FRONTLINE MINDANAO 2010

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

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LTO to strengthen road safety campaign next year

2009-12-28T21:52:00.001-08:00

THE full implementation of road safety policies will be implemented
next year without let up, Land Transportation Office (LTO)-9 Regional
Director Aminola Abaton said last week.

This means that there will be strict enforcement of laws governing the
use of helmets, early warning device and the mandatory use of seat
belts as well as impounding of colorum vehicles and fly-by-night
PUJs—those without franchise.

Abaton adds this campaign was not fully set straight by LTO for this
year because they had to prioritize first the education and training
of their personnel and other LTO-deputized members of the PNP and
local and provincial traffic enforcers' auxiliary units.

This paper also learned that the Presidential Anti Colorum and Kotong
Task Force (PACKTAF), headed by Usec. Roy Quiamco, have already
started their operations in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and
Pagadian City early this month.

The PACKTAF employs selected LTO, DOTC, HPG, AFP and PNP elements who
will go after illegal practices such as colorum operations and
mulcting.

Last May, PACKTAF's national campaign has led to the arrest of 63 PNP
personnel who have been involved with these violations and 79 other
individuals from the LTO, LTFRB and various LGUs for extortion and
other related crimes.

"When operations on road safety policies will be implemented in
Zambosur, the driving public, commuters and motorists will not anymore
worry because they have been informed and educated already," Abaton
assured.

He added that they will still set up LTO checkpoints at strategic
areas on the highways around Zambonaga Peninsula and a team of
road-safety personnel will be posted on an 8-hour period to ensure
that colorum vehicles, those without warning devices and registrations
are intercepted and impounded.

The LTO is now implementing quality management system to comply with
international standards of issuing drivers' licenses.

A latest statistic obtained by this paper showed that LTO-9's revenue
collection for 2008 totaled 204,560,063, surpassing their target of
184,840,000.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Pasko Nato '09 finishes off with Awards Night

2009-12-28T21:51:00.001-08:00

FOR another year, Margosatubig edged 26 other participating LGU booths
in the AHC LGU Christmas Bazaar Contest after it was chosen as the
winner in the ZamboSur Christmas Festival, better known as Pasko Nato
'09.

The 10-day Christmas affair concluded with the awarding of winners of
the different competitions and the Agro-tourism and Heritage Center in
Dao.

Following Margosatubig, in order, are Dumingag, Dimataling, which
likewise received the Topseller Award, then Dinas and Molave.

Like Dimataling, Margosatubig is a consistent winner in the past AHC
booth contests, with its previous winnings as Most Artistic booth and
as Best in Tourism Showcase in Megayon 2007 and 2008, respectively.

In other competitions, like the Dao Christmas Lights Contest, first
prize went to Purok Militar, followed by Purok Patag and Purok
Mahayahay.

In the AHC Light–A–Tree Competition, J. H. Cerilles State College
(JHCSC) Dimataling came first while JHCSC–Vincenzo Sagun is second and
JHCSC–Pagadian Campus came third.

The DepEd–2nd District, Division of Zambosur bagged the top spot in
the AHC Belen Contest, followed by PNP-Zambosur in second place and
Zamsureco–I.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Red Cross–Zamboanga del Sur Chapter
is first in the AHC Hanging Christmas Symbols Contest, followed by the
Three Blind Mice and the Paklian Architects.

Governor Aurora Cerilles showed her appreciation and praised the
Provincial Tourism Office headed by Anthony Frederick Padayhag for the
well-organized events.

"Thank you so much for your ingenuity and hard work in support to our
continuing development of the Agro–tourism and Heritage Complex,"
Cerilles said.

Padayhag, for his part, also thanked the assistance from the different
committees and participating agencies and sectors that made Pasko Nato
'09 successful.

Also timed with the awarding night is the grand final of the 3rd Wild
Z Dance Challenge Showdown, with the Mix Stylers sweeping off the
competition, Next Page in second and Headmix in third.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

At last, Pagadian airport will open in January

2009-12-28T21:49:00.001-08:00

FINALLY and irrevocably, the Pagadian City Airport in Muricay will be
opening up for air traffic on January 2010, Mayor Samuel Co disclosed.

Speaking over the radio last Wednesday during his weekly program, Co
said he was in high spirits after receiving favorable responses from
various air transportation companies he invited to open their flights
here.

Co explained the recent completion of the asphalt overlay, concrete
runway widening with shoulder grade and apron repair has paved way for
the airport opening last Dec. 20.

The mayor added that the travelling public will only have to wait for
the official announcement of the flight schedules from the three
airline companies—Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu
Pacific— which showed commitment to fill the Pagadian-Cebu route by
February.

Co said he has finally ascertained the airport's opening after he
received the "Notice to Airmen" (NOTAM), a transmitted dissemination
from the aviation authority addressed to all civil public use airports
that its landing field is already usable.

"So dili na maguol para sa tanan natong mga katawhan nga kanunayng
gasakay og eroplano nga sa dili madugay maabri na gyod ni atoang
airport," Co assured.

He predicted that the resumption of air traffic would increase
business and tourism activities in the regional center again as it
will likely be timed during the city's Pasalamat Festival 2010 which
falls in the third week of January.

The P379.46 million newly upgraded airport development project is one
of the major Mindanao Super Region projects which underwent
improvement since 2006. Last October, President Gloria Arroyo
inaugurated the airport after it was completed two months earlier.

A source from the Air Philippines said their company will probably
operate a Bombardier turboprop aircraft for the Pagadian-Cebu route
while a Cebu Pacific official told this paper they will be having a
probing flight using their A319 planes.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

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

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

NUJP-Misoc condemns slay attempt on fellow broadcaster

2009-12-24T07:28:00.001-08:00

OZAMIZ CITY--The city chapter of the National Union of Journalists of
the Philippines (NUJP) condemned another slay attempt on one of its
colleague whose house was lobbed with a grenade last Sunday evening.

Reports from NUJP-Misamis Occidental identified the media man as
Danilo Pilar, a hard-hitting radio commentator and presenter of
"Analysis," a weekly current affairs program airing on a local
television.

Pilar was said to be active in denouncing shenanigans from political
celebrities and public offices in the province.

Ronda Balita, a nightly broadcast airing in Ozamiz City, showed this
paper its interview with Pilar a day after the incident where he
narrated that he was at the back of his house when two unidentified
persons lobbed a grenade in their front terrace around 7:00 in the
evening of Dec. 20.

The blast tore through his house located in Barangay Tabo-o damaging
the window jealousies.

The shrapnels likewise injured Pilar's father in law, identified as
Rodolfo Dulam, who was then immediately brought to Medina General
Hospital in Ozamiz.

Pilar said he could not recall anybody having a grudge against him
since he has been on break from his weekly television program for
almost a year although he admitted later that he has returned for two
weeks already.

He believes the attack is politically motivated and is related to his
work as a presenter in his weekly television program.

This paper learned that Pilar was doing research on a certain public
officials and that the said person may have been tipped off about
Pilar's inquiries.

In a statement emailed to this paper, NUJP-Misamis Occidental
president Ryan Rosauro condemned the attack and expressed the
chapter's view on the attack.

"Ang NUJP hilabihang naalarma ug naguol sa pagpangatake kang Danny
Pilar pinaagi sa usa ka granada nga gilabay sa iyang panimalay…Bisan
paman nga ang usa ka halalom nga imbestigasyon ang kamulo'ng
gipahigayon kalabot niini, among gipasalamatan ang PNP sa Misamis
Occidental, sa paspas nga pagresponde sa panghitabo. Hinaut nga
masustenir kining paningkamot sa pagsulbad sa kaso aron makaangkon og
hingpit nga hustisya si Danny Pilar," the statement reads.

"Dili madiskwento ang posibilidad nga ang pagpangatake adunay
kalambigitan sa pulitika ug ang trabaho ni Danny isip tigbalita.
Nahitabo kini human maplastar ang kandidatura sa mga pulitiko alang sa
nagkadaiyang posisyon. Gani, matud ni Danny, kung adunay nag-interes
sa iyang kinabuhi tungod sa lain pang rason, kaniadto ra siya hamyang
kaayo sa pagpangatake."

"Tungod niini, among gihangyo nga unta malinawon nga pamaagi ang
ipatuman sa mga pulitiko subay sa ilang personal nga interes nga
maagni ang katawhan sa pagdapig sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka kandidatura."

To recall, a few weeks ago, Ozamiz journalists expressed they were
incensed 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.

"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," they said then.

"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 katuyuan."

The NUJP has been urging politicians in the province to assure the
public not to use violence in pursuit of their political interest,
especially with the 2010 general elections just around the corner.

"Among giawhag ang mga pulitiko nga mosaad atubangan sa katawhan nga
magdumili sa dugoon nga mga paagi aron mapalawig ang kinaugalingong
pulitikanhong interes," the journalists said.

"Ang pagpapili sa pulitikanhong posisyon usa sa mga hulagway sa
pagtunhay sa demokrasya. Kaubang hulagway niini ang kagawasan sa
pagpadayag," they concluded.

As of press time, the PNP has yet to submit to the journalist's group
their findings on the slay attempt on Pilar.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

ZPPO conducts 12th leg of ‘makeover caravan’

2009-12-24T06:53:00.001-08:00

THE Zamboanga Del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZPPO) recently
conducted the 12th Leg Transformation Caravan participated by staff
officers, respective police chiefs in the province and their
personnel, members of the Pagadian City Hikers Joggers Association
Inc., and the PNP Retirees Association of Zambosur.

Police Provincial Director S/Supt. Ramon Ochotorena presently heads the ZPPO.

The 12th Leg of the PNP Transformation Caravan is hosted by PNP Region
9 after which will pass on to PNP Region 10 with the "Transformation
Torch."

This torch symbolizes the changes undertaken by the present PNP
administration in an effort to transform the organization into a
capable, effective and credible law enforcer, Ochotorena said.

"The torch of the PNP symbolizes the continuity of the PNP
transformation Program which aims to resolve organizational
dysfunctions and improve the quality of police services; to strengthen
law enforcement capabilities; and to enhance the welfare and benefits
of our personnel and dependents," a ZPPO press statement emailed to
this paper said.

"Likewise, it also promotes the culture of reform in the PNP personnel
and stakeholders through advocacy programs and development updates of
the Integrated Transformation Program (ITP)," the press statement
continued.

The caravan started with the torch run at the Balintawak junction
going to the city proper and culminated inside Camp Abelon, followed
by an integrated transformation briefing at the ZPPO conference room.

There, Ochotorena turned over the transformation torch to all chiefs
of police, represented by P/Supt. Ranulfo Sinajon of PNP Molave.

The PNP Transformation Torch run covers 17 regions around the country
and 20 National Support Units and was conceptualized by Police Chief
Jesus Verzosa, who said that he will make effective leadership "a way
of living in the PNP."

The PNP aims that by 2015, it will no longer have reasons for not
making any part of this country a more peaceful, orderly, and safe
place to work, invest, and do business.

Cerilles leads Pasko Nato ’09 opening

2009-12-24T06:32:00.001-08:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles led the formal opening of the Pasko Nato 2009
last Dec. 16 at the Agri- Tourism and Heritage Complex (AHC) in Brgy.
Dao amid a big crowd of eager spectators who wanted to take a glimpse
of the blinking fairy lights of the Giant Christmas tree located
within the area.

The Pasko Nato '09 is the third ZamboSur Christmas Festival initiated
by the Provincial Government.

As usual, the lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree coincided with the
AHC Kids Caroling Contest and the first judging of the AHC LGU
Christmas Bazaar Contest that evening.

Cerilles, who is in her last term as the province's chief executive,
said she was happy with the fortitude shown by Zambosurians and
expressed her gratitude to the people for all the support she got.

"Your love, respect and cooperation have been my strength to pursue
big dreams and work even harder for the good of us all," Cerilles told
the crowd.

The governor added that despite the struggles she confronted during
her three terms, these were all conquered and she prevailed because
"we all worked together with one vision and one purpose."

She then congratulated all the Capitol employees, even calling them as
her "extended family who gave their best at the frontlines of
service."

The governor then reiterated her advocacy against illegal drugs and
mentioned her strong condemnation of the Nov. 23 massacre in Ampatuan,
Maguindanao, which killed 57 people including some 30 journalists.

"Let us therefore renew our commitment to work together in restoring
the dignity and peace in Mindanao, making it a land of fulfilled
dreams," she urged.

The opening and lighting activity at the AHC ended with a grand
fireworks display.

Meanwhile, Provincial Tourism Officer Anthony Padayhag said everybody
is welcome to visit the Provincial Government Center's nightly
activities of Pasko Nato '09.

Most of these activities are in collaboration with the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts under the Dance Season program of
the Provincial Tourism Office, he added.

REPORT BY PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

RM, Sominot, Midsalip ink pact on mojon project

2009-12-24T06:14:00.001-08:00

THREE municipalities from the first district of Zamboanga del Sur
recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in support of the advocacy of
protecting and conserving geodetic control points or mojons.

The latest press release by the Provincial Press Bureau identified the
towns of Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot and Midsalip that will be installed
with mojons by DENR and the National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA).

The said project is under the Adopt a Mojon Program of the PRS 92
which will provide a standard survey and mapping reference coordinate
system that will be used by agencies in all their developmental
programs.

The DENR has said that mojons will serve as reference points of
geodetic engineers in the conduct of all kinds of surveys in the
municipality.

These mojons, added the environment office, will form part of the
national network of geodetic control points used as reference in all
kinds of survey activities of all agencies.

Through these mojons, land titling will be easily facilitated
including the transfers of land titles; land or property boundary gaps
and overlaps; improve land administration and tenure system and
improve surveying and mapping capabilities.

The MOA signing between the DENA and the respective LGUs were done
between Mayors Pacifico Bulahan Jr. of Ramon Magsaysay, Teodoro Acosta
of Sominot, Leonida Angcap of Midsalip and DENR regional executive
director Maximo Dichoso.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, represented by Provincial Administrator
Pepito Degamo in the MOA signing activity, expressed her support and
said that she anticipates commendable outcomes in promoting a unified
reference system through the LGU's commitment.

It was learned also that with the reference points in place, geodetic
engineers will find it easy to locate the said mojons and thus the
cost of surveys will be made cheaper for land claimants.

NUJP-Misoc Statement on "Analysis" broadcaster Danny Pilar: Ang pagpapili ug ang kagawasan sa pagpadayag parehong hulagway sa pagtunhay sa demokrasya

2009-12-21T22:14:00.001-08:00

Disyembre 22, 2009

Ang NUJP hilabihang naalarma ug naguol sa pagpangatake kang Danny
Pilar pinaagi sa usa ka granada nga gilabay sa iyang panimalay didto
sa Taboo, Jimenez niadtong adlaw'ng Dominggo, Disyembre 20, 2009. Si
Danny kabahin sa komunidad sa mga tigbalita sa Misamis Occidental.

Bisan paman nga ang usa ka halalom nga imbestigasyon ang kamulo'ng
gipahigayon kalabot niini, among gipasalamatan ang Philippine National
Police (PNP), ilalom sa liderato ni Supt. Leonilo Cabug, provincial
director sa Misamis Occidental, sa paspas nga pagresponde sa
panghitabo. Hinaut nga masustenir kining paningkamot sa pagsulbad sa
kaso aron makaangkon og hingpit nga hustisya si Danny Pilar.

Dili madiskwento ang posibilidad nga ang pagpangatake adunay
kalambigitan sa pulitika ug ang trabaho ni Danny isip tigbalita.
Nahitabo kini human maplastar ang kandidatura sa mga pulitiko alang sa
nagkadaiyang posisyon. Gani, matud ni Danny, kung adunay nag-interes
sa iyang kinabuhi tungod sa lain pang rason, kaniadto ra siya hamyang
kaayo sa pagpangatake.

Tungod niini, among gihangyo nga unta malinawon nga pamaagi ang
ipatuman sa mga pulitiko subay sa ilang personal nga interes nga
maagni ang katawhan sa pagdapig sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka kandidatura.

Sa maong panghitabo, among giawhag ang mga pulitiko nga mosaad
atubangan sa katawhan nga magdumili sa dugoon nga mga paagi aron
mapalawig ang kinaugalingong pulitikanhong interes.

Ang pagpapili sa pulitikanhong posisyon usa sa mga hulagway sa
pagtunhay sa demokrasya. Kaubang hulagway niini ang kagawasan sa
pagpadayag.

RYAN D. ROSAURO
Chair,
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUJP)
Misamis Occidental Chapter

Guns, groans and goad

2009-12-15T20:35:00.001-08:00

<div style="text-align: justify;">The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has described the Philippines as the world's "most murderous" country for reporters. But this does not cite a position that any media member under threat may own and carry a gun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Journalists allowed to carry guns for self-defense in the wake of a growing number of murders of reporters and editors in the country does not in any way score, decrease, cut down or diminish the aggression against members of the fourth estate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) could only tell its press members that there are provisions for safety and assistance to media workers under threat but carrying a firearm is practically not one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The International News Safety Institute (INSI) explains it well. Journalists increasingly are being targeted in conflict largely because they have lost, in the eyes of certain elements, their status as neutral observers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A journalist with a gun may have removed himself from this premise, as he unbuckles his cellular phone and exchanges it for a holster with .45-caliber pistol and some bullet clips. This clearly breaks the entrenched taboo against journalists carrying—and using—guns. Such a move is not beneficial to the press—or the threatened journalist—it will only place their lives and their peers further in danger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">True, we journalists have to protect ourselves because the government does not protect us anymore and so the need for guns protruding in our shirts. But wait, this will only open the floodgates of never-ending cycle of attacks against us. Somehow, there are media people also who are slack, immature and reckless, and arming them might only bring harm or injury to their colleague seated next to them.</div>

2009-12-15T20:33:00.001-08:00

<div style="text-align: justify;">The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has described the Philippines as the world's "most murderous" country for reporters. But this does not cite a position that any media member under threat may own and carry a gun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Journalists allowed to carry guns for self-defense in the wake of a growing number of murders of reporters and editors in the country does not in any way score, decrease, cut down or diminish the aggression against members of the fourth estate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) could only tell its press members that there are provisions for safety and assistance to media workers under threat but carrying a firearm is practically not one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The International News Safety Institute (INSI) explains it well. Journalists increasingly are being targeted in conflict largely because they have lost, in the eyes of certain elements, their status as neutral observers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">A journalist with a gun may have removed himself from this premise, as he unbuckles his cellular phone and exchanges it for a holster with .45-caliber pistol and some bullet clips. This clearly breaks the entrenched taboo against journalists carrying—and using—guns. Such a move is not beneficial to the press—or the threatened journalist—it will only place their lives and their peers further in danger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">True, we journalists have to protect ourselves because the government does not protect us anymore and so the need for guns protruding in our shirts. But wait, this will only open the floodgates of never-ending cycle of attacks against us. Somehow, there are media people also who are slack, immature and reckless, and arming them might only bring harm or injury to their colleague seated next to them.</div>

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

OPINION: On hanging tarpaulins and politics

2009-09-23T23:09:00.001-07:00

Eagle’s eye

BY VIC G. DEL PILAR

delpilarvic@gmail.com

Why can’t we really talk straight and stop speculating. And what’s wrong with Filipinos. A lot of things to be done and fix before everything gets late. This is Pinoy very ugly trademark. A trademark that is so hard to comprehend. This is one malady that pushing our own economy down. Earlier, Philippines was #2 to Japan in terms of economic viability. Today, we are 2nd to the last line of poorest countries. Does politics, as its culprit has something to do with it?

The thing is that, we cannot even look good at others. We are kind of a race that is so envious and cranky. We find Bangsa Moro tarpaulins hanging somewhere we condemned its residents and proponents, as rebels, when the purpose is only to propagate peace within the neighborhood and his community. It is for this reasons why Mayor Afdal has to cry foul. We are afraid of hanging tarpaulins, but not on the armed MNLF armed men just lurking within the vicinity of our homes. In an interview, Afdal said, if indeed he has committed crimes, why not handcuff him, soak in jail and file appropriate charges and prosecute him to the fullest, rather than picturing him like an evil spirit. He was once reported a member of the 14k gang of notorious illegal drug syndicate, but until now, why is he still allowed to roam the streets scot free. Mayor Afdal, before the media panel last week admitted having been appointed lately Chief, Civil and Military Affairs of the MNLF, no less by Chairman Nur Misuari. For him it is not a crime if he seeks membership with the MNLF, he said. Lately the municipality Aurora town is a recipient of a multi-million InFres project consisting a package of road networks and potable water systems right at the doorsteps of the barangay residents, but the project has to be derailed, simply because the mayor of the town happens to be from the opposite camp. Mayor Cabahug sought the intervention of the court and won, but just the same the project got stalled. Ano ba naman yan, Kuya?

The Comelec’s plan of automation for next year’s polls is a welcome development for Filipinos because by that process it can ward off the possibility of cheating, in the form of dagdag bawas, vote shaving and even tampering of election results, which is always a politician’s last ditch resort, more so if he finds, in the counting process that his votes are tailing or lagging behind. But as soon as the finalization of the contract between the Comelec and the winning bidders are perfected, out in the blue, an announcement came informing that the winning bidders cannot push through supplying the needed machines for automation because of “money” disagreements between bidders. If the info we filtered is true, the disagreements of the winning bidders regarding money indifference is only a ploy. The truth of the matter, is somebody out there is working to derail the automation project so that the Comelec could get back to manual process, for very self serving reasons. And that is it. Just when can we Filipinos get matured?

Considering the element of time between today and May 10, 2010, which is the election day, the last option for the Comelec is to get back from where it is, that is to return to the manual and antiquated processes, where cheating in the election, ranging from vote buying, down to dagdag bawas, vote shaving, tampering and all other modes of satanic modes become the game of the day.

Sammy Co, plano pabibohon og balik ang pantalan

2009-09-21T21:08:00.002-07:00

GUMIKAN sa kamahal sa balayronon sa arrastre sa pantalan sa siyudad, naundang ang pagbiyahe sa mga barko, kinhi ang giingon ni Mayor Samuel Co niadtong Lunes sa dihang gihinabi siya sa mga taga-media.

Nasayran nga ang bayronon sa arrastre sa siyudad mas taas kung ikumpara sa ubang mga dapit ug kini maoy hinungdan nga miundang ang mga shippers nga mopasakay sa ilang mga kargamento sa barko.

Ang arrastre nga gikolekta sa mga pribadong kompaniya ubos sa superbisyon sa Philippine Port Authority (PPA).

Una nang gihangyo sa kagamhanang local ang PPA sa pagpakunhod sa mga maong balayronon apan wala kini nahatagi ug pagtagad.

Pipila na usab ka mga biyahero ang mireklamo sa kamahal sa singil sa pagpakarga sa mga bagahe sa pasahero.

Naobserbahan nga ang kagamhanang nasiyonal migahin ug minilyon ka pesos alang sa pagpadako ug pagpanindot sa pantalan sa Pagadian apan kawang laman ang tanan gumikan kay miundang na ang mga barko nga magbiyahian sa maong pantalan.

Kahinumduman kaniadto nga tulo ka kompaniya sa barko ang kanunayng magbiyahian sa dakbayan paingon sa Zamboanga, Jolo, Siasi, Bongao nug Sitangkai.

Apil niing ang biyahe paingon sa Zamboanga City ngadto na sa Sandakan, Malaysia apan kini ang nag-inanay ug kawala gumikan sa nahisgutang problema.

Sa pagkakaron pipila ka mga plano sa city government ang gikonsidera, matod pa sa mayor, ug usa niini mao ang paghangyo sa Trans Asia ug sa ubang mga dagkong kompaniya sa barko nga mopabiyahe og balik sa Pagadian.

Ang ikaduha nga gusto sa mayor mao nga ang kagamhanang lokal maoy mopahigayon ug pagpadagan pinaagi sa pagpalit o pag-abang ba hinoon ug barko gikan sa mga dagkong kompaniya aron mapahimuslan ug mabibo pagbalik ang pantalan.

Pero dugang sa mayor, cargo liner ang angayan nga ibutang sa siyudad kay maglisod og kompetensiya ang passenger liners sa mga barkong nagbiyahian didto sa Ozamiz nga halos kada adlaw magbiyahian sa Cebu ug usa ra ka gabii ang gidugayon.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

MS. ZAMBOSUR 2009: Sammy very proud city bet was chosen

2009-09-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

MAYOR Samuel “Sammy” Co cannot hold back his excitement after city bet Jeany Rose Joromat took home the title of Miss ZamboSur 2009 in a beauty pageant held during the province’s celebration of its 57th founding year and Megayon Festival.

The search composed of 24 candidates from among the province’s municipalities and the coronation night took place, Sept. 13, at the newly built Megayon Stage inside the Agri-tourism Herritage Complex in Dao, this city.

Co, in a press conference with journalists at his office, said this is the second time during his incumbency of that the city was able to grab the pageant title of Ms. Zambosur.

“If we have big affairs and competition in Zamboanga del Sur, people are expecting mas makalamang ang Pagadian kay daghan man ta’g mga estudyante nag-eskwela dinhi nga mga gwapa pod,” Co said.

“To the young ladies, every time you are given the chances to join a pageant like Miss Zamboanga de Sur, you grab it because it is a rare opportunity that you can show and prove that you have the capabilities,” advised Joromat.

The 19-year old BEEd senior from Southern Mindanao College is a resident of San Pedro District and dreams of becoming a teacher.

She also represented Philhealth and was also chosen “Best in Ethnic Inspired Wear” designed by Rey Cimafranca, who was awarded Best Designer that evening.

The City Council passed a resolution a day after Joromat’s winning to hand out an additional P18,000 cash reward aside from the P5,000 she earlier received from Co.

In the said beauty search, Jhemma Gomez of Margosatubig was crowned First Princess; Rachel Olarte of Mahayag and SK Provincial Federation is the Second Princess; Gretchen Mae Ayco of Dumingag and BJMP Provincial Office is the Third Princess while Jenny Joy Adorador of Vincenzo Sagun and and Phil. Para-Medical and Technical School is Ms. Culture and Arts.

Rep. Antonio Cerilles and wife, Gov. Aurora Cerilles and Miss Philippines Earth 2008 Marie Hazel Eguea crowned all the winning beauties.

For the special awards, Ayco is Best Play Suit, Miss Professionalism and Miss Navigation Princes while Dina Pacas of Lakewood and NCIP is Miss Friendship; Michelle Briones of Tambulig and PNB-Pagadian is Miss Photogenic; Adorador is Best in Gown and Miss Popular and Marter Gay Soriano from Midsalip and DAR-9 is Best in Talent.

All winners of the special award received P2,000 and trophies.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

OPINION: Is Noynoy ready to yield to the Bishops?

2009-09-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Eagle’s Eye

By VIC G. DEL PILAR

delpilarvic@gmail.com

The Roman Catholic Church is again meddling in the 2010 politics. Our question is, why can’t the Church stay away from political fire by making a new scenario about Reproductive Health Bill, knowing that Sen. Noynoy happens to be a co-author of the RH bill now pending in the Senate? Has the Church already lost its respect and credibility of the flocks to decide on the fate they want? Why the Church resort to some kind of blackmail? Is that simply because Sen. Noynoy is a candidate for President? And that the Church cannot impose what it really want for its flocks to follow?

Cotabato Auxilliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo in a statement printed in the Malaya said, Catholic Bishops are aware of Noynoy’s support for the bill, and that this could mean detrimental to his presidential bid in the 2010 polls, saying further that Aquino could win the support of the bishops, that is if he (Noynoy) drops his support for the bill, which the Catholic empire “strongly opposes on the ground that it indirectly promotes abortion by institutionalizing artificial contra-ceptives,” adding that Aquino must by all means withdraw his support from the RH bill, and that the good senator, now a Bcandidate for President under the opposition ticket could get the support of the Bishops for him to win in the elections.

And if Sen. Aquino won’t withdraw his support for the RH bill, does it mean he cannot win the election, simply because the bishops are not behind him through and through? Since when has the Bishops dictated Catholic church members whom to vote, compared with that of the other noted religious organizations? And why such a threatening issue for Noynoy to change his stand as regards the cause of the RH bill, or else if he wont, it would endanger his presidential run? Experience tells us that during elections the Catholics are out of their own whom to vote. Without being dictated by anyone. Much less, by anybody from the Catholic hierarchy. Just like anybody, the bishops may have their own candidates. As much as its members too. And that is the essence of election. One is out to choose his own whom he believe is the best. Dictating him whom and what to vote, defeats the purpose for which election is being held. And this an issue the Bishops sector must further educate its flocks, if needed. As a church member I demand, this matter without fear of contradiction.

I would have this to say that the RH bill according to sources, has now the support of 132 congressmen, along with the other more, who are reported on the line waiting to declare their support during the voting, even as other supporters of the bill were asked to tie the trees, gates and buildings along the way to Congress with purple ribbons to draw public support. And on this point, what action has the Church done to strongly articulate its opposition for finally passing the bill into a law?

The CBCP however admitted having not mustered enough legislators in congress, found supportive of their cause. In the City of Cebu where Catholicism is noted being the seat of pre-Hispanic Christian culture are reported to be the biggest and strongest supporters for the passage of the RH bill. As we go to press this weekend however, Senator Nonoy was reported to have scheduled a meeting with the Bishops for a dialogue. No fix date was set however. But we are confident that by explaining his side does not mean the good senator is yielding in favor of the Bishops’ demand. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo however expressed hopes that the authors of the bill can pass a law that in conscience be acceptable to the heart of the people, knowing that most legislators believe in the Catholic values and morality, they being, majority of them have a heart of the Catholics.

OPINION: Anything more for Estrada to prove?

2009-09-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Eagle’s Eye

VIC G. DEL PILAR

It was Malacanang who accordingly initiated a move to call for a dialogue with former President Fidel Ramos, who earlier warned that the 2010 elections would not push through, seeing through the needles eye, that a reported palace-backed coup attempts could be launched to extend PGMA’s term. And it was accordingly no less than Ex-President Ramos, according to Manila Standard as our source, who insinuated over the weekend that the members of the Phil. Military Class of 1978 will create a situation to extend the term of President Arroyo.

This reports could be an intriguing subject for discussion between Malacanang and Ex President Ramos. As to where such a gossips has been hatched, only Ramos knows, he who has some accesses of information from the military with whom he has some important linkages until date. Earlier in a related situation Ramos was quoted as saying that “those contemplating palace coups or no election for 2010 elections to preserve a status quo are hereby forewarned that these and other variations thereof will surely fail because, among others, the PMA class of 1978, including its adoptive members, does not command the loyalty of the vast majority of our uniformed services.” Up to this reporting time however Ramos seemed not keen on heeding the Malacanang call after all their disagreements have erupted between them concerning the merging of the Lakas/CMD and Kampi political parties, which process was downgraded by Ex-President Ramos being the Party Chairman Emeritus who wasn’t even allowed to be present during the merging activity. Mao nay hinungdan nangluod ang tiguwang! But if all these developments are part of 2010 politics, then there is nothing to fear. Politics is just full of colorful and dramatic issues calculated to lead and mislead the public. The way I looked at it the scheduled national and local polls must push through, even as everybody is already attuned to it and all the given preparations and as are the hopefuls ready for the battle, come what may.

But at the other side of the fence, the furor is overwhelming between the camps of Ex-President Estrada and incumbent Senator Ping Lacson. Stoning each other’s houses made out of glasses. The once upon a time political dream team, now turned enemies because of their owned made follies. Washing and depending their own linens in public proves many things. The people may have voted the wrong bunch of public officials, who by sheer arrogance and greed over money, only served for them to enrich and become powerful. But indeed God does not want them to succeed. It was perhaps due to some heavenly interventions that what they have in their agenda during their tenure must be stopped. So does the Edsa revolt must happened, throwing the evils out of prominence. And definitely, there should not anymore be a repetition. No more part II for the Estrada administration. Estrada’s time had passed. What does he want to prove more? And that’s it. Let the fight between them pursue. Now that the true picture of what the country looks like in the past are seen on the television screen, is a true happening depicted in the life of Pilipino people. Let us watch them who’s telling the truth. And for our judicial system appreciate all these happenings. Let us watch too, if who among them Senator Ping Lacson and Ex-President Joseph Estrada, or both, really would pay the prize for all the crimes done to our people.

2009-08-30T22:09:00.001-07:00

Zambosur Gov. Aurora Cerilles (MIDDLE) accepts the plaque of appreciation from DILG-9 Prov. Dir. Abcede Asjali as Federated Liga President Allan Godoy looks on. The Liga recently held its 1st District Barangay Congress in Pagadian City. (PHOTO BY PPB)

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FEATURE: Starchy and Sweet Cassava from Hole

2009-08-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

BY JULIUS M. BREVA

IT WAS snack time in the afternoon of August 19. The ever exuberant mayoral staff Boy Telos arrived in the Mayor’s office bringing along with him a big metal pot of boiled cassava tuber.

Everyone inside the office, especially the meticulous female staff, who ate it, noticed its difference from the usual taste of boiled cassava tuber.

Emily Tagubase pointed out its being starchy. Maricar Enot said that it was deliciously sweet.

And Lalang Balogbog and Cathy Ontulan took turns in dipping their slices of cassava into a saucer of salted fish, slurping.

Even the office visitors could not resist from tasting the big slices of golden cassava. What made it irresistible was not only because of its starchy and deliciously sweet taste. It had a unique selling point for those who craved to taste it.

It was the first cassava tuber harvested from the model farm of the LGU. The farm showcases the new hole method of cassava farming, fondly called the Cerilles method of cassava farming.

Your browser may not support display of this image. In the farm, Mayor Jun shows that by digging a hole and filling it with organic fertilizers before planting a cassava shoot, the farm could maintain its soil fertility. And there are more than enough nutrients for the cassava to grow healthy.

The cassava tuber that Boy harvested August 19 weighed 13 kilos. The usual cassava tuber weighs more or less 7 kilos.

The Cerilles method also makes planting cassava affordable, manageable and a source of continuous income. It does not require farmers to buy inputs except pick and shovel.

Because of adequate organic fertilizer, the cassava crops can produce a good harvest, and so the farmers only need to till small farm lots.

With small farm lots, they can easily water their cassava crops and so can plant even during the dry season. They only need to till one-tenth of a hectare one after the other all year round to earn around P20,000 monthly income.

Mayor Jun personally shows the way how to do the Cerrilles method of cassava farming. To date, a total of 25 hectares of cassava farms using the hole method can be found in Dumingag. Each hectare has 587 cassava hills, intercrop with corn.

Mayor Jun knows that there are not enough cassava farms in Dumingag using the method. But with the first harvest from the hole method, he believes more farmers in Dumingag would follow suit applying the hole method of cassava farming.

Last year, Dumingag farmers only applied the plow method of cassava farming. They were able to plant around 1700 hectares. It only showed how industrious the Dumingag farmers are in planting cassava.

With the living example of Mayor Jun on the hole method of cassava farming, he believes that the same diligence will come out again from the cassava farmers.

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OPINION: Economic recession

2009-08-29T21:12:00.001-07:00

Eagle’s eye
BY VIC G. DEL PILAR

Wow, talaga ha? Sa isang hapunan lang? President Arroyo was billed by the waiter P1million pesos? Ilang litson baka, litsong baboy, manok o di kaya sweet and sour na balyena o dolphin kaya ang Inorder for Arroyo’s entourage of 30 persons, more or less, for them to devour that evening of August 2, 2009 at Le Cirque restaurant at downtown Manhattan in New York.

Ang suba suba naman ninyo kung kumain, o di ba mga tsongs? Subrang subra na yata yon, di ba? Siguro, gutom na gutom sila at baka walang kahit man lang burger doon sa Whitehouse habang nakikipagusap si Ate Glo kay Pareng Barak, kaya ganuun nagpabundat sila doon sa Le Cirque. In that case for a single dinner costing P1million, Pres. Arroyo’s group of 30 men from August 1-5, 2009 while in the US upon the invitation of Kumpareng Barak, how much did the group spend for their breakfast and lunch, including snacks for 5 days. Posibling umabot kaya ng isang bilyon? Ganuun ba ka labis gumastos ang Pangulo ng Pinas? Try to get an average of that dinner expense and multiply it at the rate of 72 trips, because as reported President Arroyo has gone out to foreign countries on diplomatic trips 72 times, how much would all those presidential meals costs? Yes, that’s gross insensitivity and hypocrisy on the part of the leadership, assuming that the reports we gathered about all the presidential travels are correct. Could that be the reason why maraming Pinoy na naghihirap at walang makain dahil yong pagkain nila ay kinakain na ng buwaya?

Jesus Mariano, Ka Indo!

The question is who footed the bill for the President? Was it indeed Cong. Romualdez of Leyte? Until this report Romualdez has not surfaced to confirm or deny the insinuation that he did. If he did out of his own funds, how rich is he amidst his hungry province mates. Is that how easy for a sipsip congressman to bail out P1million in the face of his malnourished people? Was it not that, it was FG who handed the money to Romualdez, for Romualdez to pay the bills for him, the way executives do at gatherings like that at Le Cirque? Alangan na man kung si FG pa ang huhugot ng wallet upang magbayad. Nakakahiya, hindi po ba? Kaya si Romualdez nalang, di ba? Kaya huwag na po kayong magmaang maangan pa, dahil bistado ka na, Pare ko!

Added to that is the startling revelation of Congressman Abante saying, he doesn’t even know who paid for all his bills, basta nalang inimbita siya, sumama, sumakay sa plane, at pagdating sa US he billeted at Waldorf Hotel. Ni wala siyang isang kusing na ginasta duon pati na sa pagkain. All what he knew earlier was that, all his expenses were paid by Malacanang. Now, na nagkabukuhan na, he says he is willing to refund Malacanang with of all his expenses. Wala na, the damage to their reputation has been done. How Cong. Abante was treated by Malacanang, as an ally is the same treatment given to Cong. Romualdez. Now who is Romualdez to say according to spokesman, that he personally footed for the bill at Le Cirque? When his expenses were also paid by Malacanang. He went to the US at the expense of Malacanang. Why say, he paid for the dinner bills? Incredulous! It’s hard to believe. With House Speaker Prospero Nograles, joining the fray, enjoining all Congressmen consisting the entire entourage of PGMA’s latest visit to the US to refund Malacanang all of their expenses, out of their P300,000 budgeted travels chargeable against the House, which was not spent after all because, if hindi nabulabog ang Malacanang, savings na sana nila ang P300,000. Hindi lang naaawa si Speaker Nograles sa bayan. Nahihiya lang sa ginawa ng kangyang mga maayong laking Congressmen. Pwe!

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Mindanao railway study completed by December

2009-08-29T21:08:00.001-07:00

BY JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY— The conduct of the feasibility study for the formulation of a strategic railway development plan for Mindanao will be finished within this year, this was the information relayed by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Usec. Guiling Mamondiong.

During the Regional Development Council (RDC)’s 129th meeting at the Liga City Convention Center last August 25, the DOTC presented its strategic Railway Development Plan for Mindanao, pre-feasibility studies and technical assessments for the different railways section which is targeted for completion the 3rd quarter of this year.

Upon learning of the inclusion of Zamboanga Peninsula in the study and formulation, the RDC, which is chaired by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, warmly received the good news.

The conduct of study for the formulation of a strategic railway development plan for Mindanao will be to connect urban centers and provincial capitals in Mindanao such as Zamboanga, Pagadian, Dipolog, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Marawi, Cotabato and Davao cities.

Three private consultancy firms—the TCGI Engineering, DMI Management Engineering and Woodfields Incorporated were named and tasked to conduct the study for the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) within five months.

At present, only the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor has finished its full-scale feasibility study while that of the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos line is ongoing and that of Iligan-Zamboanga City line is still in the technical assessment level.

When realized, travel time in the 145-kilometer Iligan-Cagayan de Oro route will be shortened by 15-20 minutes in contrast to the present three-hour travel time by bus.

During the RDC meeting, the MRS was considered a priority project as members felt the need to have a fast, efficient and cost effective integrated public transport system for Mindanao.

Last January, several Mindanao lawmakers recommended to President Gloria Arroyo the funding for the construction of the MRS.

The congressmen, led by Speaker Prospero Nograles have been pushing for the MRS project for the island’s accelerated growth and development.

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Road Safety Project launched in Zampen

2009-08-29T21:07:00.001-07:00

BY JONG CADION

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) recently launched Land Transportation Office (LTO)’s road safety program which emphasizes some of the agency’s new guidelines and directives.

Launched last August 18-20, the LEAP national conference’s theme is “LTO law enforcement: A covenant for progress, leading the way.”

It was learned that Zamboanga Peninsula was chosen to implement of the road safety project after the central office implementation in Metro Manila.

The road safety campaign was launched after the LTO saw the need to reduce fatality, injury and damage to property due to road accidents in order to protect the lives and safety of both motorists and pedestrians.

The road safety project was conceived by Retired Gen. Arturo Lomibao, LTO assistant secretary to enhance law enforcement capabilities of the traffic law enforcers in enforcing road safety and security to motorists, said LTO 9 Reg. Dir. Aminola Abaton.

LTO district office chiefs, representatives of the PNP Traffic Management Group in Region 9, Presidential Anti-Colorum and Anti-Kotong Task Force, city traffic enforcers and representatives of city and municipal traffic police attended the said conference.

Abaton said that the launching consisted of the distribution of pamphlets on the 10 Road Safety Tips and lectures that stressed the need for road safety and the strengthening of the LTO’s campaign against colorum vehicles.

Also in an interview, LTO Asst. Reg. Dir. Mohammad Yusoph Lamping told this paper that Zamboanga peninsula, as compared to other regions, experienced fewer traffic vehicular accidents in spite of passenger buses and vans plying its highways 24 hours a day.

LTO data states that a daily average of 41 or two cases per hour of road accidents are reported all over the country.

In 2008, in the total 15,534 reported cases of traffic accidents, 465 of which were categorized as fatal; 4,284 were non-fatal and 9,798 caused damage to property.

A Philippine Information Agency report quoted the Traffic Management Group saying that the top 10 causes of road accidents are driver’s error; driving under the influence of liquor/prohibited drugs; mechanical defect; over-speeding; using cell phone while driving; road defect repair; hit and run; bad overtaking; bad turning; and overloading.

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OPINION: Insecure lang si Jojo

2009-08-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

By VIC G. DEL PILAR

Wala na talagang laman ang utak ng tao. Puro nalang pulitika. Nothing more is important for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Even as he wants to color the death of the former President Cory Aquino, a political issue, by saying that the people’s outpouring support shown during the burial of the late President may turn into a political upheaval against the present leadership in Malacanang, that is if the present occupant, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo try to extend her term beyond June 30. 2010.

Is that how naive Mayor Binay today? Or simply, is he that insecure or naiinggit lang kaya?

Being the mayor of Makati, makati lang talaga ang isip niya, that is, if that’s how he scantily interprets the situation. Really, I sympathize with him. Kawawa lang talaga siya. It’s too much and too late for him. Because, no matter what, he can never become like Gloria now na tinitingala, hinangaan at pinagkaguluhan ng marami.

Gusto talaga niyang maging Presidente, pero hindi naman pwede and the way I look at it, he will never will be. Sa karami raming ng mga ambisyosong mga opposition ngayon, malayong malayo na mabigyan pa ng tsansa si Mayor Binay na maging standard bearer para maging kandidato upang iboto. At kung manalo, maging Presidente siya.

Kaya hanggang diyan na lang si Jejomar. Dada na lang ng dada. No chance talaga. Just like anybody up there, Jojo can be a good President. Kaya lang to become one, hindi ganuun kadali. You have to invest a quite sum of money, time and effort. It is not as easy as one planting camote, that can readily harvest its fruits, as it reaches maturity. Added to that, is the fact that if you are not destined by God to become one, you will never become one, and for sure you may only end up like Don Quixote, fighting the windmills. Jojo must accept that.

Lawyers know what the present constitution implies. No elected president can ever make another attempt to run for another election, the second time around. And Mayor Binay knows that limit. Then why make a fuzz about it. Except Erap who believes he is qualified because, its his faults, he didn’t finish his term. But constitutionally, Erap’s case is a long way to go. He is not only a school drop out, he just intentionally lost his presidency in a drop of his hat. For love of money.

Not one has to be blame except himself. His term has ended and should not threaten people of his political comeback. Erap is now a duck. A political lame duck. Politics is not like a movie, that anybody can just get back, anytime you want, and for as long as you want.

Both Erap and Binay must respect the legacy of President Cory Aquino. It’s so sad that both cannot be like Cory and Gloria. Aquino’s presidency is different than that of Erap, more so with that of Binay, if given the chance. As president of the UNO, Mayor Binay is up there. He must work for the strengthening and the unity of the party. Put up a common candidate and make a fight in the 2010 polls. I agree, without fear of contradiction, that the country needs a better President. Perhaps even better, than that of Gloria. With her announcement at the SONA, saying she will step down after her term, it’s a good chance for Binay’s group to prove once and for all that men, like Binay, in the opposition can better lead this nation, than women like Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo. However if Binay’s group still fail to meet such a demand because of their impending internal disagreements on who is who would become the standard bearer, the opposition has still the last option. The option to go to the mountains and start planting camote.

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Despite truce, still a long way home for evacuees

2009-07-27T19:41:00.001-07:00

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao—Flashing a smile, Syrianbai Sangcupan was jumping in joy when she heard in a community gathering here that government has declared a halt to offensives against Moro rebels.

“Sana totoo na ‘yon para makapamuhay uli (kami) ng matiwasay; walang takot. Baka (kasi) pagkatapos, another gyera na naman!” said Sangcupan, referring to Malacanang’s pronouncement of a Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) against MILF forces last Thursday, four days before she delivers her last State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

Sangcupan’s family evacuated from barangay Dado to the poblacion August last year to escape the skirmishes between government soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces.

Last May 6, she gave birth to her fifth child and now wants him to experience the comforts of home, however simple it is.

The evacuees, numbering around 250,000 people, have been clamoring to return to their respective villages in time for the observance of Ramadan next month. Continuing insecurity brought about by intermittent clashes is preventing them from doing so.

The MILF reciprocated the government’s gesture on Saturday by declaring a Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA) in all areas where they have forces, signaling a restart of goodwill on both sides 11 months after engaging in renewed hostilities following the botched deal outlining a Moro homeland.

The SOMA directive was signed by MILF chair Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim.

WELCOME RESPITE

Peace advocacy groups lauded both the government and MILF for their recent posture that could help advance safety in civilian communities.

Describing the reciprocal truce declarations as “one crucial step,” the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) said these “provide the space for both parties to reflect and reassess their motives in pursuing peace in Mindanao.”

“Some cynics may dismiss these twin moves for varying motives, but we join our weary people in welcoming this respite from war,” a statement from IID read.

The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) noted that the intent to end hostilities “signify both parties’ compassion and due consideration to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)…”

In a statement, the MPC said that the SOMO and SOMA declarations serve as “the IDP’s tickets to return home, rebuild their communities, reopen their schools and resume normal lives.”

But the MPC stressed that this can only happen if the fledgling truce is given the “real chance to take off and develop into a full-blown operational and functional ceasefire.”

IID has called on the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH), which is composed of government and MILF representatives, to re-activate ceasefire mechanisms on the ground.

VIGILANCE

“Even then, the public must remain vigilant to ensure that local and national leaders, especially President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is truthful to her commitment to establish peace with rebel groups before her term ends on June 30, 2010,” the IID warned.

The MPC twitted at North Cotabato vice-governor Manny Pinol for saying the truce declaration of government will trigger more hostilities.

“With rebels and soldiers alike silencing their guns, there can be no better condition to end the hostilities and isolate the so-called saboteurs, spoilers and war profiteers,” the MPC said.

Not only are evacuees happy about the prospect of an immediate end to hostilities.

Army soldiers stationed in the town also wore smiles when told about the SOMO declaration with one saying, “Sana totoo na ‘yan!”

RESERVATIONS

While both government and MILF forces have been ordered to call off hostile actions, the possibility of skirmishing with each other still exists.

Government is still bent on continuing law enforcement operations to capture three allegedly rogue MILF commanders although no longer led by the Armed Forces but the Philippine National Police.

The MILF cited this as reason for taking a precautionary stance by ordering its forces “to continue in defensive position mode.” Murad’s order reminded MILF forces to “exercise the right to self-defense when attacked.”

The government had been rooting for the arrest of Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato, Aleem Ali Pangalian, and Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar for allegedly committing atrocities against civilians last year.

REBUILDING

North Cotabato governor Jesus Sacdalan is hopeful the SOMO and SOMA declarations pave the way for the permanent return of evacuees to their respective villages and rebuild not only their lives but also their communities.

The North Cotabato towns of Pikit, Aleosan, Alamada and Midsayap are primarily affected by the current fighting, either as host of hostilities or of evacuees.

“It is important for the IDPs to start anew. I firmly believe that community development is the foundation of sustainable peace,” explained Sacdalan.

Emerging from a deep thought, Sangcupan said she looks forward to “seeing no more armed men in our village and my children going back to school.”

Until a ceasefire regime becomes permanent, it would still be a long way home for the evacuees.

REPORT BY RYAN D. ROSAURO, GRABBED FROM Inquirer Mindanao

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H1N1 reaches MisOc

2009-07-27T19:18:00.001-07:00

DESPITE its massive public awareness campaign and basic preventive measures instituted, the Influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be more resilient as it breaks into Misamis Occidental this week.

Governor Loreto Ocampos, in an email sent to this paper, calmed constituents, saying the A(H1N1) infection cases detected in the province is not as alarming.

The governor added that health authorities are already on the dot of monitoring the whole of Misamis Occidental, especially in schools and local communities where the said virus might contaminate.

“Walay angay kabalak-an ang katawhan kay dili tantong peligro ang AH1N1 basta madalian ug kung mo-cooperate ang katawhan sa kampanya karon sa provincial government, Provincial Health Office ug sa Misamis Occidental Schools Division aron dili mokatag kining sakita sa atong probinsya,” Ocampos said in his email message.

The email sent by the governor to this paper likewise disclosed that two of the 125 high school students from Barra Elementary School in Tudela who showed flu-like symptoms were found positive of A(H1N1), after the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa confirmed the results of the swab tests sent.

Last week, health authorities became suspicious when 97 students from the said school were all at once absent during their Monday classes after complaining of fever.

The next day, another 28 students exhibited the same symptoms and were not in attendance. By Wednesday, the number rose to 182, this time, including 36 students from the nearby Tudela Central School and 21 more from Balon Elementary School.

Municipal health authorities surmised the flu-like symptoms felt by students in Balon were only associated with their lack of resistance since the barangay was classified as “moderately malnourished” and one of the “dirtiest” village in Tudela.

The tag came after a health team found that children living there have insufficient and unbalanced food diet and most households lack toilets, leaving people to use the backyard for human wastes.

Ocampos, sensing the highly contagious and serious condition that can affect Misamisnons, especially children, then called a meeting among all LGU executives, the provincial and rural health offices and the provincial schools division.

It was decided to suspend classes for a week starting July 27 on all private and public schools in Tudela, such as the Tudela National Comprehensive High School, Tudela Central School, and the elementary schools in Barra, Sibac, Cabol-anonan, Pan-ay Diot, Balon, Nailon, Basirang and Tigdok.

“Duna tay public information campaign. Manghatag kitag posters ug handbills sa mga balay, barangay ug information materials sa mga radio ug TV kung unsay buhaton aron makalikay ta ani ug unsay buhaton kung dunay sakop sa pamilya nga hilantan. Ikatag ni nato aron magiyahan ang mga tawo,” Ocampos assured.

Another step, he added, will be to give vitamins and supplements to the affected villages in Tudela to strengthen the immune system of residents.

The governor ordered the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital down to the Municipal Health Offices to stock vitamins A, C, D and E, seeing this as an urgent measure to prevent more A(H1N1) outbreak in the communities

“Among ipasabot sa katawhan nga dili angay mabalaka ug mohangyo mi nga mo-cooperate lang gyod sa atong kampanya,” he said.

“Unya kung naa man gani ma-apektohan, i-quarantine, dili pagawason sa balay aron dili matakdan ang uban. Unya dangop mo sa local government, sa atong mga hospital aron matambalan mo dayon,” Ocampos ended.

As of July 26, a total of 109 persons were positive of A(H1N1) out of the 196 persons who showed flu-like illness in the region, the DOH- Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao said.

Of this number, 81 are from Cagayan de Oro City and mostly are students from the 11 schools earlier reported to have been affected by the dreaded swine-flu virus.

One school there—the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School registered some 2,000 students who showed flu-like illness.

As this developed, health officials said they are monitoring Xavier University, Liceo de Cagayan University, Lourdes College, Corpus Christi, St. Mary’s Academy, International School, Balulang ES and Balulang NHS and Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School for possible infections.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

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H1N1 reaches MisOc

2009-07-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

RMN-DxPR grows in leaps and bounds

2009-07-26T02:45:00.001-07:00

RMN-DxPR is Pagadian City’s leading radio station ever since it was established in January 10, 1980, during Radio Mindanao Network’s major expansion program.

As one of the 50 radio stations positioned all over the archipelago by Don Henry Canoy, RMN-DxPR brings the visionary’s dream to fruition with its continued and unparalleled broadcasting concept.

For the past two decades of its operation, RMN-DxPR has created a name in the region with its balanced programming in news, public affairs, public service broadcasting and entertainment.

Managed by a well-organized and contemporary breed of broadcasters, RMN-DxPR is known throughout Pagadian City and in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao and parts of Misamis Occidental.

“RMN-DxPR’s goal is not only to entertain the public but to inform and educate them as well. Because of this, we have become part of the lives of our listening audience—from morning until dusk,” station manager Al Gesta said.

From their erstwhile spot in Consolacion Street in Balangasan District, the radio station transferred to its spacious new home along Mercedes Street, San Jose to better serve the public.

With its relocation came also its shift in technical facilities, from using the outmoded tape decks, reels, cassette tapes to state-of-the-art broadcast softwares and remote amenities.

To bolster its new image as the primary broadcast network in the region, RMN-DxPR revised its programming and designed new daily modules that present an evenhanded and objective presentation of news and significant issues of the day like “Tinuod nga Balita,” “Straight to the point” and “Kuskos Batikos.”

Another popular program airing in the afternoon is “Bantay Opisina,” one that tackles issues concerning tardiness in office by government employees, including issues in graft and corruption.

These programs receive huge support from its listeners because of its hotline for citizens to air their opinions, complaints and or report anomalies through SMS and MMS.

During weekends, RMN-DXPR initiates a singing program called “Bulilit Show” and “Kaplag sa Kabantog” for kids where their talents in singing get discovered.

In bringing its service closer to the pubic, RMN-DXPR likewise assist the needy in the far-flung villages through its “Serbisyo sa Barangays” by offering free of charge medical and dental missions that also performs circumcision, haircut and legal service.

PR

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New movement pushes for CP, internet users interest

2009-07-26T01:40:00.000-07:00

A new movement seen as a unified potent force for the protection of interests of cellphone and internet users nationwide is emerging.

Called as the 1Network Movement Inc. (1NMI), the group intends to “formulate measures that would protect the rights and interests of the electronic communications users.”

But not only that, the movement will also use its vast power and potential to help in good governance, law enforcement, calamity and disaster preparedness and response.

Eduardo de Vera Cadawan, an entrepreneur based in Luzon and an avid cellphone and internet user, who heads 1NMI, said their group has now established more than 100 local chapters nationwide with thousands of members.

Cadawan added that 1NMI is at present in the process of expanding their membership in key cities and municipalities nationwide, doing this through information and membership drive, education and consultation.

With the booming telecommunications industry in the country, it has been observed that cellphone and internet users, who are also among the big costumers of text and call conveniences, have also grown into tens of millions.

An estimated 25 million cellphone and internet users in the country are serviced by Smart, Globe and the Sun-Cellular, who mostly utilize the short-messaging system (SMS) aside from making call services.

It is also said that the use of these communication amenities is no longer deemed as luxury but a way of life, thus, necessitating an organization that will not only protect users from abuse and exploitation but will likewise become an instrument in promoting the welfare of the society.

1NMI believes that their movement, which is properly organized, empowered and protected, will become a catalyst for change in government and in the society.

The movement also aims utilize its vast membership and technical facilities available in enhancing its members to be pro-active in civic works for local and national development.

With its vast network and growing membership, 1NMI prepares to become a legitimate and strong party-list group to eventually lodge representations in the Congress.

REPORT BY PING DELIVERIO

EDITORIAL: A coward gets no ball

2009-07-13T02:22:00.002-07:00

There’s a hanging question in the air.Will Gov. Cerilles succeed in her campaign against drug?

The question is in itself hypothetical. A lot of people especially those who belong to her group say, yes. Others, say in the opposite, while the skeptics do not care about it. We do not want to preempt the issue, whether she succeeds or not. What is necessary and important is that the campaign is there and being felt by all, than to have nothing at all.

The scores that it has yielded so far in the campaign indicates that the campaign is so serious, to the point that the targets of the massive campaign have realized that the government under Gov. Cerilles does really mean business. We congratulate the police, the PDEA and all others that comprised the taskforce for such an achievement. Now, we know the police, when given a chance can do it. And that they have proven once more. If Gov. Cerilles did not start it, who would? And for heaven’s sake who could do it. There have been a lot of attempts in the past fighting against this dreaded menace, but all ended up somewhere. And the addiction problem is still very much alive until now.

What is sad and painful is the fact that while the government is fighting hard to eradicate drug addiction in this province, information have reached us that even families of top politicians are rightly engage in this hot business. This is perhaps why the public, especially the people in this city, who are in the illegal drug business cannot understand whom to follow, they do not know where to go. Is there truth really to such a statement: “follow what I say, don’t follow what I do?” And why people make illegal drug their mode of living? Is it because the government do not have the political will to initiate employment of its own. What strong points has our institution today is only politics. Business empires are sprouting here and there, but who’s who are behind it? Are they not politicians, just the same? The marginal ones who need the daily survival are left out in the cold. We only feel them important, when we knock them for votes.

Truth to tell, it takes only a lady governor for that matter, to launch such a daring campaign against illegal drugs in this part of the region. Not one provincial administrators in the past have done it so far. It is not that they don’t have their balls to do it. They too, lacks the stamina. The needed political will. Mga duwag, walay itlog! Past governors have been sleeping on the job. Though Gov. Cerilles campaign came quite a little late, as she is winding up her term, it is good enough our public officials have awakened from their deep slumber. Drug problem in this part of the region have been already here for years and collateral damage have already been inflicted among our youth and the institution. But hopefully however, there is still ample time for everybody to rise after the smoke has gone. But will Gov. Cerilles promise to free Zamboanga del Sur from illegal drugs by year 2010 stay? And when Gov. Cerilles vows out in June 30, 2009, does her successor has the propensity to continue the fight?

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Poll automation,a total collapse?

2009-07-13T02:22:00.001-07:00

It’s a happy holiday again for greedy and selfish politicians hereabouts.

This is so, because the election next year will go back to square one. The planned automation of Comelec has bogged down, even as the Netherland based company that won in the Comelec bidding has withdrawn its bid for supplying the needed machines for automation. And for that matter the counting of votes at precincts level on next year’s election will still be the same, a manual, antiquated and corruptible procedure. Unseen hands have been suspected as having behind the Smartmatic and Filipino owned Total Information Mgt Corp (TM) withdrawal from supplying the needed machines for automation. It is simple as that. Big, corrupt and dirty politicians could be the reason why the Comelec plans has bogged down.

Accordingly, Malacanang has warned Smartmatic and TM that the government may file charges if both of them renege in delivering the automation project as contracted. Sources said, the government will not hesitate to take legal remedies against them if they would short change the P7.3 billion automation project. As of now Comelec’s automation plan is hanging in mid-air with TM, a local partner of Smartmatic withdrawing from the deal over the issue of “money” differences. Could it be on the sharing of the money sales? Or could it be simply because politics is behind?

The Comelec, early this week has called both Smartmatic and TM and there, they were given ample time to comply with their commitments. It can be remembered that just after unacceptable, especially at this very opportune time. Endangering the country to trouble and anxiety on account of inefficient and prone fraud election results. perfecting the contract for them, being the winning bidders of the automation project, their disagreement erupted, thus resulted to the backing out of TM, Smartmatic’s local business partner based in the Philippines. Sources said however, a powerful group is behind making a sabotage on the project so that the counting of votes in the May elections next year, will shift back to the usual manual and antiquated process.

With manual process it is prone to cheating. Dagdag-bawas, vote shaving and many others which are the favorite handicraft of politicians is likely to happen. Taking weeks and even months to determine election results, when you can have it in a day or even an hour is indeed unacceptable. Endangering the country from chaos, disharmony and anxiety on account of inefficient and prone fraud election results.

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On hanging tarpaulins and politics: Ano ba talaga ’to?

2009-07-13T02:20:00.001-07:00

Wala na ba talagang matitino dito sa atin lahat? Can’t anything in this country work without going to court to intervene? The situation does not even exempt Sen. Legarda, who blew her top knowing that next year’s election automation is going to be derailed.

Why can’t we really talk straight and stop speculating. And what’s wrong with Filipinos. A lot of things to be done and fix before everything gets late. This is Pinoy very ugly trademark. A trademark that is so hard to comprehend. This is one malady that pushing our own economy down. Earlier, Philippines was #2 to Japan in terms of economic viability. Today, we are 2nd to the last line of poorest countries. Does politics, as its culprit has something to do with it?

The thing is that, we cannot even look good at others. We are kind of a race that is so envious and cranky. We find Bangsa Moro tarpaulins hanging somewhere we condemned its residents and proponents, as rebels, when the purpose is only to propagate peace within the neighborhood and his community. It is for this reasons why Mayor Afdal has to cry foul. We are afraid of hanging tarpaulins, but not on the armed MNLF armed men just lurking within the vicinity of our homes. In an interview, Afdal said, if indeed he has committed crimes, why not handcuff him, soak in jail and file appropriate charges and prosecute him to the fullest, rather than picturing him like an evil spirit. He was once reported a member of the 14k gang of notorious illegal drug syndicate, but until now, why is he still allowed to roam the streets scot free. Mayor Afdal, before the media panel last week admitted having been appointed lately Chief, Civil and Military Affairs of the MNLF, no less by Chairman Nur Misuari. For him it is not a crime if he seeks membership with the MNLF, he said. Lately the municipality Aurora town is a recipient of a multi-million InFres project consisting a package of road networks and potable water systems right at the doorsteps of the barangay residents, but the project has to be derailed, simply because the mayor of the town happens to be from the opposite camp. Mayor Cabahug sought the intervention of the court and won, but just the same the project got stalled. Ano ba naman yan, Kuya?

The Comelec’s plan of automation for next year’s polls is a welcome development for Filipinos because by that process it can ward off the possibility of cheating, in the form of dagdag bawas, vote shaving and even tampering of election results, which is always a politician’s last ditch resort, more so if he finds, in the counting process that his votes are tailing or lagging behind. But as soon as the finalization of the contract between the Comelec and the winning bidders are perfected, out in the blue, an announcement came informing that the winning bidders cannot push through supplying the needed machines for automation because of “money” disagreements between bidders. If the info we filtered is true, the disagreements of the winning bidders regarding money indifference is only a ploy. The truth of the matter, is somebody out there is working to derail the automation project so that the Comelec could get back to manual process, for very self serving reasons. And that is it. Just when can we Filipinos get matured?

Considering the element of time between today and May 10, 2010, which is the election day, the last option for the Comelec is to get back from where it is, that is to return to the manual and antiquated processes, where cheating in the election, ranging from vote buying, down to dagdag bawas, vote shaving, tampering and all other modes of satanic modes become the game of the day. Pwe!

My email: delpilarvic@gmail.com

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Call for thorough and steadfast resolution of the Rollin murder

2009-07-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

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.

READ FULL STORY

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.

READ MORE

23 Pagadian villages open Botika ng Barangay

2009-06-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

ALMOST half of the 54 villages in this city have already availed of the Botika ng Barangay (BNB), which sell affordable and most common drugs sold over the counter.

Mayor Samuel Co reveals some P575-thousand worth of medicines were recently distributed to 23 barangays including the newly turned-over low-priced generic drugs to Gatas and San Jose districts last May 26.

BNB refers to a drug outlet managed by a legitimate community organization, in this case, by the barangay and or the local government unit, with a trained operator and a supervising pharmacist.

Under BNB, each village will be allocated P25,000 worth of medicines. “This is part of my health program to provide the people in the barangays who will receive quality and cheap over the counter medicines,” Co.

Both Punong Barangays Alfredo Angcog of Gatas and Henry Arao of San Jose, along with their kagawads received the medicines and thanked the mayor saying BNB will be a big help to citizens who want to buy low-cost medicines.

ABC chairman and councilor Ric Alajeño, City Health Officer Dr. Noel Ceniza and City Local Government Operations Officer James Yañez were also present during the turn-over activity of the medicines.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

BFP wants city to create system for crisis response control

2009-06-05T02:29:00.000-07:00

THIS city needs to have an Emergency Response System (ERS) for prompt delivery of emergency help, like medical, fire or police, this suggestion coming from Fire Marshal Christopher Morales.

In general view, Morales, said the city should establish a command structure that will promptly respond during fire emergencies or disaster and oversee the implementation of peace and order by installing an electronic device designed to summon help in such cases.

This was how Morales evaluated the urgent situations they encountered in the past months involving fire tragedies and that’s when ERS came into his mind.

Morales said that other metropolitan cities like Davao and Puerto Princess have implemented ERS in their localities, composed of several agencies working together and support the local emergency committees like the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC).

Chaired by local chief executives, the CDCC is responsible for ensuring the protection and welfare of city residents during disasters or emergencies.
An ERS is composed of a small radio transmitter or a console connected to a user's telephone; and an emergency response center that monitors calls, in this case, fire calls.

When fire emergency help is needed, for example, the ERS user transmits a signal to the console, which will then automatically dial 160, BFP’s pre-selected emergency telephone number.

The fire marshal noted two other frustrations they encounter during fire alarms—the unconstrained crowd of kibitzers and lousy traffic control in areas where a fire incident is happening--which Morales said, and in effect hinders firefighters’ movements.

Morales added that with ERS in place, emergencies and fire crisis can be abated and or suppressed in lesser time.

City councilors, noting the fire marshal’s good judgment and insight, forwarded the suggestion to the committee on public safety, headed by Eric Bersales, for the formulation of a City Ordinance.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

UNIFIED STATEMENT ON RIGHT OF REPLY BILL

2009-06-04T00:45:00.001-07:00

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!

UNIFIED STATEMENT ON RIGHT OF REPLY BILL

2009-06-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

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!

Tanzanian escapes carnage from Zambosur boxer’s fists

2009-05-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

OZAMIZ CITY—Zamboanga del Sur’s pride and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Jundy "Pretty Boy" Gonzaga Maraon knocked out Tanzanian challenger Anthony Mathias in the 6th round during the “War in Ozamiz” bout held here Saturday evening.

Maraon, who stood at 5’6” and weighing 118 pounds, was accompanied by trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. in the ringside as he defended his WBO Asia Pacific bantam title against Mathias of Africa.

The event was covered by ABS-CBN's Studio 23 at the Medina Gymnasium.

The southpaw put Mathias in canvass during the first, second and third rounds before referee Tony Pesons finally stopped the fight two minutes after bell starting the 6th soon after Mathias slump again for the fourth time and bleeding in his face.

The 24-year-old champ’s win against the Tanzanian foe is his fourteenth with only one draw. Presently, Maraon, who fights for Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato, is ranked No. 8 in the WBO.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol, who owns Braveheart Boxing Club, watched all the bouts with Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and other city officials.

Another fighter, Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo flattened his Tanzanian opponent, a 17-year-old Sadiki Abdulazizi, few minutes after the bell in the first round to win the WBO Oriental Miniflyweight title.

Asenjo’s left badly hurt Sadiki that he wobbled and finally took the plunge after the Cebuano pugilist sent another thunderous left then scored two more knockdowns before ending the fight.

In the undercard, WBO Interim Oriental bantamweight champion Rolando Magbanua defeated his bigger rival Donryll Marcos scoring a technical knockout in the 5th round.

Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva of Midsayap, North Cotabato, another Braveheart fighter, lose to Eric Macas of Lanao del Norte in the 5th round after the referee declared a technical decision victory in favor of Macas.

Pinol later said that Braveheart will file a petition before Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to ask for the reversal of the decision based on the videotape of the fight.

Vice Gov. Piñol said he finds two valid grounds for the GAB to conduct an investigation into the actions of the ring officials and the GAB supervisor during the fight.

The May 23 boxing event is presented by Braveheart Boxing Promotions, ABS-CBN Sports, SGG Sports Promotions, with the support of Parojinog.

NEWS BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Canadian hiker conquers Land of Promise

2009-05-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY
NEWS BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Every day, Jean Beliveau, a peace advocate based in Canada, walks around 40 to 50 kilometers, six to eight hours. He meets people in the streets who cheer, give him money and food, ask for autographs and take photos with him.

From his starting point and first step in Montreal last Aug. 18, 2000, Beliveau is not about to quit conquering the world walking. He arrived and started criss-crossing the country on February 7.

This month, after having walked several continents, 50 countries and destinations in nine years, Beliveau conquers Mindanao, which he wanted to dedicate to world for peace and non-violence for children.

Jun Enriquez, managing director of the Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace (CSO-FP), accompanied Beliveau in his 17-kilo meter walk from Linamon to Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte all the while sharing his insights and experiences about peace and conflict.

Beliveau also granted interviews with Filipino journalists.

The Canadian peace advocate arrived in Iligan City, Monday, the other week, and started walking on his way to cover Mindanao with his footprints.

Believeau’s goal is to reach Zamboanga City on the May 17, thus, taking the route from Cagayan de Oro City where he started on May 2, exactly 15 days to walk.

Enriquez, in a conversation with this paper, said Beliveau plans to talk with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) for a peace dialogue when he starts his walk in Basilan from Zamboanga City to meet them.

Enriquez, however, discouraged the Canadian from engaging the ASG for a dialogue since the ASG are labeled as “terrorists.”

“I told him the group is not the kind he’d talk about peace,” Enriquez remarked.
The other week, Beliveau passed by the Zamboanga Peninsula Region and hiked his way to Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, arriving there last May 12.

Drizzles did not prevent him from pursuing his cause. Pushing his lightweight cart, which he now calls “kariton,” he passed by the Poblacion with an umbrella in one hand while a policeman followed closely.

Commuters at the bus terminal where he walked by took notice of him but they never knew that he intends to reach Zamboanga City in the manner he knows best: on foot.

“He walks too fast,” a policeman who escorted him from Kabasalan to Naga said.

Luckily, his regular exercises enabled him to keep pace with the Canadian, he added.
When another policeman-escort suggested that they take a rest and have some snacks, Beliveau replied, “No thanks, I only drink water.”

Along the way, he distributed small leaflets explaining why he walked for peace. His leaflets partly read, “I pledged my life to transform the culture of war and violence and transform it into a culture of peace and non-violence.”

“Filipinos are hospitable,” Beliveau has said. A small band of mountaineers have been in constant support with him since he journeyed from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. But when there are no friends, he slept in churches and police stations, he said.

Police officials are making sure of his safety and security that he is constantly monitored and escorted by the police from town to town.

WITH REPORTS FROM RIC CLET, MARIZ REVALEZ & ping deleverio

Zambosur anti - drug drive nets P600-T

2009-05-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

Some P600-thousand worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride were confiscated in several buy bust and raid operations in a span of four months since January by the joint anti-drug forces in Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City, a latest report by the PNP said.

The amount of drugs seized consist of 98.8 grams of shabu and 134 drug paraphernalia, among others, PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena said in a press briefing at the Capitol, Monday, last week.

Ochotorena added that the Provincial Anti Illegal Drug Task Force (PADITF) conducted a total of 67 operations against illegal drugs for the said period and arrested 49 drug traffickers and filed 30 cases against the suspects.

For the part of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), about 50 cases were filed against drug suspects for the same period, with March and April having the most cases filed with 14 and 13, respectively, disclosed IO1 Brenda Joy Congreso, a member of PDEA’s operating unit.

Congreso explained that most of the suspects were charged with either violating Sections 5, 11 and 12 of RA 9165. Trials for the 17 cases are ongoing while 33 were classified as having been filed.

Gov. Aurora Cerilles, who led the press briefing inside her office with journalists, was elated with the report and commented that the aggressive campaign and operations against all forms of illegal drugs in the province should be supported by the constituents and the communicators.

Just last Saturday, for example, PADITF confiscated some 50 grams of shabu and undetermined volume of Marijuana leaves in a simultaneous buy bust operation conducted in Banale and Tiguma districts.

The raiding team stormed the house of Muslimen Malaco and a certain Gigi in Purok 7-Tonner, Alta Tiera Subdivision, Tiguma, then went to raid the residence of the murdered businessman Muminin Malaco in Banale.

Police sources said Muslimen and Muminin Malaco are twins. The latter was killed by two motorcycle assassins, Friday, while driving his Hi-lux along Ariosa-Pulmones streets.

Three big sachets containing white crystalline substance weighing 15 grams were confiscated inside the house of Muslimen. The drug, according to the police has an estimated street value of P105,000 and another small sachet worth P2000.

The said items were recovered in the possession of Jimmy Sabanal Malaco and Ibrahim Antis Wahab, residents of Bulawan, San Miguel, this province.

Gigi’s house, which is adjacent to Muslimen, yielded three big sachets of shabu weighing a total of 15 grams with an estimated market value of P105,000; two small sachets of the same substance worth P105,000; and two more sachets worth P7000.

Also found were a weighing scale with three batteries, scissor, and a small pink pouch.

The mentioned items were taken from Jamion Danial, a resident of Lapuyan, and Amad Latip Ismula of Boalan, Kumalarang.

During the raid at Muminin’s house, authorities confiscated two -big sachets of shabu weighing 10 grams with an estimated market value of P70,000; a small one gram sachet of shabu worth P6000; and still another small sachet worth P2000.

Several pack of Marijuana leaves and seeds, a pack of Marijuana stick wrapper, and plastic sachets containing undetermined grams of golden yellow shabu and a disposable lighter were likewise recovered from a certain Pindaton Sarif Abdul, a resident of Sultan Gumander, Lanao del Sur.

Ochotorena said that the total value of the contrabands seized from the three houses valued an overall estimated cost of P293,000, inventoried in the presence of PADITF action officer and board member Ernesto Mondarte.

The joint raiding team was composed of PDEA, the PNP Provincial Command led by SPO1 Melburne Mangubat, C/Insp Gabriel Etbew of PAIDTF and the 53rd IB led by Lt. Rafael Balacamaya.

“The effort of joint raiding forces and PAIDTF is a great loss of those people behind the illegal drug trade in our province,” Cerilles commented as she praised the success of the operation which crippled the illegal drug trade in the city.

“This is just the beginning of our fight in our all-out war against illegal drugs and all forms of criminalities. I congratulate the people involved in the success of the operations and also to the people who gave us vital information as the basis of our action,” the governor added.

JONG CADION

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Rico Pamaran still not around

2009-05-02T00:46:00.000-07:00

Rico Nadala Pamaran, scion of a famous political family based in this city, can not be found until present, after about two months of being pronounced missing by his family.

The 35-year old is the youngest son of the late businesswoman Neonita Pamaran, fathered by former Congressman Isidoro Real Jr.

January 9, his family reported to the police that they could not contact or locate Rico a day after he borrowed his sister’s Suzuki Vitara and left a message that he will go to Tukuran.

The following day, the Suzuki Vitara was found abandoned on a roadside in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte with its doors open and the ignition key still inside. No Rico in sight.

Is he dead? Was he indeed kidnapped? Or hiding perhaps? Is he really gone for good?

Mayor Samuel Co, during last week’s meeting with the press, has declared that based on the outcome of the investigators probe on Rico’s disappearance, his family has already given up the search and is said to be “losing hope” of finding him again.

Co added that Rico’s relatives have “finally accepted” whatever has befallen to Rico, after exhausting all their time, money and effort to locate the spoiled child.

Still nowhere to be found after being reported missing and believed kidnapped, Co then disclosed there were recent attempts made by unidentified persons who wanted to get money from Rico’s family, after telling them that the missing gentleman is alive and that they need the money to sustain his “board and lodging.”

But Co said the persons claiming to have Rico in their hands wouldn’t let Rico talk to his family directly, further fueling doubts that indeed such contact was a con, a modus to dupe Rico’s family.

The mayor added that all is not lost, anyway, as Rico’s family has dismissed any dealings with regards to finding their boy and has “left Rico’s condition to the Lord.”

“Only God knows where he is now,” this was how Co repeated what Rico’s wife, Vivian said to him when they talked a few weeks ago.

An unconfirmed report forwarded to this paper the other week said that Rico was sighted in the nearby Ozamiz City.

JONG CADION

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City comes to the rescue of San Francisco fire victims

2009-05-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

The City Council has approved during its emergency session last Sunday the resolution of the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) requesting for the declaration of San Francisco District as in State of Calamity.

The said request also called for the appropriation of P4.2 million as initial assistance to the fire victims of the noontime blaze that razed several government properties and residences along Alano and Hofileña streets, this city.

City councilors explained that the P4 million will be used to finance the construction and repair of the City Gymnasium and other affected government facilities while the remaining P200,000 will be given to the fire victims.

San Francisco Punong Barangay Vince Bulawin, in his report to the CDCC, stated that five residences, one of them a boarding house, were burned to the ground while another two houses were partially damaged.

Estimated damages on these residences, according to Bulawin, is estimated at P10 million while the CDCC said the damages of the government properties come as much as P15 million.

Also, OIC Fire Marshal Christopher Morales, in his report forwarded to Mayor Samuel Co, said that the fire started from the second floor of the old Division Office of DepEd-Zambosur and escalated to the whole wooden structure.

Strong winds fanned the blazing inferno into the neighboring edifices of the PNP Regional Intelligence Office, the ZSPCTA building occupied by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the Good Shepherd School Building and the boarding houses located inside Estan and Loreto compounds.

The left wing of the City Gymnasium was also damaged as some of the bleachers were burned into ashes.

The fire reached the second level alarm where fire trucks from Molave, Aurora and Dinas backed up the responding three BFP fire trucks and that of the water tankers from the city government, Mindanao Rural Transit and PCWD.

As of Monday, the BFP still has to determine the extent and damage of the properties as Morales said that he still has to call on witnesses and house owners to issue their respective affidavits regarding their burned properties.

The BFP report also said that there were no casualties in the fire except for three of his firemen who sustained minor injuries.

JONG CADION

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Robbers pick on village clerk

2009-05-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Robbers-in-waiting near the Caltex Gasoline Station held up a village clerk who was there at the wrong time and place.

City Police Chief Michael Palermo corrected journalists’ perceptions in a press conference held at Café Ilang-Ilang that only the clerk was victimized during the noontime heist and not the gas station, as earlier thought in text messages circulating among media men that morning.

The said gas station, located in the corner of Rizal Avenue and Alano Street, is owned by the Yu family who also owns Hotel Guillermo.

Palermo identified the victim as Michelle Tura Obedencia, a resident of Gatas District.

The police major said that Michelle reported to them that she went to Caltex Gasoline Station to change her bills when suddenly an unidentified person came close to her, pointed a gun and declared a stick up.

Fortunately for Michelle, the gas station’s security guard was around and noticed the whole incident, took action by firing his service firearm towards the suspect, who fired back.

A commotion ensued in which the suspect escaped through a waiting getaway Honda XRM.
Michelle reported that the suspect was able to take her P4,000.

Witnesses told police the XRM used by the robbers carried the plate KO 3450 as Palermo said this information provided is already vital in going after the said suspects and in solving the case.

In more news, an unidentified man was shot dead by two gunmen in Barangay Banale, April 26.

Police, recounting the story of witnesses, said the victim was in the company of the two killers, arguing on something while walking on the road and upon reaching the frontage of Villa Hermosa Village, the two buddies suddenly shot the victim at the same time.

Slugs of .45 caliber pistols were recovered at the crime scene while the mysterious dead man, with no identification documents found in him, was just described as 5’4" in height, medium built, bald, wearing blue-shirt and black maong pants and boots.

The police are still investigating the shooting.

JONG CADION

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2nd SYF turnout impresssive

2009-05-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

Provincial Tourism Officer Anthony Frederick “Taton” Padayhag reveals his high spirits after he saw a good turnout of participants in the 2nd ZamboSur Summer Youth Fest (SYF), held this summer for teenagers.

Padayhag, in a conversation with this paper, credited the massive promotion of their office in several media outfits, publications and advertisements for the success of the annual youth activity.

Also, he cited the “word of mouth” and the use of the Internet in getting the message and campaign across to prospective participants, which he said, has reached as far as Jolo, Sulu.

Padayhag was referring to the presence of students from Notre Dame College in Jolo, Sulu and even from the nearby Ozamiz City who attended the two-day crash course in ballet dancing.

Artistic Director Felimon Blanco said that they had to split the schedule of the ballet dancing class to accommodate likewise the bulk of walk-in applicants.

The first group of 27 mixed participants was composed mostly of students while the second batch, with 36 participants, was organized exclusively for the members of the Melengas Dance Ensemble of the Zambosur National High School (ZSNHS).

Padayhag noted that unlike last year where only students from ZSNHS and Aurora National High School took part, those from other schools around the province have enlisted in the workshop this year.

The Zambosur SYF was conceptualized by Padayhag’s office in accordance with the thrust of Gov. Aurora Cerilles for youth development in arts and sports.

“We want this program to sustain and become institutionalized. Hopefully, in the coming years, we can extend the workshops for at least two weeks,” Padayhag said.

Both Padayhag and Blanco said they are supported fully by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCAA) in providing the pool of speakers, cultural artists, tutors and the needed funding.

The different Zambosur SYF activities included, among others, arts and drama workshops and sports competitions like archery, football, lawn tennis and Sepak Takraw.

The 2nd Zambosur SYF was likewise coincided with the celebration of the 1st League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Zambosur Week, initiated by Dumalinao mayor Ace William Cerilles.

Remai Alejado, Zambosur PPB

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Pagadian Jaycees visit Kaabag Center

2009-05-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

Exceptional children housed the Kaabag Center in Sto. Niño and those from Home of the Youth in Dao were treated with food fares from Mc Donald after members of the Greater Pagadian Jaycees visited and spent time with them.

The children, who are under the custody of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), were those orphans, children in need of special protection and those in conflict with the law.

PSWD officer Conchita San Diego led the affair with the children and Ronald Mc Donald, chief happiness officer of McDo, participated likewise by JCI President and lawyer Domingo Redelosa IV and Dumalinao mayor Ace William Cerilles.

Dubbed “JC Cares, Ronald Cares,” about 27 children first entertained JCI members with their program after which they feasted with Mc Donald fried chicken, French fries and burgers.

Redelosa, in his speech, inspired the children with the oft-repeated adage that someday the future will be theirs to take. “Basin sa umaabot mahimo pod mong mga lideres sa orgnisasyon sama sa Jaycees o kaha mga opisyales sa inyong lugar,” he said.

Ace, in a huddle with press members later, said that he has made it a tradition to visit the Kaabag Center and share his blessing to the children along with his family.

Ace then recalls that two years ago, he gave a television set and an electric fan to Kaabag Center aside from offering gifts and food to the children every Christmas time.

For their part, San Diego and Kaabag Center head Marife Pollescas thanked the JCI members “for the big heart in sharing [their] blessings to the special children sheltered inside Kaabag Center.”

“Bisan asa padulong kining mga bataa, dili gayod nila malimtan kining talagsaong gasa nga inyong gidalit kanila,” they said.

Remai Alejado, Zambosur PPB

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The sweeping need to help the labor sector

2009-05-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

Lawmakers in both chambers of our land should start advocating for empowerment of the labor sector; at least provide workers proper awareness on their benefits and rights. Of course, there are already few policies in place like the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Labor Code but these benefits can not be fully enjoyed if the workers themselves are not aware of its existence, as pointed out by Sen. Bong Revilla.

Thus, such important laws and regulations must be discussed among workers, undertaken or aided by government agencies and NGOs and more information programs for workers and employees be dealt with, such as the benefits as provided by GSIS and SSS law, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, Solo parents’ Act and Presidential Decree no. 626, CBAs and Company Policies and Employment Contracts. Seminars of this nature can be tackled also by industry chambers, labor federations, and entities which should be prodded to lend their know-how to the workers.

Another, incentives for workers and employers to help them ride out the current economic crisis should also be heeded in order to tide out the effects of job displacement, as what DOLE has showed that already 40,000 Pinoy workers have lost their jobs since October last year, while a total of 120,000 have been affected by layoffs, rotation, reduced working hours and pay cuts.

The government should put its heads together and make a viable subsidy program for all displaced workers; and extend Philhealth coverage for displaced domestic and overseas workers, as proposed by Sen. Chiz Escudero.

A program encouraging entrepreneurship among workers and the grant of incentives aimed at strengthening local industries should be in place also.

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Leo Ocampos para senador?

2009-05-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

POSIBLENG adunay usa ka politiko sa lalawigan sa Misamis Occidental ang maqgpapili sa pagka-senador sa umaabot nga 2010 elections.

Mahimong matinuod kini kon seryosohon ni Gob. Leo Ocampos ang pahayag ni Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. nga apil sa iyang linya ang ngalan ni Ocampos sa pagka-senador.

Gipadayag ni Teodoro nga ang kuwalipikasyon ni Ocampos igo na nga mahimong senador sa nasud sa umaabot nga 2010 elections ilabina nga nahimo usab kini nga national president sa League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP) nga mipakita sa iyang maayong pagdumala.

Gidugang ni Teodoro nga kung hingpit na nga maplansa ang iyang pagdagan sa pagka-presidente sa nasud usa si Ocampos nga iyang ikonsidera sa pagka-senador.
Hinuon wala pa usab mopagawas og opisyal nga pahayag si Ocampos sa iyang daganan sa umaabot nga piniliay.

Kahinumduman nga basi sa kasaysayan nga usa pa lamang ang nahimong senador nga naggikan sa Misamis Occidental mao si Senator Jose Ozamiz kinsa nahimong unang governor, ug congressional representative sa lalawigan.

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Tulis, dili kidnap ang motibo

2009-05-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

OZAMIZ CITY--Dako ang pagtuo ni Bishop Tommy Smith, senior pastor sa The Sanctuary nga tulis lamang ang tuyo sa tulo ka mga suspek nga misulod sa ilang panimalay niadtong Abril 21 sa gabii.

Gipadayag ni Smith nga padulong na pasulod sa gate ang iyang gisakyang behikulo gikan sa simbahan sa dihang miuban pagsulod ang tulo ka mga suspek dungan sa nga paagtion sa dala niining kalibre punting kanila.

Walay laing nahimo ang pastor kon dili ang pag-uyon na lamang sa bisan unsang mga pulong nga imando sa mga suspek uban ang pagsalig nga walay mahitabo sa iyang pamilya.

Sa dihang hingpit na nga nakasulod ang mga suspek sa panimalay tagsa-tagsa gilayon silang gipanggapos ug gibaatan ang baba gamit ang packaging tape.

Nakuha sa mga suspek gikan sa mga biktima ang usa ka cellular phone, kuwarta ug laptop computer nga gipanag-iyahan sa igsoon sa iyang asawa.

Maoy pagtoo ni Smith nga ang katuyoan sa mga suspek nga giapil siya sa pagdala gamit ang iyang sakyanan sa dihang namatikdan niini nga adunay mga tawo sa gawas human nadungog ang door bell.

Naklaro pa ni Smith nga aduna nay mga tawo nga nagpalibot gawas sa gate sa dihang paggawas na ang sakyanan sa panimalay apan wala siya makasiguro kon naklaro ba usab siya sa mga tawo.

Bisan dili niya masabtan ang gipang-estoryahan sa mga suspetsado sulod sa sakyanan apan sigurado siya nga naglalis kini kon asa padulong ang ilang destinasyon.

Taliwala sa kagabhion pamilyar gihapon niya ang lugar nga ilang giadtoan, ang Tangub maoy unang dapit nga ilang napadulngan apan mibalik kini sa Ozamiz, paliko sa airport ug midesisyon na usab nga kini padulong sa Oroquieta.

Paghidangat sa usa sa mga barangay sa Tudela gibiyaan siya sa mga suspek.

Sa iyang kabahin, gipadayag ni Police Chief Inspector Wilbur Salaguste, ang hepe sa Ozamiz nga aduna na silay natumbok nga suspek apan dili pa ikabutyag tungod kay aduna silay himuon nga operasyon sa pagsikop sa maong mga malapason sa balaod.

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Leo dismayado kay drug case gi-dismiss

2009-05-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

OROQUIETA CITY--Nadismaya si Misamis Occidental governor Loreto Leo OCampos sa pagka-dismiss sa kaso nga Violation of Republic Act 9165 nga gipasaka sa provincial government batok sa 16 ka suspetsadong drug pushers ug users nga nadakpan sa Governor’s Special Anti-drug Unit sa gipahigayon nga pagpangronda sa duha ka balay sa San Roque, Ozamiz City niadtong Marso 10, 2009.

Kahinumduman nga atol sa nasangpit nga operasyon, nadakpan sa mga awtoridad ang 22 ka mga tawo nasakmit ang 55 ka gagmay nga mga sachet ug usa ka dakong sachet sa shabu, 18 ka video karera ug 17 ka tulilot o fruit game ug mga kahimanan sa pag-repack og pagsuyop og shabu sa balay ni Peter Parilla ug sa tapad nga balay nga giabangan sa usa ka Florentino Vina.

Sa 22 nga nasikop, 16 niini ang gipasakaan og violation of Anti-Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 o Republic Act 9165 sa Branch 35 sa Regional Trial Court sa Ozamiz human nga mapamatud-an nga positibo nga naggamit og shabu sibo sa migawas nga resulta sa Crime Laboratory sa Provincial Police Headquarters sa Oroquieta City.

Sa desisyon nga gipetsahan og Abril 17, 2009 gi-dimiss ni Judge Salome Dungog ang kaso batok sa mga suspek, apil si Vina nga drug pushing ang kaso tungod sa technicalities o bikil sa proseso sa pagpasaka og kaso. Gipadayag ni Dungog nga wala magdungan og submit ang mga pictures sa mga butang nga nakuha sa balay ni Parilla ug Vina sa pagpasaka sa kaso batok sa 16 ka mga suspek.

Gidugang ni Dungog nga imposible nga ang 22 nga nadakpan sa pagronda sa balay ni Parilla ug Vina na memorize sa raiding team nga mao gihapong mga tawhana nga diha sa duha ka balay sa ilang pagtesting og palit og shabu sa balay ni Vina sa imaging adlaw.

Sa iyang kabahin gipadayag ni Ocampos nga labihan ang paningkamot sa anti-drug unit ug sa iyang administrasyon sa paggukod sa mga drug pushers ug drug lords aron masumpo ang drug addiction ug magmalinawon ang Misamis Occidental unya mawala lamang tungod sa technicality.

“Dili lalim ang pag-conduct og raid, gitahan ang kinabuhi sa mga awtoridad, dako ang gasto ug process nga gikinahanglan, unya basta-basta na lang nga i-dismiss tungod kay wala masunod ang pamaagi sa pag-file og kaso? Importante pa ba nga mahibaw-an sa mga awtoridad nga ang diha sa balay gahjpon, mao rang mga tawhana nga naa anang balaya karon? Ma-anaa sila gahapon o wala, basta kay diha sila sa pagronda karon, that’s the point”, saysay ni Ocampos.

Laing basihan sa pagdimiss ni Dungog sa kaso ang iyang giingon nga ibutang nato nga dihay mga illegal nga droga nga nakuha sa pagronda sa mga polis, pero nganong wala daw gi-presentar sa prosecution ang Laboratory Examination Report ‘to establish the fact that the white crystalline substance contains methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.”

“Nganong i-dismiss man dayon nga puwede man unta i-present ang mga ebedinsiya nga kamulo ang hearing? Ma demoralize ang atong mga tarong nga police ug mahulog saw ala ang atong mga paningkamot kon mag-ingon ani kanunay ang atong mga huwes. Naa unta silay sense of commitment ug tan-awon ang sincerity sa atong administasyon sa pagsumpo ani nga prolema”, dugang ni Ocampos.

Ikaduha na kini nga disyon ni Dungog nga gikadismaya sa gobernador, una ang kaso ni Juvy Duhaylungsod nga drug pusher sa Ozamiz City. Ang suspek nakuhaan og tulo ka dagkong sachet sa shabu, unom ka bankbook sa lainlaing bangko, fax machine ug video karera sa pagronda sa kapolisan sa panimalay niini sa Carmen Annex, Ozamiz niadtong Marso 16, 2007.

Gi-dismiss ni Dungog ang kaso ni Duhaylungsod kay walay pirma sa court stenographer ang transcript sa question and answer nga gihimo sa RTC branch 15 sa pag-apply og search warrant sa 10th Regional Mobile Group ug sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) alang sa suspek.

“Dakong inhustisya nga ang paghukom sa mga kaso labi na sa droga nga makadaot sa katilingban, i-basi sa technicality ug dili sa kabug-aton sa mga ebedinsiya. Tan-awon unta sa mga huwes ang kabug-aton sa ebedinsiya u gang tinuod nga problema sa katawhan—kagubot sa pamilya, kumunidad ug mga krimen nga droga ang nag-unang hinungdan,” saysay ni Ocampos.

Hinuon, gilihok na karon sa mga abogado sa provincial government ang motion for reconsideration sa kaso sa 16 ka suspek nga gi-dismiss ni Judge Salome Dungog.

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Panguil Bay Bridge dili na mahinayon

2009-04-25T19:53:00.001-07:00

OZAMIZ CITY--Misulti si Gob. Leo Ocampos nga dili na mahinayon ang iyang gidamgo nga Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) project gumikan sa nahitabong kaguliyang sa Lanao del Norte ug sa bag-ong nahitabo nga pagpamomba sa Agus Bridge didto sa Iligan.

Gisayay ni Ocampos nga nagproblema sila karon sa pagdani og balik sa mga investors gumikan sa mga dili maayong hitabo. Hinuon nagpadayon ang pipila ka mga gimbuhaton kabahin sa tulay sama sa geological survey.

Gidahuman usab nga nga dili mahinayon ang Build Operate Transfer (BOT) scheme sa pagatukoron nga PBB nga magdugkong sa Tangub City ug Tubod Lanao del Norte.

Una na nga gipadayag ni Ocampos nga gumikan sa nahitabong pagsulong sa mga sakop sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa lalawigan sa Lanao del Norte miatras ang dakong investor sa nasangpit nga tulay.

Gidugang sa gobernador nga gumikan sa suliran sa kahusay ug kalinaw ang katarungan nga nawad-an sa interes ang mga foreign investors nga mo-finance sa nasangpit nga proyekto.

Hinuon wala magpakawala sa paglaom si Ocampos sa taod-taod na nga gidamgong tulay tungod kay gitinguha niini ang pagpangita og pundo pinaagi sa Official Development Assistance Fund.

Aduna say gitanyag si Rep. Abdullah “Bobby” Dimaporo nga Saudi Development Fund, hinuon, wala pa maplansa ang tanan.

Ingon si Ocampos nga iyang gihangyo si Presidente Gloria Arroyo ug gipasabot nga usa na kini ka “political decision” ug labing maayo nga masugdan ang nasangpit nga tulay ilalom sa iyang administrasyon tungod kay matawag kini nga usa ka legasiya sa iyang pangagamhanan.

Gisaysay sa gobernador nga bahala na og dili matapos sa panahon ni Arroyo, ang mahinungdanaon nga masugdan na kini.

NIKKO BATOLENIO

Ozamiz Archbishop ordains new priest

2009-04-25T19:52:00.001-07:00

Archbishop Jesus Dosado ordained a new priest for the local church, April 21, at the Church of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Tudela, this province.

The new priest, identified as Fr. Jovane Cañete, is a graduate of Saint Mary Theologate (SMT) Seminary, in Gango. He was ordained deacon last Oct. 7, 2008 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish.

Fr. Henry Revil, parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish, presented Cañete before Dosado for priestly ordination while Fr. Cevero Caermare, SMT rector, testified before the local ordinary on behalf of the faithful that Cañete is worthy to be ordained.

Cañete’s ordination coincides with the 33rd sacerdotal anniversary of Vicar General Msgr. Emie Bienes and Fr. Boy Toledo who were both ordained at San Isidro Labrador Parish 33 years ago.

In his homily, Dosado admonished Cañete “not to make his own agenda but to live in obedience, in poverty and in holiness and to offer himself to God and to the people.”

Cañete in response, coursed through an interview with this paper, said the rise in vocation in the archdiocese can be attributed to the influence of the Columban missionaries and the strong foundation of faith developed at the Basic Ecclesial Communities and from his Catholic teachers.

June 4, 1999, Cañete entered the Mother of Life Seminary, Iligan City for his minor seminary and took his Theology at SMT Seminary on June 11, 2003.

WENDELL TALIBONG

Aldong Parojinog,giplanohang tipion?

2009-04-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Mipadayag si Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog sa miaging semana nga usa ka taas nga opisyal sa probinsiya ang nagpaluyo sa planong pagpatay kaniya.

Mipagawas sa maong pamahayag si Parojinog human sa nahitabo kaniya sa Manila bag-uhay pa lang nga matod pa gisunod-sunod siya og duha ka mga tawo didto sa kauluhan.

Una niini, nakadawat na og kasayuran ang mayor nga adunay grupo nga nagtinguha nga mabutangan siya og buling sa iyang pagkatawo diin gigamit pa ang intelligence unit sa militar.

Nagtoo si Parojinog nga gumikan kay mikatag nga aduna siyay tinguha nga magpapili og taas nga posisyon karong 2010 hinungdan nga adunay nagtinguha karon sa iyang kinabuhi.

Gisaysay niya nga sa matag magkaduol na ang piniliay, adunay susama nga mga hulga nga maabot ngadto kaniya, dalang sulti nga adunay opisyal sa gobyerno nga magsige og daot kaniya bisan og tarong ang iyang mga gibuhat.

Gipasabot ni Parojinog nga wala siyay plano nga magpapili sa taas nga posisyon hinungdan nga dili na kinahanglan nga patyon pa siya kay nakasentro siya sa pagpanerbisyo lamang sa Ozamiz.

Gisulti sa mayor nga dili siya gusto og gubot tungod kay kalinaw ang iyang gidala ug iya usab nga gisaad sa birhen sa Cotta nga sa iyang pagsulod sa politika kaayohan ug kalambuan sa katawhan ang iyang gitinguha.

Bisan wala hinganli sa mayor ang giingong politiko apan iyang gisaysay nga nasayod na ang katawhan kinsa kini nga magsige og pangdaot kaniya.

Sa iyang kabahin, nanawagan usab si Gob. Leo Ocampos ngadto kang Parojinog nga nganlan niya ang giingong dakong politiko sa probinsiya nga nagpaluyo sa planong pagpatay sa mayor.

Gidugang ni Ocampos nga mahinungdanon nga isulti kinsa ang nasangpit nga politiko tungod kay ang gibuhian nga pahayag sa mayor bug-at ilabina nga nag-akusar og politiko sa lalawigan.

Sa pag-analisa sa gobernador, siya miingon nga usa lamang ka “social stigma” ang nasinati ni Parojinog tungod sa mga panghitabo sa nakalabayng mga panahon sa dihang aduna pa kini kalambigitan sa Kuratong Baleleng.

Hinuon, gipasabot sa gobernador nga analysis lamang niya kini ug dili kini conclusive, dugang saysay nga dili maayo nga mobuhi ang usa ka opisyal og mahait nga mga pulong nga mahimong makapakurat ug makapabalaka sa katawhan.

Bisan og wala hinganli sa mayor ang ngalan ni Ocampos, mipagawas siya sa iyang pahayag tungod kay klaro nga siya ang gitumong nga giingong modagan sa pagkakongresista.

Sumpay ni Ocampos nga bukas siya sa usa ka diayalogo tali kaniya og ni Parojinog alang sa katin-awan sa maong isyu.

ARN ANTONETTE CAROLLO

Protestant pastor robbed in Ozamiz

2009-04-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

A pastor of a Pentecostal church, here, and his family was robbed by three unidentified armed men inside their residence in Banadero, Tuesday, last week.

Police identified the victim as Bishop Tommy Smith, an American citizen and senior pastor of The Sanctuary located in Rizal Avenue.

In an interview, Police Inspector Brian Bernardeno, deputy chief, narrated that around 8:30 pm on the said date, while Smith, along with his wife and kids, was about to park his Mitsubishi Estrada at the premises of their residence, three unidentified men, one of them wearing mask, held them up at gun point.

The victims were forced to enter their house and with their two helpers, were hand tied by the robbers using packaging tape while one of the robbers cut off the telephone wire inside their residence.

The robbers stole six cell phones with camera, cash and a laptop computer.

The robbers then took Smith and forced him to drive the escaping robbers away .

Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, when informed of the incident, called on C/Insp. Wilbur Salaguste to conduct a pursuit operation with the 1005th Provincial Mobile Group against the robbers.

Smith was found abandoned by the robbers at Nailon, Tudela, Misamis Occidental where he was rescued by the residents and the town police.

Smith’s Assistant Pastor Edward Magno condemned the incident and called on authorities to take appropriate action and take measures to curtail, if not eliminate, these criminal acts perpetrated by lawless groups operating in Ozamiz City and the province.

Last March, a Claretian Missionary priest assigned in Quezon City, who went home for his father’s funeral was robbed while riding a passenger van from Tangub to Ozamiz.

Last year, the parish priest of Philippine Independence Church of Barangay Labo was robbed by two motorcycle-riding men.

The incident was followed by a Columban Missionary Sister who was held up by a motorcycle-riding man outside the Columban Sisters’ Convent in Bernad Subdivision.
On August 8, 2008, Archbishop Jesus Dosado was held up by a motorcycle-riding man while on his way to Immaculate Cathedral.

Balik-Islam preacher Alimuden Bantilan said the people in Ozamiz City felt a climate of fear and insecurity prevail in the city due to the increasing lawless elements that robbing the church’s leaders and workers.

WENDELL TALIBONG

Gilbert wants strong, united barangay intel network

2009-04-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

A strong and organized community intelligence network in and around every barangays is needed to counter all forms of criminalities, thus said Defense Sec. Gilberto “Gilbert” Teodoro Jr.

Teodoro, who recently visited the headquarters of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division in Camp Cesar Sang-an, said this piece in telling those present that such a premise will likewise deter kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group from operating within a united village.

The defense secretary, who was welcomed by the officers and men of Tabak, headed by MGen Romeo Lustestica, added that the military troop’s morale should be given a lift so that they could withstand whatever pressures and constant worry they have in their line of duties.

Teodoro mentioned KFR in his message as a reaction to the appeal of teachers assigned in far-flung areas in Mindanao as they fear for their safety while performing their work following the kidnapping incident of three teachers in a remote town in Zamboanga Sibugay a few weeks ago.

To recall, three teachers from Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay were kidnapped by a local band of pirates last March 13, then demanded P10-million in ransom.

Two weeks after the kidnapping, the three abducted teachers were reportedly turned over by their abductors to the group of Abu Sayyaf commander Puruji Indama in Tipo-tipo, Basilan.

Up to this writing no follow-up reports were receive from police authorities regarding the status of the three victims as a local crisis management is busy with the plight of the three Red Cross volunteers earlier kidnapped in Jolo, Sulu.

“If we have only organized strong community intelligence network in the barangay level these kidnappings will be prevented and suspected criminals will be prevented in performing crimes especially in the far flung and coastal barangays,” said Teodoro, a presidentiable in the 2010 polls.

“The straightening of the peace and order council should be given priority by the LGUs, from the provincial, city and towns down to the barangay level. This is one way of solving the problems against all form of criminalities,” he added.

As to kidnapping incidents happening in the South, the defense secretary reiterated that the government goes by the so-called “no ransom policy.”

JONG CADION

2nd Zambosur Summer Youth Fest

2009-04-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Provincial Government will, once again, set off the Summer Youth Fest (SYF) at the Agro-tourism and Heritage Complex (AHC) inside the Provincial Government Center (PGC) in Dao.

Held for the second time around, the SYF will run April 20-29 and is supported by the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)-Zamboanga del Sur, says Anthony Frederick “Taton” Padayhag of the Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts

Padayhag describes the activity’s significance as equal to that of Megayon and Pasko Nato, which aims teach and strap up the youth’s artistic skills, physical abilities and cultural sensibilities.

Invited resource persons are the artists of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) based in Mindanao who will conduct workshops on basic ballet, visual arts and drama.

Also, for teens under 14, there will be sports clinics in football, lawn tennis, Sepak Takraw, archery and marathon.

Padayhag said play-offs and competition will be held following the various sports clinics, which form part of the Comprehensive Sports Development Program of Governor Aurora Cerilles.

Another is the eco-adventure race dubbed “Gukod,” which is expected to attract holiday tourists to participate. Then there’s “Bayking” for children and ZamboSur Skateboarding Invitational event slated in April 25 at the AHC.

Already, the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of the city led by Jay Immanuel Locson is anticipating their participation in the sports event, including the exhibition games among the local chief executives from the two districts of this province.

Additionally, Padayhag disclosed that an an indigenous peoples youth camp for Christian and Muslim youths, called Gayon Bhegombata, will be held, which will serve as cultural immersion among Subanen youth.

In the evening of April 20-23, a band festival will be held and to be participated by rock bands from Midsalip, Kumalarang, Mahayag and Dimataling.

REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

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frontlinemindanao@gmail.com

Zambosur begins NARS program

2009-04-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ninety newly registered nurses in the province recently attended a orientation about the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS), the number is about 40 short of the 130 quota for Zamboanga del Sur.

The lack of applicants, according to DOLE Provincial Director Virginia Bonbon is the lure of employment in Saudi Arabia, which is hiring nurses with or without experience.

Notwithstanding with the less number of applicants, we are able to replace them with the new passers, Bonbon said.

The NARS program is President Gloria Arroyo’s strategy to cushion the impact of global financial crisis (GFC) and the strategy of employing new registered nurses who will help improve the delivery of health care services in rural areas, DOLE Regional Director Yahya Centi said.

Under the NARS program, applicants must be not over 35 years old with no nursing-related practice for the past three years with valid license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

A collaborative effort of DOLE, DOH, PRC and Board of Nursing, nurses employed under NARS program will receive a stipend of P8,000 a month from DOLE.

In Zamboanga del Sur, the Provincial Government through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) headed by Tyrone Singgo as manager, has assisted DOLE in scouting applicants from the 26 municipalities of the province.

DOH regional office representatives were also present to get the hopes and fears of the applicants when finally dispatched to their respective stations.

Dr. Agnes Fernando ascertained that they have many things to do especially in rural health units. She coached them to be actively involved in various activities in the community like giving out Vitamin A capsules, deworming to children during the Garantisadong Pambata.

The first batch of nurses working for NARS will go on active duty from April to September, this year, and October to March 2010, according to Bonbon.

REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

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FRONTLINE MINDANAO
frontlinemindanao@gmail.com

Yu shooting has ‘multiple angles’

2009-04-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Investigators in the April 13 shooting of businesswoman Cecilia Yu declared last week they are considering on looking at multiple angles to solve the case.

Yu, wife of slain media mogul Billy Yu, was shot Monday evening while walking home along Rizal Avenue, San Francisco District, a few meters from Hotel Gulliermo.

Cecilia, who suffered two bullet wounds in her neck which exited in her left face, was with her daughter, Andrea, and a male companion when the shooting happened.

The Yu family has informed this paper that Cecilia survived the attempt on her life and is presently declared out of danger by hospital doctors.

At this point in time, Police Chief Inspector Michael Palermo told this paper that they wil zero in on the exact and possible motive of the attempted killing and arrest whoever is implicated in the incident, bigshot or not.

However, Palermo has since refused to identify to mediamen the possible angles they are looking into in order not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

The newly appointed police chief said he hopes the Yu family will cooperate in their investigation and provide them with vital information for the solution of the case.

It was learned that a few months after the murder of Billy in 2001, his brother residing in Surigao was likewise shot by an unidentified assassin.

Police statistics meanwhile placed Cecilia’s shooting as the fifth to happen in the city involving the business community.

First was Paul Hinoguin, Billy Yu, Abdul Marcaban, and Louie Chan, owner of Jollibee-Pagadian Branch. Except for Cecilia who survived, all those mentioned were dead.

Mayor Sammy Co, in his weekly “Mayor’s Report” aired in several radio stations in the city comforted the already jittery business community, telling them that such incident is only few and far between.

But still, Co advices residents to be vigilant and inform the authorities if they observe unusual and suspicious activities that will likely get in the way of the stable peace and order situation of the city.

JONG CADION

4 killed , 2 hurt in Santiago shooting

2009-04-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

A known businessman suspected of abetting known rivals of the administration party in Zambosur was killed Friday afternoon, last week, along with two others after he was shot by hired assassins and injuring other pedestrians in the process.

In a police report obtained by Frontline Mindanao, it stated that two persons riding a Honda XLR motorcycle shot Muminin Latip Malaco along Ariosa and Pulmones Avenue in Santiago District.

The 44-year-old Malaco, a resident of Banale District, was said to be passing in the area driving his car when the two killers waylaid him.

But as the suspects fled towards F.S. Pajares Avenue, Malaco’s back up security chased the two killers, which resulted to a running gun battle between the two groups.

The motorcycle back rider, later identified as Mohimen Dimaukom, was hit in his back, which in effect caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and swerve on the road.

Police identified the driver as Sony Dimaukom, through the identification papers found in his wallet. Pointed to as the triggerman, Sony died on the spot while his uncle, Mohimen, was brought to the Pagadian Medical Center but later succumbed to bullet wounds and died.

Police told this paper that both dead suspects are charcoal vendors selling their wares in San Pedro District and are residents of New Labangan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Malaco, on the other hand, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in his chest and was declared dead on arrival at the Pagadian City Medical Center. His companion, whom police said was his third wife, named Grace Piedad Malaco, was hit in her left thigh.

A pedestrian was also hit by stray bullets and died. He was identified as Roden Pahilan, a tricycle driver and a resident of San Pedro, this city.

Another bystander named Jennifer Quinimun, a resident of Kamaya, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, was hit at her right arm and was brought to the hospital.

Newly installed chief of police C/Insp. Michael Palermo said ongoing investigation is still being conducted to determine the cause of the shooting of Malaco as he believes Rido, or clan feuding among Muslim families could not be ruled out as one of the possible motives.

Malaco’s name was listed as one of the members of the newly created local party called Pwersa Mindanaw, where a relative of one of his wives, Labangan mayor Abubakar Afdal, is the organization’s executive appointed treasurer.

Meanwhile, Palermo informed this paper that he has already warned village chiefs who are reportedly remiss in their duties with respect to compliance to standing orders as regards the maintenance of peace and order in their own barangays.

Palermo added that as new police chief of Pagadian, his main concern is to contain all forms of illegal activities, like illegal gambling and drug trafficking, among others, saying without the barangay chairs assisting him, he would not attain success.

JONG CADION WITH REPORTS FROM JOE MENDOZA

Camp Dominguez reservist unit welcomes new chief

2009-04-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

REPORT BY ARN ANTONETTE CAROLLO

SINACABAN, MisOc: A new commanding officer sits in the 1st Misamis Occidental, 903rd Community Defense Center, (CDC) of the 9th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), Army Reserve Command (Arescom) in Camp Domiguez, this town.

2Lt. Edgar Macabinguil of the Infantry Philippine Army and a native of Bayawan, Negros Oriental, took the place vacated by 2lt. Philip Lobo who headed the said command for almost a year.

The 33-year officer was formerly assigned in the 72nd IB, 10th Infantry Division based in Davao in 1996.

He was commissioned in 2007 and received his call to active duty last January 16, this year, through Col. Emmanuel Mendoza, group commander of the 9th RCDG.

The new Arescom head said he was grateful for the reception he received from Gov. Loreto Ocampos and Mayor Delio Lood. .

An active ROTC officer during his college days, Ocampos is presently a battalion commander of the Arescom while Lood has had supported various projects and initiatives by the reservists assigned in Camp Dominguez.

Macabinguil said he will put to good use his rapport with provincial and local officials by establishing programs that will help the community and the reservists.

Republic Act 7077, or the afp Reservist Act of 1991, provides for the organization, administration, training, maintenance, and utilization of the Citizen Armed Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and for other purposes.

On July 1992, the Reserve Command, Philippine Army became a major Philippine Army unit tasked to implement the plans and programs for Reservists and Retirees Affairs.

Fourteen RCDGs were organized and maintained with one standby Reserve Infantry Division and 73 CDCs which is grouped into Battlion size Reservist Units in every region of the country.

This unit was renamed Arescom in October 1999 pursuant to General Order Nr 1300.

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.

Walk in hope, gratitude and dignity

2009-03-30T19:05:00.001-07:00

The infant FRONTLINE MINDANAO is conceived in faith, hard work and determination. Now that it is born, struggles to stand up and walk among men, it has to walk in hope gratitude and dignity.

But that does not apply to Frontline Mindanao alone. Walking in hope, gratitude and dignity had been, is now and should be our living commitment, our life, our daily struggle to survive in these truly hard times.. It applies to all of us.

We don't walk "with" because that would mean having them only as company. Hope, gratitude and dignity "must" be in our system, in our personality and in our character.

Hope is planted, not merely hanged or placed in a sacred corner. Look at the farmer, he plants in the hope that what he has planted will grow, bear fruit and be harvested. We. too, plant hope when we wake up in the morning and step on the ground to pursue another day's hard work. Otherwise, one who no longer holds hope won't have the strength even to rise from bed. Hope is the very thing that inspires us to aspire for better lives.

Gratitude is the one that keeps us praying, thanking and petitioning the Great Gratifier, the Almighty Father. Gratitude is the mark of a good man or woman, for without it, we won't even have respect for our parents. Gratitude also drives us to look at living things around us with admiration, care and beneficial purpose. It is gratitude that makes us recognize the good things done and meaningful contributions of others to peace, harmony and progress. Gratitude helps us recognize that we are only here on this Earth to be trained and tested, if we deserve to return to the presence of the Father and our Savior already clothed with immortal bodies and eternal spirits enjoying the rewards we deserve in the eternities.

Dignity, that makes us stand with our heads up, is the thing that is often ignored, disregarded and taken for granted. Look, why do we dress and even want to dress better? Why do we seek to learn and even struggle to earn a profession? Why do we work hard and, seek for improvement and happiness (which is the object of living)?

However, it is sad and lamentable to note that, because of greediness, due to overwhelming difficulties and because of lack of opportunities, not a few among us have squandered dignity and even throw it to the waste disposal pit. Greediness by those who lie, cheat, steal and even kill for money or power or for both. Difficulties by those who suffer poverty and deprivation and resort to foul means in earning their living. Lack of opportunities, by those who have succeeded in earning a profession but have nowhere to put their talents and skills to productive use. Dignity, at times, is lost due to laziness, indolence and dependence.

Since we are facing an election year, it is incumbent upon all good, well-meaning and responsible citizens (particularly you, who is reading right now) to walk in hope, gratitude and dignity. Hope that the best candidates will still win without spending so much; gratitude for being given the opportunity to exercise our God-given right of political empowerment and dignity that no amount of money, terrorism and cheating can bend our individual wisdom and courage to vote freely.

FRONTLINE MINDANAO will spearhead the way everyone should and must walk.

DILG transfers office to new location

2009-03-30T18:53:00.001-07:00

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.

DILG transfers office to new location

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

Priest condemns killing of Ozamiz broadcaster

2009-03-16T04:10:00.001-07:00

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

Priest condemns killing of Ozamiz broadcaster

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

MICHAEL MEDINA

Editor-in-chief

Plaza Luz will be city’s new amusement center

2009-03-10T23:30:00.001-07:00

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.

Plaza Luz will be city’s new amusement center

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

NFA-Zambosur has enough rice stocks

2009-03-10T23:08:00.001-07:00

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.

NFA-Zambosur has enough rice stocks

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

New media alliance created

2009-03-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

PAGADIAN CITY—Media practitioners from the cities of Cagayan, Iligan, Davao and this city gathered for a two-day forum and discussed on peace, conflict and security hosted by the Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace, Inc.

Hosted by Iligan City, the group likewise organized themselves into a new alliance called Mangagawang Media ng Mindanao (MMM).

The founding members and officers were elected as follows: Philip Ken Jaudian, president; Frank Dosdos, VP for internal affairs; Philip James Tremedal, VP external affairs; Voily Gloria, corporate secretary; Arman Apolinario, treasurer; Ric Clet, auditor; and Phil Paalan, executive director.

Members of the board of trustees are Pastor Tenorio Jr., Tony Abejo, Rocky Reyes, Ted Khan Juanite, Jun Enriquez, Noel Manapsal, Toto Alquizar and Jong Cadion.

Jaudian explained MMM is not a political driven organization of media workers but an alliance to promote media rights and welfare of all practicing media personalities.

This alliance, he added, will be the umbrella organization of local media clubs, or chapters of national media organization, technical people, from broadcast, print, television and online media outfits based in Mindanao.

Jaudian added that MMM’s objective is to inculcate to member- workers the needed trainings, skills, and media education.

“Mangagawang Media ng Mindanao will also adhere to environment preservation and protection, gender sensitivity, and sustainable societal development,” he said.

MMM will be formally launched on March 22 to be timed with the celebration of the “Mindanao Peace Day.”

NEWS GRABBED FROM MINDANAO PILGRIM

CONTACT ONLINE EDITOR
The Visayan Podium
130903@gmail.com

Mindanao Pilgrim completes Pecojon training

2009-03-08T20:32:00.001-07:00

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.

Mindanao Pilgrim completes Pecojon training

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

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

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

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.

NEWS GRABBED FROM MINDANAO PILGRIM

CONTACT ONLINE EDITOR
The Visayan Podium
130903@gmail.com

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

2009-03-07T19:39:00.001-08:00

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.

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

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

Ka Ernie laid to rest

2009-03-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

OZAMIZ CITY--The Misamis Occidental media community buried slain broadcaster Ernesto ‘Ka Ernie’ Rollin Saturday afternoon amid persistent demands for a fair probe on his death.

Rollin’s colleagues, family members and friends wore black T-shirts to symbolize mourning and the gloom his killing cast on press freedom.

During the funeral march, some also carried placards with the message, ‘Justice for Ka Ernie.’

A black streamer printed with white ink urged: “Patas nga imbestigasyon sa kamatayon ni Ka Ernie.”

In a statement released a day before Rollin’s burial, the Oroquieta City Press Club urged local police to fast-track their probe on the broadcaster’s killing.

Earlier, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Ozamiz chapter called on local authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation of the incident.

After holding mass at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) chapel officiated by Msgr. Osias Jaim, media colleagues took turns in delivering a eulogy. All were one in demanding a fair and no-nonsense probe on the killing.

Rollin was buried at the UCCP cemetery in Barangay Diguan.

Rollin was killed by still-unidentified assailants in Oroquieta City at several minutes past 5 a.m. on February 23, 2009 while on his way to work in radio dxSY-AM here.

Rollin is also the first journalist slain throughout the country in 2009. By the end of 2008, NUJP had listed 96 journalist killings since 1986 when democracy was supposedly restored.

NUJP and other media watchdog groups have attributed the persistence of a culture of impunity for the unabated spate of journalist killings which they observed to have become brisk under the Arroyo administration.

Since 2001, 62 journalist deaths have been registered, almost a third of the total listed by NUJP. The periods with the highest number of deaths are 2004 and 2006 with 13 each, and 2005 with 10.

An embalmer's report from St. Peter's Chapel and Funeral Parlor in Oroquieta City revealed that Rollin suffered a gunshot wound on his left and right arm, another on his back and one more on his head that pierced his nape.

At the time of his death, Rollin was the program head for radio DxRA-FM in Oroquieta City where he also maintained a weekend broadcast commentary.

Colleagues said the last issues he tackled concerned the Magna Carta for health workers and the vehicles issued to provincial board members in Misamis Occidental.

Rollin, in his early 50’s, was introduced to radio through a stint as broadcast religious preacher. He then embarked on a full-time career in radio about a decade ago, much of the time with DxSY-AM.

He used to anchor the station's primetime public affairs program. His hard-hitting commentaries and table-pounding antics inside the broadcast booth earned him popularity and top ratings for his programs.

NEWS GRABBED FROM THE PHILIPPINE BREAKING NEWS SITE

CONTACT ONLINE EDITOR
The Visayan Podium
130903@gmail.com

City LPG prices, supply stable

2009-03-06T18:34:00.001-08:00

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.

City LPG prices, supply stable

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

Cagayan de Oro broadcaster survives slay try

2009-03-06T00:10:00.000-08:00

Barely two weeks after a mediaman from this city was shot and killed in a dawn attack, another radio broadcaster, this time from the neighboring Cagayan de Oro, was shot and is in critical condition.

Police identified the victim as Nilo Labares, popularly known as “Babayeng Bagul."

Labares, who formerly works as an editor for a local newspaper, maintains a radio segment in of RMN-DxCC as Babayeng Bagul and anchors the afternoon schedule of “RMN Balita.”

Police narrated that Labares took a single shot from two motorcycle-riding suspects who ambushed the mediaman while on his way home, Thursday evening, last week. He was hit at the back.

Fellow broadcaster Rey Maraunay told media colleagues that Labares earlier confided having received threats purportedly from people operating the illegal videokarera machines in the city who were his constant subjects in his morning program.

Newly installed PNP City Director Noel Armilla promised to solve Labares’ shooting and immediately formed a task force to probe all angles in the broadcaster’s fatal shooting.

A source from the police station said Labares’ shooting is possibly motivated by his attacks on illegal videokarera machines proliferating in the city, which may have angered its operators and alleged police coddlers.

Also, Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) president Vincent Jaudian said their group condemned the attempt to silence Labares for good and pledged they will conduct a separate investigation on the matter.

Meanwhile, Times Broadcasting Network Corp. (TBNC), which owns DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City and the radio outfit of slain commentator Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin has released its statement last week, 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 Chapter President Ryan Rosauro and NUJP Director Jovencio Godoy Jr. both condemned the shooting and called on authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation and arrest the suspects the soonest possible time.

“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.”

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.

According to Ocampos and Cabug, the four angles involved 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 naming. Hindi totoo lahat nga mga sinasabi diyan,” he said.

NEWS CULLED FROM MINDANAO PILGRIM (USED WITH PERMISSION)

CONTACT ONLINE EDITOR
The Visayan Podium
130903@gmail.com

Ozamiz media shout justice for Ka Ernie

2009-02-25T17:38:00.001-08:00

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.

Ozamiz media shout justice for Ka Ernie

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

New seminar offers tips, tricks on good housekeeping

2009-02-23T01:32:00.001-08:00

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.

New seminar offers tips, tricks on good housekeeping

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

Ozamiz broadcaster shot dead

2009-02-22T22:22:00.001-08:00

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.

Ozamiz broadcaster shot dead

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

‘Police Aux stipends officially permitted’

2009-02-16T01:56:00.001-08:00

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.

‘Police Aux stipends officially permitted’

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

Ozamiz City airport sees more expansion

2009-02-16T01:53:00.001-08:00

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.

Ozamiz City airport sees more expansion

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

CPC-6 holds arts camp for kids

2009-02-12T18:44:00.001-08:00

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.

CPC-6 holds arts camp for kids

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

DILG strengthen anti-drug enforcement

2009-02-11T18:37:00.001-08:00

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.”

DILG strengthen anti-drug enforcement

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

PJTremedal
Associate Editor

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

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

“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.”