Cotabato City News February 2012

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Cotabato City Realty

Philippine News

EU-funded project changes lives of women in former conflict zone areas

by (ARMM). (PNA)

DCT/LAM/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- A European Union-funded project in Mindanao has been making waves as it has shown significant impact on the lives of women in recipient communities, an independent monitoring team said after a visit to the project areas in Central Mindanao region.

Blanca Gil, who led the EU-commissioned monitoring team, stressed in a statement that the livelihood training given to women in the communities served by the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation in Central Mindanao (ERRCM) has effectively enabled women beneficiaries to generate resources for their family needs.

Among the livelihood activities undertaken under the program include vegetable gardening, banana chip processing, mat weaving, product packaging, and basic record-keeping.

"The livelihood activities have given them initial income to meet their daily needs such as food and related household requirements,” Gil said.

"This is an encouraging transformation for their living conditions after being displaced by past conflicts,” he added.

Most of the beneficiaries of the EU-funded rehabilitation projects were Moro people in the countryside considered to be the most affected sector in armed conflict areas.

Gil said aside from livelihood other program components have transformed the lives of the people in the communities through core shelters, community health centers as well as water and sanitation programs.

“The people are settled and generally happy with what they have. There are many impacts now already visible,” she said during a debriefing session with officials from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in Davao City.

She added that more positive outcomes could be evident once the livelihood projects are strengthened and expanded.

The ERRCM project team and its NGO partners have started conducting basic training and seminars on technical support to livelihood projects.

A very notable example are the women in Barangay Manggay in Talitay, Maguindanao who received training on banana chip processing and vegetable gardening under the bio-intensive gardening program.

Other skills training include basic packaging of goods, basic record-keeping, bio-intensive gardening, and product diversification.

For some groups, micro-capital for start-ups was also provided.

The monitoring team leader particularly noted the fact that livelihood projects benefit mostly women of the communities, saying that it will bear direct impact on their personal finances.

“Some of the livelihood activities, like the vegetable gardening in Talitay, Maguindanao, are very amazing,” she said.

While there is a constant market for their products such as fresh produce, the beneficiaries also seek greater market links through the assistance of the LGUs, other government agencies, and NGO partners.

In Damawato and Galidan in Tulunan, North Cotabato, the project plans to tap technical assistance in forming a cooperative to support the buy-and-sell activities of the women beneficiaries.

In the remote village of Pamalian in Pikit, the project recipients also sought assistance for hauler trucks for easier and less costly transport of products to market centers.

Barangay Pimbalakan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, was given assistance in market linkage for woven mats, a primary product of their community.

Gil commended the selection of the livelihood projects based on the availability of local raw materials, which will enable the beneficiaries to sustain the livelihood activities for the long term.

“The good thing of the project is that you are not inventing things and importing them to the community. Rather, you are using raw materials (available locally) and making the best of it, which in a sense, gives us some certainty that these things would continue,” she said.

ERRCM project coordinator Cynthia Guerra acknowledged the commendation but admitted there is more work to be done.

She said there is a need to strengthen the LGUs’ commitment to provide greater market linkages and ensure sustainability.

Supported by the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ERRCM is a government support to peace and rehabilitation efforts to facilitate the return or resettlement and early recovery of communities affected by the armed conflict in Mindanao from August 2008 onwards.

MinDA is implementing the program in partnership with the office of the Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Cotabato fish-crab farmer nominated in DA-12 search

by (PNA)

LDV/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -- A fish farmer who operates a huge fishpond for special species like crabs, prawn, shrimps and milk fish has been nominated and will represent this city in the 2012 Search for Outstanding Fisherfolk-Fish Culture in Region 12 of the Department of Agriculture.

"It is once again a proud moment for Cotabato City as one of our fisher folks will compete in the regional contest of DA-12," Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. said in a statement.

Leopoldo Gaylan, Sr., a fish farmer who has successfully managed five hectares of fishpond with the combination of species like crabs, prawns, shrimps and milkfish in just one area, will represent Cotabato City and eyeing to win the competition to represent Central Mindanao in the national contest.

Gaylan, 63, resident of Purok Balas, Mother Barangay Kalanganan, is a second generation fish farmer. It has been his family’s main source of income since the 1970’s.

His father, Domingo Gaylan, was the caretaker of Santos Fishpond, the city’s major fish pond operator during that time.

But when the 1976 earthquake hit the city, it has destroyed all the fish ponds. The tenants then slowly revived their ponds.

In 1986, Gaylan, also known as "Nong Polding," has started crab culture without proper training and used only his acquired knowledge as a fish farmer.

Now he earns around half a million pesos during harvest time of the crabs, prawns and milkfish.

Interviewed by the City Agriculture officials and representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 12, Nong Polding said he rarely leaves the area and uses only traditional methods in crab culture.

He humbly admitted that his natural knowledge in aquaculture combined with innovations he learned from BFAR and DA helped him improve and enhance production, especially in crab fattening and fish pond management.

He added that his secret to distinctively tasty crabs is that he only feeds them with natural food—only the existing planktons in the ponds.

He does not give the crabs supplemental feeding and never use fertilizers as additional nutrients.

Since he wanted to share his "secrets" to other fisherfolks, Gaylan formed the Kalanganan Fishpond Owners and Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The cooperative which he chairs is now one of the most successful cooperatives in the city with 33 members and is operating for 13 years.

He also imparts his knowledge to his workers and coop members and cultivates the same virtue of hard work and discipline that he practices.

The search is a project of the Department of Agriculture to document and showcase aquaculture as a competitive enterprise in line of sustainable fisheries and development corollary to the fisheries program.

The search shall give due recognition to outstanding fish farmers as to sustain the fish farmer’s enthusiasm in the government’s developmental efforts in fisheries.

Optimistic as Gaylan is Mayor Guiani who said that should Gaylan wins, he will be the official candidate of Region 12 in the Annual Gawad-Saka of DA.

Region 12 is composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and General Santos.

It is an annual nationwide search for fish farmer who has demonstrated exemplary performance and has met the qualification standards set forth in its guidelines.

A P100,000 cash is at stake at the national level competition.

The city government has given its all out support to the nominee for he will not only bring honor to the city but will also help in promoting our main product, Cotabato Crabs, now known as the tastiest crabs in Mindanao.

ARMM to sign social contract with CSOs, NGOs on reforms

by (PNA)

LDV/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 26 (PNA) — Various civil society groups have urged local officials to pursue active role in affirming a social contract that their representatives are entering into with the government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

One of the these is the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations (CBCSO), which in a statement, said a social contract between the government and its constituents is an old idea that had to be in place for local government units like those of the ARMM to ensure speedy development.

Guiamel Ali, CBCSO chairperson, said development in ARMM had been slow as compared to other administrative region in the country.

Alim blamed slow-paced ARMM development in the last 22 years to non-participation of the people, especially the civil society organizations.

He said previous ARMM leadership did not consider CSO and NGOs as active and vital partners in pushing for development in the region.

On Feb. 28, local CSOs and the ARMM government, represented by Acting Governor Mujiv Hataman, will sign a social contract to define roles of each of the stakeholder parties in reforms and development efforts for the region.

The main objective of the social contract, according to Hataman is to narrow the gap between the government and the people in efforts to bring together participative roles in governance.

Some political thinkers have defined social contract as an “intellectual device intended to explain the appropriate relationship between individuals and their governments.

In a statement, the ARMM Bureau of Public Information said political thinkers' arguments assert that individuals unite into political societies by a process of mutual consent, agreeing to abide by common rules and accept corresponding duties to protect themselves and one another from violence and other kinds of harm.” (John Locke – 1689).

The ARMM social contract covers such issues and concerns as defined roles of the parties in general development endeavors, including protection and preservation of the environment, stability in peace and security, good governance and socioeconomic uplift, as well as sufficiency in infrastructure facilities.

Hataman said the pact would also ensure a better informed local leadership and their constituents on government programs and resource utilization to accelerate development efforts in reformed governance with an expanded people’s participation in it.

Among the priorities in the social contract is environmental preservation in the fast-balding forests in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

ARMM's environment and natural resources department, Hataman said is currently engaged in a program called “Adopt a Mountain” for greening projects in all five component provinces of the region.

Aiming for a million trees planted in 17 months of the Hataman administration, ARMM Environment Secretary Kahal Kedtag said the program has been ongoing in Maguindanao, Lanao Sur and Tawi-Tawi and will soon start in Basilan and Sulu.

Parallel with the social contract signing, the local electoral watchdog Citizens-Care will host a Regional Electoral Summit on Voters' Registration as a major step in cleansing the region's voters' lists.

ARMM has been labelled as the country’s elections “cheating capital.”

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said he had recommended to the Commission on Elections the review his province’s voters’ list and to conduct a continuing registration to be able to compare old and new data.

Director Commando Pilipinas of the ARMM National Statistics Office said it is difficult to update or even determine validity of voters’ registration because locals have rarely registered deaths, among them.

However, he believes that something can be done and it must be done now.

4 charged for murder of Italian priest

by John Unson


COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal charges against four men implicated in the October 17, 2011 murder of Italian priest Fausto Tentorio in Arakan town in North Cotabato.

The complaint sheet named Jimmy Ato, Roberto Ato, Jose Sultan Sampulna and Dima Maligudan Sampulna as responsible for the murder of Tentorio.

Official documents of the charges were delivered by combined operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and the local Philippine National Police to the provincial prosecutor’s office in Kidapawan City.

Tentorio was to leave their convent for Kidapawan City when a gunman approached him while he was to board his 4x4 vehicle, pulled out a 9MM pistol, and shot him 10 times in different parts of his body, killing him on the spot.

Lawyer Virgilio Mendez, deputy director for regional operations of NBI’s office in Region 10, said they have sufficient evidence linking the four suspects to the murder of Tentorio.

Tentorio was critical about the encroachment of capitalists attempting to venture into various profit-oriented projects in supposedly protected ancestral domains of hinterland tribes in Arakan and surrounding towns located at the foot of Mt. Apo.

He gained popularity for his activities meant to generate awareness among tribal communities to protect all natural resources --- forests, rivers and strategic minerals --- that can be found inside their tribal enclaves “moneyed outsiders” are interested in.

“We have enough evidence indicating that these people were involved in that crime,” Mendez said, referring to the four suspects.

Authorities, however, are in custody of only one of the four suspects, Jimmy Ato, who was arrested by NBI agents in a farm house at secluded Barangay in Arakan several weeks after Tentorio was killed.

Jimmy’s younger brother, Roberto, is now under the custody of North Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco. He has voluntarily yielded to Catamco after learning he has been implicated in Tentorio’s murder.

So immensely popular was the murdered Italian priest that thousands joined the burial march when he was laid to rest at the compound of the Bishop’s residence in Kidapawan City, beside the grave of a slain compatriot, Fr. Tulio Favali.

Favali was murdered by drunken militiamen, led by siblings Norberto and Edilberto Manero, in Barangay La Esperanza in Tulunan, North Cotabato in the late 1980s.

The Manero brothers were irked by Favali’s humanitarian projects in areas where communist rebels operated when he was assigned in Tulunan.






PDEA-ARMM, Marines arrest 10 in shabu raid in Cotabato

by (PNA)

FFC/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 24 (PNA) - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have arrested 10 persons for illegal possession of prohibited drugs in a buy bust operations Thursday afternoon.

Supt. Edwin Layese, PDEA-ARMM regional director, said three of those arrested were charged for possession of prohibited drugs and shabu.

"The rest were released for lack of substantial evidence that would warrant their inclusion in the charge sheet," Layese told reporters.

The raid, jointly conducted by PDEA-ARMM operatives, Cotabato City PNP and Philippine Marines, was conducted in Barangay Poblacion 2, Cotabato City.

The suspects were caught flat footed when the raiding team, armed with search warrants, swooped down on a house where a pot session was on going at about 4 p.m.

The house where the suspects were found was an ordinary house that looked like a carenderia where people dropped by to eat.

"This time, its the shabu users that dropped by and join the pot session," Layese said, adding that 14 sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride were seized from the suspects.

"And what is disturbing was the presence of passenger jeepney drivers who dropped by the house and took part in the session then resume driving," he said.

Layese lauded the unidentified informant who tipped off the PDEA.

The suspects whose identity were withheld temporarily are now detained at PDEA-ARMM detention cell at PC Hill, Cotabato City.

MILF washes hands off Kidapawan jail attack

by Edgardo Fuerzas


COTABATO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) washes hands off the attack on the Kidapawan City Jail last Sunday morning.

MILF Civil Military Affairs Von Alhaq denied the allegations that members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (Biaf) attacked the jail around 9:30 a.m. Sunday to release one of the detainees, Datucan Samad, alias Kumander Lastikman.

It can be recalled that the MILF was also involved in the attack of the Cotabato Provincial Jail in 2009 to release their comrades who are considered to be high-risk detainees.

Lastikman is believed to be behind the deaths of 30 civilians in Pikit, North Cotabato last year.

His group is also behind the highway robbery and hold-up incidents in the Cotabato-Davao Highway.

Lastikman is facing charges of extortion, kidnapping, carnapping, robbery hold-up, multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, arson, among others.

However, there are rumors that a breakaway group of the MILF is behind the attack to free Lastikman.

The Kidapawan City Jail and Cotabato Provincial Jail have strengthened its security measures since Sunday.

DOJ begins probe on Cotabato City Vice Mayor's ambush

by Edu Punay


MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started its preliminary investigation into criminal charges filed against Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. and six others over the ambush attempt on Vice Mayor Datu Muslimim Sema.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has created a three-member panel of state prosecutors to conduct the preliminary probe on charges of frustrated murder and three counts of attempted murder against Guiani, city administrator and Guiani’s sister Cynthia Sayadi, her husband Omar Sayadi, Councilors Graham Dumama and Abdilla Lim, barangay chairman Amil Sula, and former Cotabato City deputy station commander Noel Gutierrez.

In Department Order No. 147 released yesterday, De Lima assigned Assistant State Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano and prosecution lawyers Gerard Gaerlan and Javee Laurence Bandong as members of the panel.

Citing interest of public service, the DOJ chief directed the panel “to file the appropriate information before the appropriate court if the evidence warrants.”

The DOJ is acting on a complaint filed by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao against the respondents last Feb. 6.

Based on their investigation and a witness’ testimony, police said politics was the motive behind the attempt to kill Sema last Jan. 10.

Sema is reportedly planning to run again for city mayor in 2013 and that the respondents allegedly conspired to assassinate him, probers said.

Sema sustained gunshot wounds in the back of the head and right jaw when he was waylaid near his residence in Barangay Rosary Heights-7 this city. He was rushed to the Notre Dame Hospital but was later transferred to the Davao Doctors Hospital upon the request of his wife, Rep. Sandra Sema.

The charges filed were also in relation to the near fatal ambush of Sema, a three-term mayor of Cotabato City, before he won the vice mayoral race in 2010.

Gutierrez was charged, too, for deliberately withholding vital evidence in the case.

Guiani earlier had denied his involvement in the slay attempt, alleging that the witness was only making up stories.

He said he and other city officials were too busy running the city government that they had no time planning Sema’s ambush.

DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary urges school officials and teachers to support reforms

by (pbchangco/PIA Cotabato City)


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The regional secretary of the education department of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) called on teachers and school officials to support the reforms being instituted in the department and assured readiness to have regular meetings to boost the mentors’ morale in pursuit of an improved education system in the autonomous region.


According to Maguindanao Schools Division I Supt. Meriam Kawit, DepED-ARMM regional secretary Jamar Kulayan met with more than 2,700 teachers, district supervisors and division officials of Maguindanao Division I on February 17, 2012.


Kawit said, Secretary Kulayan emphasized the urgency of instituting needed reforms such as the use of ATM system for salaries of teachers to address and cleanse the issues of “ghost teachers, ghost school buildings and ghost pupils” among others, hounding the agency for the past decades.


Kawit added, they welcome and support the efforts of the regional secretary Jamar Kulayan to reach out and personally hear the issues and concerns of teachers particularly on regular release of their salaries and lack of supplies.


“We appreciate the initiative of our new regional secretary, specially may practice among teachers na isinanla ang kanilang ATM sa money lender at balak na mag-apply ng panibagong ATM card”( Specially some teachers have the practice of pawning their ATM to money lender and the plans to apply for another new ATM), she said.


Kawit also said the regional secretary has warned public school teachers against illegal collection of graduation and year book fees and other contribution, emphasizing the holding of simple graduation rites.

Warring pols agree to end clashes

by Charlie Señase and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao


COTABATO CITY—Authorities expect an end to the bloody confrontation between followers of two local politicians in Rajah Buayan town in Maguindanao following their pledge to bury the hatchet. Duma Ugayan and Jerry Macalay, chairs of Barangays Malibpolok and Tabungao (not Baital as earlier reported), respectively, swore before the Koran that they would end their animosity in a dialogue facilitated by local clerics, other officials and the military on Thursday at the headquarters of the Army’s First Mechanized Brigade. Two weeks of fighting between followers of the two had resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to nine others. About 10,000 people from at least seven Rajah Buayan villages had fled their homes. “They shook hands and embraced each other with the promise that they will sign a peace pact in another meeting scheduled next week in Rajah Buayan,” Col. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, a brigade officer, said on Friday. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu lauded the two officials for reconciling their differences. He said he was worried that the clashes could affect the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ugayan is a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander while Macalay have relatives and supporters from the MILF. The two village leaders said their feud had nothing to do with the MNLF and the MILF because it started from killings related to land disputes in Barangays Mileb, Baital, Gaunan, Panadtaban and Sapakan.

5 ARMM govs ask for new general voter registration

by ROMY ELUSFA


COTABATO CITY—The governors in the five provinces comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including the regional governor in the ARMM, have asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to annul the existing list of voters in the region to “end the vicious cycle of abnormal elections in the area.” The individual and separate requests sent by the governors to Comelec, which was endorsed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, was also supplemented by a similar request from the provincial election supervisors in the five provinces.

Aside from the governors and election supervisors’ request, the Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform (Citizens CARE), has also been pushing the Comelec for a general registration in the autonomous region, said to be the cheating capital of the country.

Jumda Sabaani, chair of Citizens CARE, in an interview, said that their continuing voters education “would become futile exercises if the voters’ list in ARMM will not be thrown to the waste basket and replaced with a new, clean one.”

The only way to clean the ARMM voters’ list, Sabaani said, “is to throw away the existing list and hold a general registration of voters using an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

The move asking the Comelec for a general registration of voters in ARMM using the AFIS came 15 days before the scheduled start of a continuing registration of voters on March 5, which the petitioners want the Comelec to cancel.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said that “an important part” of his reform program was to erase the “cheating capital” image of the province.

He said, “I could not do it myself without the support and cooperation of the Comelec, which is the proper government agency with the mandate to initiate electoral reforms.”

In their letter to the Comelec, Mangudadatu and the provincial governors of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, said: “We want to formally request the annulment and cancellation of the registration of voters in the entire ARMM region.”

The request, they added, was in support to President Aquino’s call “for a clean and honest election.” The requests were made as early as December 2011, but Comelec board in Manila, in an en banc meeting last Jan. 31, simply “noted” the request.

“The Commission resolved, as it hereby resolves, to note the foregoing matter,” a Comelec document showing the minutes of the meeting said.

Earlier, Udtog Tago, a lawyer and Maguindanao provincial election supervisor, asked the Comelec central office in Manila for the nullification of the voter’ list in his province and requested the Comelec to install an AFIS not only in Maguindanao but the entire ARMM.

However, Acting Director Jeannie Flororita of the Information Technology Department (ITD) of the Comelec said that installing an AFIS in the ARMM would require additional costs for the system’s license and purchase of servers for each of the municipalities in the area.

Acting on Tago’s request, Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino Jr., in his Feb. 14 memorandum to Tago, said the election body could not act on his request, citing the P273-million requirement that the Commission did not have.

“Granting your request is tantamount to setting up a duplicate ITD Data Center at a cost of at least P273 million to match approximately 1.5-million voters” in the ARMM, said Tolentino. “Accordingly, your request cannot be considered favorably.”

Sabaani said he could not believe the government could not allocate the P273 million if it was serious in reforming the electoral system in ARMM.

Army gains peoples support in Barira, Buldon peace accord

by MARIE GIL LAO-BENITO


COTABATO City--The 37th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army under the wing of 603rd Brigade has successfully initiated the gathering of support to different local chief executives along with their constituents in the municipalities of Matanog, Parang, Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat, Barira and Buldon by launching the manifesto of support for the signing of Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) Peace Agreement. On February 13, the armed forces kicked-off a launching program to the people of Barira and Buldon in the presence of their respective local chief executives, Barira Mayor Hja. Rocaya Dagalangit-Tomawis and Buldon Mayor Bae Fatima Ruth Pembayabaya-Tomawis witnessed by various stake holders, academe, business sectors, different organizations and the visiting media practitioners in print and in broadcast.

In the program proper, 603rd Brigade Deputy Brigade Commander Col. Agapito Carmelo Nagrampa, Jr. said the armed forces along with the local chief executives are one with the people in their will to attain lasting peace. "Hindi natin sukat akalain na 'yung ating mga dating katunggali katulad ng naranasan natin nung panahon ng MNLF ay kasama na namin ngayon. Nakauniporme sila at kasama naming kumakain, natutulog at nagsisilbi sa inyo, bakit pa tayo mag-gigiyera-giyera? Para ano 'yun at para saan 'yun?", Col. Nagrampa stressed.

He reveals that men of 603rd Brigade in the leadership of Brigade Commander Col. Rodelio Santos with all armed men are all hoping that the MILF followers would also be at the government side, set aside those fi rearms and use the money wisely in constructing new roads and in building new Schools instead spending it on wars. He once again voice-out his appeal to the administration of the MILF to embrace one another and walk hand in hand and sharing in one table the shower of blessings given by God Almighty. 37IB commander Lt. Col. Joel Abregana said they are pushing harder efforts for the immediate signing of the peace agreement by the government of the Philippines and the MILF by gathering and unifying the support of the people on the said municipalities for the total implementation of long-lasting peace and not war.

He emphasized that they do not have to strategize what to do, since in their visit the people always say they no longer want any form of chaos in their Land. By these, they made talks with the local chief executives to inform the higher officials of our country on the clamours for peace of their constituents, and how to find possible channels to achieve long-lasting peace. 603rd Brigade Executive Officer Col. Nolly Lapizar said that the undertakings being implemented is actually initiated by the national government which is included in its 10 peace and order agenda on good governance, delivery of basic services and security sector reform.

He further explained that on the latest exploratory talk held in Malaysia, the MILF has many demand but there were no issues raised on how to resolve the political aspect in this recent times. In general, there are no more existing issues that would serve as hindrance to push through the peace agreement. He added that now the military have access in the MILF side as some people they meet have relatives in the group making them involve in this action.

Mayor Hja. Rocaya D. Tomawis expressed her full support along with her constituents to the undertakings being established by the armed forces on the possible upcoming signing of the peace agreement. Meanwhile, Buldon Mayor Bae Fatima Ruth P. Tomawis thanked the armed forces for initiating the signing of manifesto of support for the immediate signing of peace agreement.

3 bridges impassable in Zambo del Norte due to heavy downpour

by (PNA)

FFC/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 17 (PNA) - The torrential rains brought about by the Low Pressure Area (LPA) in Mindanao have brought damages to at least three bridges in Zamboanga del Norte after rivers overflowed.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported that civilians living near huge rivers in the province have been advised to evacuate as heavy rains continue to pour in most part of Mindanao.

The NDRRMC has also alerted the provincial DRRMC in the Visayas and other parts of Mindanao.

In its report, the Zamboanga del Norte PRRMC said that as of 12 noon, Salug Daku Bridge along Mahayag-Dumingag-Siayan-Sindangan Road, Zamboanga del Norte remained impassable.

Another bridge was closed after soil erosion were noted in its approaches. Also closed was the Macasoy Bridge along Dipolog-Oroquieta Road, all in Zamboanga del Norte.

In its website, the NDRRMC said local government units in Eastern, Western and Central Mindanao regions were on heightened alert for possible evacuation should the LPA will continue to bring in rains.

Alert level 1 status was also raised in Dinagat, Surigao City, Tandag City and Butuan City.

Data from the NDRRMC showed that the LPA had affected at least 731 families or 3,863 people in 70 villages in eight towns in four provinces.

Five houses were also damaged in Jabonga in Agusan del Norte due to continuous rains.

Gov't, MILF extend AHJAG mandate

by John Unson


COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front agreed to reinstate the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) to sustain a bilateral effort to curb criminalities in potential flashpoint areas covered by their ceasefire accord.

Government’s chief negotiator Marvic Leonen and his MILF counterpart Muhaquer Iqbal signed Wednesday a joint communiqué in Kuala Lumpur granting imprimatur to AHJAG to operate for 12 another more months.

The group will serve as a crime prevention mechanism to help security authorities maintain law and order in far-flung areas.

The traditional signing of the joint statement capped the culmination of the 25th government-MILF talks, which is to be followed by another round of formal negotiations next month.

The statement, emailed by the office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, also underscored the consensus of both sides to continue with their discussions on how to resolve security concerns in Mindanao.

“The parties acknowledge the need to explore creative approaches that will address the political, legal and other dimensions of the problems,” the statement Leonen and Iqbal co-signed pointed out.

The AHJAG – comprised of representatives from the MILF, the Armed Forces, and the Philippine National Police – operates on a yearly GPH-MILF bilateral mandate and is supervised by the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

Beating a timeline

The AHJAG has resolved dozens of domestic peace and security issues in areas covered by the ceasefire and had managed to secure the release without any ransom of several kidnap victims in Central Mindanao and surrounding regions in recent years.

Leonen, in a separate emailed statement, said he was elated with the outcome of the 25th exploratory talks in Malaysia. 

“The (government’s) peace process with the MILF has moved forward,” Leonen said.

He said he is optimistic the government can meet its 2012 timeline to craft a final peace deal with the MILF.

The peace talks started January 7, 1997, but had repeatedly been punctuated by bloody conflicts in areas supposedly covered by the government-MILF July 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities.

Big security problems caused the talks to collapse in 2000, in 2003 and, subsequently, in 2008, but negotiators, with the facilitation of Malaysia, managed to resume with the negotiations following every breakdown.

“We always believe that it is always possible to find solutions to a problem, review it, adjust and later on achieve the kind of peace that is permanent, that is founded on justice for all that are concerned on the ground,” Leonen said.

Many local officials acknowledge that while parts of the Zamboanga peninsula and the Island province of Basilan have been rocked by rebel-military hostilities last year, the GPH-MILF ceasefire pact has effectively been holding in Central Mindanao, specifically in the adjoining North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Peace activists and officials of various foreign-assisted outfits involved in humanitarian projects complementing the GPH-MILF peace efforts are quick to attribute such feat to the strong security coordination among the joint ceasefire committee, the police and the military.

“Credit also has to go the local government units and the IMT (International Monitoring Team) which are also helping observe the ceasefire in far-flung areas in Central Mindanao,” said Oblate priest Eliseo Mercado, Jr., director of the foreign-funded Institute for Autonomy and Governance, who is also a convernor of more than 50 peace-advocacy outfits supporting the government-MILF talks.

Confidence-building

The chairman of the government’s ceasefire committee, Major Gen. Ariel Bernardo, said there have been isolated cases of hostilities in Central Mindanao in the past two years, but the incidents involved only feuding MILF commanders locked in land disputes.

Bernardo said local executives have lately been active in disseminating the gains of the Aquino administration’s confidence-building measures with communities in areas covered by the GPH-MILF ceasefire.

Iqbal told The Star he is optimistic the fragile peace in Central Mindanao and surrounding provinces will continue to prevail with the continuation of AJHAG’s operation with the extensive support of the IMT in monitoring all preliminary security agreements meant to stave off hostilities while the peace talks are underway.

The officer in charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mujiv Hataman, has ordered the ARMM’s local government department and all of its constituent-municipal governments to participate in the ceasefire monitoring activities of the joint CCCH and the IMT.

Hataman issued the directive last week in the presence of Iqbal during a gathering in Cotabato City of diplomats from the European Union, representatives of OPAPP and members of the government’s peace panel.

Hataman said under the ARMM’s local government code, elected municipal and provincial officials are bound to flex their authority and influence in maintaining peace and order in their respective communities.

Hataman said he is ready to accommodate in the regional peace and order council representatives from the IMT and the joint CCCH for them to have easy and direct access to agencies that are implementing projects in support of the government and MILF’s rehabilitation programs for conflict-devastated communities.

45 MISSING PASSENGERS RESCUED

by XINHUA


COTABATO: The Philippine Coast Guard has rescued the 45 passengers who were reported missing after their vessel capsized on Monday, local police said Tuesday. All the passengers of the M/B BenJun vessel were rescued and safe after a rescue mission launched by the Philippine Coast Guard, Inocentes Capuno, said an officer in charge of the Dinagat Police office. The vessel, heading for the island town of Basilisa in Dinagat Island province, left the port of Surigao City at around 1:00 p.m. Monday. But upon reaching Hikdop Island, big waves hit the boat, causing it to capsize. “All the passengers were rescued including the boat’s crew,” Capuno said. The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands. Ships and boats serve as the principal means of transportation among these islands. Due to long years of poor maintenance, traffic accidents are common.

DOST unveils project to boost productivity of agri, manufacturing sectors

by (OLAbo/DOST-12/DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 14 (PIA) -- Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in agricultural and manufacturing sectors in Soccsksargen Region have more opportunities to strengthen their business courtesy of the Department of Science and Technology - Region 12 (DOST-12).

Dr. Zenaida P. Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST-12 regional director, said they launched recently the “Consultancy For Agricultural and Manufacturing Improvement” (CAMPI) program to boost the productivity of MSMEs to become competitive in the domestic and international markets.

CAMPI has two components, namely: Consultancy for Agricultural Enhancement Program” (CAPE) and the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program(MPEX).

“By availing these CAMPI projects, we are confident that the beneficiaries will attain higher productivity that will be favorable to their businesses,” Dr. Laidan said.

DOST hopes that with these projects MSMEs can turn into big players both in the local and international markets to help sustain the economic growth in the countryside, she added.

CAMPI is funded by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), an attached agency of the DOST.

The orientation for the CAMPI beneficiaries was held in General Santos City, where DOST-12 also signed a memorandum of agreement with the program’s consultants.

Witnessing the event were Engr. Edgar I. Garcia, TAPI director, and Dr. Virginia Novenario-Enriquez, chief of RITDD, Philippine Council for Industry and Emerging Technology Research and Development or PCIEERD-DOST.

Consultants for CAPE component are: Prof. Arlyn A. Mandas, an aquaculture expert from the Mindanao State University in General Santos City who will handle the fish-farm beneficiaries in Sarangani and General Santos City; Prof. Ben G. Bareja, a horticulture expert from MSU-GSC, for the horticulture farms in South Cotabato and Gensan and Gemma Constantino and Dr. Victorino Laviste of Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) who provide consultancy services to the prawn farms in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat and tilapia ponds in South Cotabato.

Ms. Baby R. Lim, of the Summit Consultancy and Research Services, a DOST accredited consultancy firm based in Mandaue City, was chosen as consultant for the MPEX component.

Initial beneficiaries of the program include 15 firms that qualified for the MPEX component and 22 farms for the CAPE component. CAMPI program is a component of DOST’s umbrella program, Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP). Other components include technology trainings, laboratory services, packaging and labeling, and technical assistance. For more information about SET-UP, kindly visit the Provincial Science and Technology Centers nearest you.

OWWA sets deadline for submission of EDSP application

by Perlita D. Changco


COTABATO CITY, February 13, 2012 (PIA) - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has set the deadline in the submission of application for its Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for school year 2013-2014 on August 31, 2012.

OWWA-ARMM regional head Amy Crisostomo said, EDSP is scholarship granted to qualified dependents and beneficiaries of active-member-OFWs who intend to pursue a four to five-year baccalaureate in any CHED accredited college or university of their choice.

To qualify, an applicant must be a child or a married OWWA member, or brother/sister of an unmarried OWWA member; graduate or graduating high school student provided she/he has not yet earned any unit in college; not more than 21 years old and must pass the qualifying examination.

Under the program, Crisostomo said, an scholar is extended a financial assistance of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) per semester or a maximum of P60,000.00 per school year covering tuition fee and other school expenses.

For school year, OWWA is allocating 100 scholarship for qualified OFW dependent-applicants that shall comprise the 9th batch of the EDSP scholar.

Applicants are required to submit accomplished application form (available at any OWWA office), 2 copies 2”x2” ID pictures; proof of OFW’s Active OWWA membership; birth certificate of applicant obtained from NSO if child of OFW and/or brother/sister of unmarried OFW to prove relationship; and secondary school record (Form 137).

She encouraged interested applicants to visit OWWA-ARMM located at 2/F Mags Audio Building, Quezon City or call telephone number (064) 421-7237 hotline number 09176220140 or email address; oowa-armm@yahoo.com for inquiries. (pbchangco/PIA Cotabato City)

NPAs torch P33.5-M construction equipment

by John Unson and Edith Regalado


COTABATO CITY ,Philippines – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels set on fire some P33.5 million worth of construction equipment in two separate incidents in Cotabato and Davao del Sur yesterday and last Friday.

Inspector Rolando Dillera, chief investigator of the Kidapawan City police office, said at least 10 NPA rebels stormed a private construction firm and torched some P20 million worth of equipment after its owner rejected their demand for monthly protection money.

Dillera said the rebels, who arrived on motorcycles, burned three dump trucks, a payloader, and a backhoe at the Ricardo de la Cruz Interior Construction in Barangay Roque, Kidapawan City.

Witnesses said the NPAs were armed with assault rifles and caliber .45 handguns. The group’s leader reportedly carried a 9-mm machine pistol.

Kidapawan City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco said the NPAs have been demanding revolutionary taxes and protection money from firms operating in the city.

The gunmen said the burning of the equipment was punishment for the company’s rejection of their extortion demands, workers told police.

Meanwhile, in Purok Mahogany, Barangay Cogon in Digos City, Davao del Sur, suspected NPA rebels burned down P13.5 million worth of construction equipment Friday night.

The rebels reportedly torched a Kato crane and a Volvo backhoe of Algon Construction Co.

In Basilan, at least one person was wounded when gunmen fired at workers of a US-funded road project. – With Roel Pareño

European Call

by Ali G. Macabalang


COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A delegation of European Union (EU) envoys urged the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to intensify their negotiations to reach a peace accord acceptable to both parties at the “earliest possible moment.” EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said the EU believes there is now a genuine window of opportunity to bring the peace process to a successful end despite ups and downs in past negotiations. “We believe that the timing is right for a decisive push toward an agreement and that such an opportunity should not be missed,” Ledoux said in a speech during the awarding ceremonies of the school painting competition “Let’s Paint for Peace” organized by the International Monitoring Team (IMT) here Tuesday.

JICA-funded Mindanao topographic maps completed, up for validation

by (PNA)

LAP/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has completed digital maps of Mindanao and presented for validation by local government officials of the island.

The digital maps were presented during the “Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development in Mindanao” 2nd Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) meetings held recently all over the island.

JICA topographic map project team leader Yutaka Kokofu reported the successful production of new digital topo-maps covering all regions of Mindanao, copies of which were distributed to LGUs and line agencies for validation.

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority chair, said recipients of the maps were asked to validate the names of barangays, rivers, lakes, mountains, and other data as these will be incorporated in the maps before finalization.

Antonino said MinDA expects the submission of the maps by end of February.

The meetings were held separately in Davao City, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro City, and Zamboanga City, attended by about 150 representatives from LGUs and line agencies such as National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Statistics Office (NSO), Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), contractors, and LGUS.

“The updated maps will give us accurate geographic information that can be used in management of disaster risks, as well as management and protection of the environment and its resources,” Antonino said.

The topographic mapping is a two-year JICA-funded project jointly undertaken by MinDA, JICA, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

Antonino said it aims to update the existing over-60-year old reference maps of Mindanao and will be used as a technical support to the peace and development initiatives in Mindanao.

The mapping project covers a total area of 100,500 km covering the six regions of Mindanao, and seeks to produce 205 high resolution maps with a scale of 1:50,000.

Antonino said the new maps will contain information on the topography, rivers systems, vegetation and land cover, infrastructure and transportation network, populated areas, approximate administrative boundaries, annotation of geographic names including mountains, rivers, bays, municipalities, and barangays, among others.

According to Kokofu there are additional specifications included in the digital maps like bathymetric data which covers underwater depth of lakes and ocean floors covering 58,000 square kilometers.

Antonino added that the maps will be used for development planning on the island-region’s environment, security, peace and order, and economy. It will also aid in improving implementation of services to help uplift the socio-economic conditions of its people, especially those in critical areas.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of the data we can obtain through this project, especially now that we’ll be launching the Mindanao-wide river basin and watershed management program called MindaNOW - Nurturing Our Waters,” said Antonino.

MindaNOW is another program spearheaded by MinDA that aims to integrate, coordinate, and harmonize interregional efforts to protect and rehabilitate Mindanao’s river basins and watersheds, and adopt these as key platforms for planning.

Antonino said MinDA looks at the topo-map as an “indispensable tool” for the implementation of MindaNOW as well as its other programs on the economy and environment.

Cops linked to Maguindanao massacre show signs of depression

by Edwin O. Fernandez


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- Many policemen linked to the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre have been showing signs of serious depression that need immediate intervention by psychologists, a group of policemen's wives said on Thursday.

Hadja Jalila Maguid, wife of former Maguindanao police provincial director Superintendent Sam Maguid, told reporters that most of those apparently in distress were detained policemen because they were merely on duty at their headquarters or on days off in the provincial police office in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao when the massacre happened.

Maguid, vice president of 1123 Advocates composed of wives of detained police officers, said PO2 Hernani Dicipulo Jr., who committed suicide at the Bicutan detention facility in Taguig on Monday, was restive and was acting strangely before he leaped from the top of the prison building to end his life.

Dicipulo’s cadaver was flown here Tuesday and was buried immediately at nearby Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao according to Islamic rites.

Contrary to earlier reports, Maguid said Dicipulo committed suicide because he was depressed due to the slow progress of the case.

"He did not commit suicide because he was guilty but because he was so frustrated of the slow progress of the case," Maguid said.

She stressed some of the detained policemen were nowhere near the scene when the killings took place.

“We are asking that these policemen could be litigated separately to hasten their prosecution,” she said.

"We are convinced that PO2 Dicipulo committed suicide not because he was bothered by his conscience, but because he was already despondent over the slow litigation of the cases filed against them.”

Maguid said children of the detained policemen have dropped from schools after the salaries of their father-policemen were withheld while the case is still pending.

“We are appealing to the Department of Justice to please focus attention on our demand for a separate prosecution of the cases filed against these policemen,” said Maguid.

Maguid also appealed to the DOJ to send psychiatrist to attend to the policemen detainees to prevent similar incident of suicide. (PNA) DCT/NYP/EOF

Cotabato City political scene heats up over Sema ambush, murder charges

by Ferdinandh B. Cabrera


COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/08 February) — It’s 15 months before the May 13, 2013 elections but the political scene here has heated up with the filing Monday of charges of frustrated murder and attempted murder against Mayor Japal Guiani, his sister Atty. Frances Guiani-Sayadi who is the City Administrator, and five others for the January 10 ambush that injured Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema. Investigators said the ambush was politically motivated. The accused said the charges were politically motivated. Speaking on behalf of her brother who is out of the city on official travel, Sayadi denied the allegations but told a press conference that they will face the charges filed against them. She said the charges were “politically motivated.” The charges were filed before the Department of Justice by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police. CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the motive of the failed assassination was to prevent Sema from running for mayor in 2013. Sema was mayor for three terms with Guiani was his vice mayor. In 2010, Sema, who had completed a third term and was disqualified for running again for mayor, opted to run for vice mayor, while Guiani ran for mayor. Sayadi said they learned about the filing of the charges only through a text message and that they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed against her brother-mayor, herself, her husband Omar Sayadi, the city’s number one councilor, Graham Dumama; ABC President Abdillah Lim, Barangay Captain Amil Sula, and Police Inspector Noel Gutierrez, chief of Police Station 2. Sayadi said there may be a third party taking advantage of the situation and making scenarios to disrupt the “peaceful political relationships in the city.” “For us, this is a grand design to put down the Guiani clan. For what? 2013 is fast approaching. And records will show na hindi kailanman pumasok sa utak ng kapatid ko na pumatay ng kasama niya. Ang ganda na ng image ng Cotabato City, we were able to reap awards and change the status of the city from being third class to being first class. Kung mag-eelection tayo bukas, would you destroy your name when you know you can handily win any election?” she asked. Sema was ambushed near his residence on Don Gonzalo Javier St., Rosary Heights-7 village shortly before noon of January 10. He was returning home when shots were fired, prompting his escorts to fire back, killing the alleged gunman, Jermin Abdullah. But in a February 7 letter to Nonnatus Caesar Roja, OIC National Director of the National Bureau of Investigation through Acting ARMM Regional Director Sixto Burgos, Baigan Salik Abdullah, the wife of the alleged gunman, said the death of Abdullah should be investigated “deeply and thoroughly,” claiming “my husband is a victim and a fall guy.” “Recent events seem to be deviating from the real issue and is not leaving towards unearthing the truth. Even the findings of the PNP SOCO (Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operation) that my late husband was negative of powder burns were not being considered by the investigating team,” she said. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)

MILF hits MNLF's Misuari for "dividing" the Bangsamoro people

by (PNA)

DCT/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday lambasted the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for declaring that thousands of MILF guerillas have left and joined the MNLF.

Khaled Musa, MILF information deputy, said Nur Misuari, chair of a faction of the MNLF, was creating division among Bangsamoro people.

Misuari served as regional governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from 1996 to 2001. He led a bloody revolt in Sulu shortly before the 2001 regional polls and fled to Malaysia and eventually arrested there.

Speaking to reporters, Misuari said the MILF is no longer capable of launching combat against the Philippine government because many of its followers have jumped over to his MNLF.

“We call on MNLF Chairman Misuari not to engage in mudslinging to destroy us because we in the two fronts are all brothers and are fighting for the same cause -- that of pushing forward Moro-rule and self-determination in Mindanao’s Moro territories,” Musa said.

Misuari said that many MILF members have lost confidence in their organization’s now 14-year peace talks with national government.

Misuari was even reported to have branded as “bogus” the MILF’s peace overture with the Aquino administration as he accused its third party facilitator, Malaysia, of conniving with the rebel group’s leader, Al-Haj Murad, to cover up for Malaysia’s interest over Sabah, a mineral-rich state.

Misuari said the Philippines never waived from its claim of Sabah, which he described as owned by the Sultanate of Sulu.

Musa described Misuari's latest pronouncement as "sour-graping and show bitterness" over Malaysia for having extradited him to Manila after revolting in Sulu in 2001 when he was about to lose power as ARMM regional governor.

The MNLF chair cited the case of Umbra Kato who bolted from the MILF mainstream and formed his own organization called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement.

Misuari had a clandestine meeting with Kato late last year shortly before the BIFM leader suffered a mild stroke and became bedridden.

Soliven contribution on Mindanao paper lauded

by John Unson


COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Mindanao’s pioneer weekly Catholic newspaper, which Philippine Star founding publisher Max Soliven helped establish after World War II, turned 64 years old today, serving communities in the context of religious ecumenism and cultural pluralism.

The Mindanao Cross, published here every Saturday since 1948 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) congregation, is a community newspaper focused on reporting the goings-on in the local communities and explicitly does not compete with any national daily or local publications based outside in Central Mindanao.

It always has extensive reports on the Southern peace process and successes of local and foreign organizations in propagating Muslim and Christian solidarity and on the government’s separate peace overtures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Soliven’s contributions

Soliven, then a young scribe was a close friend of Oblate missionary Ben Carreon who became the pioneer editor of the Mindanao Cross in 1948. He also had worked side-by-side with a French-Canadian member of the OMI, Msgr. Gerard Mongeau.

There were stories from among senior OMI priests that it was, in fact, Soliven that prodded Carreon and Mongeau to forge ahead and make good with a plan of the Oblate community to put up a weekly newspaper in Mainland Mindanao.

“The rest is history. He was a good coach,” said priest Alfonso Cariño, editor of Mindanao Cross from the mid 1990s to 2003, recalling Soliven in a brief message during the newspaper’s anniversary rites.

Volunteerism

Soliven kept his promise to help the Oblate community secure the necessary permits to legitimize the Mindanao Cross and, subsequently, publish its maiden issue.

Soliven acted as consultant, pro bono, (for nothing in exchange), in managing the newspaper’s operation – mainly only through correspondence with Carreon – during its fragile, crucial infancy.

The Mindanao Cross was shut down by the military of the Marcos regime three weeks after President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, apparently for being critical of the government’s abuses against Moro and non-Moro communities in the South.

The publication resumed only after its editor then, Patricio Diaz, Sr., signed an agreement with the Armed Forces not to publish any report hostile to the Marcos administration.

The Mindanao Cross received more than a hundred citations and awards for its commitment to serve both as a conduit of information and as a forum for discussions on the intricacies of the decades-old Mindanao peace and security issues.

Star and Cross partnership

The Mindanao Cross has been a prudent and careful disseminator of news information it can get from the Philippine Star, with clear attributions stated explicitly either “as reported by the national daily Philippine Star,” or, in some instances, “as published by the www.philstar.com.”

The owner of Mindanao Cross, the Vatican-based OMI group, has been operating humanitarian missions since the late 1930s in Central Mindanao, in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Apart from the Mindanao Cross, the OMI, also operates more than a dozen AM and FM radio stations scattered across the South, all advocating peaceful, community-initiated resolution of conflicts besetting the culturally-pluralistic Southern communities.

The Oblates also has schools in Mindanao, among them the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, which has special lessons on “sensitive, pro-community peace and conflict reporting” for its mass communication students.

Cotabato City council passes halal certification ordinance

by bt.com.bn


COTABATO CITY


THE Cotabato City council has passed the halal certification ordinance authored by council member Abdullah Andang in support to concerted efforts pushing the regions halal industry.

Council majority flood leader Atty Froilan Melendrez said the ordinance is in consonance with the Consumers Welfare Act aimed at encouraging food manufacturers, hotels and restaurants, catering services/food handlers and other business establishment in the city to observe and practice halal processes under the guidance of the halal industry experts.

While few business establishments have been issued halal certificates by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board Inc in 2009, Melendrez noted there are some which display sticker or logo claiming to be halal certified.

The city legislator warns against unauthorised display of such sticker or logo with the corresponding penalties being imposed for any violation of the Halal Certification Ordinance.

The Halal Certification Ordinance stipulates fines for any violation.PIA

Teen arrested for selling shabu

by Arianne Caryl N. Casas


ANOTHER teen from Cotabato City was nabbed for selling shabu on Thursday afternoon.

Agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao Region led by Investigation Agent Naravy Duquiatan, PDEA deputy regional director, conducted a buy-bust operation at No. 17 Leo Street, GSIS Subdivision, Matina, Davao City, around 2:30 p.m. of February 2.

Duquiatan identified the suspect as Marshadam Maddie Amba alias Jepoy, 19, married, of Bagua, Mabini, Cotabato City.

Amba was arrested after selling one sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, otherwise known as "shabu", weighing more or less 0.02 grams worth P1,000 to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur buyer.

Recovered from Amba were four medium sachets of suspected shabu approximately weighing four grams and two pieces of P500 buy-bust marked money bill with serial numbers WL106439 and UX839781.

Duquiatan said the suspect was with a minor identified as alias Yap, 17, of Manday, Cotabato City.

Recovered from Yap's possession were two small packs of suspected Cannabis Sativa L, otherwise known as "marijuana".

Amba is now detained at PDEA jail, while the seized suspected illegal drugs were submitted to the Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory in Ecoland, Davao City.

Cases of violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspect.

Meanwhile, Yap was turned over to the City Social Services Development Office.

State U in Cotabato City assures no tuition fee hike

by (pbchangco/PIA Cotabato City)


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA) -- The Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) is not inclined to impose new tuition fee hike anytime soon.

This was the assurance given by Dr. Dammang Bantala, newly installed president of the CCSPC, the oldest school in South Central Mindanao. 

“This a government learning institution. I assure students and parents that there will be no tuition fee increase within the period of  two years to help children of poor families especially the Bangsamoro people,” Bantala said.

Bantala said he would focus on enhancing capacities and capabilities geared towards raising the school’s public education standard to to reach out and cater to more indigent students

As this developed, Bantala said, he fully supports the proposal for the conversion of CCSPC into a state university being pushed by Maguindanao 1st district Rep. Bai Sandra Sema through a bill now pending before Congress.

Bantala said, CCSPC officials, faculty and students need to exert extra efforts to meet the requirements necessary for the conversion – upgrade CCSPC’s status to Level II and raise the passing mark in licensure examinations.

The conversion of CCSPC into a state university, Bantala said, provides better access to improved school facilities, equipment, laboratories and trainings as tools to help attain the goal of quality education that would redound to the benefit of the people and the community.

ARMM, JICA renew partnership and cooperation for peace development

by (PNA)

LDV/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) - Acting Regional Governor Mujib Hataman and officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have renewed partnership, as the new regional governor started reforming the regional bureaucracy.

Hataman and JICA Chief Representative Takahiro Sasaki met Tuesday at the former's office for the renewal and strengthening of cooperation.

Sasaki pointed out that JICA would be focusing its cooperation on human resource development programs for ARMM.

He was accompanied by Shinichi Masuda, JICA Senior Representative, Mayuko Shimakage, JICA Project Formulation Advisor, and other JICA officials.

ARMM officials were very appreciative on the JICA efforts to extend technical and other support for the regional government.

DSWD-ARMM Assistant Secretary Pombaen Karon-Kader gratefully acknowledged JICA’s community development assistance to ARMM which started since 2006.

“It was a noble project which is direct to the people and empowers them in prioritizing and management of projects in their communities,” she said.

Professor Edgar Ramirez, OIC president of ARMM Development Academy (ADA), also lauded JICA for the P34.8-million Japan-ARMM Friendship Hall and Training Center which houses his office and provides venue for instituting needed reforms in the bureaucracy of ARMM.

“Hopefully, we can make good use of this facility as a center of peace and development,” Ramirez said.

“While we are tasked to lay down the foundations of reform in ARMM in just 15 months or so, ADA also needs institutional development as it has been left out by previous administrations,” he added.

Engineer Emil Sadain, DPWH-ARMM regional secretary, was grateful over JICA's human capacity development projects undergone by his office and suggested to give more emphasis on infrastructure development programs.

He also proposed exposure and upgrading of DPWH-ARMM officials and employees to project designs, planning, evaluation, quality control and implementation to make them at par with national government’s standards.

“This is in line with President Aquino’s directive for 100 percent paved national roads in the ARMM,” Sadain said.

Sasaki committed his support towards the capacity-building plans for the ARMM bureaucracy, saying he will wait for the ARMM officials’ submission of the consolidated roadmap by which to fill in the gaps.

Lawyer Anwar Malang, ARMM executive secretary, immediately instructed Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) Executive Director Diamadel Dumagay to convene the Technical Working Group (TWG) to draft a summary of the expectations of the cabinet secretaries into a consolidated proposal to JICA.

“We will discuss and map out immediate needs doable within our term as well as long-term capacity-building needs of the bureaucracy in preparation for the future of ARMM, and in two weeks time pass this proposal to JICA,” Malang said.

Malang also announced during the meeting about the new policy of Gov. Hataman that all trainings should be held in ARMM unless otherwise mandated by the training funding agency "to make good use of the Japan-ARMM Friendship Building."

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