MNLF CONDEMNS MILF ATTACKS

The Selatan State Revolutionary Committee, one among the 25 State Committees of the Moro National Liberation Front based in South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City stands firm to defend the rights of the innocent civilians no matter what is the creed of every individual as they condemned the Moro Islamic Liberation Front attacks recently occurred last August 17.

The MILF dawn attack which left two innocent civilians killed and seriously wounding six others was blamed and condemned by SKSRC officials headed by its chairman Utto Salem Cutan Al Haj following his statement that his SKSRC MNLF leaders in his area of responsibility will strongly defend the Christian community in Maasim town in Sarangani province.

“Even of what religion or creed they are, as we firmly stand to defend the rights of individuals. It is against our Islamic faith and we condemn the attack of this MILF group against the innocent civilian people.”

On the other hand Cutan made his views on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity of the GRP_MILF MOA on ancestral domain.

“What has been claimed by the MILF is already embodied in the September 2, 1996 Peace Agreeement in which all the provisions which was finally signed by the former President Fidel V. Ramos has finally been signed in accordance with meticulous process.”

He said that actually the Organization of Islamic Conference has created the Southern Philippines Peace Committee which served as oversight committee of the three member Joint Working Groupo of which the members are: GRP_MNLF and the OIC ISlamic member countries to be chaired by the Indonesian observer.

Cutan added,

“It is noted also that the BJE will be among the issues discussed by the Joint Working Group which had commenced their scheduled exploratory talks last August 20 in Manila and among the vital concern is the reviewing of the signed final 1996 peace agreement which as claimed by the MNLF was left by the government unattended in which some the phase 1 provisions of the accord were left unimplemented and the second phase of the agreement have not been given serious time by President Arroyo to settle with the MNLF for its implementation so, the problem is that President Arroyo has jumped into another agreement which is uncertain and unclear which created more serious problem in Mindanao.”

Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema on the other hand said his piece about the issue.

“The Joint Working Group would have to discuss and settle first the problem of the BJE on the Ancestral Domain claim of the MILF which is an absolute duplication of the finally signed peace agreement and the peace negotiators involved in the BJE should have first consulted the MNLF leadership if the MOA signing would not affect the GRP_MNLF agreement should the government finally sign the MOA with the MILF.”

(Reported by Jerry Adlaw of Socksargen area)

 

“DO NOT FEAR, PRAY”-MAYOR ACHARON

from www.gmanews.tv

“Do not cower in fear. Do not be intimidated. Terrorist feed on fear. We must never give them the satisfaction that they have won. Continue being vigilant. Complacency is the window of opportunity of terrorist. Pray, no greater power on earth can help us but that of the Almighty.”

This is the call of General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon after the deadly blast that claim 4 lives in his city.

As any aftermath of terrorist attacks, tragic stories are woven. One of the fatalities, Marahassan Kamad, an 11 year old Maguindanaoan was there to sell banana cue to augment his money for school allowance. Roy Kamad narrated.

“It was payday and my son was there to sell banana cue, which he usually does after school.”

Another victim Chely Velez, was only there to buy milk for her baby. Her sister said, “She just went out to buy milk for her baby and this happened.” Velez left a two year old child.

Authorities are now after a Malaysian and 23 other suspected members of Al Khobar, an extortion group.

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Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato has ordered the city’s police and soldiers to step up security measures to prevent a similar attack in North Cotabato. Public places and checkpoints leading to the city are manned 24 hours. He called on the residents to cooperate with the authorities in the implementation of these security measures and bear with its attendant personal inconvenience. According to the Mayor, security is everybody’s concern.

 

FALCON, BB PIMENTEL ALLIANCE CRUMBLE

Former Surigao del Sur 2^nd District Congressman Jessnar Falcon had a falling out with Governor Vicente Pimentel. This accordingly stems from the negative comments from the Governor when Falcon was trounced by his congressional rival, Florencio Garay. Even former Congressman Butch Pichay confirmed of this rift. The news is that Falcon will make a run for Governor in the coming 2010 elections. He will possibly face Johnny Pimentel, the present Provincial Administrator and the younger brother of the Governor. Earlier, Governor Pimentel is set to challenge the seat of Cong. Florencio Garay. Will this lead to the alliance of Falcon and Garay, erstwhile political opponents against a common adversary which are the Pimentels? Politics will bring strange bedfellows.

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Its final. The COMELEC dismisses the appeal of El Salvador Mayor Emelita Almirante on technicalities. According to the poll body, Almirante failed to pay the required 3 thousand appeal fee within the period for the filing of notice of appeal and thus failed to perfect her appeal within the required period. However according to the Almirante camp, the decision will not result in the automatic installation of rival Nilo Pates. “As long as the COMELEC will not order the lifting of the restraining order they previously issued, Mayor Almirante will sit and continue to serve as Mayor of El Salvado City in Misamis Oriental.

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Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano criticized the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) for driving sidewalk vendors around Cogon market. The clearing operation was ordered by Mayor Tinnex Jaraula. He criticized the act as “inhuman” when goods were spoiled, damaged or destroyed and some lost their day’s earning. “Mga itlog nangabuak. Moabot ra gihapon ang gaba kanila. RTA justified that the demolition is part of their mandate to keep the city streets clean and orderly.

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How true? Manny Pacquiao will try his luck again in politics this time against General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon. Looks like Manny has not learned his lessons. Manny Pacquiao have a big chance of beating Charlene Antonino-Custodio in the Congressional race than unseating Mayor Acharon. Besides does Pacquiao have administrative experience to lead a big city like Gen San? Instead of dipping his fingers again in politics, Pacquiao should concentrate on boxing first and attend to his some of his personal problems which bring negative publicity these days. Lately, a businesswoman from Davao Geraldine Valdivieso complained of unpaid accounts of Manny Pacquiao for the puchase price of a SUV bought by Pacquiao for his wife Jinky’s uncle. The businesswoman have repeatedly demanded for the balance of the purchase price but the same were just responded by Manny with denial and some threats. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

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Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte is reported to have resigned from his post as the head of the Regional Peace and Order Council. The resignation was irrevocable but the LGU heads of Davao Region led by Gov. Arturo Uy of Compostela Valley seems to initiate a last ditch effort to dissuade the Mayor from resigning.

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Its not only in Surigao del Sur that political allies will square off. Talks are persistent that Del Rosarios and the Floirendos of Davao del Norte have parted ways and is headed to a collision course in 2010 elections. After vanquishing different respective rivals in the past, it has come to this point that they will finally turn against each other.

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In the program Korina Today, Koko Pimentel and his lawyer, Leila de Lima narrated in detail and discuss the legal implications of the discovery of empty ballot box in Sultan Kudarat town in Shariff Kabunsuan. In the Maguindanao recount, although there were ballots, it was observed that the ballots were fake and that it was not accompanied with tally sheets and Election Returns. The camp of Miguel Zubiri seems lost in how to deal with these latest development. They will asked the Senate Electoral Tribunal to investigate the matter. But is that still the function of the SET? The SET’s function is to rule and not investigate. This duty to investigate should fall on the Zubiri camp to defend their position. Also, Zubiri should stop portraying himself as the victim. How can he be the victim when he is the one sitting in the Senate and Koko waging a protest outside. The way Zubiri justified the absence of the ballots, he seems like he is putting the blame on the local warring politicians in Sharif Kabunsuan. In the entire stretch of the program, the people waited for a plausible explanation from the Zubiri camp of the missing ballots, but all they got were side stories and other extraneous topics that skirt the real issue which is the missing ballots.

Zubiri’s position in the Senate is imperiled. Majority of the SET officials are coming from the opposition and with evidence overwhelmingly favor on Koko, the fate of Migs is sealed. This explains also that after half a year in the Senate, Migs seems to avoid confrontation with his colleagues and opt to attend to local concerns. Migs is frequently seen in public functions in Cagayan de Oro and in Bukidnon. Although it is expected that Migs lawyer will do whatever they can to prevent Koko from assuming the post of Migs. If that’s the case, the true will of the people is thwarted.