Anti-Moro homeland deal politicians put down MILF's Commander Bravo

Filipinos who strongly opposed the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front lower an anti-homeland deal streamer, which reads "Yes to peace, NO to BJE" and "Let us be united in the fight to retain integrity and sovereignty of Zamboanga City," from the balcony of City Hall. Photo below shows Mayor Celso Lobregat (center), North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol (2nd from left), Senator Mar Roxas (in blue shirt) pose for posterity with the folded anti-streamer that will be kept at the museum.

Political leaders who strongly opposed the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have put down a statement made by a rogue commander of the Moro rebel group responsible for a series of attacks in Lanao province.

At the same time, the anti-Bangsamoro homeland deal leaders downgraded the mass evacuation of thousands of people in the different parts of Mindanao as a result of the fighting between MILF rebels and government troops.

Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo of the MILF's l02nd base command has recently appeared on national television in full battle gear attire, flocked by his troops challenging government: "Ubusan ng lahi (blood feud)."

"It's easy to appear brave or even to sound brave but the question is can you really face off to the government forces and obviously they can't that's the reason why they're hiding," Piñol told reporters in a press conference at City Hall Wednesday.

Up to 500,000 people are displaced following weeks of fighting between government troops and MILF rebels in Central Mindanao. They are reportedly enduring poor health services and unsanitary conditions after fleeing the fighting.

But Piñol does not mind this. He said peace will only reign in this world if people stand up and say no. "If we say let's not put up a fight because people will go to the evacuation centers and people will die then we will be living in a world of cowards."

Piñol dared Commander Bravo's group: "If they're really brave as they claim they are, they would tell government 'okay I'm in this camp and get me. But when you issue brave statements and then hide under the skirt of your mother that's a different story."

For his part, Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat said a holistic approach and enforcement of the law not only focusing on social aspect are needed to attain peace in Mindanao.

"We're all for peace. You can't legislate peace. You can't force peace, but as long as there are kidnappers, there are terrorists there can be no peace," he said. "You have to make sure that the law is enforced. No one should be above the law."

Senator Mar Roxas depended the government and blamed MILF rebels for the evacuation of thousands of people in Mindanao, saying that it was not the government who started the problem.

"The fact that there are refugees, let us not use this so-called false argumentation that the reason there are refugees is the government's fault. That's false logic!" he said.

"These rebels, criminals are responsible for these evacuees and for the disruption of lives, deaths and casualties and these are the people responsible for the situation we have in today (in Mindanao)," he added.

MILF rebels, headed by Umbra Kato and Commandero Bravo, led their forces in a deadly rampage across several mostly Christian towns and villages in Lanao and other areas in Mindanao in August.

They claimed the attacks were in retaliation for a Supreme Court order freezing an MILF-government deal that would have given them control over an expanded autonomous region in the southern Philippines.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Piñol suggested that the only way to bring peace to Mindanao is for the government to take the problem seriously by starting with the idea of enforcing the law.

He agreed with the statement made by Senator Roxas, which proposes the deployment of police and soldiers all over the areas in Mindanao to enforce and implement the law to its full force that nobody should be exempted.

"That's the only way we can earn the respect of the people and that's the only we can bring back peace and tranquility to Mindanao initially, but at the same time moving forward you have to address the problems that result into conflict," Piñol said.

Thousands join peace walk, marking Mindanao Week of Peace celebration

Some youth who painted their faces and bodies while others with different colored flags as well as indigenous drums and streamers (with Arabic markings) are among the participants during the peace walk Thursday, which marked the start of weeklong celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace.

More than 10,000 people from all walks of life Thursday joined the “peace walk” in Zamboanga City, marking the start of the annual celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace from November 27 until December 3.

Youth, students, government employeesm, teachers, leaders of religious and inter-faith organizations as well as members from the multi-sectors took to the streets, carrying streamers with markings peace advocacy slogans.

Starting from the Petit Barracks, the crowd marched to the Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports Complex and gathered there to deliver a call for a peaceful solution to the conflict in the southern Philippines.

“It’s imperative on the communities of Christians, Muslims and Lumads to bring about durable and lasting peace through the integrity of mind and heart, humbly expressed in the reconciling process of repentance and forgiveness,” a joint statement of the Bishops-Ulama Conference said.

“Only this process, bolstered by socio-economic and political projects, can heal the wide wounds of the spirit. We urge all Mindanaoans, our fellow believers, to make this reconciliation process a top priority among our activities during the Mindanao Week of Peace 2008,” it concluded.

In an interview, Father Angel Calvo, president of the Peace Advocates of Zamboanga (PAZ), emphasized the need for the different communities, sectors and groups to engage positively in peace building and peace education.

“This is what we need. Learn about peace, learn how to build peace not only to dream and not only to complain against the officials for they’ve not done enough to maintain peace, but actively participating in peace campaign,” he said.

Atty. Manuel Mamauag, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights IX, on his part, called on the people to give peace a chance to change for a better.

“Why don’t we come out with an all out peace?” Mamauag asked.

He also advised the people to respect their neighbors and fellowmen since it is already an observance of respect for rights and rights to peace.

“Let the people be aware and have this consciousness, put in their minds and hearts,
peace is a result of respect for human rights,” he said.

“There is peace when you respect human rights and fundamental freedom,” the lawyer added.

"Integrity of Mind and Heart: A Way to Reconciliation and Peace" has become the theme of this year's Week of Peace celebration.

Kenney doesn't expect changes in policy on US troops presence in south

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney arrives in Zamboanga City to lead in the distribution of 250,000 books at the Book Fair organized by USAID's EQuALLS2.

US government officials based in the Philippines on Monday said they don't expect major changes in US policy toward the US military presence in the southern Philippines when US president-elect Barack Obama takes office on January.

Obama's perspective on the US-led global campaign against terrorism differs greatly from outgoing President George W. Bush. He calls for a complete withdrawal of American troops within 16 months.

"Let him takes office first on January. So we don't expect any changes. The exact things will continue both on the security side and development we're doing here," US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney told local reporters in an interview.

Kenney arrived here to lead the distribution of USAID's 250,000 books valued at US$10 million to over a 100 elementary schools in cities of Zamboanga, Isabela, and provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. She also graced the groundbreaking rites of the Zamboanga City Medical Center Birthing Clinic.

"Education is a future. Your children deserve of that. Here is a book represents of every kinds of learning and it's a great tool for your chindren. Use them, read them, read them and read them," she said.

When asked about the continued presence of US troops in Mindanao, she replied: "The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) determines whether we still have temporary support, and every indication that they still interested on that, so we'll continue."

Colonel William Coultrup, commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), corroborated Ambassador Kenney's statement saying that he does not think there's an overall pullout from everywhere.

"I mean every new administration has the right to change policy, but there's always a re-evaluation that constantly goes on," said Coultrup. "I think they're going to re-evaluate case-by-case (basis) every location."

He said that they're not aware of anything right now, although he's certain that there are options. "I think it will happen…we'll start to get an idea after January, once the new president has sworn in to office."

But Filipino political analysts believe that the marked change in policy would be seen in the US global campaign against terrorism, wherein Obama will put more emphasis on economic development to deal with extremism.

Some Philippine government officials had earlier said with Obama's presidency they expect no major shift in US foreign policy toward the Philippines considering it has been set a long time ago.

Others are eager to see an end to a US military presence in Mindanao they consider intervention in domestic affairs. They believe the humanitarian mission by American troops was a cover for counterinsurgency operations.

Tausugs restore Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam

Head of Tausug state. Datu Ladjamura Bin Wasik Adinda Aranan Puyo salutes during his installation as ruler of the newly-restored Sultanate of Sulu.

The United Tausug Citizens (UTC) restored their long lost sovereign Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam on Friday, installing Datu Ladjamura Bin Datu Wasik Adinda Aranan Puyo as head of state and interim government.

Thousands of ethnic Tausugs carrying their flags and streamers with markings "Philippines please out now from Sultanate of Sulu!" "Today colony, tomorrow a country" marched through the streets of Jolo town.

After marching, the Tausugs from as far as Sulu, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan, North Borneo (Sabah) gathered in Lupah Sug in the town of Indanan, the birthplace of the founding of Sultanate of Sulu in 1405.

At the gathering, they raised flag and saluted signaling the restoration of the Sultanate of Sulu and its government. Shortly after a flag ceremony, Datu Wasik was installed as head of state of the newly restored Sulu Sultanate.

A chief minister and ministers for defense, finance, foreign and interior as well as 15 mayors, 15 deputies, 150 village heads, 150 religious leaders, 120 police chiefs, and 5,000 police peacekeepers were also installed.

It was learned the rest part of Sultanate, its government structure will be restored soonest after the coronation of the rightful Sultan, to be held within forty-five days following last Friday’s 603rd Sulu Sultanate founding anniversary celebration.

The Tausugs' restoration of their sovereign state and governance was the first ever episode in the Philippines today, 62 years after the Filipinos illegally and militarily occupied the Sultanate of Sulu in 1946.

In a speech, Datu Wasik declared: "Ha adlaw ini, amo na ini in adlaw sin Tausug…nagbalik na kita niyo pa bangsa natu Tausug (today is the day of Tausugs and we have returned to Tausug state)."

"Ha adlaw ini Tausug na kita niyo…ha adlaw ini Sultanate of Sulu na kita niyo bukon na kita niyo Filipino (Today we are already Tausugs…today, we are already Sultanate of Sulu no longer Filipinos)," he further declared.

In an interview, Ibno Abdushahid Bin Ahmad Saudi, chief minister of North Borneo (Sabah), said that it was a legitimate move or right action for the Tausugs to choose the rightful leaders of the Sultanate of Sulu.

"This is the time for Tausugs all over the world to unite and support the Sultanate of Sulu. I hope and pray to Allah Subhana Wata'ala (the Almighty God) that what we have done so far would bare fruitfully," he said.

Stressing the existence of Sultanate of Sulu when there were no Americans, no Filipinos and Malaysians yet, he called on the Philippine government to “please, by all means, leave the sovereign Sultanate of Sulu peacefully!"

For his part, Atty. Meltino Jaujan Sibulan, lawyer of Tausug citizens, said that Datu Wasik, a legatee of “Second Heir Apparent” of Sultan Maharajah Adinda Rajamuda Bantilan, now functions as Sultan (ruler).

"Datu Wasik would be functioning the same local government or a regional government or a state government as before since the time of the first Sultanate of Sulu," Sibulan explained.

In November 17, 1405 A.D., Syed Abubakar Al-Marhom Shariful Hashim from Johore founded the Kingdom of Sulu Sultanate. He was enthroned by Tausug citizens as the first Sultan of Sulu Sultanate.

At the time of his arrival in Sulu, Islam was already anchored at Buansa village, having been introduced in 1380 to the Datus and their people by Sheikh Makhdum, an Arab missionary from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Sibulan said the functions of Sultan can now be exercised by Datu Wasik, adding that “since the Sultanate' de jure government is now exercising the acts of sovereignity, it is time for the Philippines to abandon the territory of Tausugs.”

"The justice has long been held hostage by the Republic of the Philippines. They have hostage the peace, freedom, and the sovereignity of this state and Tausug people. It's time to give justice to the Tausug citizens!" HG

Kidnapped Zamboangueña nurse freed in Basilan

Zamboangueña nurse Precious Feliciano, kidnapped more than four months ago, arrives at the Majini Pier, Naval Forces South Command in Zamboanga City, a day after she was released by her captors in Al Barka town, Basilan.

Kidnapped Zamboangueña nurse Precious Feliciano was finally released Friday evening by her Abu Sayyaf captors in the Municipality of Al Barka in Basilan, officials said on Saturday.

Ms. Feliciano was first reported missing by her family last July 7. A high school classmate of the nurse allegedly went to Feliciano's house and invited her to high school reunion.

Instead of a reunion, Feliciano was brought to Manicaan in Zamboanga City, where a motorboat had been waiting. She was reportedly taken to Basilan and turned over to the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.

Basilan Vice Governor Alrasheed Sakalahul said Ms. Feliciano was freed at Bohe Kassa, Barangay Magcawa in Al-Barka at around 9:45 p.m. after 124 days in captivity.

Precious' parents joined Sakalahul in fetching the 24-year old nurse who personally gave P200,000 in cash to the kidnappers as payment for "board and lodging."

"We were instructed by the kidnappers to proceed in that area, the same place, where we were able to get SP (Esperencita Hupida)," he told reporters.

The vice governor said he was not authorized to bring security to get the nurse. "I was only with my driver, of course my wife and the father and mother of the hostage," he added.

During an interview at Majini Pier in Naval Forces South arranged by Navy authorities, Precious did not answer some important questions by the media.

She, however, said her captors treated her well, provided her foods and did not hurt her. "Ok lang ta dale sila comigo kome. Ok el de ila treatment comigo alya. Hindi sila ta ase sinte duele comigo."

Mr. Feliciano, Precious father, said they're very glad now that Precious is already free from the kidnappers. He confirmed the reported P1.5 million ransom, which they gave to the kidnappers.

"Ya dale tambien kami board and lodging of P200,000. Previously ya dale ya man kami P1.5 million ransom," he told reporters.

He also admitted that her daughter's kidnapping greatly affected their family. He did not elaborate, but asked the government to eradicate the kidnappings.

Ms. Feliciano's release came a week after Esperencita Hupida, a program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI), was released by her captors last October 30, Thursday.

Hupida was abducted along with Millet Mendoza, another humanitarian worker, by Abu Sayyaf bandits one and a half months ago in Tipo-Tipo.

Mendoza's fate remains uncertain and also that of another kidnap victim, Joed Anthony Pilangga, and the Abu Sayyaf was reportedly demanding P7 million for Mendoza and P20 million for Pilangga.

"In the case of Mendoza, we leave that to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. For the other remaining hostage, we don't have any information whether he's in Basilan or not," Sakalahul said.

He declined to identify the negotiator of the MILF who is taking the lead in the negotiation for the release of the remaining hostages in Basilan.

"I give way (the negotiations for Mendoza's release) to the MILF. Ayaw ko rin naman ma jeopardize iyong kanilang ginagawa," the vice governor said.

Muslims in Tawi-Tawi celebrate founding of first & oldest mosque in the Philippines

Tubig Indangan (Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao). In 1380, an Arab missionary from Saudi Arabia named Sheik Karimul Mackdum reached Tubig Indangan in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao and supervised the construction of the mosque thus marking the introduction of Islam faith in the Philippines.

Thousands of Muslims from the different towns in Tawi-Tawi have gathered for two days in the island of Simunul participating in the celebrations on the founding of the first mosque in the Philippines.

The first Muslim mosque known as the Masjid Sheik Karimal Mackdum, which was built in Indangan village in the island of Simunul by the Arab Muslim missionary from Mecca 628 years ago, signaled the propagation of Islam in the Philippines.

Sometime in November 2006, the Senate approved a proposal to declare the Philippines' oldest Islamic landmark located in Simunul as a national shrine in recognition to the contribution of Islam in the development of culture and civilization in the country.

Since Thursday, people converged on an area close to Sheik Karimal Mackdum Mosque with a variety of activities dubbed as Ziarang Simunul or Visit Simunul, based on the spirituality and cultural integrity of peoples of Mindanao.

Local government officials said a fluvial parade of decorated Sama tribe bancas signaled the different activities leading to the Friday congregational prayer at the Sheik Karimal Mackdum Mosque.

"The heart of the campaign is a symbolic gesture that signifies unity on the various people of ARMM and affirms Islam as a religion of peace," the municipal officials of Simunul said in a statement issued to the media.

The campaign highlighted the social capital of Simunul, which included the national heritage of the Sheik Mackdum Mosque, the colorful dances and music of the Sama tribe, the food delicacies, and efforts to usher in socio-economic development in the island.

A food festival of local delicacies, participated in by 16 villages of Simunul, launching the compilation of selected verses from the Qur'an and Hadith which provide references for the imams in their sermons also highlighted the celebration.

The celebrations culminated with a community "big book" reading, said to strengthen the social cohesion through collective recollection of the history of the place and the people along with the cultural presentation on the history of arrival of Islam in the Philippines.

Development projects were also launched and presented on Friday by various donor-funded projects present in Simunul such as the ACT for Peace Program, Mindanao Rural Development Program, Growth with Equity in Mindanao and the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao.

Kapihan de Zamboanga
By Hader Glang

Barack Obama's election a triumph for black Americans

The election of Democrat Senator Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States is an amazing moment in American history.

This is an incredible accomplishment considering that never before have the Americans chosen a black candidate with Muslim roots to be president.

Indeed, the election of Obama is a long awaited triumph for the black American people who suffered much from slavery and oppressions by the whites in the past.

But his victory clearly indicates that America has come a long way since the dark time of segration, where the black people were treated like animals.

Some Filipino analysts had earlier speculated that a victory by Obama could lead to a reduction of American troops in Mindanao or even end their presence in the region.

I think this is more likely to happen because Obama wants to alter the US-lead global war on terrorism and the fact that he's calling for an end of war in Iraq, which was launched by outgoing President George Bush Jr.

But would this be a good thing or a bad thing for us? I think again we have to ask ourselves if the presence of US military here is not detrimental to our interest.

We have been hearing government officials saying that the strategic importance of the Philippines in America's geopolitics should remain constant and not lost.

Others say the US troops presence here and their non-combat assistance have helped prevent terror attacks and training and have neutralized Abu Sayyaf leaders and their JI cohorts.

On the other hand, diverse activist groups including Moro organizations demanded American troops involved in counter-terrorism exercises to leave Mindanao.

They said the humanitarian mission by American troops was a cover for counterinsurgency operations and amounted to US intervention in domestic affairs.

In light of all these issues, What is the best way for us? Should we demand Obama for a change in RP-US relations? Should we tell him to withdraw all US troops from Mindanao?

An Open Letter to His Holiness
Pope BENEDICT XVI
From the Office of Amina Rasul, Lead Convenor,
Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy

Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world's population in a well-interconnected world. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.

The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of the neighbour is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity.

Thus starts A Common Word, an enlightened document that honors mutual understanding and respect between the two religious traditions, and which has brought us here today.

It is with regards to peace and justice for Muslims and Christians that we from Mindanao, are writing you today. Justice has long been denied the minorities of the Philippines – both our Muslim brethren and our indigenous peoples' communities. Their oppression has led to armed ethnic conflict between the Muslim minorities and government. Peace processes and interfaith collaboration had successfully negotiated our differences which helped increase mutual understanding, re-establish trust, calm the situation for the sake of peace and preserve human dignity.

The war between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ended when government and the MNLF signed a peace accord in 1996. The war between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was on ceasefire, underway to a peaceful resolution when the MILF and government undertook a peace process immediately upon the signing of the peace agreement with the MNLF. Unfortunately, war has resumed after government withdrew from signing the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain in August.

Over the last two months, more than 100 have been killed and 600,000 have become refugees. While we believe that the MILF units that targeted the villages have engaged in serious violations of international law and should be held accountable, we are also seriously concerned about the formation of armed militia units with support from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The setting up of armed groups will not protect civilians as some local government officials believe. Rather, it will lead to more chaos, insecurity and division among local communities. The protection of civilians is the responsibility of the State and its security sector such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

We hope that Your Holiness could help us bring peace and justice to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao by expressing concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis and appeal for restraint for the protection of all civilians, as well as for the opening of access for the provision of speedy humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

As a concrete manifestation of how our faiths move us to help restore the dignity of our people in Mindanao by granting them their most cherished life in peace, we are making this appeal to Your Holiness to help us convince the government of the Republic of the Philippines and MILF to go back to the peace negotiation table as soon as possible. We believe that it is imperative that both government and the MILF share the responsibility for moving the peace process towards a sincere dialogue that reflects heavily the hearts and minds of all people who are affected by the escalating war in Mindanao.

Submitted in all respect and love to Your Holiness and in the name of the One Almighty God.

One of two kidnapped aid workers freed

Freed Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim Esperencita Hupida is greeted by Fr. Angel Calvo, president of the Peace Advocates of Zamboanga (PAZ) and head of the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFL), after a mass at a Marine chapel inside the Naval Forces South headquarters in Zamboanga City. HG

One of the two humanitarian workers who had been kidnapped one and a half month ago, apparently by Abu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom group, was released on Thursday in a remote area in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

The aid worker, Esperencita Hupida, who worked as a program coordinator of the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI), was released by her captors at around 2:15 a.m. after her family paid an undisclosed amount in ransom.

Initially, her captors had reportedly demanded P5 million for her release and threatened to cut her fingers if the ransom demand would not be paid before the end of this month.

"I was so afraid when they threatened to cut my fingers. The kidnappers are teenagers, but they treated me well," Hupida told reporters in an interview at the Naval Forces South headquarters chapel.

Wearing an orange t-shirt, Hupida together with family, friends and fellow peace advocates prayed upon arrival at a chapel in the Naval Forces South headquarters.

Father Angel Calvo, head of the NFI and president of the Peace Advocate Zamboanga (PAZ), and other Catholic priests led the prayer for Hupida's release.

"We're very happy and very glad...at least one of the victims has been released," Fr. Calvo told reporters in an interview after the mass.

"We would like to mention especially the marine brigade who has been very very helpful eversince from the beginning as part of the crisis management committee, as well as the vice governor of Basilan," he said.

The military said Hupida was released by her captors in Al Barka town to Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakalahul who turned to Col. Romeo Valdez of the 1st Marine Brigade.

"It was Vice Governor Sakalahul who turned over her to the brigade. After the turnover, she was given a medical attention before she was taken here (Zamboanga City)," said Maj. Eugene Batara Jr., Western Mindanao Command spokesman.

Batara added that members of the Crisis Management Committee in coordination with Sakalahul worked for the release of Hupida. He tagged Nur Hassan, an Abu Sayyaf group leader, as behind the kidnapping.

The kidnappers are still holding Millet Mendoza, a Manila-based freelance community development worker and former executive director of Tabang Mindanao, a non-government organization (NGO).

"Initial information that we received following the release of Hupida, the remaining hostage (Mendoza) was reportedly separated (taken to other area) by their kidnappers," Batara said.

Hupida and Mendoza were seized in the afternoon of September 15 in the village of Cabangalan, Ungkaya Pukan town. They were implementing humanitarian projects in Tipo-Tipo town when kidnapped. HG

Kapihan de Zamboanga
By Hader Glang

On the creation of third district

For the past several weeks, this corner has been dormant. Sorry for the absence, but I've been exhausted for quite sometime now, and I needed a break. Having recovered from this exhaustion, I am now back at the keyboard.

Anyway, let's tackle this issue on the creation of an additional district in Zamboanga City, which is being pushed by some power-hungry politicians here, invoking the Constitution and the increase of the city's population as basis.

While I respect the opinion of those people who move heaven and earth to create the third district, personally I am skeptical of this proposal. Sorry to say this, but I haven't seen a good reason why we need to create a new district.

We just divided more than a year ago our city in two districts and so far nothing really new as far as development is concerned. Progress is not really felt by the people despite the two congressional districts.

If you look at what's happening in our city, I'll just mention some of them – most barangay and farm to market roads are not improved, no standard terminal for bus, lack of schools in every barangay, short of medicines and health centers.

There are also no investments that will allow graduates to work their field of expertise, and power and water services remain very poor, many people are jobless, and the price of basic commodities is very high. Name it, we have it all here.

So what can we expect from the proposed third district? I don't think so that if nothing will be done now (creation of third district), history will judge the present leaders whether or not they have done something for the benefit of the next generations.

The real rhetoric here is whether or not our present leaders, who have full of promises, have focused on programs and projects that will address the real state of the city and spur economic progress in the two districts.

Our congressmen – Hon. Maria Isabelle Climaco and Hon. Erbie Fabian – are more than enough to represent the people of Zamboanga in Congress, particularly for the inhabitants of their districts and greater economic advancement of the city.

It's not really a matter of quantity of representatives, it's a matter of quality of representatives who can take our city to greater heights and produce something big in Congress that will benefit their constituents.

Look at all the major cities in Mindanao who have many congressional districts, the quality of life is very poor. This only means that if our city creates an additional district, life-quality including income per person goes lower and the city's income divides too etc…

We really have to ask ourselves. Is creating a third district will do good for the city or is it only for those power-hungry politicians, who are just after the pork barrel and concerned about their personal interest than the people's interest?

Have we already felt the progress in the two districts, where there are many socio-economic development programs and other indicators that improve the quality of life of the people? If not then, this is the issue that we have to raise to our present leaders.

Finally, we should be particularly concerned about the fact that power-hungry politicians who want to establish dynasty in the city might be the only beneficiaries of a new district. I hope this factor would be taken into account when consulted on the matter.

Activist groups conduct humanitarian mission in Cotabato, Lanao, Maguindanao

A joint team of activists in the country will travel to the conflict affected provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Norte on October 22-25, 2008 to provide humanitarian response to Moro and Christian evacuees there.

Dubbed as "The National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission (NIHM),' this is the first time since the government's all out war against the so-called rogue MILF rebels that has already claimed 83 lives as of September 21, many of whom innocent civilians.

The mission focuses on communities without or with the least access to assistance in the said three provinces. It will also document the extent and impact of the war and investigate the human rights violations and international humanitarian law violations in the areas.

The mission to the three provinces includes relief, medical, and psychosocial assistance. But because of limited resources, the NIHM will focus its assistance to five towns in Lanao del Norte and two towns in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Organizers said they have determined that these areas have received little or no assistance from government and non-government agencies, or have experienced discrimination in relief efforts. Many of these communities are remotely located and relief assistance is not easily accessible.

They said the mission will undertake its operation in the following areas with the corresponding number of IDPs. However, given limited resources, the Mission will have to focus on certain villages from these municipalities:

Lanao del Norte – Kauswagan (2,779 IDPs), Kolambugan (3,125 IDPs), Munai (2,012 IDPs, Poona Piagapo (619 IDPs), and Tangkal (1,503 IDPs); North Cotabato to Maguindanao – Pikit (7,938 IDPs), Datu Piang (5,739 IDPs).

Based on the NIHM data, it showed that some 528,053 individuals have been displaced by the raging all-out war in Mindanao. Children, women, and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the ongoing hostilities.

"They make up a majority of the 110,389 families in 354 villages mostly located in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Basilan. They are cramped into a total of 123 evacuation centers in all affected provinces," said Marie Hilao Enriquez, NIHM lead convenor.

She said more evacuation centers are being opened by government as of this writing, but a greater number, some 253,255 persons, are finding shelter outside evacuation centers with relatives, away from the services of government agencies and non-government relief institutions.

According to her, measles, common chronic diseases, diarrhea, and other illnesses have been monitored. Mortality among evacuees has been attributed by the government to lack of resources and lack of access to particular communities.

"This, as children struggle to overcome trauma (with government providing limited psychosocial intervention) and lag behind because of disruption of classes as schools are converted into evacuation centers," she said.

"Aggravating their conditions is the lack of medical personnel, the small ratio of available toilets to evacuees, insufficient garbage disposal, and the intermittent security and safety threats to evacuees resulting from skirmishes."

Some 202 houses of civilians have been totally razed. More than 120 million pesos worth of public and private property has been damaged, including schools, livestock and crops. Hostilities--- which include aerial bombardments, shelling, and massive troop deployment-- have created this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The pursuit of MILF rebels allegedly responsible for criminal attacks against civilian populations has left a trail of massive internal displacement and has spawned more violations to human rights and international humanitarian law.

The impact of the one-tracked objective of the AFP to get at all cost MILF commanders Bravo and Ombra Kato--- alleged to have killed civilians, burned houses, and committed other atrocities--- has far cancelled out its purported aim of protecting civilian populations.

"This complex emergency is expected to turn for the worse as there seems to be no end to the fighting. Already, 50% of the combat capable forces of the AFP are deployed in Mindanao," Enriquez said.

The peace negotiations, where hostilities are governed by existing agreements, are in limbo with the dissolution of the government's peace panel and the government's transformation of its peace policy into Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR).

Leaders of Karapatan, Kawagib Moro Human Rights, Children's Rehabilitation Center – Southern Mindanao, Health Action for Human Rights, Bayan Muna Suara Bangsamoro, Kalinaw Mindanao, and Gabriela Women's Party have organized the humanitarian mission.

They will make a public presentation of the initial reports of the NIHM on October 24, 2008 in the morning at El Comedor Grille, Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City with panel of speakers and presenters from the different activist groups.

Asian youth leaders call for peace in south

The four-day Asian Religious Youth Leaders Summit in Davao City concluded Friday with strong calls for peace, justice and development, and the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao between government forces and Moro rebels.

Youth leaders said, "We, the religious youth leaders in Asia, strongly appeal to pursue the Mindanao peace process, with honor and dignity, and call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Mindanao."

They also called for the return of all stakeholders to the negotiation table and to the path of peace, adding that the many years of painstaking efforts and progress between the government and various stakeholders should not been overlooked and abandoned.

They believe that the resumption of the peace negotiations between all parties at stake is imperative in truly attaining a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

"We, bearing witness to the extreme conditions of the people of Mindanao, urge the government of the Philippines to intensify its efforts to care for the more than a half a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a humanitarian crisis looms in front of us."

They also urged the United Nations to review the situation and take relevant actions as the number of IDPs continues to grow and called on the security forces to respect international norms pertaining to existing evacuation centers and to allow free access to aid for the people in Mindanao.

"We, seeing the people in Mindanao, who are suffering as a result of the conflict and as a result of decades of neglect, call for justice for the marginalized Mindanao, which is lacking good education, jobs for youth, and are living in poverty. Without justice there can be no peace."

At least 90 Asian youth leaders from different faith-based and grassroots-based organizations in Asia made the statements during the four-day meeting at the Brokenshire Resort and Convention Center in Davao City on Thursday.

Participants to the summit came from New York - USA, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Australia, Nepal, and Philippines representing different faith traditions - Islam, Christians, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Shinto, Sikh, Zoroastrian and the indigenous.

They also vowed to find ways to be able to present the three documents during the forthcoming Asian Summit in Thailand on November this year.

Three historic documents were approved during the summit such as (1) Urgent Appeal for Mindanao (2) Statement of the Asian Youth Religious Leaders Summit and (3) Local, National, Asian and Global Action Plan.

The documents will be presented to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by the participants in Manila this week.

US launches airport, water projects in SuluUS Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney (2nd from right) and Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan (3rd from left) lead the groundbreaking for the Jolo runway improvement project. The airport project, a partnership among the Department of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Sulu provincial government and USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, will replace and widen the asphalt runway, and extend it from 1,200 meters to 1,845 meters, to ensure safer airport operations and higher-capacity air linkages between Sulu and the rest of the country. Joining them for the ceremony on October 14 were (l-r): USAID Mission Director Jon Lindborg, Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula, Governor Abdusakur Tan, and Undersecretary Nabil Tan of the Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process.

The United States government has started implementing another projects in coordination with the Provincial Government of Sulu to improve the Jolo town airport's runway and provide potable running water to the people.

No less than, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney and Sulu Provincial Governor Abdusakur Tan led the launching of the projects in Jolo airport on Tuesday, with top military officials.

The runway improvement project will replace and widen the existing asphalt runway and extend it from 1,200 meters to 1,845 meters to help ensure safer airport operations and higher-capacity air linkages.

"This will improve development and give the citizens of Jolo a chance to be connected to the rest of the Philippines," said Ambassador Kenney. "More importantly, it will give the rest of the country and the world a chance to discover Jolo."

Total air passenger traffic to Jolo grew 30 percent in 2006-2007, making it difficult at times to get seats on existing flight routes, while cargo movement more than quadrupled, according to data from the Air Transportation Office.

In addition, the water project will upgrade the current pumping system by constructing a 200-cubic meter concrete reservoir, installing transmission pipelines totaling 2.5 km, and replacing distribution pipelines and defective meters.

The project will enable the Jolo Mainland Water District to provide potable running water to approximately 70,000 residents of Jolo and adjacent barangays in Indanan and Patikul.

"This will answer a basic need of our people," said Governor Tan at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The airport improvement project is being completed in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the provincial government and USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

The water project, meanwhile, will be undertaken through the joint efforts of Sulu's provincial government, Local Water Utilities Administration, Jolo Mainland Water District, and the GEM Program.

"America is proud to be among the many partners in this project," Kenney said, thanking all agencies involved.

The US Ambassador also visited the Mohammad Tulawie Central School, a beneficiary of USAID education and workforce preparation assistance.

She also met with 90 high school students from various locations in Jolo who are participating in a U.S. Embassy funded two-year English Access Microscholarship program, at the American Corner at the Notre Dame de Jolo University. Press Release

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Non arrival of a batch of 400 deportees from Sabah cast doubts on migrant group

Some of the deportees from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who arrived in Zamboanga City on Saturday.

The non-arrival of Filipino deportees from Malaysia to Zamboanga City on Saturday has cast doubts on a women’s and migrant groups’ fact-finding mission.

Migrante chairperson Connie Regalado said about 400 deportees from Sabah were scheduled to arrive in Zamboanga City, but for unknown reason this was canceled.

The group, which is looking into the plight of deportees from Sabah, was supposed to conduct an actual investigation with the deportees in the pier.

“We expected for their (deportees) arrival aboard Weesam fastcraft but there were conflicting statements of the RP-Malaysia inter-agencies committee officials,” said Regalado.

“It seems to me they are (inter-agencies committee officials) trying to mislead us so we can’t talk with the deportees,” she added.

With this, Regalado said the government has exposed further its insufficiency in terms of giving assistance or support to Sabah deportees.

“What happened on the supposed arrival of deportees It cast serious doubts on us that they directly transport the people to Bongao or other places,” she added.

The port of Zamboanga City serves as the transit point for deportees since Malaysian government began its crackdown in 2000.

Thousands of Filipinos who have illegally worked in Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Sandakan and other states in Malaysia were arrested and incarcerated.

But they are being deported every week from Sabah to Zamboanga City.

The first two fact-finding mission of Migrante held in 2002 and in 2005 found out that deportees suffered inhumane treatment while inside jam-packed detention centers.

Worst is that Filipinos deported to Philippines remained homeless and lacked livelihood support from the government.

Also women became victims of sexual harassment and sex trafficking and there were a high number of migrants’ children born without documents.

Migrant group urged the government to welcome non-government organizations to help the plight of deportees if it’s really committed addressing the plight of migrant workers.

“They’re the one saying that NGO’s are their partners but in this case they are hiding us the truth about the deportees from Sabah,” Regalado said.

Regalado said the government’s uncooperative stance with the fact-finding mission only showed that it’s not concerned with the plight of Filipino workers in Sabah.

Despite this, she vowed to pursue the fact-finding mission to give justice and relief to deportees who have been neglected by the government.

“We are united and determined to pressure the government to take appropriate action on the cases of deportees from Sabah,” she concluded. (HG)

Migrante: RP-Malaysia migrant working group only on papers, not working

Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado (center), Gabriela Party-List Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (right) and Arleen Alonzo of the Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia (ARCSEA) hold a press conference with local reporters in Zamboanga City.

The working group created bilaterally by the Philippines and Malaysian governments regarding the migration problems between the two countries is only on papers and it's not really working, women and migrant groups said here on Saturday.

In a press conference, Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said officials of this inter-agency committee do not have coordination whatsoever with Malaysian government.

"Iyong itinayong RP-Malaysia working group on migrants failed to address the human rights violation committed against deportees in Sabah. Naglilista lang sila (inter-agency committee officials) ng dumarating na deportees," Regalado said.

She said they're only functioning based on what their agencies can do without coordinating them with the government that is supposed to be their partner, adding that representatives from the agencies involved in the said committee didn't even mention on how the RP-Malaysia working group is working.

The migrant leader also said member agencies of the inter-agency committee themselves are not coordinating their actions regarding the deportation of thousands of undocumented migrant Filipino workers in Sabah, Malaysia.

Citing the Department of Labor and Employment, which heads the committee, she said it's only concerned on how the deported undocumented Filipinos can go back to work in Sabah and the same goes with the DFA, whose job is to process working visas so that deportees can go back to Sabah.

"The government is putting band aid solutions to long standing problems regarding the issue. The problem is that Filipinos keep coming back to Sabah because they can't find jobs in the Philippines. They also seek refuge because of the historic and ongoing war in Mindanao," she said.

Regalado also scored the so called livelihood projects of government agencies for the deportees.

Migrante together with Grabriela Party-List Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, Engender Rights Inc. Executive Director Atty. Clara Rita Padilla and Arleen Alonzo of the Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia (ARCSEA) is conducting a fact-finding on Sabah deportees in the city.

The fact-finding mission arrived here on Friday and conducted an ocular inspection of the Center for Displaced persons for deporteesin Barangay Mampang, this city that is run by the Department of Social Work and Development.

In its initial findings, the group found out that most of the deportees still staying at the center are from Mindanao and that cases of deaths, suicide and violations of human rights were left unrecorded especially if this occurred during detention in Malaysia.

For her part, Gabriela Rep.Ilagan expressed her support to file charges before the UN if the evidence gathered proves neglect on the part of the national government to protect the rights and welfare of deportees.

She said the national government up to now, has yet to present any concrete system to address the problem on why the deportees continue to go back to Malaysia to work. (HG)

Anti-war coalition groups score LOVFA's findings that no US bases in Mindanao

A broad anti-war coalition uniting over sixty organizations around the country on Friday scored the LOVFA's pronouncement that the stay of American forces in the country is legal and that there are no US bases in the South.

"This is clearly a case of feigned ignorance at best or a deliberate cover-up at worst," said Mitzi Chan, one of the Stop the War Coalition-Philippines' spokespersons, in a press statement issued to this reporter via internet mail.

"The LOVFA members are either blinded by their ideological preference for US basing or by the Philippine military's dependence on US military aid, genuinely ignorant of the ways by which the forms of US basing have been transformed in recent years, or are deliberately attempting to cover-up the US bases in order to perpetuate their stay," Chan added.

"Senator Biazon could not be unaware that the US military has been transforming the form that US military bases take. They may no longer look like Subic and Clark, they may not fly American flags – but they are still US bases in essence and purpose regardless of the nomenclature that pro-US politicians prefer," Chan argued.

According to Chan, "What the US has in Zamboanga City – in the form of the JSOTFP's headquarters inside Camp Navarro – is exactly the kind of bases that the framers of the 1987 Constitution had in mind when they decided to ban the presence of foreign bases in the country."

Chan dismissed Biazon's statement that "American facilities are administrative in nature and not combat in nature" as particularly "lame."

Assailing Adan's efforts to sell US presence to the public, Chan said, "The VFA commissioner has an impossible job: On the one hand, he is mandated to go after Americans who commit any wrongdoing in the country. On the other hand, it also appears to be his task to tell the public that the Americans can't possibly do anything wrong."

Stop the War Coalition challenged other Senators and Congressmen to stand up for peace and for the constitution by seeing for themselves how it is violated by visiting the US facilities in the South.

It also supports calls for an independent investigation, saying the LOVFA's pronouncements at this stage indicate how compromised its conclusions may be, given that Biazon was one of the main proponents of the VFA. Press Release

RP Congress probe finds no US military basing, permanent stay in Mindanao

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, co-chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee on Visiting Forces Agreement, asks an American military officer during an ocular inspection of the US facilities in Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

The American facilities here are administrative in nature and not combat operational in nature. It is administrative in nature. These are our preliminary findings, Senator Rodolfo Biazon said Thursday.

Biazon, co-chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreements, explained that all of these US government facilities constructed here are all inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases.

“So, as a former soldier, it is difficult for me to make a conclusion that the Americans have established their own military bases here,” said Biazon, who was a former AFP chief of staff during President Cory Aquino’s administration in 1991.

But he made clear that they would continue to evaluate their initial findings. “The sub-committee will provide a report to the mother committee and that will be discussed within that mother committee, subsequently.”

The fact-finding team was organized by the Senate and the House in respond to the allegations on the setting up of US military bases in Mindanao and the involvement of American troops in actual combat operations.

The team has inspected American facilities inside Edwin Andrews Air Base in Sta. Maria, Camp Arturo Enrile in Malagutay, the Western Mindanao Command in Upper Calarian district, and Naval Forces-Western Mindanao in Calarian.

Its initial findings contradict the members of Citizen’s Peace Watch’s findings from its fact-finding mission, which claimed to have seen with their own eyes and to have pictures of the US military structures inside camps in Zamboanga City.

The coalition group, formed by diverse non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Moro groups, political party-lists and leftists, to monitor what it fears as the growing and permanent US military presence in the Southern Philippines.

Meanwhile, Cebu (2nd District) Congressman Antonio Cuenco, who co-chairs the LOVFA in the House of Representatives, said they have not found any violations in so far the VFA agreement between the US and the Philippines is concerned.

“For example, the allegations that the US forces were engaged in espionage which is an act of war. We can’t find that as an act of war,” Cuenco told reporters at a press conference inside the Western Mindanao Command headquarters.

He said the US forces are providing Filipino soldiers with intelligence information regarding the activities of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf, which has links to the Al Qaida militant group.

“Those are enemies of the Philippine Republic and we are happy to be able to get information from any source whatsoever so that we can attend our objective in demolishing these enemies of our state,” he added.

So far, according to him, they have not seen any veracity of the anti-US troops’ accusations against the Americans. “We are very careful of the facts (information) that we are getting from the fact-finding mission.”

For his part, Ret. Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, now defense undersecretary and executive director of the Presidential Commission on VFA, said they have not found any basis for the allegations in previous hearings.

“Is not factual. The reports are not substantiated, however we would be continuously getting observations, comments and reports so that we can have a factual and good assessments on this probe,” he said.

Biazon, meantime, vowed that he would personally make a move in Congress through democratic process to abrogate the VFA if there is a finding that indeed the Americans violated the provisions of the agreement.

“Six months only, we can abrogate the agreement unilaterally in case we are convinced that there is a violation of the agreement that is specified for in one of the penultimate articles in the VFA, but there’s no violation yet,” Cuenco supported Biazon’s statement.

Zamboanga City Congressman (2nd District) Erbie Fabian lauded the American troops in Mindanao, saying they are doing a great help for the region in terms of helping the Philippine military and humanitarian services.

“However, what I have been telling you earlier that their (US forces) stay here should be within the confines of the provisions of the VFA. No overstaying and no other violations,” Fabian reiterated.

But the Citizen’s Peace Watch considered the US military's so-called humanitarian projects as mere cover for military operations, saying that it do not benefit the local population.

The coalition group said US basing and intervention in the country is contributing to insecurity and leading to an escalation in conflict. It also demands the suspension of US military deployment to the Philippines, specifically the stationing of the JSOTF-P as well as the military exercises. (HG)

100 groups call for US troops’ withdrawal from Mindanao

Photo courtesy of Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization.

As Congress investigates US military presence and actions in the Philippines, over one hundred organizations have come together to demand the “immediate withdrawal” of US military forces from Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

Saying that the US’ involvement in the war “can no longer be denied,” the groups said in a common statement that the US “further contributes to escalating and exacerbating the violence and insecurity in Mindanao, drawing parties towards all-out war, away from a just and peaceful resolution.”

Among the signatories were youth, students’, workers’, womens’, farmers’, artists’ and professional groups – including Christian and Muslim organizations. There were non-government organizations, human rights, relief and humanitarian groups, political parties, social movements, as well as networks and coalitions which bring together dozens of grassroots organizations coming from Mindanao but also beyond.

Disputing official explanations as untenable, the groups said: “In joining Filipino troops in their operations, providing them information, locating bombs, rescuing casualties, or giving technical assistance, the US military is clearly involved in actual combat in the Philippines. In stationing troops and equipment in various military facilities in the south, the US has established permanent basing in the country.”

To resolve the conflict in Mindanao, the groups call for an agreement “that would genuinely advance the Moro's and the indigenous people's right to self-determination -- as they themselves define it, free from others' imposition and intervention." Press Release

House okays proposed P9.7 billion ARMM budget

The sub-committee of the committee on appropriations of the House of Representattives approved Wednesday the budget proposal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for 2009.

The 9.7-Billion proposed budget is higher by at least 11% than the region’s FY-2008 budget. The allocation is expected to respond to the needs and demands for development in the area of autonomy.

The regional government placed emphasis on addressing priority areas such as health and basic education and infrastructure. However, the increase would barely make up for the urgent relief and rehabilitation needs of certain areas in the region.

The ongoing military pursuit against elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has displaced thousands of civilians and damaged properties including social infrastructures in the provinces of Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan.

ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan has already provided 3-Million pesos drawn from his special purpose fund to extend aid to families affected by the war.

Almost 70% of the proposed budget would go personnel services, only 12% will be used for capital outlay and the rest for maintenance and other operating expenses.

Members of the sub-committee, which is chaired by Tawi-Tawi Congressman Nur Jaafar, unanimously approved and endorsed the FY2009 proposed ARMM budget.

“We like to keep the pace of development we’ve introduced. The proposed budget is crucial in determining the kind and level of intervention that we can provide to address the pressing needs of the region,” Ampatuan said.(BPI-ARMM)