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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:

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.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province

Source: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/inside-stories/8524-dar-exec-visits-rubber-coops-in-sibugay-province.html
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 11:52

By JPA/CAL/AL/DAR/PIA9-ZDS/ZBST

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - With the theme “PADAYON…GOMA PALAMBU-ON”, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio R. de los Reyes recently led the ceremonial cutting of ribbon and tapping of rubber trees in celebration of Rubber Harvest Festival at Goodyear Agrarian Reform Multi-PurposeCooperative (GARBEMCO), Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The idea of urging the top ranking official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to visit Zamboanga Sibugay was initiated by the Regional and Provincial Offices of DAR spearheaded by Regional Director Julita Ragandang and OIC-PARO II Rizzel Villanueva, CESE which was finally carried out by joining forces with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) .The joint endeavor of the LBP and DAR was primarily aimed to spur rural development among rubber-based cooperatives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries of the province.

The highlight of the secretary’s visit was the granting of financial assistance to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (ARBEMCO) in the amount of Php22, 900, 000.00, thru Credit Assistance Program-Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD) Window II.

During the event, chairmen from different rubber-based cooperatives, which included Isabela City as part of DAR Sibugay, gave their testimonials of their experiences during the rough time when they went through the ordeal and sacrifices as newly-organized cooperatives. The said chairmen also paid tribute to the Department of Agrarian Reform for their help in regaining back their economic stability thru the assistance extended by the DAR adjunct by its financial arm, the LBP and the inseparable support of other line agencies.

De los Reyes emphasized that CARP is distinctively different under the present administration as it mainly considers the importance of strengthening the organizations of the agrarian reform beneficiaries. He said that, “Ang isang malaking bagay na panibago sa pamumuno ni President Noynoy ay yung pagkapatatag ng mga organisasyon ng ating agrarian reform beneficiary.”

He reiterated that strengthening ARB organization enhances its bargaining power to access inputs and financial assistance not only in CAP-PBD. The secretary also stressed the importance of Agrarian Reform Community and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) being an innovative program of the government to strengthen ARB organizations/cooperatives by providing professional services in terms of management and farm equipments.

De los Reyes also said, “The second important mandate is to strengthen collaboration among the three government agencies of the DAR, DA and DENR with the LGUs in the delivery of basic services to our ARBs and the ARCESS program.”

“Collaboration among concerned government entities is essential to implement the program as its primordial mandate,” he added.

The agrarian reform secretary likewise foresaw the necessity to discuss with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) regarding the treatment of collective CLOA of the coops as he recognized that most ARBs of the coops are already in their advanced age.

“Kailangan po nating sagutin at harapin ang mga isyu tungkol sa paglilipat ng coop shares o yung lupa o yung mga karapatan n’yo sa kooperatiba,’’ the secretary said in his conversation with DAR officials and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.

Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Governor Hon. Rommel Apolinario Jalosjos also graced the occasion and expressed his commitment to support development in the province especially in rubber industry in its ultimate aim of alleviating economic standard of its constituents.

Local government officials in the province were also present in the occasion to show their support to the program of the government in strengthening rubber-based cooperatives.

DAR-Sibugay also thanked Congressman Romeo “Janjan” Jalosjos for his valuable support in all the activities and projects involving rubber-based cooperatives in the 2nd district of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Also in attendance during the event were dignitaries from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Dir. Crispin T. Aguelo and Dir. Tomas T. De Leon, Jr. and directors from other line agencies.

After a festive lunch, Secretary de los Reyes made an effort to visit the Land Bank ACCESS Project supporting the ARB rubber plantation cooperatives at Philippine Pioneer Rubber Product Corporation (PPRPC), a rubber processing plant located in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Accompanied by OIC-PARO Villanueva and officials from the DAR Regional and Provincial Offices, Secretary de los Reyes personally witnessed the processing of raw rubber to his delight and satisfaction.

Before going to Zamboanga City to catch his flight for Manila, Secretary de los Reyes expressed his gratitude for the warm accommodation he received during his visit and parted ways with the local officials with great hope and expectations for future projects and developments involving the rubber industry in the province.

Military, peace monitors review ceasefire mechanisms

Source: http://www.themindanaojournal.com/military-peace-monitors-review-ceasefire-mechanisms/
February 7, 2012

By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

DAVAO CITY, Feb. 6 — The military and ceasefire monitors led by the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC) is continuously reviewing the ceasefire mechanisms between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to maintain ceasefire as both parties contemplate on coming up with a peace agreement this year. Speaking during the evaluation of the 10-year peace talks with MILF from 2002 to 2012 at the Lispher Inn here Monday, Brig. General Ariel Bernardo, chair of the government’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, said a review of the ceasefire mechanisms is important to prevent the recurrence of the Al-Barka, Basilan incident where 19 soldiers were killed following a clash between the government troops and members of the MILF. “It is a continuing effort to improve and enhance the ceasefire mechanism by drawing lessons from the past by involving former ceasefire committee chairs and other officers involved,” he said. He said the Al-Barka, Basilan and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay incidents presented gray areas despite the ceasefire mechanism that had been working since 1997. Bernardo said the gray areas include the definition of so-called MILF communities, defensive action by the MILF and the identification of MILF leaders, or persons with authority to talk to on the other side. He said other irritants on the ceasefire include the “rido” (clan war), in-fighting of MILF leaders, and criminality like extortion and bombings which may not be attributed to the MILF. Bernardo disclosed that there were a total of eight encounters between soldiers and MILF members since August last year. “This year, we are targeting zero engagement in order to pave the way for signing of a peace agreement,” he said. Bernardo assessed that soldiers are observing the primary of the peace process while the MILF are showing effort on firm command and control over their forces. He revealed that the government and the MILF are going towards substantive talks already, where tentative consensus points are identified. “The commitment of both sides is to sign a peace agreement this year is clear, fast-tracking the desire of President Aquino and MILF chair Murad by coming up with a roadmap,” Bernardo said. Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, convenor of MPC, said the ongoing ceasefire assessment is the last leg of the seven sessions conducted for both the government and the MILF. She said a separate evaluation was also conducted by the MPC with the MILF in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in December last year. (PNA) DCT/LAM/JSGD/ldp

DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province

Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R09&article=1351328493144
Monday 6th of February 2012

by Adolfo Lopez, Jr.

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Feb 6 (PIA) -- With the theme “PADAYON…GOMA PALAMBU-ON”, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio R. de los Reyes recently led the ceremonial cutting of ribbon and tapping of rubber trees in celebration of Rubber Harvest Festival at Goodyear Agrarian Reform Multi-PurposeCooperative (GARBEMCO), Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The idea of urging the top ranking official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to visit Zamboanga Sibugay was initiated by the Regional and Provincial Offices of DAR spearheaded by Regional Director Julita Ragandang and OIC-PARO II Rizzel Villanueva, CESE which was finally carried out by joining forces with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) .The joint endeavor of the LBP and DAR was primarily aimed to spur rural development among rubber-based cooperatives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries of the province. The highlight of the secretary’s visit was the granting of financial assistance to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (ARBEMCO) in the amount of Php22, 900, 000.00, thru Credit Assistance Program-Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD) Window II. During the event, chairmen from different rubber-based cooperatives, which included Isabela City as part of DAR Sibugay, gave their testimonials of their experiences during the rough time when they went through the ordeal and sacrifices as newly-organized cooperatives. The said chairmen also paid tribute to the Department of Agrarian Reform for their help in regaining back their economic stability thru the assistance extended by the DAR adjunct by its financial arm, the LBP and the inseparable support of other line agencies. De los Reyes emphasized that CARP is distinctively different under the present administration as it mainly considers the importance of strengthening the organizations of the agrarian reform beneficiaries. He said that, “Ang isang malaking bagay na panibago sa pamumuno ni President Noynoy ay yung pagkapatatag ng mga organisasyon ng ating agrarian reform beneficiary.”

He reiterated that strengthening ARB organization enhances its bargaining power to access inputs and financial assistance not only in CAP-PBD. The secretary also stressed the importance of Agrarian Reform Community and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) being an innovative program of the government to strengthen ARB organizations/cooperatives by providing professional services in terms of management and farm equipments. De los Reyes also said, “The second important mandate is to strengthen collaboration among the three government agencies of the DAR, DA and DENR with the LGUs in the delivery of basic services to our ARBs and the ARCESS program.” “Collaboration among concerned government entities is essential to implement the program as its primordial mandate,” he added. The agrarian reform secretary likewise foresaw the necessity to discuss with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) regarding the treatment of collective CLOA of the coops as he recognized that most ARBs of the coops are already in their advanced age. “Kailangan po nating sagutin at harapin ang mga isyu tungkol sa paglilipat ng coop shares o yung lupa o yung mga karapatan n’yo sa kooperatiba,’’ the secretary said in his conversation with DAR officials and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Governor Hon. Rommel Apolinario Jalosjos also graced the occasion and expressed his commitment to support development in the province especially in rubber industry in its ultimate aim of alleviating economic standard of its constituents. Local government officials in the province were also present in the occasion to show their support to the program of the government in strengthening rubber-based cooperatives. DAR-Sibugay also thanked Congressman Romeo “Janjan” Jalosjos for his valuable support in all the activities and projects involving rubber-based cooperatives in the 2nd district of Zamboanga Sibugay province. Also in attendance during the event were dignitaries from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Dir. Crispin T. Aguelo and Dir. Tomas T. De Leon, Jr. and directors from other line agencies. After a festive lunch, Secretary de los Reyes made an effort to visit the Land Bank ACCESS Project supporting the ARB rubber plantation cooperatives at Philippine Pioneer Rubber Product Corporation (PPRPC), a rubber processing plant located in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay. Accompanied by OIC-PARO Villanueva and officials from the DAR Regional and Provincial Offices, Secretary de los Reyes personally witnessed the processing of raw rubber to his delight and satisfaction. Before going to Zamboanga City to catch his flight for Manila, Secretary de los Reyes expressed his gratitude for the warm accommodation he received during his visit and parted ways with the local officials with great hope and expectations for future projects and developments involving the rubber industry in the province. (JPA/CAL/AL/DAR/PIA Zamboanga del Sur)

Three policemen killed, woman hurt in separate shooting incidents

Source: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/8372--three-policemen-killed-woman-hurt-in-separate-shooting-incidents.html
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 10:45

by Eugene A. Lasprilla

Three policemen were shot to death while a woman was wounded in separate shooting incidents at Poblacion, Tungawan Municipality, Zamboanga Sibugay Province (ZSP) and at Sitio Pilar, Barangay Binuangan, Isabela City, Basilan Province, over the weekend.

ZSP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Ruben Cariaga said two policemen assigned with the Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) under Tungawan Municipal Police Station (MPS) were shot by four unidentified suspects believed to be belonging to the Agaw Armas group.

Cariga told Zamboanga Today that the victims, identified as Police Officers 1 Rey Romano and Radin Hasi, were having a coffee break at the vicinity of Tungawan Bus Terminal about 10:00 p.m. of Sunday when they were shot.

Two of the 4 suspects were identified by the witnesses as Monib and Jomar, both family names Aukasa, well-known members of the Agaw Armas group. Cariaga added that the group of Aukasa took the issued M16 rifle of PO1 Hasi then hurriedly fled towards unknown direction.

A hot pursuit operation is being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspects while appropriate charges were readied against them in court.

Meanwhile, Senior Police Officer 4 Renee Locson y Damas, assigned with the Police Community Relation (PCR) in Basilan Police Provincial Office (BPPO), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was killed while his girlfriend, Mildred Agosto y Pioquinto, 19, single, of Purok 4, Menzi, Isabela City, suffered gunshot wound on her left shoulder.

Reports coming from the police provincial office disclosed that the victims were on board an XRM motorcycle heading towards Barangay Begang when fired upon by the unidentified motorcycle riding-in-tandem gunmen.

Locson suffered 3 gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Local police in Isabela City believe that the motive of the incident is vengeance. Allegedly, the policeman responded to a shooting incident at Isabela Public Market where the suspect was shot to death by the former.

Further reports disclosed that the policeman was receiving death threats allegedly from the relative of the killed suspect.

Recovered from the scene of the crime were three spent shells, 2 live ammunitions and a slug of Caliber .45 Pistol.

The case is still under investigation.

Ban on deployment of maids to Jordan stays–Baldoz

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/24533/ban-on-deployment-of-maids-to-jordan-stays-baldoz
6:19 pm | Monday, January 30th, 2012

by Philip C. Tubeza

Philippine Daily Inquirer

This was what Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said after meeting with a 23-year-old undocumented Filipina maid, who had allegedly been beaten for a year then finally fled her employer’s home after her face was repeatedly cut with a razor blade. Baldoz said the ban on the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) to Jordan would not be lifted if cases of abuse involving Filipinos were not addressed and the list of recruitment agencies in Jordan accredited to process Filipino maids was not purged of undesirables. “It is inhuman. We cannot lift the ban if all these cases are not attended to,” Baldoz said after meeting with the maid, whose name was withheld, and 55 other Filipinas who ran away from their employers, mostly due to unpaid wages. There were also two maids from Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan who were victimized by a human trafficking syndicate that smuggled them out of the Philippines through the country’s southern back door. Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz said that even if the ban imposed in 2008 were lifted, it could still be re-imposed if the cases of abuse did not abate. He added that recruitment agencies who deployed maids during the ban should also be blacklisted. Baldoz led a delegation here—including Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon—to sign the protocols on the deployment of HSWs which was expected to pave the way for the lifting of the ban. However, the Philippine officials expressed serious reservations, particularly about cases of abuse involving Filipino maids. The case of the undocumented 23-year-old maid from Surigao was discovered just two days before the signing of the protocols on Sunday. The woman, who had been in Jordan since September 2008, said the couple who employed her had been beating her up for a year when they were not satisfied with her work. “If I make mistakes in my work or I wake up late, they would get angry and hurt me. They would slap and kick me and even bang my face on the wall,” the maid said. “I’ve finished my contract with them but they do not want me to leave,” she said, adding that she came to Jordan not knowing that there was a deployment ban for HSWs. Then on Friday, her female employer told her to finish her work cleaning the house on time but when she failed to do it, the employer began hurting her. “She was beaten up. Her face was cut with a blade and she kicked her repeatedly even when she was already down on the floor,” said Attaché Alexander Maestrado of the Assistance to Nationals Section of the Philippine Embassy in Amman. “We have the medical report from the hospital proving that she was really badly beaten and that this is not made up,” he added. Besides the abrasions on her face, the maid also had contusions on her legs, arms, lower back, and on her head. “My lower back is still hurting because she kicked me there,” the maid said. Maestrado said the Jordanian police was already hunting down the female employer, whom the maid said was an airline cabin crew member. Maestrado said the husband was a telecoms company executive. “The police called up the household but were told that she was out of the country. But then, they checked with immigration and were told them that she’s still here,” Maestrado said. He said the embassy on average gets two cases of physical abuse cases involving Filipino maids, adding that there was also a recent rape case. Khaled Al-Husainat, the head of Jordan’s Recruiting Agents Association, said they would clean up their ranks of those who will not follow the protocols aimed at protecting Filipino maids. “We do not tolerate cases like these. I am very sad that this happened and we will do our best to help get justice,” he said. Alfredo Palmiery, head of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters (Fame) Inc. said the Jordanian authorities should go after the couple who beat up the maid. He added that the protocols would help prevent the deployment of illegally-recruited maids to Jordan while ensuring that legal ones were protected and properly trained to face a different culture.

FORMER FARMHAND

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/349410/from-farm-boy-top-mechanic
January 27, 2012, 3:50am

by TESDA Beat

Today, the former farm boy and trike driver is now earning over R45, 000 a month including his percentage share in the total income of all service shops in Mindanao.

His one-hectare rice field in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay adds R162,000 a year to the family income. The family owns three service motorcycles and a modest home in Bulatok.

As service supervisor at DES Mindanao, he provides hundreds of training places for on-the-job (OJT) trainees from TESDA-recognized training programs in schools and training institutions. He recommends top performing trainees for employment as regular workers of the company.

To this day, Balite has never gotten a college degree. But it does not matter so much now.

“Higher education is important but it gives no guarantee of a successful and rewarding life. Perseverance, hard work, optimism, ambition, and an enduring faith in God do,” he says.

For more information on TESDA programs and services, call 887-7777, send SMS message 09174794370 (Globe) 09182738232 (Smart) or follow us in Facebook (TESDA, Sec Joel Villanueva TESDA) and Twitter (SecJOELngTESDA).

Australian kidnap victim still alive, police say

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/24015/australian-kidnap-victim-still-alive-police-say
2:49 pm | Thursday, January 26th, 2012

by Jeoffrey Maitem, Julie Alipala

Inquirer Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines—A former Australian soldier kidnapped last month is alive and being held in Basilan by a group of Abbu Sayyaf gunmen that is bigger than the band that abducted him from his home in Zamboanga Sibugay, the authorities said Thursday. The police said that the kidnappers of Richard Warren Rodwell were also insisting on their demand for $2 million in ransom, which the Australian government had already rejected. Rodwell, a former soldier in the Australian army who married a Filipina, was abducted by armed men from his home in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, last December 5. A few weeks later, the kidnappers sent officials a video in which Rodwell pleaded for his life and payment of the ransom, which was relayed to the authorities for the first time through the video. “Mr. Rodwell is still alive. There’s no substantial development as to Mr. Rodwell’s case. He is still in Basilan and the negotiation is still on going,” said Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao. Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, chief of the police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said that according to the latest information they have received, Rodwell was being kept in the Sumisip area by a larger group of Abu Sayyaf gunmen under Radzmeer Ali. He said the Abu Sayyaf planned to transfer Rodwell to Talipao, Sulu, and might be handed over to the group of Radulan Sahiron, one of the most notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders in Sulu and is based in Patikul. But he did not know if the plan has been carried out Latag said the most likely reason for the transfer is that the Abu Sayyaf wants to negotiate for a higher ransom or the kidnappers simply want to evade the authorities. Unlike Sulu, Basilan is saturated with government forces, he said.

DAR holds national assessment and planning conference

Source: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/inside-stories/8249-dar-holds-national-assessment-and-planning-conference.html
Tuesday, 24 January 2012 11:32

by zamboangatoday.ph

The Department of Agrarian Reform Central Office will conduct National Assessment and Planning Conference on January 24-27, 2012 at Stotsenberg Hotel, Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga. This activity will be participated in by the Regional Directors, Assistant Regional Directors and the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers. Before the conduct of the Planning Conference, an assessment of the CY 2011 Accomplishments by regions will be undertaken to set the directions for CARP in CY 2012. Also, during this activity, the performance of DAR IX officials including the provincial officials will be rated based on the performance contracts agreed with the DAR Secretary at the beginning of the year.

Each region will be assessed according to its accomplishments on Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD), Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) and Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD). From 1972 up to the present, DAR Region IX has distributed a total of 217,502 hectares or 86.7% of its 247,174 hectares total CARP scope. The distributed lands are benefiting a total of 116,098 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). For the current year, a total of 8,634 hectares of land will be distributed to the identified ARBs. The region will still have a balance of 29,672 hectares to be distributed until 2014. For the PBD component, DAR IX has a total of 150 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) launched and assisted which have 436 People’s Organizations (POs)/cooperatives with 78,767 ARBs. The region provided physical infrastructure projects like farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, bridges, post harvest facilities and multi-purpose centers amounting to Php 259,619 million. These projects were funded both by the local and foreign funding agencies. In the delivery of agrarian justice, the region was able to resolve a total of 1,888 cases and mediated 1,995 cases on agrarian disputes.

During the planning phase of this conference, the different regions and provinces will be grouped according to the magnitude of LAD balance. Group I is categorized as the top 38 provinces nationwide with high Land Tenure Improvement (LTI) balances. Group II category comprises the 48 provinces with medium to low LTI balance. In Region IX, Zamboanga Sibugay is one of the provinces identified as part of the top 38 provinces. To date, the province has a total balance of 7,484 hectares for distribution.

The conference will provide an avenue for DAR to discuss with other CARP implementing agencies: Land Registration Authority (LRA), Registry of Deeds (ROD), Land Management Services-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (LMS-DENR) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for the smooth implementation of the land tenure improvement component of CARP. The support services group will discuss with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education Skills Authority (TESDA) and LBP.

The Regional Strategic Plan for CY 2012 will likewise be discussed. In addition, important matters affecting CARP implementation such as Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) proposals and foreign-assisted projects (FAPs) data will also be tackled.

There will also be a discussion on the administrative concerns, a presentation of the Operational Directives of LTI and PBD and the Secretary’s Marching Orders for 2012.

Local coal output rose to 7.61M MT in 2011

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/40979/local-coal-output-rose-to-7-61m-mt-in-2011
3:02 am | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

by Amy R. Remo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Despite being tagged as a “dirty fuel,” the country’s coal production continued to rise to 7.61 million metric tons last year from an estimated production of 6.29 million MT in 2010, due largely to a growing demand for the commodity as fuel to generate electricity. Documents from the Department of Energy (DoE) showed that of the 7.61 million MT, 7.19 million MT came from Semirara Island in Antique, followed by Zamboanga Sibugay, which produced 168,951 MT. The rest of last year’s coal production came from Cebu, Batan Island, Surigao, Negros and Albay. Coal imports last year were much higher than local production at 10.96 million MT, of which 99 percent or 10.89 million MT, came from Indonesia, while the remaining 68,169 MT came from Vietnam. These volumes helped serve the growing coal requirements in the Philippines by the power-generation sector, which consumed 10.58 million MT, while the cement industry used up 3.1 million MT. Industrial users required 550, 838 MT of coal last year. Meanwhile, publicly listed Semirara Mining Corp., the country’s biggest coal producer, was able to export 2.74 million MT last year, of which 98 percent, or 2.68 million MT, went to customers in China while the remaining 54,754 MT were sold to buyers from Thailand, DoE documents showed. It is expected that over the next 20 years, coal will remain the major fuel for power generation, prompting the government to encourage the private sector to explore and develop the country’s prospective coal blocks to find additional reserves that can be used to address growing local demand for coal. And by harnessing its own resources, the Philippine government also believes that it will be able to push for energy independence that will allow it to reduce its fuel imports as well as lessen its vulnerability to global price fluctuations. In December 2011, the DoE launched the fourth Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR) for coal, in which it offered to investors 30 prospective coal blocks. These are located in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Coballes assumes Westmincom post

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/991-coballes-assumes-westmincom-post
01/21/2012 3:13 PM | Updated 01/21/2012 3:53 PM

by Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Maj Gen Noel Coballes has vowed to pursue the killers of the 19 soldiers in Basilan, as well as the lawless groups that attacked police and military units in Zamboanga Sibugay in 2011.

Coballes, who formally assumed on Saturday, January 21, the post as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), was the commander of the Philippine Army's First Infantry Division (1st ID), when at least 19 soldiers belonging to the elite unit of the Special Forces Battalion were killed. They perished in an encounter with heavily-armed rebels in Al-Barka, Basilan in October 2011.

Coballes took over from Lt Gen Raymundo Ferrer, who is retiring from military service on January 23.

Being an Army unit, the 1st ID had operational and administrative control of the Special Forces Battalion, along with the Special Operations Command (Socom).

As Westmincom chief, Coballes will command all AFP units in the Zamboanga Pensinsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Among those present in the turnover ceremonies were ranking regional government, military and police officials, representatives of government agencies, and members of the US Armed Forces stationed in Western Mindanao.

“We will continue to neutralize the enemies, but with less casualties,” Coballes said during an interview after the program. “But we will also be supportive of the peace process with the MILF.”

Neutralize them

AFP Chief Gen Jessie Dellosa, who was the ceremony's guest of honor, ordered the new Westmincom chief to continue nuetralizing the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups operating in the region, particularly those responsible for the killing of the 19 soldiers.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was dragged into the blame game over the death of the troops in Basilan after the rebels admitted there was stiff resistance to soldiers sent to arrest Dan Asnawi. The latter was blamed for the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers in 2007 in the same town.

“We will continue to strengthen our ties with the community and other law enforcement agencies to carry out the all-out justice order of our Commander-In-Chief,” said Dellosa.

Peace-building

Coballes also said he will continue to implement the peace-building initiatives of his predecessor, proceed with the education of soldiers on human rights, and enhance the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Bayanihan program to respond to calamities and emergency situations. Recent disasters include Typhoon Sendong that hit Northern Mindanao in December 2011 and left about a thousand dead.

Ferrer, the former Westmincom chief, is a known staunch peace advocate in the AFP. His term was marred with controversies such as military operations resulting in a high number of casualties among the troops. This was accompanied by allegations of torture of suspected Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Basilan.

Ferrer said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family after vowing out of the military service. Being a an alumnus of the Bridging Leadership Fellows Program of the Asian Institute Management, Ferrer said he will continue to support his peace advocacy with non-government organizations.

Kidnapped Aussie back in Basilan - reports

Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=67&articleId=769331
January 20, 2012 12:00 AM

by Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An Australian man kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits has been brought back to Basilan by his captors, according to police intelligence reports.

“We are verifying such intelligence reports,” Senior Superintendent Alex Linesis, Basilan police provincial director said yesterday.

Linesis said police and military forces have been combing the jungles and the suspected lairs of the Abu Sayyaf to look for the kidnap victim.

Police and military authorities earlier said the Abu Sayyaf group led by Razmier Alih brought Warren Richard Rodwell from Basilan to Patikul town, Sulu last Jan. 7. Alih’s group reportedly wanted to turn over Rodwell to the Abu Sayyaf faction led by Radullan Sahiron.

However, Sahiron’s group reportedly turned down the offer amid military offensives in the area.

Rodwell, 56, a former Australian soldier who is married to a Filipino, Miraflor Gutang, was seized at his house in Green Meadows Subdivision in Upper Pangi, Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay province last Dec. 5. He was initially brought to Basilan.

A video footage sent by the kidnappers to Rodwell’s wife last Dec. 22 showed the victim pleading for his life and appealing to his family to produce the $2-million ransom demanded by his captors.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is scheduled to visit Basilan next week to assess government efforts to secure Rodwell’s release.

Zamboanga Peninsula forest boundaries marked

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/15222-zamboanga-peninsula-forest-boundaries-marked
Tuesday, January 17, 2012

by JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ

AFTER more than a decade of intense work, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday said it has finally completed the delineation of forest boundaries in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Arleigh Adorable, executive director of DENR-Region 9, said that the Regional Assessment and Delineation Teams of the Land Evaluation Party (LEP) has accomplished to delineate of some 5, 590.18 kilometers of forestland boundary in five provinces.

This includes Zamboanga del Norte (1,662.37 kms); Zamboanga del Sur (1,493.28 kms); Zamboanga City (679.78 kms); Zamboanga Sibugay (1,471.32 kms); and Isabela City, Basilan (83.43 kms).

Adorable said that the team’s total output include new lines covering areas that are either proposed for conversion to alienable and disposable lands, proposed for reversion to timberlands and “hotspot areas”.

Hotspot areas refer to those areas located in the hinterlands and coastal areas which are considered impenetrable due to adverse peace and order situation.

In 2000, the government has started with country’s forestland boundary delineation in line with Sec. 4, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates the Congress “to determine by law the specific limits of the public domain.”

In 2008, the DENR through an administrative order included in its delineation program the boundaries of coastal and mangrove areas of the country to enable the RADTs to propose new blocks or parcels within forest zone areas to non-conforming land uses/agricultural areas or vice versa based on secondary and primary data as well as the actual field survey.

DOLE allocates P19M for SPES in Zamboanga Peninsula

Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/41734-DOLE-allocates-P19M-for-SPES-in-Zamboanga-Peninsula.html
Monday, January 16. 2012

by zambotimes.com

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The national government, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), has allocated a P19-million fund for this year's Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in Zamboanga Peninsula. DOLE Zamboanga Peninsula Director Ponciano Ligutom said the fund will be distributed to the DOLE field offices to pay 40 percent of the SPES' salaries in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Ligutom said the allocation will be distributed as follows: Zamboanga del Norte, P5.3 million; Zamboanga del Sur, 5.3 million; Zamboanga Sibugay, P4.6 million; Zamboanga City, P3.2 million; and Isabela City, P572,640. The SPES is aimed to help deserving students from poor families to raise money by employing them during summer vacation. SPES is implemented in partnership between DOLE and the local government units (LGUs) wherein DOLE pays the 40 percent of the students' salaries and the remaining 60 percent is shouldered by the LGUs. Each student is entitled to work for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 52 days. In Zamboanga City, some of the students are detailed in government offices for clerical jobs while the others are detailed in the barangays under the clean and green program of the local government. (PNA) scs/TPG/rsm

Philippines steps up efforts to locate kidnapped Aussie man

Source: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20120113013429
Friday, January 13, 2012 02:34:29 PM

by Mindanao Examiner

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 13, 2012) – Philippine authorities have stepped up efforts to locate a former Australian soldier kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants with links to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya in the restive southern region of Mindanao.

Warren Rodwell, 53, was kidnapped on December 5 by gunmen disguised as policemen from his home in the seaside town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay where he married a Filipino woman, Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June last year.

The kidnappers demanded $2 million ransom from his wife in exchange for his freedom, but the woman said they cannot afford to pay. Both the Philippines and Australia flatly rejected the ransom demand.

The governor of Zamboanga Sibugay, Rommel Jalosjos, who is negotiating with the kidnappers for Rodwell’s freedom, has imposed a news blackout and blamed the police for the leak of a video of the Australian adventurer sent by the Abu Sayyaf to his family in the province.

Military authorities said Rodwell was brought by his captors by boat to Basilan province and is being held by a notorious terrorist commander Puruji Indama, also blamed for the July 2011 kidnappings of a US woman and her son, including a Filipino nephew in Zamboanga City.

But Senior Superintendent Alex Lineses, commander of police forces in Basilan province, citing a report by Jalosjos, said Rodwell was spirited out to Sulu province by the kidnappers and is being held by another Abu Sayyaf faction.

“That’s the report we got and we are trying to verify this information that Rodwell was taken to Sulu province,” Lineses told the Mindanao Examiner.

But Sulu police commander, Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra, said there was no indication that Rodwell is in the province. “Right now, we have no reports from our operatives on the ground about the presence of Warren Rodwell in Sulu, but we are exerting efforts to also verify that information,” he said in a separate interview.

Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding a kidnapped Japanese man, an Indian national and two Malaysians and several Filipinos in the Sulu Archipelago.

Philippine authorities have admitted the presence of Jemaah Islamiya terrorists in Sulu province. Western Mindanao military chief, Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer said they have identified 5 Jemaah Islamiya members who are being protected by the Abu Sayyaf. The group was involved in the deadly Bali bombings in 2002 that killed more than 200 people, mostly Australian holidaymakers.

He said the terrorists – Qayim, Mauiya, Marwan, Saad and Amin Baco – are being hunted down by security forces. Mauiya was one of those who held three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross – Italian national Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba who were kidnapped in 2009. The trio was freed after private negotiators allegedly paid a huge ransom to the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya.

Australia warned its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines and banned all travel to Central and Western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago.

The military maintained that Rodwell is still being held by Indama’s group in Basilan province. “As far as we are concerned, our operation to locate Rodwell is still concentrated in Basilan. We have no reports that Rodwell has been moved by the Abu Sayyaf to Sulu province,” said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Cabangbang said there were many unconfirmed reports from various sources about Rodwell. “There are so many reports about the kidnapped Australian and all these could be part of a diversionary plan to muddle the operation to recover Rodwell,” he said.

The MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, has offered Manila to help rescue Rodwell. The Filipino government and the MILF forged an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces through the ad-hoc joint action group to help authorities hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the rebel group is actively operating.

Lawyer Abdul Dataya, head of the MILF ad-hoc joint action group, said latest information suggests that Rodwell is still in the Zamboanga Peninsula, which comprises the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City.

“We have reports from our MILF forces that Rodwell is in Zamboanga Peninsula. We cannot give anymore details about it, but we have forces tracking down the kidnappers and Rodwell,” Dataya said without further elaborating.

The MILF previously warned government troops searching for Rodwell to stay away from their camps to avoid clashes. As many as 2,000 soldiers in Basilan are searching for the former Sydney man.

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.

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.

Rodwell, a prolific world traveler and English teacher in China, has appealed for his safe release. “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 sent by the kidnappers.

Sayyaf slips through military dragnet

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/14889-sayyaf-slips-through-military-dragnet
Thursday, January 12, 2012

by AL JACINTO CORRESPONDENT

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Authorities said kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell was taken to Sulu after escaping a massive military rescue operation in Basilan province.

Rodwell, 53, kidnapped on December 5 from his seaside home in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay, is being held by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

The kidnappers demanded $2 million from his Filipino family in exchange for his freedom. Rodwell married a Filipina, Miraflor Gutang, 27, in June last year in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Ipil town after she met her through the Internet.

“We have received intelligence reports that kidnapped victim Warren Rodwell was taken by his captors in Sulu province where he is being held by another Abu Sayyaf group,” Basilan police chief Senior Superintendent Alexis Lineses said.

Filipino authorities earlier reported that Rodwell was being held by notorious terrorist commander Puruji Indama in Basilan after five gunmen disguised as policemen snatched him in Ipil.

The Abu Sayyaf has sent four photographs and a video of Rodwell appealing to Australian and Filipino government to work for his safe release.

“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.

Lineses said military intelligence reports also suggested that Rodwell was spirited out from Basilan’s Sumisip town by boat to Sulu over the weekend.

One police report said the kidnappers, headed by Radzmier Alih, landed on the coastal village of Lumapid in Talipao town is now being held by Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.

Lineses said they are still verifying the reports. “We have to check the veracity of these reports carefully,” he said.

Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos has imposed a news blackout on the kidnapping. Rodwell’s captors have at least phoned Jalosjos twice to start negotiation for the release of the former Australian soldier. But the Australian embassy in Manila wanted a professional negotiator to hold talks with the kidnappers for Rodwell’s freedom.

Manila and Canberra rejected the payment of ransom to the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings of foreigners in the troubled South.

Police refuse Aussie kidnappers' demand

Source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2012/01/09/Police-refuse-Aussie-kidnappers-demand/UPI-35411326108600/
Jan. 9, 2012 at 6:30 AM

by Al Jacinto

MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Philippines authorities said no ransom will be handed to the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group for the safe return of a kidnapped Australian.

The statement comes after the kidnappers released a video in which the victim, Warren Rodwell, appealed to give the rebel group whatever they ask for to ensure his freedom.

Rodwell, 53, is an English teacher from Sydney and married a 27-year-old Filipino woman in June. He was taken Dec. 5 from his home in the seaside town of Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay province, a report in The Manila Times newspaper said.

The kidnappers took Rodwell at gunpoint and are demanding $2 million to set him free.

"The Philippine government has a strict no-ransom policy and will not negotiate with terrorists," spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, army Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, said.

Around 2,000 soldiers are helping search for Rodwell, Cabangbang said.

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

The video shows Rodwell pleading for his life.

"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," he says in the video.

"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."

The Australian government has said it will help Philippines authorities search for Rodwell.

Last week the U.S. State Department issued an updated travel warning to U.S. citizens visiting the Philippines. There is a heightened risk of terrorist activity in the country, the warning said.

The State Department replaced a June warning about insurgent activity in the Philippines with a warning that said terrorist attacks in parts of the country, including Manila, could be indiscriminate.

Rodwell's kidnappers are believed to be the same as those who took U.S. citizen Gerfa Lunsmann, her son Kevin Eric and a Filipino nephew in Zamboanga City in July, regional army chief, Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said.

The kidnappers freed those hostages after the family paid a large ransom.

Zamboanga Sibugay province is on the southeastern shore of Mindanao Island, the country's area with the largest Muslim population. The federal government has been fighting disruptive Mindanao region separatist rebel groups for around 30 years.

Between 120,000-150,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the struggle.

One of the largest rebel groups, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is involved in peace talks with the government. It said it isn't responsible for Rodwell's kidnapping and would do what it could to help authorities locate him.

The most notorious of the rebel groups is Abu Sayyaf, regarded as a terrorist organization by the United States and the Philippines. It has been accused of masterminding some of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country, including one of the worst assaults.

In February 2010, an Abu Sayyaf group killed at least 11 people, including a 1-year-old child, in an attack on a small village on Basilan Island, just off Mindanao. Up to 17 people were wounded, including four children aged 1 to 11.

The government has had some successes in tracking down Abu Sayyaf rebels. In September, government troops killed one of the group's leaders, Imram Asgari, in a clash in a village about 20 miles outside Zamboanga City.

In late December, the 52-year-old deputy mayor of a town near Ipil was killed and his wife wounded when they went to withdraw money from an ATM in a street in Ipil.

The attacker escaped on a motorcycle driven by another person, police said. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

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

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/06/12/police-mum-alleged-p1m-ransom-aussie-captive
01/06/2012 7:02 PM | Updated as of 01/06/2012 7:03 PM

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

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/01/05/aussie-kidnapped-zambo-sibugay-seeks-2m-ransom-198930
Thursday, January 5, 2012

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

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/243503/news/regions/suspected-islamist-militants-in-mindanao-send-photos-of-kidnapped-australian?ref=latest
January 4, 2012 7:35pm

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

Source: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20120102210838
Tuesday, January 03, 2012 10:08:38 AM

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

Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=2012/january/2/business7.isx&d=2012/january/2
Monday, January 2, 2012

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

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2011/12/30/earthquake-jolts-zamboanga-198141
Friday, December 30, 2011

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

Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=763119
December 29, 2011 11:17 AM

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=69947
Wednesday, December 28, 2011

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=69547
Sunday, December 25, 2011

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

Source: http://mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20111223093718
Friday, December 23, 2011 10:37:18 PM

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

Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=760733
December 21, 2011 11:24 AM

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

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/13568-seized-australian-lands-in-abu-sayyaf-hands
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

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

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/13424-australians-kidnappers-posed-as-policemen--witnesses
Sunday, December 18, 2011

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

Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=67&articleid=758802
December 16, 2011 12:00 AM

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

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/13219-npas-assault-military-post-2-wounded
Thursday, December 15, 2011

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

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/13160-kidnappers-slip-through-military-dragnet
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

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

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/news-blackout-could-endanger-hostage--expert-20111211-1oplt.html
December 12, 2011

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

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/12939-news-blackout-slammed-on-australian-kidnapping
Saturday, December 10, 2011

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

Source: http://newslinktv.blogspot.com/2011/12/zamboanga-sibugay-governor-accused-of.html
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2011

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

Source: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20111207060057
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 07:00:57 PM

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

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/05/11/australian-kidnapped-zambo-sibugay
12/05/2011 8:19 PM | Updated as of 12/05/2011 8:51 PM

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

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/104801/army-major-reported-missing-in-zamboanga-sibugay
4:32 pm | Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

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

Source:http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20111201004212
Thursday, December 01, 2011 01:42:12 PM

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

Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2011/transport-group-backs-tampakan-project/#.TtcAoLK5MVD
Nov 30th, 2011

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

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/343040/kids-welfare
November 29, 2011, 5:24pm

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

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2011/11/25/ipil-residents-take-to-the-streets-to-celebrate-mindanao-week-of-peace/
November 25, 2011

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

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2011/11/21/multi-sector-group-conducts-fact-finding-mission-191758
Monday, November 21, 2011

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

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/238886/regions/zambo-sibugay-ex-dilg-provl-director-faces-p1-m-malversation-rap
11/18/2011 | 01:52 AM

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

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/17/11/curfew-zamboanga-sibugay-lifted
11/17/2011 7:21 PM | Updated as of 11/17/2011 7:25 PM

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

Source: http://news.mindanao.com/2011/11/speeding-up-passenger-and-cargo-traffic-in-zamboanga-sibugay/
NOVEMBER 15, 011

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

Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r09&id=63907&y=2011&mo=11
Monday, November 14, 2011

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

Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r09&id=63738
Sunday, November 13, 2011

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

Source: http://www.sibugay.net/dswd-sends-debriefing-teams-to-zambo-sibugay/
NOVEMBER 12, 2011

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

Source: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20111111065510
Friday, November 11, 2011 07:55:10 PM

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=63332
Thursday, November 10, 2011

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=63140
Wednesday, November 09, 2011

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

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/11/07/government-prepares-return-displaced-families-zamboanga-sibugay-189167
Monday, November 7, 2011

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

Source: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/6923-chr-enters-camp-of-wanted-milf-leader-in-zamboanga-sibugay.html
Sunday, 06 November 2011 17:27

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

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/05/11/npa-kills-cafgu-zambo-sibugay
11/05/2011 2:50 PM | Updated as of 11/05/2011 2:50 PM

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62310http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r09&id=62447
Friday, November 04, 2011

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

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62310
Thursday, November 03, 2011

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

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/86727/zamboanga-sibugay-evacuees-expected-to-start-going-home
2:28 am | Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

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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+==DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province==
+*Source: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/inside-stories/8524-dar-exec-visits-rubber-coops-in-sibugay-province.html
+*Wednesday, 08 February 2012 11:52
+:By JPA/CAL/AL/DAR/PIA9-ZDS/ZBST
+IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - With the theme “PADAYON…GOMA PALAMBU-ON”, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio R. de los Reyes recently led the ceremonial cutting of ribbon and tapping of rubber trees in celebration of Rubber Harvest Festival at Goodyear Agrarian Reform Multi-PurposeCooperative (GARBEMCO), Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
+The idea of urging the top ranking official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to visit Zamboanga Sibugay was initiated by the Regional and Provincial Offices of DAR spearheaded by Regional Director Julita Ragandang and OIC-PARO II Rizzel Villanueva, CESE which was finally carried out by joining forces with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) .The joint endeavor of the LBP and DAR was primarily aimed to spur rural development among rubber-based cooperatives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries of the province.
+The highlight of the secretary’s visit was the granting of financial assistance to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (ARBEMCO) in the amount of Php22, 900, 000.00, thru Credit Assistance Program-Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD) Window II.
+During the event, chairmen from different rubber-based cooperatives, which included Isabela City as part of DAR Sibugay, gave their testimonials of their experiences during the rough time when they went through the ordeal and sacrifices as newly-organized cooperatives. The said chairmen also paid tribute to the Department of Agrarian Reform for their help in regaining back their economic stability thru the assistance extended by the DAR adjunct by its financial arm, the LBP and the inseparable support of other line agencies.
+De los Reyes emphasized that CARP is distinctively different under the present administration as it mainly considers the importance of strengthening the organizations of the agrarian reform beneficiaries. He said that, “Ang isang malaking bagay na panibago sa pamumuno ni President Noynoy ay yung pagkapatatag ng mga organisasyon ng ating agrarian reform beneficiary.”
+He reiterated that strengthening ARB organization enhances its bargaining power to access inputs and financial assistance not only in CAP-PBD. The secretary also stressed the importance of Agrarian Reform Community and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) being an innovative program of the government to strengthen ARB organizations/cooperatives by providing professional services in terms of management and farm equipments.
+De los Reyes also said, “The second important mandate is to strengthen collaboration among the three government agencies of the DAR, DA and DENR with the LGUs in the delivery of basic services to our ARBs and the ARCESS program.”
+“Collaboration among concerned government entities is essential to implement the program as its primordial mandate,” he added.
+The agrarian reform secretary likewise foresaw the necessity to discuss with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) regarding the treatment of collective CLOA of the coops as he recognized that most ARBs of the coops are already in their advanced age.
+“Kailangan po nating sagutin at harapin ang mga isyu tungkol sa paglilipat ng coop shares o yung lupa o yung mga karapatan n’yo sa kooperatiba,’’ the secretary said in his conversation with DAR officials and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
+Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Governor Hon. Rommel Apolinario Jalosjos also graced the occasion and expressed his commitment to support development in the province especially in rubber industry in its ultimate aim of alleviating economic standard of its constituents.
+Local government officials in the province were also present in the occasion to show their support to the program of the government in strengthening rubber-based cooperatives.
+DAR-Sibugay also thanked Congressman Romeo “Janjan” Jalosjos for his valuable support in all the activities and projects involving rubber-based cooperatives in the 2nd district of Zamboanga Sibugay province.
+Also in attendance during the event were dignitaries from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Dir. Crispin T. Aguelo and Dir. Tomas T. De Leon, Jr. and directors from other line agencies.
+After a festive lunch, Secretary de los Reyes made an effort to visit the Land Bank ACCESS Project supporting the ARB rubber plantation cooperatives at Philippine Pioneer Rubber Product Corporation (PPRPC), a rubber processing plant located in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
+Accompanied by OIC-PARO Villanueva and officials from the DAR Regional and Provincial Offices, Secretary de los Reyes personally witnessed the processing of raw rubber to his delight and satisfaction.
+Before going to Zamboanga City to catch his flight for Manila, Secretary de los Reyes expressed his gratitude for the warm accommodation he received during his visit and parted ways with the local officials with great hope and expectations for future projects and developments involving the rubber industry in the province.
 ==Military, peace monitors review ceasefire mechanisms==
 *Source: http://www.themindanaojournal.com/military-peace-monitors-review-ceasefire-mechanisms/
@@ Line 63: / Line 111: @@
 She said a separate evaluation was also conducted by the MPC with the MILF in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in December last year. (PNA)
 DCT/LAM/JSGD/ldp
 ==DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province==

Difference between revisions of "Zamboanga Sibugay News"

Revision as of 14:58, 8 February 2012

DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province

Military, peace monitors review ceasefire mechanisms

DAR exec visits rubber coops in Sibugay Province

Three policemen killed, woman hurt in separate shooting incidents

Ban on deployment of maids to Jordan stays–Baldoz

FORMER FARMHAND

Australian kidnap victim still alive, police say

DAR holds national assessment and planning conference

Local coal output rose to 7.61M MT in 2011

Coballes assumes Westmincom post

Kidnapped Aussie back in Basilan - reports

Zamboanga Peninsula forest boundaries marked

DOLE allocates P19M for SPES in Zamboanga Peninsula

Philippines steps up efforts to locate kidnapped Aussie man

Sayyaf slips through military dragnet

Police refuse Aussie kidnappers' demand

No ransom for captive, no negotiation with Sayyaf

Police mum on alleged P1M ransom for Aussie captive

Aussie kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay seeks $2M ransom

Suspected Islamist militants in Mindanao send photos of kidnapped Australian

MILF rebels offer help to rescue kidnapped Aussie man in Philippines

PNOC-Exploration plans power plants

Earthquake jolts Zamboanga

Jail protest turns bloody in Dipolog City

Prime Movers’ Forum held in Zambo Norte, Sibugay

DSWD conducts Rapid Assessment in armed conflict areas in Payao

Rebels torch construction trucks in Zamboanga

Vice mayor of Zamboanga Sibugay town shot dead

Seized Australian lands in Abu Sayyaf hands

Australian’s kidnappers posed as policemen – witnesses

Aussie's captors contacted gov, says security official

NPAs assault military post, 2 wounded

Kidnappers slip through military dragnet

News blackout could endanger hostage - expert

News blackout slammed on Australian kidnapping

Zamboanga Sibugay governor accused of blocking probe by ceasefire monitors

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

Australian kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay

Army major reported missing in Zamboanga Sibugay

Zamboanga Sibugay eyes ban on open-pit mining

Transport group backs Tampakan project

Sibugay order

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

Multi-sector group conducts fact-finding mission

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

Curfew in Zamboanga Sibugay lifted

Speeding Up Passenger And Cargo Traffic In Zamboanga Sibugay

Sibugay peace and order back to normal- PNP

Sibugay taps media in promoting nutrition

DSWD sends debriefing teams to Zambo Sibugay

Fighting erupts in Zamboanga town

Muslim community leaders laud Sibugay PNP

BIR urges professionals to be compliant with tax laws

Government prepares for return of displaced families in Zamboanga Sibugay

CHR enters camp of wanted MILF leader in Zamboanga Sibugay

NPA kills CAFGU in Zambo Sibugay

PNP assures public safety in Sibugay

LGU-Sibugay to implement GRAJTREE program

Zamboanga Sibugay evacuees expected to start going home

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