Difference between revisions of "Zamboanga Sibugay News"

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==No ransom for captive, no negotiation with Sayyaf==
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/14574-no-ransom-for-captive-no-negotiation-with-sayyaf
*Saturday, January 07, 2012
:by  Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: Authorities said they will not negotiate for ransom for the release of kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell being held by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the province of Basilan.
The kidnappers have demanded $2 million for the safe release of the 53-year old former Sydney man who was snatched from his home in the seaside town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province on December 5.
“The Philippine government has a strict no-ransom policy and will not negotiate with terrorists,” said Army Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command which is helping in the rescue of Rodwell.
Cabangbang said the rescue operation is continuing in Basilan where as many as 2,000 troops were sent to locate Rodwell.
“Our operation is continuing and we will not stop until the hostage is recovered safely,” he said.
Regional army chief, Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said Rodwell is being held by the group of notorious terrorist commander Puruji Indama, who was also blamed for the July 2011 kidnapping of US woman Gerfa Lunsmann and her son Kevin Eric, and a Filipino nephew Romnick Jakaria in Zamboanga City.
The trio was brought to Basilan and eventually freed later last year after the family paid a huge ransom.
Rodwell, who married a Filipina Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June last year in Ipil, has appealed to the Philippine and Australian governments for his freedom in a video sent by his captors to the woman’s family.
The video, passed on to the media by security sources, was aired on a cable television network in Manila on Wednesday night.
“To my family please do whatever to raise the two million US dollars they are asking for my release as soon as possible. To the government, to the Filipino government especially the government of Zamboanga Sibugay, Rommel, I’m appealing to you please help me to coordinate with my family to raise to whatever money is being asked.”
“To the Australian embassy here in the Philippines, this is your constituent appealing for his life and safety. Please help facilitate to give the group the demand. Yes, I was former army of my country but it is differently particularly the terrain. The only solution to ensure my safety is to go with whatever they need. If I’m given my last wish, my last wish is to please help me out of here alive please Madame Ambassador,” the distressed Rodwell said in the video.
The kidnappers also sent four photographs of Rodwell to his wife before Christmas and were also passed on by security officials to the press.
One photo showed Rodwell, clad in a faded sweat shirt over a black t-shirt and pair of black short pants, standing in a makeshift vinyl tent and a cuff on his left wrist. His right hand is wounded.
Another picture showed a middle shot of the Australian man—both his hands raised up to his chest. Two other pictures showed him wearing a sling to support his tattooed right arm. Rodwell, who is unshaven bearded and appeared frail, was apparently forced to smile by his captors.
==Police mum on alleged P1M ransom for Aussie captive==
==Police mum on alleged P1M ransom for Aussie captive==
*Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/06/12/police-mum-alleged-p1m-ransom-aussie-captive
*Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/06/12/police-mum-alleged-p1m-ransom-aussie-captive
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The military in Basilan also confirmed reports that Rodwell has been brought to Basilan and is being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group led by Furuji Indama.
The military in Basilan also confirmed reports that Rodwell has been brought to Basilan and is being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group led by Furuji Indama.


==Aussie kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay seeks $2M ransom==
==Aussie kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay seeks $2M ransom==

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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.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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.

No ransom for captive, no negotiation with Sayyaf

by Al Jacinto


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: Authorities said they will not negotiate for ransom for the release of kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell being held by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the province of Basilan. The kidnappers have demanded $2 million for the safe release of the 53-year old former Sydney man who was snatched from his home in the seaside town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province on December 5.

“The Philippine government has a strict no-ransom policy and will not negotiate with terrorists,” said Army Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command which is helping in the rescue of Rodwell.

Cabangbang said the rescue operation is continuing in Basilan where as many as 2,000 troops were sent to locate Rodwell.

“Our operation is continuing and we will not stop until the hostage is recovered safely,” he said.

Regional army chief, Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said Rodwell is being held by the group of notorious terrorist commander Puruji Indama, who was also blamed for the July 2011 kidnapping of US woman Gerfa Lunsmann and her son Kevin Eric, and a Filipino nephew Romnick Jakaria in Zamboanga City.

The trio was brought to Basilan and eventually freed later last year after the family paid a huge ransom.

Rodwell, who married a Filipina Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June last year in Ipil, has appealed to the Philippine and Australian governments for his freedom in a video sent by his captors to the woman’s family.

The video, passed on to the media by security sources, was aired on a cable television network in Manila on Wednesday night.

“To my family please do whatever to raise the two million US dollars they are asking for my release as soon as possible. To the government, to the Filipino government especially the government of Zamboanga Sibugay, Rommel, I’m appealing to you please help me to coordinate with my family to raise to whatever money is being asked.”

“To the Australian embassy here in the Philippines, this is your constituent appealing for his life and safety. Please help facilitate to give the group the demand. Yes, I was former army of my country but it is differently particularly the terrain. The only solution to ensure my safety is to go with whatever they need. If I’m given my last wish, my last wish is to please help me out of here alive please Madame Ambassador,” the distressed Rodwell said in the video.

The kidnappers also sent four photographs of Rodwell to his wife before Christmas and were also passed on by security officials to the press.

One photo showed Rodwell, clad in a faded sweat shirt over a black t-shirt and pair of black short pants, standing in a makeshift vinyl tent and a cuff on his left wrist. His right hand is wounded.

Another picture showed a middle shot of the Australian man—both his hands raised up to his chest. Two other pictures showed him wearing a sling to support his tattooed right arm. Rodwell, who is unshaven bearded and appeared frail, was apparently forced to smile by his captors.





Police mum on alleged P1M ransom for Aussie captive

by Queenie Casimiro, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga


ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – Police officials in region 9 have denied any knowledge of any ransom demand for the release of Australian captive Warren Rodwell.

Chief Superintendent Mario Yanga, officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office-9, said they have no idea where information on the $23,000 demand came from.

Earlier, Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Director, Senior Superintendent Ruben Cariaga confirmed that the abductors are asking for P1 million in exchange for Rodwell's freedom.

Aside from 4 pictures of Rodwell in captivity, the kidnappers also sent a memory card containing a video clip of the victim, where he delivered his short message.

In the video, Rodwell asked the Philippine government, especially the local government of Zamboanga Sibugay, to help him.

He also called on the Australian embassy to work for his freedom the soonest possible time.

Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO-Wesmin) Director, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, Jr. said that further investigation showed that the memory card was sent to the captive's wife through a cargo forwarder based in Tagum City.

Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos, meanwhile, said he has learned from the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) that Rodwell's Filipina wife received two calls from the supposed kidnappers. One call was traced to have been made in Basilan and the other in Lanao.

The military in Basilan also confirmed reports that Rodwell has been brought to Basilan and is being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group led by Furuji Indama.

Aussie kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay seeks $2M ransom

by sunstar.com.ph


MANILA (Updated 10:19 a.m.) -- The captors of an Australian man kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay have released a video in which the victim urges Manila and Canberra (Australia) to help raise a $2-million ransom for his release.

The video of 53-year-old Warren Richard Rodwell had been sent to his Filipino wife in late December.

The Sydney Morning Herald posted the video online Thursday.

Military and police authorities said last month that the Australian national is already in the province of Basilan.

The whereabouts of Rodwell was established through “intelligence fusion” of the military and police in the region, 104th Infantry Brigade commander Colonel Ricardo Visaya earlier said.

Rodwell, a former university teacher in Shanghai, was taken at gunpoint by about six men on December 5 from his house in Greenmeadow Subdivision, Lower Pangi village, Ipil town.

It was the latest abduction of a foreigner in the country's volatile south where several kidnappings for ransom have been blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Rodwell married last June 2011 a Filipina, Miraflor Gutang, who is a native of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay. His family settled last October in Ipil after they bought a house and lot at Greenmeadow Subdivision. (AP/Sunnex)

Suspected Islamist militants in Mindanao send photos of kidnapped Australian

by gmanetwork.com


Gunmen from a suspected Islamist militant group holding an Australian hostage Mindanao have sent photographs of the man to his family and demanded an unspecified ransom, the Philippine military said on Wednesday.

Warren Richard Rodwell, a retired Australian soldier, has been missing since he was taken at gunpoint from his house in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Ipil town a month ago.

The photographs were the first proof that he was still alive, Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said. Police found bloodstains at the scene when he was taken, pointing to a struggle.

Coballes, commander of the Zamboanga region, said it was believed Abu Sayyaf, an al Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group, was holding Rodwell.

"Recently, the kidnappers sent pictures, proof of life, for the Australian," Coballes told reporters in Manila. He said the pictures had been sent to Rodwell's Filipina wife through a courier service three days before Christmas.

The pictures, on a computer memory card, showed Rodwell with a wound on his right hand, Coballes said. Security officials refused to release copies of the pictures.

"Our information was correct that he was wounded in the hand when he tried to resist his captors," Coballes said.

Officials also did not say how much the group had demanded for Rodwell's release. "I cannot recall the amount, but it was in millions of pesos," he said.

Coballes said Australian authorities were also working to secure his release.

Kidnapping for ransom is common in the southern islands, where Islamist militants, rebels and bandits operate. The United States, Australia and other Western nations have issued travel bans for such areas. — Reuters





MILF rebels offer help to rescue kidnapped Aussie man in Philippines

by mindanaoexaminer


COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 3, 2012) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front has offered to help in rescuing kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell who is being held by the Abu Sayyaf, a small, but the most notorious terror group in the country.

Rodwell, 53, was kidnapped by a local gang in the seaside town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay and handed over to the Abu Sayyaf in the Muslim province of Basilan, just several nautical miles south of here.

“We have directed the MILF ad hoc joint action group to coordinate with the government counterpart so we can help in the safe recovery of Rodwell,” Mohagher Iqbal, the Front’s deputy chairman and head of the panel negotiating peace with Manila, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Manila and the MILF forged an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces through the ad-hoc joint action group to help government hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the rebel group is actively operating.

Authorities said the former Australian soldier is being held by Puruji Indama, a notorious terrorist commander blamed for a spate of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. Some of his victims were killed after their families failed to pay ransoms.

Rodwell, a prolific world traveler and English teacher in China, married Filipina Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June this year in Ipil town after they met through the internet.

Police said the kidnappers have demanded an initial P1 million (about $22,600) ransom. It said the kidnappers sent four pictures of Rodwell to his wife as "proof of life."

Gutang appealed to the kidnappers to free Rodwell, saying he is not rich and ill, but she did not elaborate on his condition.

The MILF has in the past repeatedly ordered its 12,000-strong mujahidin to fight kidnapping-for-ransom activities in Mindanao. It previously helped in rescuing many Filipino and foreign kidnapped victims in the restive region and provided the Philippine government with a list of names of suspected Jemaah Islamiya militants hiding in Mindanao.

Iqbal said the MILF is ready and willing to help in the rescue efforts in Basilan, a known rebel stronghold in Mindanao, but Manila and Canberra have not contacted the rebel group or sought assistance to recover Rodwell from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

“There is a mechanism to all these through the ad-hoc joint action group, but the Philippine government and even the Australian embassy have made no efforts to contact us and work together with Philippine authorities to get back Warren Rodwell,” he said.

But police and military have linked some of its rogue commanders and members to the spate of kidnappings in the South. And authorities also implicated a senior rebel leader Barahama Ali in the kidnapping of Rodwell, an accusation strongly denied by the MILF.

Police and military have blamed Indama for kidnapping US woman Gerfa Lunsmann, her son Kevin and a Filipino relative in July in Zamboanga City. The three were released separately after the woman's husband, Heiko Lunsmann, paid a huge ransom to Abu Sayyaf, which has links with the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terrorist organizations.

Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos, who worked for years as chef in Australia, has imposed a news blackout on the kidnapping at the request of the Australian embassy which earlier formed a consular task force to deal with the Rodwell case.

The Abu Sayyaf has contacted Jalosjos twice and asked him to negotiate Rodwell’s safe release, but the Australian embassy wanted a professional police negotiator to handle talks for his freedom. The Australian Federal Police is also closely monitoring the progress of Rodwell’s negotiations.

A massive search was launched by Philippine authorities in Basilan to rescue Rodwell.

The group is still holding an Indian, two Malaysians and a Japanese man in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

PNOC-Exploration plans power plants

by Alena Mae S. Flores


State-owned PNOC-Exploration Corp. will pursue the construction of two 100-megawatt coal-fired power plants this year costing an estimated $400 million, a company official said over the weekend.

Joseph Omar Castillo, PNOC Exploration vice president, told reporters the company would select a joint venture partner for the mine-mouth power plants in Zamboanga Sibugay and Isabela provinces next year.

Castillo said the company would conduct a competitive bidding process and select the partner under the 2008 guidelines of the National Economic and Development Authority.

“The power plants are at 100 MW each. It will be coal-fired from PNOC Exploration’s coal mines, the first in the country. It will reduce logistics cost of transporting coal. Isabela and Zamboanga Sibugay are underserved provinces and the plants will hopefully boost business climate and generate needed employment,” the official said.

PNOC Exploration chairman Gemiliano Lopez earlier said the company was pursuing coal and oil and gas projects and “play a decisive role in our country’s quest for energy independence and sustainability.”

“PNOC Exploration is keen to provide material support for the power plants in the province of Isabela and Zamboanga Sibugay. These power plants will improve the electricity generation in these underserved provinces,” Lopez said.

Castillo, meanwhile, PNOC Exploration would also focus next year on drilling service contract 63 (East Sabina) in partnership with Nido Petroluem Ltd. of Australia. The drilling is estimated to cost around P900 million.

“On SC 63, in partnership with Nido, we are choosing a drill prospect in the area, target time for drill is third quarter,” he said.

Castillo said the company expects first coal production from the Lumbog coal mine this year. The Lumbog area in Zamboanga Sibugay has an estimated mineable coal reserve of at least 1.4 million metric tons.

Engineering and development plans for the Lumbog area were completed in 2010 and development started last March.

Castillo said PNOC Exploration would also start the construction of compressed natural gas stations next year.

PNOC Exploration will initially construct a CNG station at the Philippine Port Authority in Batangas and refurbish the existing Shell daughter station in Mamplasan, Laguna at a cost of P100 million.

The CNG stations project aims to support deployment of 200 CNG-fed buses in Metro Manila as part of the government’s alternative fuels program.

Earthquake jolts Zamboanga

by Bong Garcia


AN EARTHQUAKE of tectonic origin jolted several parts of Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Regional Monitoring chief Allan Labayog said Friday.

Labayog said the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.6 at the Richter scale with epicenter at 08.03 degrees north, 122.68 degrees east with a depth of two kilometers north and 57 degrees east of Tampilisan municipality, Zamboanga del Norte.

Plan your Sinulog week ahead and find out what's in store for Sinulog 2012.

Labayog said Intensity 3 (“weak”) was registered in Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay province, and Intensity 2 (“slightly felt”) in Dipolog, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte, and in Zamboanga City.

Intensity 1 (“scarcely perceptible”) was recorded in the towns of Labason, Manukan, Polangco, and Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte province, Labayog said.

No property damage was reported as well as there are no expected aftershocks, he said. (Bong Garcia)

Jail protest turns bloody in Dipolog City

by Mindanao Examiner


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – One inmate was killed and two others were taken hostage by a group of prisoners on Wednesday at a jail facility in Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte, police said.

Police and jail officials did not say what the prisoners were protesting about, but other reports said they were complaining about the poor conditions in the crowded jail.

It was not immediately known why they killed the prisoner who was identified as Danilo Adanza or whether he was a member of a gang at war with the protesters.

The prisoners also took two others hostage. Police said the prisoners were also demanding to speak to media and provincial governor Rolando Yebes.

Prime Movers’ Forum held in Zambo Norte, Sibugay

by PIA Press Release


PAGADIAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) -- Two Information Officers’ Fora were recently conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division (DA-RAFID) in the provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula, first in Zamboanga del Norte and second in Zamboanga Sibugay. Dubbed as the “Prime Movers’ Forum: Advocating and Mobilizing Information Officers Towards Food Sufficiency, the activity aimed to update participants with the Agri-Pinoy Programs on Rice, Corn, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), Livestock and Special Projects; discuss the roles of information officers; Discuss various communication approaches, challenges, and harmonization of efforts in promoting agricultural plans, programs and projects; Enhance advocates’ knowledge on social mobilization process which starts with advocacy along with IEC; Refresh advocates’ knowledge in formulating operational plans; and Organize a network of agricultural information officers who are passionate in the pursuit of food sufficiency. To speed-up the dissemination of DA’s programs, a networking of provincial and municipal information officers is needed to ensure that agricultural plans, programs and projects of the national government harmonize with their efforts in agricultural information. Capability building followed after establishing a network with the LGUs. Topics discussed were: Updates on Advocacy and IEC Process and Strategies; The Role of Information Officers, Issues & Concerns and Networking; Social Mobilization and Communication Convergence; Production and Design of Advocacy and IEC Materials and Planning and Designing of Advocacy and IEC Campaigns. These were shared by Noel T. Provido, a multi-awarded writer and chief of the Information, Advocacy, Communications and Education (InfoACE) Unit under the Program Support Office (PSO) of the DA’s Mindanao Rural Development Program,(DA-MRDP), Sherwin B. Manual, Information and Advocacy Specialist, also from DA-MRDP and Maria Melba B. Wee, Chief of DA-RAFID. DA region 9 Director Eduardo B. Holoyohoy said “We assure our support to the local government units and I am encouraging a harmonious teamwork between the DA regional office and the LGUs.” Dr. Aida P. Carino, Regional Technical Director for Planning, Policy and Research is hopeful that the pool of Information Officers regionwide would motivate the farmers and fisherfolks to be proud of their career as the nation’s provider of food. She said, “We should look at agriculture as an enterprise and that there is money in agriculture, thus the farmers/fisherfolk can stand tall and proudly say, I am a farmer.” She added “first, we have to develop and sustain agriculture before we shift to industrialization. Our strength is in agriculture. The farmers/fisherfolk can be profitable businessmen and you are the best group to disseminate this message.” Meanwhile,the Prime Movers’ Forum for Zambonga del Sur participants is scheduled on the last week of January next year at Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City. (ytavellaneda/DA9/PIA9/alt)

DSWD conducts Rapid Assessment in armed conflict areas in Payao

by PIA Press Release


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 25 (PIA) -- After a recent encounter between the government and opposing forces in the municipality of Payao in Zamboanga Sibugay, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) went to conduct a Rapid Assessment on affected barangays. These barangays are Labatan, San Roque, Dalama, Minundas and Mayabo. The assessment aims to provide the victims of the armed conflict short term support through the distribution of relief goods and long term intervention through the livelihood projects of the department. Team head, DSWD Regional Dir. Teodulo Romo, led the team in coming up with a work plan to conduct the assessment. Interventions on agricultural/fisheries, psychological and economic aspects were some of the essential matters discussed during the planning stage. On the day of the rapid assessment, a dialogue between the victims and the assessment team took place. Issues on security and long term assistance were raised by the affected residents of the area. Concerns on health conditions were also brought up as children were already getting sick because of evacuation to far areas. In turn, the health officers committed to conduct a medical mission to address this. The residents also expressed their fear that the incident might happen again in the future, and in response, the PNP committed to provide a police outpost on some of the critical areas in Payao. Evacuees were also brought back to their homes. The Rapid Assessment was also done in partnership with the Local Government Unit, the Department of Health and the Office of Civil Defense. (JPA/DIS/DSWD9/PIA-ZBST)

Rebels torch construction trucks in Zamboanga

by philstar.com


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 23, 2011) – Suspected communist rebels torched construction trucks owned by a private company working on an infrastructure site in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines, police and military said Friday.

Authorities blamed the attack on the New People’s Army which is fighting for a separate Maoist state in the country. It said the attack occurred late Thursday in Josefina town.

There were no reports of casualties and police said extortion could be the motive for the attack.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the raid, but the NPA is actively operating in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Vice mayor of Zamboanga Sibugay town shot dead

by philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines – Unidentified gunman shot to death a vice mayor of a Zamboanga Sibugay town this morning, a radio report said.

The victim was identified as Carlito Bayawa, vice mayor of Siay town, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

He was attack while he was on his way to an ATM machine in the province's capital town of Ipil.

The victim's wife, Susan, was also hurt during the incident and is currently recuperating in the local hospital in Ipil town.

Police operatives are still conducting hot pursuit operation against the suspect who flee on board a motorcycle.

Seized Australian lands in Abu Sayyaf hands

by AL JACINTO CORRESPONDENT


ZAMBOANGA CITY: Authorities said a kidnapped Australian is now being held by a notorious Abu Sayyaf group blamed for terrorism in Mindanao.

Warren Rodwell, 53, was kidnapped from his home on December 5 in the town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province, about 120 kms east of here.

“We have confirmation that Warren Rodwell is being held by the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama in Basilan province. We have stepped up efforts to locate Rodwell and his captors,” Army Colonel Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade, said.

The military said that Rodwell was kidnapped by a local gang with links to the Abu Sayyaf in the Muslim province of Basilan. Police also linked Barahama Ali, a commander of the larger rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, to the kidnapping.

Visaya said they still do not know whether the two rebel groups had merged or if Rodwell was “sold” or handed over to the Abu Sayyaf. “We still don’t know whether the groups of Ali and Indama have merged or not, but Rodwell is now in the hands of Indama,” he said.

Rodwell - a former soldier in the Australian army and a prolific world traveler – married a Filipina Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June in Ipil town weeks after the two met through the Internet.

Gutang has appealed to the kidnappers to free her husband, saying he is not rich and ill, but she did not elaborate on his condition.

Authorities have tagged Indama as behind the kidnapping of a US woman Gerfa Lunsmann and her son Kevin Eric, and a Filipino relative in July in Zamboanga City. The trio was released separately after the woman’s husband Heiko Lunsmann paid a huge ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

Indama was also blamed to numerous kidnappings in Basilan and Zamboanga City in recent years. Some of his victims were killed after their families failed to pay ransoms.

His group was also tagged as behind the beheadings of civilians and government soldiers in clashes in Basilan, just several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City.

The Abu Sayyaf, tied by the police and military to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, has kidnapped over a dozen people in the past years in the southern Philippines and is still holding an Indian, two Malaysians and a Japanese man.

Australian’s kidnappers posed as policemen – witnesses

by AL JACINTO


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: A Filipino farming couple said they have witnessed how gunmen dragged an Australian man they kidnapped in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Joel Bulay, 44, and his wife, Rosanna, 41, said they witnessed how Warren Rodwell, 56, was being dragged away by gunmen who introduced themselves as policemen.

“We saw the man they call Warren Rodwell as he was being dragged away at gunpoint by four men. One of the men who was armed with an M16 rifle told us not to be afraid because they are policemen as they hurriedly dragged the white man and they disappeared in the dark over there in the bushes that lead to the river and the open sea,” said Joel as he points to the horizon outside the family’s grass hut in the village of Pangi where the kidnappers had escaped.

“I was really scared, so scared that I was trembling in fear and could do nothing because we fear for our safety. One of my girls, who is five years old, suspected it was kidnapping and I told her to keep quiet because we are scared the gunmen will take us and use our family as shield in their escape,” he said.

The farmer said he saw Rodwell in handcuffs as two of the gunmen were holding the foreigner tightly in both his arms and another man, armed with pistol, pushed him to walk faster as the fourth kidnapper pulled him by his cuffs.

Rosanna said they heard one gunshot in Rodwell’s house and then saw the gunmen dragging the foreigner to the bushes. “He could hardly walk as if he was in pain, but we did not hear anything from Rodwell as they passed by our house. He did not say anything and we are not sure if Rodwell saw us,” she said, adding the kidnapping coincided with a mysterious blackout in the subdivision.

“It was really mysterious. The kidnappers struck just as the lights went off and only in our subdivision and electricity came back an hour later,” the woman said.

Security officials said Rodwell might have been shot and wounded by the kidnappers during a struggle.

Government troops continue their search for Rodwell on Thursday, but there have been no reports about the former Australian army soldier. Rodwell married a 27-year old Filipina woman - Mariflor Gutang – in June this year after a short “Internet” love affair and moved to Ipil town where he bought a house which is heavily barbed and corralled.

Rodwell’s neighbors described him as a strict man, others said he is arrogant and would often drive away people staring or passing near his house. “He is really strict and perceived as arrogant. He would drive people away and he does not want neighbors near his house. He does not speak to us or mingles with his neighbors,” Joel said.

But Merly Suan, 18, described Rodwell as a silent man who goes by his everyday life alone. “He sometimes smiles at me if I see him in his motorbike. I think he is a good man and we pity him. We pray for his safety,” she said.

Rodwell’s wife left him after a fight last month and now lives with her parents in their ancestral home in the town of Naga also in Zamboanga Sibugay province. She has appealed to the kidnappers to free Rodwell, saying he is not rich and is ill.





Aussie's captors contacted gov, says security official

by Roel Pareño


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The kidnappers of an Australian national have reportedly contacted Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Rommel Jalosjos to open possible negotiations for the victim’s release, a security official said yesterday. The source, who asked not to be named due to a “news blackout” on the kidnapping, said the captors of Warren Richard Rodwell did not demand anything yet, except saying that they wanted to negotiate directly with Jalosjos. The source could not immediately say when the kidnappers contacted the governor, adding though that they “apparently contacted twice.” Authorities could not confirm the reported contact, but expressed surprise how the kidnappers managed to get the cell phone number of the governor. Jalosjos, who imposed the news blackout, refused to answer calls or queries on the supposed contact by the kidnappers. Chief Superintendent Elpedio de Asis, Region 9 police director, declined to confirm or deny the information, saying only the local crisis management committee is authorized to make any statement on the case. Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation in Western Mindanao, and Ipil Mayor Aldwin Alibutdan, head of the crisis management committee, also declined to answer calls. But a security source said the cell phone number used by the kidnappers in calling Jalosjos is now being tracked down. Authorities suspect the kidnappers may have brought 56-year-old Rodwell to Basilan, a known turf of Abu Sayyaf militants who have been involved in several ransom kidnappings. Rodwell was seized from his home in Barangay Upper Pangi, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay last Dec. 5.

NPAs assault military post, 2 wounded

by Al Jacinto, Correspondent


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: Communist rebels attacked a Davao City military detachment wounding two village women, officials said Wednesday. Officials said the attack occurred at around 6.40 p.m. in the village of Malabog in Paquibato district.

The woman, wife of a government militia, was in the house about 100 meters from the detachment when New People’s Army rebels sprayed the post with automatic gunfire.

Another woman, who belongs to the Ata Manobo tribe, was also wounded in the attack.

“The woman was injured when rebels harassed the Golden Shower detachment in the village. Estila Resaba, a mother of eight (children), the wife of government militia Jerry Resaba, was inside their house, about 100 meters from the outpost, when rebels opened fire,” said Army Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said more troops would be sent to Paquibato to protect the civilians from rebel attacks. “With what happened, there is an urgent need for our troops in the areas of Paquibato. We will also intensify our forces to secure the safety of civilians in every community,” he said.

Kidnappers slip through military dragnet

by Al Jacinto, Correspondent


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: Gunmen who kidnapped an Australian soldier-turned-teacher may have escaped a massive military and police dragnet in the small seaside town of Ipil here. Authorities have deployed hundreds of soldiers and policemen to search for the 53-year old Warren Rodwell of Sydney, following a daring kidnapping that had embarrassed security officials and triggered a new wave of travel warnings from Australia and the United Kingdom. Both countries are staunch allies of the Philippines in its fight against homegrown terrorism.

The Western Mindanao Command, which has control over half of the military forces in the volatile south, said Rodwell was kidnapped by a local gang with links to the small, but the most notorious terror group called the Abu Sayyaf – blamed for the spate of bombings and kidnappings of foreigners and wealthy Filipino traders in the past two decades.

“There is a possibility that the kidnappers are no longer in Ipil. It’s been a week now since the kidnapping and we don’t know where they are right now, but the operation is still going on to track down the kidnappers and their captive Warren Rodwell,” Mayor Edwin Alibutdan said in an interview.

Alibutdan, who heads the local crisis management committee handling the kidnapping case, said no individual or group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. “There is no specific group that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. There is no contact with the kidnappers and Rodwell’s family has not received any demand for ransom,” he said.

He said he would convene a joint police and military peace and order council to tackle the progress of the government’s rescue efforts and to determine whether the kidnappers and their hostage are still within the town’s hinterlands or had escaped the massive operation.

“We just want to be sure whether the kidnappers and their captive are still here or no longer here and to take the necessary steps to protect foreigners coming in and out of Ipil,” he said.

Alibutdan has ordered additional security patrol and told police and military to put up more detachments in coastal areas to prevent lawless elements from sneaking into the town which was pillaged by the Abu Sayyaf in 1995 that left 53 people dead.

“The fear of terrorism is deeply rooted among locals because of what happened in 1995. Even now we get news of impending attacks in Ipil and these cause great fear to my people and I assure them that I will not allow terror to again reign in their hearts and minds,” he said.

Locals said they always see Alibutdan leading village patrol during nighttime. “I have no fear. If I show fear, then all my people will be afraid, scared of everything. I don’t even bring bodyguards around with me. The people are vigilant here,” the Mayor said.

Rodwell, who now teaches English language in universities in China, is married to a Filipino woman Miraflor Gutang, 27. Rodwell met the woman in May this year on the Internet and married her the next month after dating her in Zamboanga City.

Alibutdan officiated the civil wedding in Ipil, but months into their rocky marriage, the woman filed two complaints with the police against Rodwell, accusing him of maltreatment, and left him last month after an argument, and stayed with her family in the neighboring town of Naga.

Police said Rodwell’s Filipino neighbors also complained about the foreigner’s arrogance and attitude and often chased away people who would go near his bungalow-type house surrounded by barbed fence and hanged a huge sign that reads “No Trespassing. Pribado.”

News blackout could endanger hostage - expert

by Lindsay Murdoch, Al Jacinto In Zamboanga City


AN EXPERT on insurgencies in the southern Philippines says the Australian government's news blackout on the abduction of Sydney adventurer Warren Rodwell could further imperil his life. Bob East from the University of Southern Queensland, who has written a PhD and other research papers on the insurgencies, says the media should be free to report all aspects of the kidnapping. If the kidnappers believe their hostage is unimportant then his chances of survival are indeed minimal, Dr East told the Herald.

After all, if the prime reason for the kidnapping is profit, and there is no profit to be made, then there is no point in keeping their quarry, he said. The governor of Zamboanga Sibugay, Rommel Jalosjos, imposed a news blackout on the kidnapping last week at the request of Australian officials who travelled to the restive Mindanao province to help efforts to free Mr Rodwell, 53, who was abducted by four men posing as policemen last Monday. The decision to impose a news blackout contradicts the recommendations of a Senate inquiry last month that Australian authorities handling the kidnappings of Australians overseas should co-operate with the media, not ignore it. Dr East, who has researched the insurgencies over years, said Mr Rodwell may have been kidnapped by criminals who like to be seen as members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organisation which is portrayed as having ambitions for creating a pure Islamic state in the southern Philippines. He said these criminals take advantage of inadequate law enforcement in that part of the Philippines to pursue their agenda - terrorism for profit. Dr East wrote in a research paper the organisation which used to be well disciplined is now only comprised of bandits and criminals whose only agenda is greed and violence and any claim to be doing so in the name of a higher authority is pure fantasy and heresy. The Philippine military says it suspects a gang linked to the Abu Sayyaf is behind Mr Rodwell's kidnapping. It has also not ruled out gangs with links to other claimed separatist groups or local criminal gangs. The release at the weekend of an American teenage hostage in the same area Mr Rodwell was abducted has raised hopes negotiators will be able to secure his release, if the same group is responsible. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Lunsmann, his mother, Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, 42 and a Filipino relative Romnick Jakaria, 19, were kidnapped in Zamboanga City in July. Mrs Lunsman and Mr Jakaria were freed earlier. It is not known if ransoms were paid. The kidnappers were demanding a ransom of 50 million Philippines pesos ($1.3 million) for the teenager. Kidnappers are also still believed to be holding an Indian, two Malaysians and a Japanese man on Basilan island, a stronghold for rebels. Mr Rodwell, who married a Filipina, Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June after an internet romance, was kidnapped from a house he bought in a village near the seaside town of Ipil, 130 kilometres from Zamboanga City. He was shot in the foot as he struggled with kidnappers before he was dragged away. Security forces have launched a big hunt for Mr Rodwell, a prolific world traveller who taught English in China for more than eight years after leaving Sydney a decade ago. Ms Gutang has appealed for the release of her husband, saying he is unwell and she has no money to pay a ransom.

News blackout slammed on Australian kidnapping

by AL JACINTO


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: A Filipino governor, whose province is where a former Australian army soldier was recently kidnapped, has imposed a news blackout about the progress of the government operation to the foreigner.

Warren Rodwell, 53, was seized by gunmen from his home in Greenmeadows Subdivision on December 5. He was also shot in the foot while trying to fight off the kidnappers, a security spokesman said.

Governor Rommel Jalosjos said the news blackout will run until the situation improves in the province. He said he would also pass a resolution for all foreign residents in the province to coordinate with the provincial government for their own safety.

“We are a democracy and as such, they (foreigners) don’t have to make ‘paalam,’ (to tell us they are staying here) but because of this incident, I will be passing a resolution for all foreign visitors to coordinate with the provincial government so we can easily monitor them,” he told reporters.

It was not immediately known how many foreigners are present in Zamboanga Sibugay, but Luisa Morrison, the Filipino wife of a Scottish national was also kidnapped in September by rebels and taken to Basilan province where she was rescued by army soldiers following a firefight a week later.

Jalosjos said he had a meeting with Australian government officials and the Federal police in Zamboanga about Rodwell, but he did not what was discussed. “They just wanted to touch base with me and I offered them whatever assistance we can give including logistical support,” he said.

He said the kidnappers have not contacted Rodwell’s Filipino family or made a ransom demand. The Sydney man married Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June after they met on the internet.

“Whoever had kidnapped my husband, he is not rich. Return him to us and please don’t hurt him. My husband is ill,” Gutang said without elaborating as she appealed to Rodwell’s captors during a brief radio interview.

Security forces have launched a massive search in the province and nearby areas which included the Muslim province of Basilan, a known stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants with links to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

The military said a local gang with links to the Abu Sayyaf was behind Rodwell’s kidnapping, but authorities are also looking into the possible involvement of some members of the larger rebel group called Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.

MILF rebels had been previously tagged by authorities in numerous kidnappings for ransom of foreigners in the troubled region. Kidnappers are still holding an Indian national, two Malaysians, a US teenager and a Japanese man in

Zamboanga Sibugay governor accused of blocking probe by ceasefire monitors

by newslinktv.blogspot.com


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has accused Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos of blocking an investigation by an international panel of a clash between government forces and MILF guerrillas in the municipality of Payao last October. Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, even made the failure of the International Monitoring Team to conduct the investigation due to Jalosjos’ alleged interference part of his opening statement during the recent talks in Kuala Lumpur. “We are jolted by the failure of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to proceed with the investigation of the fighting in the municipality of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay,” he said. “That is correct,” Jalosjos told the Inquirer by phone on Friday. “I didn’t allow them to go to Payao because they did not follow proper protocol.” He said the IMT was rude because it did not coordinate with him during their previous visits. When they finally did, it was already too late to prepare, Jalosjos said. “What angered me most was the November 19-21 investigation schedule they made. They even sent me a last-minute itinerary last November 18 and there was supposedly a courtesy meeting with me but November 21 concluded and no one showed up for that courtesy meeting,” he said. The IMT investigation, aimed at establishing the cause of the fighting, was agreed upon by the government and the MILF peace panels. Said Shiek, head of the MILF contingent to the joint ceasefire committee, said the IMT mission to Zamboanga Sibugay did not push through as scheduled last December 5 to 8 because Jalosjos did not allow it. “To be very frank with you, it is not the failure of the IMT to investigate which is disheartening, which can be temporary, for any day from now they can decide to go… but it is the decision of Governor Rommel Jalosjos of Zamboanga Sibugay to defy the decision of the government through its peace panel to conduct the investigation, in compliance with a standing commitment in the peace negotiation,” Iqbal said. “If a local government executive can oppose decisions of government in such an important but still a relatively minor case, how much more if the stakes are already high, say a comprehensive compact between the GPH and MILF?” Iqbal added. He said the MILF could not understand why Jalosjos would block the investigation when it was meant to ferret out the truth. “Seriously, we cannot understand why Governor Jalosjos chose to stand in the way of the investigation: to hide the truth or to show that he can stand up against the President?” Iqbal asked. Jalosjos said another reason for turning down the IMT’s visit to Payao was that some of its members were Caucasians. “They are high-profile targets (for kidnapping). It’s my responsibility when it comes to their safety; they know what happened here,” he said, apparently referring to the Dec. 5 of an Australian national. The IMT consists of representatives from Malaysia, Japan, the European Union (including British, French and Dutch), and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, among others. “We find no reasonable ground for the IMT (mission)… not to be allowed… The wrong stance of the governor should be corrected by the government otherwise he becomes more supreme than the peace policy of the Aquino administration,” Shiek said.

Filipino gang with links to Sayyaf blamed for kidnapping of Aussie man

by mindanaoexaminer.com



ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 7, 2011) – Philippine authorities tagged a gang with links to the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group as behind the kidnapping of an Australian man in Zamboanga Sibugay province in the restive region of Mindanao.

Warren Rodwell, 53, had been seized on December 5 by several gunmen after he was shot in the foot while trying to fight off the kidnappers who barged in his house in the coastal town of Ipil, said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

“Based on witness account, Rodwell was shot in the foot while trying to fight off the kidnappers, who are members of a local gang, but with links to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province,” he said without further elaborating.

Rodwell, who is married to a Filipina, Miraflor Gutang, 27, also known as Grace, was alone in the house when gunmen seized him.

Cabangbang said security forces have launched a massive search for Rodwell in the Zamboanga Peninsula which is made up of the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Basilan.

He said the kidnappers escaped toward the sea with their captive, but it was unknown whether they managed to flee the town. He said the kidnappers have not contacted the foreigner’s wife or made any demand for his release.

Army Colonel Gerry Barientos, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade based in Ipil, said they deployed troops to track down the kidnappers, who could still be in the province. “We have deployed more soldiers in the province to track down the kidnappers and the hostage. They could still be in the province,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Local reporters who were able to interview Rodwell’s wife said she made an appeal to the kidnappers to free the Australian man, saying they don't have money (to pay ransom).

In September this year, kidnappers also seized the Filipino wife of a Scottish national in Ipil town - Luisa Galvez Morrison - and brought her by boat to Basilan province where she was rescued by soldiers a week later following a firefight with the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)

Australian kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay

by abs-cbnNEWS.com


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines - Unidentified armed men kidnapped an Australian in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay province on Monday, the military said.

The victim was identified as Warren Richard Rodwell, a resident of Green Meadow Subdivision in Barangay Lower Pangi, Ipil.

His kidnappers were last spotted heading south toward the sea, according to Lt. Col. Randy Cabangcabang, spokesman of the military's Western Mindanao Command.

Soldiers and police are pursuing the kidnappers as of posting. - report from ABS-CBN Zamboanga

Army major reported missing in Zamboanga Sibugay

by Julie S. Alipala

Inquirer Mindanao


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An Army major was reported missing after the vehicle he and his men were riding was flagged down by several armed men, believed to be New People’s Army rebels, on a highway in Barangay (village) Guinoman in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, early Saturday morning, the police reported. Senior Superintendent Ruben Cariaga, Zamboanga Sibugay police chief, identified the Army officer as Major Ramon Torres. He said Torres, of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, and five other soldiers were on a Mitsubishi pickup owned by TVI Mining from Ipil town and were going to Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur when about 40 armed men flagged them down around 7:25 a.m. Torres, he said, reportedly escaped and was chased by the armed men. Cariaga said that after questioning the passengers of the pickup truck, the armed men released the five remaining soldiers. “Their firearms were also confiscated,” he said. “Major Torres is still missing and we are on search operation now,” Colonel Pedro Dulos, deputy commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by text message. A military report said the armed men were members of the New People’s Army operating under Aurora Cayon alias Commander Bambam.

Zamboanga Sibugay eyes ban on open-pit mining

by Tony Pe. Rimandotempo.com.ph


ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 1, 2011) – The southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay is likely to declare a ban on open-pit mining following the move of neighboring Zamboanga del Norte.

Governor Rommel Jalosjos said they will not allow any open-pit mining in the province citing its destructive effect on the environment. “No. I am not for open-pit mining. Over my dead body,” he said when asked by reporters during a news conference if he would allow open-pit mining in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Jalosjos, who had worked at a mining firm in Australia, said: “I’ve seen what they have done.”

South Cotabato has first declared a ban on open-pit mining as part of its environment code and also put at risk billions of dollars of investments in the province, but saved the environment from further destructions.

Zamboanga del Norte followed after provincial lawmakers passed a resolution recently banning open-pit mining in the province. But mining firms have challenged the provincial ordinance in courts, citing that the ban is not in accordance with the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Manila said the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations is considered in the industry today as one of the most socially and environmentally-sensitive legislations in its class.

It has specific provisions that take into consideration the following - Local government empowerment; Respect and concern for the indigenous cultural communities; Equitable sharing of benefits of natural wealth; Economic demands of present generation while providing the necessary foundation for future generations; Worldwide trend towards globalization; and Protection for and wise management of the environment.

Mining executives said they follow responsible and sustainable mining and provided health care and other benefits to the host community aside from tax it pay the local and national government.

But mining firms – gold, silver, copper among other minerals and deposits - in Mindanao also attracted sustained attacks from communist New People’s Army and Muslim rebels who are opposed to the destructive activities in the volatile, but mineral-rich region.

Ethnic tribesmen and church leaders, including environmentalists, are also destructive mining activities in Mindanao.

“We are opposed to destructive mining, especially in our ancestral domain,” said Timuay Noval Lambo, chieftain of the Gukom sog Pito ko Dolungan, the highest Subanon authority in Western Mindanao.

Lambo said they wanted to develop their community, but gets no support either from the national or provincial government where mining taxes go. He also questioned the provincial ban on open-pit mining in Zamboanga del Norte, saying, they were not consulted about this.

“We should have consulted first about this provincial ordinance because we are the ones affected by these mining activities in our own ancestral domain. We want our community developed, but we get no support from the national and provincial governments,” he said.

It was not immediately known whether Zamboanga del Sur would also pass a resolution banning open-pit mining in the province. Small scale gold mining activities are also rampant in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. (Mindanao Examiner)




Transport group backs Tampakan project

by Tony Pe. Rimandotempo.com.ph


Manila, Philippines – A transport group with members from the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos city is preparing for what its members are anticipating as a “tremendous growth” in terms of public transportation needs. “The Tampakan project will mean a bigger demand for public transportation and this will be good for the transport industry,” said Orlando Sabelita, president of the Socsksargen Transport Federation, an affiliate of the Public Transport Alliance of the Philippines (PTAP). “We know there will be more people, goods and services that will need public transportation and we need to prepare for that,” he said. Sabelita said it is high time for a comprehensive transportation plan to be developed for South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos, with the Tampakan project in mind. “We need a new public transportation route going to Tampakan, and we need that properly planned with other agencies and local government units”, Sabelita said. Sabelita said his group is coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) region 12 office for a multi-sectoral planning to come up with a comprehensive transportation plan. “For instance, we need one public transportation terminal system,“ he said. Sabelita said the Tampakan project will definitely bring in employment and livelihood opportunities. “The influx of workers and their families will mean they will need to commute, and they will need goods and services and these will all depend on public transportation,“ he said. When asked if his group has any apprehension on the environmental impact of the Tampakan project, Sabelita said they trust the regulatory system governing the mining industry.




Sibugay order

by Tony Pe. Rimando


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Governor Rommel Jalosjos announced that local authorities have lifted starting Monday the curfew they imposed province-wide early this month following several encounters between soldiers of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Jalosjos said the lifting of the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew came after the military noted that the peace and order situation in the trouble-rocked towns of Payao, Titay, Kabasalan, and Ipil has been restored. He noted that the MILF camp of rebel leader Waning Abdusalam in Payao has been dismantled by troopers.

Ipil residents take to the streets to celebrate Mindanao Week of Peace

by Paulnazer Lontua/MindaNews


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (MindaNews/24 November) – Hundreds of residents here took to the streets early Thursday morning to “walk for peace” on the first day of the Mindanao Week of Peace. At the town plaza, students from different schools, representatives of various religious groups — Christians and Muslims, workers in the government and the private sector held placards calling for peace. The Mindanao Week of Peace is observed annually starting every last Thursday of November. This year’s theme is “Common Word between Us and You: Love of God, Love of Neighbor.” The “Walk for Peace” activity was spearheaded by Mayor Eldwin Alibutdan in cooperation with various groups. The town’s population is a mix of settlers, Moro and Lumad (indigenous peoples). Ressel Lopecillo, Ipil’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated Vice-President, who was among those who participated in the “walk for peace” said real peace should start with the youth. “I fully support these kinds of activities because through them I can serve as a role model to my fellow youth. This way, I can show to them that we, the youth, should be in the frontline in the journey to achieve lasting peace in our lands. We are the nation’s future and we should act now and not later,” he said. In his speech, Mayor Alibutdan cited the importance of constantly observing and supporting the week-long annual celebration, explaining that lasting peace is not achieved in a day. He also said that the Ipileños are instruments of peace and not of war. “Lasting and sustainable peace is not achieved in a day so it very important that we continue to shout for peace and support the Mindanao Week of Peace celebration. I am thankful that the people in Ipil are peace-loving citizens and we are fortunate that we choose to become instruments of peace and not of war,” he said. A series of activities has been lined-up for the celebration here like a youth peace camp and a “Bangkete sa Kalinaw” or Peace Banquet.




Multi-sector group conducts fact-finding mission

by Bong Garcia


A MULTI-SECTOR group known as the Coalition for Peace Base on Justice (CPBJ) is conducting an independent fact-finding mission in the nearby provinces of Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay.

The CPBJ, which is composed of loose coalition of human rights, peace advocates and other civil society organizations and was formed last November 9, sent Monday two fact-finding teams to Al-Barka, Basilan and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo said they will talk to the local government officials and the affected residents to look into the effect of the recent clashes, as well as the all-out justice directive of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

“Our point is from the people's side,” Ocampo said, citing the result of their fact-finding mission could serve as inputs to the concerned government agencies addressing the problems.

Bai Ali Indayla of Kawagib, which works for the advancement of Moro Human Rights, said they are concerned on the plight of some 20,000 people displaced because of the recent clashes in Al-Barka, Basilan and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Another member of the CPBJ, Jacquiline Ruiz of the Children's Rehabilitation Center, said they will also look into the plight of the women and children who were affected by the recent clashes.

Ruiz said they will determine the exact number of women and children affected by the recent clashes and determine what would be the most appropriate intervention they should undertake.

The CPBJ is expected to announce the results of its fact-finding mission Wednesday. (Bong Garcia)




Curfew in Zamboanga Sibugay liftedZambo Sibugay ex-DILG prov'l director faces P1-M malversation rap

by gmanews.tv


The Ombudsman filed a P1 million malversation case against a former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director in Zamboanga Sibugay for stashing government money in his vault for four years.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales issued on Nov. 10 a resolution for the indictment of Verner Virgilio P. Jayme for malversation case for having held a P1 million cash advance from April 14, 2004 to May 2, 2008.

The case is now before the Sandiganbayan and stems from a Commission on Audit report uncovering a P1 million cash advance drawn by Jayme in September 2004 for a “capability-building seminar" for barangay officials in the province.

But the seminar got cancelled and was deferred twice until Jayme was transferred to the DILG Region IX Office in Zamboanga City.

Admitting that he had brought the money with him upon his transfer, Jayme said he did not turn over the cash advance to his successor because he thought it was his responsibility to liquidate the amount later on.

Jayme failed to return the money despite demand letters sent to him. He claimed he had still been hoping that the planned seminar would push through.

The Ombudsman rejected however Jayme’s claim of good faith, considering that it took him four years to settle the disallowance.

The Ombudsman said Jayme’s case would have been treated differently “if respondent [had] ‘safe kept’ the amount for a couple of days, however, to safe keep P1,000,000 for four years clearly does not reflect ‘good faith’, more so, when the amount was returned through salary deduction."

But since Jayme fully returned, albeit belatedly, the cash advance, the Ombudsman junked a separate complaint for graft against him “for lack of evidence to support the allegation of undue injury to the government."




Curfew in Zamboanga Sibugay lifted

by Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos announced that the curfew imposed in his province, following skirmishes in different towns, has been lifted.

Jalosjos said the peace and order situation in the area has been restored, although some displaced families remain in evacuation centers.

The governor admitted that action needs to be undertaken to improve the "tarnished" image of Zamboanga Sibugay following reports that the province is a war zone.

He said the local government is reviewing plans of rehabilitation and tourism programs for areas that have great potential, such as Payao municipality, where a lair of notorious lawless leader Waning Abdusalam was captured by authorities 2 weeks ago.

Jalosjos said the bounty of P500,000 for the arrest and capture of Abdusalam and his group stays.

He also revealed that he has been receiving threats after incidents of violence in his area.




Speeding Up Passenger And Cargo Traffic In Zamboanga Sibugay

by mindanao.com


Residents of Barangay Malinao in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay, benefit from a 54-meter-long, stair-type boat landing and pier head built through a partnership between the Mabuhay municipal government of Mabuhay and the U.S. Agency for International Development, through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. More than 100 cargo, fishing and passenger boats dock daily at this facility, which allows traders and residents, such as these women, to transport farm and marine products more safely and efficiently. USAID has constructed 89 community infrastructure projects in Zamboanga Sibugay, out of a total of more than 1,300 such projects it has built in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas. These include water systems, solar dryers, boat landings, trading centers, foot bridges, barangay bridges, and roadway upgrades. USAID’s GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority.




Sibugay peace and order back to normal- PNP

by Paulnazer T. Lontua


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Nov. 14 (PIA) -- PSSupt. Ruben D. Cariaga, Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Director, categorically said that peace and order in the province has gone back to normal. It can be remembered that peace and order situation here was disturbed after series of ambushes and clashes between government troops and lawless elements last month. “Things are back to normal now with peace and order situation in an undisturbed state after we finally took over the lawless group’s camp in Payao. Somehow, the hunt for lawless elements are on- going until we serve justice to our people,” Cariaga stated in an interview. Cariaga also added that the people need not to fear because the AFP and PNP are doing all in their capability to prevent any incidents similar to what had happened recently. Cariaga further mentioned that the intelligence community of the authorities is heightened to its maximum level to ensure that all plans of attacks and ambushes from the lawless groups, if there are any, would be prevented. (NBE/ P. Lontua SibEx)




Sibugay taps media in promoting nutrition

by Paulnazer T. Lontua


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Nov. 13 (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council (NCC) and Zamboanga Sibugay Nutrition Office called on the media to become their partners in promoting nutrition during recent media conference here. Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO), Marlene Garcia, said the media plays a great role in helping the government disseminate accurate information on the importance of nutrition. “We always recognize the power of media on how they can help us inform families in far-flung places in the country about the value of nutrition. We believe that good relationship and proper linkage between the nutrition council and media could generate huge impact on the nutrition advocacy of people in these areas,” Garcia explained. During the media conference, Nimfa Ekong, Assistant Regional Director of the NNC, gave a presentation on the current state of the province’s, as well as the country’s nutrition situation. Ekong said there is much to do in terms of educating the Filipinos on the observance of proper nutrition in every Filipino home. Speaking in behalf of the media practitioners, Eddie Sallave, field reporter of DXIR-FM, committed the group to become NNC and PNAO’s partner in promoting and advocating good nutrition through their respective media outfits. “We will also assure the NNC and the PNAO that we are always with them in their mission to educate and aware the people about the value of nutrition in their lives”, Sallave vowed. PNAO Garcia also gave a brief summary on the recent accomplishments of the nutrition advocates of Sibugay. He said the malnutrition rate in the province has gone down. Other members of the Ipil media present during the conference were Don Johnson of DXUZ-Radyo Lipay, Rey Manriquez and Rudyard Lopez of DXIR-FM, Paulnazer Lontua, News Editor of the Sibugay Express. (NBE/P.Lontua/SibEx).




DSWD sends debriefing teams to Zambo Sibugay

by KBK, GMA News


The Department of Social Welfare and Development has sent 14 teams of social workers to two towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province in Mindanao to conduct stress debriefing for families affected by recent skirmishes there between the military and lawless groups.

Social workers from the DSWD Region 9 office and sub-offices in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur were sent to Alicia and Payao towns to conduct Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) sessions, the DSWD said.

Of the 14, four teams were deployed in Payao while the others were assigned in Alicia, the DSWD said in a news release.

According to the DSWD, CISD is not psychotherapy or a substitute for it, but an opportunity for ventilation in a structured and supportive environment.

“Its main goal is to relieve the person of the stress brought about by a traumatic incident,” it said.

During the sessions, adults are to be subjected to the seven phases of Jeffrey Mitchell’s CISD model where they will have group meetings or discussions. Children would undergo sessions on draw and tell where they were encouraged to draw their experiences and encountered scenes in the hope of mitigating the effects of their trauma.

The teams were also tasked to assess the damages brought about by the conflict as well as look into other needs of the affected families and communities.

The DSWD said that as of November 5, the number of evacuation centers in Zamboanga Sibugay is down to five from 11.

Two evacuation centers are located in Payao and three in Olutanga providing temporary shelter only at nighttime to some 166 families or 830 people, and 135 families or 675 people, respectively.

During the day, the evacuees return to their respective homes to attend to their livelihood but they continue to be provided with relief assistance.

On the other hand, some 3,817 affected families with 19,075 people are still staying with friends’ and relatives and are continuously being provided with relief assistance.

The DSWD has so far provided some P8.1 million worth of assistance to the affected local government units including P7 million in cash-for-work allocation and P1.1 million in family food packs.

Meanwhile, in Al-Barka town in Basilan, as of November 5, some 2,224 families opted to stay with their relatives and friends but continue to receive relief assistance.

Some P3.1 million worth of assistance from DSWD-IX (P2.6 million), DSWD-ARMM (P50,000) and the LGU (P511,075.00) had been extended to them, the DSWD said.




Fighting erupts in Zamboanga town

by Mindanao Examiner


ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2011) – Government troops clashed with communist rebels Friday afternoon in the town of Siay in Zamboanga Sibugay province in the southern Philippines, reports said.

It said the fighting was reported in the village of Silo and that civilians have evacuated to safety for fear they would be caught in the cross fire. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but soldiers were battling New People’s Army rebels.

The rebels were also blamed for the killing of a government militia last week in the village of Palintana in Kabasalan town, just several kilometers away from Siay.

The NPA is fighting for the establishment of a separate Maoist state in the country.




Muslim community leaders laud Sibugay PNP

by Paulnazer T. Lontua


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Nov. 10 (PIA) -- Muslim community leaders in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay laud the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its good practice in peace and order initiatives. The PNP here made it a point to recognize the valuable efforts of the Muslim communities in attaining peace and order. Two known Islamic community leaders in the province namely; Ustadz Sarabi Camsain, leader of the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) Teachers in Sibugay, and Alhapid E. Muhammad-Al Hadj, Muslim Tribal Leader of the municipality of Ipil, were recognized and given citation by PNP for their contribution as peace advocates. On the other hand, Muslim leaders are also cognizant of the PNP’s good practices that established good relationship between the authorities and Muslim residents. According to Muhammad, the presence of SALA’AM PNP personnel in Zamboanga Sibugay is one good move of the PNP to constantly communicate with Muslim leaders and community members to listen to their woes. “We are happy with our relationship with our PNP here in the province because we feel like we are also part of the dream to achieve real peace in our areas. The SALA’AM personnel are always there to listen to our voices and hear us out. In return, we also cooperate and support our law enforcers," said Muhammad. PNP SALA’AM personnel, Police Insp. Karib A. Muharram, SALA’AM Chief, and PO3 Galilie B. Alam, are constantly conducting Muslim community visitations and meeting with tribal leaders of every community to listen to them and lead to establish good relationship with the people. Also, the construction of the PNP Mosque made the bonds between Muslim communities stronger. According to Muhammad, with the new Mosque, Muslim PNP personnel can now pray daily and congregate every Friday. The recent celebration of the 10th year anniversary of the PPO was also graced by different religious leaders, who were also given citations and awards for their valuable support and cooperation with the PNP’s peace initiatives. PSSupt. Ruben D. Cariaga, PPO provincial director, hopes that PNP’s initiatives and the concerted community efforts of Muslim leaders in tandem would last until real peace is achieved. (NBE / P. Lontua)




BIR urges professionals to be compliant with tax laws

by Paulnazer T. Lontua


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Nov. 9 (PIA) -- Revenue District Officer (RDO) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Zamboanga Sibugay Monib Dimakuta urged professionals to comply with tax laws and file their income tax correctly and on time. According to Dimakuta, he is putting on his priority list the monitoring and checking of all the tax obligations of professionals in his areas of responsibility. “I would like to post this invitation to all the professionals out there who have tax obligations to comply and make sure they file their income tax correctly and on time because I am putting this monitoring on all professionals,” Dimakuta emphasized. In Zamboanga Sibugay, Dimakuta urged doctors, lawyers, engineers and all professionals to abide by the tax law to prevent any trouble with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the future as it will not hesitate to implement the Oplan Kandado to delinquent tax payers. The BIR raised its revenue collections last year and expected to do the same this year. The bulk of the increase would come from the professional segment comprise of doctors, lawyers, accountants and other high-earning self-employed individuals. The country has about 700,000 professionals, but they contributed only P7 billion to government coffers in 2009. Department of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima earlier said this amount would translate to an average contribution of P5,000 from each of the 700,000 professionals for that year. According to the Professional Regulatory Commission, the Philippines have three million professionals, including nurses, doctors, engineers and seamen who are either self-employed or employed. Lawyers and doctors, who are presumed to earn the most among professionals, numbered 190,000. (NBE RIX / P. Lontua)




Government prepares for return of displaced families in Zamboanga Sibugay

by Jill Beltran/Sunnex


MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started is preparation for the return of several families displaced by military offensives in Zamboanga Sibugay.

"The DSWD is now beginning to make preparations for the return of the displaced families," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

As part of the preparation, Valte said the DSWD is conducting counseling and stress debriefing sessions among those affected residents.

She added that livelihood assistance in the form of grants coming from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program have also been provided.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman visited evacuation centers in Zamboanga Sibugay to oversee the preparations.

The military has launched an operation against lawless elements in various parts in Mindanao following successive skirmishes that resulted in the death of more than 30 soldiers and civilians.




CHR enters camp of wanted MILF leader in Zamboanga Sibugay

by Hader Glang


A probe team of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) entered the former camp of Waning Abdulsalam in Sitio Talaib, Barangay Labatan, Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province on Friday.

The team, according to reports, saw the large crater caused by the bombing of the military.

CHR Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag assured that no civilians were affected or the detachment of the MNLF in adjacent areas.

Mamauag said no houses there, but some structures, resting huts of the lawless groups. "But notably the prevailing fear among residents."

He said only in July, this year, that the armed group was sighted in the area.

It was learned from the CHR official that the local government had already reported the matter to the Government Peace Panel and even to the military, but to no avail.

On October, when the police together with some soldiers tried to serve arrest warrant for Abdusalam, which resulted to more than one week of clashes.

"How did they became like that, the group? They Should have been prevented," asked Mamauag.

According to CHR Commissioner, Abdusalam should be answerable for the kidnapping, robbery in band, extortion and murder cases.

Authorities blamed Abdulsalam for kidnappings and killings on Mindanao.

"This is high time for the government to apply the fullest force of the law. Lawlessness Should not stay a minute longer, "the whim of Mamauag.

The CHR probe team also went to Basilan to check on the affected civilians in the clashes between the military and the MILF.




NPA kills CAFGU in Zambo Sibugay

by abs-cbnNEWS.com


MANILA, Philippines – About 30 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday morning.

Zamboanga Sibugay Police Director, Senior Superintendent Ruben Cariaga said the rebels raided the house of a certain Ricky Modal along Barangay Palinta in Kabasalan around 6 a.m.

The rebels then took with them another CAFGU member identified as Felix “Caloy” Obordo.

Radio dzMM reported that the rebels brought Obordo to a camote plantation where he was tied and stabbed to death.

The army’s 8th Infantry Battalion had been dispatched to pursue the rebels. Dennis Datu, radio dzMM





PNP assures public safety in Sibugay

by Paul Lontua


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay November 4 (PIA) -- Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Director, PSSupt. Ruben D. Cariaga, Sr., announced through a phone interview that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is under control of the situation and assured Sibugay’s public safety. “We have things under our control and the PNP is assuring that we can keep Sibugay safe”, stated Cariaga. Added to his statement, Cariaga revealed that there are text messages spreading all throughout the province containing reports that lawless groups will attack some municipalities in the province particularly in the municipality of Ipil creating panic and fear. Cariaga said that the said text messages come from unreliable sources and the PNP had nothing to do with such actions. “We received information that few text messages are circulating around the province and all contained reports that lawless groups will launch attacks in certain municipalities like Ipil. All of these reports remain unconfirmed and all never came from our office”, added Cariaga. According to Cariaga, people should not immediately believe in text messages and should get first-hand information from reliable sources like the PNP. “I’m appealing to the people to remain calm and not panic because of such reports from text messages. They should not immediately believe and instead ask reliable sources like the PNP because we have things under our watch”, Cariaga explained. Within one week, elements of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were ambushed by lawless armed groups in the municipalities of Alicia, Kabasalan and Ipil which made the province headlines in local and national newspapers, radio and relevision. Accompanied with reported bomb threats which later on turned out to be false alarms, the province of Zamboanga Sibugay is now considered by some people as a place of war and conflict. With this, Cariaga call on people to remain calm but vigilant and watchful to things that are happening in their surroundings. Cariaga also said that the PNP welcomes reports and is asking the public to immediately coordinate with authorities as to suspicious things, people or activities in their surroundings. The support and cooperation of the civilian communities, according to Cariaga, is the only key to prevent and solve crimes and other conflicts in Sibugay. As of PRESS time, the AFP and PNP has established a build-up of personnel in Sibugay areas particularly in Ipil as one of their safety measures to prevent any untoward incidents like bombings, attacks, etc. The whole province is also under high alert because of what happened recently. (NBE/P. Lontua, Ipil, ZSP)




LGU-Sibugay to implement GRAJTREE program

by Claro A. Lanipa


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay Nov 3, (PIA) –- The Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Municipal and Barangay Local Government Units and other National Government Agencies (NGAs) will implement the Governor Rommel Apolinario Jalosjos Tripartite Rubber Expansion and Enhancement Program (GRAJTREE). The program will focus solely on rubber expansion and enhancement in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. It is a centerpiece program of the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Jalosjos. Provincial Agriculturist Rey Manginsay said the project will be implemented in an estimated land area of 50,000 to 100,000 hectares of land located in the different municipalities of the province which are covered by the Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA) of the DENR and other areas which may be determined and cleared for inclusion in the program by the DENR. Manginsay further said that budding of rubber seedlings will begin in February 2012 and planting will eventually starts by April of the same year. On its first year of implementation, 14-thousand hectares of land will be covered to be planted with more or less 7.5 million rubber trees. Accordingly, a group of seven workers can maintain three hectares of rubber plantation to include weeding, tapping, latex collection, fertilization, pruning and others. GRAJTREE program aims to expand the rubber production area of Zamboanga Sibugay and enhance its potentials in order to bring about progress and various livelihood opportunities to its people. While waiting for the productive stage of the project, crops for inter-cropping and other livelihood projects shall be introduced. Under the institutional, human resource and marketing components of the program, cooperatives shall play a significant role in this program. While the processing and manufacturing component shall be the primary responsibility of the private sector which is composed of local, national and international investors. This project is a tripartite engagement of the provincial government, the private sector and the different cooperatives in the province. (JPA/OPAD/CAL/PIA9/ZamboSur)




Zamboanga Sibugay evacuees expected to start going home

by TJ Burgonio

Philippine Daily Inquirer


As government troops moved deeper in Zamboanga Sibugay province in pursuit of so-called lawless elements, some of the more than 20,000 evacuees could start to go back home beginning this week, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said Tuesday. By Sunday, the number of evacuees in Payao, Alicia, Talusan, Mabuhay and Olutanga towns had risen to 4,533 families or 21,090 individuals as more people fled their homes after rogue elements entered their villages, Soliman said. “Based on the assessment of the military and the governor, many of them can start going back to their places in certain areas this week because the military’s hot pursuit operation against the lawless elements has moved farther away,” she said in a phone interview. “Even if the military or police say it’s safe to go back, they will have to check the situation. The lawless elements are harassing soft targets to distract the Army. The process will take about two weeks before they can settle down,” she said. Evacuees still in Al-Barka In Al-Barka, Basilan, 1,891 families or 9,481 individuals remained in evacuation centers or in the homes of relatives following the October 18 ambush that killed 19 soldiers. “There is a hot pursuit operation, and the people are not being asked to go back as of now,” she said. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allotted P7 million and P2 million for its cash-for-work programs for the evacuees in Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan, respectively, to help them recover, Soliman said. Evacuees who will repair homes, school buildings, barangay centers or any government facility that had either been destroyed or damaged during the clashes would get paid. “They’ll start the work this week,” said Soliman, who visited Sibugay on Friday together with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Secretary Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process. The DSWD will also release the cash grants to evacuees who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program before they go back home. “Social workers managing the evacuation centers continue to provide the evacuees counseling sessions and play therapy to children to reduce the trauma that they are undergoing,” Soliman said.

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