Homes burned as MILF raids North Cotabato village

COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- Skirmishes in North Cotabato province between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and government militiamen resumed early Monday after some 100 rebels raided a remote village Sunday night, burning houses and sending residents fleeing, authorities said.

The militiamen and Moro rebels have been engaged in sporadic fighting over the past two days that has killed two civilians and forced 5,000 civilians to evacuate.

Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers have been dispatched to try to pacify the clashing groups.

Ando said the military is preparing to file a protest against the rebels but warned that a full-scale government offensive might be launched if the MILF’s “harassment” continues.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied the rebels initiated the hostilities and claimed the militiamen attacked first. "The militiamen attack[ed] our position, we only retaliated," he said.

He added that appropriate action has been adopted by a joint government-MILF ceasefire committee.

The rebels were trading shots with some 50 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Barangay (village) Bagolibas, Aleosan town, and in Barangay Baliki in Midsayap.

About 20 houses were torched by guerillas in nearby Barangay Bagolibas on Sunday although a militiaman told radio dxMS that 30 homes had been burned.

"They have been firing at us but we do not retaliate," the militiaman said, adding that soldiers and policemen have taken up defensive positions.

Aleosan Mayor Loreto Cabaya said there were no face-to-face skirmishes, only intermittent gunshots from either side.

However, the mayor said they had been "left to defend ourselves using our resources" and that the rebels had taken away villagers’ work animals.(Edwin Fernandez; INQ.net)

Measure to defer ARMM polls 'dead in the water' in Senate

An administration senator from Mindanao, who earlier expressed willingness to support a measure that would postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, backed out on Tuesday after failing to get the support of other lawmakers.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said the move to postpone the election is "dead in the water in the Senate." He said that with only five session days left it is "logistically impossible" to amend the law setting the date of the ARMM election scheduled on August 11.

In the House of Representatives, a measure seeking the postponement of the election also suffered a setback after Mindanao lawmakers failed to agree to support the bill.

A two-hour, closed-door caucus by the Mindanao bloc led by Speaker Prospero Nograles failed to resolve the issue after only 14 lawmakers voted in favor of the postponement while 14 disagreed and five abstained.

The so-called Mindanao bloc in the House of Representatives has 57 members.

Nograles, however, said he would ask President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to certify the bill. After the caucus of the Mindanao bloc Tuesday afternoon Nograles met with congressmen from ARMM who agreed to move for the postponement.

“In my private meeting now with all the ARMM congressmen who are most directly affected, their unanimous decision is to move to postpone the elections," Nograles was quoted by news reports.

Time running out

Rep. Simeon Datumanong, deputy speaker for Mindanao who co-authored the bill, admitted that time is running out to pass the measure.

Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco of Zamboanga City, who is against of the deferment of the election, is confident that it will push through on August 11.

“I don’t think it will prosper because of lack of material time, hayaan na lamang natin sila na matuloy ang elections," Climaco said.

Hermogenes Esperon, presidential adviser for the peace process, was present during the caucus. He maintained that the postponement of the election in ARMM is necessary to give the government time to pursue the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“[The suspension of the election] will give us space and better time to discuss the final details of a peace agreement," Esperon said.

Earlier, Climaco and Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said the Commission on Elections has already spent P1 billion for the automation of the ARMM polls.

“The one billion peso has been released for Comelec. Do we just change the date set?" Climaco said. “We need a credible poll body and this is their chance to prove it to us," she added.

Mendoza said her province has become a victim of election-related violence because of the MILF demand.

“I'm not in favor for the postponement in sympathy to my constituents in Cotabato, particularly the municipalities of Aleosan, Midsayap and Pikit that suffered the most in terms of civilian casualties," she said.

Arroyo silent

During President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, she pitched the peace accord with the MILF but chose to remain silent on the ARMM elections postponement.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Zubiri's backtracking was an apparent realization that the Palace cannot force the issue.

“It looks like [President Arroyo] realized she can’t just please Esperon at the expense of public interest," Pimentel said.

Pimentel, who had allied himself with those against the postponement of the election, said the plan to postpone the ARMM polls could be a ploy to extend the terms of those who are abusing their office and the good ones who want to serve will be prevented from being elected because there will be no elections.

“Secondly, people must remember that the ARMM election is intended to provide the venue for the testing of the computer program of the electoral process," he added.

“If you postpone the elections now, when will we be able to test the machines in preparation of 2010? Are they saying that they will also postpone the 2010 elections or maybe the same things that happened in the past - regarding cheating in the elections - will happen again in the 2010," he said.

Zubiri said he had consulted with his colleagues in the Senate and 90 percent of them are against the postponement. Besides, he said, the ARMM election is only two weeks away.

The United Opposition earlier said President Arroyo's call to suspend the ARMM election was part of a grand scheme to amend the Constitution to extend her term.

UNO spokesman Adel Tamano said President Arroyo’s claim that the postponement of the ARMM election is part of the peace negotiations with the MILF could actually be "the first step in a grand scheme to amend the Constitution."

"Unfortunately, even for the MILF, [Arroyo] has not been negotiating in good faith because the proposed creation of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity will ultimately entail an amendment of the Philippine Constitution, which will be the means to allow [Arroyo] to stay in power," Tamano said. - (GMANews.TV)

Shariff Kabunsuan govt employees ask SC to reverse ruling

Employees of the Shariff Kabunsuan provincial government have passed a manifesto asking the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its July 16 decision declaring the power to create provinces and cities of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) law-making body unconstitutional.

Members of the Shariff Kabunsuan Provincial Employees Association (SKAPEA) feared they will lose their jobs if the high court decision becomes final and executory.

Records show that the provincial government has 490 regular employees and 250 contractual and casual employees.

In the manifesto, SKAPEA described SC's decision as a “drawback to regional autonomy and even graver to the aspiration of the Bangsamoro to draw their own lives in a truly autonomous and meaningful existence.”

Lawyer Suharto Ibay, provincial administrator, lamented that the employees were not part of the legal squabble but they were the ones suffering from the high court decision.

He added that the people of Shariff Kabunsuan were not even given a chance to air their side on the issue.

Last Friday SKAPEA members went to the office of Bai Sandra Sema, chair of Cotabato City Tourism Council, and urged the official to file a motion for reconsideration before the high court before the 15-day deadline for filing an appeal expires.

Ibay said SKAPEA is planning to lodge a motion to intervene before the high court.

On Aug. 28, 2006, the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) enacted Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act (MMAA) 201 creating the province of Shariff Kabunsuan.

The SC ruling, however, declared MMAA 201 void, saying that only Congress can create or reapportion a legislative district.

The case stemmed from the consolidated petitions seeking to annul Resolution No. 7902 of the Commission on Elections treating Cotabato City, which is included in Region XII, as part of the legislative district of Shariff Kabunsuan. The resolution was issued in May 2007.

Sema, a congressional candidate during May 2007 polls, was one of the petitioners of the case.

Shariff Kabunsuan was created by separating eight municipalities from the first district of Maguindanao. Cotabato City forms part of Maguindanao’s first legislative district but it voted against its inclusion in the ARMM in the plebiscite held in November 1989.

MILF looks forward to continuing peace negotiations

Barely a week after storming out of a meeting with their government counterparts, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiators are now looking forward to continuing peace negotiations with government.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal credited Presidential Peace Process Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr and Malaysian facilitator Datuk Othman bin Abd Razak for convincing them to stay on.

"We look forward to continuing the negotiation on the Comprehensive Compact and to finally address the Bangsamoro problem and the conflict in Mindanao," Iqbal said in a statement on the MILF website Monday night.

The MILF statement said Esperon and Datuk Othman persuaded the government and MILF peace panels to return to the negotiating table, which led to the initialling of the document Sunday night.

At the time, the MILF negotiators had walked out of the meeting over another disagreement on a draft agreement on ancestral domain presented by the government panel.

"We managed to convince the MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and lawyer Datu Michael Mastura to stand by even as we tried to iron out the thorny points," Datuk Othman said.

Both panels also conveyed their appreciation to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi for the Malaysian government's continued assistance in the peace process.

They also thanked President Arroyo's "unwavering commitment" in pushing forward the Mindanao peace process.

Sunday's initialling of the draft agreement on ancestral domain ended the tense exploratory talks.

The MILF said that after the MILF walkout, Esperon, national security adviser Norberto Gonzales and the government peace panel led by Rodolfo Garcia went to Kuala Lumpur to confer with the Malaysian officials.

At the time, less than half of the MILF negotiating team had remained in the Malaysian capital.

The rest of the MILF delegation, Atty. Lanang Ali, Atty. Musib Buat, and Maulana Alonto had already left for Mindanao.

"All in all, it has taken the Parties a span of three years and seven months to strike a peace deal completing the four strands – conceptual framework, territory, resources, and governance," Matsura said.

In a joint statement issued after the initialling ceremony, both sides said they relied on their "deep reservoir of goodwill and cooperation" to restart the session. (GMANews.TV)

Collapse of gov’t-MILF talks on Moro homeland ‘most serious threat to peace’

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Major buyer to sign deal at Minfruit Market Encounter

A major institutional supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables in Metro Manila and an exporter of carabao variety mangoes recently agreed to purchase a 50-hectare yield of mangoes in North Cotabato province for export.

The signing of the buying agreement by AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) will be among the highlights of the 1st Minfruit Market Encounter, which will be held July 31 to August 1 at the Green Heights Business and Convention Center in Buhangin, Davao City.

Zavier Abella, ANI purchasing officer for fruits, said that the rising demand from the Hong Kong market for mangoes, led the firm to seek help from USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in establishing relationships with Mindanao growers.

The firm, which is also interested in solo papaya, banana and pineapple, has purchased bananas from growers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ANI is developing new markets in New Zealand, Canada and China, and in Singapore, to which they regularly ship twice a week.

ANI and other institutional buyers will meet with growers at the 1st Minfruit Market Encounter, which will provide a range of market options for producers, showcase emerging fruit commodities, and assist processors and exporters in finding sources to meet their fruit requirements.

The Market Encounter is being organized by the Mindanao Fruit Industry Development (Minfruit) Council with support from the Department of Agriculture, the GEM Program and local producer associations.

Mindanao's emergence as the country's primary supplier of fresh mango for export has enticed processors and supply chain firms to locate in the region.

In 2007, Mindanao shipped approximately 2,000 metric tons of fresh mango valued at almost $3.6 million to foreign markets. The region also exported approximately 2,300 metric tons of dried mango and other dried fruits valued at more than $1 million, and more than 2,200 metric tons of fruit purees and juices, valued at almost $1.3 million.

Abella said ANI is also considering establishing fruit buying centers in key ports in Mindanao, including Davao, to help streamline shipments to Luzon and the Visayas.

The GEM Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), has been helping to strengthen the competitiveness of the island-region's high-value fruit and vegetable industries, in collaboration with growers' associations and government agencies.(INQ.net)

Nursing student in bus bombing dies in hospital

DIGOS CITY-- One of the critically injured victims of Thursday's bus bombing here died early morning Friday while being treated at a hospital in Davao City.

Nursing student Sarah Fe Abelle did not survive, said Dr. Ricardo Audan, spokesman of the Davao Medical Center.

At least five more critically wounded patients were being treated in the said hospital.

Thirty-five people were injured in the explosion at the terminal here, when an explosive device went off in a Davao-bound air-conditioned Metro Shuttle bus shortly before noon Thursday.

Authorities are eyeing the extortion group al-Khobar as the being behind the incident.(Orlando Dinoy; INQ.net)

Holding ARMM polls won’t jeopardize ancestral domain pact

MoA to be formally inked August--Esperon

Holding the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will not jeopardize the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) on ancestral domain between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Friday.

Nevertheless, Esperon said postponing the regional polls, scheduled August 11, was “important” because it would provide "more space, chances of [success for the] peace negotiations."

Esperon briefed the diplomatic community on efforts to reach a peace agreement with the MILF and said the MoA, which will pave the way for the establishment of a Bangsamoro juridical entity and remove the most contentious issue that had stalled negotiations, is expected to be formally signed in August, after the draft is initialed in Kuala Lumpur either late Friday or early Saturday.

The juridical entity is envisioned to expand on the territory of the current ARMM.

Asked later if postponing the ARMM polls, as requested by the MILF, was crucial to signing the MoA and the success of the peace negotiations, Esperon said it was “important, that’s why the President [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] asked for it.”

But when pressed if pushing through with the elections would stall the peace process, Esperon replied: “No, as you can see, we’re already signing the draft this afternoon [Friday] or tomorrow morning, but it’s [postponing the ARMM polls] still important.”

"We have a major breakthrough in the discussions on ancestral domain and both panels are finalizing the text of the MoA for inking in early August. We are just a few strides away from the finish line," Esperon told the diplomats.

Soon after the formal signing of the MoA, the two parties will resume formal peace negotiations on the main talking points on how to solve the Bangsamoro problem.

Esperon said the signing of the MoA on ancestral domain will satisfy the requirements of the 2001 Tripoli Agreement between the two panels.

He said the only point of contention in the draft is when to schedule the plebiscite in the 721 villages eyed for inclusion in a proposed Bangsamoro juridical entity.

Esperon said the government wants the plebiscite held one and a half to two years after the signing of the final peace agreement while the MILF wants it after signing the MoA.

"It should be after final peace agreement,” Esperon said. “If [the plebiscite is held] after the MoA, we shall not have defined the powers of the resulting entity, the Bangsamoro juridical entity," he said.

On the ARMM elections, Esperon said if the polls are held on August 11, the term of office of officials elected then might overlap with the foreseen signing of the final peace pact.

Thus, he said, it would be better if there is only one electoral exercise for the Bangsamoro juridical entity, “involving ARMM officials now and any candidates coming from the new geographical entity.”

Esperon said he and his office would justify the postponement of the ARMM polls to Congress, whose members are reportedly divided on whether to pass a bill resetting the regional elections to 2010, together with the presidential elections.

Esperon also said the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that has been overseeing a three-year ceasefire agreement between the government and MILF, and whose mandate is supposed to end on August 31, has expressed “full support” for a proposal to increase the number of foreign economic monitors.

Currently, only Japan has an economic monitor with the team.

But Esperon said Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union have expressed their intention to send economic monitors to the IMT.

The international team is chaired by Malaysia and includes Brunei, Libya, and Japan.
(Veronica Uy; INQ.net)

UST graduate tops nursing board

Aira Therese Salamanca Javier of the University of Santo Tomas topped the June 2008 nursing board exam with a rating of 86 percent, the Professional Regulation Commission said Thursday.

Alrin Flores Falgui of the Far Eastern University followed with 85.80 percent.

KristineMaravilla Mendoza, Remedios of Trinidad Romualdez Memorial School and UST’s Joanna Jacob Quirante shared the third place with a rating of 85.60 percent.

Following are the top 10 test-takers of the nursing licensure examination:

Top 1
• Aira Therese Salamanca Javier, University of Santo Tomas -- 86.00%

Top 2
Alrin Flores Falgui, Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation -- 85.80%

Top 3
• Kristine Maravilla Mendoza, Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial School -- 85.60%
• Joanna Jacob Quirante, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.60%

Top 4
• Ana Rica Chan Gutierrez, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.40%
• Dalfon Silvio Babular Navaja, Cebu Institute of Technology -- 85.40%
• Maria Alyssa Yee Policarpio, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.40%
• Aileen Grace Yu Sotyco, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.40%

Top 5
• Michelle Cruz Amoroso, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 85.20%
• Ma. Regina Basa Ang, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela -- 85.20%
• Michelle Joyce Cheung Encarnacion, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.20%
• Lyka Abalajon Gede-Y, Riverside College -- 85.20%
• Jason Albia Go, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.20%
• Katherine Rose Rodrigo Raquel, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Health Science Campus -- 85.20%

Top 6
• Regina Krys Villaflor Cabanilla, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 85.00%
• Aster Annie De Jesus Calma, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 85.00%
• Tracy Michelle Buan Catacutan, Centro Escolar University-Manila -- 85.00%
• Diana Justo Cupino, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.00%
• Rachel Mae Tabuena Daigdigan, Mindanao State University-Marawi City -- 85.00%
• Karen Marie Galvez Flores, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC) -- 85.00%
• Elaine Esther Saldua Funtanar, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 85.00%
• Marion Delos Santos Llauder, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.00%
• Kevin Bryan Uy Lo, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.00%
• Anne Lorraine Trinidad Lorenzo, University of Perpetual Help Rizal-Las Piñas -- 85.00%
• Louie Jhon Erracho Lunaria, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 85.00%
• Joanna Roxas Maala, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela -- 85.00%
• Patrick Paras Mejia, University of Santo Tomas -- 85.00%
• Kristine Valino Picadizo, University of Perpetual Help Rizal-Las Piñas -- 85.00%
• Eiren Oro Rebute, West Visayas State University-La Paz -- 85.00%
• Rizza Armas Tamayo, Colegio De Dagupan (Computronix College) -- 85.00%
• Anna Mae Maquiling Trinidad, Mindanao State University-Marawi City -- 85.00%
• Jennifer Laggad Ugalde, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College-Q.C. -- 85.00%

Top 7
• Ma. Leonor Galvan Barbosa, Mindanao Sanitarium & Hospital College of Med -- 84.80%
• Jennifer Baguio Gait, Velez College -- 84.80%
• Ariane Castañares Llevares, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 84.80%
• Neil Anthony Esmilla Manzano, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela -- 84.80%
• Oliver Naval Mendoza, Saint Bernadette College of Health And Sciences -- 84.80%
• Maricor Cortez Montalbo, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.80%
• Tara Patawaran Patawaran, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College-Q.C. -- 84.80%
• Roger Carlo Payawal Pineda, Dr. Yanga's Francisco Balagtas College -- 84.80%
• Bartolome Arthur Marcaida Quincina, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College-Q.C. -- 84.80%
• Marion Katrina Lara Raguini, Far Eastern University-Manila -- 84.80%

Top 8
• Ma Cristina Diesta Arroyo, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Mem. Medical Center -- 84.60%
• Lance Lambert Gatdula Ayson, Bulacan State University (Bulacan Coll. of Arts & Trades) -- 84.60%
• Carla Emille Dalangin Barbon, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.60%
• Rosauro Cruz Briones, Manuel S. Enverga Univ. Foundation-Lucena City -- 84.60%
• Jan Paolo Santiago Caparas, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Health Science -- 84.60%
• Sozein Soliel Bacena Bustamante, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Lourdes Claire Rodriguez David, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Ana Joy Almie Cruz Dizon, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Lorrainne Yu Embay, University of the Visayas-Mandaue City -- 84.60%
• Kristine Marie Lee Indiongco, Perpetual Help College of Manila -- 84.60%
• Imee Loren Chan Lim, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Sim Pama Paniza, West Visayas State University-La Paz -- 84.60%
• Rochelle-Anne Ordinanza Primavera, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Raichel Faye Mallari Ringor, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Roxan Salvadora Roman, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela -- 84.60%
• Czarina Ann Arellano Sevilla, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.60%
• Jeffrey De Justo Silva, Saint Paul University-Iloilo -- 84.60%
• Zyena Joyce Palines Untalasco, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.60%
• Paola Sarona Young, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Mem. Medical Center -- 84.60%

Top 9
• Blake Warren Coloma Ang, Cebu Doctors’ University -- 84.40%
• Trisha Carmelli Gonzales Bautista, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.40%
• Danica Bianca Bernad Cagalawan, Saint Michael's College-Iligan City -- 84.40%
• Janna Bianca Albano Cajigal, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• Kathryn Kaye Aquino Carpio, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• Glynnis Doreen Olegario Corpuz, Capitol Medical Center School of Nursing -- 84.40%
• Katrina Rae Limjoco Daza, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• Jean Daisy Camacho De Guzman, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.40%
• Fritzie Praxidio Dela Cruz, University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna -- 84.40%
• Willenburgh Wong Ducusin, Manila Central University-Caloocan City -- 84.40%
• Gwen Atienza Legaspi, Saint Paul University-Manila -- 84.40%
• John Philip Tecson Lim, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• Stephanie Anne Chan Lopez, De Los Santos-Sti College,Inc-(Delos Santos S.N.) -- 84.40%
• Myron Marco Miranda Mariano, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• John Vincent Lim Omo, Holy Name University (Divine Word-Tagbilaran) -- 84.40%
• Maria Wella Balbona Pichon, University of the Visayas-Cebu City -- 84.40%
• May Stephanie Go Pua, Naga College Foundation -- 84.40%
• Daryle Joie Masocol Ragasa, Manila Doctors’ College -- 84.40%
• Girlie Lazaro Repuyan, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.40%
• Meludee Joy Madrigal Roche, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 84.40%
• Maria Aileen Custodio Santiago, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College-Q.C. -- 84.40%
• Arthur Michael Aris Camu Sunico, Far Eastern University-Manila -- 84.40%
• John Hirogie Abad Toku, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC) -- 84.40%
• Angela Solayao Tiu, Velez College -- 84.40%
• Catherine Dasmariñas Uy -- Southeast Asian College (UDMC) -- 84.40%

Top 10
• Romina Paula Parreño Barrameda, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.20%
• John Robert Razote Bautista, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-Qc) -- 84.20%
• Jeriel Bayhonan Besagas, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 84.20%
• Marienne Sungcad Bravo, STI College Cebu, Inc -- 84.20%
• Evelyn Cuares Caseñas, University of Bohol -- 84.20%
• Bridgel Avila Galorio, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College) -- 84.20%
• Ma. Bernadette Valdivia Lopez-Dee, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.20%
• May Flor Llego Marcolino, Larmen De Guia Memorial College -- 84.20%
• Kristian Santos Noche, Centro Escolar University-Manila -- 84.20%
• Dianne Mae Lagman Notario, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela -- 84.20%
• Kristine Ann Tagupa Panal, Mountain View College -- 84.20%
• Marnela Kathleen Veluya Pasamba, Sacred Heart College of Lucena City, Inc. -- 84.20%
• Ruby Joma Fadri Rafanan, Adventist University of the Philippines -- 84.20%
• Razeille Kristine Asistio Razon, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.20%
• Darra May Rapada Riano, Far Eastern University-Manila -- 84.20%
• Jomar Pacleb Ronquillo, Columban College-Olongapo City -- 84.20%
• Jeffrey Ramos Salazar, University of the Philippines-Manila -- 84.20%
• Frederick Abad Sampang, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.20%
• Marnelee Grace Rivera Semilla, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC) -- 84.20%
• Janelle Grace Teo Sia, University of Santo Tomas -- 84.20%
• Jeanette Martinez Villar, West Visayas State University-La Paz -- 84.20%

See complete list of passers here: http://media.inquirer.net/inquirer/examresults/NURSE/20080724/index.htm

(Source: INQ.net)

Lack of consultation, transparency on Moro homeland accord hit

Various peace advocates and a Christian politician in Mindanao have decried the lack of consultation and transparency on the ancestral domain agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a forum last Monday organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Cotabato-based think-tank, Institute for Autonomy and Governance, the panelists said it is going to be hard to build public support for the agreement since many groups, including Mindanao peace advocates, were not consulted.

What is the GRP-MILF agreement on ancestral domain?
In a summary of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain obtained by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, Camilo Miguel Montesa, policy adviser of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), said that under the accord, the Philippine government agrees to:

- Recognize the Bangsamoro people as "distinct from the rest of the national communities";

- Grant the Bangsamoro people their own "distinct territory";

- Grant the Bangsamoro pople their own "government"; and,

- Concede international recognition to the Bangsamoro people.

more...

Former Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain is not a good way to start implementing a peace deal.

"Up to now, officially we don’t have a copy. We, other leaders and stakeholders, would feel the same. We are kind of deceived, deprived of a voice. So it’s an uphill battle. I guess one cardinal principle for stakeholders is to start well. But this one, at the very start, it’s a bad step," Valles said.

North Cotabato Vice-Governor Emmanuel Piñol, a critic of the MILF, lamented that local leaders of Mindanao whose constituencies may be reduced as a result of the accord, were also not consulted on what will constitute the new Moro homeland.

Under the ancestral domain accord, the government will move for the holding of a plebiscite six months after it is signed. The provinces that will be most affected by a possible expansion of the ARMM are North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Lanao del Norte.

Supreme Court case

Pinol said he has already asked the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) for an official copy of the draft MOA and its annexes so he can question its legality before the Supreme Court (SC).

Piñol said his complaint will not be entertained by the SC unless he gets an official copy of the MOA. If he fails to get an official copy, he will ask the SC to compel the OPAPP to give him an official copy.

"By Monday [July 28], we should already be in the Supreme Court," he said.

He warned the government was courting trouble with the ancestral domain accord, especially in "warrior towns" of North Cotabato.

"When the leaders themselves are not aware of this, then you are courting trouble," he said.

IPs not consulted, too

Ponciano Bennagen, a member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission representing indigenous peoples (IPs), said IPs of Mindanao and other key stakeholders in the peace process in Mindanao were also not adequately consulted and given access to the MOA on ancestral domain.

Due to this drawback, he proposed that various mechanisms be established to discuss the MOA with the stakeholders, including Christian political leaders.

"We haven’t heard from the Lobregats yet," he said. "We need to address the question of transparency and then the education of the communities, the direct stakeholders."

He said even peace advocates who may be in favor of the MOA will find it hard to campaign in the plebiscite if they are not adequately informed about the agreement.

Bennagen also questioned why in the MOA, indigenous peoples are being given the freedom to choose whether to join the BJE "when they have already made their choice, and they don’t want to be part of the BJE."

But Benedicto Bacani, executive director of the Cotabato-based think-tank Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), stressed that the people have the final say on whether to join the new Moro homeland by casting their votes in the plebiscite. "Let them say no [if they want]," he said. "Perhaps, it’s a matter of explaining to them also."

GMA lameduck by 2009?


Piñol said the government was "trying to raise false hopes" with the MOA.

Aside from possible legal obstacles, Piñol said he does not believe President Arroyo will be able to implement the MOA since she will be a "lameduck president by 2009." New national and local elections are scheduled in May 2010.

"We were not even to pass cha-cha at a time when Gloria was very influential, and she had the mayors, governors, congressmen all toeing her line. How much more in 2009, one year before the end of her term?" he asked.

Piñol said the GRP negotiating panel has "misjudged the sentiments of the people of Mindanao."

"We don’t like this [MOA]. We were never consulted about the plebiscite," he said.

Focus on poverty alleviation

When told that the OPAPP conducted consultations with various stakeholders including himself, Piñol said the proposals he made in these meetings called by former OPAPP chief Jesus Dureza were never adopted in the MOA.

He said the people of Mindanao want peace and are tired of war. In the past several years, when there was relative peace, Piñol said North Cotabato became more progressive.

Instead of trying to reach a political solution with the MILF, Piñol said the government should concentrate on economic projects that will eliminate the roots of the conflict in Mindanao.

"We have failed to realize that had there been greater scrutiny on what really ails the area, we would have discovered that it is the poverty of the people and corruption that prevails in the area," Piñol said.

Piñol said there was no need to hold another plebiscite in North Cotabato since 98% of those who voted in the 2001 exercise chose not to join the ARMM.

"If they want to fast-track the peace process, this is the wrong way of doing it," he said.

He said he and the North Cotabato governor have already talked to local officials and have passed a resolution against the MOA.

"We want peace but we are not willing to sacrifice a lot of things in the name of peace because the peace that you have in mind will create a lot of trouble for us," Piñol said.

Other sectors complain, too

Estrellita Juliano, vice-president for Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said she supports Piñol’s plan to question the MOA before the Supreme Court due to lack of consultation and transparency.

Peace advocate Miriam Coronel, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, advised the panel discussants to come up with "mechanisms that will address the issue of transparency and lack of information."

She said the MOA is not clear on the role of other peace stakeholders. "Everything is dependent basically on the goodwill basically of government. All the different voices, which may be for or against this agreement, there is no mechanism for them."

Bacani said the government has promised to undertake an advocacy campaign for the MOA on ancestral domain after it is signed. He acknowledged, though, that this does not address the issue of lack of participation of the stakeholders in the accord.

Sister Linda Hisug, a peace worker in Mindanao, said the concept of freedom being pushed by the MILF is not clear to women religious groups in the south. She said they were also not consulted on the MOA on ancestral domain.

"Even this issue you’re talking about now, it is something that is hidden to us and we even ask why this is hidden to us. I believe this question will be answered if things are more clear and issues are more defined," she said.

Israelito Torreon, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Davao del Sur chapter, said the people of Davao were surprised about the agreement on ancestral domain since they were also not consulted. He also raised the issue of lack of transparency on the accord. (ISAGANI DE CASTRO, JR.; abs-cbnNEWS.com)

Comelec unmindful of moves to postpone ARMM polls

Despite an endorsement by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the proposal to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Commission on Elections is confident that it is ready, having completed 98 percent of its preparations, its spokesman said Thursday.

“We are not wasting our time thinking if it will push through or not,” James Jimenez said in an interview.

He said that the Comelec would not wish to be distracted in their preparations, especially now that they were in the last and most difficult part of the process.

In a separate interview, Comelec chairman Jose Melo said that the poll body was pushing through with its preparations.

“Ang ginagawa namin dito ay [What we are doing here is] as if there is no law forthcoming, as if hindi pinag-uusapan ang [we are not talking of] postponement,” Melo said.

Meanwhile, Comelec commissioners insisted that the polls should push through.

“We have prepared everything and if we postpone it so much will be wasted,” Comelec commissioner Moslemen Macarambon said in a separate interview.

Newly appointed commissioner Leandro Leonida said that the automated polls would ensure honest elections and minimize corruption.

“Kung walang puhunan, walang hahabuling investment ang ating mga kandidato [If there is no capital, our candidates will not run after any investment]. Pure public service ang ibigay nila [They will deliver pure public service],” Leonida said.(Katherine Evangelista; INQ.net)

Lawmakers split on ARMM polls’ delay

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