Text, online scares go viral on 16th day of Zambo conflict

By Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - On the 16th day of the conflict, the local government of Zamboanga City has reiterated its appeal to the public to refrain from further circulating frightening text messages and online scares, since these would cause undue panic and fear among the already alarmed residents. The public is instead encouraged to forward these reports to the authorities who will verify their accuracy and perform appropriate measures. 

In a text advisory forwarded by City Hall PIO Sheila Covarrubias, it stated: “Please verify circulating text messages and online scare to our Police hotline nos. 117 or 166 and thru WESMINCOM at 09177950413. Spreading false info & unverified reports will only cause undue panic and fear. Residents are advised to remain calm but vigilant.” 

Yesterday (September 24), netizens and residents showed anxiety and fear through their Facebook posts; most have expressed  plans to leave the city immediately due to online scares that went viral on Facebook, in addition to the threatening text messages. Said scares alleged that more MNLF reinforcements may be infiltrating the city. 

However, in spite of the false scares, the text advisory assured that “our land, sea and air assets are alert and in place to maintain peace and order and to thwart any reinforcement from the MNLF forces that will try to come in our city.”

Security forces are positioned in key parts of the city, including in the city’s entry and exit points. 

Meanwhile, the imposition of the curfew continues from 8pm to 5am.

Yesterday afternoon, government forces once again conducted an airstrike against the remaining Misuari-faction MNLF fighters in the Rio Hondo-Sta.Barbara-Sta.Catalina area. The AFP reports that as of today, 103 MNLF fighters were killed, 46 surrendered, and 80 were captured (including 1 commander and 7 fighters who were arrested dawn yesterday in Martha Drive, barangay Sta. Catalina). 

The government forces have maintained a “constricting” strategy to pressure the remaining fighters to release the hostages and surrender, to finally have a peaceful end to the conflict. (PIA9)

PRC resets BLEPT in Zamboanga City, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo

By Alma L. Tingcang

PAGADIAN CITY - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced today that the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) in Zamboanga City, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, Sulu has been reset from September 29, 2013 to January 26, 2014.

In a press statement, the PRC and the Professional Regulatory Board for Professional Teachers have decided to postpone the scheduled exams in the aforementioned areas upon consultations with Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Tawi-Tawi Governor Nurbert Sahali and Sulu Governor Abdusakur A. Tan II.

PRC earlier declared that the postponement of the BLEPT was decided due to the limited access to air and sea transport services brought about by the armed hostilities between government troops and MNLF – Nur Misuari faction.

Another vital consideration  was the safety and security of the examinees and examination personnel. (PIA9)

Philhealth registers 25 million enrollees, says Sec. Ona

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Almost 25 million Filipinos in the country are enrolled and covered by the government’s universal health program.

This was announced by Health Secretary EnriqueT. Ona before a huge crowd of local chief executives,  government employees and Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT) members during the 61^st anniversary program of Zamboanga del Sur on September 17 at the CYC Sports Complex, Provincial Government Center, Dao, this City.

Ona, the guest of honor and speaker said with the increased number of  Philhealth members, a poor Filipino can now be admitted to any government hospital.

Ona said the President, who has a great compassion for the poor, increased the number of membership of families to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from 5.4 to 14.7 million. 

“President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has great compassion for the poor specially the poorest of the poor,  that is why he increased the number of  PhilHealth membership from 5.4 million families or an equivalent of 20-25 million Filipinos in 2013 to 14.7 million families or an equivalent of 50 million Filipinos in 2014,” Ona happily announced.

“The premium of poor people will be covered already by the national government,” Ona proudly said.

“With this development, I challenge the local chief executives of local government units to support the poor in their respective municipalities by enrolling them with PhilHealth,” Ona urged.

The DOH Secretary said the department  has applied the double-edged strategy to improve the health condition of the residents in the province.

“Obviously, the department applied the double-edged strategy to improve the health condition of our people. First, we improve the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center by providing health facilities, and second, we enroll poor residents to Philhealth to cover admission to government hospitals,” the DOH chief said.

Ona said that for 2014, the DOH has allocated P164-M for health facilities of the province, and P55-M for Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, while an additional P50-M is awaiting for the approval of the president.

In 2013, the department also allotted P156-M to subsidize the 137 facilities of rural health stations of the province,” Ona announced.

The department has intensified its preventive and promotive program to make sure that our poor people will remain healthy and strong. “A strong nation is propelled by its strong and healthy people,”  Secretary Ona concluded.   (PIA9)

Provincial Govt to join Alay Lakad 2013

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - The Dipolognons will be witnessing one of the most participated Alay Lakad in the city  this Sunday, September 29.

Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Uy issued Memorandum Order 07-13-276 directing all provincial government officials and employees to participate and be a part of Alay Lakad 2013 initiated by the city government.

Governor Uy issued the memorandum after Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy, who is also the Executive Chairperson of the Alay Lakad Council,  sent an invitation letter to Governor Uy for them to participate during the said activity.

It will start from Dipolog Boulevard at 3:30AM and will culminate at the Dipolog Sports Complex in barangay Olingan. This year’s Alay Lakad theme is, “Lakad Bayan Para sa Kapayapaan”

Alay Lakad, which is an annual undertaking of the city aims to generate funds for its scholarship program for poor but deserving and talented out-of-school youths.

The activity is one of the priority initiatives of the city government’s vision of  Swigapore 2030 to increase the number of the young and talented Dipolognons to avail of free college education.

Mayor Uy said this year, Alay Lakad Scholarship Program have supported 41 scholars who are enrolled in the different learning institutions in the city.

Aside from the officials and employees of the provincial and ciity government, the activity will also be participated in by barangay officials, national government agencies, civic organizations, non-government organizations, banking institutions, business groups, religious organizations, fraternity and sorority units, military, safety and security units and many more.

With the number of delegations who have expressed willingness to join the activity, this year’s Alay Lakad is projected to be the most-participated,  in the history of Dipolog.  

The Search for  Mr and Ms. Alay Lakad 2013 will be among the highlights. (PIA9)

Keeping a positive outlook and strong faith amid crisis

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Fourteen days into the crisis, the city, like a victim of a ship wreck, continues to swim into the shore for her life. Zamboanga continues to rise from the wrath and devastation wrought by the breakaway MNLF group of Nur Misuari.

 “Gusto ko nang mag-school,” (I want to go back to school), came from the little angel Tania, a 4-year old day care kid who was displaced together with five other members of her family when the MNLF siege happened in barangay Talon Talon dawn of Sept. 9.

“Miss ko na ang teacher ko at classmates . Gusto ko na mag drawing,” ( I miss my teacher and my classmates. I want to draw again) she lovingly whispered as she took out her paper and pencil with few pieces of crayon.

Tania’s mom, Jenny have been patiently tutoring her daughter everyday for two weeks now since the Zamboanga crisis erupted, a crisis that has paralyzed not only the economic activity of the city, suspended classes in all levels, but also practically placed the lives of the majority of the Zamboangueños to a temporary “stop.”

Papa Tan as his daughter Tania would call him, a casual employee, smiled a little and sighed when he checked his ATM card and found that his employer had already deposited his salary amounting to 4,000, an amount he considers a blessing specially at this trying time.

“Hindi tayo pababayaan ng Diyos,” (God will not forsake us) he said. “Minsan, pinapabayaan ng Diyos na mangyari ang mga bagay bagay dahil may dahilan Siya,” (Sometimes, God allows things to happen for a reason), words spoken by a pious man. Despite atrocities, he and his family maintain a positive outlook of how things are going and turning.

“Nandito pa kami ng pamilya ko, buhay, malaking blessing na po yan. Wala man kami sa tahanan namin ngayon, pero darating din ang time na makakabalik kami,” (My family and I are still alive, that alone is a blessing. We may not be in our home right now, but someday we will be able to go back home) with dignity and hope, Papa Tan reflected.

Papa Tan’s family is being sheltered by his sister in nearby barangay Tetuan. (PIA9)

PHL Gov’t allots P3.6 B for early recovery of Zambo City crisis victims

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said P3.6 B is allotted for the early recovery of the thousands of affected families due to the ongoing skirmishes between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari faction.

“The government has allotted P3.6 B for the rehabilitation of houses and initial livelihood of the affected families,” Sec. Soliman said during a press briefing last Friday (Sept. 20).

Soliman said they have allocated P100 thousand per house to help fire victims rebuild their homes but the money will not be directly given to them.

“May tulong silang makukuha for house rebuilding (They will get assistance for house rebuilding). We have allocated P100 thousand per house, but we want to give the assistance in accordance with the plan of the City Mayor and Council,” she said.

Soliman further explained that the allocation will be coursed thru the local government and the different concerned national line agencies, in partnership with the different Civic Social Organizations (CSOs) like Habitat for Humanity for the building of the houses.

The secretary said there should be a concrete plan to effectively implement the rehabilitation process.

“If we want to build back better homes, a very good plan will have to emerge to imagine these places in a way that everybody will be happy and proud of,” Soliman pointed. (PIA9)

Classes in Zambo City to resume Sept. 25

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - With a sense of normalcy  slowly being felt here, the city government issued this advisory on Sunday, September 22.

Public Information Officer Sheila Belen Covarrubias said classes will resume Wednesday, September 25 in both public and private schools that are outside “conflict” areas or areas of concern.

However, school officials were asked to report for work starting Monday, Sept. 23 and 24 “for an organizational meeting and preparations for class resumption,” Covarrubias said.

Department of Education (DepEd) division office is yet to issue specific guidelines, Covarrubias informed.

It can be recalled that Mayor Ma. Isabelle “Beng” Climaco on Friday (Sept. 20) said “the resumption of classes will likewise depend on the go-signal of our Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to ensure that it is safe for our children to go back to school.”

In preparation for the resumption of classes, Mayor Climaco urged the barangay officials, tanods and other force multipliers to take active role in securing the schools in their vicinity.

Meanwhile, mechanisms on how to help the affected students were set during the recent meeting of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, together with Sec. Dinky Soliman of DSWD.

It was decided that students, particularly those directly affected by the conflict numbering to some 12,000 will avail of the so-called Alternative Delivery Mode while those students who became hostage victims will avail of the so-called Distant Learning Mode. (PIA9)

Youth camp tackles arts for peace in Basilan

By Rene V. Caayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Selected young people from Basilan and Zamboanga converged at Tairan, Lantawan municipality in Basilan recently and engaged in various art workshops to express their aspiration for peace in the region.

Miriam L. Suacito, Executive Director of Nagdilaab Foundation said that the regional youth peace camp was conceived to showcase young people’s potential to promote peace by channeling their energies to meaningful activities, especially in the arts.

“They (youth) are the future. They easily absorb whatever we teach them. And they are also the most vulnerable sector in the community. If not given proper guidance, they may go astray,” Suacito explained.

She added that young people, with their innocent minds are aware about the challenges they are facing.

“Addiction (substance abuse) is one major problem that they have identified aside from concerns on terrorism, kidnapping, and poverty,” she noted.

“If we see these (issues and realities) at the same perspective, with proper guidance, in three years’ time, we hope that peace, understanding, and development will happen in this part of the region,” she added.

The four-day youth peace camp have engaged some 100 youths to learn the basics in art making and production, and use the art forms in expressing their aspirations for lasting peace and development in the region either through music, dance, visual arts, theater, and “origami”.

Moreover, organizers chose Tairan as an advocacy showcasing the positive side of Basilan, where first time visitors would be amazed by how a small community/barangay was able to implement “hard structures like concrete roads, DSWD and ZOPAD projects, among others that display the principles of good governance.”

“This is an advocacy, too, about the situation in Basilan in contrast to what is being depicted in the news,” Suacito said.

Suacito was grateful for the collaborative effort of three non-government organizations behind the Zamboanga Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) project, namely the Katingban sa Kalambuan, Inc., Peace Advocates Zamboanga, and WMSU ROOF. She said the project was funded by Agencia Español and Manos Unidas.

The camp was also made possible through the support of the barangay officials of Tairan, Lantawan LGU, Team Basilan, and the Department of Education. (PIA9)

ZamboSur’s Barangay Emergency Response Team holds First Congress

By Alma L. Tingcang

PAGADIAN CITY - Nine thousand members of the Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT)  convened at the  CYC Sports Complex, Provincial Government Center, Dao, this city for its First Congress on September 17, 2013.

Tasked to be the first responders in natural and man-made disaster in their respective barangays, BERT is a national strategy created to address the need for an on time response during emergency situations.

Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio H. Cerilles in his speech, recognized the vital role they play since they are in the frontline and  the first to know what happens and what goes on in their barangay.

“Remember that you have a very important role in nation-building. We are all Filipinos and we have an obligation to help our country. We should not settle ourselves with our regional representation. We should not say we are Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano or what. What is is important and foremost is that, all of us are Filipinos,” the governor said emphatically.

He said BERT members promote the right of the people to health and safety from all circumstances. They guard the peace and security of the barangay.

“We can do much to help President Benigno C. Aquino III. He needs your help. He needs your presence  in every barangay. He needs Filipinos who are strong and who have the heart to help our country,” he went on to encourage the BERT members.

Cerilles said although the elected officials in Zamboanga del Sur mostly belong to the Mationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC),  they have given their full support to the leadership of Pnoy because we are all Filipinos. He vowed his  sustained collaboration with the administration of PNoy until his term ends in 2016.  (PIA9)   

Zambo volunteers risk lives to keep evacuees safe, nourished

By Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - For one meal, eight sacks of rice and 1,500 cans of sardines are prepared by about ten volunteer- cooks at the evacuation center in the Zamboanga City High School’s main campus in barangay Tetuan. The viands would of course vary, but the amount of food prepared remains the same.

There are 2,295 people currently at this center, who are mostly residents of nearby barangay Mampang and Arena Blanco, where the gunfights and explosions have been intermittent but unremitting.

Janet Mohammad who is in charge of the food preparation committee said that the cooks, mostly women have been doing this for an entire week now on a daily basis.

On regular days, you would see them in teachers’ uniform, reporting to work at about 7:00 p.m. and leaving at 9:00 p.m. But now, they have been coming in as early as 5 a.m.; some leave after suppertime at about 9:00 p.m. Some would stay overnight.

Pacifico Dela Cruz, the schools administrative officer said that the evacuees started arriving Thursday last week when the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front and government forces was at its peak. At one time, bullets would zoom past the vicinity and hit the school buildings.

In spite of the risks, the school teachers have never missed a day in preparing the food.

But cooking is only one of their tasks.

Dela Cruz shared that in addition to the 15 teachers, 17 more volunteers composed of students and members of the school’s alumni association are also assisting the evacuees. Some of them, deputized as “peacekeepers” and armed with two-way radios are assigned to patrol the place alongside the soldiers. The volunteers work round-the-clock, who are in rotation for day and night shifts. They are always on alert since the conflict area is merely within earshot.

Arturo Cabidog Jr. of the City Legal Office has been volunteering since Thursday last week. He is responsible for the arrest of two suspected MNLF men, who came to the evacuation center claiming to be evacuees. Doubting about their responses to his interview, Cabidog asked them to open their bags. He discovered suspicious documents that had orders to “inflict injury if they refused to walk.”

He immediately reported his discovery to the police, who took the two to the Tetuan Police Station for questioning.

Dela Cruz said that the evacuees in this center are properly taken care of. City Social Welfare personnel are present to ensure that their psycho-social needs are met. Day care service is also provided for the children.

Meanwhile, at the neighboring evacuation center at the Immaculate Concepcion Archdiocesan School, 1,298 persons are accommodated. Here, members of the Knights of Columbus Centennial Council are assigned in different committees to see to it that the evacuees are safe and their needs addressed.

In addition to the KoC, members of the local Youth for Christ and the Tetuan Parish Youth Ministry help in preparing seventy kilos of rice for every meal as well as the viands, and distributing this large number of food to the evacuees. Their kitchen is located at the nearby St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, where one stained glass window was hit by a stray bullet.

Like in the ZCHS center, the volunteers here work round-the-clock. Sister Marian of the Biblical Apostolate says that other Tetuan residents help them prepare the food, among others, and that most do not go home for the sake of their displaced brothers and sisters in need.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports that as of this time, there are 56 evacuation centers scattered all over the city with over a hundred thousand registered evacuees. The number continuous to increase as each day passes.

The tremendous task of feeding and caring for these people remains and is increasing.

Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar had earlier expressed concern over the supplies and resources from the donors. “It is a reality that resources are depleting,” she said.

But one good thing about Zamboanga in the midst of this crisis is that the city will never run out of good, caring and noble hearts who risk their lives to help those who are victims of the tragedy.  (PIA9)

Zambo City standoff affects neighboring towns

By Mary May A. Abellon

DIPOLOG CITY - The ongoing crisis in Zamboanga City following the violent attacks by rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari faction has also taken toll on neighboring towns and cities in the region.

MNLF fighters stormed the bustling city of Zamboanga last Sept. 9, taking civilians as human shield, prompting most establishments to close shop.

The city, which is home to the regional offices of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), PhilHealth, Philippine National Police, Department of Tourism (DOT), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is now busy taking care of evacuees which now account for more than 100 thousand.

The standoff is causing a ripple effect on other places in the region. Dipolog City, for instance, which is eight hours travel from Zamboanga City has also been affected by the standoff, as certain food chains get their supplies from Zamboanga.

City Treasurer Sancen D. Caroro said that the release of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to the city government might be affected since the Department of Budget and Management would have to download the money through its regional office in Zamboanga City.

To avoid any delay in the payment of the salaries of its employees, the city government has used its local income for the purpose.

“The salaries of employees are from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) received by the LGU as a revenue share from the national government. It will come from the DBM in Manila and be downloaded to its regional offices. Since, the DBM regional office is in Zamboanga City and due to the recent crisis, we may receive it late,” Caroro said in an interview.

In another instance, a customer of one of the food chains here said most of the menus were not available since the ingredients have to come from Zamboanga.

On the other hand, the scheduled Sept. 22, 2013 DOST-Science Education Institute’s 2014 undergraduate scholarship exam on for Zamboanga City and the nearby provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi including in the cities of Dipolog and Pagadian was postponed due to the ongoing armed conflict in Zamboanga City. (PIA9)

Sheikh Mahir: an epitome of a true Moslem

By Noemi B. Edaga

Who would like to be labeled as an uprising leader? Sheikh Mahir asked this question in an exclusive interview by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-IX about his alleged involvement in an uprising.

The Sheikh in Mahir

 Sheikh Loderson “Mahir” Gustaham is a native of Pangutaran, Sulu but spent most of his time in Zamboanga City where he studied high school and college. He took his Masters in Education and Da’wah at the International Institute for Arabic Language of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan. Fondly called “Mahir,” Loderson is a sheikh, which literally means an Islamic scholar.

As a sheikh, he spends most of his time teaching in Madrasah and giving Islamic sermons in mosques. To date, he has a flock of about forty thousand Muslim youths learning at his feet the tenets of Islam faith.  

FB sensational Islamic Moro uprising

An esteemed member of the Datul Iftah or the House of Verdicts, Shiekh Mahir was chosen by the elders to give the Islamic sermon (Khutba) on Friday, September 13 at the Joaquin Memorial Sports Complex (grandstand). Lo and behold the following day, a picture of him taken from the grandstand was posted in the facebook along with the picture of Nur Misuari, allegedly calling for the Muslim youths to join the Islamic Moro uprising.

News shocked the Shiekh

Occupied with leading the Federation of Muslim Student Associations’ (FMSA)  members in distributing food, clothing and relief goods in the different barangay hall and school evacuation centers, Shiek Mahir, the FMSA  executive chairman, was shocked to know from his flock about him becoming viral in the social media instigating a Moro uprising. Contrary to the social media postings, Sheikh Mahir in his Khutba advocated for peace and volunteerism. He preached to the grandstand congregation the Islamic jurisprudence which is peace. His messages were “H’wag maging marahas. Be patient. Isantabi natin ang ating pagkakaiba. Magtulungan tayo upang makaahon tayo sa crisis na ‘to (Let us not be violent. Be patient. Forget our differences. Let’s help one another so we can rise above this crisis.)”

Clear my name

Mahir calls on those who used his name to ignite the already volatile situation in Zamboanga to clear his name. “H’wag nyong gamitin ang pangalan ko at ng FSMA sa pagpalaganap ng gulo dahil ang itinuturo ko sa mga bata ay h’wag maging marahas dahil ang turo ng islam ay kapayapaan (Don’t use my name nor the FMSA to propagate disturbance because I am teaching children to be peace-loving because Islam is peace.) (PIA9)