.

“We focused our campaign on places that has no takers for the past three years (2012-2014). We believe it (‘Push 4 Science’) also affected the result,” said Abangad.

A total of 5,303 high school students all over the country clinched a slot in the scholarship program. This year’s number of qualifiers, which is up by 33 percent, surpassed the 3,982 mark in 2014.

Starting school year 2015-2016, DOST-SEI scholars will receive bigger stipends and allowances to support their studies. They will receive P6, 000 monthly stipend under the Physics/Applied Physics, Geology, Mining Engineering, Agriculture, and Fisheries courses, while the other DOST-SEI priority courses will receive P5,000 monthly stipend; book allowance of P10,000 per academic year; tuition fee subsidy of P10,000; and clothing allowance of P1,000.

The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence. They can take up priority science and technology courses such as Agriculture, Applied Physics, Engineering, and Mathematics, among others.

PhilRice, DAF-ARMM to introduce rice management app in Mamasapano

(SJDuerme-PIA12/AMMatucan-PhilRice-Midsayap)

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, May 13 (PIA)--- As part of its continued commitment to support the farmers through various research and development programs, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) is set to introduce an internet-based software Rice Crop Manager (RCM) in Barangay Manongkaling, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The project is an integral component of the Technical Cooperation Project 5 (TCP 5), a technology extension support for ARMM funded by the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA).

Aimed at helping the farmers manage their crops and get a better yield, the project has a fund allocation of P331,600 which will be divided for to cropping seasons.

Teodora L. Briones, head of the Corporate Services Division of PhilRice and at the same time the TCP 5 secretariat explained that the said endeavor was originally proposed by DAF-ARMM Sec. Atty. Makmod D. Mending, Jr. during the 2nd Joint Coordination Committee meeting of the TCP 5 in March this year which gladly approved by JICA, the funding agency.

“Originally, we only have the regular farmer field school or FFS that we conduct in various areas in ARMM but since the idea is good, we acknowledge the inclusion of RCM and JICA promptly approved it,” said Briones.

According to her, 20 farmers will be selected in the community who will serve as cooperators in a demonstration farm.

“These farmers will become our primary clientele who will then help us in technology promotion through farmer-to-farmer approach,” Briones added.

Meanwhile, Ommal H. Abdulkadil, assistant project director of TCP 5 shared that prior to the establishment of a demonstration farm, they will conduct an on-site technical briefing.

“On May 21, our team is scheduled to conduct an on-site briefing to ensure that farmers in the community will fully understand the concept of the project,” he stated adding that pool of experts from their central office will personally attend and facilitate the briefing as well as to share information on the context of the project.

The Rice Crop Manager allows extension officers to provide farmers with specific recommendations particularly on nutrient, pest, weed, or water management, depending on the specific variety they used, their yield from the previous season, and the site-specific conditions of their field.

The application could be accessed via a smartphone or a computer with internet connection and it can be downloaded for free as an app named ‘RCM PH’ via the Google play store or at www.webapps.irri.org/ph/rcm.

ARMM investment board convenes meeting of investment promo organization

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 12 (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) together with the private sector in the ARMM convened Monday the organizational meeting of the regional Promotion of Investment Sustainability Organization or PISO composed of the registered firms under the RBOI.

The ARMM has been enjoying record multi-billion peso investments in the region since 2013 at the start of the administration of Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.

For 2013, the RBOI registered Php 1.46 billion investments. It more than doubled in 2014 when RBOI recorded Php 3.86 billion investments.

In the first quarter of 2015, the RBOI was able to register Php 863 million and it is on track to possibly match or exceed last year’s investments.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chair, said the infusion of private sector investments in the ARMM has been largely attributed to two factors.

First is the conducive business climate and stability brought about by the peace process culminating in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Second is the continuing ARMM governance reform that has made the region more business friendly.

It is on this premise that the PISO was organized in order to advocate for investment policy stability in the autonomous region including its improvement.

PISO is timely now that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is being debated in Congress and eventually passed into law. ARMM investors currently enjoy the convenience of getting their permits, licenses, approvals, administrative consents and their regulatory framework from the ARMM regional government without need to go to national agencies in Manila or their regional administrative offices.

"If there will be changes to BBL it should not lessen the ARMM autonomy but should seek to improve the investment friendly environment of the region by giving more local autonomy to the region," Mastura said.

Considered the poorest region in the country, investment “rules of the game” in the autonomous region must be maintained, improved and not lessened.

"Congress should not lose sight of the ease of doing business in the region to encourage more private sector development and not to unduly burden them. So the only way to have stability of investment policy for private sector development in the region is to make sure that the level of autonomy currently being experienced in the ARMM is not lessened or reduced by the proposed changes to the BBL," Mastura said.

Mastura presided over the initial PISO meeting. Aside from being one of the PISO conveners, the RBOI will also act as its secretariat.

Presiding duties during meetings will be rotated among the conveners. All registered firms of RBOI are considered members of the PISO.

Present as PISO conveners at the organizational meeting today were the officials from Unifrutti Group, Lamsan Corp., La Frutera, Inc., Power Up Ventures Inc., ARDEXCOR, Matling Corp., Philippine Trade Center Inc., ABSCOR, AMARDI, Maguindanao Halal Food Center, Al-Nor Group of Companies and ARMM Special Economic Zone and Free Port of Polloc.

ARMM officials laud ARMM athletes' performance in Palarong Pambansa

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 11 (PNA) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday lauded the efforts of athletes from the region's five provinces in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

ARMM Athletic Association finished 14th in the recently concluded games, two notches higher from its rank in the annual event last year.

The ARMM delegates bagged a total of 10 medals in the regular sports and three medals in the demonstration games.

The region’s taekwondo team grabbed two gold medals, two silvers and five bronzes while the athletics team bagged another gold medal. For the demonstration game, the wushu team grabbed one silver and one bronze medal while the region’s beach volleyball took home the gold medal.

Al-Trekee Dayan, director of ARMM’s Regional Sports Coordinating Office (RSCO), attributes the improvement in the region’s ranking with the strong collaboration of his office with the Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM.He said intensive preparations were conducted for the athletes.

Dayan said they conducted home-based trainings for the athletes after the ARMM’s regional athletics meet on 26 February to 01 March 2015 and in-house trainings were held in Tagum City, 15 days before the actual Palaro.

The RSCO also secured the athlete’s basic amenities like food, transportation, vitamins and uniforms among others. The DepEd, on the other hand, provided P3,000 allowance for each athlete.

The ARMM contingent was composed of approximately 500 athletes.

The head supervisors of ARMM’s five component provinces together with the RSCO and the DepEd-ARMM are currently evaluating and assessing the overall performance of the region in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

Dayan said results of the evaluation can help improve the performance of the region in next year’s games and in other sporting events.

He said ARMM aims to be in the top 10 in the next Palarong Pambansa. He also emphasized the need to inculcate to the youth the value of sports and its role in fostering peace.

ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said the regional government fully supports the programs on sports development in the region.

“Sa susunod na Palaro, mas malaki ang suporta na ibibigay natin sa mga atleta. We will emphasize on the sports na may edge tayo,” she said.

The 2015 Palarong Pambansa was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte from May 3 to 9 with the theme “Breaking Boarders, Building Peace”.

The ARMM athletes showed to Palaro participants that they welcome and support the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law and GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process by putting the word "Bangsamoro" at the back of their jersey uniforms.

Grand welcome for Ampatuan son out on bail

By Jeoffrey Maitem (Rappler.com)

The youngest son of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. is greeted with a hero's welcome after returning home from 5 years in prison

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – After 5 years in an overcrowded prison facility in Manila, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, one of the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, returned home to a hero's welcome organized by his supporters.

Family members, supporters, and local officials greeted Sajid, the youngest son of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., when he arrived at the gathering, after staying at a local Muslim politician's home.

Sajid was granted bail on January this year by Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. The court allowed the temporary release of Sajid after he posted a surety bond of P11.6 million for the 58 cases against him.

Sajid is the first of the major suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre to be granted temporary release. The November 23, 2009 event saw 58 people – including 32 media practitioners – killed in Ampatuan town. Sajid has maintained that his conscience is clean.

The bail petitions of his father Andal Sr, primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., and Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), remain pending in court.

Food like fried chicken, chicken curry, mixed vegetables, fruit salad, noodles, and beef steak were prepared for Sajid.

Visitors and local officials from the towns of Datu Unsay, Datu Hoffer, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Datu Anggal and Talayan also greeted the younger Ampatuan.

“It’s mixed emotions. I’m happy now, but I’m sad because my dad and siblings are still in prison. But because of the love and support of the people who welcomed me, I feel loved,” he told reporters.

“Life inside the jail was so difficult. It’s hot in there, and crowded inside. But because of the help of Allah, I managed to survive,” Ampatuan said.

His wife, children, mother and relatives were his source of strength while locked up in prison, he said.

The youngest among Andal Sr's children said the door is open for reconciliation with the Mangudadatu clan – the prime target of the deadly massacre.

“I am saddened because you know it’s not easy to have your loved ones gone forever. However, it’s also disappointing to pay for something and you will be jail for a crime you have not committed. It’s painful for me to see my wife and kids growing while I’m not with them,” he said.

Ampatuan recalled that before he left jail, his father and his eldest brother both advised him to take care of himself and look after their clan and constituents.

“If the people and my relatives wanted to me run for office next year, I will give in to their call,” he said.

When asked for his message for his dad and siblings, Ampatuan said he wanted them to be strong and courageous. “There is a saying, if you can bear with the difficulties in life, Allah is with you,” he said.

He thanked President Benigno Aquino III for being fair, and said Aquino did not use his power to influence the case.

For the general public that is still angry to them, he is hoping that they will respect the law.

“It’s not only me who was allowed to post bail. There were 42 police who were also allowed by the court [to post bail] before,” he said.

In total, around 60 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, have asked the court to allow them to post bail.

Australian group to promote good governance in ARMM

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - An Australian-assisted peace advocacy outfit will formally launch on Sunday a political intervention program promoting “good governance culture” among sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), which is involved in various peace-building activities in Mindanao, started organizing the “Promoting Political Climate and Stability for Peace (Pro PolitiCS for Peace) program as early as January this year.

Lawyer Benidicto Bacani, director of IAG, said Sunday’s launching of the Pro PolitiCS for Peace will be attended by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and representatives from the Australian embassy.

The government’s chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Miriam Coronel Ferrer, officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, provincial governors and mayors from ARMM are also to grace the symbolic kickoff rite for Pro PolitiCS for Peace.

The program is being bankrolled by the Australian Agency for International Development, now a partner of the IAG, which is also being assisted by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung of Germany.

“This program aims to promote a good political climate and stability and cooperation among Muslims, Christians and lumad sectors in the Bangsamoro area,” Bacani said.

He said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, presiding chair of the 75-member House committee handling the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, will also participate in Sunday’s event.

The non-stock, non-profit IAG has been implementing for more than a decade now various projects helping propagate good governance and political harmony among Mindanao’s tri-people - the indigenous non-Muslim hinterland groups, Moro people and Christian communities.

Bacani said prominent analysts will also speak on Mindanao political issues during Sunday’s activity, to be held in Davao City.

Stronger ARMM, not BBL, key to peace in South

(ORVRivera-PIA12)

THE non-government Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman), through its director and spokesman, Bernard Karganilla, has asked if discussion of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not an “exercise in futility” given that a protagonist, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “does not renounce terrorism and other acts of violence, surrender its armaments, pledge allegiance to the Philippine Constitution, shed off its belligerency and refrain from seeking intervention from foreign powers.”

In a recent meeting, members of the Philcoman board of directors unanimously agreed that the solution to the problem in the South is not passage of the BBL but strengthening of the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and strict enforcement of the gun ban and prosecution of violators of the ban.

“Unless the government removes the guns from terrorists and criminal elements, there is no way you can achieve peace in Mindanao,” Dr. Cecilio Arillo, Philcoman president, said in a statement.

In doubting the sincerity of the MILF in helping the government in achieving lasting peace in southern Philippines, Philcoman, “dedicated to the development of management and improvement of its practices in all aspects of the Philippine society,” challenged the separatist front to dismantle the “mantiqi” (operating cells and networks) of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist organizations in Mindanao.

BIFF is a breakway group of the MILF.

Meanwhile, Philcoman said, “Right now, the government is negotiating with the MILF at the point of [the separatist organization’s] guns and is often threatened with war and terrorism if the BBL is not approved in its entirety.”

For many years now, according to the non-profit federation, “the MILF has been expanding its territories in Mindanao because the government failed to realize early on that a negotiating table to the MILF is just an extension of its battlefield as events have shown.”

Philcoman, founded in 1954 by 10 associations, is a non-profit federation of technological societies, academic institutions, business enterprises and professional managers.

Maguindanao OFWs embark on hair, make-up course

(ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, May 7 (PIA) – Overseas Filipino Workers and dependents in Maguindanao are currently training on basic cosmetology as a livelihood courtsy of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-ARMM.

According to OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Uga Sulaiman, some 35 members of OFW Family Circles and OWWA IT scholars are undergoing intensive course in hairstyling and make-up from May 6-8, 2015 at Al Nor Hotel Convention Center.

Sulaiman said the training aims to arm the participants with new skills in order to enhance their capabilities so they may start their small businesses and generate additional income.

During the three-day course, the participants are taught on use of beauty tools, basic techniques on hair cutting styles for men and women, hair coloring, make-up, hot oil treatment, manicure/pedicure, hair perming and foot spa.

Free beauty and cosmetology kits will be given to the participants after their graduation so that they can use their newly acquired skills to immediatelt start their small business.

We will also conduct free trainings for OFWs in other provinces of the autonomous region within the year, Sulaiman added.

The training dubbed as “Ganda mo, kinabukasan ko,” is an initiative of OWWA regional welfare office ARMM which started last year.

This is carried out under OWWA’s reintegration program which aims to reintegrate the members to the mainstream Philippine society and to provide them access to the agency’s programs and services which includes community organizing, capability building trainings and livelihood loans.

Cebu, Tawi-Tawi to cooperate in fight against illegal fishing

By Oscar C. Pineda

“CEBU remains to be the prime destination for raw corals and shells because it continues to be the center of curio and shell trade.”

This was what the briefing prepared by a team from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Bureau of Fisheries stated.

Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday met with his counterpart from Tawi-Tawi, Gov. Nurbert Sahali, and Nur Harun, ARMM Bureau of Fisheries consultant, to discuss cooperation between the two provinces in addressing the illicit trafficking of corals and shells.

Helping each other

Their meeting had three objectives: to discuss enforcement initiatives for both provinces against coral and shell trade, to develop an information-sharing scheme and to agree on a common course of action.

“Magtinabangay kita (Let’s help each other). We collaborate with them para ma-arrest ning problema karong mga violations sa (so we can put a stop to the violations against the) Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550),” Davide said.

The governor admitted that many endangered shells from Tawi-Tawi are shipped here to be sold.

He cited an anti-illegal fishing task force operation last June, which intercepted a truckload of triton and helmet shells worth millions from Zamboanga.

“Cebu and Zamboanga are the transshipment points whether corals and rare shells are bound for local or foreign destination,” the briefing stated.

Sahali, who said their main source of livelihood comes from the sea, thanked Davide and Cebuanos for sharing with them best practices pertaining to marine law enforcement.

“I hope collaborative efforts and trainings will be realized,” he said.

Davide said Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Chad Estella and Harun will try to come up with a solution to stop the illegal transport of corals and shells.

Traced to Talisay

Meanwhile, Harun also revealed that fishermen from Cebu have been arrested in Tawi-Tawi for using a compressor.

Although the practice is not illegal nationwide, it is in Tawi-Tawi. Harun said they have local ordinances that ban the use of compressors and cyanide.

He said the fishermen were released after they paid a fine.

Harun also said they discovered that the blasting caps they confiscated in the province came from Talisay City.

Blasting caps are used as detonating devices in explosives used in dynamite fishing.

In 2005, it was reported that Talisay City was the hub of an underground explosives trade that supplies not only to illegal fishermen, but also to terror cells.

According to a report of Tess B. Bacalla of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, at least 50 households in Talisay were believed to be churning out cheap, deadly devices.

The same report said that authorities were able to trace to Talisay the bombs used during the Rizal Day blasts in 2000.

To stop these illegal activities, Davide said his administration need the support of the community, local government unit and law enforcement agencies.

Coast Guard: Minor, 2 adults nabbed in Tawi-Tawi for illegal fishing

By Joel Locsin / KG (GMA News)

A minor and two adults were arrested off Tawi-Tawi last weekend for illegal fishing, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.

The Coast Guard said its personnel caught the three—one of whom was a 12-year-old boy—using dynamite at Sitangkai Pier, 600 yards from the Coast Guard detachment.

It said the explosions prompted the Coast Guard at the detachment to deploy a team aboard an aluminum boat to the area.

The Coast Guard apprehended the motor banca and towed it to Sitangkai Pier.

It identified the arrested adults as Hussin Alih, 50; and Julie Dungog, 29. The three are residents of Barangay Poblacion in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

Peace more attainable in Central Mindanao with Usman's death, says Catapang

By Priam F. Nepomuceno [(PNA), RMA/PFN]

MANILA, May 4 (PNA) -- With the neutralization of Basit Usman and five of his followers in Guindulungan town, Maguindanao Sunday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said that peace will be more attainable in Central Mindanao.

Usman and his followers were reportedly gunned down by his fellow terrorists due to differences.

He also said that more work needs to be done to make this a reality.

"(To win the peace), we will have to win progress and prosperity for the people of Mindanao, so now we are bringing in peace and developments, put up roads for peace, put up bridges for peace, hospital and school buildings for peace," Catapang said.

This is on top of neutralizing the peace spoilers and terrorists known to be operating in the area.

Catapang also downplays fear of possible retaliatory attacks from Usman's remaining followers, as the late terrorist has now run of followers and bodyguards.

He also said that the military will remain in the area to ensure the peace.

"We will stay in the area, as this the second phase of our Internal Peace and Security Peace 'Bayanihan' campaign, right after we win the peace, we will move forward for peace and development projects, we will stay there, in time for (the) projects to come in," he said.

Marawi mentors hit ‘discriminatory’ ARMM autonomy

By Ali G. Macabalang

Marawi City – Officials and teachers in the Marawi City Schools Division here yesterday renewed their call for justice in their raging tug-of-war with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials and their local cohorts, asking higher authorities to save them from their superiors’ alleged “discriminatory” practice of autonomy.

Incumbent Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Mona Macatanong said the alleged abuse of autonomous power by the ARMM leadership is “sending a bad signal” in the current government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that seeks more autonomy for a proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) via a draft law now being deliberated upon in Congress.

According to Macatanong and her supporters, their sad plight is giving more reasons for opposing quarters to question and stunt the congressional passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which seeks to create the BJE in lieu of the 25-year-old ARMM.

They lamented that while harnessing autonomy for other schools divisions in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao and Lamitan City, the ARMM’s Department of Education (DepED) has deprived Marawi City SDS office of its monthly Maintenance and Other Operating Expense (MOOE) funds because of Macatanong’s defiance of a regional order in May, 2014 compelling her to “retire retroactively” and designating officers-in-charge in her stead.

Macatanong said the Lanao del Sur Cooperative has already warned of cutting electricity supplies to the Marawi City SDS office for its failure to pay accumulated power bills since the stoppage of the MOOE in June 2014.

MILF, AFP in Maguindanao to have separate free viewings of Pacquiao-Mayweather bout

(Agence France-Presse)

COTABATO - In a rare common cause, both rebels and soldiers in the war-torn southern Philippines will watch local boxing icon Manny Pacquiao take on Floyd Mayweather, with hopes that Sunday's mega-bout will bring a brief respite from violence.

The Muslim rebels and government forces will have separate free viewings of the Las Vegas clash, as the nation waits to see whether Pacquiao will triumph during the epic fight.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim armed group, will watch the fight on a widescreen TV at a compound in Maguindanao on Sunday, said MILF vice-chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

"They asked me if they could show it outside my office. I told them okay, I see no problem with that," Jaafar told AFP.

He said both MILF members and non-members were free to attend the showing in the tightly guarded compound barely a kilometer from the MILF's heavily armed main camp.

When asked whether he expects that there will be no trouble during the fight, he said: "We pray for that. That is our hope."

Army 6th Infantry Division spokeswoman Captain Joan Petinglay confirmed that the military forces in Maguindanao will also have their own showing of the fight in a gymnasium on Sunday.

The Philippines has been known to come to a standstill during its boxing hero's fights, with criminals and guerrillas of various stripes eagerly following his matches.

Pacquiao's long-awaited battle with Mayweather has gained even more attention, as it will finally settle which of the two is the best pound-for-pound fighter of their generation.

Maguindanao has been one of the hotspots of the four-decade separatist struggle that has claimed an estimated 120,000 lives.

The MILF's Jaafar denied that the group, which is negotiating peace with the government to end decades of a Muslim separatist war, was holding the screening as a sign of support for Pacquiao, who is regarded by many Filipinos as a national icon.

"We are supporting the sport [of boxing]. Whoever is involved in the sport, we will want to support both of them. We are not siding with anyone, as far as I am concerned," he said.

"There may be individual MILF who are siding with Pacquiao," he conceded.

PDEA-ARMM continues campaign vs illegal drugs despite filing of charges against its agents

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- Despite the filing of charges against agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency here by suspected "high value drug" trafficker, PDEA agents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) continued its anti-narcotics operation and arrested a suspected pusher Thursday, PDEA-ARMM said Friday.

"The charges against us will not hamper the PDEA-ARMM campaign against persons engaged in illegal drug trade," Special Agent Marvin Mendoza told reporters.

Acting on a tip from concerned citizens about rampant illegal drug pushing near the Cotabato City's old slaughterhouse, PDEA-ARMM agents immediately conducted a drug buy bust operation using a poseur buyer.

Mendoza said the operation led to the arrest of suspected drug peddler Salidatu Salik Abas, 43 who was caught in the act of selling suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu" to a PDEA agent Thursday morning along Catalina St., Pansacala, Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City.

Abas did not resist arrest as he was caught by surprise.

Seized from the suspect’s possession were small transparent sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP7,000, marked money worth PHP200, shabu paraphernalia and an unlicensed improvised 12-gauge pistol.

Mendoza said Abas has been charged for violation of Art. II, Sec. 5 and 11, of RA 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002 and RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearm.

He admitted selling and pushing of prohibited substance have become bolder and rampant in the city because of the presence of "high value targets" operating here.

Early this week, Mendoza and about 12 of his men were charged with evidence fabrication and robbery before the office of the Ombudsman by suspected drug trader Samera Canapia.

Canapia of Cotabato City and among the "high value target" in the list of PDEA-ARMM said the evidences of the charges hurled against her, her family and employees were "fabricated" and "planted."

Mendoza claimed his office has been expecting the charges to come after PDEA busted a suspected big time drug trafficker.

According to Canapia, she lost more than PHP2 million worth of valuables and properties when the PDEA agents raided her home on January 23 this year. Among the missing items were PHP500,000 cash.

Undetermined number of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride chloride, assorted firearms, electronic gadgets and shabu paraphernalia were taken from Canapia's house during the raid covered by a search warrant.

Canapia and several members of her family were detained but later released after posting bail.

Saying anti-narcotics agents have been in this situation before, Mendoza said PDEA-ARMM is ready and prepared to face the charges.

"We are ready, we expect this thing to happen, normally high value targets of PDEA get back at us by filing charges," Mendoza told reporters.

"This is not new to us anymore, we know the capability of Canapia that is why she was classified as high value target. Canapia has all the resources aside from the backing of syndicate, this is a normal move of the syndicates to discredit the agency," Mendoza said.

He also denied the charges hurled by Canapia, including the alleged use of expensive wrist watches and sun glasses by PDEA agents they posted on FB accounts.

"Are these items only exclusive to them? Are our agents can't afford to buy one? Are these limited edition that nobody can buy except them?" Mendoza asked.

Mendoza stressed that the raid was above board and conducted in the presence of village officials and local media.

"All the seized items were properly documented and the certificate of inventory was signed by Canapia and the village officials," Mendoza said.

The PDEA official said the filing of charges will not stop them from performing its duties and make the ARMM drug free.

He considered the filing of charges as "defense mechanism" on the part of the suspects and a harassment to the anti-narcotics agency.

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