Mindanao Pilgrim 2010

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2010-02-16T23:24:00.001-08:00

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Fiesta Greetings from Mayor Samuel Co

2010-01-13T00:13:00.000-08:00

My warmest greetings and best wishes to all our people, devotees and visitors as we celebrate Pagadian City’s Parochial Fiesta in honor of El Señor Santo Niño and dubbed as “Pasalamat Festival 2010”. The first religious devotion of the Filipinos should be our devotion to the Holy Infant, an image of whom was given to Juliana, queen of the King of Sugbu by the Spanish Captain-General, Fernando de Magallanes. Accordingly, when the Visayans settled in Pagadian, they continued their devotion to the “Prince of Peace”, El Señor Santo Niño de Pagadian. For it is true indeed, that if there is peace, there is unity and if there is unity, there is industry, and if there is industry, there is progress. Peace therefore is the key element in a productive community protected and nurtured by her people, in the context of our theme “Santo Niño: Ang Tuburan Sa Tinuod Nga Kalinaw Ug Kalambuan”

Viva El Señor Santo Niño!

SAMUEL S. CO
City Mayor
PAGADIAN CITY

Irish leader hosts big reception for Sinnott

2009-12-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

FATHER Michael "Mick" Sinnott celebrated his 80th birthday last Dec.
17 in his hometown in Ireland, a day after Irish President Mary
McAleese held a reception in his honor at the Irish leader's residence
in Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, Fr. Seán Coyle, editor of Misyon
magazine, said in his blog.

Sinnott left for Ireland last Dec. 3, weeks away in freedom from his
still unidentified armed kidnappers who snatched the cleric from his
home in Pagadian City and held him captive for a month.

Coyle wrote that McAleese has been close to the Columbans since
childhood when the Irish official "used to sell our magazine, Far
East."

During the reception, McAleese praised the "quiet and modest work" of
Irish religious missionaries and paid tribute to a member of the
Kiltegan Fathers who was robbed inside his home in Kenya and brutally
murdered last Dec. 11.

The Columban Fathers and the Kiltegan Fathers were both founded in
Ireland and are societies of secular priests - not religious.

McAleese said some of the stories of 2009 had brought triumph in the
face of adversity and Sinnott's was a glowing example of that, adding
the story of the priest's captivity "started out very badly; It did
not start out a good story."

"It was a very bad story, the kidnapping of a priest of almost 80 who
was not in the full of his health. It had the potential to be a real
tragedy, with at times it seemed, small chance of a happy ending," the
president said.

Yet, McAleese said, Sinnott had come home fresh and well and was with
his family in the Áras just days before the celebration of his 80th
birthday. "It really is a privilege for this house to welcome a man of
such courage, faith and grace under fire," she remarked.

The President explained it was ironic that Sinnott's kidnapping
provided a chance to learn about the work which Irish priests "do so
quietly and modestly" and that "wonderful work which brings huge
benefit to the people [they] help and [it] also brings rightly high
regard for the Columbans."

"But it also brings, importantly, very high regard for Ireland. You
are the hands of very important work and you are the heart of that
work," she added, recognizing likewise Ireland's Ambassador, Dick
O'Brien and everyone from the Irish, European and Philippine
governments "who had worked so hard to secure Fr Sinnott's release."

McAleese then wished Sinnott "the happiest of birthdays" while Coyle
wrote a message to his fellow priest: "I thank him for his example,
his integrity, his prayerfulness and his total dedication as a priest.
I see in him a man who is truly 'configured to Christ'."

"He is a light in these dark times for the Church in Ireland," the priest added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Irish leader hosts big reception for Sinnott

2009-12-27T03:13:00.001-08:00

Sinnott left for Ireland last Dec. 3, weeks after he was kidnapped by
still unidentified armed men in Pagadian City and released a month
following government negotiations.

Coyle wrote that McAleese has been close to the Columbans since
childhood when the Irish official "used to sell our magazine, Far
East."

During the reception, McAleese McAleese praised the "quiet and modest
work" of Irish religious missionaries and paid tribute to a member of
the Kiltegan Fathers who was robbed inside his home in Kenya and
brutally murdered last Dec. 11.

The Columban Fathers and the Kiltegan Fathers were both founded in
Ireland and are societies of secular priests - not religious.

"He is a light in these dark times for the Church in Ireland," the priest added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Health, peaceful polls top media wish for 2010

2009-12-25T20:55:00.001-08:00

THE year 2009 has brought drama and achievement in the lives of
journalists too. This is the year when media personalities—for their
part—cement their evolution and unity as they are becoming prominent,
making themselves part of the news they impart.

But accustomed to such good (or bad) moments or not, several of them
contend 2009 was such an awful year, with all the problems besetting
the industry as well as their personal lives.

Apparently, the ones who replied to this paper's text survey all
together agree, given their answers and their tone for this year's
wishes was probably to set a new mood for 2010 when they see a new
bailout.

And while it seems to go beyond their desperation and awareness of
their immense role as a committed partner in the community, their
retrospection of next year's general elections is first on their list
of wishes.

Appreciating what the automated election has brought in terms of
modernizing the country's electoral process, it is sad to know that
still several, if not, many of the provincial journalists has to find
time to learn the automated election system (AES).

"Peaceful polls," was RMN-DxDR Ramil Bangues' text message to this
paper when asked of his wish for 2010. Charnyl Albarracin of the
Pagadian Express seconded.

"Peaceful, orderly elections," was DxOC-AM reporter Reynaldo Rosal's
absolute reply.

"Peaceful, clean elections in May," Ping Deliverio, editor of the
Sibugay Express, makes another inclusive answer.

"Maturity among politicians to stop killing media people," Vic del
Pilar of Mindanao Balita Local and Frontline Mindanao Online
recommended the most suitable setting.

"Good health and no more media attack," said Neptalie Batolenio of
Malindang Herald, leading the pack of mediamen who wanted to grasp
favorable vigor and wellbeing.

"More blessings, good health and success," replied Jong Cadion of
Mindanao Balita Local and Frontline Mindanao Online.

"Maintain a happy family," also said Marive Jongco of DxBZ-Radyo
Bagting, waxing her maternal instincts.

"Financial stability and salary increase," this one from Lea Agonoy of
Ummah Fi Salam while Divina Suson of RMN-DxIC wished for a car and
another raise in her salary.

For Elmer Maghanoy of RMN-DxPR, he wants "continued blessings and
guidance in relaying the truth and God's protection in times of
trouble."

John Mark Cocos of DxWO-FM may sound funny when he wished for a
"sports car and to become the president of ABS-CBN," but he later set
it right with the words "Good relations with other mediamen."

Reflecting on what worked in 2009, what didn't, what media loved and
hated and what they could have done better, Wendell Talibong of CBCP
News and DxDD-AM told this paper: "Daghang patay ug katalagman.
Naghari ang mga tikasan sa gobyerno ug midaghan ang nag-antos sa
kalisod."

Agonoy butted in, "Maguindanao massacre, a president who is not
willing to retire, typhoons, volcano eruption, climate change, MILF
and global financial crisis.'

"Worst year, full of disasters and tribulations—a sign that Jesus is
coming," quips Mark Laride of DA-RAFID.

For Ryan Rosauro of Philippine Daily Inquirer, it is because of the
upcoming political exercise in May that the social atmosphere is ripe
for intrigues, mudslinging and double talk.

"The year 2008 is better than 2009 as the latter is marred by bloody
events and calamities. People wanted better life in 2008 after the
elections but their hopes dimmed when politicians reneged on their
promises," said Ellen Ajijul of MIT-RTVN.

"These trials and challenges will be an eye opener to the people and
will reflect in their decision come 2010," explains Cadion.

Albarracin, on the other hand, observed that there was little
upliftment of economic stability in the country from the recession and
only boxer Manny Pacquiao only got richer and more famous.

"The year was full of hardships and success. Nevertheless, its time
nga magpasalamat kita sa kahitas-an sa mga kaayuhan nga gihatag ug
sugaton nato ang bag-ong tuig nga puno sa paglaum," ended Maghanoy.

Well said, the next step now is to see media's goals and wishes come
in the upcoming year. Inevitably, the future is moving in that
direction.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Roy leads LP’s reform-oriented bets

2009-12-25T00:32:00.001-08:00

THE ranks of the Liberal Party (LP) in Zamboanga del Sur may be few
but it sure is composed of reform-oriented local officials and
candidates led by incumbent Vice Gov. Roseller "Roy" Ariosa.

Ariosa, former ally of Gov. Aurora Cerilles in Lakas-Kampi, is running
against the governor's husband, 2nd District Rep. Tony Cerilles, for
the governorship.

Ariosa ties up with another of Cerilles' former protégé, Lakewood
mayor Domingo "Doming" Ariosa.

"We are ready to face and present to the people our platform together
with my line-up," Ariosa told this paper over the weekend.

He adds LP's platform is to have a "change in the system through the
implementations of new programs and good services to the people
without any political color."

Running against the governor in her bid for the representation in the
second district is lawyer Romeo "Boyet" Vera Cruz, vice chairman of
the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Broadcaster Dinah Marasigan, Cesar "Diolo" Dacal, Mario Fermindoza,
Hope Florendo of Labangan and former NBI agent and lawyer Glen Peralta
compose LP's lineup for the first district provincial board.

Lawyer Tersindo "Dodong" Poloyapoy is running against the governor for
congressman in the second district along with colleagues Emiliano
Deliverio, Andres "Andy" Nacilla, Dr. Lucas Leonardo Jr. of Guipos,
former Tabina mayor Romulo Vic Lomo and former Bayog mayor Emercindo
Fullo as guest candidate for the second district.

"We did not put-up candidate for mayor in Pagadian City except for
lawyer Tata Quicoy and mediaman Anacleto "Boy" Deliverio because we
believe in the leadership of Mayor Sammy Co, his programs and
development for the city," Ariosa justified.

However, the vice governor said that in the municipal level for the
first district, the LP has filled up candidates from Mayor down to the
municipal councilor except in Ramon Magsaysay.

For the second district, they only filled five towns with complete
line-up: San Pablo, Dinas, Tigbao, Tabina and Lakewood while in
Dumalinao, the LP fielded one candidate for vice mayor along with
candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan. The rest of the municipalities
have guest candidates.

"I hope that the people will vote wisely and choose right the person
they believe can give real public service. With the election
automation, I believe that cheaters will have no chances to do their
schemes," Ariosa said.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Sammy Co’s ‘Fantastic 4’

2009-12-24T21:01:00.001-08:00

IN the potpourri of old timers, veteran lawyers and successful
entrepreneurs completing the local slate of Mayor Samuel Co, four new
faces did not escape the eye of the media.

Who are they? Will they hog the headlines and squeeze for voters'
preference in the next year's elections just like the old timers and
the veterans?

First is Alexander "Jun-Jun" Co Jr. The 23-year old is a hotelier and
Mayor Sammy Co's nephew. He is said to be a "substitute" for his
uncle, incumbent councilor Wilson Co, who opted not to run again owing
to health concerns.

A business administration and computer application graduate of La
Salle University in Cebu City, Jun admits he's a greenhorn in politics
and was hesitant at first.

"My uncle taught me the importance of coming out of my comfort zone
and start serving other people. It was an insight and from that time I
thought I am capable of becoming a humble servant," he added.

"In life we had to be determined. Achieving things does not depend on
age but on determination."

"Business wisdom is my forte that I can apply in the political arena
in the interest of public service and maximized potential and develop
to gain more business investors in the city," Co said.

Jun notes that he can make breakthroughs in the tourism, business and
youth sectors.

Next in Co's list is Aniceto Galon, a retired judge and former city
councilor who wants to make a comeback from his long respite.

He says he has reached the highest point of his career and wants "to
go back to his first love," which he mean as the city council.

As a young lawyer then, Galon has served for two terms in the
pre-martial law years before he shifted career and worked his way up
in the judicial courts.

"Akong gibati nga ang pagserbisyo sa lungsod walay kinutuban. Kung
nangandoy ko sa pagserbisyo sa publiko niadtong batan-on pa ko nga
kulang pa ko og kasinatian, labaw na siguro karon mapuslan ang akong
kasinatian nga edaran na ko," he said.

"Kung magustuhan sa katawhan akong tanyag kanila, ang akong gisaligan
sa akong pagpapili ug ang igarantinya ang akong tiunay nga
pagserbisyo," Galon added.

For lawyer Carlos "Caloy" Madarang III, taking his sights on public
service will be a specialty since as a lawyer, for example, he can
offer his services to the council and to the people.

"Being a rookie in the political arena I don't want to brag myself.
The task and work of a councilor will not be new to me. So far I'm
still hopeful and continue to pray for the blessing of the Almighty
and the people so that this bid will be successful," the former
provincial legal officer said.

Last but not the least is businessman and contractor Roque "Nonoy"
Yamba, who is also the president of the Baganian Broadcasting
Corporation and general manager of DxBZ-AM and DxCA-FM.

He said: "Kung unsa man gani ang tahas nga ihatag sa katawhan, akoang
himuon alang sa kalambuan sa siyudad," was his no-nonsense words.

On the sideline is incumbent board member Baldomero "Baleleng"
Fernandez—a private lawyer and formerly the provincial and city
prosecutor of Zamboanga del Sur.

Banking on his vast experience in law practice and as a seasoned
legislator, Fernandez said that he will focus on the needed
regulations and policies for a more progressive regional center.

"Nagtan-aw ko nga taga-dinhi man gyod ta ug basin aduna tay dako nga
mahimo ug ikatampo sa pagpanday sa balaod alang sa kalambuan sa
siyudad," he stressed.

Fernandez added that he wants to initiate laws that will benefit the
senior citizens, revenue collections and the poor.

For his part, Co said that their lineup went through the rigorous
selection process of their party and that he believes this chosen crop
will help propel the city to make more progress.

The mayor calls them a "teamwork of young, energetic and committed
people" that can lend a hand in propelling the city to sure
development.

"With this lineup, we will try our very best nga modaug gyod ang
tanan," the mayor added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION

Statement on Ampatuan's ill gotten wealth, election fraud

2009-12-10T23:21:00.001-08:00

In recent days, military raids in Maguindanao have revealed much more
than high-caliber firearms; the raids have made public 16 homes in
Davao City and 14 mansions in Maguindanao, all belonging to the
Ampatuans.

While the Ampatuans wallow in splendor and grandeur, their
constituents suffer the hardship of squalor and poverty that is
prevalent in the third poorest province in the country.

The question is, where did all this wealth come from? Gov. Andal
Ampatuan's Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) for 2002 shows
only a net worth of P11 million. As public servants, Gov. Ampatuan and
the rest of his family must answer to the people for amassing a
suspicious amount of wealth while in power.

More importantly, the discovery of thousands of voter's identification
cards and other election materials in the home of Shariff Aguak Mayor
Anwar Ampatuan is a tell-tale sign of the source of their wealth, and
is further evidence of the long-standing rumors that the powerful
Ampatuan clan was involved in rigging the 2004 and 2007 elections.

It is no secret that the Ampatuans count themselves as the staunch
allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and that the province
where the Ampatuans have wielded their iron grip for more than a
decade is a known bulwark of the administration. The tragedy in
Maguindanao has now shed light into the ghost of electoral fraud that
has continued to haunt GMA's presidency.

We have had enough. We call on the Office of the Ombudsman and the
Department of Justice to conduct an immediate and impartial
investigation into the apparent ill-gotten wealth that is a stark
example of the corruption that has eroded our democracy, and the
fruits of this administration's efforts to deceive our people of its
legitimacy.

ATTY. EDWIN LACIERDA
Spokesperson (0917-6293416)
Presidential Campaign of Benigno S. Aquino III

Slowly digging one’s own grave

2009-12-10T17:20:00.001-08:00

THE ones responsible for the Maguindanao massacre should be arrested and castigated to the highest terms. Theirs deeds are too barbaric to contemplate, with no human sense and very hideous in the eyes of a civilized nation.

Imagine the new statistics of journalists killed in the Nov. 23 massacre is now at 37 with one more missing and unaccounted. All over the world, the Philippines stand embarrassed with this unfolding within our very eyes—the scattered bodies of innocent civilians, lawyers and journalists—some of whom were tortured, raped before being killed and a handful were buried alive.

We admit that many members of the fourth estate are affected by the deaths of our colleagues. We are not acting pretentious this time nor make exaggeration of this issue. Such deaths deserve our anger and indignation. It deserves our united call for justice.

Since we, as pillars of information, only work for the good of the public, we strive to give professional service for the community's collective interest in knowing what is happening around the world, in our country and our respective neighborhoods. No more, no less, not even politics.

Like our counterparts in other parts of the planet, we express their collective outcry to demand justice for the 31 journalists and media workers killed in Maguindanao. To this administration, let us once and for all stop this culture of impunity in our country, which is contributing to the string of deaths of media practitioners.

We send this statement of protest to President Gloria Arroyo for her to see the persistent episodes of this social malady. It doesn't need to have more than 100 journalists killed in their work desks or beats to rally support for our poor circumstances.

If the Philippines is one democratic country, why are there so many journalists being threatened and killed? We have been expressing this question and outrage for a long time already to no effect despite the fact that we who are left behind find it unpleasant that we too had to slowly dig our own graves. God forbid. God help us.

Pagadian, Ozamiz media light candles for fallen peers

2009-12-10T00:30:00.001-08:00

JOURNALISTS pledging memberships with the provincial chapters of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc. (ZPPI) recently held its candle-lighting tribute to the fallen journalists in Maguindanao.

NUJP chapter president Hirohito Cadion said the activity also called to mind the lives and advocacy of the five Pagadian journalists killed in the line of duty since the 1990's.

Cadion identified the five as publisher Billy Yu (1998), Olympio Jalapit (1999), Edgar Damalerio (2001), Edgar Amoro (2005) and Rolly Cañete (2006).

The lighting of candles was done in front of the Jose Rizal Monument near Plaza Luz and joined by members of the Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace, students, churchgoers and some media members from Ozamiz City.

The activity form part of the week-long annual celebration of the Mindanao Week for Peace, which ran from Nov. 6 to Dec. 2.

Cadion, in a statement relayed to this paper, said the condemnation and the protest of Pagadian journalists will not end up with the burial of the 30 working journalists slain in Maguindanao but will continue until justice will be served.

It can be recalled that of the five media practitioners killed in the Pagadian City, only the case of Edgar Damalerio earned justice with the arrest and prosecution of the supposed suspect.

Meanwhile, Ozamiz journalists were also indignant over the killing of their colleagues in Maguindanao and called for the need to initiate a treaty among politicians as a promise not to repeat the gruesome incident.

Led by NUJP chapter president Ryan Rosauro of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Jovencio Godoy Jr. of the national directorate, the journalists gathered for a 30-minute prayer vigil outside the city metropolitan cathedral and voiced out their call.

"Let us try hard not to sacrifice innocent lives in the political process or action. With what was happening in Maguindanao, I think there should be distinction but we saw none," Godoy said.

"Atoang iampo nga maundang ni kay kung magpadayon ni, nagtoo ko nga wala nay mag-media pa nga mubarog ug modala sa tingog sa katawhan kay lungguan man sa ulo og dili mauyunan ang ilang baruganan," he added.

"Atong panawagan ngadto sa mga politiko: di magdayon ang panagbingkil. Mahimo nga ang manag-away karon managsuud sa sunod ug vice versa. Hunongon na nato kini nga cycle of violence nga maoy nagpatigbabaw dinhi sa ato," Godoy continued.

"After all, sa mga politiko, ang pagpapili para man mangalagad, dili ang mohawod sa katilingban. Himuon nato nga matarong. Ang pagpatay s mga kaaway sa politika pagpangalagad lamang sa atong kaugalingon ug sa atong katuyan.

The journalists then called on the community to exercise the same vigilance. "Tabangan ninyo kami kay kung mawala na ang mga mensahero nga nagdala sa inyong mga tingog, mahimo na nga walay bili ang atong pagpuyo niining kalibutan," they said.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Famed anti-gambling bishop dies of liver cancer

2009-12-10T00:28:00.001-08:00

A bishop based in Ozamiz City who once spoke his piece vocally against illegal gambling has died of cancer, reports the Malindang Herald website.

News of Monsignor Emie Bienes' death was announced, Dec. 7, by Ozamiz Clergy President Fr. Edgar Canama, who said the 63-year old prelate died in Cebu City last Dec. 4 due to complications of liver cancer.

Bienes is the vicar general of the Ozamiz archdiocese and formerly the parish priest of St. Michael Parish in the neighboring Tangub City.

January, this year, the bishop was suddenly rushed to the hospital after he complained of abdominal pains and blurred vision while in the middle of his homily.

A source from the Bishop's Palace said then that Bienes once confided he has diabetes which also affected his liver.

"The Catholics of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz have lost a kind and dedicated priest, a good friend and trusted member of the board of consultors," Canama followed up his brief announcement.

Born on Sept. 3, 1946, Bienes was ordained priest on April 21, 1976. In his early years as a seminarian, Bienes volunteered as one of the teaching staff of St. Mary's Theologate Seminary in Gango, Ozamiz City.

The late bishop once hogged headlines for his stand against the so-called Small Town Lottery (STL), stating that "gambling breeds laziness and dependence on luck rather than hard work for livelihood."

The archdiocese will offer a nine-day requiem mass for the vicar general in all parishes and has called on priests and religious to include in their intentions the eternal repose of his soul.

At present, the bishop's remains lie in state at the St. Michael Archangel Parish in Tangub and will be brought to his hometown in Tudela on Dec. 14, where a concelebrated funeral mass will be held.

He will be interred on the same day at the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Cemetery.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

ZPPI changes guards

2009-12-10T00:24:00.001-08:00

AS a matter of urgency and necessity, the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc. (ZPPI) met last Saturday, delivered all the reports and elected its new set of officers.

Charnyl Albarracin of Pagadian Express was elected president, replacing Elmer Maghanoy of RMN-DxPR who served his full term. Albarracin's executive vice president is ex-board member Maria Dinah Marasigan, also of DxPR.

The vice presidents who will sit in the respective media divisions are Leo Santillan (MIT-RTVN) for broadcast; Jong Cadion (Mindanao Balita Local-Frontline Mindanao Online) for print; and Michael Medina (Zamboanga Peninsula News) for online.

Provincial press officer Radem Gutang was re-elected secretary while Vanessa Cagas of Baganian Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) is the new treasurer and Zamsureco information officer Levi Cabatcha as auditor.

Tony Bayamban (Mindanao Biznews), freelance journalists Leah Agonoy and Lualhati Belen, and Vic del Pilar (Mindanao Balita Local-Frontline Mindanao Online) compose the members of the board, in addition to the three past presidents: Marive Jongco of BBC, Remai Alejado of DA-RAFID and Maghanoy.

In a huddle after the election, Maghanoy told this paper his wishes to the new officers as he exhorted other fellow members: "Unta suportahan nato sila aron mapakita nato nga nagkahiusa ta bisan pa man ug managlahi ang atong outfit nga gitrabahoan."

For Albarracin, Maghanoy has these words: "Normal man sa usa ka organization nga adunay mga miyembro nga dili nato ma-satisfy, kinahangalan nga dawaton nato sa dakong pagpahiubos."

"Usahay lisod lang kayo dawaton ang kamatuoran, pero bisan pa ug unsaon nimo, mangayo lang ta ug pasaylo nga wala nimo mahatag ang tahas isip usa ka leader," he added.

More wishes for ZPPI, this time from Marasigan: "Malaumon ko nga mamahimong usa ka malambuong organisasyon ang ZPPI ug mapadayon ang nasugdan na sa grupo."

Del Pilar butted in: "Charnyl is the timely guy to rule the club. With him, we hope a new image and new challenge will emerge."

For Julius Breva of Mindanao Chronicle and Agonoy, both recognized the fresh and unsullied personality of Albarracin, who, they said, will bring innovation to ZPPI.

"This is a welcome development and Charnyl has integrity to lead. Mas makaayo kini alang sa media in Zambosur. May we practice this sense of volunteerism and always think of development for the group and not for personal interest," they said.

Jong Cadion of NUJP-Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chapter also said that he is 100 percent supporting Albarracin's leadership. "Aduna siya'y aggressiveness ug isip batan-on pa, he will be idealistic but nevertheless I will support him."

In response, Albarracin said he will try his best to bring together the local media and run ZPPI for the good of all.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

MisOc gets a taste of 3-in-1

2009-12-10T00:20:00.001-08:00

The battle lines in the top political echelon in Misamis Occidental have been drawn and it's a toe-to-toe, three cornered fight among incumbents who are former allies and acquaintances.

Pitching in for the royal rumble for the congressional seat of the second district is incumbent Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Ozamiz mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and Tangub mayor Jennifer Wee-Tan.

Also courting the votes of some 321,843 Misamisnons for their gubernatorial bid are Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Vice Gov. Francisco Paylaga Jr. and Ozamiz Vice Mayor Carlos Patricio Bernad.

Except for Ramiro and Parojinog who retained their loyalty with the ruling party, the other politicians mentioned in this report are once strong movers of Lakas-Kampi coalition.

Both Ocampos and Bernad are now pledging memberships with the Liberal Party (LP) while Paylaga opted to be a Nacionalista (NP) and Tan is in the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC).

Cracks in the Lakas-Kampi in Misamis Occidental started to show when Paylaga jumped overboard last March after being recruited by Sen. Manny Villar, followed by Bernad who tied up with Sen. Noynoy Aquino's group last November and Tan crossing towards Danding Cojuangco's camp. Lately, Ocampos' took his turn to bolt out from the ruling party and into LP, joining the surprised Bernad.

Even with this unexpected change, records from the provincial Comelec office shows Lakas-Kampi still reigning with 14 bets, followed by NP with 12, PMP with 8, LP with 4, 6 independents and a lone NPC candidate.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Statement on the death of 21 journalists in Maguindanao

2009-11-23T20:48:00.001-08:00

THE hostage-taking and killing of 21 media members in Maguindanao last Nov. 23 is a horrible illustration of a social order gone awry, an inhumane act and unequalled in recent history.

Those working journalists killed in the line of duty were only doing their job as correspondents, innocent of the political rivalry and were not even partakers of the culture of violence already happening in the territory.

We, who felt no safer even as we are away from the same danger, are also distressed and mourn the death of our colleagues who have become victims of this senseless violence and carnage.

We are also alarmed that media can now be a target of blatant assault of political enmities. The fact, that 21 of our colleagues are dead and others still missing highlights the state of political warlordism and their ugly grapple for power still being observed in some areas of the country.

We hope that government authorities will go after the persons responsible for the acts, charge and prosecute them for the crimes. May there be no more knee-jerk response but a permanent commitment by this regime to uphold our democratic ideals and protection of all working journalists.

The media, however passionate we are of our work in spreading news and information, is always neutral. We are public servants and even unfortunate volunteers who sometimes become victims of warring people of influence and power who espouse the culture of impunity, with no sense of responsibility and respect for human life.

MICHAEL MEDINA

Online editor

The Philippine Preview

Board of director, NUJP-Ozamiz City

Pioneer, Misamis Occidental News Bloggers atbp.(MONBA)

Statement on the death of 21 journalists in Maguindanao

2009-11-23T20:38:00.001-08:00

THE hostage-taking and killing of 21 media members in Maguindanao last Nov. 23 is a horrible illustration of a social order, an inhumane act and unequalled in recent history.

We, who felt no safer even as we are away from the same danger, are also distressed and mourn the death of our colleagues who have become victims of this senseless violence and carnage.

We hope that government authorities will go after the persons responsible for the acts, charged and prosecute them for the crimes. May there be no more knee-jerk response but a permanent commitment by this regime to uphold our democratic ideals and protection of all working journalists.

MICHAEL MEDINA

Online editor

The Philippine Preview

Board of director, NUJP-Ozamiz City

Pioneer, Misamis Occidental News Bloggers atbp.(MONBA)

Tasking with greater force for Sinnott

2009-11-05T20:14:00.001-08:00

FATHER Michael Sinnot's kidnapping brings to fore a lot of lessons for everyone involved for his safe release, including those in the media and the watching public. Such an incident, however recurring it may seem in these parts of Mindanao, needs special attention.

And so is the Irish priest. Whoever is subjected to an evil act deserved to be helped in every way possible, this clear attitude now coming from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which was initially suspected of abducting the aged priest.

The MILF, which has offered to help track down Sinnott's kidnappers, should also welcome the government's request to conduct an internal probe to verify reports that the priest's kidnappers are from its ranks, if they are that sincere in supporting any action towards the solution to this crisis.

And as to the Crisis Management Committee (CMC), all its efforts to help in the rescue of the kidnapped priest must be exerted without endangering the life of the priest. Their objective must be for the harmless return of Sinnott through peaceful measures including negotiations.

As to the media, both the local and national journalists should strive to report with exactness and based on facts alone, rather than destroy an already aggressive image-building effort for Mindanao as a peaceful island. News items come and go but the indispensable factor is the truth and precision of the stories, especially when one is tempted to be careless and report the baseless and the controversial just to beat the deadline..

To the authorities, including the politicians, they should be cautious also not to mislead media with their enigmatic information, as if hiding the reality for a more selfish motive. There have been earlier kidnappings in the past and the media have always been reporting it for the benefit of everybody.

Sure, everyone has boundaries: the MILF, CMC, the police, military, church, politicians and the media. But what is important is that everybody seeks to fast track Sinnott's release and that news gets reported fairly and objectively not through a cheap propaganda mileage and an affront to the current efforts.

Many have said that Sinnott's abduction was unthinkable especially after having served in Mindanao for the past 40 years. We don't know for sure what came into his heartless captors but all we know is that Sinnott has made valuable service in animation and education to mission for Mindanao. Let us therefore repay it by praying for his safe, early return.

Ma. Charisse Godoy Pinning Speech

2009-07-20T02:59:00.000-07:00

To be honest, it never crossed my mind that I will be here in front of you today as your speaker. I was like, what did I do to deserve this honor? What do I have to say? This is stunning, but on the other hand this is the one chance I will have to share with you, even for a moment, some of my experiences that hopefully will serve as an inspiration in your own struggles in life. Let me say this after some hesitations that I am happy to have the honor to deliver a talk today.

I was born to a very loving and supportive parents, who were so happy to see me after a day of false labor and almost another day of refusing to be forced out from my mother’s womb, until after I heard the clicking of the forceps. Never did I regret that day. I was raised like any other kid, taught to be God-fearing, respectful to my parents, and was allowed to enjoy my childhood. Only thing is, I was born asthmatic and was not that tall for my age as you can see. Back then, I can’t go out and travel without putting on a mask or risk asthmatic attacks especially during the night. In short, I was limited somehow on my activities due to my health problem. However, I refused to have anything of it block my way and decided to join a lawn tennis summer training, much to the surprise of my parents, on a clay tennis court that we used to have then right here in our alma mater, the misamis university. Yes, it was right here that I made my first step into becoming a member of the Philippine Tennis Team. I cannot thank Misamis University enough for that, especially the late President Nestor Feliciano. Many well-meaninged family friends feared for my health as I was very frail and sickly. I found out later that my parents gave their nod but they thought all along that after taking in all the dust from the clay tennis court I would have called it quits. My first coach told my papa he saw no future for me in tennis after the first week of running and hitting tennis balls as I was weak and was honestly told about it. I saw it as a challenge and asked my dad what to do to be strong! He was wise enough to see my interest and helped me train for extra hours during the afternoon after our morning training session during that summer. In fact I fainted after exhausting myself alone inside a pelota court owned by the columban fathers. After months of training, I not only was freed of my almost nightly attacks of asthma, but defeated all my training mates, boys and girls, in single matches during the culmination of the summer clinic. I was declared the champion, and it was the start of a very colorful campaign for the national tennis training pool. I toured almost all countries in Asia where I got my trophies because of my sport. Who would have thought I could do it?

One very important thing was impressed on me by my parents. That is never to let my achievements get into my head and relegate education to the background. You know, when I was in high school, I was winning championships left and right. Yabang no, but its true! I can only be in school for two straight weeks before campaigning for my tournament points nationwide to maintain my being in the national team for the next two weeks. I was given a module from the department of education. Two days after my return, I will have to take my exams. Never got an exemption from any of the school projects so you can just imagine my hectic schedule, not to mention my road run from our residence at santo niño village to the top of bukagan hill passing malaubang, going down and proceeding to tangub city three times a week, with my father closely following me on his jeep. Add to that the on-court workout, but it was not so hard for me as I loved the sport, did it because I want to win, and because I got to see other places because of it. My only fear then was falling out of the top ten in class as it was strictly imposed as a condition by my parents before allowing me to join tournaments. To them, I am a student, first and foremost. While other players like me were resting after their games, I was glued to my books under the shades. While they were already sleeping in their hotels during the night, I was still memorizing my notes until my father had to put me in bed after I drop my face right on what I was reading.

I got my first college athletic scholarship at the University of Santo Tomas and was lucky enough to have steered the women’s tennis team, as the number one player, to the UAAP Championship, and went on to capture the UAAP 2002 Most Valuable Player of the Year Award. After a year, I was offered another scholarship at the California State University, Los Angeles where after a few weeks I was promoted to the number one player position among ten players in the team composed of a German, a Romanian, an Armenian, a Russian and Americans. I can still remember some of my team mates loudly wondering how I got the scholarship and landed on their team. The former number one player, a German, even told me bluntly she hated me and despised me, but I defeated her during our tryouts repeatedly anyway and took her spot. Despite the usual initial doubt among my teammates due to my height (smile), add to that my being a non-American, I was declared as the player of the week twice that month, sponsored by Wilson sporting goods in the whole California area for never losing a match and defeating my opponents in straight sets. I stayed on up to almost three years and helped the women’s tennis team in several wins against big colleges in California which led to a long overdue quarter final appearance of CSULA during the regionals which was held in Honulolu, Hawaii. And once again, they honored me with an MVP award.

However, for me, the single and most important recognition I received at the California State University in L.A. was when I was presented the Most Inspirational Scholar-Athlete given by the Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award Body. According to them, I got the award which was given during a big banquet, because I am worthy of emulation. I was all by myself in a strange land they call America with no relatives, getting my education through an athletic scholarship, working 4 hours a week scorekeeping at intramural games, stacking high pile of chairs, (imagine with my height?) and cleaning gymnasiums, and another 4 hours a day at the university tutorial center as an office assistant to earn my daily allowance so I can eat. And then practicing under the heat of the California sun for 4 hours everyday to hone my skills. Cooking, washing and studying while fighting attacks of homesickness. But despite all these, I still managed to get several A’s in my report card, landing in the dean’s list. Well………, they said it not me! What they did not know was that I was merely trying to survive, and not to be sent packing back home here. So there’s really no wonder why I value that award the most.

After passing all the requirements including the exams, I was set to take the nursing proper. But after learning that it will take me 6 long years to finish my nursing in the US, I decided to come home to the Philippines. The athletic director of UST was very happy to take me in again as a scholar but my parents prevailed on me to study here at Misamis University instead, also their alma mater as according to them, as the teaching standard has taken a great leap towards improvement. It was a good move as it gave me a chance to spend more time with them before I will leave again to seek my future. When I got here, I told my parents tennis would have to take the back seat as I will concentrate on my studies. I never made it to the top of my class, but I got my heart’s wish, that is to pass the board exams, both me and my hubby. Making it to the top 8 position out of more than 80 thousand examinees nationwide was never part of the plan, but I consider it a bonus given by God. But it can only be the result of hard work and dedication, and sacrificing some of the things we love in favor of what we hope to achieve. We should never leave anything to chance. If we want something, then we should work for it.

It was really against my will to talk about all these things as it is tantamount to bragging. I will let you in on a little secret, it is embarrassing for me when somebody would praise me excessively, but this is the only way I can think of to prove to you that regular guys like you and me can actually excel in our chosen fields if we put our hearts to it. If I can do it, why cant you! It surely will not come overnight. There will be circumstances that will threaten to dampen our spirits and some people who will try to shame and put us down, like that public humiliation I was put though a year ago right inside that mini library of ours. But it is in believing in ourselves and intentionally trying to surmount and defy all odds that we will earn the right to succeed. This is the most important lesson I learned from my parents, coupled with the meaning and value of knowledge, of grabbing every single upcoming opportunities and challenges.

Anyway, I never really intended to bore you to death with my monologue (smile), but let me just take this opportunity to thank my parents, and yours too and other family relatives for their love and support and sacrifices, without which we will never be where we are now. Teachers, clinical instructors, for sharing their knowledge so we may learn, the dean and her staff for bearing with us and our kakulitan and keeping us in line, close friends who have helped and encouraged us to graduate, and in making our stay in this university truly a memorable one.

I wish you and me all the luck, a successful career, and most of all, a happy life. Graduates, Congratulations to you all!

Pinning Speech of former tennis "wonder girl"-- Maria Edna Charisse Godoy during her graduation at the Misamis University, March 2009. This speech was sent in by Charisse's father, Jun.

Call for thorough and steadfast resolution of the Rollin murder

2009-07-12T22:24:00.001-07:00

PRESS STATEMENT

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Northern Mindanao have recently announced the filing of a murder case before the Regional Trial Court in Oroquieta City against the suspect in the killing of DxSY broadcaster Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin.

Regional State Prosecutor Jaime Umpa has declared that the suspect was positively identified by Rollin’s live-in partner, Ligaya Barrero, who was with him waiting for an Ozamiz city-bound vehicle on that fateful morning of February 23, 2009 when the shooting happened.

However, Umpa acknowledged that the suspect was only the triggerman, and the mastermind in the killing is yet to be identified as well as the motive for the attack on Rollin.

We laud the efforts of the law enforcers in going after the killers, as well as the prosecuting agencies who worked for the solution of the Rollin slay.

We understand the difficulties they have undergone in order to establish the vital information that make up a legal argument before the court to pin down those involved in the brutal act.

But amid this seeming success in bringing the resolution effort to this level, we still urge authorities to continue their lookout for vital information that may have been left out, even if this could mean starting over again.
We also insist that the authorities’ focus must be guided by the highest sense of justice: punishing those responsible and sparing those who are not. It is only through this that such a revolting act against journalists will be prevented in the future.

NAPTALIE BATOLENIO, vice-chair
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
Ozamiz City Chapter
Mobile phone 09297461772

2009-07-06T23:52:00.001-07:00

Zambo drug route ‘closely watched’

THE Philippine Drug Enforcemnent Agency (PDEA) last week said they are “closely monitoring” the so-called backdoor routes of drug syndicates as they disclosed they are “strengthening their strategies” to combat the continued proliferation of illegal drugs.

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Maceda praises Cerilles

FORMER ambassador and Senator Ernesto Maceda was full of praise when he spoke of the Cerilles and Enerio families last weekend with ex-president Joseph Estrada and company visited Pagadian City for their “Lakbay Pasasalamat.”

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Roads are ‘real drivers of development in Mindanao’

ROADS are important not only for travel and relocation but it can also be seen as the “real drivers of development,” MEDCo Usec. Virgilio Leyretana Sr. said.

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Zambosur warms up for Megayon ‘09

THE Provincial Government is currently putting things in order for the one-week affair of the 57th Megayon Festival 2009.

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Zambosur offers eco-adventure tourism

LOCAL government initiatives being implemented to develop the Agro-Tourism and Heritage Complex (AHC) in Dao, this city, has already produced good results and generated interest among visitors.

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Booming businesses liven up in Zampen

AMID the financial crisis besetting the world today, certain investors have come to put up their booming businesses in Zamboanga Peninsula.

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DOH confirms first AH1N1 case in Zambopen

THE influenza A(H1N1) protection barrier in Zamboanga Peninsula is breached after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed its first A(H1N1) case.

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RPOC makes fuzz on MNLF streamer

A streamer which specifies the location of the headquarters of the so-called Bangsa Moro Republic in Labangan became a big topic in the recently concluded meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).

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15 Mindanao airport projects fast tracked

FIFTEEN airports in Mindanao classified as priority infrastructure projects will be completed by December, this year. Three of these are the big airports of Zamboanga, Dipolog and Pagadian cities.

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5 Zambosur towns stand out in 2008 MELLPI

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

MARGOSATUBIG, Molave, Vincenzo Sagun, Dinas and Dimataling came out as the top five municipalities or Municipal Nutrition Councils (MNCs) who scored big in the 2008 Provincial MELLPI.

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UNIFIED STATEMENT ON RIGHT OF REPLY BILL

2009-06-04T00:41:00.001-07:00

1. The Right of Reply Bill is an ill-conceived piece of legislation that violates two of the most cherished freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, those of the press and of expression.

2. It is both unfortunate and ironic that the principal authors of the bill in the two chambers of Congress ought to have known better, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. having earned his reputation as a champion of civil rights and Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella having been president of the Negros Press Club.

3. It is also clear, from the pronouncements of both lawmakers, that this bill is a product of the sorriest excuse for legislation – personal pique.

4. The House version of the bill, HB 3306, parrots the Senate's SB2150 except it would have the reply run a day after receipt instead of the three days the Senate grants, and seeks to impose heftier fines and the absence of self-regulation (in the case of block-timers) and sunset clauses.

5. Both bills state that "all persons…who are accused directly or indirectly of committing, having committed or intending to commit any crime or offense defined by law, or are criticized by innuendo, suggestion or rumor for any lapse in behavior in public or private life shall have the right to reply to charges or criticisms published or printed in newspapers, magazines, newsletters or publications circulated commercially or for free, or aired or broadcast over radio, television, websites, or through any electronic devices."

6. They also would mandate that these replies be "published or broadcast in the same space of the newspapers, magazine, newsletter or publication, or aired over the same program on radio, television, website or through any electronic device."

7. The danger in the right of reply bill is that it would legislate what the media OUGHT to publish or air, while casting a chilling effect that could dissuade the more timorous from publishing or airing what they SHOULD.

8. The bills would free public officials, especially the corrupt – and they are legion – of accountability and give them carte blanche to force their lies on the suffering public.

9. As one article on the right of reply bill says, "It lumps together imputations of a crime with simple criticism 'of any lapse in behavior in public or private life' or what would otherwise be considered 'fair comment.' There is no judicial review. It does not differentiate direct and indirect criticism. It has been noted that under the proposed law a journalist does not even have to be in error to draw a right of reply claim."

10. We would be the last to say that the Philippine media are without fault. Yes, we understand perfectly the frustration and anger of Pimentel and Puentevella over some media outlet's refusal to air their sides on issues.

11. Alas, but we cannot allow the sins of the few to be an excuse for the wholesale muzzling of a free press and the suppression of free expression. To do so would allow bad governance to triumph.

12. We call on Senator Pimentel and Representative Puentevella to withdraw their bills.

13. We urge the media and the people to close ranks against the passage of this bill, to challenge it before the Supreme Court if it is passed, and, if even that fails, to defy it by refusing to comply.

14. No less than our freedoms are at stake. This is a battle we cannot afford to lose.

WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE SIGNING OF THE LAW ON RIGHT OF REPLY!

OWWA helps displaced Zambosur OFWs

2009-05-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY JONG CADION

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has released nine livelihood checks worth P1.6 million to 32 returning Filipino expatriates who were residents of this city and Zamboanga del Sur.

The distribution of checks was made during the province’s celebration of Labor Day, May 1, at Bay Plaza Hotel.

Director Albert Valenciano, head of OWWA admin finance and management office, Dir. Norma del Rosario, ROCS OWWA-Manila head, DOLE-9 Dir. Ponciano Ligutom, Gov. Aurora Cerilles and Mayor Samuel Co awarded the checks to the selected beneficiaries.

The said Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) were those identified as displaced in the current global economic crisis. Twenty-five of them are from this city while seven are from the different municipalities.

Each check is worth P50,000 and is under the so-called Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF), a program administered by the labor department and OWWA supported by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

It was learned that there are over three million pesos worth of FELSF livelihood loans have been released by OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWO) benefiting 72 displaced OFWs in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Under the FELSF, P100 million was allocated as a revolving fund which can be availed by displaced OFWs in any of the 17 OWWA-RWO.

A displaced OFW can borrow up to P50,000 payable for two years with 5% annual interest or at P2,200 monthly with an interest-free grace period of three months.

There are requirements to be complied by applicants before they can avail of the soft loan, OWWA-9 OIC Reg. Dir. Angeles Engatta told this paper.

To recall, Co, during his weekly radio program “Mayor’s Report,” called on displace OFWs to avail the OWWA financial assistance by registering at the Pagadian City Public Employment Services Office.

In the said affair, Co likewise turned-over of the deed of donation of a 600 square meter lot for OWWA Regional Office in Pagadian City.

Gawad Saka farmers vie for national

2009-05-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

FIVE Zambosur farmers were recognized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Regional Gawad Saka awardees.

Held last May 12-13 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, the Gawad Saka Awards is DA’s yearly event which search and acknowledge farmer individuals or farmers’ group as extraordinary trendsetters in farming, animal-raising and fisheries.

This search is competed at the provincial, regional and national levels.

Provincial Agriculturist Marilyn Bersales cited farmers from the province who are innovators in their line of work and who were documented and accepted in the hall of fame of the National Gawad Saka Award from 1999 to 2007.

For this year, contests of biggest farm produce, cooking demo of cassava-based delicacies, rice techno and vegetable salad cooking demo were held as well as the showcase of talents of farmers, women and youth in singing, poster making and many others.

Last April 28, the Provincial Gawad Saka awarding ceremonies was timed during the 36th Farm Family Forum at the AEC Gymnasium, Capitol Compound.

The awardees were Bonifacio Corpuz of Dalapang, Labangan as Outstanding Rice Farmer; Eleuterio Fanilag of Tuburan, Mahayag as Outstanding Corn Farmer; Dindo delos Santos from Culo, Molave as Outstanding Young Farmer; and couple Reynaldo Montañez and family of Lower Pulacan, Labangan as Outstanding Farm Family.

For Outstanding Small Farmers’ Association, Lakewood Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAFAMCO) of Lakewood got the prize and its Miguel Ramos of Poblacion, Mahayag as Outstanding Coconut Farmer.

Governor Aurora Cerilles led the awarding of plaques and certificates to the winners, joined by Bersales and DA Reg. Tech. Dir. Constancio Alama.

Cerilles, who maintains her own farm, expressed pride and triumph of the remarkable performance of the outstanding farmers.

“Ang kadaugan nga ilang naangkon, kadaugan natong tanan. Akong gilauman nga maghatag kini’g dugang inspirasyon ug kadasig alang sa dugang ninyong paningkamot. Dako kayo ang inyong tahas ug tampo sa pagpadagan ug pagpalambo sa ekonomiya sa atong lalawigan ug sa tibuok nasud,” she said.

Cerilles hopes the five regional winners will win the Presidential Gawad Saka award in Manila.

To recall, the Cerilles Administration has been institutionalizing the province-wide gathering of all farmers associations (FAs), rural improvement clubs (RICs), involving housewives and women and 4-H Clubs coming from the 26 towns and this city.

To recall again, National Gawad Saka Awards who came from the province were Edilberto Bitacora of Guitran, Dumingag who was awarded as 1999 Outstanding Corn Farmer; Aning Llagono of Molave as Outstanding Large Animal Raiser 1999; and Annie Sitjar of Lantian, Labangan as Small Hog Raiser 2007.

In 2005, Ryan Montañez of Pulacan, Labangan became the Outstanding Young Farmer winner with Midsalip Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative as Outstanding Small Farmer Organization. In 2003, Vivencio Ceniza of Ramon Magsaysay emerged as the Outstanding Coconut Farmer in the country while couple Julius Jamero and family was adjudged as Outstanding Farm Family.

The 2000 Outstanding Young Farmer was Caritino Andrew Espina of Kaangayan, Mahayag while his uncle, incumbent board member Rogelio Saniel received Presidential Citation as Outstanding Large Animal Raiser.

SP voids plans to develop Pulacan falls

2009-05-23T19:13:00.001-07:00

LABANGAN, ZAMBOSUR
NEWS BY JONG CADION

The plan to develop the famous Pulacan Falls into a tourism destination may remain a dream for many Labanganons after the Provincial Board gave its thumbs down on the proposal forwarded by this town’s council.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Labangan, through Municipal Ordinance No. 151-08 dated August 26, 2008 has declared Pulacan Falls as an Eco-Tourism Park.

The said ordinance was sponsored by SB Armando Florendo, citing Declaration No. 111 of the DENR as legal authority.

Last Oct. 9, 2008, the SP Committee Report No. 236-2K8 released its findings on the request regarding the municipal ordinance, which was presented during the 56th regular session for final action.

The SP pointed out that the subject property is comprised of two portions of lots presently occupied by the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army although the ownership has not yet been established and the boundaries not yet identified.

Since the matter has created a disturbing issue as to question of ownership specification on its meters and bounds, right of use and so forth which remained unclear and unsettled, the SP, through its Resolution No. 2K8-563, declared the said ordinance invalid.

Mayor Abubakar Afdal said he has sent Gov. Aurora Cerilles a letter last Nov. 3, 2008, attaching a letter sent to him from CENRO Dr. Adelaida Borja of DENR Pagadian City, which is a certification confirming that the proposed Pulacan Falls as Eco-Tourism Park is not a part of the applied military reservation project neither in the present occupied area of the Tabak.

However, the said area has been classified as a timberland and part of the Baklay-Pulacan Reforestation Project, which means that any development and improvement of the area for whatever purposes is subject to the approval and or agreement with the CENRO.

As of this writing, the Provincial Board has yet to receive an official communication from Cerilles regarding Afdal’s letter of reconsideration requesting for the review of the draft memorandum of agreement on co-management and development of Pulacan Falls Ecological Tourism and Rest Area Park and the approval of the said Municipal Ordinance.

Acting Municipal Planning Development Officer Jun Radi has told this paper in a huddle that Afdal and the town council are still hoping that Cerilles will consider the said ordinance.

P1.6M aid for displaced OFWs from Zambosur

2009-05-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

PNP Ladies Club holds 1st Prov’l Assembly

2009-05-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY PJAMES TREMEDAL

The Police Ladies Club (PRO 9) Zamboanga del Sur Chapter held its 1st General Assembly with an evening of fan fare and entertainment, May 11.

The event was, accordingly, from the initiative and talent of every policeman’s wives in Zambosur who committed to showcase their talent and build camaraderie among them.

The assembly was harmonious and successful, in their own words as attendance swell at the AEC Gymnasium where Regional Adviser and President Ma. Carla Ochotorena, who is also the wife of PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena, welcomed visitors composed of friends, politicians, the academe and members of the media.

About 26 Municipal PNP Ladies Club, including the Provincial Command and its two operation units—the 905th and the 906th PMG Ladies Club gathered together and wowed the audience with their dance and song.

“Times have changed. We are no longer the women of the past, when our place is just the home nor should we be influenced by corrupt ideas and practices, where women are considered as commodities, playthings or sex objects. Although times had change yet there are still so many and so much left to work for,” Ma. Nelly Galano said.

Galano is PNCO’s Ladies Club president of the provincial command and wife of APDA P/Supt. George Galano.

“How many battered wives are there? Martyrs in our homes?, Victims of paternalistic acts of husbands?, This is the challenge of the times, to be able to put police wives in her right place in the home and in society with creative powers and equal rights. Let us take the challenge of our times, as we face these global, socio economic crises. Let us be active partners of our husbands in earning a living not only active in spending but more productive and hardworking.”

“Let us continue to harness our positive and bright ideas towards life, as we are great molders of our families, let us be good models, teaching our children proper values, so we could contribute to the development and progress of our and each community,” Galano continued.

“The task is to empower ourselves, to empower all PNP wives, to be active partners in development instead as passive onlookers, this is a big challenge,” she pressed on.

Also leading the event is C/Insp. Tessie Paclibar, ZDS-PNPPCR chief.

The day started with a motorcade around the city streets and ended with the 1st General Assembly program and viewing of “One town, One Product” showcasing indigenous materials and livelihood programs and projects.

The display was an income generating contest, where the PNP Provincial Command gave away gifts and prices as a starting capitalization of their livelihood projects to the winners.

The 905th PMG Ladies Club won first prize with P10,000; followed by the Aurora PNP Ladies Club with P5,000, and Mahayag PNP Ladies Club with P2,500.

The evening of fellowship was also attended by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, some town mayors and their wives as advisers and other guests.

In her message, the governor said: “You are a big family of peace defenders and makers, this evening affair only show you as empowered women. You can do it.”

In the talent competition dubbed as “The Policemen’s Wives Got Talent” board of judges led by Exec. Asst. Tyronne Singgo adjudged Aurora PNP Ladies Club “Casino Royale” as first place with P10,000 in cash prize.

Meanwhile, second place 905th PMG Ladies Club dance drama presentation rivaled with Pagadian City PNP Ladies Club and finally settling third.

272 Zambosur jobseekers get hired on spot thru Jobapalooza ‘09

2009-05-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
REPORT FILED BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

Some 272 applicants were hired on the spot during the Jobapalooza 2009 or Jobs Fair at the Amusement and Events Center (AEC), Provincial Capitol Compound timed in the course of celebrating Labor Day.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Prov. Dir. Virginia Bonbon reveals that those hired were lesser than expected, which is about 1,550 in job vacancies offered by the visiting overseas employment agencies, including four local companies based in Pagadian.

Bonbon adds majority of the job hiring were for domestic helpers. For skilled workers, only few applied.

Of the total 508 who filled up the attendance sheets at the AEC Jobapalooza ’09, only 221 registered themselves as applicants for jobs overseas while 68 showed interest in local employment.

The provincial employment officer also clarified that out of the total 221; only 204 were pre-screened for job matching abroad and were hired on the spot.

Also, the Provincial Government’s Phil-Jobnet E-center, which likewise participated in the activity, reported some 40 applicants who did job-matching.

Launched last Jan. 17, Gov. Aurora Cerilles initiated Phil-Jobnet E-center in order to help probinsiyanos find suitable jobs matched to their profession, knowledge and skills through the internet.

The Jobapalooza ‘09 was likewise supported by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) along with DOLE to speed up employment assistance to workers affected by the global financial crisis (GFC).

According to Cerilles: “Kini nga kalihokan nag-ila sa dakong panginahanglan sa hiniusang paglihok ug pagtinabangay sa usa’g-usa aron sa pagkunhod sa epekto sa kalibutanong krisis ngadto sa mga trabahador ug sa atong ekonomiya.”

She then commended the five overseas employment companies composed of Verde International Manpower Services, Pacific Mediterranean Int’l. Management and Service, Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corp, JRT Magica Int’l. Placement and General Services Corp.

She extended also her praise to the local ones, like Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc., M. Lhuillier Pawnshop, Inc., Taytay sa Kauswagan and CRT Computer Arts who were hiring for additional manpower.

The governor said she was also glad for the involvement of three livelihood organizations that showcased their products such as: Zamboanga del Sur Women Zero Waste Recycling Movement; Ramon Magsaysay Bamboo Craft Association and Dumingag Federated Women’s Association.

First District Rep. Victor Yu was also present in the whole day affair at the AEC along with Welfare Administration (OWWA) Dir. Albert Valenciano, PESO Prov. Mgr. Tyrone Singgo and PESO regional federated president Joseph Isaias Quipot VI.

1st oath-taking rites for new nurses held

2009-05-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY REMAI ALEJADO,ZAMBOSUR PPB

This city listed another “first” for the books after some 74 newly registered nurses took their oath-taking here, April 30, in simple rites held for them at Hotel Alindahaw.

The new nurses who took their oath came from various schools in the cities of Pagadian, Ozamiz, Marawi, Dumaguete, Manila and Zamboanga Sibugay.

The oath-taking ceremony, for the record, is the first in Pagadian after representatives from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)’s Board of Nursing flew from Manila and conducted the ceremony.

Actually, it was because of the effort of the provincial and city governments to have the oath-taking ceremony here to lessen the hassle and expenses of newly registered nurses in coming to Manila to take their oath there.

Mayor Samuel Co then personally coordinated with PRC Reg. Dir. Senando Sebastian for the localized oath-taking ceremony as PRC-BON member Betty Merritt became the guest speaker and at the same time administered the oath-taking rites.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, for her part, inspired the new nurses.

“This day marks a very significant milestone in the lives of our new registered nurses as they take their oath, foremost to God who has ordained success and has called you to be stewards of life and health,” the governor said.

She added that the localized oath-taking ceremonies served the wisdom of practicality and accessibility, saving parents from spending huge sum of money for travel, food accommodation if their child has to go there and attend the oath-taking.

Helen Arao, president of the city chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and currently the chief nurse of the Zambosur Medical Center, was credited likewise for her action in localizing the ceremony.

Merritt, in her speech, congratulated the newly sworn nurses, who were part of the 39,455 examinees who passed the Nursing Board Examination last November 2008.

“We have to work hard to produce better quality nurses to attain the global standard as health care providers,” said Merritt.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration follows the oath-taking ceremony after the requirements for the issuance of certificate of registration and Professional Identification Card are submitted.

In the past, it is said that the successful examinees are to personally register and sign in the roster of registered professionals in Manila after they take their oath there.

In more news, Co has earlier announced that after the first Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) for 2009 scheduled last April, soon the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam (PNLE) will likewise be held here once the PRC finalizes the approval of the mayor’s request to again designate this city as one of PRC’s PNLE regional test centers, being the regional center of Northwestern Mindanao.

The PNLE is held every June and December annually in various public schools throughout the country while LET is held every April and September.

Other LET test centers are the cities of Angeles, Bacolod, Butuan, Cotabato, General Santos, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Dagupan, Batanes, Bongao, Tawi, Tawi; Jolo and Sulu.

The mayor said he sees an excess of applicants for both LET and PNLE and that making this city as one of the test centers for both exams.

“It is an advantage really, and I am happy that they considered my request,” Co said.

Auring shares fears, victory in anti-drug campaign

2009-05-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Governor Aurora Cerilles is making progress in her fight against illegal drugs in Zamboanga del Sur after she was inspired by President Gloria Arroyo taking the helm in the fight against the menace and made herself a drug czar.

January, this year, Cerilles cracked the whip and announced that she will wage her own war against drug lords and gunrunners in her province.

Treading after Arrroyo’s pace, Cerilles said: “As long as I am the chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Zamboanga Peninsula, I will do my best to stop illegal drugs in the region. We should protect the future of our children and grandchildren as illegal drugs are considered a menace of society.”

The governor then zeroed in on several political personalities in Zambosur, warning them to “stop their illegal trade because it won’t do well to the people.”

Cerilles told journalists that she felt uncomfortable every time she presides the RPOC meeting because she would encounter reports of high incidence of drug-related cases in Zambosur as compared to the Zambo Norte and Zambo Sibugay.

The PDEA has earlier hinted they are keeping watch on some 200 drug personalities in Zamboanga del Sur while dealer after dealer fall in several busts conducted by them, the 53rd IB and the PNP’s Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (PAIDSOTF).

Complimenting the strength of the government authorities is Task Force Kontra Droga (TFKD), an anti-illegal drug working team created by Cerilles and headed by board member Ernesto Mondarte as action officer.

Mondarte, who was present in Cerilles’ meeting with media men, also claimed that they have suppressed circulation of shabu illegal in the province, resulting to the increase of shabu street price due to dwindling supply.

Prices have increased five times, from P100 per sachet to P500, said Mondarte, as evidenced by relentless entrapment and buy-bust operations against drug traffickers in identified barangays in Pagadian.

“The price now is high because of the diminishing supply,” Mondarte disclosed, adding that TFKD is currently working with the Salug Valley Anti-Drug Council, which is composed of five towns in the first district.

Mondarte adds the supply reduction and their strategy against shabu proliferation have been successful in the mentioned areas because they saturated the secondary and tertiary schools through information campaign on the dangers and effects of illegal drugs.

Likewise, the legislator said that he requested each town to activate their municipal anti drug abuse councils, which they did, and intensified advocacies on radio airtimes and media reports in the all out war against illegal drugs

“Nakita nato ang effect niining nanglabay nga confiscations, tungod sa scarcity sa supply, mimahal ang shabu. Magdungan ning supply and demand reduction and the community has done well, I hope kita tanan, with the parents and all sectors in the society will help flush out illegal drugs in our communities,” Mondarte said.

However, reports reaching Cerilles’ ears have said that her heroic antics and those of the government agents in Zambosur infuriated the businessmen who are in the shabu business that as the governor puts it, she started to hear threats about her life.

“If you try to analyze it, ang business sa droga dali kaayo, daghan kaayo and these people involved in the trade can just hire anybody. Kay matod pa, nakuhaan gyod ang ilang negosyo diin pila ka higyaon, pila ka panahon ug katuigan nakatagamtam sila pinaagi aning ilegal nga droga,” Cerilles said during a recent meeting with the press inside her office.

Referring to her threat, the governor added: “Karon duna koy nahibaw-an, they are getting professional hired killers [to kill me] and they can do that because they have the money.”

The governor explained that she has already informed DILG Provincial Director Abcede Asjali about the threat of her life and that of her family.

“To me, makakontra man gyod ko sa politka, dili kaayo ko ana maguol. But in case something happens to me and any members of my family, kahibalo na mo kinsay pangitaan,” she said.

“But my conscience is clear; I’m doing this for our children’s future. I just wish, hope and call on people with intentions to harm me and my family that they will be enlightened,” Cerilles concluded.

Meanwhile, a World Drug Report 2008 released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classified the Philippines as among those with the biggest number of illegal-drug users in Southeast Asia.

The report likewise said that prevalence of amphetamine abuse in the country, for instance, “was found to be at 6 percent of the population aged 15 to 64, far larger than that of second-placed Thailand with 0.8 percent.”

Work and rest

2009-05-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

COLUMN BY FR. ROY TITO CIMAGALA
FRONTLINE MINDANAO

A young friend of mine, who is a wizard on the computer and more so on the piano and organ, told me once about his amusing experience while training for his work in Japan.

We, of course, know that the Japanese have a high standard in work ethic. Their danger often is to overwork. Ours seems to be to underwork.Because of certain reasons, this friend could not afford to stay later than 5 o’clock. This is a no-no in Japanese offices. No one leaves before the bosses, and the bosses usually leave already late in the evening.

So he explained his predicament to his boss, who grudgingly approved. But he was made to go through a certain routine. When he had to leave, he should stand by the door and then say: “Osaki ni shitsureishimasu.” (Sorry! I have to leave now ahead of you.)

Then the other Japanese officemates would say: “Otsukaresamadeshita.” (You may leave! You worked hard already.)

It seems that’s how the Japanese take their work seriously. I can only hope that we Filipinos improve in our work habits. While we can find many who work hard, with order, discipline and effectiveness and efficiency blended well, we can also find still many others who are simply going around in circles.

Work is part of our nature. It is not a punishment nor a duty forced on us because of certain circumstances. We are meant to work. We are designed to work. We have been born to work just as the birds were born to fly. It’s not our invention. Besides, our faith teaches us that work is a path to holiness. It is a participation in God’s continuing work in his whole creation. When we work, we touch God, and we get involved in the things of God. It can only be done in God’s way, that is, out of love and for love.

Our work perfects us, as it occasions the development of many virtues. It can’t help but contribute to the common good. In fact, everything we need and ought to be involves work. Our work fosters socialization. It destroys isolation.

This, as long as we work with God and for God. Any kind of work, be it sublime or lowly, as long as it is honorable, not sinful, is always pleasing to God and is in fact working with God.

It’s high time that we develop a theological attitude toward our work. We should not remain in the shallow part. Though we already have good work habits, we should not get contented with them, but rather continue to improve, purify and enrich them by always working with greater love for God and for others.

Of course, if we work hard, then we also need to rest. In the human level, work and rest can constitute a symbiotic relationship. But when related to our spiritual and supernatural destiny, we need to understand that rest acquires a special meaning. Our Christian faith teaches that rest is not just a physical or bodily need, or a way to recover strength, physical, mental, psychological, emotional, etc. Christian rest, of course, involves all of these, but it is still a lot more.

It means the fullness of our life, the reaching of our final destination, the coronation of our work. It is a symbol of our eternal rest where we enjoy communion both with God and with everybody else.

It would be good to ask ourselves if we are consciously developing this mindset regarding our rest, especially when we go to bed at the end of the day, or when we approach Sunday, which is supposed to be not only the day of the Lord, but also the day of rest.

We have to be aware of the spiritual and supernatural dimension of our rest, and to form the appropriate attitudes and habits. In our Christian life, we have to understand that our attitude towards rest needs to be worked out. The Christian attitude toward rest just can’t come out spontaneously. God’s grace always needs our cooperation. We have to reach that point when we can sincerely echo St. Augustine’s words:

“Lord, my heart is restless until it rests in you.” We have to learn how to rest in God. Resting cannot and should not have any other mode than to rest in God always!

On politics and illegal drugs

2009-05-04T00:40:00.000-07:00

COLUMN BY VIC DEL PILAR
FRONTLINE MINDANAO
EMAIL: delpilarvic@gmail.com

If people could only remember, it was in this column that we once said, the police should not wait for the crime to happen in the corridors of society. The police must bring its action to where the criminals are. And surely for such a simultaneous raids conducted at strategic points of the city the other night, the police have just responded to what the people have demanded. That indeed, the action was made and resulted to significant haul of contrabands and violators into the fold of the law.

We were never wrong to say that, time and again. That the police can really do it. We proved it beyond reasonable doubts that the police, if only given the free hand, can be effective in its role to protect the residents. So that if it is the intention of our local executives to really stamp out illegal drugs, our enforcers can really do it. And for that matter they have done it successfully. It is for this reasons that we congratulate PD Ochotorena, Chief Palermo, both of the PNP, the PDEA and all others who formed part of the team for such an achievement and a job well done.

But why only now? When they could have done it long time ago?

What is only sad is the fact that drug problem has been here for quite a time. A lot of physical and collateral damages have already been inflicted to our institutions and our people 10 years ago or so. It is our honest observation that our leaders have been so lackadaisical about the whole thing and have done nothing substantial to kill the monster, right then and there. If ever there was maybe only of minuscule degree. Illegal drugs in this city may have been taken only for granted in the past, simply because our leaders do not have the political will to do it. At an early stage, drug trafficking could have been stamped out by then. Why did it take that long? Why the raids are only made now? What does it indicate, anyway? We are only overwhelmed by politics, all these years. With the wave of surprise raids conducted in this city every now and then, peoople are asking, totohanan na ba ‘to? Will there be more to come in the offing? Even after year 2010?

But it’s election time again, and no doubt many of them would again knock our doors. And drug problem in our society has fast developed a political issue. We are in the midst of political gimmickry. Our leaders envisioned to make our province and city a drug free community by 2010 and beyond. We perceive the campaign against illegal drug this time is real, even as we believe it is true. O di kaya inuuto na naman tayo?

New vision, new hope

2009-05-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

COLUMN BY VIC DEL PILAR
FRONTLINE MINDANAO

From our previous column Fanfare at the other side of the world, we are very sorry for not having even said goodbye to our avid fans and readers out there. The twist of events came so suddenly that we were so caught flatfooted. It was like a midday thunderbolt that exploded on air. We didn’t know there was an impending purging of writers. It came without any signal and valid reasons. We left the portals with heavy hearts, unpaid and unsettled for services rendered. Until this writing we are still in a sticky situation. We hope an explanation would come about soon. Indeed, it was a lurid experience for us. In the meantime, forget about Fanfare and let history takes its normal course. We were once there, we saw and we have conquered. It was a bad dream for us. A thing of the past that surely would not recur anymore.

But as we close the Fanfare’s pages, we are sending our messages to our readers across the island, loud and clear, for them to continue with vigor on their search for truth and justice. And we are just within their beck and call. For those who in the process have humiliated us and took advantage of our leniency and weaknesses, rest assured we harbor no grudges and remorse. May your soul rest in peace!

From Fanfare, comes now the birth of the “Eagle’s Eye.” And why eagle’s eye? Actions and unfolding stories within the breadth and length of the island of Mindanao are under the watchful eyes of an eagle soaring our heights. Our men in this new endeavor professional, as they are, are there braving their way. The eagle is our symbol of power and influence in articulating our initiative and intentions to serve the public, without fear or favor.

This column will continue to soar to greater heights. Taken from the Eagle bird. The largest among the 50 species of birds of prey in the hawk family. Accipitridae, characterized by a strongly hooked beak, powerful talons and extremely keen vision. Carnivorous or scavenging of great strength and size. The largest eagle Harpia, dubbed as great harpy eagle weighs about 12lbs, stands 3 ft and has a wingspread of 7ft. Can carry 10lbs at most into the air. The Romans topped their legion’s spears with silver eagles, being the bird, as their national emblem and symbol of power.

On Frontline Mindanao, our new medium, it is our articulation of new vision and hope in professional journalism. New dimension. Our yardstick for public service. Conceptualized and manned by young men and women whose commitment is to lead a no nonsense, no holds barred and high standard level of reporting. With Frontline Mindanao our people within the island are always in the frontline. Never taking the hind seat. We distinguish no partisan politics and ethnic groupings. Nothing is personal, only issues of the day are our main concern.

Everybody is our friend, our ally. Together we will work in the pursuit of searching solutions for lasting peace and development within the island. It is for these reasons that we beg for everybody’s support. Watch out, whose next in the Eagle’s Eye!

An uphill battle against the drug menace?

2009-05-02T00:33:00.001-07:00

GOVERNORS and mayors could face administrative and criminal charges should they be found to be negligent or remiss in their duties in the campaign against illegal drugs in their respective communities. With this reminder from the DILG, local government executives should therefore help, or else lead in the war against the drug menace.

With this principle, we can say that provincial governors can ensure that their city and town mayors perform their mandated tasks and responsibilities, like for example, in the activation of their anti-drug abuse councils.

Then, then city and town mayors, in turn, can call on their law enforcers to conduct periodic or unannounced on-site inspection of dens, resorts, nightclubs and houses suspected of being used as drug dens or in the sale of illegal drugs. Mind you, this move will have perfect results if only the police will also work closely together in the anti-drug effort.

And as to police work, they should also build cases strong enough to stand up in court although and sometimes such work is being bungled by interference of politicians in drug cases because of bribery taking place but we believe not everyone may be on the take.

For all we know, like in high-level cases wherein police and arresting teams have been offered P5 to P6 million for the release of the leaders or members of drug syndicate. At one time it was learned that in the case of judges, high-level suspects are known to offer from P20 to P50 million, depending on the stage the case is in. Because of these briberies, we often hear these persistent reports of involvement of local officials in the drug trade.

But as Gov. Auring Cerilles has repeatedly said, solidarity with her leadership in crusading against drug lords, drug traffickers and drug users should be supported all the way by all the province’s mayors and constituents for the drug menace to be overcome. This is certain sure when everybody acts unquestionably.

Earth Day for Earth People

2009-05-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

Earth Day, which is being celebrated worldwide every April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment.

Discussions centering on the care of the environment needs to be participated by every country and this period is the time of great concern. Problems regarding overpopulation and global warming now have become serious problems and every country is called to be responsible for stabilizing these and do what can be done.

The thrust to help preserve and care for the environment should be in the national agenda, amidst the rising hysteria and temperature. This is because we have an environmental crisis is sweeping across nations with intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing and or “killing” earth in the process if all will not act the goal of a healthy, sustainable environment.

Our environment, everywhere, is deteriorating with oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife should make us realize our common values.
Filipinos can help spearhead the campaign, focusing on global warming and pushing for clean energy. We can send a loud and clear message that people all over the world want a decisive action on this. Mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting the status of environmental issues onto the world stage is easy—if everyone will only care and pave the way.

The reporter’s agony to the cross

2009-04-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

I wrote this column on a Holy Friday, just in time Jesus, the son of God thousands of years ago was nailed at the cross. I didn’t write about this week’s Church happenings as it does thrill me no more. It’s the same thing I see throng of hypocrites and corrupt personalities in the pedestal of God reminisce Jesus with blasphemy. The 7 last words of the Lord is enough lesson for one to ponder “God, why thou hast left me.” It’s there in the message of God. Everything is there, it is replete with meanings. It depends on how one understands what is Lenten Season is all about.

This week I am only concerned on the agony of one media reporter. The scenario is of a generic background. No specific date and time, except the place where it happened. Neither identities of people are mentioned. This not a product of an enriched imagination. I wrote this to grow a seed and hopefully could bloom into flower, for everybody to profit. This is a true story. A local journalist went home one day from Tabak grumbling, saying he nearly collapse in hunger before he could get his 4 Ws necessary for him to write a good story out of the activity he was so invited. Not the intention of his host to take him for a ride. The host was just so engrossed and preoccupied that he overlooked him somewhere in the thick of the action. Earlier, the reporter thought there was pakals out there, that he leaped from home without lunch. He was used to this kind of set-up. Pag abot kaon dayon. Only to find out there was nothing on the table upon hitting the area. Not even a biscuit foil or bottled water was offered to quell his protesting stomach while at work. Like Jesus on his way to the cross, he could have exclaimed “Ginoo, giuhaw ako!” It was the start of the Holy Week that he feels he was en route to the Calvary. For him the job was a mess that day. He can stand all forms of trials, but not his revolting stomach. On his dilapidated motorbike, poor Juan has to rush home, 10kms away to munch whatever bahaw his family has left for lunch, only to endure another disaster on the way when his ride conked out for lack of gas. From there, I didn’t know what happened next.

Oh, my Lord, my God! Why thou hast forsaken me!

A painful and sad experience. For other writing wannabes, here are few tips while covering a story. Have presence of mind. Do not panic and look before you leap. Fill your tanks halfway, to accommodate gas giveaways. I mean, halfway for your motorbike and your tummy. Do not underestimate situation. While still at home eat all you can. Baka gugutumin ka doon. Tingnan mo di ginutom ka? Nakakahiya sa host. Baka sabihin niya, wala ka na talagang pang bread. Remember you are not attending a banquet. You are covering a story. You are out to share your eloquence to the intelligent sectors to know what’s happening out there that day. Be on your own, smart and presentable. Do not hitch a ride. Your host might think, you are cheap. Don’t expect payments of the services you have rendered. You are a public servant. Naturally your service is free, pahina lang. Only God will pay you up there. Out of decency don’t ask money from your host. Print your own. If you do ask, you are a scalawag. In short, you are a manigbasay. But if offer is made in recognition of your efforts, grab it fast. Because if you don’t, baka sabihin nila nagpapa cute ka lang. Iyan ang buhay reporter. And by the way, why opt to become a writer, when writing is a poor man’s profession? If you want to enjoy a happy lifestyle just write anything under the heat of the sun. Write only to enjoy, not for money.

There are two kinds of hosts. The first, are those that discuss issues with media men at the dinning table. The second however, are those who prefer to have a press forum at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Why in the afternoon? Because they are stingy, kuripot or makunat. Modugo pay uhong. We have a lot of that kind hereabouts. They want media mileage for free. Mahilig sa libre. Walay uwaw. Yes, they have budgets for communication, but they only spend for themselves. Doesn’t want to share their blessings. But as a writer, just the same it’s still your obligation to handle them with care. After printing his story and still you find him difficult to deal with, paktola ug dili pa gyud, baranga!

Nenet San Juan would like to teach voters a good lesson

2009-04-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

BOY DELEVERIO

I met and had a very good interview with former congresswoman Nenet San Juan of the second district of Zamboanga del Sur very recently, and it is my privilege to inform my readers on what she thinks and had to say concerning the forthcoming elections.

Nenet, as she is more popularly known, did not hide her disgust with the thinking, attitude and disposition of our voters, particularly in Zamboanga del Sur, as shown in the past two elections. She was quite frank and candid in suggesting that, the better and wiser option for politicians opposed to the those in power, is to let them run unopposed, especially those who won through vote-buying and cheating. That would make the elections more credible, because voters need not be bought nor terrorized and the usual cheating involving crooked election officers will not happen, she stated.

San Juan laconically asked: "who is the crazy politician in power who would still buy votes and employ dirty schemes, such as cheating and terrorism, if they run unopposed?"

By then, she said, there will be no budget for the media, no more allocations for COMELEC, military and police personnel and no more funds for vote-buying. There might even be no more need to spend for propaganda and for political campaign.

Voters will receive nothing, not a single centavo, on or few days before Election Day.

Ultimately, we will hear them complain about llosing their privilege to choose, that they can no longer select, which right and privilege they have long abdicated when thery voted for those who gave them money.

There is an urgent need to teach voters a very good lesson on empowerment, San Juan avers. When they can no longer expect to receive money and when they have no more choice on election day, San Juan thinks, that will be the time they will realize what they have lost and what a costly loss in matters of individual capacity and importance..

Nenet San Juan was actually proposing a kind of moral reform. It is quite true that peoppe will come to realize only the importance of political empowerment when they can no longer use it, or when it is lost.

With that in mind, and with such a proposition already known, as it is hereby revealed, San Juan hopes to strike the heart of every well-meaning politician to act accordingly and see what might result later on. Take it or leave it.

Media savvy

2009-04-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

roycimagala@hotmail.com

THANKS to the wonders of the Internet, we now have easy access to many things, among them, newspapers and magazines. We don’t have to subscribe to local and foreign papers to be able to read them.

At the moment, for example, I’m very happy to get almost daily dosage of news, opinion columns, articles on arts, business, sports, etc. from Google News, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Economist, CNN, Fox News, Drudge Report, and an endless etcetera, not to mention the local ones.

With this exposure, I’m certain we are also forming many views and opinions, and we slowly discern the various underpinnings, political, ideological, religious, and otherwise, that the media outfits have.

I personally find it very interesting to compare opinions, styles, approaches, and see how they play out. There’s thrill always in observing the flashes of genius as different writers argue and often clash.

Also I want to fish, even if only tentatively, the different trends and biases the different papers can have. These considerations always shed some light that makes things more understandable.

Almost automatically, several categories emerge in the mind as I instinctively try to sort out, classify, brand and label the different positions. Among these categories are the conservative/liberal, right/left, open-minded/close-minded, serious/commercialized.

I know there can be many other categories, in fact, endless ones, as we go along and discover further nuances in the growing array of pieces of media information. This only proves that we are involved in a very dynamic world where seemingly infinite events take place.

But there’s one aspect that seems to be neglected. The effort to find spiritual and religious significance to secular events appears to be absent. This aspect is still a virgin forest, waiting to be explored. This can be a fruitful niche for some enterprising writers with the proper attitude and skills.

Not that there had been no attempts in this direction. There had been. But so far, they can be characterized as either too shallow and abstract, a bit distant and off-the-mark, or too politicized, partisan and downright wildly ballistic.

The latter kind is particularly jarring, as they can bristle with a righteousness that’s more self-generated than inspired by God and the common good. Along the way, we can notice traces of narrow-mindedness, exaggerated attachment to ancient views and all sorts of one-sidedness.

In the end, they at best only preach to the choir. They fail to catch the attention of a sober audience. Worse, they alienate many people. Truly sad!

For sure, it is not an easy thing to do, but I believe that if we have to be consistent to our Christian faith, then there must be some relation between these events and our religion. We have to be wary of just allowing the discussion of issues to flow in strictly human and natural terms.

This effort to link and connect is, I believe, a worthwhile enterprise and one that is crying to be made, if only to correct an anomaly that temporal events have no spiritual or supernatural dimension at all. I think the time is ripe to highlight this angle.

This should not mean that the events can only have one meaning or interpretation. Christian spirit does not allow a monolithic view of things. There can be many, and they can even be conflicting, but at least, they should have some spiritual or religious character. This is what is lacking in the present trend.

Some training in this area is, of course, necessary. And I believe we already have enough materials to support writers and thinkers who can contribute in this direction. The Church already has the Compendium of Social Doctrine and a constellation of literature that can truly be of help.

Besides, there are now schools that try to blend theology with the secular sciences and our temporal affairs. This is also another good development. Ecclesiastical sciences are trying to pace with world developments.

Obviously prudence and discernment should be strictly practiced. But this requirement should not be taken to mean that we hardly move or always keep a distant attitude to events. The spiritual and supernatural character of religion should, in fact, take a leading role in them.

This, I believe, is what constitutes a true media savvy which everyone should aspire. It may need a large war chest to attain this goal, but I think it’s all worthwhile.

DILG transfers office to new location

2009-03-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

JONG CADION

The regional office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by Paisal Abutazil, regional director, officially opened their new office building located at F.S. Pajares Avenue in San Jose District, this city last March 20.

The transfer and blessing of the new four-storey DILG regional office was attended by Austere Panadero, undersecretary for local government, Gov. Aurora Cerilles and DILG employees.

During the program, Abutazil thanked Mayor Samuel Co and Cerilles for the support and help in their transfer of office from Zamboanga City.

The DILG Central Office has approved the budget for monthly rent of the new DILG office at P130,000.

“We have already prepared the availability of budget for the construction of our regional office at the regional center site while we are also waiting the availability of land area from the city government,” Abutazil explained.

Formerly, the DILG office was near the sports complex located along F.S. Pajares Avenue in San Francisco District.

January 15, Abutazil said he will look another area to transfer to which is conducive and accommodating to visitors.

DILG Region 9 was one of the first regional offices that transferred from Zamboanga in 2008 following Executive Order No. 429, creating Pagadian City as the new Regional seat of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Zamboanga Peninsula covers the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, including the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga and Isabela.

Priest condemns killing of Ozamiz broadcaster

2009-03-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL MEDINA

Editor-in-chief

OROQUIETA CITY--Resident priest Fr. Arnold Daplin Has condemned the killing of Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin; who was shot within the parochial jurisdiction of the pastor.

Daplin added he condoles with Rollin’s family as he called on the police to investigate, immediately arrest and prosecute the killers.

As of this writing, the self imposed countdown by media on police work for the solution of Rollin’s case is now on its 22th day.

“The church cannot discount an attempt to stifle press freedom, which is highly condemnable,” Daplin said.

Rollin, commentator of DxSY based in Ozamiz City, was shot dead by two assassins riding in a motorcycle at the national highway of Brgy. Talic while waiting for a public transport.

PNP Provincial Director Leonilo Cabug declared that they are still corroborating the angles of love triangle, property dispute, politics and drugs.

But Bukagan Chronicle, in its maiden issue dated Feb. 15-22, said Ocampos could not be discounted as among the alleged suspects in the death of Rollin because he has been consitently mentioned by Rollin in his radio program.

This premise was even mentioned by Ocampos to reporters during his visit to the Philippine Army’s Tabak Division in Pulacan Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur when he attended the turn-over of the new Tabak chief.

“Even I am considered as a suspect after Ka Ernie lambasted me for two weeks in his radio program,” Ocampos was quoted as saying.

“Task Force Usig,” a special investigating body created by DOJ has designated the NBI and the CIDG from Manila as the lead agency to conduct the investigation following the petition thru a resolution of the CSO-FP-MEDIA Fact Finding Team questioning the legality of the task force created by Ocampos.

The said group has requested the DOJ to create an independent body or a special team to avoid the partiality of the case.

The group also said in their information paper that it has presented to the DOJ their evaluation and recommendations based on the actual facts that only two out of the four angles are valid for justified reasons and that in their paper they are putting forward the political aspect as the possible motive that led to the killing of Rollin.

The fact finding team, which is based in Iligan City, has informed this paper that “Task Force Usig,” accordingly has identified the two suspects,

Although sketchy, the said report claimed that the one who voluntarily surrendered was the gunman. His identity though is still withheld due to the ongoing probe.

But Cabug dispelled the report as “flase and uncorroborated.”

On other hand, Daplin urged his parishioners to offer prayers for the soul of the slain radio personality.

The cleric said if there is no end to the senseless killings of broadcasters, it is because the perpetrators have been emboldened by the failure of law enforcers to solve past cases of neither media slayings nor arrest and prosecute the culprits.

Daplin challenged the law enforcement authorities of this province to exert more effort in breaking up gun-for-hire syndicates and in filing criminal cases against the mercenary hit men.

“We have the Court to persecute the offender and we don’t have the right to kill anyone no matter how sinful the person is,” Daplin concluded. WITH WENDELL TALIBONG

Plaza Luz will be city’s new amusement center

2009-03-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

JONG CADION
Chief of reporters

PAGADIAN CITY—Mayor Samuel Co will transform Plaza Luz into an activity center for residents to while away the time and use the area as a recreation facility.

Co said activities in the soon to be converted amusement center will be conducted daily after all the vendors leasing the area from shopping center will be transferred to the covered court near the plaza.

“With the different activities lined up daily, many people will be able to come and see what Plaza Luz can offer them, or perhaps buy wares from the vendors selling there,” Co told this paper.

Five batches of vendors will be relocated by Co from the downtown shopping center area to Plaza Luz.

The first batch will compose of those from the front of Jollibee near Uni City. Their new location is near the road side of Benigno Aquino Street at the Plaza Luz.

It was learned that the instantaneous transfer of vendors from the shopping center area to Plaza Luz was due to the impending construction of the mayor’s priority project—a P35-million shopping mall building.

This 5-storey mall is located along Ariosa and Jamisola streets.

“I will finish this project before my next term ends,” Co said.

The city-owned mall, once finished, will then lease its commercial spaces and stalls to businessmen who will sell their merchandise or develop the spaces into franchises, supply centers or retail stores.

NFA-Zambosur has enough rice stocks

2009-03-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

JONG CADION
Chief of reporters

LEARNING from its past predicament, the provincial office of the National Food Authority (NFA) declared it has locked up enough grains and is still storing more for the rainy days.

NFA Manager Regino Delfin told this paper that about 320,000 bags of rice is being allocated for this city and Zamboanga del Sur for this year.

He added that of the given number, 160,000 bags will be shipped from Zamboanga City and the other half will arrive from Cebu shortly within this week.

The grains manager explained Zambosur will have no rice shortage since they have secured their supply for the first quarter and so far the distribution throughout is stable.

Last month, the NFA was able to start distributing its rice throughout the province in a move to cushion the increase of prices of commercial rice in the public market at present.

It was learned that less palay harvest, from 40-50 bags per hectare, like what happened in the municipalities of Mahayag and Dumingag, was a big factor in the increase of rice prices in the local market.

But overall rice inventory in Zambosur is stable, Delfin noted.

Just last February, 34,000 rice stocks from Zamboanga City arrived and the supply in the Latin city were supplemented again with 260,000 bags coming from Vietnam.

For March, another 30,000 bags of rice will be shipped to Pagadian City on staggered basis, following NFA’s marketing plan in rice distribution.

At present, there are three kinds of NFA premium rice available in the market with prices ranging between P25-P35 per kilo.

This cheap rice is being sold in all the 32 accredited outlets of the Institutionalized Bigasan sa Palengke (IBSP) and distributed to the public market of different municipalities.

IBSP is the new name of the Institutionalized Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke (IBGP).

The other variety of NFA rice is continuously distributed at P16.75 per kilo and can be bought in all the 21 Tindahan Natin outlets in Pagadian and the total 142 outlets provincewide at P18.25 per kilo.

In Pagadian City alone, a total of 30 bags is allocated daily from Monday to Thursday and 60 bags during weekends to ten IBSP outlets, nine in Agora Public Market and one in San Pedro District.

Mindanao Pilgrim completes Pecojon training

2009-03-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

TAGBILARAN CITY--Three members of the editorial staff of the MINDANAO PILGRIM, Philip James Tremedal, Jong Cadion and this paper's editor, recently completed the second and final course in Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (Pecojon) Training, Feb. 28 to March 2, here.

The second training came exactly three months after the said journalists attended the first training in Cagayan de Oro City last October which tackled on intensifying a reporter’s understanding on conflict by introducing the basic concepts and practical tools on how to report conflict in a professional and conflict- sensitive way.

Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter and PECOJON trainer Ryan Rosauro said this is the first time the organizers prearranged the same batch of participants from PECOJON 1, composed of different tri-media practitioners from all over the country.

Aside from those in print, radio and broadcast, journalism teachers and students taking their masteral studies, writers and document filmmakers composed the second batch of PECOJON trainees.

All Pecojon trainings are financed by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and given in collaboration with the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWEnt, Berlin.

German journalist and Pecojon-Philippines consultant Antonia Koop facilitated the training together with Julia Meyers, Ledloren Manriquez and Rosauro.

While PECOJON 1 discussed the role and influence of media in conflict situations and the problems of objectivity, including how to report violence and framing of conflict stories, PECOJON 2 dealt with all the colors of propaganda and new definitions of quality journalism using the techniques taught by PECOJON.

Also, group discussions, games and reporting were still done attempting to interpret and study the reporting strategies of conflict sensitive peace journalism, including the differences between conflict-focused and violence-focused journalism.

Most of the ponderings and discussions in the three-day activity centered on the four propaganda phases of war, strategies and tactics, the use of words in propaganda news stories and approaches in dealing with propaganda.

New SMS message on Rollin’s slay trying to muddle probe?

2009-03-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

PAGADIAN CITY—A text message, claiming to be an unofficial communication from an unnamed government agency looking into the murder of Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin, mischievously circulated last Saturday among journalists, saying one of the suspects in the killing has already surrendered.

Rollin, a block timer of DxSY-AM and based in Ozamiz City was shot dead, Feb. 23, in Oroquieta City while on his way to work.

Journalists who received the said text message were one in labeling it as “mean and provocative and implying the obvious” as they said bringing it out will not only insult them but also confuse the investigators.

“Three days after the killing of Ka Ernie, ‘Task Force Usig’ was created by DOJ appointing the NBI and CIDG Manila to lead the investigation following the petition through a resolution by the media fact finding team requesting DOJ to create an independent body to investigate and the exclusion of the task force created by Governor Ocampos,” the first part of the message said.

“Two identified suspects, ang usa voluntarily surrendered while ang usa at large. Both are allegedly provincial government employees,” the message continued.

The media community in the cities of Ozamiz, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro has since demanded for a speedy probe on the broadcaster’s killing and has initiated a countdown.

This writer, after receiving the messages from a media colleague, requested the unknown sender to name himself and verify the information.

But the sender only said: “Misurender ang suspek kay nahadlok siya kay naa pod daw gusto mopatay niya, suspek na siya sa pagpatay ni Mayor Geromo sa Molave.”

A third message, this time said: “Naa na sa kamot sa task force ang driver. Dili pa ipabalita kay gi-ready ang demanda.”

The fourth message, although imprecise, stated that the said suspect was arrested “somewhere in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.”

Neither confirming nor denying the information was accurate, NUJP national director Jovencio Godoy Jr. advised media to exercise caution in reporting about the text message.

“As soon as the task force guys will say it can be released, it’s better to keep it FYI only,” he said.

To recall, hours after Rollin was shot, Gov. Loreto Ocampos and PNP Provincial Director Leonilo Cabug disclosed in their joint statement four angles as the possible explanation of Rollin’s death.

According to Ocampos and Cabug, these angles involved a love triangle, property dispute and politics—wherein Rollin was said to be actively involved in political character demolitions job sponsored by politicians and that the broadcaster has an alleged existing case in Lanao del Norte with former Rep. Cerilo Alipio Badelles.

The fourth angle involved an unvalidated allegation, which said that sometimes Rollin is seen in company with some notorious drug lords and criminal elements in Ozamiz City.

For the past week, media practitioners from Ozamiz City led by DxSY and Ronda Balita conducted their own probe and were able to disprove the four angles.

Pol Aguaviva, a colleague of Rollin in DXSY, said the fourth angle is preposterous, adding Rollin was never in the company with drug lords and was never in any way involved in drugs.

Even Rollin’s wife, Phoebe, when interviewed, likewise said the issue of love triangle was not a significant topic since she and Rollin were separated for several years already and that as long as she recalls, there was not one instance she and Rollin’s new live-in partner have had bitterness against each other.

As to the disputed property located in one of the subdivisions here, media met with the owner, identified as Rodolfo Reyes, who said the ownership of his house was transferred in the name of Rollin legally and without encumbrances.

Reyes added that he even gave Rollin a special power of attorney to deal and do every act necessary for the sale of his house. He likewise denied the property issue was the main motive of the broadcaster’s killing.

“Bakit ko naman siya (Rollin) ipapatay eh siya ang nag-alaga sa akin at maganda ang pinagsamahan namin. Hindi totoo lahat ng mga sinasabi diyan,” he said.

For his part, Badelles told media in an interview inside his residence that the case of libel he filed against Rollin a year ago was already dismissed.

“He has approached me, talked to me and apologized already. Isip usa ka Kristiyano, ako siyang gipasaylo and I have shown lack of interest in the case also that is why it was dismissed by the regional trial court,” he said.

Badelles likewise said that he was surprised why Ocampos’ press statement included his name in one of the possible angles.

“Ang tinuod, bisag kinsay mobasa, ang impression ug perception nga molutaw morag involved ko. Gusto unta ko maghilom lang, pero mas maayo mahibaw-an sa katawhan nga layo ra sa tinuod nang maong pasangil,” he added.

Meanwhile, a report from DxDD-AM said, quoting a recent interview with Cabug, said that the police is considering business rivalry as one of the new angles.

Cabug disclosed that they are looking into Rollin’s part-time job as an insurance agent.

To recall again, Rollin's last issues he tackled before he was shot concerned the Magna Carta for Health Workers. He also commented about the vehicles issued to Provincial Board members in Misamis Occidental.

City LPG prices, supply stable

2009-03-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

JONG CADION
Chief of reporters

PAGADIAN CITY--The supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), particularly Gasul, is now all right after the unpredictable damage and repair of the storage facility in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental last February.

This assurance came from Councilor Jesus “Jun” Bajamunde after Mindanao Monitor asked him whether the short supply of LPG in the city was a result of hoarding or not.

Bajamunde owns Pagadian Gas, which obtains filled LPG at the Petron Gasul Bailing Station in the neighboring Misamis Occidental.

“Our supply now is back to normal following the repair of our storage facilities in Jimenez,” Bajamunde explained.

It was learned that the gasul supply allocation in Pagadian and the rest of the province was reduced to half after the malfunction of spiral tank storage in Jimenez.

Some 8,000 cylinders of gasul cylinder are sold by Pagadian Gas weekly. These composed of both the 11-kilogram and the commercial 50 kilogram, Bajamunde added.

A Weekly Price Monitoring Report forwarded by DTI-Zambosur dated March 6 listed a decrease in LPG products at an average of P20 per 11-kg tank.

The DTI paper listed the price of Gasul, Shellane and Caltex LPG at P580 while Pryce Gas and Petronas Gas are sold P10 cheaper.

Ozamiz media shout justice for Ka Ernie

2009-02-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY—Saying the killing of commentator Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin is big affront to the freedom of the press, Times Broadcasting Network Corp. (TBNC), which owns DXSY, released its statement saying it will do everything in its influence and resources to get to the murderer and mastermind.

Aida Ong Sy, TBNC president, said: “Tao ang pinatay nila, hindi tama yun. We will have justice.”

“If I have to do everything even if I’ll have to turn the world upside down, gagawin ko. I am giving you this solemn promise,” she added.

Rollin, a blocktimer of DxSY, was shot dead in front of his live-in partner, Monday, Feb. 23, in Oroquieta City while on his way to work.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) listed him as the eighth journalist killed this year and the 63rd during President Gloria Arroyo’s term.

“Ganitong mga pangyayari, this cannot go unpunished. Akala nila pwede na lang basta ganyan ang gagawin nila sa mga taga-media,” Sy said, condemning the dastardly act.

“Its high time the PNP will impress us and do its job better in going after the perpetrator,” she added.

Rollin, who was a staunch critic of certain public figures, including Gov. Loreto Ocampos, will be interned Saturday, Feb. 28.

NUJP-Ozamiz, through Jovencio Godoy Jr. and President Ryan Rosauro condemned the shooting and called on authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation and arrest the suspects.

“We condemn in the strongest sense the killing of our colleague, radio broadcaster Ernesto "Ka Ernie" Rollin. The brutality that he suffered in the hands of his assailants is not befitting of a civilized way of life,” the chapter statement reads.

“Like other attacks on journalists, the slaying of Ka Ernie has cast more shadow of gloom over press freedom and adds to the continuing mockery of Philippine democracy.”

“Granting that the attackers and/or their mastermind have scores to settle with Ka Ernie, the four gunshots that ended his life clearly are not the appropriate way for this.”

Meanwhile, two of the angles presented by PNP Provincial Director Leonilo Cabug in his official statement with that of Ocampos were already disproved by the community media as mere speculations after the parties vehemently denied their role in Rollin’s death.

To recall, both Cabug and Ocampos gave media their joint official statements the same morning a few hours after Rollin was shot.

Their statement condemned Rollin’s killing and called it a "big blow and grave offense to press freedom."

"The dynamics of a democratic society hinges in a free flow of information, exchange of ideas, and respect to one's opinion and tolerance to the thoughts of others," both officials said.

Ocampos added that he has ordered the PNP to form a task force and conduct a special investigation on the matter and bring the culprit to the bar of justice with no stones left unturned.

The governor likewise disclosed in his press statement that from his initial meeting with Cabug, four angles were looked into as the possible explanation of the broadcaster's killing.

Ocampos and Cabug listed four angles, which involved a love triangle, a property dispute and politics—wherein Rollin was said to be involved in political character demolition job sponsored by politicians critical to the government during elections.

The fourth angle was the unvalidated allegation that Rollin was sometimes seen in company with some notorious drug lords and criminal elements in Ozamiz City.

But Pol Aguaviva, DxSY broadcaster and a colleague of Rollin, told this paper that the fourth angle is preposterous. He added that he can vouch for Rollin’s credibility and that he was never in any way involved in drugs or in the company of druglords.

Yesterday, the media interviewed Rollin’s wife, Phoebe, who said that the issue of love triangle was not a significant topic since she and Rollin were separated for several years already and that as long as she recalls, there was not one instance her husband lifted a finger against her.

As to the disputed property located in one of the subdivisions here, media met with the owner, identified as Rodolfo Reyes, who said the ownership of his house was transferred in the name of Rollin legally and without encumbrances.

Reyes added that he even gave Rollin a special power of attorney to deal and do every act necessary for the sale of his house. He likewise denied the property issue was the main motive of the broadcaster’s killing.

“Bakit ko naman siya (Rollin) ipapatay eh siya ang nag-alaga sa akin at maganda ang pinagsamahan namin. Hindi totoo lahat ng mga sinasabi diyan,” he said.

New seminar offers tips, tricks on good housekeeping

2009-02-23T01:32:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY--A newly slated seminar on good housekeeping focusing meal preparation, control of house property, ensuring its maintenance and proper use and appearance and managing other domestic concerns will be held, Feb. 24-25, this city at the Brgy. Aguada Hall.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Northern Mindanao regional governor Elvira Tan said the two-day seminar will tackle on comprehensive housekeeping and is open to all interested househelps and prospective domestic helpers who are applying jobs abroad.

A housekeeper is a person responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of premises, usually residential.

Abroad, the said work is being classified into three: industrial–those responsible for the cleaning of institutional premises; servant—those in the maintenance of the interior of a residence; and hotel— a department that supervises the maids responsible for cleaning the rooms of a hotel or motel.

The comprehensive housekeeping seminar, Tan added, is being initiated by the Ozamiz City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Ozamiz Chamber), in collaboration with the local government and Department of Tourism-10.

The first among the four designed trainings to be conducted this year by the Ozamiz Chamber, the said seminar will introduce participants to housekeeping programs and give them the necessary guidelines in workplace organization.

This qualification is packaged from the competency map of the Tourism Sector (Hotels and Restaurants) as key speakers from the DOT regional office will conduct the training, divided into lectures and applications.

Competencies to be learned in the seminar will range from managing workplace diversity, finances within a budget to quality customer service, providing safety of VIPs

Tan added that they initiated this kind of activity for the benefit of those wanting to get employed as domestic helpers abroad and even as maids in the locality.

For his part, Ozamiz Chamber President Dominador Elemento told media in a press conference that interested participants need to pay a registration fee of P100 for chamber members and P150 for non-chamber members.

“Graduates of this seminar will be able to get priority in employment wherever one applies for work here and abroad beacuse of the competencies he or she learned,” he said.

Meanwhile, DOT-10 Regional Director Catalino Chan III will be present during the closing activity and will hand over the certificates to the graduates.

Other coming seminars set to be conducted within this year are waitering, front desk operations and bartending.

Those interested are requested to contact the Ozamiz Chamber at Telefax (088)521-1327, Text 09283101083 or visit their office at Rural Bank Bldg., Bonifacio Ext., Aguada, this city.

Ozamiz broadcaster shot dead

2009-02-22T22:22:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OROQUIETA CITY—A radio commentator was dead on the spot after an assassin shot him at close range while on his way to work around 530 a.m, Monday, Feb. 23.

Police identified the victim as Ernesto "Ka Ernie" Rollin, 52, a radio announcer of DxSY-AM based in Ozamiz City.

He also maintains a blocktime program in one of the local stations here during weekends.

Rollin, known for his slogan "Ang Magbalantay sa kaban sa katawhan," was with his live-in partner, Ligaya, when the shooting happened.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) listed him as the eighth journalist killed this year, two months after another broadcaster from Northern Samar was shot last December.

Last Jan. 21, a gunman shot dead Badrodin Abas, anchor for a radio block time program in Cotabato City.

In an interview with Ligaya, she narrated that they were waiting for a bus bound for Ozamiz that morning at the waiting shed near Seaoil gas station in Brgy. Talic when two men riding a motorcycle suddenly arrived and without provocation, shot Rollin three times.

"Abi nako og ang ligid sa motor ang mibuto. Nagpaka-paka man, wala lang pod ko nag-mind. Pagtan-aw nako ni Ernie misarasay na man sa kalsada. Paglili nako dunay miduol nga laki, giwakli ko niya dayon gipusil niya sa ulo si Ernie," she said.

This shot in the head killed Rollin outright.

Ligaya hinted that Rollin's tirades over the radio on certain public figures may have something to do with his shooting.

The local NUJP chapter in Ozamiz, through Jovencio Godoy Jr., condemned the shooting and called on authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation and arrest the suspects.

Godoy, in a text message to this paper, said Rollin's death should prod local media to make a howl of protest so that the trend of killing community journalists will be stopped.

“We condemn in the strongest sense the killing of our colleague, radio broadcaster Ernesto "Ka Ernie" Rollin. The brutality that he suffered in the hands of his assailants is not befitting of a civilized way of life,” the statement reads.

“Like other attacks on journalists, the slaying of Ka Ernie has cast more shadow of gloom over press freedom and adds to the continuing mockery of Philippine democracy.”

“Granting that the attackers and/or their mastermind have scores to settle with Ka Ernie, the four gunshots that ended his life clearly are not the appropriate way for this.”

In light of the incident, NUJP-Ozamiz urged authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation on Ka Ernie's slay and be steadfast in enforcing the law no matter who the suspects of the crime are.

“We call on our colleagues in local news media practice to maintain, if not improve further, our unity in order to surmount this seemingly incessant threat that undermines a no-nonsense dispatch of our duties as bearers of truthful information that the public ought to know of,” the statement continued.

“We also call on media watchdog groups to help us look over the performance of our law enforcement agencies in solving this case. Let us not be cowed by this act of cowardice lurking under the destructive power of the gun.”

As this developed, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Misamis Occidental chair Delia Rosal said: "This will not be the end for broadcast people to do their jobs. Maybe not of the same quality as that of Rollin, pero amo lang paningkamotan gyod nga mapabarog namo ang kaisog aron mahatod ang kasayuran sa inadlaw-adlaw nga panghitabo dinhi sa atong lugar."

For his part, PNP Provincial Director Leonilo Cabug has said in a statement that they are conducting a manhunt operation against the bonnet-wearing suspects who fled towards Ozamiz.

Both Cabug and Gov. Loreto Ocampos has forwarded their joint official statements condemning Rollin's killing and calling it a "big blow and grave offense to press freedom."

"The dynamics of a democratic society hinges in a free flow of information, exchange of ideas, and respect to one's opinion and tolerance to the thoughts of others," both officials said.

Ocampos added that he has ordered the PNP to form a task force and conduct a special investigation on the matter and bring the culprit to the bar of justice with no stones left unturned.

The governor likewise disclosed in his press statement that from his initial meeting with Cabug, four angles were looked into as the possible explanation of the broadcaster's killing.

According to Ocampos, one of the angles involved love triangle, wherein the victim reportedly has a pending case of alleged concubinage after he was known to have a live-in-partner in Oroquieta and another one in Ozamiz.

Another is property dispute, wherein Rollin is making a claim that he has bought and paid a house and lot in Ozamiz and that the owner of the said property is contesting over his claim.

"Ka Ernie is publicly known as a paid political operator actively involved in political character demolition job sponsored by politicians during elections. He has an alleged existing case in Lanao del Norte with former Rep. Cerilo Alipio Badelles," Ocampos said.

"There is also an unvalidated allegation that sometimes he is in company with some notorious drug lords and criminal elements in Ozamiz City," the governor further said.

"As we look into these angles, we call for sobriety and calmness and for justice to take its course. We offer our prayers and deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We assure you that we will attend to this matter with sincerity and commitment," Ocampos concluded.

‘Police Aux stipends officially permitted’

2009-02-16T01:56:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY--The use of the local calamity fund appropriation for honorarium of the barangay tanod and police auxiliary training subsidy is within the bounds of the law, Councilman Matronillo “Loloy” Cartajenas said last week.

Cartajenas’ explanation corrected the much-ballyhooed slip by city councilors some observers have tried to tell this paper that the City Government’s use of the local Calamity Fund on Police Auxiliary Unit (PAU) honorarium may be an irregularity.

Under the provisions of the law, the local Calamity Fund is used only for aid, relief and rehabilitation services to communities or areas affected by man-made and natural calamities, repair and reconstruction of permanent structures, including other capital expenditures for disaster operation, and rehabilitation activities.

The finance committee chair, who provided this paper with documents which itemized and described the purpose of the questioned funds, said that the appropriation of the Calamity Fund was based on the joint memorandum circular of the budget and management department and DILG.

The said memorandum contained clarifications on the utilization and validity of annual lump appropriations by local government units for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other works or services in connection with calamities.

Cartajenas pointed out that the allocation of the 5% Calamity Fund was pursuant to the said memo, under the section wherein the preparation of relocation sites, facilities, disaster preparedness training and other pre-disaster activities is prescribed.

To recall, it was in September 2008, exactly a month after the bloody siege in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte that the Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog organized ad trained some 225 barangay tanods for the PAU.

The move was for the suppression of insurgency and in the fight against criminality. The training was conducted the whole month.

Parojinog, acting on the proposal made by City Police C/Insp. Wilbur Salaguste, said his approval was based also on the provisions of RA 7160, Memo Circular 42-44, the Barangay Tanod Professionalization Program and EO 546.

EO 546, signed by President Gloria Arroyo, stressed on the role of local officials in drawing up internal security plans for their respective localities and enjoining the police in the effort of combating insurgencies and terrorism in the country.

Under EO 546, policemen are given more active roles in internal security concerns, which likewise direct them to actively support the military in suppressing insurgency and other serious threats to national security.

It also authorizes the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers” in the peace and order plan and in the local anti-terror drive.

Salaguste, in his letter then submitted to Parojinog with regards to the creation of the PAU, justified that even though the city is not in any way under threat by Moro extremist groups and communist insurgents, the proximity of the city to Lanao del Norte might be a a likely invitation for intrusions by breakaway groups who might cause trouble or inflict terrorist actions.

Salaguste then assured the mayor that with the deputization of the barangay tanods or PAU, streets crimes, including drug peddling, is predicted to reduce to half “and will continue to reduce to the lowest level for the next calendar year.”

“Insurgency and other threat groups will be prevented from intruding to Ozamiz City through timely report and immediate response from the PNP and PAU,” the police major added.

“Local and transient residents will ve provided with a 24/7 security in their respective homes and can sleep well without doubt of harassment and or danger.”

“Investment will rise and local employment will continue to grow because of the security imposed by the local government and the PNP,” Salaguste noted.

As of the latest reckoning, about 11o PAUs were deputized by the PNP, their creation and honorarium totaling some P2,438,105.

These PAUs were issued uniforms, all totaling P180,400 while their logistics, which includes flashlights, handcuffs, medicines and shotguns totaled P324,090.

With each PAU receiving P2,000 a month, all in all, these personnel receive a total P880,000 while P340,00 is allocated for their gasoline expenses, good for four months.

Ozamiz City airport sees more expansion

2009-02-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY--The uncontrollable influx of passenger departure and arrivals is nudging Transportation and Communication (DOTC) officials to widen the Benigno Aquino Jr. Airport in Gango, this city.

Presently, the airport runway lengthening works from 1,746 to 1,900 meters is already finished and Air Transportation Office (ATO) manager Napoleon Bael said his next move will be to ask for its widening in the hope that the landing strip can accommodate bigger planes.

Bael has declared in an earlier interview with PANGUIL BAY MONITOR that the airport is shifting image and is adjusting to the times by becoming a state-of-the-art airport.

Bael said that aside from the widening and asphalt overlaying works, there is also ongoing expansion of the landing field’s apron to 600 square meters in the north taxiway as well as the newly finished P4.8-million arrival building.

The passenger terminal, which also went through instant renovations, is now equipped with an electronic check-in counter manned by non-uniformed personnel to handle the flow and inspection of baggages.

For passengers, a metal detector walk-through machine was installed inside the pre-departure area where all passengers are ordered to pass by.

Bael likewise said that the 49 kilometer runway will be extended, 100 by 45 meters, in preparation for its standardization at a cost of P30-million.

“We need 2,100 meters of runway length and widen it to 45, then our next program of work will be the runway lights, we will also procure navigational aids,” he told this paper then.

“Importante kaayo ni sila aron ma-all weather na dayon ang atong airport ug bisan maot ang tiyempo ang piloto maka-landing,” he said.

An additional riverbank protection will be done by end of this year, Bael added, to tone down the attrition of the riverbanks of Labo River, which is only a few meters away from the west side of the airport.

The ATO manager added that as for now, their priority is the perimeter fencing, using the P93-million funding, after his attention was called by officials of Air Philippines in Manila who told him of their pilots’ complaints of people trespassing inside the runway.

It can be recalled that in July last year, government infrastructure overseer Sec. Cerge Remonde announced that seven airports in Mindanao will be completed, all totaling P15.51 billion.

The Benigno Aquino Jr. Airport is one of them, classified as a secondary airport under the administrative control of Pagadian Airport–Area Center VII.

Twenty-one other air terminals are programmed to be completed before President Gloria Arroyo completes her term of office in 2010.

The airport projects are designed to promote the development theme of the respective Super Regions, the intra-regional and extra-regional transport system that would make Visayas and Mindanao, and their key tourist destinations more accessible.

During her visit here last year for the airport’s inauguration, Arroyo said that the seven airports in Mindanao will help improve the transport of agricultural products as well as provide access to key tourist destinations.

Arroyo predicted the airport will be able to sustain the viability and facilitate the economic growth of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte by attracting local and foreign tourists as well as investors.

To summon up, the airport was closed in 1998 after Philippine Airlines (PAL) stopped its operations of Fokker and Sunriser planes because of the small runway, too short for their jetliners and wide-bodied aircrafts.

Also, PAL was affected by financial crisis and labor disputes during that period.

Then three years ago, extension and expansion works of the airport started again after Rep. Herminia Ramiro said she was bent on opening the airstrip after much proddings from provincial and city officials who wanted it open to complement Misamis Occidental’s hard line eco and infra tourism growth.

The airport was reopened to commercial flights on July 11, 2007 with Air Philippines offering Ozamiz-Manila and vice versa routes four times a week, then switched its flight frequency to daily owing to the huge volume of passenegers and cargoes.

Early this month, Cebu-Ozamiz-Cebu flights via PAL Express commenced using its Bombardier Q400, 76-seater plane.

Also, Cebu Pacific Air opened November, last year, with its Ozamiz-Cebu-Manila route using the ATR 72-500 plane.

“Ang nagtabang ug anhi sa atoa are three provinces—Zambsour, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte—especially now that Iligan and Pagadian airports were closed at present,” Bael said.

Travel time for the Ozamiz-Manila route at present is only between 35-40 minutes.

The Ozamiz airport is one of the 27 infrastructure projects in Mindanao given an overall P200-billion funding by Arroyo, which she wants prioritized for completion before 2010.

CPC-6 holds arts camp for kids

2009-02-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Online news contributor

PAGADIAN CITY--Some 50 pre-teens, of Subanen and Muslim heritage, attended a three-day Arts Camp workshop conducted by the Provincial Government and the CPC-6 Communication Task Force, chaired by Allan June Molde of the Provincial Information Office.

Molde said the activity centered on children, aged 12-15, to create awareness among the kids the essence of the provisions and principles of UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC).

UNICEF, which stands for United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946, which advocates for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF’s CRC, on the other hand, is a universally agreed standards and obligations, which includes human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social—and respect for the dignity of each individual.

In 2008, Unicef released P14-million as funding support in Zambosur CPC-6’s programs and activities focusing on health and nutrition, education, local policy and institutional development, children in need of special protection and HIV-AIDS.

Molde added that children participants from the towns of Lapuyan, Midsalip, Kumalarang and Vincenzo Sagun and this city eagerly played their part in the activity, which is also in observance of February as National Arts Month (NAM).

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) observes February as NAM, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 683, and in celebration of Filipino artistry and creativity.

For this year, the celebration takes a leap by going international under the name Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF) where selected artists from different countries will converge and hold events for the PIAF with funding and support from the NCCA.

In Pagadian, the NCCA will premiere the Sambayan Philippine Cultural and Arts Festival and its year-long cultural activity.

Molde likewise said he is tapping the Kazaulogan Cultural Group led by Felimon Blanco, Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts director, who also represent the NCCA.

Joanna Calooy of Lapuyan gave her impression on the said training and declared that it enlightened her comprehension on being a Filipino.

Calooy was referring to the different creative arts workshops like drama, Subanen and Moro dances and visual arts they were presenting at the Bulwagan ng Kabataan, Provincial Government Center in Dao.

Also, Marjorie Paulin, board member of Pegompongan Megayon Getaw Nawan (PEMEGENA) and Tarhata Daligdigan, officer-in-charge of the Office of Muslim Affairs discussed on Muslim and Subanen roots.

DILG strengthen anti-drug enforcement

2009-02-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

PJTremedal
Associate Editor

Pagadian City - With DILG Memorandum Circular No.2009-09 to all LGU’s down to the barangay level strengthens the enforcement against the proliferation of illegal drugs and other substance nationwide.

Dated January 29, 2009, after the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announces publicly that she will be the next anti-drug czar. Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the DILG immediately sent the MC 2k9-09 to all concern. However, said memorandum in its coverage exempted the ARMM region.

Further, MC 2k9-09 cited the responsibilities of all local government officials down to the barangays;

“As required under Section 51 to 53 of RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 as amended, Local Chief Executive and Sanggunian members must ensure the mandatory inclusion in the Local Annual Budget of a substantial appropriation that can adequately assist in or enhance the enforcement of RA 9165 giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents…

And ensure that the Anti Drug Abuse Councils at all levels perform their functions and responsibilities as embodied in relevant department issuances.”

The said MC 2k9-09 also cited the sanction against anyone who will not follow the memorandum circular especially in the mandatory inclusion to its annual budget, all officials concern be subjected to a possible administrative charges of dereliction of duty.

Failing in any action against the implementation of the memorandum in appropriate enforcement of RA 9165, said officials will be charge for gross negligence, despite knowledge of the PDEA and PNP adverse reports, are considered prima facie evidence for the administrative charges.

In Zamboanga Del Sur, Governor Aurora Enerio Cerilles lately announce that she is now in war against the proliferation of illegal drugs and other illegal activities in the province. And immediately call on the police and other government agencies to help and support this campaign for the betterment of the province and to ensure the future of the youth a drug free citizen.

“Enough is enough, this should be stop at all cost” she said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Director P/SSupt Ramon Ochotorena of the ZDS-PNP Provincial Command in an interview said;

“This will sharpen the teeth of our campaign against illegal drug that has been the menace of this society for a long time.”

PDEA catches Army man, pal with shabu

2009-02-11T00:55:00.000-08:00

PDEA catches Army man, pal with shabu

PJAMES TREMEDAL

Associate editor

PAGADIAN CITY—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Provincial Enforcement Office scored anew in the fight against shabu with the arrest of an enlisted military man and his companion for drug peddling.

PDEA Provincial Drug Enforcement Team leader SPO1 Faigdar Jaafar identified the two as Pfc. Musal Ingoh, a member of the 18th Infantry Battalion and a resident of New Labangan, Labangan, Zambosur and Amir Ansad, a resident of Upper Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan.

Both were riding in tandem when they were flagged by the PDEA agents along the the national highway near the Integrated Bus Terminal in Bulatok, this city.

Both Ingoh and Ansad yielded a plastic container full of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, a caliber .45 with one magazine and two cellphones.

The PDEA said the arrest of the two suspects is a buy bust operation as both suspects were apprehended while on the way to a poseur-buyer.

CDCC aids Fire Victims

2009-02-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

PJTremedal
Associate Editor

Pagadian City(update) – The City Disaster Coordinating Council convene yesterday (February 10) four hours after two purok of Barangay Santiago this city was burned down to ashes when a fire broke at 11:50 AM which according to some fire victims disclosed that because of whirling winds it escalate immediately as firemen tried to control 10 minutes after the received the fire call.

Mayor Samuel S. Co, City Mayor and chairman of the CDCC convene the council at around 5:00 and presided what must be done. An emergency relief operations was conducted to more or less 114 families affected( but later final counting was done by the CSWD turn into 135) a Barangay Hall with its Health Center, 5 room School Building of the Santiago Elementary School, and more or less 700-1000 individuals loss their homes.

CDCC also pass a resolution to the Sangguniang Panlungsod proclaiming Barangay Santiago a calamity area after the Bureau of Fire protection under F/Insp Christopher Morales declared estimated fire damage worth 30-35 million pesos.

It was decided by the city disaster coordinating council to give cash assistance of P3, 000 every families and P2, 000 for every house.

Meantime an investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection on the cause of the fire which witnesses’ allegedly pointing to one of the shanties wherein occupants while cooking left the house to do some chores.

35 pass KBP exam

2009-02-09T01:34:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA

Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY--The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has released the results of the accreditation examination held last Dec. 13, 2008 at the Misamis University, Ozamiz City.

Based on the official paper sent in by Virginia Velasco, KBP standards authority performance officer and obtained by this paper, some 35 examinees passed from among the 51 takers.

The total passing rate is 68.62 percent.

Leading the passers is Jo Ann Mae Solatorio with a 96 score.

Solatorio is the municipal accountant of Mabuhay, Olutanga Island, Zamboanga Sibugay. She is a blocktimer of DxOI, a low-power community radio based in that area.

Examinees from DxOI took the first to fifth place in the KBP exam with only Pagadian’s DxWO and DxDD tying the fourth place.

DxOI, with 13, and DxDD, with 12, composed half of the examiners. From among the stations in Ozamiz, DxSY has 8; Ronda Balita has 4, DxOC with 3 and one from MBNN-TV.

Aside from DxOI, five examinees from DxUM also took the KBP accreditation examination which is made up of multiple choice and case analysis questions.

Genelisa Piedad, an intern DxDD and the youngest among the examinees, told PANGUIL BAY MONITOR the exam was “both easy and difficult.”

She sees her passing as an employment opportunity in the future and “a license to become a professional bearer of the freedom of speech.”

The KBP exam passers will still have to undergo performance evaluation by their respective station managers before being issued KBP accreditation cards.

The evaluation results will then be submitted to the KBP provincial chapter head, who will in turn forward them to the KBP national offfice.

Those who failed will be issued temporary accreditation cards valid for five months to give them time to review and take the exam again before the card expires.

Under the KBP Broadcast Code, all personnel who go on air, including blocktimers, should be accredited to ensure that minimum standards of broadcast professionalism are met.

Khalid treats media to a party

2009-02-09T01:16:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA

Editor-in-chief

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE—Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo treated local media to a thanksgiving party the other week, thanking them for the partnership in making known the best of Lanao del Norte.

The 28-year old governor said it was his pleasure having partnered the various media outfits from Iligan, Ozamiz and Pagadian cities, including those in Lanao area.

During the party, Dimaporo recalled the accomplishment of the media in putting off the stigma of Lanao as a war-torn province and countering this with news that Lanao del Norte today is the “land of beauty and bounty.”

“This is our way of expressing our gratitude for all your continued support to the various undertakings of the provincial government and for being instrumental in delivering timely and relevant information to our constituents,” Dimaporo said.

“Together, we did a good job in promoting Lanao del Norte and I am very happy. We could not have achieve that level of promotion for the province without our media partners that’s why I would like to thank you and spend (my time) with you tonight to acknowledge your partnership with our provincial agenda to promote Lanao del Norte,” he quipped.

“This is something that we cannot achieve overnight or even in a year or two but if we persistently promote the province, sana lang, our protiomotional activity will outshine the negative media and the backlash we exprerience from the rouge MILF attacks,” Dimaporo added.

To recall, it was in April, last year, when Dimaporo called on the local media telling them that he is determined to erase the stigma of the province being portrayed as a war-torn territory.

During that first meeting with the young governor, Khalid aired his sentiment, presented his plans and projects and indulged media to publicize the province’s good points.

“There is a big improvement now in Lanao del Norte, I believe people have seen it. We have improved, ,” was his message then to media.

“But the problem is that people outside Lanao del Norte have not seen that improvement, they do not know it. They still think that our province is all bukid,” he added.

The governor cited embarrassing instances wherein footages of mountains and interior barangays are shown everytime news reports about Lanao del Norte would be tackled on national television.

“They’re not showing the Mindanao Civic Center. They’re not showing our provincial and municipal roads, our Capitol, our agricultural livelihood but only the impoverished areas,” Dimaporo lamented.

“I do not know where they get their footages but it seems like they entered an MILF training camp. That’s a bad presentation of Lanao del Norte,” he said.

“We have that stigma that we are a war-torn province, we cannot deny the fact that we have the MILF but they are in the boundaries of Lanao del Sur and their targets are the Christians along the coastal towns,” he said.

He then cited the importance of responsible journalism, where journalists show and present the correct information. “Only that can remove the stigma of Lanao del Norte,” he said.

Dimaporo further said this was the reason why he called on tri-media practitioners to a forum to present the state of developments of Lanao del Norte.

“We called upon your help to inform the people and you did it. Your were there during the times we need you the most,” Dimaporo concluded.

Cha-Cha? Yes, but not this time

2009-02-07T02:41:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY--Most politicians from Misamis Occidental are keeping an open mind on Charter Change (Cha-Cha) attempts; among them is Rep. Herminia Ramiro who said she favors constitutional amendments for uncomplicated reasons.

Cha-Cha refers to the political and other related processes involved in amending or revising the current 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Under the current constitution there are three modes of which it could be amended: people's initiative (PI), constituent assembly (Con-Ass) and constitutional convention (Con-Con).

A referendum is needed for the proposed amendments or revisions to be approved by the majority of Filipinos and then adopted.

Under President Gloria Arroyo’s administration, there were several proposals, among them a shift to a unicameral parliamentary form of government; economic liberalization; further decentralization of national government and more empowerment of local governments via transition to a parliamentary-federal government system.

To the requisites of “spreading out” more of the Constitution’s economic provisions, this is where Ramiro says she would raise her hand in approval.

“Ang Cha-Cha dili kay ilisan ang term limit (sa mga opisyales) o i-extend dili kana ang tuyo sa mga kongresista. Ang atong tuyo patsada tungod kay nagtutok kini sa economic provision. Makatabang ni og dako sa katawhan,” Ramiro explained.

Ramiro was of the same mind with DTI Sec. Peter Favila who said in 2006 that introducing amendments to the Constitution should prioritize the inclusion of liberalized economic provisions.

Congress has passed House Resolution 737, which calls for the amendment of Sections 2and 3 of Article 12 of the Constitution for the purpose of allowing the acquisition by foreign corporations and associations and the transfer or conveyance thereto, of alienable public and private lands.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, in an interview with the Inquirer, has said this resolution would be treated like an ordinary measure that needs to pass the committee level and be approved in plenary.

The Speaker said his resolution, when brought to the plenary, could serve as a basis for raising a point of constitutional inquiry before the Supreme Court.

Nograles has pushed for the removal of the restrictive provisions in the Constitution in foreign-ownership of public lands, specifically prosposing to amend Article XII, Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution, the provisions that hold a 60-40 production-sharing agreements and control of public land and natural resources by Filipinos and foreigners, in favor of Filipinos.

A congressional press release forwarded to PANGUIL BAY MONITOR in May, last year, quoted Nograles as saying: “At least now, I think there is really a good chance that we can finally correct the defects of our Constitution.”

Nograles, added in the press release that these defects, apart from the highly centralized system of government, is the highly restrictive provisions on land ownership for foreign investors and the mandated 60-40 equity requirement for foreign nationals who want to establish a business in the Philippines.

“These are economic provisions that have largely contributed to the slow growth of investments in the Philippines. All of our neighbors including Vietnam have already opened their economy so I don't see any reason why we can't do the same,” he said.

But as ideas on how to go about with Cha-Cha comes, even on the process of changing the economic provisions in the charter, some if not most would usually believe this goes hand in hand with the political provisions.

Nograles put this doubt to rest, saying the resolution will not pave way for introductions of amendments that will tackle on political provisions, such as term extensions.

Some 163 congressmen have affixed their signatures to Nograles’ resolution, including Ramiro.

Kampi passed another one, which calls on Congress to convene into a Constituent Assembly. This, according to ABS-CBN, has mustered 156 signatures.

With this reality, all Ramiro could say was: “Okay ang charter change apan basin apeke na ang panahon even more than of the majority the congressmen are supporting this.”

In the local level, several councilors also aired their opinion on the Cha-Cha moves; one of them is Romeo Jimenez, who said that such intention is commendable but then he said that such moves were politicized leading to disagreements.

Jimenez’s colleague, Irene “Girlet” Luansing also commented: “Uyon ko naay kausaban sa atoang konstitusyon apan atoang tukion pag-ayo kay adunay mga provision nga angay dili usbon ug adunay uban nga angay usbon so dili gyod ingnon nga sa kinatibuk-an uyon ta.”

Face-to-face, Cecilia Mabanag said she is not in favor of Cha-Cha because this will bring the 2010 electoral process to a standstill, although she added that amending the economic provisions in the charter is necessary.

“Cha-Cha is good pero after na sa eleksiyon, Kinahanglan pa nga pasabton ang mga tawo. Time element is important on Cha-Cha. Kung i-open nato nang Cha-Cha karon, apeke na unya kadtong mga incumbent nga politician mopabor gyod kay na-sentro man sa 2010, so mabutang ang mga tawo moingon dayon nga interesado ning mga politiko tungod kay naa silay interes sa 2010,” butted Matronilo Cartajenas.

“Daghan kaayong mga panglantaw sa atoang mga katawhan. Karon dili pa ta angay mohimo og charter change kay dagko pa kaayo ta problema nga gisagubang sa atong nasod. Focus sa ta sa recovery,” he added.

Yes, as to Cha-Cha’s timeliness, all the councilors were one in saying it is short of time. “There are some areas of concern for Cha-Cha but not this time, maybe after 2010,” Simplicia Neri said.

“If we want to amend the constitution all must be revealed at the proper time and those that need to be changed, those that are not appropriate anymore at this time should be the ones changed otherwise ma-stagnant pod ta. Ayohon gyod og lantaw both the positive and negative aspects that will redound to the general welfare of the people,” she added.

“The marginalized sector of the society should be given preference if ever adunay Cha-Cha,” Neri noted.

“Ang pulso sa katawhan mao ang pagpadayon sa eleksiyon karong 2010, kini nga sentimento sa katawhan maoy akong respetahan sa pagkakaron. Pwede ang Cha-Cha pero after na lang sa eleksiyon,” Nova Princess Echavez says her piece.

For Maria Constancia Lim, her agreement to moves amending the charter depends on the form. “It depends on what provisions would have to be amended. The proposal is for amending the economic provisions but not to the extent that foreigners will have a full 100 percent ownership of our land or regalian estate.”

As to the contention of term extensions, Lim added that she is not in favor of charter change if this is the case.

A report by the Philippine Star dated Feb. 7 has quoted Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III of saying the real motive of President Arroyo’s House allies in the renewed Cha-cha initiative is extending the terms of office of incumbent officials.

“The lack of a provision on how to change the Charter is a big gray area, but it looks like it will be a trial balloon for a constituent assembly. If a constituent assembly is convened, the self-interests of incumbents will definitely come into play. If we really want to end all these suspicions, the best thing to do will be to have a constitutional convention with delegates to be elected during the 2010 local and national elections,” Tañada said.

Lim, in commenting, said that if what Tañada said pushes through, it will only irritate the people. “That will only cause political, social and civis unrest,” she said.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero, in an email to this paper, has called for people's vigilance against moves by administration lawmakers to push for a piece-meal change in the Constitution.

“Unless they specifically say what they want amended and how they want the Constitution amended we cannot and should not let our guards down,” Escudero said in his statement.

“Even if chacha proponents say okay we'll convene just to amend the economic provision of the constitution, anybody can stand along the way and call for a move to amend the very rule which made them convene and move to include term extension,” he added.

“What they want us to do is close our eyes and allow what could later turn out to be the rape of the Constitution.”

Escudero then advised that the President's party mates should stand down and let Cha-Cha begin in the next administration.

New eco-tourism park to rise in Pagadian

2009-02-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate Editor

The Pagadian City Water District (PAWAD) is opening its most treasured eco-tourism recreational area, the Manga Serenity Park.

PAWAD general manager Ed Yorong said they are closely working with the city government, through the Pagadian City Tourism Council (PCTC) and the local tourism office for the development and promotion of the park.

Manga Serenity Park is in Brgy. Manga, about 10 kilometers away from the city proper.

This mini-forest was acquired by PAWAD a few years back for its watershed project as a spring for potable water, catering more than 2,000 families.

The park covers 11.6 hectares blessed with a 20 feet waterfalls cascading down into a lagoon.

Pawad, sensing its natural and captivating beauty, decided to rehabilitate it and turn into an educational eco-tourism destination for students and tourists.

The water district made safe routes and trekking steps as well as converted the lagoon into small swimming pool. All the trees there are marked and named according to its genus.

PCTC chair and former PAWAD director introduced Manga Serenity Park last week during the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Tourism Council (ZPRTC) stakeholders meeting last week.

Meanwhile, lawyer Allan Ranillo of Dipolog City, who heads ZPRTC, said he was impressed when he visited the park and experienced its natural conveniences for himself.

Mayor Samuel Co, who was there with the ZPRTC officials, said he will support the said tourism project.

Gender council centers on women, children’s issues

2009-02-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Provincial Press Bureau
Online news contributor

PAGADIAN CITY--The Provincial Gender and Development Council (PGADC) have aligned its strategies for the special protection of children, maternal health and livelihood.

Board member Felicidad Funtanilla, who is also PGADC’s vice chair, said their council will focus on these concerns, in support of Gov. Aurora Cerilles promotion of women’s rights.

“Women who are abused need help while some need to be industrious and be given programs and activities to become useful in the community,” Cerilles emphasized.

The governor, in raising public consciousness on women’s civil liberties, added that health and well-being are likewise essential for women development.

During PGADC’s meeting last week, Provincial Health Officer Corazon Silla-Ariosa presented the Gender and Development Code (GDC) of Zamboanga del Sur.

The enactment of this province GDC is for the harmonizing gender policies, plans, programs and activities of the local government unit, NGOs and Pos.

The GDC mirrors the upholding of the equality of women and men as partners in nation building and development

Also, PSWD Officer Conchita San Diego underscored the role of PGADC, which is mainly for the protection of women and children.

Safety of women and children in conflict is one issue. Even in the provision of lavatories and restrooms in shelters and evacuation centers, there should be a separate one for women. So is true with menial chores, added San Diego.

Then there’s incest and sexual abuse on women committed by blood relatives, even fathers, San Diego noted.

In line with this concern, the Home for Children in Dao was established, maintained and supervised by the PSWD.

Buried NPA arms cache digged by civilians, military

2009-02-04T18:11:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

GUIPOS, ZAMBOSUR—Various war equipment and subversive documents believed to be owned by suspected New Peoples Army (NPA) were unearthed by the 53rd Infantry Battalion last week.

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Gayongorza said he believes the booty is part of the CPP-NPA arms cache hidden by the rebels to keep the military from finding it while conducting its offensives in the hinterland areas of their turf.

Actually, it was from the tales of residents of Brgy. Ocapan, San Miguel which reached the ears of 2Lt. Michael Jameson Constantino of the Alpha Company that assorted war materials were buried somewhere in the area.

Army diggers found and recovered an M-16 rifle, two cal.30 M-1 Garand Rifles, a home made Shotgun, a 357 revolver, 53 rounds ammunition for M-16 and three short magazines, one O2N VHF handheld radio, three VHF radio.

There were also assorted medical paraphernalia, subversive documents that contain articles and writings of the members of Front Committee “Kara” of the Western Mindanao Revolutionary Party Committee (WMRPC).

Gayongorza said the different civic activities and welfare programs being implemented by the 53rd IB in the area have deprived the communist insurgents of mass supporters as many subsequently decided to hide their firearms and or deserted the organization.

Meanwhile, MGen. Nehemias Pajarito, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Col Alexander Dicang of the 102 Army Brigade commended the 53rd IB.

They likewise cited the bravery and openness of the civilians to tell them of the hidden arms cache.

As of this writing, the office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process is in the process of reinforcing the Social Integration Program (SIP) thru the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) for its implementation.

The PPOC, during its recent initial inter-agency meeting, has revealed that there are 21 new surrenderees in Zambosur that need government assistance.

ARMM agri extension workers train on palay check

2009-02-03T22:27:00.000-08:00

JONG CADION
Chief correspondent

COTABATO CITY—The agriculture and fisheries department of ARMM in collaboration with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-ARMM) and PhilRice has conducted a check retooling for agricultural extension workers (AEWs).

The activity was held at the Mamitua Saber Research and Training Center, Mindanao State University in Marawi City.

ATI-ARMM center manager Vadreya Solaiman said 23 AEWs from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur including Marawi City were trained to enhance their knowledge on palay-check.

This knowledge will then will replicated by the AEWs to farmers in their areas.

The Palay Check System (PCS), if properly applied, will give farmers 10-15 percent yield increase in rice production, translated to cavans per hectare.

The PCS method includes soil analysis that determines input requirement level of the soil and the use of leaf color chart.

The workshop attended by the AEWs attempted to formulate and prepare plans that will be adapted to their respective areas, and seeks to improve farmers’ productive capacity.

Engineer Alberto Pajarito and Jose Nori Buhat from PhilRice, DAF-ARMM Regional Rice Coordinator Dadtungan Radzak and Rice Report Officer Edna Bajao were the resource speakers during the duration of the training.

DAF-ARMM Sec. Keise Usman is optimistic that the knowledged learned by the AEWs would be passed on to farmers and thus will achieve its goal in helping increase rice production to ensure food sufficiency and stability in the region.

Likewise, the activity is seen to fasttrack the department’s efforts in strengthening its agri-fishery programs.

This training is the education and extension component of the FIELDS Program of President Gloria Arroyo through DA Sec. Arthur Yap with the support of ARMM Regional Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan. With reports from a.

Groundbreaking of ARMM's agri-aqua training center

2009-02-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

JONG CADION
Chief correspondent

COTABATO CITY--The groundbreaking ceremony of the first agriculture and fisherfolks Training Center in ARMM was held, Jan. 29, at the ARMMIARC Center Experimental Station, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.

The event was attended by officials of the ARMM agriculture and fisheries department led by Sec. Keise Usman, field operations director, Dr. Salik Panalunsong for research and development, Jalika Mangacop and ARMMIARC center manager Siya Belongan.

Present during the occasion were Nasser Sinarimbo, consultant and procurement specialist of Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) and ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) project manager Mustapha Sambolawan, assistant project management officer Guimpan Paidomama and team leader Norodin Lumambas

They were joined in by Exec. Sec. Datu Quirino Udasan representing Sultan Kudarat Mayor Bai Shajida Mastura Bandila and FFJJ Construction Engr. Chona Sebelleta.

The said project, according to the said officials, will mark the beginning of more programs that will enhance agriculture through extensive trainings for agricultural extension workers and farmers.

This training center will be the venue for various agricultural and fishery trainings where all the needed equipments will be provided for by DAF-ARMM.

Usman disclosed that the facility alone worth more than P500,000.00, their counterparted to JICA’s funding.

Mangacop, for her part, said the contract signing by and among DAF-ARMM, JICA, ASFP and FFJJ Construction was made last Nov. 24, 2008 at the ASFP Office in Cotabato City.

She added said that the representatives of the government and the concerned agencies underwent a pre-construction meeting for the proper implementation of the program.

Sinarimbo and Lumambas both explained that the training center is one of the 33 projects that will be constructed in the region.

Panalunsong thanked JICA for the support in various ARMM agri-fishery programs. With reports from the DAF PIO

PPOC reacts to disruptions in Zambosur’s peace and order

2009-02-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

PAGADIAN CITY—Governor Aurora Cerilles has convened the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to deliberate and pass resolutions related to the present volatile peace situation in Zamboanga del Sur.

Board member Ernesto Mondarte, chair of the peace and order committee, represented Cerilles in the said meeting.

Mondarte, when interviewed, said the resolutions the PPOC passed and approved were attentive to the provincial government’s support to the no-nonsense campaign initiated by both the military and police in the province against lawless elements.

Their meeting, Mondarte added, likewise kept in mind the unpredictable situation of Zamboanga del Sur, being a coastal province and susceptible to attacks and aggression from whatever lawless elements, including rebels and pirates.

The lawmaker pointed for example the municipality of Labangan as one of the areas which is exposed and in a weak position to ward off surprise attacks given the absence of any government forces guarding its vicinities.

Two resolutions were passed by the PPOC that day. One tackled on the council’s request addressed to the the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division to establish an army detachment specifically in Barangay Combo in Labangan.

Barangay Combo, Labangan is said to be a “landing area” of unwanted visitors, pirates, robbers and lawless elements from the neighboring shores.
Mondarte said that the presence of the 1st Infantry there will keep these marauders at bay.

The PPOC’s meeting actually was an upshot of an offensive shown last week by unidentified persons who attacked an army detachment established along the Tukuran-Labangan highway intersection.

In the said midnight attack, the aggressors fired a rifle propelled grenade to the checkpoint, wounding a soldier, later identified as M/Sgt. Samuel Companion.

The quick reinforcement of the MP Company and the 53rd IB prevented more hostility.

Mondarte said the PPOC condemned the attack in the strongest terms, calling it an act of cowardice and terrorism.

The Hacienda Filipina and its sovereignty

2009-02-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

PJTREMEDAL
Associate Editor

Iligan City- The Hacienda Filipina and its sovereignty together the Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation together with the United Humanitarian Organization, (Phils.), Incorporated based here is an non-government organization trying to intervene in the resolution for peace in Mindanao.

Her Majesty Queen Regent Salvacion Legaspi y Espiritu Santo, who leds the organization said that she is soliciting the peoples consent to be together in solving the crisis in Mindanao.

“it is for me to help and mediate and intervene, in order to support a peaceful means of exercising the rights of the ancestral lands earmarked for the Muslims thru the Sultans of Mindanao. We have to reach first the bottom and root of the problem before we can start solving the issues on claim on the Ancestral Lands,” she said.

She further explained her intention and be it a fact that there are reasons and figures why she intervene, in her letter to all the nations of the world, below are the facts in intervening the peace process which, both the government of the Philippines and the MILF should ponder upon; “The original Certificate Title No. 01-4, by the Royal Crown of England Land Form 01-1764, which was entered pursuant to the decree of 01-4 in accordance with the order of the Royal Audiencia de Manila, dated January 17, 1764.

The Royal Government of England who heard in the accordance with the provisions of the Land Laws known as the Torrens system, that Lacan Acuna (of the Tagean clan) married Princess Rowena Ma. Elizabeth Overbeck Macleod of Austria, for owning certain lands known as Hacienda Filipina consisting of 7,169 islands.

In the Treaty of Paris, originated by the Original Certificate Title 01-4, that was mediated by and between the Five Signatory of that Treaty namely: the US France, Mexico, Spain and Great Britain, witnessed by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.” It may be recalled that, after the MOA-AD-BJE controversies, Mindanao again is in the verge of another war.

Last August lawless elements from the command Commander Bravo of the MILF attack and killed innocent civilians and damage millions of properties in Kolambugan and Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte. “No one wins on war except distraction and cost of lives; now is the time to resolve and conclude critical issues in mainland of Mindanao’ in time immemorial, Ancestral Lands of both the Indigenous Peoples, the Bangsamoro People claim for self-determination, and the Local Settlers (Christians) plight for their Rights to abode and right to life, property and dignity should be respected and be acknowledge to stop this conflict and attain peace in Mindanao,”

Her Majesty concluded. With its sovereignty and the heart to help the innocent, HRM Legaspi told this reporter that as god’s messengers it is her responsibility to help resolve peace in Mindanao.

Police impounds truckload of guns, ammunitions

2009-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

OROQUIETA CITY—The Provincial Highway Patrol Team (HPG-10) apprehended three suspects and impounded their vehicle after failing show legal papers for the sackload of assorted firearms and ammunitions they were transporting, Jan. 29.

Police S/Supt Romeo Razon Uy, regional director, identified the arrested persons as Hanzel Paculba, Ambrocio Canter and Jovencio Tamondong.

Paculba was said to be the driver of Isuzu dumptruck loaded with the firearms while Canter and Tamondong identified themselves as security supervisors of Double Top Security Agency, based in Iligan City.

Police confiscated their load, which included three sacks full of M-16 rifles, 21 shotguns, 25 cal.38 revolvers and a bag full of different live ammunitions.

Also, 15 assorted handheld radio sets, logbooks and four motorcycles were discovered at the back of the dumptruck.

SPO4 Ebra Rajah, who led the apprehending team along with members of the TMEAG Force, said the three were flagged along the national highway of Brgy. Southern Looc, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.

The three averred that they are transferring the said firearms from their office in Zamboanga to Iligan. But police said the three failed to show legal documents for their cargoes.

Rajah said they will file charges of illegal possession of high caliber firearms against the three arrested persons.

LTFRB-10 gears up for ISO 9001:2000

2009-02-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

PJAMES TREMEDAL
Associate editor

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is in the thick of preparation to become an ISO 9001:2000 office.

ISO 9001:2000 refers to standardized, predictable, and globally understood process language hinged on an international agreement on Smart Management Practices.

It offers assurance that an organization's services will consistently meet an expected quality standard through a strategic upgrade of processes or documentation. It is also granted or renewed on a per-function basis, hence, there are about 14,000 known ISO accreditations known worldwide.

The move is also pursuant to Executive Order 605 Instituting Structure, Mechanism and Study to Implement the Government Quality Management Program (GQMP) of Philippine public offices.

Its primary aim is to standardize the national competitiveness agenda particularly on the frontline services or government to business transactions (G2B) needed by a customer. It likewise serves as a barometer for organizational effectiveness in achieving individual office Quality Management System (QMS) objectives.

Sultan Mandangan Darimbang, who heads the LTFRB regional office here, said he is making things in order and that such measure was to establish a reputable public office.

Such activities they did in order to achieve this is by rehabilitating their office structures and setting up one-stop shops that will certify and accredit clients.

This move, he added, is also for easy access and eliminates the bureaucratic red tape.

Meanwhile, on the issue of unregistered public utility vehicles vehicles, the so-called koloroms, Darimbang said law enforcement agencies like the TMG and LTO are the only ones responsible in apprehending and filing cases against violators.

“LTFRB is a quasi-judicial government institution. We can only certify, verify and accredit vehicles to be come legal,” he clarified.

12 Zambosur MPS receive new policecars

2009-02-02T02:47:00.000-08:00

PJTremedal
Associate editor

Camp Abelon, Pagadian City – Twelve local Municipal Police station are now mobile after they received light PNP vehicles from the Philippine National Police Transformation program initiated by Camp Crame after 13 Key result areas are to be program, and one of this is the police mobility.

With their local government units counterpart especially in the transportation and shipping expense of the said PNP vehicles, Municipalities of Molave, Dumingag, Mahayag, Tukuran and Aurora for the 1^st District while municipalities of San Miguel, Tabina, Dinas, San Pablo, Lakewood, Kumalarang and Vencinzo Sagun for the 2^nd District received their units after the blessing and turn-over rites held at Camp Abelon this week.

Assistant Provincial Director for Administration, P/Supt George Galano, who at the same as the concurrent provincial program management officer said that the turn-over of 12 vehicles to include one(1) SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) ZDS Provincial Police Office Ambulance is in line with the PNP Integrated Transformation Program.

“This is line with the on-going PNP and the Logistic Support Services program as the result of the 13 key areas for priority of the PNP command nationwide, which is police mobility.” APD/PSupt. Galano said.

Meanwhile Mayor Jun Saniel of Molave said that with this program,” efficiency in our police action is augmented with fast mobility this because of this vehicles that we long for years.”

While Mayor Boy Vega of Tukuran was quoted saying that, “Our financial counterpart for the shipping and transport of the vehicles from Camp Crame to the Cagayan de Oro City Port is minimal to be compared in our peace efforts and public safety financial endeavor, in which we did not hesitate to help and support our police forces.”

Mayors from other municipalities attended in the blessing ceremonies held with Fr. Vince Romanos initiating.

Meantime, PNPZDS-SOCO (Scene of the Crime operatives) and PNP Crime Lab unit also thank the higher headquarters in granting there request. The PNP SOCO Unit received a Mitsubishi Van/Ambulance type vehicle for their use.

“ It is dream come true” said P/Supt Susan Cayabyab, SOCO provincial chief.

As part of the PNP mobilization program, the vehicles distributed and turn-over to the municipal PNP Stations were ten (10) Toyota D-4D Hi-Lux back to back light vehicle, One (1) Toyota Innova, and One (1) Mitsubishi Ambulance/Van Type.

“With this development, the provincial command is hoping to double your effort and be effective in every response or assistance to our people’s need in any event that will hampered the living condition, properties, of this communities in respect to peace and order and public safety which is our responsibility.” Galano pointed out.

P/Supt Galano represented the provincial director P/SSupt Ramon M. Ochotorena who is now in the regional office to attend the 18^th PNP Founding Anniversary regional celebrations.

Checkpoint harrased

2009-02-02T02:42:00.000-08:00

PJTremedal
Associate Editor

Junction, Labangan, ZDS – An army detachment based in the Junction (national Hi-way) between Tukuran and Labangan was harassed by more or less fifteen (15) armed men believed to be lawless elements.

Report reaching the 1^st Infantry Division Headquarters whose camp sang-an is a 5 minutes ride from the said junction , the Army detachment manned by elements of the Division Support Companies and 9^th Field Artillery Battery was hit by an RPG rocket that resulted to damage of the makeshift detachment and wounding one military personnel.

A certain MSgt. Companion of the 9^th FAB was wounded during the exchange of fire with the lawless elements that was reported circling the detachment but with the timely response of the Military Police team led by Ilt. Renato Estrivillo and the 53IB team led by Ilt Aguilar, no further damage was done with the detachment and no more casualties, while the lawless elements scampered to different direction.

MGen Nehemias G. Pajarito, Commanding General of the Army’s premier division order a full investigation and operation to catch up with the enemies.

It may be recalled that, after the incident in Kolambugan and Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte, the province of Zamboanga del Sur is not free from any threat of Bravos lawless MILF Group and its counterpart units within the area of responsibility of the Tabak Troopers.

Meanwhile, Governor Aurora Cerilles who was informed with the recent incident called for an emergency meeting with provincial peace and order council.

New book on Philippine Mining, food launched

2009-02-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

JONG CADION

Chief Correspondent

MINDANAO PILGRIM

PAGADIAN CITY--A book containing a second report on Mining in the Philippines entitled “Mining or Food?” was first launched here on January 21, 2009 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center after 12-months in the making.

The author Robert Goodland and Clive Wicks said in an interview that together with the Working Group on Mining in the Philippines respectfully dedicated this reports to all the courageous and dignified people who have been killed while protecting the environment and upholding human rights in the Philippine archipelago.

The report, commissioned by the British-based Working Group on Mining in the Philippines (WGMP0, chaired by the former minister for international Development, Clare Short MP, Members of the London Working Group on Mining in the Philippines highlights the treat that mining poses to food security with help from many Filipinos who's names we can not mention for safety reasons, the authors said.

The report makes clear how food production will be damaged irreparably if the mining projects on the drawing board go ahead. Six cases studies are documented, including Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Sibutasd, Zamboanga del Norte; Tampakan, South Cotabato and Pujada Bay in Davao Oriental and also ming, food and environment related issues on the islands of Mindoro and Sibuyan.

Once self-sufficient in rice, the Phiulippines is now the world’s biggest importer and with world rice prices tripping in 2008, it has to pay record prices. In a country where two-thirds of the population lives on only $2 a day, this means that more Filipino families are being force into poverty.

The book cited the problem is rooted in the failure to maintain the health of its agricultural sector and to conserve vital natural resources, such as tropical forest and water, which contribute to national rice output. The loss of watershed, for example, has a direct impact on the water supply for irrigation that is so vital for rice farmers. Yet, the Government seems to regard forests purely as a source of timber and as potential areas for mining.

The stark choices’ facing the Philippines is between a few years of mining and thousands of years of irrigated rice and fisheries production. Mining reduces the options for future generations. The lessons learnt from the 2002-2004 independent World Bank-funded Extractive Industry review have not been heeded in the Philippines.

The report urges a moratorium on new mining projects in the Philippines and the review of existing projects. It points to serious reservation about the practices of the mining companies, many of which have headquarters in Britain and are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

It was on February 2008 when the WGMP asked two environmental experts to visit the Philippines in order to investigate more fully, document and map some key sites targeted for mining.

“We are not against mining provided that the source of food will be protected,” Clive Wicks told this reporter. Wicks has 48 years of experience of working in engineering, agriculture and environment, specializing in the impact of extractive industries on the environment. He chairs IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, and co-chairs IUCN’s Working group on the Social and Environmental Accountability of the Private Sector. He works in the international environmental movement for the last 24 years, mainly with WWF UK. He headed WWF UK’s African, Asian and Latin America programmes, and represented WWF at G8 World Bank, IFC, UNEP and UNDP meetings on extractive industries. He is concerned about mining activities failing to meet sustainability criteria.

“You have the best Law in the Philippines regarding on the Mining and Environmental protection but, it was not strictly implemented and perhaps violated,” Robert Goodland also said. Goodland is an environmental scientist specializing in economic development. He advised the World Bank Group from 1978 through 2001. he then became a technical director to H.E. Dr. Emil Salim’s independent Extractive Industry Review of the World Bank Groups Portfolio of oil, gas mining projects. He was elected president of the International Association of Impact Assessment, and Metropolis Chair of the Ecological Society of America. He was awarded the World conservation Union’s Coolidge medal in October 2008.

The reports which likewise highlight the clash between the Philippine Government’s rhetoric about supporting agriculture and the crises on the ground will also be launched in the other sites studied and in Manila on February 4, and in London on February 9, 2009.

The 2006 fact-finding team to the Philippines to investigate mining was led by Clare Short MP and published it findings and recommendations n the first reports, Mining in the Philippines: Concerns and Conflicts on January 2007.

'Drug problem more than that meets the eye’

2009-01-31T02:54:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA

Editor-in-chief

PAGADIAN CITY--Take these revelations straight from the shoulder: the illicit drug abuse in the city and elsewhere is more serious than thought by many—more serious and worse than communist rebels, Islamic militants and the Reston ebolavirus combined.

This was how board member Ernesto Mondarte, chairman of the committee on police and public safety, sees the drug problem in the country in an exclusive interview.

Mondarte’s revelation followed the release of the US Department of State’s 2006 International Narcotics Control Report, which labeled the Philippines a “drug smuggler’s paradise.”

The report went on to say that the illegal drug trade in the country has evolved into a billion-dollar industry while it continues to host foreign organized criminal activities from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“Its earth-shaking, vicious than terrorism and dangerous than any diseases known to man. Dili gani nato ni makompara sa pinakangilgig nga sakit kay mas grabe ang epekto niining droga unya ang iyang effect indiscriminate, dili tumbok,” Mondarte told MINDANAO MONITOR.

A latest study has acknowledged that there are now 3.5 million habitual drug users nationwide while there are 1.6 million who uses drugs occasionally.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also said that illegal drugs, the most common is shabu and ecstasy, are easily bought in every part of the country and that drug syndicates are not only confined to the ordinary people but those who hold power and fame.

Even honest authorities have no match to these powerful drug syndicates because of protection they are getting from the corrupt judiciary, police and politicians.

And when it comes to counter-narcotics law enforcement, the government offices assigned suffers a setback because of lack of resources.

The report also noted that corruption and inefficiency among government officials has also complicated eradication efforts. This reality exacerbates the campaign against the illegal drug problem, Mondarte laments.

“Kung naa gani paryente, amigo o kaila nga involve sa drugs, dili gyod angayan manawag sa otoridad ug moingon nga ato na lang ayum-ayumon. Mao unta nay himoon sa anaa sa mga public officials,” Mondarte explains.

Although the board member declined to give details and statistics for his revelation, he expressed grief that in Pagadian, for example, the illegal drug trade has infiltrated almost all of its 54 barangays.

When asked to appraise the level of illegal drugs infiltration into these villages in the scale of 1 to 10, Mondarte readily answered, “ten.”

“Kung pananglitan ang epekto sa droga taman lang sa gagamit, bahala ka diha’g unsay mahitabo pero og pamilya ug katilingban na ang gun-ubon, wala tay padulngan,” he said.

“With the drug addiction, the youth sector is not only the vulnerable sector but everybody,” he added.

Now, a new problem is emerging, the lawmaker said, as he believed the illicit drug trade would most probably fund politicians in the May 2010 presidential and congressional elections.

PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago, who said he had information that politicians at local and national level were involved in the drug trade, protecting and even financing syndicates, shares Mondarte’s point of view.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Aurora Cerilles cracked her whip and announced that she will wage war against druglords and gunrunners in the province.

The governor’s announcement came in the heels of the so-called “Alabang Boys” controversy wherein it was reported that there was an alleged P50-million bribe that led to the recommendation by state prosecutors to dismiss the charges against the rich boys.

Cerilles, who repeated her pronouncement during an interview at her residence, said: “As long as I am the chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Zamboanga Peninsula, I will do my best to stop illegal drugs in the region. We should protect the future of our children and grandchildren as illegal drugs are considered a menace of society.”

The governor said she was concerned the infiltration and continued proliferation of illegal drugs into villages unhampered could be an upshot of the so-called narco-politics.

Narco-politics is the unholy practice of financing the election campaigns of political candidates by drug lords in exchange for the protection of drug syndicates.

Cerilles told this paper that she strongly believes in narco-politics having observed the involvement of some political personalities in her province in the illegal drug trade.

In alluding, the governor then remarked, “Dili na ni sila pwede tawgon og mga suspects kay publicly known na man ni sila.”

Mondarte, in assuring this paper, said that the provincial government is continuing its plan to revitalize the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Committees (BADAC), which will lead in identifying who among those in the villages are into the illegal drugs business.

An organized BADAC Auxiliary Force consists of 25 people who are not members of the Sangguniang Barangay and Barangay Tanod.

This group will gather information on the existence and names of drug pushers, users and protectors after which the list is turned over to the local chief executives.

“Our fight against drugs will not be effective if dili magsugod sa barangay level,” Mondarte said.

The lawmaker concluded that he is optimistic he has the commitment of local executives and law enforcers.

But the anti-drug campaign, he concluded, still has to get full support and active participation from the general public.

Cebu’s Bantayan Island attracts most tourists

2009-01-31T00:50:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

Cebu’s Bantayan Island is leading the race for the country’s top tourist’s destination in 2008, as listed by Philippine Travel Blog (PTB) Website.

Following Cebu is Boracay Island’s White Beach; Puraran Beach, Panglao Island in Bohol; Honda Bay in Palawan; Muelle Bay, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island; Malapascua Island in Cebu and Amanpulo, Pamalican in Palawan.

The travel blog likewise mentioned the province of Camarines Sur as among fastest growing tourist destinations in the country with the same category as those in Bohol and Palawan, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Tourism Sec. Ace Durano said he is confident tourist visits to Camarines Sur will be doubled this year with the opening of the newest tourist spot in Gota Beach in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte recently developed Gota Beach, located in the Caramoan Peninsula. The beach and those of nearby islands like Lahuy, Bitanglaya have white, powdery sand and the waters that surround them are crystal-clear.

It was the site where the French edition of the popular TV series “Survivor,” was filmed. Shooting was completed last week, to be aired soon in Europe.

Durano said being a location venue for shootings is one way of promoting Caramoan in the European and international market.

Based on DOT 2007 figures, tourist arrivals in Camarines Sur jumped by 41 percent compared to the number of visitors to the province in 2006, PTB said.

Of the 456,911 tourists who visited the province last year, 411,285 were locals while 45,626 were foreigners.

The latest DOT report showed there were 897,680 tourist arrivals in the region last year, or an increase of 41 percent from 2006’s record of 637,127. Of the total number of arrivals, 792,072 were local tourists and 105,608 were foreigners.

As this developed, Misamis Occidental’s nightly news broadcast Patrol sa Kalamboan reported that the province is still hopeful it will still grab the highest point in tourism visits this year.

“Siguro ma-apektuhan sa global financial crisis ang turismo sa Misamis Occidental, pero nagtoo ang Provincial Tourism Office nga dili gihapon kita ma-iwit sa top tourist destinations sa Pilipinas karong tuiga,” PSK said.

Provincial Tourism Officer Karl Imanuel Aoanan said the recent visit of President Gloria Arroyo and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith in Dolphin Island and Wildlife Sanctuary would entice tourists to come and take pleasure in the amenities of the province.

To recall, the province came second last year as the country’s top tourist destination, whisking Boracay out of the position as the country’s leading travel destination.

The ranking came after Misamis Occidental, in terms of foreign and local visitors, posted the second highest number of visitors after Cebu City as “top tourist destinations,” a position formerly held by Baguio City, the “Summer Capital.”

The DOT has recorded an overall 748,006 local and foreign tourists in Cebu for the year while 526,367 visits were recorded from this province, purged from its list of one million, as reported by Sinacaban Mayor Delio Lood in this paper’s Oct. 1-7 issue.

Baguio City has 441,863 visitors while Boracay has close to 400,000 and Davao is fifth, with 300,000.

“Cebu and Misamis Occidental are now considered the new prime destinations, dislodging Boracay Island in Aklan province,” the DOT then said in its report.

“Misamis Occidental is known for its beautiful waters and bountiful fish and seafood for export. Layawan River in Oroquieta City is a constant recipient of the national environmental award, Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran, as Cleanest Inland Body of Water,” continued the report.

“One other place is also drawing tourists to this coastal province – the city of Tangub, which comes alive especially at Christmas,” the report noted.

Tangub City Mayor Jennifer Tan, in email then sent to PANGUIL BAY MONITOR, expressed her appreciation to residents “not only for the support of her programs but also to the warm hospitality extended to guests.”

Tan said, “the reason why the city was included to the top tourist destination in the Philippines is not only of the beautiful Christmas arches, symbols and lanterns but the warm hospitality of Tangubanons.”

“Tangub also has the best tasting crabs because of the unpolluted water of Panguil Bay,” she said, adding, “The culture and attitude of the people in Tangub is our best promotion.”

Ocampos, for his part, said: “Ang Misamis Occidental hinay-hinay nga mihimo ug ngalan sa natad sa turismo tungod sa eco-tourism projects nga usa sa nag-unang programa ni Gov. Loreto Ocampos.”

“Nailhan na karon bisan sa gawas sa nasod ang Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) ug Dolphin Island and Wildlife Sanctuary sa Sinacaban ug ang Hoyohoy Vegetable and Highland Park sa Tangub City,” it added.

Aside from these, Ozamiz City, being a pilgrimage and historical destination, boasts of its 250-year old fort and Shrine, popularly known as the Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo de la Cruz, a tourist come-on.

Another one is the St. John the Baptist Church in Jimenez, one of the 25 oldest churches in the country built in the 18th century by the Recollect fathers.

More report, even in the wake of the economic slump, the Philippines could still shine because of tourism, TUI Travel PLC Chief Executive Officer Peter Long said.

Long, whose revelation was posted in PTB , said their firm expects 600 million tourists from and within Asia over the next five years — and mainly to other Asian destinations.

The country, added Long, remains resilient since it has a lot to offer to travelers, in terms of destinations.

The DOT has said this development will surely translate into economic growth for the country, which will somehow be an offsetting factor against the contagion effect of the ongoing worldwide economic slowdown.

The DOT added that it foresees big tourism receipts until July, proof to this is the increased tourism investments and the number of newly built of hotels and hospital rooms all over the countryside.

BFP-Ozamiz runs into fewest fires in 2008

2009-01-31T00:49:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY—The local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office greets 2009 with optimism after it scored less fire calls in the previous year, attributed to its aggressive fire prevention awareness campaign.

Senior Inspector Rommel Villafuerte, BFP-Ozamiz’s acting fire marshall, said he construes fewer fire incidences as a sign that people have fully grasp the significance of their fire safety enforcement and education campaign.

Villafuerte likewise said they conduct daily visibility patrols around the city and give fire prevention lectures and drills to volunteers and interested organizations.

FO1 Isagani Olmedo Jr., fire arson investigator, who was interviewed for this report, said there are only four fire incidents tallied last year, a big drop compared to 2006 and 2007 figures.

Based on records and post fire investigation report provided by Villafuerte to this paper in 2007, about 12 fire incidences happened in 2006 while this reduced to almost half the next year.

The PANGUIL BAY MONITOR has reported in its yearender issue the first fire that happened in 2008, which happened at the stockroom of Fuller Life office located along corner Mabini and Valconha streets.

According to BFP’s estimates, damages brought by the fire totaled P14, 804,651. Fuller life sells cosmetics and accessories.

The second fire occurred Jan. 21, in Purok 3 Calabayan with total damages placed at P9500 while the third came noontime of March 15 at the Ozamiz City Central School. The BFP said the fire was arson-related because of traces of forcible entry in one of the rooms of the said school. Damages were estimated at P1000.

The last fire to happen in 2008 was on March 26, in Brgy Lam-an where six houses were razed to the ground while most of the residents were attending a graduation ceremony.

Three local schools simultaneously had their commencement exercises that day when a spark started to set off from a wire inside the house of a certain Elizabeth Agustin located in Purok 1.

Villafuerte said that the owner of the reported to him in a query that Agustin’s house was experiencing electrical sparks a week before the fire incident.

The fire happened as the BFP celebrated “Fire Prevention Month” as Villafuerte placed fire damages at P1.5-million.

The figures in 2008 will not be beaten as three fires were already recorded in January, this year.

January 1, New Year’s Eve, a fire occurred at Andot’s building, which is owned by the Paderanga family. The BFP placed initial damage estimates at P150,000.

January 6, another fire happened in the densely populated Purok Malig-on in Tinago, just a fire meters away from the BFP station. The fire engulfed some P300,000 in properties.

The latest fire was last Jan. 15 along Juan Luna St., at the Happy Church. Initial damages guess was placed at P500,000.

According to the BFP, most of the fires that occurred in January, this year, were either attributed to the so-called “hazardous establishments” or the erratic switching of electricity during the weeklong intermittent brownouts after one of Transco’s towers was undergoing repairs.

Book on Philippine mining, food launched

2009-01-30T04:13:00.000-08:00

JONG CADION
Chief of reporters

COTABATO CITY—The second installment on the book about mining in the country entitled “Mining or Food?” was launched, Jan. 21, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center attended by selected media personalities and Mindanao Pilgrim.

One year in the making, the book's authors, Robert Goodland and Clive Wicks, said they collaborated with the London-based Working Group on Mining in the Philippines (WGMP) in coming up with the data used in their articles.

WGMP is presently chaired by former minister for International Development Clare Short.

“Mining or Food?,” Goodland and Wicks said, is dedicated to all the courageous and dignified people who have been killed while protecting the environment and upholding human rights in the Philippine archipelago.”

It likewise highlights the threat that mining poses to food security with help from many Filipinos whose names they would not mention for safety reasons, the authors added.

A glimpse of the book pictures how food production will be damaged irrepairably if the mining projects on the drawing board go ahead.

Six case studies documented were presented in the book, including that of Midsalip in Zamboanga del Sur; Sibutad in Zamboanga del Norte; Tampakan, South Cotabato and that of Pujada Bay in Davao Oriental.

Also included are the mining, food and environment related issues on the islands of Mindoro and Sibuyan.

In one chapter chapter of the book, it said that once self-sufficient in rice, the Philippines is now the world’s biggest importer and with world rice prices tripping in 2008.

“It has to pay record prices. In a country where two-thirds of the population lives on only $2 a day, this means that more Filipino families are being force into poverty,” the book said.

The likewise book cited the problem is rooted in the failure to maintain the health of its agricultural sector and to conserve vital natural resources, such as tropical forest and water, which contribute to national rice output.

“The loss of watershed, for example, has a direct impact on the water supply for irrigation that is so vital for rice farmers. Yet, the Government seems to regard forests purely as a source of timber and as potential areas for mining,” the book said.

“The stark choices’ facing the Philippines is between a few years of mining and thousands of years of irrigated rice and fisheries production. Mining reduces the options for future generations.”

“The lessons learnt from the 2002-2004 independent World Bank-funded Extractive Industry review have not been heeded in the Philippines,” the book continued.

The report also urges a moratorium on new mining projects in the country and the review of existing projects, pointing to a serious reservation about the practices of the mining companies, many of which have headquarters in Britain and are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

“We are not against mining provided that the source of food will be protected,” Wicks told Mindanao Pilgrim.

Wicks have 48 years of experience of working in engineering, agriculture and environment, specializing in the impact of extractive industries on the environment.

He chairs IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, and co-chairs IUCN’s Working group on the Social and Environmental Accountability of the Private Sector.

For 24 years, he worked in the international environmental movement, mainly with WWF UK’s African, Asian and Latin America programmes.

He said he is concerned about mining activities failing to meet sustainability criteria.

“You have the best Law in the Philippines regarding the mining and environmental protection but it was not strictly implemented and perhaps violated,” Goodland also said.

Goodland, an environmental scientist and an awardee of the World Conservation Union’s Coolidge, specializes in economic development and is an adviser to the World Bank Group from 1978 through 2001.

A technical director to H.E. Dr. Emil Salim’s independent Extractive Industry Review of the World Bank Groups Portfolio of oil, gas mining projects, he was elected president of the International Association of Impact Assessment, and Metropolis Chair of the Ecological Society of America.

The book, which also reports the clash between the Philippine Government’s rhetoric about supporting agriculture and the crises on the ground will also be launched in Manila on Feb. 4 and in London on Feb. 9.

Unidentified aggresors fire at Army detachment

2009-01-30T00:37:00.000-08:00

JAMES TREMEDAL
Associate editor

LABANGAN, ZAMBOSUR--The army detachment located along the traffic circle of the national highway between Tukuran and Labangan was attacked by about 15 armed men early dawn Friday.

But the 1st Infantry Division treated the Jan. 30 attack, which injured one of its soldiers, as insignificant, calling it a “harassment.”

The said Army detachment is being manned by elements of the Division Support Companies and 9th Field Artillery Battery (FAB).

The makeshift house was badly damaged after it was hit by an RPG rocket.

A certain M/Sgt. Companion of the 9th FAB was wounded during the exchange of fire with the lawless elements who surrounded the detachment.

A military police team led by 1st Lt. Renato Estrivillo and the 53rd IB team led by 1st Lt. Aguilar responded from Camp Cesar Sang-an and reinforced the detachment, saving it from further casualties.

The attackers scampered to different directions after seeing the reinforcements coming.

By noontime, MGen. Nehemias Pajarito has ordered an investigation of the incident to identify the perpetrators.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, after being informed of the incident, likewise called for an emergency meeting with Provincial Peace and Order Council.

Crame gives 12 vehicles to PNP Zambosur

2009-01-30T00:20:00.000-08:00

PJTREMEDAL
Associate editor

Twelve municipal police stations in the province were selected recipients of light police vehicles from Camp Crame for mobility and patrol in their respective areas of responsibility.

The said vehicles are composed of ten Toyota D-4D Hi-Lux back to back light vehicle, Toyota Innova and a Mitsubishi ambulance van type.

These motor vehicles form part of the PNP’s transformation program focusing on its logistic support services and listing 12 muncipal PNP station priorities.

The recipients are Molave, Dumingag, Mahayag, Tukuran and Aurora for the first district while for the second district are San Miguel, Tabina, Dinas, San Pablo, Lakewood, Kumalarang and Vincenzo Sagun.

Assistant Provincial Director for Administration George Galano, who is also the provincial program management officer, said the turn-over of the vehicles included one ambulance for the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco).

Meanwhile, Molave Mayor Flaviano Saniel commended the turnover saying police efficiency will be bolstered with the newly issued vehicles.

Also, Tukuran Mayor Bonifacio Vega Jr. said that police efforts in maintaining public safety will be doubled with the arrival of the vehicles.

For SOCO Provincial Chief Police Superintendent Susan Cayabyab, their newly acquired vehicle is “a dream come true.”

All the 13 new police cars were blessed by Fr. Vince Romanos at Camp Abelon before being turned over to their recipients.

PMG shooter surrenders

2009-01-30T00:03:00.000-08:00

PJTREMEDAL
Associate editor

DINAS, ZAMBOSUR—One of the suspects in the shooting of a member of the 905th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) surrendered to the authorities three days after the incident.

Police cornered Omar Kadingilan, a.k.a. Kalabaw, in Brgy. Zambulawan, this town. He eventually surrendered after seeing police operatives surrounding him and ready to take him down anytime.

A police report obtained by this paper stated that Kadingilan was one of those who shot PO3 Dexter Dalena and a police asset identified as Ronald Edo while both victims were riding Dalena’s XR 200 motorcycle enroute to Camp Abelon, Jan. 27.

The suspect’s capture came after PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena prompted all police units to conduct a manhunt operation to get Kadingilan and his still to be identified companion.

The 906th PMG, under C/Insp. Romulo Suarez and Dinas Police Chief Norhasan Failan, were the first to come and cordon Kadingilan’s hiding area.

Suarez and Failan said that Kadingilan gave up after a negotiation was brokered by Zambulawan village chair Jumra Amander and the policemen for the suspect’s peaceful surrender.

Legacy raked in P1-B from investors

2009-01-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY - Now it can be told the Legacy’s Double Your Money investment scheme in three years have raked in a total of P1-B in cold cash from 684 investors ranging from the highs and the middle –class income bracket sector society in Caraga Region, Davao and Misamis Oriental provinces.

Caraga businessmen mostly wood traders, copra buyers, retirees, professionals, military and police and local government officials such as Mayors including congressmen, regional directors and religious leaders too allegedly a Bishop were reportedly to have invested more than P500-M, that is from Caraga Region alone.

The Catholic Bishop who allegedly invested substantial amount of money is reportedly close to President Arroyo.

The rest of the P1-B investments were from Davao and Misamis Oriental provinces including Cagayan de Oro City who invested from different sales or investment agents from Legacy offices in Surigao City, Butuan City and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

The Legacy regional office here claimed the investors invested to as low as P100-T to a million of pesos to as high as five to ten million pesos each.

Mrs. Cecil Cloribel Zamora, one of the independent division heads of The Legacy of Caraga Region based here in Butuan City told AFP it took her so many sleepless nights thinking ways on how to explain to her clients about the dire situation the company was experiencing.

She however requested in not naming names of the 684 client-investors for the moment saying they too are still suffering emotionally and trying to recover from it from uncertain ordeal which somehow embarrassed them since they are moneyed and most educated in Caraga society.

Zamora is one of the most awarded division heads of the firm The Legacy topping the investment sales and awarded once by Legacy President and CEO Celso Angeles himself as Top Division Head of the Year nationwide.

“It pains a lot when our Legacy head office in Makati announces last December 2008 that they have filed notice of dissolution and from there on I received many text messages from my clients”, Zamora added.

Zamora claimed that majority of the 684 Legacy clients were not hers but from different sales agents who traveled day and night to as far as Davao, Misamis Oriental, Surigao and Agusan provinces just to convince would be investors in a double your money in three years.

Zamora added that she joined Legacy in 2004 upon invitation of another Legacy investment agent then from Cagayan de Oro City who had direct contact with Legacy CEO Celso Angeles.

Before joining Legacy, Zamora claimed she is already a top executive of another pre-need company Rhine Consolidated Plans, sister company of sewing machine and appliance giant Rhine Marketing.

Zamora claimed she herself has invested more than P2-M to Legacy and is planning to file charges against Legacy itself if things won’t be settled.

“All I want now are moneys be back to me and my clients as I am telling the Legacy officials in Makati office that we are giving them until February 15 for these things be settled” Zamora said.

“What is at stake here is not only money but reputation that I build for many years,” Zamora told this writer in an exclusive, tape recorded interview at her office witnessed by her subordinates.

Zamora revealed it took her weeks of researching and background checks on Legacy and she found out it was SEC-registered, PDIC affiliated and is even registered with the Central Bank of the Philippines

“That’s why I was convinced and there on I started convincing people”, Zamora further adds.

Zamora concludes that as of now all 684 clients under her wing is now forming the Association of Legacy Caraga Claimants through the help of the Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Zamora said some of the client-investors particularly smaller ones who invested their ultimate savings ranging from P100-T have been already complaining that their day to day living were already affected saying they don’t have money for their daily subsistence anymore as their savings were invested to Legacy.

“Some of the small clients who invested their savings have informed they already don’t have money to buy rice, I took pity as I understand their plight but I told them me too have no money anymore” Zamora said.

Zamora admitted she was able to meet President Arroyo at the Malacaňan Palace last January 20, 2009 wand there she claimed she was able to tell the President briefly her problem.

“She was busy at that time but I was able to relay to President Arroyo my problem briefly and she ordered Defensor (former DENR Secretary Michael Defensor) to talk to me”, Zamora concludes.

Army-NPA fresh encounter in Agusan

2009-01-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY- At least two soldiers were confirmed to be wounded and lots of bloodstains were found along New People’s Army rebels’ escape route after an hour of fresh encounter in Sitio Pirada, Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City shortly after President Arroyo took off from Bancasi Airport here in Butuan City almost noon Wednesday (January 28), police and military reports said.

President Arroyo was in Veruela, Agusan del Sur Wednesday morning for a brief, moiré than thirty minutes visit to personally inspect the extent of damages in the area brought about by flooding.

The Philippine Army’s fourth infantry division based in Cagayan de Oro City claimed in their reports that an undetermined number of communist insurgents were believed killed or wounded when a fierce gunbattle erupted Wednesday between combat maneuvering troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the communist New People’s Army.

But New People’s Army spokesperson Maria Malaya claimed the military reports were exaggerated.

She didn’t however elaborate further as in her past pronouncements about the government reports were all lies and mere propaganda allegedly meant to duped the public.

But a third force, two retired top rank but discontented Philippine military officials claimed the root cause of the decades old communist insurgency problem in the country was all for money, money and money not really ideology as what the New People’s Army are espousing.
“Surrendered firearms are paid by government from taxpayers’ hard-earned money and recycled over and over again making a business but illegal loggers and miners including mining companies are supplying the rebels with guns and ammunitions as bribe and protection money to prevent their illicit operations in the mountains”, a retired army colonel who lead a local uprising against government due to alleged corruption in 1995 but requested anonymity told this writer.

“It was all a huge comedy drama from both sides with satiric twist’ the retired army colonel added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army’s 4th ID spokesman Maj. Michele B. Anayron, Jr. claimed gun battle lasted for almost one hour until the rebels hastily ran away at nearby mountain area

Military’s initial report claimed one section of Charlie Company led by certain 2nd Lt. Ausente of the 30th Infantry Battallion while on security and combat operation encountered an undetermined number of heavily armed rebels wearing black fatigue uniform in Pirada area.

The area was former gold rush site and presently the site of many small-scale copper mining operations.

The communist rebels were believed to be regular fighters of Regional Operations Company (ROC) of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC).

Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division commanding general Maj. Gen. Ricardo A. David, Jr. ordered Col. Emiliano Gupana, commanding officer of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, the deployment of more combat maneuvering troops in Pirada to beef up the government forces there.

Gen. David also ordered the deployment of war earth-moving equipment in the area.

Initial report received by Gen. David claimed combat troops in Pirada gunbattle already seized some war materials from the rebels and lots of documents with high intelligence value.

Meanwhile, Carmen, Agusan del Norte Police Chief P/Insp. Dionisio Pingos was temporarily relieved from his post after the January 23 lightning raid of Carmen Municipal Police Office that killed SPO4 Arsenio Aboc.

It can be recalled that early dawn of January 23, some 50 New People’s Army young fighters raided the Carmen Municipal Police Office and carted away three .9mm cal pistols from three policemen manning the stations at the time of the attack.

Temporarily replacing Pingos while the investigation was on-going was P/Chief Insp. Dexter Herrera

The Carmen Municipal Police Office attack was the tenth in Caraga Region, four of which was last year’s lightning raid which caught authorities empty handed.

NGO workers get death threats after exposing illegal logging activities in Surigao

2009-01-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY - Four non government organization officials and members claimed they have been getting death threats since December last year including a botched ambush after reporting rampant illegal logging activities in their area in Barangay Camp Edwards, Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

In an exclusive interview this morning upon their request, Teresita Rosales, Barangay Camp Edwards Kagawads Marisita Gloria and Vicente Pegarro, Jr. told this writer that since the failed ambuscade set up by armed men that could have killed them all last December 2008 they have been living in fear that disturbed their once normal lives.

The other NGO worker who is also getting death threats but is not present during interview due availability of transport fares is Antonio Rosales.

The four have reported and blotter the death threats to Alegria Municipal Police Office.

They said they have been asking assistance from authorities particularly from the local DENR and the PNP officials and personnel, “but all we’ve got were promises and some of them even blamed us of why we fight the high and the mighty in illegal logging business”, the three chorused.

“Their initial reactions discouraged us because they are suppose to uphold laws and punish violators and go against those who plunder our environment that’s why we decided to seek help from the media hoping media can help us”, the three told this writer in a tape recoded interview.

Rosales, Gloria and Pegarro are officials of DENR-created Bantay Gubat and a Community-Based Resource Management Project (CBRMP), a project funded by World Bank to elicit united community efforts to protect environment while maximizing, conserving and managing local resources for sustainable livelihood programs.

Aside from being barangay officials of Barangay Camp Edwards, Marisita Gloria and Vicente Pegarro, Jr. are also active with non government organizations, Barangay Camp Edwards Upland Farmers Association and Bantay Gubat.

“We are supposed to be protected by the DENR because we are their creation notwithstanding our efforts to save environment but now we are being hunted by armed goons of illegal loggers and we are not getting protection from the government, we are pleading to you Mr. Secretary to help us”, the three in their signed prepared letter to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza.

They added that what happened to them now may discourage other people’s organization, individuals and even the government created anti-illegal logging groups to wage war against those who plundered environment for selfish motives and greed.

They claimed their agonizing experiences started when they cause the confiscation of some 858.2 board feet of illegally sawn lumber of hard wood species such as tanguile and lawaan last November 20, 2008 in Barangay Camp Edwards public timberland area.

In their sworn affidavits furnished to this writer alleged the cutting of the sawn lumbers were illegal since it do not have corresponding government permits and since they were hard woods of endangered species particularly Tanguile, it is banned from cutting.

“What is ironic is that DENR personnel who are supposed to lead the confiscation process were not present last November 20 but only law enforcement personnel as they only arrived to Camp Edwards and signed documents of confiscation only last December 2, 2008, some thirteen days later”, Teresita Rosales, President of Camp Edwards Upland Farmers Association (CEUFA), a Community-Based Resources Management funded project alleged.

Rosales claimed they have footage of the video they took when the DENR personnel conducted confiscation inventory of the illegally sawn lumbers whose activity must have been conducted during actual confiscation last November 20, 2008.

Rosales claimed she is fighting illegal cutting of trees within their 808 hectares of CBRMP area, “because it will caused flooding and will destroy our fruit trees and Falcata Tree plantations comprising nearly 578 hectares for our livelihood since they are all foreign funded” Rosales added.

Last year, another two NGO workers from Butuan City also get death threats after the two reported an on-going transportation or towing of illegally cut timber from Agusan del Sur floating along Agusan River towards wood firms in Butuan City for delivery.

The workers alleged those hundreds of logs floating Agusan River were not only manipulated in documents because it is wrong source but it deprived the cash-strapped Philippine Government of due taxes because the volume were allegedly tampered.

After confidentially reporting the on-going illegal activities hapening to a local CENRO officer, the two NGO workers the following morning got a call from an unnumbered mobile phone from an alleged influential illegal logger who even boasted that even how many times illegal logging activities will be reported in Caraga Region it will not be listened.

“Because our connections reach up to high places in government ", the illegal logging financer allegedly was quoted as saying while scolding the two environmental watch group workers on mobile phone.

The two wondered how the influential illegal logger got their phones when it was only the CENRO officer knew it.

The two are now nowhere to be found.

Movement for Good Governance to hold 1st Assembly

2009-01-29T23:19:00.000-08:00

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY- Newly formed Movement for Good Governance (MGG) which is composed of broad coalition of group of people or individuals coming from the academe, religious, youth, urban and rural poor and professional sectors seeking political reforms in the country will be holding its 1st General Assembly on February 3, 2009 at Robinson Galleria’s Indie Sine in Metro Manila.

The assembly which will be highlighted by now famous Juana Change character who will jump from computer screen to big screen will start at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 3.

The scheduled February 3 event is the first coming together of the different people and organizations that comprise the Movement for Good Governance.

Organizers said they will be looking forward in organizing MGG’s members and volunteers around key result areas.

Lawyers Anthony Goquingco, MGG Executive Director and Legal Counsel and Milwida M. Guevara in their signed invitation letter said, “Our driving force is to unite 10 million voters to demand better governance and support reformists in the 2010 elections. As a first step, please ask your friends to come with you”.

“Together, let us make our dreams come true---FOR THE PHILIPPINES WE DESERVE”, the two added.

“We are inviting those who have already signified their interest in being part of this umbrella movement and those who would like to see what the group has done and what it plans to do for the 2010 elections. It is an invitation to all who desire to have a CHANGE for a better Philippines”, the letter said.

PGMA to inspect P350-M irrigation project

2009-01-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY - President Arroyo will personally inspect tomorrow the P350-M Baobo National Irrigation Project in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Sinobong, Veruela, Agusan del Sur which was one of the irrigation projects in Caraga Region destroyed by flooding due to weeklong intermittent rains that ravaged the region recently.

Earlier environmental groups such as Green Mindanao and others have blamed unabated, wanton destruction of forest by illegal loggers, kaingin method, illegal mining and migration of lowland settlers to upland areas as the real culprit in the flooding.

They alleged continuing deforestation have caused waters from the mountains to flow downstream with cascading sands and soils filled up rivers and lakes that cause floodwaters to overflow due siltation.

Environmental group Green Mindanao Executive Director Butch Dagondon said “Trees whose roots were suppose to sip cascading waters are no longer there and now we are paying dearly for the mistakes and greed of illegal loggers and yet they go still unpunished, scot-free while some even become Mayors”.

“The recent disaster that hit Caraga Region is surely man-made destroying irrigations, rice lands, other agricultural crops and that there must be someone or group of people be held liable” Dagondon told this writer

“We are not learning lessons from landslides like what happened in Ormoc, Guinsaugon in St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte that killed many innocent lives and we will not wait this will happen to us here in Caraga Region”, Dagondon added.

Dagondon said that the recent disaster in the region should also tantamount to criminal and administrative liability of concerned government agencies.

'The funds used to build those danaged government infrastructures were hard-earned Filipino taxpayers' money and letting these culprits go unpunish is an insult to the intelligence of the Filipino people" and it is our right as Filipino citizens to call for an investigation to this, Dagondon concludes.

Meanwhile President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to arrive at Baobo National Irrigation Project in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Sinobong, Agusan del Sur at 10 o'clock in the morning of January 28.

According to Presidential Management Staff representative who coordinates the presidential visit, the President will physically inspect the Php350 million irrigation projects which were damaged due to a week long heavy rains that ravaged the province recently.

The President will arrive at Bancasi Airport here in Butuan City in the morning of January 28 (tomorrow) and will immediately take the helicopter together with Agusan del Sur Governor Tina Plaza who will conduct an aerial inspection of the flood affected towns in Agusan del Sur in going to Veruela.

In Veruela, PGMA will be met by Veruela Mayor Salimar Mondejar, Sinobong Barangay Captain Adela Matood, 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Gupana, DAR-13 Asst. Regional Director Al Otacan, NIA -13 Regional Director Democratico Grana and some 2,000 people of Veruela.

NIA Provincial Director Mr. Pacifico Calibayan will brief the President on the profile of the irrigation project.

Mayor Mondejar said that the project if not damaged by flooding was supposed to benefit five barangays of his municipality and supposedly serve about 1,600 hectares.

He said that the visit will surely boost the morale of the people of Veruela despite the extent of the damage on their farms caused by the calamity.

Agusan del Sur Governor Maria Valentian Plaza said that Agusan del sur is one of the President's priority areas of the GMA Rice Sufficiency Program. The heavy rains and the floods that hit the province of Agusan del Sur has damaged more than 6,000 hectares of agricultural lands and estimated to cost about Php 27 Million pesos.

She also said that Veruela is one of the rice producing towns of the province. The calamity has damaged 2,729 hectares of its agricultural lands and estimated cost of Php14 million pesos.

The President is expected to stay for 30 minutes and will immediately depart for Koronadal, South Cotabato, Agusan del Sur Provincial Information Officer Ferdinand Perez said.

Can they capture Bravo or not?

2009-01-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor in chief

OZAMIZ CITY--The commander of the MILF’s 102nd Base Command is a hard man to catch, surely embarrassing the military at this point.

From August to January, what the military could only tell media is that the most wanted man in Mindanao is moving from one hiding place to another in the mountains of Lanao.

This is a setback for the armed forces. Truthfully now, does the military really know where Kumander Bravo and his lawless MILF followers are?

October 2008, two months after the bloody siege in Lanao del Norte, Col. Benito De Leon, commander of the 104th Brigade of the 1st (Tabak) Division admitted the AFP does not know where is Bravo’s exact location.

However, he assured that their forces are closing in on Bravo’s hideout. “It is only a matter of time before our men on the ground can catch them,” said de Leon.

October 20-21, 2008, ABS-CBN aired an exclusive interview of the wanted Moro rebel leader Kumander Bravo. The military felt its face slapped. In that interview broadcasted nationwide, Bravo challenged the government to a war of attrition.

Holed up in the homes of their close families and relatives in the hinterlands of Lanao, sometimes mixing with the civilian populace, Bravo remained elusive.

Capturing him isn’t easy, thus admitted Col. Rey Ardo, commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Campo Ranao, Marawi City.

Bravo, Abdurahman Macapaar in real life, is a hero among the Maranaos. He belongs to a family of warriors in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte and his influence spans in many towns of Lanao del Norte.

When you go to Munai, residents there would tell you that the MILF commander “is a good man.” He reportedly put a stop to cattle rustling, robbery, illegal drugs, illegal gambling and petty crimes in many remote villages in Lanao del Norte.

But the military has a different picture of Kumander Bravo: He is a lawless MILF rebel leader and a “psychotic case.”

In March 2000, he attacked Kauswagan, which fueled the “all-out-war” declaration of President Joseph Estrada against the MILF. Three years later, Bravo and his men assaulted Maigo. After that his name was never mentioned in the news.

October 2006, in the wake of text messages circulating in Lanao del Norte of a forthcoming attack by the MILF, Bravo assured residents: “Dili kamo mahadlok kay wala kami threat sa lugar ninyo. Gusto lang namo mapirmahan ang kasabutan sa GRP-MILF. Gusto lang sa gobyerno nga bahinon ang Lanao del Norte.’

This paper then reported Bravo’s statement in our Oct. 25-31, 2006 issue. In that news report, even Kolambugan mayor Bertrand Lumaque and then PNP Provincial Director Linog Bagul disproved the rumors as false, to the point of boasting the province is “relatively peaceful” and that the text messages were only the work of pranksters.

August 2008, Bravo rampaged Kolambugan and Kauswagan shortly after the government backed out from signing the already initialed Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain with the MILF in Kuala Lumpur.

Bagul was relieved of his post and some 200,000 civilians instantly became internally displaced persons and 62 civilians were reported dead.

A number of Lanao residents hurriedly left homes in the hinterlands and drifted to Iligan and Ozamiz cities while the distance end to end from Kauswagan to Kolambugan became danger zones for almost a month.

The government became angry and put a P10-million bounty for Bravo’s capture. Yet, this cannot entice residents to just hand over Bravo to authorities, Ardo admits—not even adequate to relocate and secure the lives of relatives of those barfaced enough to conspire with the military and tell where he is.

So this is why correct information on the whereabouts of the rogue MILF leader is hard to find among the conflict-affected areas, especially those in Bravo’s turf. Could this be also the reason why it’s taking them long to capture of Bravo and his men?

"No matter how strong and how many troops we have on the field, still the AFP would welcome all the help it could get from the people to help catch Bravo,” Col. Daniel Lucero of the Army’s Civil Military Operation Group (COOG) laments.

“There should be no in between or undecided in this case. It’s either you are for it or you are against it. And we need real time intelligence to be able to capture Kumander Bravo and his group,” Lucero added.

“Even if we only have one squad or one battalion of soldiers, if you give them real time intelligence, we will be sure 100 percent that we will be able to solve this problem. Yet even if we have lots of troops but if nobody supports them, we will not win this war with the lawless MILF group,” Lucero said.

“If you have knowledge about Bravo, feel free to inform the military and the sooner you do it, the better,” sounds the military’s stage campaign.

Lieutenant Col. Agane Adriatico, chief of the Civil Military Operations, said it is actually fear that causes people to withhold information on the whereabouts of the controversial MILF leader.

Bravo, it was learned, now faces a probe by a disciplinary board created by the MILF to look into his role and participation in the attacks in in Lanao del Sur last August.

MILF vice chair Ghazali Jaafar said Bravo and Ameril Umbra Kato, another MILF commander, would face sanction if they were found to have violated the rules of engagement.

The MILF has since refused to surrender Bravo and Kato to the government, asserting that as a rebel organization it does not recognize Philippine laws.

Also, chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal reiterated the MILF’s refusal to give up Bravo and Kato, explaining the ceasefire agreement gives their group the prerogative to deal with its own men accused of violations.

However, DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno said once the MILF central leadership surrenders Bravo and Kato, a monetary reward of P25 million would be given to the Islamic group, which they could use in developing Muslim communities in Mindanao.

Cop adopts girl who survived massacre

2009-01-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

Police Officer 3 Edgardo Figuracion II, a policeman assigned as a nurse at the Provincial Hospital became a hero in his own right after he assumed parental obligation to an infant who lost her parents.

Figuracion, a member of the PNP recruit class 99-07 and a nursing graduate, adopted one-month old Ezzia straight from the hospital.

Unknown killers massacred Ezzia’s parents three years ago while they were deep in their sleep inside their home in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Ezzia’s was saved when her mother, who was breastfeeding at the moment when gunfires bursted, covered her with her body.

Ezzia’s father survived but later died while being treated at the hospital, leaving her in the care of the hospital personnel.

The girl had stab wounds and a cut wrist that needs tendon rehabilitation when taken to the hospital. Doctors said the girl has a 50-50 probability of surviving.

Figuracion’s compassion for the baby prompted him to adopt Ezzia.

During last week’s visit of Cynthia Verzosa, current national adviser of the PNP Ladies Club, who is also the wife of PNP Chief, Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa, Figuracion asked the lady Verzosa for help.
He pleaded for monetary aid for the operation and rehabilitation of Ezzia’s wrist.

The general’s wife promised to relay the request to her husband and even added that Figuracion will likely get a commendation and a promotion for his good deed.

PNP Regional Director Angel Hipolito Sunglao said he was impressed with Figuracion’s exploits, adding this comes with a reward.

"Here is a very extraordinary policeman who made his way in taking up shelter for a massacre victim. It is our obligation and responsibility to look and commend him as a hero on his own way,” Sunglao declared.

Lawmen arrest ‘untouchable’ Bana boy anew

2009-01-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

AUTHORITIES swooped down again on the suspected drug den situated inside the Bana Compound along Rizal Avenue last week and caught a familiar figure in the illegal shabu business inside with his girlfriend.

Joint elements of the NBI, PDEA, the Pagadian City PNP Office and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group claimed they caught Ivanhoe “Bobby” Bana red-handed this time.

Bobby, according to the police, is regularly mentioned in their list of suspected drug dealers in Pagadian whose house is frequented by addicts almost everyday.

He was caught pushing drugs years ago during a buy bust operation, was charged with violating RA 9165, the Dangerous Drug Act and imprisoned. But his case was later dismissed.

Police records accounted about 25 sachets of plastic sachets containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu were confiscated from Bana along with several paraphernalia and P1200.

PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena has requested to withhold the name of Bobby’s girlfriend, a minor, who was arrested with him.

Both Ochotorena and board member Ernesto Mondarte, chairman of the committee on police and public safety, said that the raid at the Bana Compound is in support of Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ war against illegal drugs.

“This time he cannot deny that he is involved” Ochotorena said.

“The governor is serious in her campaign and we need to get our acts together on this problem immediately,” Mondarte seconded.

Cerilles has earlier said she will cleanse Zamboanga del Sur of illegal drugs and loose firearms. “Enough is enough,” she said.

Auring joins city party of Chinese New Year

2009-01-29T18:45:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Zambosur PPB

It was merry night for Gov. Aurora Cerilles as she took part in the city’s celebration celebration of the Chinese New Year, Jan. 25, led by Mayor Samuel Co and the Filipino-Chinese community at Plaza Luz.

Cerilles, born in the year of the Ox, wore a Chinese terno that evening.

In her inspirational message to the city’s Filipino-Chinese community, she said: “We all look forward to the coming of the Chinese New Year, which has become a gesture of appreciation and respect to the contributions of our Chinese brethren in forging the advancement of business, commerce and trade in the city.”

The year of the Ox means hard work, added the governor, and that this year should be a season for dynamism and a time for good ideas for the city government in its quest for more development.

“Strong and hardworking as an Ox, let us build new dimensions of progress, upgrading productivity and enterprise as we give our best in contending with the current economic challenges.”

“This is not the time to slumber, neither the time to remain complacent; this is the season of action. Everyone should give his part in community progress,” Cerilles said.

Newly installed Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director James Elridge Adriancem likewise was there to greet visitors and the community.

According to him, Pagadian is the only city in Mindanao that publicly celebrates the Chinese New Year.

“We need to act as one so that good fortune will lead our lives more wonderful. Let us tell the whole world that our city is the paradise of Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said.

Co, who is also the president of the Pagadian City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that his administration always observe important dates like the Chinese New Year, the Paskuhan and Pasalamat festivals, Eid’l Fit’r and Buklog as a tradition.

PMG man, backrider shot

2009-01-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

A member of the 905th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) assigned as a police investigator was shot, Tuesday, along with his companion while riding a motorcycle for work.

PO3 Dexter Dalena and a police asset identified as Ronald Edo were riding Dalena’s XR 200 motorcycle enroute to Camp Abelon when the incident happened.

Police said two assailants suddenly came out of nowhere and ambushed Dalena and Edo at the corner of Ariosa and V. Sagun streets, near the Sangguniang Panlungsod building.

Dalena was hit at the nape and chest and was taken to a nearby hospital while Edo suffered contusions in his cheek and nose bridge.

The policeman, accordingly, is now recuperating.

Police investigation disclosed that the suspects used a .45 caliber in shooting the two victims and casually walked away towards a waiting DT motorcycle then fled.

Meanwhile, PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena has ordered a manhunt against the two shooters whose identities were given by Edo who claimed to have positively identified their assailants.

Police Superintendent Nelson Eucogco told this paper that his office will also conduct a separate probe on Dalena’s shooting to determine whether the shooting had something to do with the various high profile cases the policeman is investigating.

Governor Aurora Cerilles the other day has denounced Dalena’s shooting.

Cerilles, in a statement relayed to this paper, said that she “was saddened by the attempt to silence Dalena who plays vital role in the drug buy-bust activities of the 905th PMG.”

The governor said she strongly believes the shooting was work-related as Dalena is active in the fight against illegal drugs and criminalities in the city.

“The incident has sent us a strong message that the evils of drugs are lurking just outside our doorsteps, waiting for the opportune time to harm our children,” she said.

“Drug traffickers will not stop spreading the menace in our society. They will do whatever it takes, even resorting to violence against law enforcers and anyone who gets in their way,” Cerilles continued.

To recall, Cerilles has initiated her no-nonsense war against drug traffickers and has received an all-out support from the police command headed by Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena.

As of Monday, joint elements started their drive against illegal drugs and scored right away with the capture of Ivanhoe “Bobby” Bana and the arrest of a drug-dealing couple based in Dalapang, Labangan.

“Let us be one in the fight against illegal drugs and any other form of criminalities,” Cerilles urged her constituents, telling them further “to be more vigilant” and “cooperate by reporting to authorities all unusual activities in their neighborhood.” WITH REPORTS FROM REMAI ALEJADO, Zambosur PPB

Cop adopts girl who survived massacre

2009-01-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

Police Officer 3 Edgardo Figuracion II, a policeman assigned as a nurse at the Provincial Hospital became a hero in his own right after he assumed parental obligation to an infant who lost her parents.

Figuracion, a member of the PNP recruit class 99-07 and a nursing graduate, adopted one-month old Ezzia straight from the hospital.

Unknown killers massacred Ezzia’s parents three years ago while they were deep in their sleep inside their home in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Ezzia’s was saved when her mother, who was breastfeeding at the moment when gunfires bursted, cover her with her body.

Ezzia’s father survived but later died while being treated at the hospital, leaving her in the care of the hospital personnel.

The girl had stab wounds and a cut wrist that needs tendon rehabilitation when taken to the hospital. Doctors said the girl has a 50-50 probability of surviving.

Figuracion’s compassion for the baby prompted him to adopt Ezzia.

During last week’s visit of Cynthia Verzosa, current national adviser of the PNP Ladies Club, who is also the wife of PNP Chief, Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa, Figuracion asked the lady Verzosa for help.

He pleaded for monetary aid for the operation and rehabilitation of Ezzia’s wrist.

The general’s wife promised to relay the request to her husband and even added that Figuracion will likely get a commendation and a promotion for his good deed.

PNP Regional Director Angel Hipolito Sunglao said he was impressed with Figuracion’s exploits, adding this comes with a reward.

"Here is a very extraordinary policeman who made his way in taking up shelter for a massacre victim. It is our obligation and responsibility to look and commend him as a hero on his own way,” Sunglao declared.

Lawmen arrest ‘untouchable’ Bana boy anew

2009-01-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor

AUTHORITIES swooped down again on the suspected drug den in Bana Compound along Rizal Avenue, Jan. 26, last week and caught a familiar figure in the illegal shabu business and his girlfriend.

Joint elements of the NBI, PDEA, the Pagadian City PNP Office and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group caught red-handed Ivanhoe “Bobby” Bana.

Bobby, according to the police, is regularly mentioned in their list of suspected drug dealers in Pagadian and has been known publicly in addicts’ circle of having converted his residence as a drug den.

He was caught pushing drugs years ago during a buy bust, was charged with violating RA 9165, the Dangerous Drug Act and imprisoned. His case was later dismissed.

Police records accounted about 25 sachets of plastic sachets containing white residues believed to be shabu were confiscated from Bana along with several paraphernalia and P1200.

PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena has requested to withhold the name of Bobby’s girlfriend, a minor, who was arrested with him.

Ochotorena added that the present raid at the Bana Compound is in support of Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ was against illegal drugs.

“This time he cannot deny that he (Bobby) is [not] involved,” Ochotorena said of Bana.

PMG man, backrider shot

2009-01-28T23:57:00.000-08:00

Regional office mark PNP' 18th anniversary

2009-01-28T23:52:00.000-08:00

Zamboanga City--The region’s Philippine National Police command region 9(PNPRO9) celebrated the 18th PNP Anniversary with P/CSupt Felizardo M. Serapio Jr. Director, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations of the Philippine National Police as the guest and speaker.

With this year’s theme; “Pambansang Pulisiya: Kaagapay ng Mamamayan sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran” Regional Director P/CSupt Angelo Hipolito Sunglao had prepared for this year’s awardees to received giving them thanks and appreciation for their support and help and achievements in achieving the mission and goals of the regional police office and its efforts to promote peace and development in the region.

“With this year’s celebration, I would like to thank those who in one way or another help and supported our mission as the peacekeepers of the region” He said.

P/CSupt Sunglao who recently takes over command from his predecessor, Regional Director P/CSupt Jaime Karingal has done much in his first days of managing the regional police office into a humane force of the government especially in the conduct of its mission, objectives and goals to promote lasting peace in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

In the celebration, major units of the PNP Regional Police Office were awarded as the best unit of the region. The Zamboanga Del Norte Provincial Police Office was adjudged as the PNP Provincial Office of the Year, while the Pagadian City Police Office garnered as the Component City Police of the Year, Molave Police Station of Zamboanga Del Sur was also chosen as the Municipal Police Station of the Year, Dipolog City Police Station was awarded as this years Women and Children Protection Desk of the Year, and the Regions Intelligence Unit was awarded as the National Support Unit of the Year and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group was also chosen as the region’s best.

It may be recalled that, two of the regions police station and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group was also vying for the nations best of the best. With PNP Police Director P/Director General Jesus Verzosa and the President herself awarded Pagadian City Police Station as the best of the best City Police Station of the Year in Malacañang this week, while Molave PNP Municipal Station landed second and the 905th PMG was adjudged 3rd best of the best nationwide.

Meanwhile other ranking Police Officers and Police Non-Commission Officers were also awarded this year; P/SSupt Mario B. Yanga as Senior PCO of the Year for Administration, P/SSupt Felixberto D. Candado as Senior Officer of the Year for Operations, while P/CInsp Reynaldo M. Maclang was adjudges as the Junior Officer of the Year.

Two PNCO and Non-Uniformed Personnel’s were also awarded, they are: SPO2 Antonio B. Tapales as Senior PNCO of the Year, PO3 Reynante A. Mago as Junior PNCO of the Year while, NUP Corazon Agda and NUP Rachel C. Tugade were chosen as this years Non-Uniformed Personnel of the region.

The celebrations also awarded civilians and other PNP personnel who in way or another supported and help the regional police office to achieve its worth as the region’s peacekeepers, and they were: Gov. Aurora E Cerilles of ZamboSur and the concurrent Chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council, Gov. George Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay, Gov. Rolando Yebes of Zanorte.

Mayors Samuel S. Co, Celso Lobregat and Evelyn Uy of Pagadian City, Zamboanga City and Dipolog City respectively, and the three congressman, Congressman Antonio H. Cerilles of the 2nd District of ZamboSur, Congressman Ernie Fabian of the 2nd District of Zamboanga City and Congresswoman Ma. Isabela Climaco of the 1st District of Zamboanga City.

Other awardees are: Archbishop Romulo Valles of Zamboanga City Diocese, Atty. MaryAnn Tugbang, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Zamboanga del Sur, RD Arturo Valero of NEDA 9, Mayor Edwin Alibutdan of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Allen Labastillas of Zamboanga Times as the Media Awardee.

Major General Nehemias G. Pajarito, CG, 1ID, PA together with P/Supt Angelito Casimiro, Opns Officer, DIPO Eastern, and Col. Santiago Baluyot of Task Force Zamboanga were also awarded. And two other PNP personnel were also given special awards, SPO2 Lino Felicano and PO3 Edgardo Figuracion who adopted a massacre victim and make his own daughter.

PJTremedal, Associate Editor

Cynthia Versoza inducts new PNP ladies club execs

2009-01-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

JAMES TREMEDAL
Associate editor

PAGADIAN CITY--Cynthia Verzosa recently visited this city and inducted the officers and members of the Zamboanga del Sur PNP Ladies Club (PNP-LC).

Versoza, being the wife of PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, is the PNP Ladies Club national adviser.

Part of Verzosa’s entourage was the inauguration of the PNP-LC office in Camp Abelon, where a bloodletting and tree planting activity was coincided with her arrival there.

She likewise met Mayor Samuel Co and Rose Sunglao, PNP-LC regional adviser and wife of PNP Regional Director Angel Hipolito Sunglao.

At Hotel Alindahaw, Gov. Aurora Cerilles, FL Ilang-Ilang Co, Clara Ochotorena, provincial PNP-LC adviser and wife of PD Ramon Ochotorena, and spouses of the respective town executives joined Versoza

Inducted were: Brevita Eucogco, president; Rowena Palermo, vice president; Fraulin Hinoctan, secretary; Jocelyn Odevillas, treasurer; Sherly Hinoctan, treasurer.

There were two PIOs and PMOs: Yteth Pailan for District 1 and Dolly Vicente for District 2, and Sakrina Sali-Eding and Norly Asadil, respectively.

Aside from Ochotorena, Maria Nelly Galani was inducted as advisers of ZDS-PNP Officers Ladies Club.

For the 905th PMG Ladies Club, inducted were Nenita Ababon, president; Ma Teresa Dela Cruz, vice president; Cherry Duman-ag, secretary; Lucresia Yape, treasurer; Wilma Estonillo and Leonita Duhaylungsod as PIO’s; Merlita Mantuhan and Aida Velasquez as business managers; and Brevita Eucoigco as adviser.

For the Pagadian City PNP Ladies Club, inducted were Evalis Candia, president; Esperanza Gallosa, vice president; Florlyn Sanchez, secretary; Ellen Colonia, treasurer; Sol Ordeniza, auditor; Emily Torres and Leonita Duhyalungsod as PROs and Annie Hawani and Nnena Doliente as PMO’s; and Norlyn Asadil as adviser.

Also, Versoza installed the officers of the local policewomen group known as CITADELS, acronym for courage, integrity, trustworthy, advocators, diligent, euchasiastic and loyalty.

They were SPO1 Gina Gumilao, president; SPO2 Victoria Cabaron, vice-president; PO3 Vinnah Encarquez, secretary; PO3 Geryl Tampal, treasurer; PO3 Tessette Padua, auditor; PO3 Irene Daligdigan and PO2 Melanie Andale as PIOs; SPO1 Petronila Suan and PO1s Jean Colipano and Mercy Mondoy as sergeants-at-arms.

Chief Inspector Charlita Cabatit, with Senior Inspectors Eleuteria Fuertes and Teresita Paclibar are the advisers.

After the induction ceremonies, different groups rendered their performances, with the special participation of young officers from the PNPA and the PNCO’s of PNP-Zambosur Command.

Can they capture Bravo or not?

2009-01-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

Phil-JobNet Center now at Capitol

2009-01-27T18:13:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Provincial Press Bureau
Online contributor

PAGADIAN CITY—Job seekers looking for local and foreign employment can now readily avail of free net services through the Phil-JobNet program of the government.

Phil-JobNet is an internet based job and applicant matching systems which will fast track the search for jobs and employers search for manpower.

The Zambosur Phil-Jobnet Center is presently located at the AEC food court inside the Capitol compound.

The center has 11 on-line computers, which will give direct access to the Phil-Jobnet Website: http://www.phil-job.net/

Jobseekers can submit their application, run job matching process, and get list of vacancies and corresponding employers and contact information. Employers, on the other hand, can post vacancies for free, search for job applicants run job matching process and get list of applicants and corresponding contact information.

Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Tyronne Singgo said the center will accommodate jobseekers within office hours free of charge.

DOLE Usec. Lourdes Trasmonte of the Workers Welfare Division, who represented Sec. Marianito Roque, graced the Jobs Fair held in line with the city’s celebration of the Pasalamat Festival 2009.

Also, Gov. Aurora Cerilles said the Zambosur Phil-Jobnet Center is her way of facilitating job-matching for prospective employees from Pagadian and Zamboanga del Sur to the world.

Cerilles expressed her appreciation to President Gloria Arroyo “for bringing the jobs right in just a click of the mouse,” adding such a technology bring together employers and jobseekers in a convenient venue and provide access to available job vacancies and skills matching opportunities

Both Trasmonte and Cerilles hailed Phil-Jobnet’s enhancement of the province’s prospective workforce.

V. Sagun’s dried fish venture gets boost from DOLE

2009-01-27T18:08:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Provincial Press Bureau
Online contributor

PAGADIAN CITY—The Vincenzo Sagun Fish Ventures Association (VSFVA)’s dried fish enterprise gets a boost from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with the receipt of a check worth P435,971 as additional funding.

VSFVA produces the one-of-a-kind Tamban or Lopoy dried fish and is hailed as the town’s OTOP or one-town-one-product.

DOLE Usec. Lourdes Trasmonte, RD Ponciano Ligutom and PD Virginia Bonbon were joined by Gov. Aurora Cerilles in awarding the check to Mayor Edilberto Adlaon, who received it with VSFVA President Joy Rabon.

The funding aid received by VSFVA is President Gloria Arroyo’s workers income augmentation program (WINAP) and the awarding was coincided during DOLE’s launching of Phil-Jobnet Center at the Capitol, Jan. 17.

Trasmonte, a native of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, said in her message that opportunities abound for jobseekers and future entrepreneurs if only they will learn to make use of available resources found in their locality.

She cited, for example, the big prospects on agriculture products, fishery and natural resources development.

For VSFVA, it started only with 20 women members but at present has already attended several Regional Trade Expositions at SM Megamall in Manila as well as trade fairs in Davao City.

The DTI has been assisting VSFVA in the packaging of their products. With the DOLE fund assistance, Adlaon is optimistic they can procure the needed equipment for mass production.

JHCSC perks-up vermi-composting technology

2009-01-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Provincial Press Bureau
Online contributor

PAGADIAN CITY--The JH Cerilles State College (JHCSC) is in the process of revitalizing an environment-friendly technology of turning wastes into organic fertilizers.

This effort is in line with the thrust of the Cerilles administration in its advocacy of organic farming, increase crop yield while improving soil health.

Called vermi-composting, this technology uses earthworms to convert wastes into organic fertilizer using any raw materials like rice straws; coconut saw dust, coco coir, madre de cacao leaves and household wastes such as rotten vegetables.

For this plan to work, a training on vermi-composting production technology and planning workshop was held at Hotel Alindahaw.

The project will be started within this year and is predicted to be viable by 2011.

Governor Aurora Cerilles expressed her delight with the college’s initiative.

“I appreciate of your involvement, especially to the key leaders and program directors from the Regional Vermicompost and Vermimeal Production Center and the JH Cerilles State College for instituting this important undertaking,” Cerilles said.

“Having proven the viability and high agricultural production turn-out of this technology, apart from its ecological advantage and health benefits, we have good reasons to pursue its spread and application among our farmers,” she added.

The governor further hoped that such project will be soon available to the rural farmers, recalling how she advocated organic agriculture in 2006.

A vermicomposting plant that processes household wastes into vermicompost is located in Dao, this city, and will soon sell its produce at P250 per bag.

August, last year, JCHSC was declared as Regional Vermicompost and Vermimeal Production Center in Region IX, DA’s Agnes Riñon and concurrent project leader of Vermicompost production center, said.

JHCSC’s vermicompost plant project involved a wormery, site development, salaries and wages of technicians and farm workers, and subsidies to vermicast farmers, all to the tune of P1-million.

Since its establishment, several farmers from Dumingag, Mahayag, Molave, Tambulig, Ramon Magsaysay, Guipos, Tigbao, San Miguel and this city were able to catch its technology and benefited from it.

Radyo Kampana hints closure

2009-01-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

OZAMIZ CITY—The economic downturn takes its toll on the local broadcast industry and radio station DxDD-Radyo Kampana could possibly be its first casualty.

DxDD, one of the earliest radio stations in Ozamiz and famous for its “Dan-ag sa Dakbayan” slogan is rumored to cease its operation for a few months, a source from the said station told MINDANAO MONITOR the other day.

Although the decision is not yet final and awaiting further official authorization and consultations, the source added that its board of directors has already decided on the fate of the broadcast station rumored to have been riddled with fiscal mismanagement and unable to deliver the profits.

“It may come anytime this week or not,” the source said.

Archbishop Jesus Dosado is the chairman of the board while Vicar General Msgr. Emie Bienes is vice chairman and Fathers Antonio Sagrado, Edgar Calogm Mario Magcanam, Marvin Osmeña, Maximino Naron Jr. and Edgar Canama composed the members of the board.

Canama is the newly appointed priest in-charge of DxDD-AM and FM while veteran announcer Fernando “Nanding” Dumanjug is the present station manager.

The given period was six months, Osmeña, BOD secretary and treasurer, was quoted to have said, confirming a board resolution passed in November, which ordered closing down the operation of both its AM and FM facilities pending an evaluation into its financial liquidity.

This paper later learned that the real intent of the closure is for the Catholic Media Network affiliate to “realign and modify its financial status and upgrade technical facilities.”

December, last year, Dosado commissioned Robert Castro, a certified public accountant, to make an internal audit of DxDD’s financial viability and to present the findings on March 10.

Castro, in a conversation last Sunday refused to reveal his findings but only said that it will made known in due time.

Although unconfirmed, an insider source has reported that Castro was able to discover several discrepancies in the station’s remitted collections and other dealings made by some DxDD employees.

When asked, some DxDD insiders would categorically deny the station is bankrupt and that what was uncovered in the audit dated back to a decade ago.

“Dili oy, we are earning and gaining profits,” somebody from the production department said.

Meanwhile, Dumanjug has submitted a petition that seeks a review of the board resolution.

In the said petition, the station manager underscored that the BOD’s resolution passed in November violated the constitutional provision on the rights of employees and the right of procedural due process.

“They (the BOD) passed the resolution without prior consultation and conference with DxDD employees who are party in interest,” Dumanjug defended.

The former city councilor added that the clear intention of the board’s resolution is to place the stations' employees in a floating status for six months.

“Within the legally prescribe period of six months suspension of operation, DxDD employees placed in floating status can't receive wages, which is tantamount to depriving them the right to life because their jobs denote their means of living,” he reasoned out.

What Dumanjug wanted, as well as with the rest of the employees, is that an open negotiation will be called for to weed out any possible legal solution, not the temporary closure.

This may include the suspension of other wages and incentives, cost cutting and modification of its financial system and increasing revenues by creating hard line programs that will be the road mark for the station’s recovery.

Such programs, according to Dumanjug, may be aimed in spicing up the doctrinal exposition of Catholic Faith Defenders; engage in radio-television kind of broadcasting and by concentrating more on political advertisements.

Canama, in response to Dumanjug’s petition, has stressed that the BOD resolution placing DxDD on a six-month temporary closure is still subject for legal consultation by CBCP legal counsel Sabino Padilla Jr. before it is implemented to the letter.

Dosado, for his part, clarified that the archdiocese of Ozamiz will not abandon DxDD, the radio apostolate being the modern pulpit of evangelization.

The archbishop revealed that he is at the moment sourcing out financial grants for DxDD but first the BOD has to modify the guiding principles and systems of DxDD’s financial course of action to avoid the repetition of this present trouble.

Last Jan. 18, DxDD-FM marked its 29th anniversary while DxDD-AM will celebrate its 39th anniversary on Feb. 14.

All in all, DxDD has some 20 employees; half of this make up the technical men and paid volunteers.

“All those involved in the corporation and in its radio stations are extensions of the bishop in his office of evangelization. We need to professionalize ourselves in the performance of our apostolate. Those who work for the Gospel must not be left behind in the practice and use of the instruments of communication by those who work only for their livelihood,” Dosado concluded. WITH REPORTS FROM WENDELL TALIBONG

Cerilles: No more reconciliation with Afdal

2009-01-27T18:05:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

PAGADIAN CITY--For breaking her friendship and accusing her of putting influence on the Tukuran incident probe, Gov. Aurora “Auring” Cerilles says her heart is closed for indulgence from Labangan Mayor Abubakar Afdal.

Cerilles, in an exclusive interview at her residence, disclosed it would be a matter of time when Afdal will be kicked out of her party, the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC), when she calls for a caucus in the near future.

“Daghan na kaayo ko’g nadawat nga mga report bahin niya ug sa iyang bise mayor kaniadto pero wala nako tagda ug gi-reprimand sila kay kapartido lagi,” she said.

“Honestly, I am one person who doesn’t believe until I see something. Misaad man sila nga wala so I believe them. But after I saw their names in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) list, morag nakatoo na ko,” she added.

This PDEA list referred to by Cerilles allegedly listed both Afdal and his nephew, Labangan vice mayor Wilson Nandang as members of the so-called "14K" Hongkong drug triad.

Cerilles kept the list to herself but then disclosed it to the media the other week and at the same time announced that she is waging war against drug traffickers and gunrunners, even naming Afdal and Nandang without equivocation.

“I’m sorry really, this time dili gyod ko mo-tolerate sa ingon ana nga aktibidadis. Its very unfortunate nga kapartido pa gyod sila nako,” she said.

Cerilles’ assertion, according to a source from the Capitol, was in retort to the mayor’s earlier allegations he made in front of Pagadian reporters that the Cerilles couple may have a hand in the recent pullout of the Police Regional Mobile Group (PRMG) in his town and substituted it with the 905th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG).

Although Afdal has openly denied being connected with drug trafficking, the governor said there is nothing to refute, “since they (Afdal and Nandang) are publicly known already.”

“Tanan dinhi sa probinsiya kaila nila. Big houses in Cebu, Laguna, Manila, Lanao even here in Pagadian, nag-mushroom ang ilang mga kabalayan but if you try to see unsa may ilang lehitimo nga mga negosyo, mga front lang kana,” she added.

“As to the RMG, they (Afdal and Nandang) have been corrupting the RMG by hiring them as escorts in going to and fro the airport, with 12 to 13 cars in convoy and giving them P1000 each,” Cerilles disclosed.

Added to this, Cerilles said Afdal has been sponsoring golf tournaments of then PNP Regional Director Jaime Caringal and has alleged ties with the MILF, attending several of its meetings in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Cotabato.

Afdal, in a separate interview last week, said he felt “troubled and embarrassed” by Cerilles’ disclosure and partiality knowing he could have received favorable treatment from the governor since they are partymates.

“Yes, I admit kapartido mi. In fact, everybody knows na kami ang gapadagan niya sa election, but as chairperson of the mother of the province and as chair of the RPOC, I have to evaluate the evidences,” Cerilles clarified.

As to the reconciliation, she said: “Wala man nay problema sa pag-uli sa kabubut-on. But it is very unfortunate. Kung magpakita gyod sila nga wala na sila anang negosyoha. I think wala ko’y rason nga dili mi magkauli.”

“Pero mentras nga dili pa sila makatubag niining isyu batok kanila, kanang ilang mga kaso about illegal drugs ug kanang shootout sa Tukuran nga ilang gi-insist nga ambush, morag dili pa siguro mi [pwede magkauli],” Cerilles said. WITH JONG CADION

Ocampos revises reward scheme

2009-01-27T18:04:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Online editor

OROQUIETA CITY--Perhaps sensing a slight gaffe in his measures, Gov. Loreto Ocampos announced the other week he has modified particular guidelines in his executive order granting incentives to civilians who arrest lawbreakers.

Ocampos, in his newly released Executive Order No. 04-09, cited the need to amend the guidelines of his reward system to further its effectiveness and push for more community participation in the fight against criminalities.

To recall, last September, the governor made public his crimestopper scheme of giving cash rewards for the capture, prosecution and detention of thieves, robbers, holduppers, homicidial killers, carnappers and snatchers. These acts carry a P10,000 reward.

In justifying his move, Ocampos said then: “With the rise of different forms of criminality in the cities of Ozamiz, Tangub and Oroquieta and in some municipalities, innovative measures are to be undertaken in order to contain the problem.”

Ocampos’ reward scheme includes other transgressions found in the revised penal code including illegal drugs or shabu pushing, which carries a P15,000 reward.

“The PNP cannot solve the problems alone. They have to be assisted and the first appropriate and immediate groups to do this are the members of the civilian volunteers organization (CVO),” Ocampos reasoned out.

An earlier tack was made by then Senate President Manuel “Manny” Villar in January 2006 when he suggested such a novel way of a reward system in solving crimes, including the creation of a crime database.

Villar, in his statement then, said that criminals are becoming more aggressive and cunning, employing more advanced strategies and weaponry.

“Thus, crime-busters should always outthink and outsmart them. In order to do this, police authorities need technical support as well as the general public’s full cooperation,” the senator said.

Villar has filed two senate bills for this. One is SB 599, which seeks to provide an effective method to identify and subdue lawbreakers by providing for a uniform reward system in the campaign against crime and lawlessness.

The other is SB 690, which seeks to establish a national crime database considering that identification of criminal elements is very essential to crime eradication.

Villar, in defending his bills, said he is alarmed over a survey made by Pulse Asia that said eight out of 10 Filipinos who have been victimized by criminals did not report the incidents and out of 180 victims, only 20 percent sought help from the police.

That is why such syatem is necessary, said Ocampos, as this encourages volunteerism and public involvement and community involvement is a major contribution in solving crimes.

“Community members of the barangay must work with their leaders and their CVOs. It has been proven by social research that people in the community who worked together have more chances of achieving peace compared to communities that don’t have public cooperation,” the governor stressed.

In stressing his amendments at present, Ocampos said that the Provincial Reward System would be limited only to members of the Civilian Volunteers Organizations.

Policemen and military personnel are exempted from receiving the incentive “considering that it is already their inherent function to run after and arrest criminals for the maintenance of peace and order,” he added.

The reward can be given only to the concerned CVO after he complies with the documentary requirements for its release—a certification from the concerned city or municipal police chief on the arrest of the criminal and another official recognition from the court proving the case was actually filed.

This paper was informed that Ocampos earlier included in his reward scheme the policemen who arrested the suspects in the Oroquieta City stick up where a copra buyer was robbed of some P300,000 in cash.

When asked if those policemen will be required to return the money given by Ocampos, a source from the Capitol said that there is no need “kay miagi na man to.”

So far, this paper learned that there were three CVOs who received Ocampos’ cash incentive.

To recall, it was in January 2006 too when Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog launched his reward system and offered hefty sum under his so-called “citizen’s arrest” program to combat the rampant cellphone snatching, carnapping and other criminalities in Ozamiz City.

Under Parojinog’s scheme, any person who could arrest a crime suspect and stand as witness in the prosecution would be given P10,000 for snatching, a whooping P20,000 for motorcycle carnapping and a cool P50,000 for carnapping of four-wheel vehicles.

“Ato gyod silang (those who could arrest suspects) pahinungdan kay dako kaayo ang ilang ikatabang nila sa ato. Kay kining mga tawhana (crime suspects), ug dili nato sila panghiposon, magsige lang nag sulod sa atong siyudad, magsinamok,” Parojinog said in explaining the rationale of the reward system.

The government allows citizen’s arrest in flagrante delicto cases. This means a civilian can arrest without warrant a crime suspect who is about to commit, in the process of committing, or has just a committed a crime and the arresting officer has personal knowledge that he committed the crime.

Flagrante delicto or caught-in-the-act cases do not need preliminary investigation for the determination of guilt before filing charges against the suspects in court.

Describing his new anti-crime approach as effective in addressing crimes, Parojinog said rewards await those who can recover the cellphone, or any snatched or stolen item, arrest the suspect and turn him over to the police.

The reward can be claimed after the preparation of the information sheet by the City Prosecutor’s Office.

This concept of fighting crimes, according to the mayor, was a result of their brainstorming on how to abate the worsening crime condition in Ozamiz amid the refusal of the victims to file charges against the suspects and the witnesses to testify in court.

Because of the lack of interest of the victims to file charges even if the suspects are identified and arrested, the mayor said bad elements come and go or are released after the prescribed period and continue committing crimes with impunity.

A crime suspect is released, depending on the gravity of his offense, if no case is filed against him after nine, 12 or 18 hours, otherwise the police could be charged with arbitrary detention.

This situation, according to Parojinog, can be corrected with the police and the one who effected the citizen’s arrest acting as the complainants if the victim refused to file charges against the suspect.

The fund for its implementation, he said, can be taken from Parojinog’s intelligence fund, 20% development fund, or from the peace and order fund of the city government.

NUJP-Ozamiz changes guards

2009-01-27T18:03:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL MEDINA
Online editor

OZAMIZ CITY--The local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP-Ozamiz) realigns itself by selecting its new chair after incumbent president Jovencio Godoy Jr. was selected to the national directorate in Manila.

NUJP is an organization of almost 800 journalists in 57 chapters nationwide, which aims to advance press freedom and promote professional and ethical journalism.

In a recent caucus and get-together activity attended by various tri-media personalities from the different local and provincial outfits, the media organization voted for the succession of Pdi’s Ryan Rosauro from vice president to president.

Then the group voted former board of director and DxDD anchorman Neptalie Batolenio as vice president and unanimously nominated and voted Romy Macalisang of Patrol sa Kalamboan to take the vacated BOD seat of Batolenio.

The complete set of NUJP-Ozamiz officers for 2009 are: Rosauro, president; Batolenio, vice president; Rey Perocho (Ronda Balita), secretary; Arn Antonette Carollo (DxSY-AM), assistant secretary, Expedita Roxas (Radyo nga Bayan), treasurer; Noel Visitacion (DxOC-AM), auditor; Michael Medina (PBM), designate PIO.

Members of the board are Medina, Macalisang, Wendell Talibong (DxDD-AM), Leoncio Medallo (Ronda Balita) and Gregorio Libor Jr. (DxSY-AM).

Under the leadership of Godoy, the chapter was able to conduct and attend several media trainings like the Media Safety Training for Ozamiz Journalists and the various modules of the “Human Rights Reporting Project in the Philippines,” as partnered by NUJP, tackling on human rights and poverty.

The group likewise expresses solidarity with its national chapter by simultaneously holding tributes for journalists during calendared events.

May and October last year, the city chapter came to the aid of Ronda Balita newscaster Adonie Decena and Carollo after both were subjected to harassments in the line of their duties.

Meanwhile, under Rosauro’s tenure, a one-day seminar focusing on extra-judicial killings will be held on Jan. 25 with the Misamis Occidental journalists as participants.

NUJP Director and commission on education and training chair Rowena Paraan is the invited speaker for the activity.

Vic, Tony cheer TESDA scholars

2009-01-21T02:51:00.000-08:00

REMAI ALEJADO
Online news contributor

With these trying and difficult times affecting Filipinos, education should be a means for meeting up the predicament, this was the clear-cut message of the two congressmen of the province.

Representatives Victor Yu and Antonio Cerilles, who met some 500 high school graduates enrolling as vocational scholars of the Technical Education Skills and Development Administration (Tesda), added that learning should be the center of attention among the youth of today.

The said gathering at TESDA is for the enlistment for the provision of vocational and livelihood skills training and scholarships for qualified trainees and students in Zambosur.

This is a joint program to be funded from the budgets of the two congressmen and TESDA. Both Yu and Cerilles counterparted P2-million each for this.

Half of the funding for the scholarship program will come from the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program administered by TESDA.

Some livelihood courses to be offered under the program include reflexology, consumer electronics, cell phone repair, commercial cooking, hotel and restaurant services, and jewelry making.

Whatever learning one enrolls into—whether occupational, professional, career or technical skills—what is important is employment and a better future for the students, Cerilles said.

“Someday you will become parents, raise families and you will be breadwinners. Unsaon ninyo pagbuhi sa inyong mga anak kung wala moy hustong panginabuhi?” he asked.

“Kami sa probinsya pinanguluhan ni Gobernadora Aurora Enerio-Cerilles naglantaw gayud sa inyong maayong kaugmaon. This is the main reason that we established the JH Cerilles State College in the province as we want to reach out tertiary education near to your doorsteps,” Cerilles continued.

“But we thought it is not enough because of the demand of practical and technically skilled manpower abroad like caregivers, welders, heavy equipment operators among others,” the congressman from the second district added.

“Mas dali mo makatrabaho with technical courses that would lead you to work abroad. Ayaw mo pag-yaya-yaya, payapa-yapa. Do your best to absorb what your instructors teaching you,” Cerilles urged.

For his part, Yu encouraged the applicants to learn any skills for future employment. “By this year, we expect 11-million Filipinos without jobs because of the global economic crisis. With skills learned, one can still land a job and earn.”

The businessman-turned-politican then shared his experience while on his way to Manila when he shared a seat and had a chat with a probinsiyano who worked from the Middle East as a welder.

The welder told the congressman that since he started working in the Middle East at a young age, he was able to save enough for his family so he decided to stop, come home and put up his own business in his hometown.

Another observation Yu told the students is the high paying job of bartending, suggesting further that such a job is in high demand among luxury ships with long voyages across the globe.

Meanwhile, TESDA administrative officer Fronie Dalid disclosed that aside from the
PGMA scholarship grant, their office also offers another program called Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA).

PESFA, according to the TESDA Website, was established through RA 8545, the Expanded Government Assistance to students and Teachers in Private education (GASTPE) Act.

PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses with both CHED and TESDA handling the administration of the program for degree and non-degree, respectively.

The program will extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post secondary non-degree TVET courses, contribute to the development of a competent skilled work force; and assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.

Courses offered through PESFA include commercial cooking, bartending, household service worker, housekeeping, masonry, plumbing, heavy equipment operation, computer servicing, computer electronic services, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, health care services, Horticulture, Health care services and massage therapy.

Good luck Barack and God Bless America!

2009-01-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

(THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO MINDANAO PILGRIM, PROBABLY TO US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ALSO, BY BUTUAN CITY BASED REPORTER BEN SERRANO)

BUTUAN CITY--As I wrote this I don’t know if my idol Barack was already sworn into office (cause I don’t have CNN neither Fox news cable to watch at home) but surely he will be sworn in as the 44th President of the greatest nation in earth, the United States of America.

As people around the World watches him sworn into office, questions come across into mind can Barack Obama live up to the expectations as good steward of the American people?

I can’t just imagine the huge crowd of Americans or the mass of humanity at Washington D.C. watch him as history unfold before the eyes of the World the 47 year old Barack Obama become the 44th President of the U.S. of A.

Oh my! How lucky those people are! How’d I wish I was there because watching this inauguration at D.C. before the sea of humanity’s very eyes is History in the Making and will be recorded in the history books as the biggest inaugural event ever!

Can Barack Obama fill up the dreams and hopes of his people? Can he be a good servant?

Can his ideals, his best oratorical speech “ Change, yes we can!” solve the burgeoning problem of sometime violent militant Islamic fundamentalism that is growing like mushrooms in the Middle East?

Can he be a mirror of change for all the leaders around the World in both the First and the Third World especially the Philippines, the long ally of America that good governance is key to peace and development?

Until now, I still firmly believe that the traits that separates Filipinos and Americans is the spirit of VOLUNTEERISM for the common good.

While the Americans especially the good ones (oh! a lot of Americans are bad too) love volunteerism especially during elections, the Filipinos do work and volunteerism in exchange for something!

I mean people are people no matter where you are, seas are seas and plants are plants what separates man from animals is believing oneself for CHANGE!

While Philippines politicians do define DEMOCRACY is poor the people, off the people and buy the people, the real definition of democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people.

Can Barack make it? At the end of the day it is the cooperation of all Americans, black and while, yellow or blue, poor or rich that can make a DIFFERENCE!

But it makes sense to have a good steward of people’s faith, belief, resources and the idealism for real CHANGE!

God Bless America and good luck my idol Barack!

Yours Truly,
Filipino Ben Serrano

Prompt payers get 20% tax cut

2009-01-20T02:05:00.000-08:00

JOE MENDOZA
Aurora News Desk

AURORA, ZAMBOSUR—-Hundreds prompt payers of real property tax availed the 20 percent cut rate gratis from the municipal treasurers office since December 2008.

Municipal Treasurer. Elnora Talip said this was upon the orders of Mayor Enrique Cabahug Jr. that she accommodate payers of local and real property tax who pay on time.

Pursuant to Provincial Tax Ordinance No. 020, otherwise known as the Revenue Code of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, real property tax levied together with the additional levy on real property for the Special Education Fund (SEF) shall be due and payable on the first day of January of each year.

The same may, however, at the discretion of the taxpayers, be paid without interest or penalty in four equal installments: on or before March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

The province takes 35 percent of the proceeds of the real property taxes, 40 percent for the municipal where the property is located and 25 percent to the barangay where the property is also located.

An additional 1% Special Education Fund tax is be automatically released and divided equally between the province and municipal school board.

This money used for the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and sports development as determined and approved by the Local School Board.

Meanwhile, business permit applicants continue to flock to the town hall to beat the Jan. 20 deadline.

Under the Updated Municipal Revenue Code 01-2004 of municipal government of Aurora, the tax shall be paid once within the first 20 days of January or in quarterly installments within the first 20 days of January, April, July, and October of each year.

Talip has appealed to all businessmen to file their business permit the earliest possible time to avoid the rush and the payment of fines and surcharges.

A one-stop-shop has been set up as receiving tables to accommodate the number of applicants for business permits and renewals daily.

For his part, Josefino Zanoria, assistant municipal treasurer, said that they have already fielded their men to intensify tax collection.

Cabahug explains the need to collect taxes in order to strengthening a municipality’s financial capabilities and for use in the performance of local governance functions, especially in the delivery of services to the townfolk.