16 BIFF members yield to Army in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao  --- Optimistic that the new regional government will help them improve their lives, 16 members of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to military authorities in Maguindanao last January 25.

Twelve of the surrenderers gave up to officials of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, in Sultan sa Barongis town, while the four other BIFF members yielded to Lt. Col. Rogelio Gabi, Army’s 40th IB commander, in Gen. S. K. Pendatun town, also in Maguindanao.

Peacekeepers serve as polio vaccinators in Maguindanao

PARANG, Maguindanao  --- Police officers and peacekeepers have doubled as  “bakunadors” (vaccinators) as they participated in the Department of Health (DOH) Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio at a police checkpoint in Barangay Pinantao here.

While performing their duties as peacekeepers, police personnel led by Lt. Col. Edgar Putiz, chief of police’s Regional Health Service-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHS-BARMM), administered vaccination to children on board passing vehicles with their parents to ensure they are protected from poliovirus.

“We have been doing our part as vaccinators since January 20, Putiz said.

The unit's lady police officers also administered oral polio vaccination to children while conducting visual inspections on motor vehicles passing by Barangay Pinantao.

Tarsier rescued in Koronadal City

RESCUED TARSIER --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region-12 is looking at the presence of more tarsiers in the forests of Barangay Assumption in Koronadal City following the rescue of a tarsier in the area recently. The rescue of the primate indicates that they may also thrive in this part of South Cotabato. (Photo courtesy of DENR-12, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

KORONADAL CITY -- An upland village here could also be the home of the tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates.

This, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region-12 (Soccsksargen) is looking at the presence of more tarsiers in the forests of Barangay Assumption in this city following the rescue of one of them in the area last week.

Forester Mangayao Macapodi, chief of the DENR-12’s Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation section, said Monday (January 27) the tarsier was found by a concerned resident identified as Arnel Alvarez in the hands of a group of children in Sitio Elalam.

P2.5-M smuggled goods seized by JTFC

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao ---  Smuggled goods worth around P2.5-M was confiscated by the Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) last January 22 in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

The confiscation of the smuggled goods and apprehension of the personalities was done by the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT)-5 of the 1st Marine Brigade under the JTFC while conducting area security at the shorelines of Barangay Mable of Malabang town.

The smuggled items, which consisted of 180 boxes of smuggled cigarettes, were loaded into a motorized banca.

Five persons on-board the motorized banca were identified as Usman Hadjirol, 37; Madjid Hussin Pustahan, 35; Omar Hadjirol, 40; Faisal Amat, 26; and a 17-year old minor.

One of the apprehended personalities said that they emanated from Sulu province before reaching Lanao del Sur.

The commander of JTFC, Maj. Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon, congratulated the Marine troops for their commendable feat in their new area of jurisdiction.

The troops of the MBLT-5 properly documented the apprehended personalities, watercraft, and smuggled goods before they were turned over to Malabang Municipal Police for proper disposition. (DPAO, 6TH ID, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Drug suspect killed in S.K. shoot-out

COTABATO CITY --- Police killed a suspected drug peddler in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, in a shoot-out last January 22. an official said.

Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, director of the Police Regional Office -12, identified the slain suspect as Maula Managuili Kadil, 37, of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

“The suspect died in the drug bust operation after resorting to violence in resisting a lawful arrest using a firearm,” Corpus said.

He said a police poseur-buyer and the suspect had earlier agreed to meet at the border of barangays Salabaca and Daladap, both in Esperanza, for a drug deal on Wednesday (January 22) morning.

Safety vs. ‘extremism’

ISLAM IS PEACE --- Lt. Col. Edwin Alburo, chief of the 57th Infantry Battalion, stresses a point during the Symposium on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the municipal gymnasium in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao last January 26. The 57th IB vows to actively join in upcoming anti-terrorism symposia in its area of responsibility in the province to educate locals on rejecting attempts of recruitment by local terrorist groups and shun the practice of violent extremism. (PHOTO COURTESY OF 57TH IB, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao  --- The chief of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion (57IB) has assured Muslim religious leaders and residents that government forces will continue to protect communities against "violent extremism" being propagated by the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Edwin Alburo made the assurance in his speech during the “Symposium on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)” at the municipal gymnasium of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao last January 26.

“As far as I know, Islam does not teach killing of innocent people. It does not teach killing of children and women, and that we do not understand what part of Islam teaching the terrorists are following,” Alburo said.

Alburo described Islam as "a religion of peace," while accusing the BIFF of indoctrinating recruits with "wrong teachings of Islam," such as violence.

He said that as long as the 57th IB is in Maguindanao, they would support the peaceful practice of Islam and protect "peace-loving communities."

The 57th IB has jurisdiction over the towns of Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, and Datu Unsay, all in Maguindanao.

In support of the “Development Security and Support Plan (DSSP) - Kapayapaan,” Alburo said the 57th IB -- through its Community Support Program (CSP) -- will actively participate in educating the locals with the ultimate goal of insulating the populace from terrorism and preventing violent extremism.

The plan includes inviting to symposiums Islamic theologians such as “Imams” and “Ustadz” who are managing Madaris (Islamic schools) in the province, the Army official said.

Last Sunday, Sheikh Abuhuraira Udasan, Mufti (Islamic leader) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) attended the symposium which was also joined by some 150 religious personalities coming from different barangays in six municipalities included in the area of responsibility of the 57th IB. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA – COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

BARMM strengthens OFW protection

COTABATO CITY --- To protect the rights of the Bangsamoro Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the Bangsamoro government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center last January 21 at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.

The MOA, which aims to create the Bangsamoro Task Force against Human Trafficking of OFWs from the region, was signed by BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof  Macacua and Blas F. Ople Policy Center president Susan V. Ople. 

The signing was attended by Bangsamoro Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Assistant Executive Secretary Abdullah Cusain, Attorney General Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, and other officials from the BARMM’s different ministries and offices.

Mamasapano bats on fiscal program

EASING PUBLIC TRANSACTION --- Municipal Treasurer Engr. Tokan M. Brahim (right), along with representatives from different government agencies, interface with the clientele in the renewal and application of business permits/licenses under the BOSS scheme adopted by the local government unit of Mamasapano under Mayor Datu Akmad A. Ampatuan, Jr. (Anne B. Acosta) Click poto above to read more on the article.....

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao ---The local government of this town is 
expecting a hundred percent increase in tax collection this year compared to year 2019 following the increasing number of businesses as the treasury office winded up the renewal of business permits last January 20 under the Business One-Stop-Shop (BOSS) scheme.

        Municipal Treasurer Engr. Tokan M. Brahim said the processing of business permit renewal and payment of fees under the BOSS was held at the ground floor of the Municipal Hall Building where members of the business sector transact in one place as they interface with the agencies that process the requirements related to business licensing.

        Treasurer Brahim said the BOSS gather the business clients  in one place “for them to process their business licenses and permits easily” with the agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Fire (BFP), Philippine National Police, and divisions or sections of the local treasury, among others.

He said there was an increase in the number of business permit processing even on the first day of the “Business One-Stop-Shop” scheme, an indication that more members of the business sector have come in and establish their businesses in the locality.

Engr. Brahim cited the town’s 2019 tax collection target from local sources,  such as Real Property Tax (RPT) at P439,550, community tax (P100,000), business tax (P150,000), and  other local taxes (P50,000).

 Non-tax revenues, he said, are:  permit fees (P75,000); registration fees (P50,000); clearance and certification fees (P75,000); inspection fees (P25,000); miscellaneous income (P50,000); fines and penalties from permits and licenses (P75,000); toll and terminal fees  (P50,000); registration plates, tags, and stickers fees (P75,000);  income from other services (P75,000); income from market (P50,000); other business income (P100,000); and fines and penalties from business income (P50,000).

He said the over-all local revenue collection last year amounted to P1,489,550.

Municipal Mayor Datu Akmad A. Ampatuan , Jr. expects a more aggressive tax collection or revenue increase for this year “due to our massive fiscal program campaign strategy” as well as investment promotion. (Anne B. Acosta)   

BARMM cops offer prayers, flowers to SAF 44

PARANG, Maguindanao  ---  Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) paid tribute last January 25 to the acts of heroism of 44 elite police officers who were killed during law enforcement operations in Mamasapano, Maguindanao five years ago.

Brig. Gen. Marni Marcos, Jr., regional director for Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) and Lt. Col. Darwin Padla, commander of 4th Special Action Battalion, Special Action Force (SAF), led the observance of the national remembrance for the acts of heroism of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) and commemorate the sacrifices of the SAF 44. 

The two officials also led the wreath-laying in commemoration of the Day of National Remembrance for the SAF 44 inside Camp Brig. Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, the headquarters of PRO-BAR here.

In his speech, Marcos called on all police officers to remain steadfast against the injustices by terrorist and lawless groups in the BARMM and continue remembering the “gallant 44” who offered their lives in the name of public service.

“On this day of National Remembrance for the SAF 44, let us continue our duties and responsibilities to the Filipinos and to our nation,” he said, urging police officers to include the SAF 44 in their prayers.

“We must pledge to preserve the memories of our brothers who gave their lives for defending our country so that their heroic sacrifices are not forgotten by generations,” Marcos added.

Saturday’s event is a simultaneous activity of the Philippine National Police every 25th day of January as proclaimed under Presidential Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 of every year as a day of national remembrance for the SAF 44. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA - COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Army joins academe, LGU to help save marshland

KIDAPAWAN CITY --- The Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion (IB) has partnered with various stakeholders to help save the Liguasan marshland situated along the border of North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces. 

Last January 23, the 7th Infantry Battalion signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the initiative with the University of Southern Mindanao and the local government unit of Kabacan, North Cotabato during a simple program at the 7th IB headquarters at Barangay Paatan in the same town.

Army disarms homemade bomb in S. Kudarat town

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao --- Military bomb disposal experts diffused an improvised explosive device (IED) found by the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion  in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat last January 25.

“Acting on a report, the Army troopers cordoned the part of the road leading to Barangay Bagumbayan in President Quirino town where the IED was found,”, Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander,” said in a statement.  Click above to read more on the article.....

Carreon said a villager reported the matter to the 40th IB following his discovery of the IED last January 24 in the morning.

The military troopers, together with the 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, found the bomb wrapped in packaging tape.

The IED was made of flash powder placed inside a one-liter plastic container. After it was safely disarmed, the bomb was brought to the 3rd EOD headquarters in Tacurong City for proper disposition and further investigation.

Military intelligence sources said the bomb bore the signature style of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Carreon has commended the 40th IB troopers for continuously securing the community against the threat of terrorism and prevented another bombing attempt in Central Mindanao. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA - COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Editorial

Place of majority population amidst the few billionaires

Even under the setting of modern society, the gap between the poor and the very rich continues to haunt the majority population who are at the employ of the rich. At this setting, the rich feed the many poor through employment while the latter stretch all their energies to make both ends meet. The imbalance: only a few billionaires hold society’s resources.

This editorial finds it interesting to reprint a news article of  Agence France-Presse published at The Manila Times (January 21, 2020) for reflection of the readers amidst a poor-rich situation. The news item is entitled “Billionaires richer than 60% of world’s population” … we quote and unquote: 

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