By: Apipa Bagumbaran
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - A faculty member and a student kidnapped on Feb. 19 inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus here were released by their abductors after being held in captivity for five days.
Chris Niel Anthony Gulfan, 22, faculty member of Al Kwarizmi International College (AKIC), and Aubrey Vertudez, 19, third year BS Information Technology student at MSU were freed at Barangay Panggao in Saguiaran town at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.
The safe release of the two victims was facilitated by City Mayor Fahad Salic who stressed that the abductors were pressured to free the victims due to the series of manhunt operations conducted by the military and police.
“After receiving information that Gulfan and Vertudez were abducted, we immediately convened the crisis management committee and coordinated with the local military to launch a pursuit operation,” said Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Pedrito delos Reyes.
On the other hand, Colonel Daniel Lucero, commanding officer of army’s 103rd Brigade, said they have been conducting joint military and police operations for the past four days and they were happy to note that the victims were freed unharmed.
He also thanked those who assisted and helped them in recovering the victims especially the locals who have been giving positive information not wanting the presence of kidnappers in the area.
Salic fetched the victims at Barangay Panggao and turned them over to the 103rd Brigade headquarters in Kampo Ranao here at around 6:00 p.m.
The city mayor said no ransom was paid for the release of Gulfan and Vertudez.
The two were then brought to Amai Pakpak Medical Center for check-up and later brought back again to Kampo Ranao for a short debriefing.
They were handed over to their respective families after the debriefing.
Lucero meanwhile emphasized that they will do everything to support the local police for the eventual stoppage of such nefarious activity in the province.
He said they will see to it that the perpetrators will regret what they have done to the victims.
The brigade commander further said that they will convince the victims to file charges against the perpetrators.
“We have enough laws to deter and punish those who committed such crime and we will see to it that they will answer in court and hopefully bring them to justice,” he added.
Lucero also disclosed that he have talked with MSU President Macapado Muslim for the strengthening of security inside the university campus.
He said they will be having a conference with the administration of MSU next week to strengthen the security in the campus and to secure the university students as well. (APB/PIA-10 Marawi)
Youth group in Lanao del Sur urges PNoy to create search committee for ARMM-OICs
By: Apipa Bagumbaran
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – A youth group based here in the province are urging President Benigno Aquino III to create a search committee who can help him in finding the right officers-in-charge for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
In a text message to Philippine Information Agency, Abulkhair Alibasa of the Bangsamoro Successors Generation Network – Ranao Youth for Peace and Sustainable Development said they lauded the determination of the President’s to implement reforms.
As such, they are recommending and appealing to the President to create a search committee who will find out the most ideal person to handle the region.
He said the members of the search committee should come from the various sectors representing the different stakeholders of the autonomous region such as the youth, women, academe, religious and business sectors.
The message was sent after two committees of the House of Representatives approved a measure calling for the postponement of the ARMM elections.
On Tuesday, the House Committees on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms as well as on Muslim Affairs had decided to approve the synchronization of the ARMM elections to the 2013 national and local elections.
ARMM includes the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur and the city of Marawi.
The group believes that the recent development could be a challenge to the Aquino administration especially matter on how and in what way he will appoints OICs for the region. (APB/PIA-10 Marawi)
Tagalog News: Youth leader pabor sa panukalang pagpapaliban ng ARMM elections
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur- Pabor ang pangulo ng isang Bangsamoro youth organization sa panukalang pagpapaliban ng ARMM elections.
Sa pakikipanayam ng Radyo ng Bayan, sinabi ni Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Sustainable Development acting president Abulkhair Alibasa na ang mga sumasalungat sa nasabing panukala ay iyon lamang kasalukuyang mga opisyal ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Sang-ayon din si Alibasa na si Pangulong Aquino ay magtatalaga ng mga officers-in-charge hanggang May 2013.
Katulad ni Pangulong Aquino, si Alibasa ay tumututol sa mga “trapo” na maging OIC ng ARMM.
“Kailangang bumuo muna ang Presidente ng isang search committee na siyang kikilatis kung sino ang dapat maging OIC regional governor at assemblymen,” dagdag pa niya.
Ayon kay Alibasa, ang mga miyembro ng search committee na pawang mga Muslim din ay dapat manggaling sa mga sektor ng academe, kabataan, kababaihan, religious, at mga negosyante mula sa apat na mga lalawigang bumubuo ng ARMM.
Umaasa siya na ang mga magiging OIC ay may kakayahan, may integridad, may malawak na karanasan sa pagpapatupad ng reporma, at maipagkakatiwala ang kaunlaran ng sambayanang Bangsamoro.
Hinihiling din ni Alibasa na huwag sanang makikialam ang kasalukuyang administrasyon sa halalan ng ARMM sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng isang administration candidate.
Pumasa na sa dalawang House panels ang pagpapaliban ng ARMM elections mula sa kanyang orihinal sa petsa sa a-2 ng Agosto 2011 at isasabay sa synchronized national at local elections na nakatakda na sa May 2013. (Bobby Ilupa /DXSO Radyo ng Bayan Marawi)
Lanao Norte religious leaders unite to strengthen peace
Lala, Lanao del Norte – Religious leaders from different faiths convened to discuss peace building initiatives to strengthen Muslim-Christian relationship in the province. The leaders are members of the Interfaith Council whose primary aim is to develop better understanding of the two major religions to promote unity and peace between its followers.
The council is composed of bishops, pastors, priests, nuns, imams, provincial government leaders and non-government organizations.
The meeting was held at the private compound of Vice-Governor Irma Umpa-Ali who has been a staunch peace advocate even before entering public service.
Pakigdait, Inc., an interfaith grassroot peacebuilder organization spearheaded the activity led by Ustadz Musa Sanguila.
The meeting provided the religious leaders the venue to share their insights on how best to resolve the conflicts between the different faiths.
“If the religious leaders start to talk with one another, the followers will soon follow. Everything will start from the leaders,” Sanguila explained.
Another peace building activity initiated by the council is the church-masjid visitation. Through this activity people from different faiths are invited to go inside the Christian church or Muslim mosque to learn more and appreciate the different ways people worship God.
“I really want to live in peace with my fellowmen. It’s time people realize that there are no winners in war only victims,” stressed former-DPWH Regional Director Osop Ali.
Also discussed by the council are the proposed activities to be conducted during the Lanao del Norte Month of Peace on March and the possible visit of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to highlight the peace month celebration.
Already confirming her attendance to the March event is OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles.
“The main purpose of this interfaith council is for us to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,” Council Chairman Bishop Stephen Villaester concluded. (VNL/PIO-LDN)
FCAP calls for strict enforcement of cigarette ad ban
By Jorie C. Valcorza
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - Atty. Josefina Buenaseda, legal consultant of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) underscored before the Tobacco Control Group in Region 10 the strict banning of all tobacco advertisements in televisions, newspapers, billboards and internet.
Atty. Buenaseda noted that the advertisement ban on smoke also includes sponsorship and promotions and that compliance on these areas were quite loose.
FCAP showed several violations explicitly caught on pictures like lighted signages of establishments, posters, and cigarettes vendors near schools campuses.
With this, FCAP had been actively campaigning with its partners to help end the proliferation of these materials.
She said cigarette companies will go as far as having some streets named after their brands. FCAP warned local counterparts, especially the local government officials to hold on their commitment in protecting the welfare of their constituents and shoo away any dealings with cigarette industries.
FCAP further challenged local chief executives to pass an ordinances adopting RA 9211, an act regulating the packaging, use, sale distribution and advertisement of tobacco products.
Some LGUs have successfully won the battle and stomped the smokers out. In Misamis Oriental, the town of Talisayan was acknowledged as the first 100% smoke free municipality in the country. (PIA10)
RDC-X holds consultation on NorMin’s 2012 Priority programs and projects
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - RDC-X Chairperson and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and RDC-X Co-Chair Arsenio L. Sebastian III led the simultaneous sectoral consultation on Northern Mindanao’s priority programs and projects for 2012 on Feb. 24, 2011, this city.
Mayor Cruz, in his opening message, called on everyone to ensure that available and scarce public resources to finance programs, projects and activities are maximized with the greatest beneficial impact on poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
“We shall remain persistent, enthusiastic and alert to effect the development that we want,” he added.
DBM Regional Director Annabelle M. Atillo presented the FY 2012 Budget Framework to ensure that proposed agency budgets are consistent with the President’s social contract with the Filipino people.
More than 200 representatives of local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies, state universities and colleges and private sector organizations participated in the activity to ensure that the region’s priority programs and projects correspond to the region’s needs.
The LGUs were given the chance to check if the programs and projects of national government agencies complement with their respective local priorities.
Major concerns and recommendations raised include, among others, the following: 1) reconciling priority programs/projects/activities with agency budget ceilings; 2) prioritizing 5th-6th class municipalities in providing local development assistance; 3) increasing budgetary allocation for the procurement of medicines to combat major diseases and improve maternal and child health; 4) rationalizing programs and projects not related to basic education; 5) rehabilitation/construction of TELOF regional office; 6) prioritizing the widening of Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan Road (specifically the Iligan-Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro portion) in support to the Laguindingan Airport Development Project; 7) increasing budget allocation for irrigation projects to increase agricultural productivity; and 7) ensuring that road construction/maintenance/rehabilitation projects are anchored on the Road Network Master Plan.
Camiguin Governor and former RDC-X Chair Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo urged the body to initiate discussions on the possibility of installing a nuclear power plant to ensure a continuous power supply, promote and attract more investments.
He encouraged everyone to continue to support Northern Mindanao to remain one of the top performing regions in the country. (Peleta B. Abejo, KMD, NRO-X)
Cebuano News: Pundok batok pagpanigarilyo gimugna sa NorMin
By Rudy D. Mendoza
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA 10) - Ang Department of Health (DOH-10) ug Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) nagpahigayon dinhi sa dakbayan bag-ohay lamang ug unang panag-tigum sa Regional Tobacco Control Network dinhi sa Northern Mindanao.
Gidapit sa maong panagtigum ang nagkadaiyang mga tinugyanan sa Provincial Health Offices, local nga pangagamhanan, ug faith based nga mga organisasyon aron magkahi-usa sa pagsugpo sa bisyo sa pag-panigarilyo.
Sa gipakita nga presentasyon ni Doctora Ma. Encarnita B. Limpin, ang Executive Director sa FCAP, nasuta nga ang pagpanigarilyo dako kayo ug resgo sa atong panlawas ingon man sa mga tawo nga nag-palibot sa usa ka smoker.
Daghan nga bahin sa atong lawas ang posibling maigo kung kita padayon sa paglanghap sa aso bisan kini uban sa gitawag nga second hand smoke.
Ang pagpanigarilyo, matud pa ni Limpin, napamatud-an nga makahatag ug dugang kadaot sa atong lawas sama sa cancer sa baba, liog, baga, kasing-kasing ug halos tanang parti sa atong lawas. (PIA 10)
Cebuano News: GSIS nagpagawas kapin 500 kiosk sa tibuok nasud
By Rudy D. Mendoza
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA) – Ubos sa kamandoan sa bag-ong Board of Trustees, ang GSIS mopagawas ug dugang lima ka gatos nga kiosk sa tibuok nasud.
Tresyentos (300) niini i-apud-apud sa mga dagko nga ahensiya sa kagamhanan, City halls, piling munisipyo ug capitolyo.
Ang matag congressional district hatagan usab ug pinakaminus usa ka Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks.
Ang nabilin nga duha kagatos mamahimong PC-based ug kini gitagana alang sa mga Agency Authorized Officers (AAOs) sa tibuok nasud, diin midayeg usab sa GSIS sa pag-apod-apod dugang kiosks.
“Pinaagi niini, mapadali unya ang pag-apply sa loan ug pag-susi sa mga myembro sa records, ug makadaginot usab sa panahon ingon man sa gasto kung an mga myembro mo- byahe pa sa mga lugar diin adunay GWAPS kiosks,” matud pa ni Ma. Luz Ilano-Briones, ang field manager sa GSIS dinhi sa Cagayan de Oro.
Dugang pa niini, ang GSIS makigsabot usab sa Land Bank of the Philippine (LBP) aron unya mamahimo na nga makapili ang mga GSIS pensioner sa matang sa pagdawat sa ilang binulan ng pensiyon ug dugang binipisyo kun i-agi ba nila kini sa Land Bank ATM o sa GSIS ECard.
Kini aron usab mapahimuslan ang halapad nga network o buhatan sa Landbank sa tibuok nasud. Aron usab paghatag sa duol ug mas maayo nga pag-alagad sa kapin 1.7 million nga myembro ug pensioners. (PIA 10)
RDC-X holds consultation on NorMin’s 2012 Priority programs and projects
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - RDC-X Chairperson and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and RDC-X Co-Chair Arsenio L. Sebastian III led the simultaneous sectoral consultation on Northern Mindanao’s priority programs and projects for 2012 on Feb. 24, 2011, this city.
Mayor Cruz, in his opening message, called on everyone to ensure that available and scarce public resources to finance programs, projects and activities are maximized with the greatest beneficial impact on poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
“We shall remain persistent, enthusiastic and alert to effect the development that we want,” he added.
DBM Regional Director Annabelle M. Atillo presented the FY 2012 Budget Framework to ensure that proposed agency budgets are consistent with the President’s social contract with the Filipino people.
More than 200 representatives of local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies, state universities and colleges and private sector organizations participated in the activity to ensure that the region’s priority programs and projects correspond to the region’s needs.
The LGUs were given the chance to check if the programs and projects of national government agencies complement with their respective local priorities.
Major concerns and recommendations raised include, among others, the following: 1) reconciling priority programs/projects/activities with agency budget ceilings; 2) prioritizing 5th-6th class municipalities in providing local development assistance; 3) increasing budgetary allocation for the procurement of medicines to combat major diseases and improve maternal and child health; 4) rationalizing programs and projects not related to basic education; 5) rehabilitation/construction of TELOF regional office; 6) prioritizing the widening of Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan Road (specifically the Iligan-Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro portion) in support to the Laguindingan Airport Development Project; 7) increasing budget allocation for irrigation projects to increase agricultural productivity; and 7) ensuring that road construction/maintenance/rehabilitation projects are anchored on the Road Network Master Plan.
Camiguin Governor and former RDC-X Chair Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo urged the body to initiate discussions on the possibility of installing a nuclear power plant to ensure a continuous power supply, promote and attract more investments.
He encouraged everyone to continue to support Northern Mindanao to remain one of the top performing regions in the country. (Peleta B. Abejo, KMD, NRO-X)
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