Wednesday, March 31, 2010

SkyCable sets music trend via ZERO Band’s ‘Deja’


Director Charlie Villanueva (PMPDA) and members of the Zero Band - Marion Estrada (Vocals), LL Dart Castillano (Bass), Camilo Tan (Guitar) and Robert Villanueva (Drums).



ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - “DEJA”, an original composition written by Roland Villanueva Jnr and performed by ZERO Band, is making waves in both radio and television via the first ever Musical Short Film rendition being shown over Sky Cable’s Community Channel 28's Sonata Presentation.

Directed by Charlie Villanueva, head of Ancillary and Production Operations Division of Sky Cable Zamboanga System, Deja’s Musical Short Film is gearing towards local media domination in music and stands ready to step into a new wave of MTV production called “Musical Short Film.”

Any eyes isn’t trained on this kind of music presentation might be in the process of being redirected to this sudden peculiarity of musical drama about two individuals who are on the verge of breaking up a relationship, hence, the title – Deja - a Chavano word which means “leave”.

The musical short film Deja is written by Cheng Ordonez, a mainstream journalist who also writes scripts for infomercial and documentary production for Sky Cable, and also currently involved in tourism events.

Zero Band consists of Marion Estrada (Vocals), LL Dart Castillano (Bass), Camilo Tan (Guitar) and Robert Villanueva (Drums).

Edwin Bernardo, operations manager of Sky Cable, who is also the production manager of Deja, said he is fully supporting Villanueva, also director of photography of the said musical short film, on his digital filmography ventures. “In fact, a short movie is on the drawing board and we intend to produce it this year,” Bernardo said.

Role performers of Deja are Maria Jid Morfe and Camilo Tan, both new-comers in the film industry and are without any experience and proper training in acting.

Deja is shot and filmed most at Lantaka Hotel and at Marba residence in Tumaga village in Zamboanga City.

Villanueva looks at establishing digital filmmaking, whether short of full-length, as a new industry in Zamboanga.

“Deja is our opening salvo to digital filming here. It kicks off to establish the digital filmmaking industry in Zamboanga City, where there are many talents but don’t have the opportunity to express their talents. So, they resort to going to other places and, in fact, excel in the field they have chosen. This happens because there is no avenue where to exhibit their talents and their works here in Zamboanga,” Villanueva said.

“Sky Cable offers the venue to exhibit their work, and so, we encourage local talents and filmmakers out there to do their own musical or indie films for exhibit over Sky Cable’s Channel 28,” he added.

Filipino Cable Corporation under the Lopez Group of Companies is not just into cable television. From cable television, it transformed into telephony, then data processing and the broadband Internet; and now Sky Voice, a new system of communication mostly used for calls abroad. The Zamboanga system ventures into digital filming.

“Truly, it's Sky’s world moving ahead, and we just ride, venerate, and play ‘digital’ tag in what we do now,” the young and promising film director who trained and became a member of the Philippine Motion Pictures Directors Association headed by Director William Mayo, and under the Film Academy of the Philippines.

"Catch Deja, an inspiring musical short video that will soon become locals’ own instant cottage industry; and with Villanueva and Sky Cable on the lead, Deja sets the trend for original music and the vision to feature local guys without experience in the industry; so long they are persistent and work hard under the tutelage of Director Charlie Villanueva’s twelve o'clock, or, at least, eleven o’clock shadow," a statement from the cable television firm said.

ARMM to receive fresh Aussie education support

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 31, 2010) – Canberra is planning to provide a long-term support to the improvement of the quality and access to education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim in Mindanao through another round of assistance that builds on the successes of the eight-year Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao Project, Filipino officials said Wednesday.

Officials said the new Australian government program would be a 5 to 10 year support to basic education exclusively implemented in the ARMM, which is composed of the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Taw-, Basilan, Lanao and Maguindanao, including Marawi City.

Efforts are now being undertaken to draw up the new project through a 12-month implementation support to BEAM-ARMM design with the involvement of several stakeholders. The new phase will include the implementation of a peace education framework specifically tailored to suit the needs of children in the region.

School and regional officials of the Department of Education in the ARMM have recently participated in a two-day workshop forum on peace education sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development to help craft the said framework.

A handout given during the forum describes peace education as education that is geared toward a culture of peace, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization defines as “a growing body of shared values, attitudes, behaviors and ways of life based on: nonviolence, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms; understanding, tolerance and solidarity; sharing and free flow of communication; and full participation and empowerment of women.”

ARMM Education Secretary Hamid Aminodin Barra said peace education framework in the Muslim autonomous region should have Islamic teachings as its foundation.

Barra, who provided an input on Islamic framework on peace and respect for human dignity in the forum, averred that the Islamic context must always be considered in any project that will be undertaken in the ARMM.

He also allayed apprehensions that this could contribute to extremism as “Islam is a religion of moderation.”

The AusAID-BEAM project, which officially ended in November last year, helped improved the learning of school children in the field of English, Science and Mathematics, and increased accessed of those living in remote and depressed communities to education with its wide-ranging and innovative schemes.

ARMM, however, continues to lag behind other regions in terms of literacy and needs more help to change this trend.

The new AusAID support will focus on the particular education needs of ARMM with its unique culture and diverse populace taken into consideration. (Becky de Asis contributed to this report)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Philippine Army denies NPA claims

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) – The Philippine Army denied Tuesday claims by communist rebels that six soldiers were killed in an attack in the country’s restive southern region.

The New People’s Army claimed to have killed the soldiers in the village of Mahan-on in the town of Baganga in Davao del Norte province over the weekend.

A rebel spokesman Dyomabuk Kadyawan, of the NPA’s Antonio Nerio Antao Command, said the attackers also seized an M16 rifle from the government soldiers and that 3 more infantrymen were wounded in the fighting.

He said the attack sparked a firefight that lasted more than an hour. “The guerrilla offensive lasted for at least an hour. Six enemy troops were killed in action while three were wounded. The NPA sustained no casualties. The Red Army recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle,” Kadyawan said.

The attack occurred on the eve of the NPA’s 41st anniversary.

“In an arrogantly joyful mood, the Local Terrorist Front-15 of the New People’s Army claims that they killed six soldiers in a clash early morning of March 28 in Baganga town in Davao Oriental. The claim is a show of unparalleled arrogance and disregard to human lives as they rejoice with every individual they murdered be it a soldier or an innocent civilian whom they have victimized,” Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said one soldier Private First Class Ulysses Dedumo was killed in the attack.

“The 10th Infantry Division condoles with the family of the slain soldier who was doing his job and laid down his life in service to our people in Baganga,” the army spokesman said, adding, another soldier was wounded in the fighting and is recuperating at a military hospital in Davao City.

“The erroneous, malicious and preposterous claim of LTF-15 mirrors their cunning and sly methods of deceiving our people in every avenue for their own selfish aims in projecting a position of strength but in truth is a weakness masked by their massive crimes and atrocities against the people.”

“While the communists rejoice in every death of our countrymen brought by their violent ways, the true soldiers of the people mourn in every life taken from this Earth whether it is a soldier, plain civilian or an NPA. We at the 10th Infantry Division and the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines do not celebrate the death of anyone even that of an NPA,” Garcia said, adding “we value life even that of the opponent as our own and we will do whatever it takes to preserve the life of any person even at the risk of laying down our own while the terrorists disregard it by leaving their comrades in the heat of battles repeatedly in the past.”

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been fighting for decades to overthrow the democratic government and put up a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Army denies NPA claims

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) – The Philippine Army denied Tuesday claims by communist rebels that six soldiers were killed in an attack in the country’s restive southern region.

The New People’s Army claimed to have killed the soldiers in the village of Mahan-on in the town of Baganga in Davao del Norte province over the weekend.

A rebel spokesman Dyomabuk Kadyawan, of the NPA’s Antonio Nerio Antao Command, said the attackers also seized an M16 rifle from the government soldiers and that 3 more infantrymen were wounded in the fighting.

He said the attack sparked a firefight that lasted more than an hour. “The guerrilla offensive lasted for at least an hour. Six enemy troops were killed in action while three were wounded. The NPA sustained no casualties. The Red Army recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle,” Kadyawan said.

The attack occurred on the eve of the NPA’s 41st anniversary.

“In an arrogantly joyful mood, the Local Terrorist Front-15 of the New People’s Army claims that they killed six soldiers in a clash early morning of March 28 in Baganga town in Davao Oriental. The claim is a show of unparalleled arrogance and disregard to human lives as they rejoice with every individual they murdered be it a soldier or an innocent civilian whom they have victimized,” Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said one soldier Private First Class Ulysses Dedumo was killed in the attack.

“The 10th Infantry Division condoles with the family of the slain soldier who was doing his job and laid down his life in service to our people in Baganga,” the army spokesman said, adding, another soldier was wounded in the fighting and is recuperating at a military hospital in Davao City.

“The erroneous, malicious and preposterous claim of LTF-15 mirrors their cunning and sly methods of deceiving our people in every avenue for their own selfish aims in projecting a position of strength but in truth is a weakness masked by their massive crimes and atrocities against the people.”

“While the communists rejoice in every death of our countrymen brought by their violent ways, the true soldiers of the people mourn in every life taken from this Earth whether it is a soldier, plain civilian or an NPA. We at the 10th Infantry Division and the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines do not celebrate the death of anyone even that of an NPA,” Garcia said, adding “we value life even that of the opponent as our own and we will do whatever it takes to preserve the life of any person even at the risk of laying down our own while the terrorists disregard it by leaving their comrades in the heat of battles repeatedly in the past.”

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been fighting for decades to overthrow the democratic government and put up a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Kidapawan City Holds Peace March





Members of the police and military join a rally dubbed as March for Peace in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines, More than 500 people from various groups and civil workers, students and citizens join the peace march. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

3 wounded in Zamboanga hotel shootout

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) – Three people were wounded in a shootout Tuesday between two groups of armed men inside a hotel in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Two men were also arrested by the police in connection to the shooting inside the History Karaoke and Hotel in downtown Zamboanga. Police said the shooting occurred inside Room 415.

But it was unknown how the gunmen were able to sneak into the hotel without being detected by security guards. Police investigators said they recovered many empty bullet shells in the room.

One of those arrested by the police said they were attacked by two gunmen. It was not immediately known why police arrested him or the motive of the shootings. Investigations are going on, police said. "We were attacked. I don't know why police arrested me," he told reporters.

Other reports said the firefight resulted from a police anti-drug operation.

The shooting incidents in Zamboanga City have alarmed many citizens and so far at least 54 people had been killed in gun attacks since early this year despite a strict implementation of the gun ban. Most of the cases remain unresolved.

Guns-for-hire freely operate in Zamboanga City and recent attack had killed a prominent restaurateur. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA owns up attack in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) – New People’s Army communist rebels took responsibility Tuesday the killing of six government soldiers in an attack in the southern Philippines.

A rebel spokesman Dyomabuk Kadyawan, of the NPA’s Antonio Nerio Antao Command, said the attackers also seized an M16 rifle from the soldiers. Three more soldiers were wounded in the weekend attack in the village of Mahan-ob in Davao Oriental’s Baganga town, Kadyawan said.

He said the attack sparked a firefight that lasted more than an hour. “The guerilla offensive lasted for at least an hour. Six enemy troops were killed in action while three were wounded. The NPA sustained no casualties. The Red Army recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle,” Kadyawan said.

He said the military bragged about its victory in setting up the so-called Barangay Defense System, which proved vulnerable to rebel attack.

“The guerilla action is a slap on the enemy's face who just recently declared that Baganga in Davao Oriental is said to be NPA-free,” Kadyawan said, adding “the NPA action exposed the fascist enemy's blindness on the NPA presence in the supposedly NPA-free municipality. Despite their BDS, they have no inkling that the NPA unit was just in the vicinity where they were resting on.”

The attack occurred on the eve of the NPA’s 41st anniversary and even after authorities heightened security in areas where rebels are actively operating.

Last week, rebels raided a fruit plantation in the village of Guinhalinan in Surigao del Sur’s Barobo town and destroyed four excavators and two bulldozers owned by a sub-contractor of DOLE Philippines, Inc.

NPA forces also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.

But the military downplayed the attacks and branded them as terrorism.

“For more than four decades now, the New People’s Army celebrates its anniversary founded on greed rationalized by the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist creed. No wonder why the lowly NPA rebels in the mountains are fighting a losing war to satisfy the whims and caprices of their leaders who have been enriching only themselves and their families; to the detriment of the NPA rank-and-file, all in the guise of fighting a legitimate cause,” said Colonel Daniel Lucero, Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the Philippine Army.

He said the NPA is synonymous to violence and an enemy of Philippine democratic ideals.

“The ordinary Juan dela Cruz now abhors violence as a means to achieving an end and has vowed to stop violence and coercion in pursuing a supposedly genuine aspiration,” Lucero said.

He said the Philippines is dubbed as one of the most democratic countries in Asia.

“It is ironic to see the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army- National Democratic Front still electing to adhere to a system long outdated by evolution and modernity. Other than being a money-making extortion business with an objective aimed at advancing the personal and political ambitions of its leaders, the agenda of the CPP-NPA-NDF are quite dubious,” Lucero said.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Widows see hope in RP’s 1st female Moro executive

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Thousands of Moro mothers and women widowed in the decades-old Mindanao war are hopeful of better government attention through the infant National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCFW), to which President Gloria Arroyo installed recently a female administration.

Sakina, a 55-year widow, said she and her 6 half-orphaned children are optimistic of "priority attention" from NCFW chairwoman Bai Omeira Dimakuta Dianalan-Lucman, who has been in the forefront of women empowerment advocacy.

“We see brighter prospects in the appointment of Lucman in the NCFW, she being a woman expected to understand better the plight of hapless mothers like me,” Sakina said.

Sakina said her “freedom fighting” husband died in gunfight with soldiers in Maguindanao six years ago, forcing her children to stop schooling and become virtual street mendicants if not susceptible to recruitment to Moro rebellion.

The Mindanao armed conflict, which started in early 1970s notably between state forces and Moro rebels, has already reportedly left more than 200,000 people slain and scores others maimed. Several thousands of housewives like Sakina have been widowed and three-folds more children orphaned in the process.

Jamila, another war-widowed Moro housewife from Lanao del Sur province, said the NCMF should serve as an avenue for the government to alleviate the plight of families that have suffered from the havoc of war in Mindanao.

“The government has not been attending to our miserable lives. We could only wish that the NCMF with its pioneer female leadership would turn our dream into reality,” said Jamila, who has been engaged in a sidewalk retailing business to feed her three kids after the loss of her husband in the 2000 all-out war in Mindanao.

Lucman’s recent appointment as pioneer chairperson of NCFW made her the country’s first woman to head a national agency tasked to serve the welfare of the nation’s estimated 11 million Muslim populace.

The defunct Ministry of Muslim Affairs and the succeeding Office on Muslim Affairs had been ruled by over a dozen of male executives until the dissolution of the latter agency under Republic Act 9997, which president Arroyo signed into law on February 18 to establish the NCMF.

Among the past heads of OMA was former Ambassador Dr. Alibasher Lucman, the husband of the NCMF’s first administrator, who assumed office last March 26.

Various groups from the academic, religious, traditional, youth, business and women sectors have welcomed Lucman’s pioneer leadership of the NCMF, describing it as a breakthrough in the increasing call for women empowerment in government affairs.

Even members of the media in Mindanao have painted rosy prospects for the NCMF under Lucman, who has earlier served government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Cooperative Development Authority, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in national capacities.

Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) lead convenor Amina Rasul also lauded President Arroyo for installing Lucman to the NCMF, which she hoped could “really do something” for the underserved Muslims communities in the country.

Last Sunday, Lucman acknowledged the “valuable supports” of religious groups like the Ulama League of the Philippines and the Bishops-Ulama Conference through ULP president Judge Aboali Cali and Dr. Hamid Barra for endorsing her strongly to the NCMF top position, which is a cabinet-rank slot.

In her first 100 days in office, Lucman said, she would push for the prompt fleshing out of the transformational structure of the NCMF from the defunct OMA in order to ensure a “solid foundation for improved services for Muslim Filipinos.”

The NCMF was created through Republic Act 9997 signed by President Arroyo on February 18, replacing effectively the 23-year-old OMA.

Under the law, NCMF also has eight slots for commissioners representing different Muslim sectors which the President filled up with maiden appointees.

Appointed as commissioners are Alladin I. Ampatuan (Maguindanao), Solaiman C. Mutia (Lanao del Norte), Hatimil E. Hassan (Basilan), and Raida B. Maglangit (women sector), former mayor of Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur.

The four others are Mufti Jaafar (Tawi-Tawi), Moner M. Bajunaid (Maguindanao), Atty. Edilwasif Baddiri (Sulu, youth sector), and Aleem Sharief Julasiri Abirin (Sulu, ulama sector). (Ali G. Macabalang)

Mammoth crowd attend Tonton Acharon rally in General Santos City









Strong supporters of noted lawyer Tonton Acharon and his party gather in General Santos City. Acharon is running for mayor in General Santos City where he is popular. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) - It was by far the largest and the biggest political gathering seen in General Santos City’s recent history as 20,000 people converged at the Oval Plaza to witness the kick-off rally of the Bagong Gensan Movement (BGM) under the leadership of noted lawyer Tonton Acharon who is seeking to become the next mayor here after the May 10 elections.

The thousands in attendance who came Saturday from General Santos’ 26 barangays cheered, clapped and mustered unity as Acharon, an Ateneo-trained lawyer, and his party, laid in details their platform of government and wish-list as part of a larger cause to bring about change and better management in the city’s governance.

It can be recalled that the critics recently hit the city’s present leadership for its snail-paced approach to the economic and environmental crisis hounding General Santos, in part brought by the lack of alternative ways to help struggling families hit hard by the said crisis.

With his 12 councilors in tow, Acharon could only thank the mammoth crowd who braved the searing heat if only to hear him and the rest of his party mates speak.

Earlier, before the rally Plaza could start, a 300-car motorcade crisscrossed General Santos major thoroughfare with BGM candidates hopping in their respective floats.

“Ang akong vision para sa Gensan mao nga himuon nato nga usa ka world-class, peaceful and prosperous kini atong syiudad sa 2022,” Acharon boldly declared before an enthusiastic crowd, “kay panahon na nga ang magdumala sa Gensan mao mismo ang mga lumad nga mamumuyo sa Gensan,” he added.

Acharon told the crowd that he was born and raised in General Santos and continues to make a living as a lawyer for the poor and the oppressed in the city.

“Dili pareho sa ubang politiko nga ginahimo lamang ang Gensan nga murag ilang extension office kay didto sila namuyo ug gatrabato sa Metro Manila,” Acharon stressed.

Interest in the form of good serviceFor his part, Ronnel Rivera, an Acharon-ally and a candidate for councilman in General Santos, said: “Wala nako huna-hunaa nga ingon niini man diay kadaghan ang mutambong karong hapona. Nagapasabot lang ni nga nagapangayo na ug pag bag-o ang katawhan sa General Santos.”

Members of the Rivera family are known philanthropist in General Santos and own the RD Group of Companies and RD Foundation, which is active in helping the poor.

“Bilang usa ka negosyante, akong utangon ang inyong mga boto,” Rivera said in his speech. “Ayaw kamog kabalaka kay bayaran ug interesan ko kamo ug maayo ug limpyong pangserbisyo,” Rivera professed.

“Ang gipakitang simpatiya sa mga taga suporta sa Bagong Gensan Movement usa ka tin-aw nga indikasyon nga ang mga taga-General Santos gusto nang bag-uhon ang padagan sa pamolitika sa atong syiudad,” Sannie Sombrio asserted.

Sombrio, a former ABS-CBN reporter, is running for a council seat in General Santos under Acharon’s movement, the BGM.

Festive atmosphere

The rally had a festive atmosphere as food and drinking water came in handy brought by the audience themselves.

The different sectors in the city came in full force, including businessmen, representatives from the academe, students and youth organizations, groups from the urban poor organizations, farmers and fisher folk, Muslim and Lumad groups, senior citizens, among others.

The candidates also released balloons and other symbols signaling the dawn of the “new General Santos City.”

Just to hear Tonton speak

“Ako gikan pa sa Fatima. Ako ug akong lima ka anak naa diri karon para lang makakita kang Tonton Acharon,” resident Bebing Flores said, adding, she had to borrow fare to pay for the jeep to bring her and relatives to listen to Acharon speak during the rally.

“Niundang ko ug pamasada pagkakita nako nga nagdasok ang mga tawo sa Oval Plaza. Akong gipaminawan si Tonton Acharon ug akong naangayan ang iyang gipabutyag nga mga plano para sa syiudad nga usa ka pang-gobyerno nga walay ginapili nga klase sa tawong serbisyohan,” a tricycle driver, Arnold Sanchez, said.

Sanchez vowed to vote and campaign as a volunteer for Acharon and his party mates.

Members of Acharon’s Bagong Gensan Movement slate are Engineers Butch Acharon and Rommel Catolico, lawyers Art Cloma, Rafael Montilla, Abraham Nilong, Juliet Cunanan, Domdom Lagare III, Ed Sunga and Alfredo Toroctocon. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Triumphant Hero's Welcome For Gibo In Tarlac

PANIQUI, Tarlac — Tens of thousands of locals here momentarily dropped what they were doing, and spilled out into the streets, crowding marketplaces, school stadiums, and other major thoroughfares to welcome their hometown hero, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gibo Teodoro.

Through a blizzard of green confetti, ear-splitting cheers and music, the Tarlaceños united to show their support for the former defense secretary in his epic journey to the May 10 presidential elections. The fresh-faced Gibo visited Thursday a slew of Tarlac municipalities, including Tarlac City, Sta. Ignacio, Camiling, and Paniqui, among others.

In Metro Manila the next day, the metropolis also turned green as thousands of Gibo supporters lined its major thoroughfares for the launching of Green Day, which was highlighted by the signing by Gibo, his running mate Edu Manzano and the six administration senatorial bets of a “Green Covenant”.

The Covenant commits them to pursue pro-poor policies; ensure clean government that is always “on the go” to respond promptly to the nation’s needs, consistent economic growth, a sustainable environment, hope for a bright future and love of country and people.

After a “Green Day” motorcade around Metro Manila, Gibo proceeded to repeat his triumphant return to Tarlac and capped the opening salvo of campaigning for local candidates by attending a grand proclamation rally in Cebu organized by Gov. Gwen Garcia.

“Ang Tarlac ay 100% sumusuporta kay Gibo, kaya hindi ako naniniwala sa mga sinasabi sa surveys, [Tarlac is 100% in support of Gibo, that’s why I don’t believe in those surveys],” Gov. Bogs Aganon said of the former House Representative for the First District of Tarlac province.

“Mahal na mahal siya ng Tarlaceño kasi maganda ang pinakita niyang panunungkulan, makatao, malinis ang track record, at siya ang tunay na maka-masa, [The Tarlaceños love him because of his style of leadership, he is for the people, he has a clean track record, and he is truly for the masses],” added the Governor.

The 1989 bar topnotcher and Harvard-trained lawyer was in the Tarlac last Thursday to touch base with his original constituency of around 650,000 voters.. He was broadsided by an overwhelming welcome from his “kababayans” in return. As the locals flocked to Gibo to get a glimpse of their chosen candidate, many were teary-eyed as they rushed to shake his hand, while some just wanted to get a glimpse of his youthful visage. Mostly, the Tarlaceños wanted to hear what he had to say.

“This visit to Tarlac is very emotional for me,” Gibo told the people of Tarlac in his local dialect. “This is the last time that I will be able to serve you officially in whatever capacity.”

The presidentiable added that although he will be in other provinces during the campaign period, he is confident that the Tarlaceños will support, and even campaign for him and for his vice president Edu Manzano, the senatoriables, mayors, and other local government officials running under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD ticket.

Gibo reminded the people that it is time for the Tarlaceños to show the rest of the country that they are for clean elections, and that they are independent thinkers.

“Kailangan natin ng independent thinking, sipag, talino, at galing ng sarili. ‘Wag nating i-asa sa makalumang politika,” said Gibo. “Ako’y malayang-malaya mag-isip ng tama, ‘yung nasa tingin kong tama, at ganyan din dapat ang mga Tarlaceño (We need independent thinking, hard work and belief in oneself. Let us not depend on old politics. I myself am a free thinker. What I feel is right, I fight for, and that is what Tarlacenos should be all about).”

Former press secretary Mike Toledo, Gibo’s spokesman and director of the G1BO 2010 Media Bureau, said that the party’s dominance in the local polls will help deliver a decisive number of votes for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer, on top of his apparent lock on the votes of young voters, who account for a majority of this year’s electorate.

At least 51 provincial governors have given their full backing to Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro during a week that saw the former defense secretary topping or moving up fast in the latest public opinion surveys or mock polls in universities and colleges.

Gibo came in 1st or 2nd in the latest mock polls in universities or universities, proving anew, according to Toledo, the apparent lock of the 1989 bar topnotcher on the votes of students and other young voters, who comprise a majority of this year’s voters.

Also, Gibo stamped his mark in a series of presidential preference surveys conducted nationwide by broadcast media giant Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) through the month of March, snagging first place in one city and numbers two or three in other parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

In a manifesto of support adopted last week, the governors, said their decision to back Gibo was reached after careful consideration of the track record, qualifications and platform of government of each of the presidential bets in this year’s national balloting.

“Having completed our review, our candidate for President has to be ‘Gibo’ Teodoro and no other, and for whom we hereby commit ourselves to campaigning nationwide, among our local constituencies—our vice-governors, our board members, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, barangay captains and other local leaders— with the view to delivering to him the highest possible number of votes in our local areas,” the governors said in their joint manifesto.

The pro-Gibo manifesto was signed by, among others, Governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Amado Espino of Pangasinan, Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental, Teresita Lazaro of Laguna and Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija, Michael Keon of Ilocos Norte; Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur; Casimiro Ynares III of Rizal; Joey Salceda of Albay; Jesus Typoco Jr. of Camarines Norte; Sally Ante Lee of Sorsogon; Erico Aumentado of Bohol; Salvacion Zaldivar Perez of Antique, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD show force in Sulu





Some 15,000 people paraded Monday, March 29, 2010 in Jolo town in Sulu province during the proclamation rally of the ruling political coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD headed by Governor Sakur Tan, who is seeking reelection in the forthcoming May general elections. Tan is campaigning for former defense chief Gilberto Teodoro who is running for the presidency, and his vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano. The proclamation rally is the biggest so far in Sulu’s political history. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 29, 2010) – Some 15,000 people paraded Monday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu in a show of force in the proclamation rally of the President Gloria arroyo’s political coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, the local coalition chairman, led the rally and vowed support to the government’s candidates headed by former defense chief Gilberto Teodoro who is running for president in the May national and local polls.

Tan, who is seeking reelection, also introduced his official slate with Abdel Anni as his running mate. Most of Tan’s candidates are veteran politicians and incumbent officials whose track records have been proven in the past.

“Let us continue what we have started – peace and order and economy and development and progress of this beautiful province – remain our top priority. Let’s all unite for peace and progress and future of Sulu,” Tan, a known philanthropist, told cheering supporters.

He also campaigned for Teodoro and Manzano and the coalition candidates for the Senate and Congress. The proclamation rally, attended by various civil society groups and various peoples’ organizations, was so far the largest in Sulu’s political history.

Supporters of Tan estimated the crowd to be 15,000-20,000 who paraded around the capital town of Jolo. Hundreds of residents also lined up the streets to welcome the rally.

“If elections are to be held today, the whole slate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD will win hands down – from the presidential candidate down to the municipal council. Governor Tan, in his three years as our leader, brought us progress and development,” said Amir Sakandal, a trader.

Filipinos are to choose their new leaders in the first ever automated elections in May 10. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sayyaf camp falls in Sulu, sub-leader killed in firefight with troops

Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron in this undated photo from the US Rewards for Justice Program. (Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 28, 2010) – Government troops captured an encampment of the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, the military said Sunday.

It said an undetermined number of militants were also killed and two soldiers wounded in the fighting Friday that led to the fall of the encampment in the hinterland village of Panglayahan in Patikul town.

“The camp, which was strategically located at the foot hill of the mountainous Sinumaan complex, was heavily defended by about fifty Abu Sayyaf fighters. They, however, retreated after a fierce firefight resulting to numerous casualties on the terrorist while two Marines were wounded,” said Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero, commander of military forces in Sulu province.

The fighting was part of the military operation to capture senior militant leader Radullan Sahiron, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace deal with Manila in 1996.

It was unclear whether Sahiron was in the camp during the fighting or if he had escaped the offensive. But one of Sahiron’s aide was killed in the fighting and that his body was recovered at the weekend.

Troops also recovered 57 rockets and assorted weapons from the camp, Guerrero said.

Sahiron is one of top Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by the United States for terrorism.

Washington also offered as much as $1 million reward for the capture of Sahiron, who was one of those behind the kidnappings of 21 mostly Western holidaymakers in Malaysia’s resort island of Sipadan in 2001 and three US citizens, including 17 Filipinos kidnapped from the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan province in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Comprehensive planning on plight of refugees needed — UN mission

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Comprehensively planned efforts are needed to address the nagging plight in refuge centers of conflict-affected villagers and end the cyclical evacuation in this oft-embattled province, according to a United Nations mission.

“We have yet to develop a good plan for the internally displaced persons in the region,” said Australian Counselor Neil McFarlane of a United Nations team, who visited evacuation centers here and in nearby Maguindanao towns on March 25.

McFarlane, head of a 12-member UN-Office of the Commission on Humanitarian Aid visiting mission, said that “so much has yet to be done” to restore to normal the life of thousands of evacuees housed in evacuation centers in this province and other troubled spots of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

It was learned that the UN-OCHA delegation was tasked to conduct actual inspections of refuge centers and recommend interventions that would hasten the return of evacuees to their places of origin under better economic status.

McFarlane was accompanied by Geert Vansistjan of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Michael Curtis – head of Sector DG ECHO 01; French Permanent Mission Jean Paul Seytre; Suzanne Loughlin – New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Oystein Lyngroth – Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Emma Leonard – Ireland Irish Aid; Nance Kyloh – USAID; Gi Domingo – AusAID; and Nick Horne, Carmen Van Heese and Akiko Yoshida, all of OCHA.

The group visited three evacuation centers here where its partner agency, the World Food Program, distributed its last batch of rice loaded in 11 delivery trucks for distribution to some 11,752 evacuees who have recently returned home after their respective areas were cleared by government forces of Muslim rebels.

Each evacuee-family of five received five kilos of rice and a kilo of mongo seeds during the visit, WFP National Program Officer Michael Argonza said.

Over 33,000 individuals were displaced in at least 11 towns of Maguindanao, including this town, following the outbreak of conflict between military and Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces in August 2008.

The conflict stemmed from a Supreme Court decision junking an ancestral domain deal drafted by government and MILF peace negotiators to pave the way for the inclusion of some 700 villages in an expanded ARMM area to be called Bangsamoro Judicial Entity.

Records provided by the ARMM’s Department of Social Welfare and Development said that as of March 23, at least 16,131 individuals are still staying in various evacuation shelters in Maguindanao. (Ali Macabalang)

NPA rebels raid DOLE campsite in Philippines

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 28, 2010) – Philippine Maoist rebels raided a pineapple plantation in the southern island of Mindanao and destroyed equipment after a failed extortion, security officials said Sunday.

Officials said New People’s Army rebels stormed the village of Guinhalinan in Surigao del Sur’s Barobo town late Saturday and destroyed four excavators and two bulldozers owned by a sub-contractor of DOLE Philippines, Inc.

“Armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army’s Guerilla Front 14 swooped down on DOLE’s camp site and burned four backhoes and two bulldozers. The burning was related to DOLE’s refusal to give in to the extortion demands of the New People’s Army,” said Army Major Michelle Anayron, a spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division.

Dole Philippines is a leading multi-national company that operates fully integrated agricultural and industrial facilities, with a 24,000-acre base plantation, two cannery complexes, with a can and packaging and fresh fruit plants; shipping and wharf operation with a box and labels plant. It has an additional 18,000 acres of grower farms within the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani in Mindanao and employs almost 6,000 regular employees.

It was the second attack by the rebels in two days. Some 50 communist rebels on Friday also raided the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.

Major General Mario Chan, the regional army commander, branded the attack as terrorism and ordered troops to track down the rebels.

“It has been a pattern for the New People’s Army to extort money from legitimate companies. Those who refused to give money are punished by the New People’s Army – they target top management officers for liquidation or burn their equipment like what the New People’s Army did to DOLE Philippines,” he said. “This is clearly an act of terrorism; indeed kidnap-for-ransom is what separates the New People’s Army from the Abu Sayyaf.”

The Abu Sayyaf has been linked by Philippine authorities to the spate of terrorism and kidnappings of wealthy traders in exchange for ransom. It is also tied by authorities to the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terror groups.

The NPA is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. Government peace talks with rebels collapsed in 2004 after communist negotiators accused President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several humanitarian agreements, among them the release of all political detainees in the country and to put a stop on extrajudicial killings of activists opposed to Arroyo’s rule. (Mindanao Examiner)

Mindanao joins Earth Hour 2010




A torch is lighted to give light as darkness sweeps over Davao City in Mindanao as hundreds, including members of the Boy Scout of the Philippines, join the Earth Hour. The youth led by KABATAAN Party-list in Davao City also staged a “snake” rally denouncing the Arroyo administration for the alleged outright sell-out of the environment and natural resources to foreign multi-national corporations. (Photos by Karlos Manlupig)


DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 28, 2010) – Hundreds of people lit torches and switched off their lights in Davao City in Mindanao as they joined the world in Earth Hour 2010 to save energy and make a stand against climate change.

Members of the Boy Scout of the Philippines and the Kabataan Party List also joined the Earth Hour 2010 in Davao City. The party list group also took the occasion to air its grievances against President Gloria Arroyo’s policies on the environment and energy and other social issues.

In Kidapawan and Zamboanga and other key cities in Mindanao, lights were also turned off to conserve energy. People from all walks of life also joined Earth Hour 2010.

But many areas in the southern Filipino region were also in total darkness because of power outage due to the continued dry spell. In Zamboanga City, many villages were without lights and black out can be as long as three hours every night.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating, according to the website earthhour.org.

It said global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 took place on March 27 at 8.30 p.m. and was a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It was a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future.

Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas stood in darkness and people across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and joined together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – the planet. (Geo Solmerano and Karlos Manlupig contributed to this report.)

Gibo Rules In Campus Mock Polls

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro continues to dominate the mock elections for presidential candidates in school campuses nationwide as shown in the latest poll results in two top universities, which reflect his significant improvement in recent independent surveys, particularly among the youth.

At the University of Asia & the Pacific, Gibo was the runaway winner in the mock polls with 44% of the total number of 1,076 students who had voted choosing him as the country’s next president.

His rating is a 17% lead over the second top choice, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, with 27%. Sen. Richard Gordon was in third place with 17%, while Sen. Manuel Villar followed with 7%, and former Joseph Estrada and Councilor JC de los Reyes with 2% each. TV evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva got 1%.

At the St. Louis University in Baguio, Gibo, a former defense secretary, Harvard-educated lawyer and 1989 bar topnotcher, also emerged as the top choice of students with 241 out of the total of 760 votes cast.

Aquino was again in second place with 231 votes, followed by Villar with 161 votes. Gordon got 76 votes, while Estrada got 12, Villanueva 21, Nicanor Perlas 8, disqualified candidate Vetaliano Acosta, 5, Sen. Jamby Madrigal 4, and De los Reyes, 1.

At the Ateneo de Davao University, Gibo was second to Aquino who got the top spot in the mock polls. Gordon was third, followed by Villar, Estrada, Villanueva, De Los Reyes, Perlas and Madrigal.

Besides these mock elections, Gibo also topped an informal poll of presidential candidates conducted recently among leading alumni and officers of the University of the East (UE) at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Leading representatives from the UE colleges of business administration, engineering, arts and sciences, computer science, and dentistry, took part in the small, but influential straw vote, which resulted in Gibo beating the other presidentiables.

“The secret balloting, which was done on a spur of the moment after our regular monthly meeting, clearly shows that within a group of thinking voters such as business professionals, academics and even undergraduate students, Gibo always wins due to his obvious intelligence and no-nonsense platform of government,” said Jesus Tanchanco, former National Food Administration administrator and UE adviser for alumni affairs.

Tanchanco said the participants in the voting were all leading figures in their respective professions. “They felt that Gibo’s substance is his best quality in the sense that while others give motherhood statements, Gibo touches on specifics on what he actually intends to do when he becomes president.”

Lawyer Mike Toledo, the former press secretary who is now Gibo’s spokesman and director of the G1BO 2010 Media Bureau, said the outcome of the UE balloting dovetails with the significant improvement in Gibo’s ratings in recent independent surveys, particularly as he starts converting young Filipinos, along with other voters to his side every time they hear him speak, and get to know about him and his impressive credentials and concrete platform of government.

The results of the latest campus mock polls were released after an independent survey done by the research firm Campaigns and Image Group in the period ending March 7 showed Gibo already No. 2 among the voters’ preferences for President with a 24% rating.

The survey of Campaigns and Image, which was done by sector and by age brackets, was able to trace where Gibo’s strengths lie—which is among voters aged 18-28 and 29-39 years old.

Toledo said Gibo’s “secret weapons”—the youth which comprises the biggest voting bloc in this year’s national balloting, and the formidable campaign machinery of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD CMD—will carry Gibo to victory in the May 10 elections.

Gibo has also topped the mock elections held earlier at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he beat Aquino, an alumnus, for the top spot; the De La Salle University, where he clobbered other presidentiables with a commanding 67% share of the votes; and Holy Angels University in Pampanga.

At the University of Sto. Tomas, Gibo was statistically tied with Aquino, garnering 34.7 percent and 33.5 percent of the votes, respectively.

Over the past months, Gibo has impressed not only students, but even government critics, veteran journalists, business leaders and other professionals, during presidential debates and forums.

Toledo said that being the administration bet, Gibo has the backing of the country’s largest political party. “The surge in his ratings will be complemented by a minimum 15% of the votes that would be delivered by the formidable political machinery of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD CMD down to the grassroots,” he added.

The ruling party has candidates for 170 or 73.9 percent of all House seats up for grabs, 64 or 80 percent of the 86 gubernatorial posts, 86 or 71.7 percent of the 126 mayoralty seats and 1,043 or 69 percent of all seats for municipal mayors.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

ARMM holds consultation on gender, development code and Magna Carta for Women


Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Ziahur Rahman Alonto Adiong (1st from Left) joins the group of young lady officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as panelists and resource speaker during the Conference on the Magna Carta of Women here in Cotabato City on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Also shown (from left to right) are lawyer Christina Hawtay Jovero, OIC, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights –Region 12 and ARMM; DTI-ARMM Regional Secretary lawyer Asnairah Batua; Philippine Commission on Women executive director Emmeline Versoza as the Resource Speaker; ARMM Bureau on Cultural Heritage Executive Director lawyer Bai Ashrafiah Aymee Biruar and Regional Legislative Assembly Gender and Development focal person lawyer Bai Ysrahayda Sinsuat.

Assemblyman Adiong delivered the message of the ARMM acting regional governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong on the conference. PCW Executive Director Emmeline Versoza explains to participants of the Conference on Magna Carta of Women the salient provisions of the Republic Act 9710 Tuesday in Cotabato City. The conference was one of the activities on the month-long celebration of the Women’s Month with the theme “Babae, Tagumpay Ka Ng Bayan” spearheaded by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women.


COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Concerned sectors and stakeholders are pushing for the adoption of Gender and Development Code for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a bid to empower resident-women and enable them to participate in local development undertakings.

The Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) and the Regional Sub-Committee on Gender and Development (RSCGAD) conducted their final consultation in Maguindanao on the draft GAD Code in the region and a conference on Magna Carta for Women here on March 22 and 23, respectively.

The activity was the last of the series of provincial consultations concerning the drafting of the GAD Code, gathering local government stakeholders and development partners to brainstorm on issues and concerns involved in the prospected legislation of the code.

The adoption of the code could be “a regional landmark legislation that promotes and protects women’s rights in different areas and responds to gender issues and concerns affecting women and children in the region”, said DILG-ARMM assistant secretary and GAD Code Technical Working Group chair Sharifa Pearlsia.Dans.

The “implementation of the ARMM GAD Code will give best chances to the rural men and women to enjoy various basic programs and services, create greater participation of women in socio-economic development and active representation in the local legislative bodies in the discussion of their needs and wants”, stressed RCBW-ARMM and RSCGAD Chairperson Jasmin Domado.

The ARMM GAD Code is envisioned to be the regional translation of the Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women that was recently passed and signed into law by President Gloria Arroyo.

Like the Magna Carta for Women, the Code affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men, young and old.

Moreover, it also promotes empowerment of women and pursues equal opportunities for women and men, boys and girls, ensures equal access to resources and to development results and outcomes in the region.

In his message read by Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Ziahur Rahman Adiong during the conference on the Magna Carta for Women, ARMM acting regional governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong said that “the current developments that takes place before us with respect to women are truly inspiring”.

“Women of today have remarkably conquered many frontiers on modern enlightenment and empowerment. Indeed, enlightenment and empowerment are inseparable from each other as there could be no empowerment in the absence of enlightenment,” added Adiong.

Meanwhile, a final review and consultation with the Muslim Religious Leaders (MRLs) is scheduled sometime next month to comprise and conform to their official position on the contentious provisions of the ARMM GAD Code.

The final draft of the ARMM GAD Code will be submitted to the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly for enactment into law.

Maguindanao 1st District Assemblyman Abdulradzak Tomawis will sponsor the Code and Speaker Reggie Sahali-Generale as co-sponsor.

The GAD Code consultation was spearheaded by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women in line with the celebration of the National Women’s Month in coordination with the United Nations Population Fund, Commission on Population XII and Regional Planning and Development Office.

Kabunsuan’s displaced workers get benefits

Asmad Enok, serving the government for over 20 years (left), receives a check worth more than P600,000 representing the "monetized terminal leave" following his displacement from the abolition by the Supreme Court of the Shariff Kabunsuan provincial government at simple rites Monday, March 22, 2010 at the ARMM complex in Cotabato City. Shown handing the check is Maguindanao OIC-Governor Gani Biruar as former SK acting Governor Ibrahim Ibay Jr. (right), Maguindanao OIC-Vice Governor Nariman Ambolodto (second from left) and ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimb (center) look on. Enok is one of 167 personnel belonging to the first batch of check recipients from P40-million fund released earlier by the national government. (Photo by Ali Macabalang)



COTABATO CITY, Philippines – After more than a year of waiting in anxiety, displaced workers of the defunct Shariff Kabunsuan province finally received their "monetized terminal leaves" under the fresh leadership of the Maguindanao provincial government.

OIC-Maguindanao Governor Gani Biruar personally distributed checks to 167 initial beneficiaries in formal ceremonies last Monday at the cultural center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here.

ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, representing acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong, in a brief speech, said the displaced personnel of the Supreme Court-abolished Shariff Kabunsuan provincial government “deserved prompt attention and every penny of their benefits.”

Sinarimbo’s remark drew resounding applauds from the beneficiaries, who admitted having suspected “something fishy” in the delayed release of their monetized terminal leaves accruing from their separation from service as a result of a Supreme Court order dissolving Shariff Kabunsuan in 2008.

Biruar said that upon his installation to office by Adiong as OIG-governor last February 24, he started receiving formation about the availability in bank of P40-million earmarked for the terminal leaves of the first batch of displaced Shariff Kabunsuan personnel.

“We got confirmation in our verifications from the Department of Budget and Management that the fund was indeed for the terminal leaves of the 167 displaced workers. So, on order of the acting ARMM governor, we promptly prepared the checks and distributed them today,” Biruar said.

Biruar expressed what he described as “immeasurable joy” over the release of the displaced personnel’s terminal pays, stressing that “justice is defined simply as giving Cesar what is due to Cesar.”

Monday’s recipients of checks belonged to the first batch of personnel of the defunct province whose application for terminal leaves were received and processed as early as early last year, it was learned.

The amounts in the checks ranged from the smallest one-year terminal leave of P7,000 to the biggest sum of P600,000 allotted to at least three displaced ranking personnel who have served the government for over 20 years, official records showed.

Biruar said there are more than 200 other displaced personnel of the defunct province who were still deciding either to apply for monetized terminal leaves or seek reemployment in the provincial government of Maguindanao.

Shariff Kabunsuan was created in 2006 out of Maguindanao province via legislation by the ARMM Regional Assembly. In 2008, however, the Supreme Court issued a ruling nullifying the process because of the assembly’s lack of power to create a Congressional district. The power belongs to Congress.

Over 400 of the personnel of the Maguindanao province, who joined the provincial government of Shariff Kabunsuan, have been displaced following the Supreme Court order. (Ali Macabalang)

Maoist rebels raid Philippine village

KIDAPAWAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 27, 2010) – Communist rebels took responsibility Saturday for the raid on a southern Philippine village that killed a government militia and wounded two more.

The New People’s Army said rebels seized 35 assorted high powered weapons in the attack Friday afternoon on the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town.

“The Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command commends the Red fighters of Front 72 for their daring attack on the Cafgu detachment of Luz Village, Mlang, North Cotabato which garnered for the people’s war thirty five high powered rifles and other military paraphernalia,” a rebel spokesman Dencio Madrigal said.

Cafgu refers to Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, a paramilitary group maintained by the military to guard villages against rebel attacks.

He said the attack lasted for about 14 minutes. “It was launched in the very heart of Vice Governor Manny Piñol’s stronghold, just a few kilometers away from the 57th Infantry Battalion headquarters. A Cafgu who resisted the attack was killed, while those who surrendered were left in peace,” Madrigal said.

“We would also like to express our most heartfelt thanks to the masses and allies of Mlang and other areas of North Cotabato who secretly and ably assisted us in our tactical offensive right under the nose of Manny Piñol whose notoriety as a despotic bureaucrat is known far and wide. Indeed, nothing is impossible for the NPA because the people support them wholeheartedly,” he added.

The Philippine Army said more than 50 rebels took part in the attack. The raiders, who arrived in a truck, were clad in black and camouflage uniforms while some disguised as farmers. They opened fired on the militias and overran the army detachment and torched six bunkers.

Colonel Benjamin Hao, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said troops were pursuing the attackers. He said the truck used by rebels had been recovered by soldiers in Tulunan town where the raiders abandoned the vehicle.
“We will not stop until they are captured,” he said.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

Government peace talks with rebels collapsed in 2004 after communist negotiators accused President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several humanitarian agreements, among them the release of all political detainees in the country and to put a stop on extrajudicial killings of activists opposed to Arroyo’s rule. (Mindanao Examiner)

51 Governors Throw Support Behind Gibo

MANILA, Philippines - At least 51 provincial governors from the country’s vote-rich regions have forged a “multiparty alliance” to campaign and deliver the votes for Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro, who they described as the “best, brightest and most capable candidate” in this year’s presidential race.

In a manifesto of support adopted last week, the governors said their decision to back Gibo was reached after careful consideration of the track record, qualifications and platform of government of each of the presidential bets in this year’s national balloting.

“Having completed our review, our candidate for President has to be ‘Gibo’ Teodoro and no other, and for whom we hereby commit ourselves to campaigning nationwide, among our local constituencies—our vice-governors, our board members, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, barangay captains and other local leaders— with the view to delivering to him the highest possible number of votes in our local areas,” the governors said in their joint manifesto.

Among those who signed the manifesto forming a “multiparty” alliance to support Gibo’s presidential bid were Governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu; Amado Espino Jr. of Pangasinan; Michael Keon of Ilocos Norte; Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur; Teresita Lazaro of Laguna; Casimiro Ynares III of Rizal; Joey Salceda of Albay; Jesus Typoco Jr. of Camarines Norte; Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija; Sally Ante Lee of Sorsogon; Erico Aumentado of Bohol; Salvacion Zaldivar Perez of Antique, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani.

They said their “multiparty alliance” was created solely to achieve the goal “campaigning only for the best, brightest and most capable candidate for President in the May elections,” who is none other than Gibo Teodoro.

The governors, who are grouped together under the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), said that after carefully studying the current crop of presidential candidates in this year’s elections, they have reached the “inescapable conclusion” that Gibo is the one candidate who “towers over the field, possessing the high intellect, courage of conviction and managerial competence to pursue the best-conceived pro-gram of government that could propel our country to new heights of economic development and growth.”

“Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. has articulated a well-thought out program and vision for the Filipino people—by far the best, and only presidential aspirant who has eschewed empty platitudes and rhetoric to provide a substantive, issue-specific program on how the country can move forward and be modernized through deep-rooted reforms and change within our democratic way of life,” their manifesto stated.

The others who signed the manifesto were Governors Josephine Sato of Occidental Mindoro; Telesforo Castillejos of Batanes; Alvaro Antonio of Cagayan; Bellaflor Angara Castillo of Aurora; Nestor Fongwan of Benguet; Floydelia Diasen of Kalinga; Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province; Enrique Garcia, Jr. of Bataan; Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino; Eustaquio Bersamin of Abra; Jose Antonio Carrion of Marinduque; Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro; Mario Joel Reyes of Palawan; Natalio Beltran III of Romblon; Elisa Olga Kho of Masbate;

Governors Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte; Felipe Hilan Nava of Guimaras; Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental; Jesus Jurdin Romualdo of Camiguin; Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte; Milagros Tan of Samar; Orlando Fua, Jr. of Siquijor; Carlito Marquez of Aklan;

Governors Ma. Valentina Plaza of Agusan del Sur; Vicente Pimentel, Jr. of Surigao del Sur; Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi; Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte; Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental; Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani; Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte; Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato; Aurora Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur; Abdusakur Tan of Sulu; George Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay; Jum Akbar of Basilan; Mamintal Adiong of Lanao del Sur; Erlpe John Amante of Agusan del Norte; and Suharto Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat.

They pointed out that “Gibo, the country’s 1989 Bar topnotcher, former three-term Congressman and former Secretary of Defense, has strength of character and unquestioned integrity.”

“[Gibo] does not only have a program of government but has courageously worked with issues of peace and development amid the rising demands of the new global economic order,” they said.

The governors also agreed that Gibo has shown “decisive leadership in promoting social and economic justice, in building bridges of understanding in our archipelagic nation of multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity, in fighting conflict and terrorism through education and economic alleviation program, and most specially in strengthening the local government units to enhance their capacity to govern, raise income and fight mass poverty as the front-line workers of government.”

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Arrest warrants vs. Maguindanao massacre suspects inilabas na!




Ang mga wasak na sasakyan na ito at ang back hoe sa kanyang likuran na pagaari ng Maguindanao provincial government na umano'y ginamit sa paglilibing ng 57 katao na walang awang pinatay nuong Nob. 23, 2009 sa bayan ng Ampatuan ay nagsisilbing alaala sa malagim na sinapit ng mga biktima, kabilang ang 32 mga journalists. Nasa pangangalaga ng pulisya sa General Santos City ang mahigpit na pagbabantay sa mga ebidensya na gagamitin laban sa angkan ng Ampatuan na inakusahan sa masaker. Itinanggi ng mga Ampatuan ang lahat ng paratang sa kanila. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 25, 2010) – Inilabas na rin sa wakas ng korte ang arrest warrants ng halos 200 katao na isinabit ng mga awtoridad sa malagim na pagpaslang sa 57 katao – 32 sa mga ito ay pawang mga journalists – sa Maguindanao province nuong nakaraang taon.

Ayon sa ulat ng ABS-CBN ay mismong si Judge Jocelyn Reyes, ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, ang naglabas ng arrest warrants para sa mga akusado, kabilang ang ilang mga “John Does.”

Ang John Does ay ang mga suspek na hindi alam ang pangalan at maari itong gamitin sa pagaresto ng mga inosenteng sibilyan at palabasin na kabilang sila sa mga akusado.

Kabilang sa mga akusado ay sina Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., ang mga anak na sina Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Jr, at iba pang mga clan members na ngayon ay nakapiit sa ibat-ibang lugar matapos silang dakpin mataposn ng Nob.23 massacre.

Kabilang sa mga nasawi ay ang asawa ni Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, kapatid at tiyuhin at mga kamag-anakan. Maghahain sana ang grupo ng certificate of candidacy ni Mangudadatu na tumatakbo bilang governor ng Maguindanao ng harangin sila ng halos 100 armado sa pangunguna diumano ni Andal Jr at saka dinala sa liblib na lugar sa bayan ng Ampatuan at doon ay walang-awang pinagtataga at pinagbabaril ang mga ito. (Mindanao Examiner)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

NPA rebels torch irrigation equipment in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – Communist rebels torched construction equipment used in government irrigation projects in an attack in the southern Filipino province of Agusan del Sur, officials said.

Officials blamed the New People’s Army for the attack which occurred late Tuesday in the village of Angas in Santa Josefa town.

“It is another case of arson perpetrated by the communist rebel group New People’s Army to extort money from uncooperative construction companies in the area. More than three million pesos worth of construction equipment used in the irrigation project undertaken by the National Irrigation Administration was destroyed.”

“This happened even if the project was meant to alleviate the plight of the farmers in the area who are reeling from the effects of the El Nino phenomenon,” said Colonel Daniel Lucero, Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the Philippine Army.

Quoting military reports, Lucero said the attackers were led by an NPA leader identified only as Ka Jamal, of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. He said the rebels briefly held Rene Amoy, who works for the MarkBuilt Construction Company, and torched the equipment before fleeing to the hills.

“In some areas where the NPA still operates, it is expected that renewed extortion activities will be imposed against companies unwilling to cooperate in the payment of NPA extortion money,” Lucero said. “Rest assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will do its duty to safeguard the industries and the people who run them in order to operate their businesses.”


He said the NPA have also resorted in collecting monies from politicians in exchange for a safe passage in areas where rebels are actively operating.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Kidapawan journalists remember Maguindanao massacre





Journalists in Kidapawan City light candles and offer prayers Tuesday, march 23, 2010 for victims of the so-called Maguindanao massacre. At least 57 people were killed, among them 32 journalists, in the province on November 23, 2009. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)


KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2010) – Filipino journalists pray as they commemorated the brutal slayings of at least 32 journalists who were among 57 people brutally murdered in the province of Maguindanao last year.

Members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines gathered Tuesday in Kidapawan City and offered prayers. Four months have passed since the gruesome killings, but the slow progress of the investigation is also putting a heavy toll on the families of the slain journalists.

The journalists were accompanying a political caravan of Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu when some 100 gunmen allegedly led by rival Andal Ampatuan Jr, the mayor of Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, intercepted them and herded them to the hills and shot.

Ampatuan and two of his brothers and father and other clan members were eventually arrested and charged in connection to the mass murder. The Ampatuans denied all accusations against them. (Geo Solmerano)

Philippines Editor Receives Death Threats

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Philippines government to urgently investigate a series of threatening messages sent to Newsbreak editor-in-chief Marites Danguilan Vitug in the national capital region of Manila in the past week.

According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an IFJ affiliate, Vitug received two text messages from an unknown mobile phone number.

One of the messages reportedly said,“Your kind is the reason why journalists are being killed. Ampatuan had valid reason to kill those journalists. I wish you were one of them.”

The message refers to the massacre of 58 people including 32 journalists in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. Several family members of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr including his son Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr were arrested as suspects in late 2009.

The threats follow the release of Vitug’s controversial book, Shadow of Doubt on March 16 which deals with allegations of corruption against judges of the Philippines Supreme Court.

Vitug is also facing a libel suit filed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco for an article she wrote about him last year.

The NUJP quoted Vitug as saying she made the threat public “because this is the best protection.”

“In an environment where attacks on press freedom are frequent and violent and all too often unpunished, all measures must be taken by authorities to quash any potential risk to the personal safety of individual media personnel,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“Only by actively pursuing justice against all perpetrators of violence against the Philippines media will the authorities be able to send a message that such impunity will no longer be tolerated.”

The IFJ stands in solidarity with the NUJP and other local media organisations as they honour the courage of their colleagues in commemorating the four-month anniversary of the November 23 massacre. (IFJ)


Link: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00453.htm