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7 FILIPINOS CHARGED WITHTERRORISM IN MALAYSIA

Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia Almu'tasimu BillahiMuhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah IbniAlmarhum Sultan Badlishah (Salahudin Omar – Wikipedia)

alaysia has filed terrorism charges against7 Filipinos accused of aiding or supportinga rag-tag army of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiramin Sabah where the group is battling secu-M

rity forces.It said 7 Filipinos,

whose ages are 20 to 63,were could face the deathpenalty if found guilty. Apolice corporal in Sabahwas also charged for notdisclosing informationabout the “terrorist acts”in Lahad Datu town andhe could be jailed for 7years if proven guilty bythe court.

Five of those chargedwere accused of wagingwar against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or theKing of Malaysia whoseposition is now being heldby Tuanku Abdul Halim.They were also accused of

joining a terrorist group.The two other Filipi-

nos are facing charges ofrecruiting and harboringterrorists or participatingin terrorism which carriesa maximum 20 to 30 yearsin jail if they are con-victed.

Malaysia has chargeda total of 16 people withterrorism-related acts inconnection with the in-trusion of SultanJamalul’s men in LahadDatu in February.

He said his brotherRaja Muda Agbimuddinand about 200 loyal fol-lowers to exert historicalclaims over Sabah and de-

mand recognition fromKuala Lumpur, whichtagged the group as ter-rorists.

The deadly standoffresulted in the deaths of atleast 66 people on the sideof Sultan Jamalul and 10on Malaysia; and over 400people had been arrestedin suspicion of support-ing or aiding the group ofRaja Muda Agbimuddin.

The fighting forcedthousands of Filipinos toflee Sabah and returnedto the southern Philip-pines.

Sabah or NorthBorneo was ceded to theSultan of Sulu by the Sul-tan of Brunei for helpingquell a rebellion in the17th century. But Malay-sia annexed the oil-rich

MALAYSIAN securityforces shot dead a memberof the Sultanate of Sulu andcaptured 6 others follow-ing an operation in Sabah’s

Malaysia kills Sulu sultanate member,arrests 6 others in Sabah operation

Lahad Datu town.The slain Filipino was

not immediately identi-fied, but Malaysian au-thorities said he attacked

one of the police comman-dos with a machete andwas shot dead in KampungSimunul at around 9 a.m.during a house-to-house

search. The commandowas unhurt in the attack.

Police said those ar-rested were four men andtwo women and are being

investigated by authorities.More than 400 people

have been arrested by Ma-laysian authorities on sus-picion they were eithersupporting or aiding thegroup of Raja MudaAgbimuddin Kiram whointruded in Sabah in Feb-ruary.

Sulu Sultan JamalulKiram sent his brotherRaja Muda Agbimuddinand about 200 armed fol-lowers to exert their his-torical claims over the oil-rich state which nowforms part of Malaysia.But fighting erupted be-tween Malaysian forcesand the intruders follow-ing a deadly standoff.

At least 66 members ofthe Sulu sultanate hadbeen killed in Sabah since

last month.Malaysian authorities

said the security situationin Sabah is now undercontrol except for someareas where the operationagainst the group of RajaMuda Agbimuddin is con-tinuing.

Security forces haveallowed residents to returnto their villages after daysof so-called “clearing” op-eration.

Sabah or NorthBorneo was ceded to theSultan of Sulu in the 17thcentury by the Sultan ofBrunei for helping quell arebellion.

Malaysia annexedSabah after locals voted tojoin the Malaya federationin 1963. (Mindanao Exam-iner)

state followinga referendumin 1963, al-though itcontinues topay ana n n u a l“cession”

m o n e ya m o u n t -ing toP77,000 tothe Sultanate ofSulu. (MindanaoExaminer)

Apr. 8-14, 20132 The Mindanao Examiner

JUST SAY

NO!

Migrante appeals to Saudito respect migrant rights

MANILA – Saudi Arabiacontinues its crackdownon illegal and overstay-ing migrants in an effortto f lush out undocu-mented workers andforce private firms toheed on the full imple-mentation of the“Nitaqat,” or localiza-tion of labor force, ac-cording to the Migranteparty list.

“We have been re-ceiving confirmed re-ports since last weekabout the crackdown onillegal and overstayingworkers led by compos-ite teams of police andSaudi labor officials inthe cities Riyadh,Jeddah, Al Khobar andDammam. Since thenwe have received nu-merous calls from Fili-pino undocumentedworkers and other na-tionalit ies asking forguidance and assis-tance,” said Migrante-Middle East regional co-ordinator John LeonardMonterona.

Monterona, who isalso the vice-chairper-son of Migrante SectoralParty of OFWs and fami-lies, said that since lastweek and as reported inseveral newspapers inSaudi Arabia that theLabor Ministry have

amended Saudi laborlaw specifically Article39 giving it more powerto inspect and investi-gate violations relatedto expatriates employ-ment in the Kingdom.

The Interior Minis-try will arrest and de-port those surplusworkers who do notwork for any company.It will also punish Saudiindividuals and compa-nies who employ suchworkers, according tothe new article 39 ofSaudi’s labor law.

While calling for theSaudi authorities to re-spect the rights of un-documented migrantworkers, Monterona,however, clarified thattheir group under-stands the move by theSaudi government to ridthe Kingdom of about amillion undocumentedand overstaying migrantworkers, saying: “It iswithin the Saudi gov-ernment local labor pri-orities, immigration andinternal peace and or-der concerns.”

“Many of our fellowexpatriate workerswere forced to run awayfrom their sponsorsdue to alleged numer-ous labor violat ionssuch as non-payment

of salaries and overtimepay, working more than8 hours, and contractsubstitution and illegaldeductions by their re-cr uitment agencies,”Monterona said, addingexpatriate workers inSaudi is bel ieved tomore than 8 mil l ioncomprising Indians, Pa-kistanis, Bangladeshi,Egyptians and Fil ipi-nos.

“We urge the Saudiauthor it ies to imple-ment first a general am-nesty as it announcedweeks ago covering allundocumented andoverstaying migrants.The amnesty wi l l in-clude provisions of freeand swift mass repa-tr iat ion of undocu-mented and overstay-ing migrant workers inthe Kingdom. Foreigndiplomatic posts areawaiting the guidelinesof this general am-nesty” Monterona said.

“We also appeal tothe Saudi govt. to re-spect our fe l low mi-grants, though undocu-mented and overstay-ing, basic human rightsas enshr ined in UNConventions on theProtection of Migrantsand members of theirFamil ies. We cal l onthem to implement freeand swift mass repa-tr iat ion on undocu-mented migrants in theKingdom.”

Last week, Monte-rona said his groupcalled on the PhilippineEmbassy and consulateofficials to provide as-sistance to all undocu-mented and overstay-ing Fi l ipino workers,especial ly womenOFWs, who have chil-dren.

Filipino couple lands in hospitalin failed murder-suicide

PAGADIAN CITY – A manwho was suffering from a se-rious illness had stabbed hiswife in a failed murder-sui-cide in the southern Philip-pines, but police said bothsurvived and are seriouslyinjured.

Inspector Ariel Huesca,a regional police spokes-man, said the couple – Cariaand Salima Bandara – wererushed to different hospitals.

“Investigation revealedthat the suspect was suffer-ing from serious illness andhad undergone major op-eration and she was always

threatened by the suspectthat he will kill her first be-fore he will commit suicide,”he said.

Huesca said the man at-tacked his sleeping wife witha knife and repeatedlystabbed her until she wasable to run and sought helpfrom neighbors in the villageof Panduma in Tukurantown.

She said while runningfor safety, she saw her hus-band stabbed himself sev-eral times before leapingfrom the window of theirhouse and hitting the

ground where he bled pro-fusely until his sister arrivedand rushed him to hospitalin Lanao del Norte province.

“The woman, Salima,sustained stab wounds inthe left thigh, left side of hersexual organ and left por-tion of her behind, while herhusband sustained multiplestab wounds in his abdo-men and fractured spinalcolumn and was brought byhis sister to the hospital,”Huesca said.

He said the police arestill investigating the case.(Mindanao Examiner)

The Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Mindanao continues to lay asphaltover concrete roads in Zamboanga Peninsula despite its good condition. In other areas, suchas Zamboanga City, concrete roads - depite their good condition - were also broken and thenpoured concrete again only to be asphalted later. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

The Mindanao Examiner 3Apr. 8-14, 2013

KISMET CableChannel 63

Pagadian City

Troops kill notorious banditleader in Western MindanaoPAGADIAN CITY – Govern-ment troops killed a notori-ous leader of gang tagged asbehind the spate ofkidnappings and extortionin the southern Philippines,officials said.

Officials said the fightingin the coastal village ofDanganan in Lapuyan townkilled Amie Andi and his aideAmbak Maragusan.

Lt. Col. Yegor ReyBarroquillo, Jr., commanderof the 44th Infantry Battal-ion, said the fighting lastedalmost 30 minutes. The bod-ies of the slain bandits wererecovered by their kin andburied immediately in thetown.

He said Andi is one of themost wanted persons inZamboanga del Sur and thathis group was previously in-volved in the killings of 6people, including three chil-dren, in the village of

Tininghalang also inLapuyan town last year. Thelocal government offered aP300,000 bounty for the cap-ture of Andi.

General Ricardo RainierCruz II, commander of the1st Infantry Division, com-mended the soldiers in theoperation that led to Andi’sdeath. “The soldiers will re-main vigilant against lawlesselements to ensure the safetyand well-being of the peace-loving people in the region,”he said. He also praised thecooperation of civilians tothe military, saying the localsprovided vital informationthat allowed troops to trackdown and neutralize Andi.

In November last year,Andi escaped a raid by gov-ernment soldiers at theirhideout in Pagadian City, buttroops captured two of hismost trusted lieutenants,Montasser Ratarta and

Rachmodin Andi.The military said Andi’s

group was behind thekidnappings of Filipino trad-ers and foreigners inZamboanga Peninsula.Among those kidnapped inthe Zamboanga was Irishmissionary Michael Sinnott,seized in October 12, 2009 inPagadian City. Aside fromSinnott, kidnappers alsoseized Italian Catholic priestGiancarlo Bossi inZamboanga del Sur’s Payaotown in June 10, 2007.

And in 1998, gunmenkidnapped Italian mis-sioners Luciano Benedetti inZamboanga del Norte prov-ince and in 1998 andGiuseppe Pierantoni inDimataling town inZamboanga del Sur. It wasnot immediately knownwhether Andi was also in-volved in those kidnappings.(Mindanao Examiner)

Pondo para sa maralita,mas maagang ilalabas

BILANG paghahanda sanalalapit na halalan atupang matiyak na hindimasasakop ng election banand pagbibigay ng ayuda,mas maagang matatanggapng mga benepisyaryo ngPantawid PamilyangPilipino Program angkanilang mga cash grants,ayon sa Department of So-cial Welfare and Develop-ment.

“Alam natin na ang mgabenepisyaryo ng PantawidPamilya ay kabilang sa mgamahihirap na sambahayanat ang nakukuha nilangtulong sa programa ayginagamit nila upangmatiyak na sila ay magingmalusog at makakapasok sapaaralan ang mga bata, masmaaga nating ibigay angkanilang cash grant parasiguraduhin na hindi silamaantala sa pagsunod samga kondisyon ngprograma” ani DSWD Sec-

retary Corazon Soliman.Ibibigay ng DSWD

nang mas maaga ang cashgrant ng mga benepisyaryopara sa buwan ng Enero atPebrero, ngunit ito ay hindinangangahulugan na hindina kailangang sumunod ngmga benepisyaryo sa mgaitinakdang kondisyon parasa programa.

“Gagamitin pa ringbatayan ang pagsunod samga kondisyon para sa mgasusunod na cash grant. Parasa mga hindi tutupad samga koondisyon, angkanilang sobrangnatanggap na cash grant ayibabawas sa mga susunodna pagbabayad” wika pa niSoliman.

Ang Pantawid Pamilyaay programa ngpambansang pamahalaanna namumuhunan sakalusugan at edukasyon ngmga mahihirap nasambahayan pangaunahin

sa mga batang may edad 0-14.

Upang makatanggapng tulong, ang mgabenepisyaryo ay kailangangsumunod sa mga kondisyonna itinakda ng programa.Kabilang sa mga kondisyonna ito ay ang pagdalo ngmga magulang sabuwanang Family Develop-ment Session; regular napagpapakosulta ng mgabuntis at mga batang mayedad 0-5 taon gulang;pagpasok sa paaralan ngmga batang may edad mula3-14 taon gulang ng hindibababa sa 85% ngkabuuang pasok kadabuwan; pagpapapurga samga batang may edad 6-14taon gulang.

Ayon sa talaan ngDSWD, mayroon ng3,954,836 na naitalangbenepisyaryo ang PantawidPamilya base sa datosnitong Marso 13.

Marine Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero (Philippine MarineCorps Photo)

ITINALAGA NI PANGU-LONG Benigno Aquino III siMarine Maj. Gen. RusticoGuerrero bilang com-mander ng Armed Forces ofthe Philippines WesternCommand sa Palawan prov-ince.

Pinalitan ni Guerrero siLt. Gen. Juancho Sabban nanagretiro sa serbisyo nitongAbril 1 matapos na umabotsa mandatory military retire-ment age na 56.

Isinagawa naman angturn-over ceremony sanaturang araw sa PuertoPrincesa City.

Bago pa man maitalagasa kanyang bagongposisyon, si Guerrero aynanungkulan naman bilangMarine Commandantnoong Agosto 2010 at nagingCommander din ng MilitaryAnti-Terrorism unit jointTask Force Comet nanakabase sa Jolo, Sulu.

Ang opisyal aymiyembro ng PMADimalupig Class 81, atnakompleto nito angkanyang Master's of MilitaryStudy and Command andStaff College sa Marine CorpsUniversity sa Quantico, Vir-

Dekoradong Marine commander, hepe na ng WesCom

ginia.Humawak din si

Guerrero ng ilang maha-lagang posisyon sa AFP tuladng pagiging CommandingOfficer ng 1st Marine Brigade

sa Basilan, Superintendentng Marine Corps TrainingCenter, Chief of Staff ng Phil-ippine Marine Corps, atChief of the Plans and PolicyDivision ng Office of theDeputy Chief of Staff for Edu-cation and Training, J8.

This old woman, begs for money outside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Poverty remainsone of the biggest problems in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Apr. 8-14, 20134 The Mindanao Examiner

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hopelessness and in the future will start to reapthe fruits of its labor, he said.

The President also highlighted in his mes-sage the spirit of volunteerism that strength-ened the country’s unity.

“Ang pagtulong ay nagbibigay-lakas atkalayaan hindi lamang sa natulungan, kundimaging sa nag-abot ng tulong. Muli’t mulinating pinatutunayan: wala tayong hindimakakamit kung imbes na magkakanya-kanya ay magsimula tayong magbigayan. Saating kolektibong pagtutulungan, tiyak namagdudulot ito ng pag-asa at kaunlaran parasa lahat ng mamamayan,” he said

Philippines reaps fruitsof government reforms

MANILA - The Philippines has progressed a lotwhen the true power of government was givenback to the people, President Benigno AquinoIII said in his Easter message Saturday, addingthe resurrection of Christ mirrorsthe hope of the Filipino people torise from the ill effects of corrup-tion and despair.

“Mula nang naibalik sa mgaPilipino ang tunay na lakas ngpamahalaan, at naiwaksi angkultura nang pagkakanya-kanyaat panlalamang, nagawa natingbuhatin sa landas ng kaunlaranang ating bansa,” the Presidentsaid.

He said for the past severalyears ago, many Filipinos left thecountry to find better opportuni-ties elsewhere, but today there is

Pres. Benigno Aquino III

a renewed interest for them to return to thePhilippines because of an improving economy.

He said millions of marginalized and poorpeople are being prioritized by government toimprove their living condition through thePantawad Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

More than three million households are re-ceiving assistance from the government un-der the program. The government also hasmade strides to remedy the shortage in class-rooms in the country, the President said. Thegovernment has been expecting to eliminatethe 66,800 classroom backlog before the endof this year, he said.

Aquino said there is now sufficient foodsupply for Filipinos today while in the past, thecountry was importing millions of metric tonsof rice that eventually rot in government stor-

age facilities.“Kung dati, ilang milyong

metrikong toneladang bigas anginaangkat at binubulok lang samga bodega, ngayon, natatanawna natin, hindi lang ang pagigingself-sufficient sa bigas kundi angpagiging exporter nito,” he said.

Aquino said his governmentis now truly a government by thepeople that selflessly focuses ontheir welfare, the chief executivesaid. With the ongoing initiatives,the government was able to savethe country from chaos and

This is the viral photo na kumakalat ngayon sa mundo ng Facebook. Larawan ito ni KevinVillanueva pagkatapos ng graduation. Simpleng litrato lang naman ito pagkatapos ng kanyanggraduation pero yung background ang umantig sa mga nag like ng picture nya with caption:"Akala nyu kayo lang ang may picture kasama parents nyu ha :)) pero Mama, Papa this is forthe both of you I hope that you are proud of me :))"

Youth groups, students rally vs hikes in tuition feesDAVAO CITY – With coffinmarked ‘iskolars ng bayan’and satirical school logosdepicting the commercial-ized state of Philippineeducation, multi-sectoralorganizations led by pro-gressive youth groups helda rally Monday at the re-gional office of the Com-mission on Higher Educa-tion here and called for ahalt on unabated tuitionand other fee hikes.

“Today is the deadlinefor petitions on impending

tuition fee increases. Andwe came to show thepresent and grim state ofthe youth and the educa-tion system under theneoliberal, elitist and anti-people policies of Aquino,”Rendell Ryan Cagula, coor-dinator of League of Fili-pino Students Davao, saidin a statement sent to theregional newspaperMindanao Examiner.

Protesting groups car-ried the satirical logos ofschools in Davao City with names changed to expose

the present state of educa-tional institutions. TheUniversity of the Philip-pines is lampooned as Uni-versity of Profit, while Uni-versity of Mindanao asUniversity of Money.

“This is not to ridiculethe schools, but this is theyouth’s expression de-nouncing the further com-mercialization of HEIs andto register our calls for radi-cal solutions and systemicchange,” Cagula said.

Penelope Gil, regionalcoordinator of theKabataan party list, haschallenged CHED to provethat it is not a “literal stamppad,” which is apparent inits previous actions thatcontributed to the skyrock-eting cost of education. Gil,citing reports, said of the1,800 HEIs nationwide, atleast 451 have already filedpetitions to increase tu-ition for the academic year2013-2014; and 95 of whichare from the National Capi-tal Region, while 31 arefrom the Davao Region.

“We grimly rememberhow CHED approved peti-tions of more than 300HEIs to increase tuition feecollection for the present

school year, and this is notfar from happening againgiven the CHED’s toothlessregulatory mechanisms”Gil said.

Gil also cited howCHED admitted, whenasked by National Union ofStudents of the Philippineslast month that it has noclear mechanism to ensurethe compliance with theminimum standards set byCHED Memorandum 3 se-ries of 2012. She added thatthis only shows that CHEDis inutile. “We urgently callfor the Aquino and CHEDto implement the morato-rium to all tuition hikes fornext year in both publicand private schools” shesaid.

Apr. 8-14, 2013 5The Mindanao Examiner

Apr. 8-14, 20136 The Mindanao Examiner

Police recovered a de-composing body of a manfloating at sea in the townof Margosatubig in Zam-boanga del Sur provincein the southern Philip-pines.

Police said the ca-daver was discovered by

residents in the coastalvillage of Digon. The bodybore hacked wounds andit remains unidentified.

It said the body washanded over to the localhealth office and is likelyto be buried in the town.(Mindanao Examiner)

Cadaver recoveredin Zambo town

Apr. 8-14, 2013 7The Mindanao Examiner

Mindanao Examiner Tele-Radyo is a Commentary & Opinion Show (news talk) broad-cast in Mindanao Examiner TV in Pagadian City (KISMET Cable TV & Pagadian CityCable TV Channel 63).For block time, booking or guesting, advertisements and spon-sorship, please call our Zamboanga Studio on telephone number (062) 9925480 andmobile number (0917) 7103642 or email us at mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com.

2 army militias killed in NPA clashCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –Communist rebels killedtwo pro-government mili-tias in firefight in ButuanCity in the southern Phil-ippines, reports said.

It said the fighting oc-curred in the village ofAntical where militiaswere deployed to secure

the area during the holyweek.

It was unknown whattriggered the fighting, butthe clash coincided withthe 44th anniversary of theNew People’s Army, whichhas been waging a sepa-ratist war the past de-cades.

There was no immedi-ate statement from theNPA about the clashes, butrebel leaders have previ-ously warned that theywould continue offensiveoperation against policeand military targets in thecountry. (Mindanao Ex-aminer)

Travel magazine names Philippinesamong world top destination

MANILA - The PhilippineAmbassador to AustraliaBelen Anota welcomedCondé Nast Traveller’s - aleading luxury travelmagazine published byLondon-based Condé NastPublications Ltd. -inclu-sion of the Philippinesamong the top 10 destina-tions to watch in 2013.

“The inclusion of thePhilippines among the top10 destinations for 2013 isindeed welcome news. Weencourage our friendsfrom Australia and othernationalities to visit ourcountry as it is truly morefun in the Philippines,”Anota said, citing the Phil-ippines tourism slogan.

The magazine’s Janu-ary 2013 online editionlisted the Philippinesamong the top 10 destina-tions for 2013, along withBrazil, Amsterdam, The

Congo, the Galapagos Is-lands, Kashmir, the MayanRiviera in Mexico, NewZealand, Panama andOman.

The CNT write-up onthe Philippines states that“the Philippines hasaround 7,000 of the mostheavenly islands in theworld.”

Citing Bicol (region inLuzon) and Siargao (Islandin Surigai del Norte prov-ince in Mindanao), themagazine reports that thePhilippines is “becomingparticularly popularamong serious divers, whocome for the incredibleunderwater life, unspoiledcoral gardens with rain-bow-bright fish, green seaturtles and dugongs.”

Other recommendedplaces to visit includeBacuit Bay and other re-sorts in Palawan province,

Pamalican Island and thecapital, Manila.

The Department ofTourism recorded3,830,723 visitor arrivals tothe Philippines for the pe-riod January to November2012 - an 8.73% increasecompared to the previousyear’s volume of 3,522,887for the same period. A to-tal of 163,270 Australiansvisited the Philippines forthe same months in 2012.

The Bureau of Immi-gration also reported thatmany foreign tourists whovisited the country in 2012opted to stay longer or be-yond their visa validity.From January to December2012, the Bureau’s exten-sion office processed andapproved 172,055 applica-tions for extension, 13%higher than the extensionsgranted in the previousyear.

Hugtanong pag-atiman sa mgairo gi-awhag ni Dipolog Mayor UyDIPOLOG CITY -Mikabat sa 18 na ka mgairo ang kasamtangankarong gi-preso dinha saDiplog City Dog Poundnga nahimutang didto sabuhatan sa City Veteri-narian sa DipologSlaughterhouse.

Sumala pa nga kiningnasangpit nga mganadakpang mga iro angmahiuli lamang ngadto samga tag-iya niini pinaagisa pagkulat sa mga tag-iyaniini sa kantidad nga usa

ka gatos ka pesos, isip im-pounding fee.

Nasayran ning bu-hatan sa impormasyongikan sa buhatan sa CityVeterinarian pinaagi ni Dr.Russel Ganub nga angilang dog pound ningkasamtangan ang nag-kinahanglan nang ma-ayom-ayom, busa hug-tanong niyang gi-awhagkaron ngadto sa tanangmga tag-iya sa paglukat sailang mga binuhi kon kiniang nadakpan sa ilang

mga personahe.Subay niining pag-

hangyo, nagapahinum-dom karon ang inahanning dakbayan MayorEvelyn Uy ngadto satanang mga nanag-iya ugmga iro nga atimanon nilapag-ayo kini aron dilimaglatagaw bisan asasulod dinhi sa dakbayanug ila gayud ngapagasigurohon nga dinhalamang kini magasuroy-suroy sulod sa ilang mgalagwerta.

A boy plays his harmonica in exchange for coins in Zamboanga City. Many children inZamboanga resort to asking money or alms to help feed their family. (MindanaoExaminer Photo)

2 brothers who ganged upfarmer end up in hospital

PAGADIAN CITY – Twobrothers were woundedafter they ganged up on afarmer armed with a boloin the town of Guipos inthe southern Philippineprovince of Zamboanga

del Sur, police said.Police said the two –

Oliver Penazo and OlizerPenazo – were drunkwhen they ganged up onEmilio Vergara who waswalking home with his

wife. Vergara said he wasforced to defend himselfand his wife from the at-tack and hacked the duo.

Both brothers ran toescape from Vergara, whoimmediately surrenderedto the police after the in-cident.

The victims sus-tained multiple injuriesand laceration on the dif-ferent parts of their bod-ies and were rushed toMargos Regional Hospi-tal for medical treatment.It was not immediatelyknown whether thebrothers would file crimi-nal charges againstVergara. (Mindanao Ex-aminer)

Apr. 8-14, 20138 The Mindanao Examiner

2 collectors held up in Zamboanga SurPAGADIAN CITY – Twogunmen held up two col-lectors of a micro-financecompany in the town ofDinas in the southern Phil-ippine province of Zam-boanga del Sur, police said.

It said victims –Redwadbin Apaon, 23, andMarham Libre, 22, - wereheld up at gunpoint in thevillage of Lower Dimaya.The two men are workingfor the Taytay sa

Kauswagan, Inc.Insp. Ariel Huesca, a

regional police spokes-man, said the victims wereriding tandem on a motor-cycle when the gunmenblocked their path and an-nounce the stick up.

“Investigation dis-closed that the victims,while on their way ononboard of their motor-cycle, travelling fromBarangay Poblacion in

Pitogo bound to PagadianCity and upon reaching atsaid place, two unidenti-fied persons armed withhand gun suddenlyblocked their way thenpointed their guns to bothvictims and declared hold-up,” he said, adding thegunmen took the victims’collections amounting toP37, 000, including theircell phones. (MindanaoExaminer)

Freed Australian hostage unlikely to file charges vs Sayyaf

Photo released by the Western Mindanao Command to theMindanao Examiner shows freed Abu Sayyaf hostage WarrenRodwell is escorted by members of the US military inZamboanga City.

Grace Poe capitalizing on FPJ to the hiltDAVAO CITY – What is thereto boast? This is the ques-tion posed by voterswhether Grace Poe-Llamanzares would be aspopular as her stepfather ornot at all, but she is obvi-ously riding on the popular-ity of the late action kingFernando Poe Jr., to pushthru with her ambition tobe one of the 12 senatorscome the next Congress.

To begin with, GracePoe dropped her husband’ssurname “Llamanzares” inher campaign propagandaapparently to have a namerecall that she hopes totransform into votes sinceher father is very popularamong the MasangPilipino, according to po-litical analysts.

She knows very well,and others would definitelyagree, that she cannot makeit to the Senate without us-ing “Poe” as her campaignname. By doing so, GracePoe is deceiving theMasang Pilipino, who herstepfather loves so well.

Analysts said the only

thing that she can “boast”about was being chairmanof the Movie and Television

Review and ClassificationBoard.

In other words, GracePoe lacks the experienceneeded to become senatorof the land just like NancyBinay, daughter of VicePresident Jejomar Binay,who like Poe, is also eyeinga seat in the Senate.

Grace Poe became ac-tive in politics after shejoined several protest ralliesin various parts of the coun-try soon after FPJ’s death in2004 and the eventual dis-covery of massive cheatingpurportedly orchestrated

Grace Poe

by FPJ’s closest political ri-val, the former PresidentGloria Arroyo.

Political analysts said itwas evident that Grace Poejoined in the organization ofKontra-Daya, a coalition ofcivil society groups opposedto the 2010 electoral fraud,for her own personal gains,and that is to seek a seat inthe Senate come 2013.

“She is a nobody. Evenher credentials show thatshe is unfit to become asenator. What does sheknow about being a senatorwhen she had not even ex-perienced to become atleast a municipal councilloror even a barangaykagawad?” one observerasked.

“The voting populaceshould think not once, nottwice but a million times be-fore they consider her to thesenate. Sayang ang botonatin sa kanya (Grace Poe).We better give our vote toother deserving candidates.God save the Philippines ifshe should win,” he said.(Mindanao Examiner)

reed Abu Sayyaf hostage, Australian adventurerWarren Rodwell, is unlikely to pursue criminalcharges against his kidnappers despite earlierstatement by Philippine authorities.F

Rodwell, 54, went to theDepartment of Justice onMonday to sign his affida-vit of abduction, but StateProsecutor Aristotle Reyessaid the Sydney man has noplans of filing chargesagainst the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group,according to a report bytelevision giant GMA News.

“The purpose of the af-fidavit is for the processingof the investigation of thecase...so far, Rodwell hasnot decided whether topress charges (against hisabductors), but (his sworn)statement can be used bythe PNP to pursue a com-plaint,” GMA quoted Reyesas saying.

PNP refers to the Phil-ippine National Police.

Rodwell has evaded thePhilippine press and wouldnot talk to journalists whocovered his arrival at theDepartment of Justice.

Rodwell - kidnappedon December 2011 from hisseaside house in Ipil town

in Zamboanga del Sur prov-ince by gunmen who posedas policemen - was freed onMarch 2 after his Filipinowife, Miraflor Gutang paidP4 million ransom to theAbu Sayyaf, which origi-nally demanded $2 million.

Gutang claimed thatshe herself raised themoney by selling off theirhouse and vehicle and wa-ter refilling business inZamboanga del Sur prov-ince, but her story raisedmore doubts because shehad previously accusedRodwell of physical abuseand abandoned him daysbefore he was kidnapped intheir seaside house in Ipiltown in ZamboangaSibugay province.

Rodwell married theFilipino woman in June2011 after they met on theinternet. Gutang’s fantasticclaim of herself raising theransom was far from herprevious statement follow-ing Rodwell’s kidnapping inwhich she said in a radio in-

terview that “whoever hadkidnapped my husband, heis not rich. Return him to us

and please don’t hurt him.My husband is ill.”

General RicardoRainier Cruz III, com-mander of the 1st InfantryDivision, said the ransomreceived by the Abu Sayyafwould further threatenpeace and security in theMuslim province, sayingthe terrorist group wouldlikely to use the money to

purchase illegal weaponsand fund kidnappings andterrorism in Basilan and

probably other parts ofMindanao.

“We are worried aboutthis situation now because

the Abu Sayyaf may use theransom to fund terror ac-tivities and kidnappingsand endangering civilianlives,” he told the regionalnewspaper Mindanao Ex-aminer.

Gutang now lives withher parents – her fatherworks as a farmer andmother, a housewife – in amodest house in Nagatown. Both parents claimedGutang was a battered wife.She even filed police re-ports several times claim-ing she was allegedly as-saulted by Rodwell, andpolice said that she was alsoplanning to file chargesagainst her husband withthe Australian embassy inManila. Rodwell’s sisterDenise and his brotherWayne, who flew to Manilafrom Australia to be re-united with the freed ad-venturer, did not meet with

Gutang.President Benigno

Aquino has ordered an in-vestigation into the pay-ment of ransom to the ter-rorist group, saying, he hasnot seen any reports on theRodwell case. “I haven’t seena report from the concerned(authorities, the) PNP anti-kidnapping group and oth-ers,” he said.

Aquino said the govern-ment has a strict no-ransompolicy. “We don’t negotiatewith terrorists,” he said.There were suspicion theransom money either camefrom Rodwell’s family inAustralia or from the Austra-lian government and onlyused Gutang as a cover tojustify the payment to theterrorist group, blamed formany kidnappings andbombings in the southernPhilippines. (Mindanao Ex-aminer)

Philippines warns of onlinescam offering jobs in Portugal

MANILA - The Philippineshas warned Filipinos offalse job recruitment in Por-tugal following numerouscomplaints from individu-als who transacted withspurious companies offer-ing employment and work-ing visas over the Internet.

The Philippine Em-bassy in Lisbon remindedFilipinos to be extra cau-tious in making transac-tions over the Internet withspurious companies andindividuals offering em-ployment and issuance ofentry and working visas forPortugal.

It noted an upsurge inthe number of Filipinoswho were victimized orhave received emails fromalleged companies or lawfirms in Portugal which of-fer jobs or promise to pro-cess entry and visa permitsfor employment throughpayment of exorbitant feesthrough money transfer.

In some cases, unscru-pulous individuals have

misrepresented real andeven reputable companiesin Portugal by using infor-mation on their websitesbut replacing their contactinformation. It said theseindividuals require pay-ment of fees for "Entry-Clearance Certificates," or“International /OverseasEmployment Certificates"and "Affidavits of Guaran-tee Fund," all of which arenot required by Portugueseauthorities.

The Embassy said theIOEC that these unscrupu-lous individuals were ask-ing payment for is not theOEC legitimately issued bythe Philippine OverseasEmployment Administra-tion.

"The public is herebyadvised to exercise due dili-gence and caution in deal-ing with unverified partiesto avoid being victimizedby these scams. Be awarethat business companieswith international dealingsrarely hire employees solely

on the basis of a curriculumvitae but will always requirepersonal interviews."

"Prospective employ-ees should likewise be waryof job offers from individu-als who ask for fees for test-ing or processing of docu-ments prior to employmentbecause this is a sure sign ofa scam," the Embassy said.

The Embassy said it isnow coordinating with lo-cal police authorities andhas also requested compa-nies in Portugal to come upwith their own public advi-sories.

It said Filipinos whowish to travel or work inPortugal or have othertransactions may contactthe Portuguese Embassy inJakarta through, the follow-ing contact information:Embassy of PortugalJalan Indramayu No.2Menteng 10310Jakarta, IndonesiaPhone: +6-221-319-0830;+6-221-319-08022Fax: +6-221-319-08031.

9The Mindanao ExaminerApr. 8-14, 2013

President Aquino elated over InvestmentGrade Status by the Fitch Group

MANILA – PhilippinePresident Benigno Aquinosaid he is elated over thelatest Fitch Group an-nouncement that thecountry’s InvestmentGrade Status has been up-graded from BB+ to BBB-.

“This marks the firsttime in history that our na-tion has been granted in-vestment grade status by amajor credit ratingsagency,” he said, adding“this means much morethan lower interest rates onour debt and more inves-tors buying our securities.”

Aquino, in a statementsent to the regional news-paper Mindanao Exam-iner, said greater access tolow-cost funds gives morefiscal space to sustain andfurther improve on socialprotection, defense, andeconomic stimulus,among others.

He said: “More compa-nies in the real economycan now consider us an in-vestment destination. In-vestment grade for sover-eign debt should also leadto lower borrowing costsfor Philippine companiesin the international mar-kets, consequently allow-

ing for higher valuationsfor their securities.”

“This in turn enables

Pres. Benigno Aquino III

industries to expand andgenerate more jobs for ourcountrymen - fostering avirtuous cycle of growth,empowerment, and inclu-siveness that will redoundto the benefit of Filipinosacross all sectors of soci-ety.”

Aquino said the up-grade represents the per-ception of lessening risk inthe markets and it formal-izes the investment gradelevel at which the Philip-pines has already been se-curing credit.

“This is an institu-

tional affirmation of ourgood governance agenda:Sound fiscal managementand integrity-based lead-ership have led to a resur-gent economy in the faceof uncertainties in the glo-bal arena. It serves to en-courage even greater in-terest and investments inour country,” he said.

He said it is oneamong many other posi-tive developments thatdemonstrates the recla-mation of the nationalpride. He said what wasonce known as the peren-nial laggard of Asia is tak-ing off, and is acceleratingtowards its goal of an eq-uitably progressive soci-ety.

“The task now is to en-sure that expected inflowswill be used to maximumeffect towards a sustain-able, progressively em-powering economy. We aredetermined to build onour economic gains tousher in a society whereinevery Filipino, today andfor generations to come,may be given the where-withal to realize their fullpotential,” he said.(Mindanao Examiner)

Farmers in the village of Balaguiao in the town of Lambunao, Iloilo, show off their naturalgrown organic 1 kilogram tilapia fishes (St Peter's fish) caught in a water impounding systemafter a windfall catch. (Photo by Pinoy Gonzales)

For all you publications andadverstisements, pleae call(062)9925480 or log-in onmindanaoexaminer.com

Kayod para sa Sabah evacuees,dapat tutukan: Jack Enrile

Rep. Jack Enrile

NANAWAGAN sa pama-halaang Aquino si United

Nationalist Alliance sena-torial candidate Rep. Jack

Enrile na sana ay mabigyanng hanap-buhay nggobyerno ang dumaramingmga kababayang Muslimna bumabalik sa bansaupang matakasan angnagaganap na sigalot saSabah sa pagitan ng pwersang pamahalaan ng Malay-sia government at ng mgatauhan ni Sultan JumalulKiram ng Sultanato ngSulu.

Sa huling tala, mahigitnang 60 katao angnapaslang sanhi ng giyeradoon. Karamihan dito ayPilipino.

Nagpahayag ng pag-kabahala si Enrile dahil sasinapit ng mga Muslim samga apektadong bahagi ngSabah. Bukod sa reliefgoods at tulong pang-kalusugan, sabi ni Enrilemas mabibigyan nghanapbuhay ang mgadati’y may trabaho ngunitnapilitang lumisan sakanilang mga tahanan atpinagkakabuhayan.

Ani Enrile: “Malaki angmagagawa ng mga a-hensiya ng gobyerno, lalona ang Department of La-bor and Employmentupang maibsan ang hirapna dinaranas ngayon ngmga evacuee na na-dadagdagan ang damibawat araw.”

ARMM Northern Mindanao Davao Manila Zamboanga Peninsula

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General Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the Philippine Army's1st Infantry Division in Pagadian City, and Tourism AssistantSecretary Maria Teresa Sakkalahul burst out in tears as shedefended her husband, Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakkalahul, ofBasilan province in the southern Philippines, from accusations thathe pocketed part of the ransom paid to the terrorist group AbuSayyaf in exchange for the safe release of Australian adventurerWarren Rodwell. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Anti-Sayyaf ops launchedZZZZZAMBOAMBOAMBOAMBOAMBOANGA CITANGA CITANGA CITANGA CITANGA CITY – Y – Y – Y – Y – The PThe PThe PThe PThe Philippine militarhilippine militarhilippine militarhilippine militarhilippine military hasy hasy hasy hasy haslaunched an operlaunched an operlaunched an operlaunched an operlaunched an operation to capturation to capturation to capturation to capturation to capture the notore the notore the notore the notore the notorious leader ofious leader ofious leader ofious leader ofious leader ofthe al-Qthe al-Qthe al-Qthe al-Qthe al-Qaeda-linked Aaeda-linked Aaeda-linked Aaeda-linked Aaeda-linked Abu Sbu Sbu Sbu Sbu Sayyaf grayyaf grayyaf grayyaf grayyaf group tagged as behindoup tagged as behindoup tagged as behindoup tagged as behindoup tagged as behindthe kidnapping of Athe kidnapping of Athe kidnapping of Athe kidnapping of Athe kidnapping of Austrustrustrustrustralian advalian advalian advalian advalian adventurenturenturenturenturer er er er er WWWWWarrarrarrarrarren Ren Ren Ren Ren Rodwodwodwodwodwellellellellellon the southeron the southeron the southeron the southeron the southern rn rn rn rn region of Megion of Megion of Megion of Megion of Mindanaoindanaoindanaoindanaoindanao.....

The 54-year old Rodwellwas freed in Pagadian City inZamboanga del Sur provinceon March 23 after his Filipinowife, Miraflor Gutang, paidP4 million ransom to terror-ist leader Puruji Indama.

Gutang sought the helpof Basilan Vice Governor AlRasheed Sakkalahul in nego-tiating with the terrorists whooriginally demanded $2 mil-lion ransom.

“The operation hasstarted already. There is anongoing operation againstIndama’s group in Basilanprovince,” General RicardoRainier Cruz III, a regionalarmy commander, told theregional newspaperMindanao Examiner.

Cruz said the ransom re-ceived by the Abu Sayyafwould further threaten peaceand security in the Muslimprovince, saying the terroristgroup would likely to use themoney to purchase illegalweapons and fundkidnappings and terrorismin Basilan and probablyother parts of Mindanao.

“We are worried aboutthis situation now becausethe Abu Sayyaf may use theransom to fund terror activi-ties and kidnappings and en-dangering civilian lives,” hesaid.

Gutang claimed that sheherself raised the money byselling off their house andvehicle and water refillingbusiness in Zamboanga del

Sur province, but her storyraised more doubts becauseshe had previously accusedRodwell of physical abuseand abandoned the Sydneyman days before he was kid-napped in their seasidehouse in Ipil town inZamboanga Sibugay prov-ince.

Rodwell married theFilipino woman in June 2011after they met on theinternet. Gutang’s fantasticclaim of herself raising theransom was far from her pre-vious statement followingRodwell’s kidnapping inwhich she said in a radio in-terview that “whoever hadkidnapped my husband, heis not rich. Return him to usand please don’t hurt him.My husband is ill.”

Gutang, now lives withher parents – her fatherworks as a farmer andmother, a housewife – in amodest house in Naga town.Both parents claimedGutang was a battered wife.Gutang even filed police re-ports several times claimingshe was allegedly assaultedby Rodwell, and police saidthat she was also planning tofile charges against her hus-band with the Australianembassy in Manila.

On Thursday,Sakkalahul in a news confer-ence said Gutang – who wasnot invited by the Australianembassy in Manila to receiveRodwell – was no longer an-

swering her phone and herwhereabouts are unknown.

Rodwell’s sister Deniseand his brother Wayne, whoflew to Manila from Austra-lia to be reunited with thefreed adventurer, also did notmeet with Gutang.

“I don’t know what hap-pened to Flor or where she isnow. I keep on calling her onthe phone, but got no an-swers,” Sakkalahul said, add-ing Gutang never eventhanked him after the saferelease of Rodwell.

Sakkalahul now claimedthat his political foes arespreading lies in Basilan, ac-cusing him of taking a cut onthe ransom and even linkedhim to previous kidnappingsin the province.

“I strongly deny allthese accusations. I neverbenefited not even a singlecentavo in the ransom. Ihave no participation in anyof the kidnappings inBasilan. I am the committeechairman on the provincialpeace and order, and co-chairman of the crisis man-agement committee ofBasilan. This is politicallymotivated,” he said, addingthat his son, Kimhar, is run-ning for the vice gubernato-rial race in the province thismid-term elections.

“My only motivation inthe negotiation is to save thelife of Rodwell because thekidnappers will executehim, behead him on EasterSunday, if their demand isnot met,” Sakkalahul said.

He said it was also thesame for other kidnappedvictims - about a dozen of

them - in Basilan whosefamily he also helped.

Sakkalahul’s wife MariaTeresa, who is also the Re-gional Assistant TourismSecretary, also spoke aboutallegations against her hus-band and broke out in tearsas she defended him and herfamily’s integrity and honor.

“It was so painful to us.It is not true. My husband’sconcern as the vice gover-nor is only to save the life ofRodwell and other kid-napped victims. I just toldmy husband to be strong be-cause his conscience isclean, his heart is clean, hismind is clean and above all,God is with us, the truth iswith us,” she said.

President BenignoAquino has ordered an in-vestigation into the pay-ment of ransom to the ter-rorist group, saying, he hasnot seen any reports on theRodwell case. “I haven’t seena report from the concerned(authorities, the) PNP anti-kidnapping group and oth-ers,” he said, referring to thePhilippine National Police.

Aquino said the govern-ment has a strict no-ransompolicy. “We don’t negotiatewith terrorists,” he said.

There were suspicionthe ransom money eithercame from Rodwell’s familyin Australia or from the Aus-tralian government andonly used Gutang as a coverto justify the payment to theterrorist group, blamed formany kidnappings andbombings in the southernPhilippines. (Mindanao Ex-aminer)

Finally, Mindanao power crisis is now being addressedMANILA - PresidentBenigno Aquino said hisgovernment is working ona mechanism that will as-sist power distributionutilities to buy diesel-fedelectric generating plantsas an immediate stop-gapmeasure to the current en-ergy crisis in the southernPhilippines.

He said the Depart-ment of Energy presenteda plan that details how thegovernment could assistdistribution utilities inpurchasing generatingsets and using dieselpower plants are seen asthe quickest remedy to theMindanao power prob-lem.

"With these plants the

government could set theseup in six months to oneyear. Yung one year kasamana doon ‘yung four monthsna procurement nggobyerno. So we’re workingon the mechanism paramadala itong distributionutilities nitong mga genera-tors na ito,” Aquino told re-porters.

He said the govern-ment is working in an im-mediate solution that islawful.

“Ang state of emer-gency will only help interms of ‘yung baka masmapadali ang procure-ment. Ngayon, ayawnaman nating madaliingsobra na baka magkaroonng shortcut sa batas, tapos

sasabihin ng COA (Com-mission on Audit) hindipwede lahat ‘yan. Balik nanaman tayo sa wala,” hesaid.

“Gusto lang natin fromthe start, ‘pag na-deploy‘yan, talagang sumusunodsa lahat ng mgaalituntunin, lahat ngpatakaran, at lahat ng bataspara ‘pag naranasan na ayhindi naman mawawalakaagad,” he added.

The government re-sponse is also intended tomake sure that the upcom-ing elections will not be af-fected and all the votingprecincts will have enoughpower to transmit all theelection results, Aquinosaid.

But by 2015, when thepermanent plants start toproduce enough energy,the President said he ex-pects the Mindanao powerproblem to go away.

It takes between threeto four years to set up thepower plants, he said not-ing the earliest target dateis about 300 megawattsfrom coal-fired powerplant by 2015. Similarother plants will also startgoing online after that un-til 2017, he explained.

Also augmenting theinsufficiency of power inMindanao is the Iligandiesel power plant, whichhas been operating and re-turning to its rated capac-ity, he said.