MP Esmael grants 5K cash assistance to former MILF combatants

 Chief of Staff Khalid S. Esmael of the office of Member of Parliament (MP) Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj personally hands over cash assistance to a representative of a cooperative formed by ex-MILF combatants, together with Political Affairs Officer VI Allan Calido (left) and Political Affairs Officer IV Abdulmanan Pasigan (right) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at James Convention in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. (Photo courtesy of Idzradin Sandayan) 

SHARIFF AGUAK – The office of Member of Parliament (MP) Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj provided financial assistance to 60 former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday, June 10, at James Convention, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

A cash support amounting to P5,000 for each recipient aims to provide opportunities for ex-MILF combatants to build their lives with their families and relatives in the mainstream society, especially amidst pandemic.

Chief of Staff Khalid S. Esmael said they can pool the cash aid to their respective cooperatives to grow their funds through possible collaborative efforts in trading and marketing ventures.

“Your cooperative should utilize the cash support judiciously to sustain your enterprises and scale up your capitals. In shaa Allah, it will come to aid your families and your communities in the future,” he said.

Also, Ustadz Abdulmanan Pasigan, political affairs officer IV, reminded everyone that handling of the funds should complement Islamic jurisprudence.

Ex- MILF Combatants receive mill machines from OPAPP DTI

 Moro Islamic Liberation Front decommissioned combatants at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao receive units of mobile rice mill equipment from Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday, June 10, 2021. 

COTABATO CITY – Decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) received Thursday, June 10, 30 units of mobile rice mill equipment as part of the joint socioeconomic development project between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The initial units of equipment were turned over at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The project, amounting to P30 million, aims to benefit the identified major camps of the MILF combatants, their families, and immediate relatives.

OPAPP and DTI are the funding and implementing agencies of the said socioeconomic project called “Inter Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization-Peaceful Return and Aggressive Inclusion Social Entrepreneurship (ICCMN-PRAISE).”

The project fund was stipulated on a memorandum of agreement (MoA) OPAPP and DTI has forged on September 11, 2020, which aims to promote the meaningful implementation of the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Present during the event were Minister for Trade, Investment, and Tourism Abu Amri Taddik, Deputy Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) Akmad Brahim, DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman, Ariel Hernandez of ICCMN, Parliament Member Shahara Mastura, MILF combatants, and other key dignitaries.

Taddik expressed his gratitude to the initiative of the national government to fulfill its commitment under the CAB.

“This project is one of the ways to integrate our former combatants into the society by giving them sustainable livelihood that could improve their way of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, Macatoman said more significant programs are set to benefit the said ex-combatants.

“Magpapatuloy po ang programa natin dahil sa suporta ng OPAPP at ang commitment ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa CAB, at pagtupad ng adhikain ng peace process,” he said. 

Hernandez, on the other hand, stressed that agriculture is “one of the biggest hopes for the country’s economy to recover because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a message through MENRE Deputy Minister Akmad Brahim, BARMM’s Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim also resonated with the aims of OPAPP and DTI, and emphasized that the “transition period is not just centered on establishing the regional bureaucracy in the Bangsamoro region.” 

“The other half of the process is the normalization track which aims to transform our combatants as productive civilian members of the society and reform their respective communities from decades-long of unrest and conflict,” he said. 

“The socioeconomic aspect of the normalization process enables the MILF combatants and their families to utilize equipment that can provide a livelihood for them,” he added. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Datu Saudi Ampatuan LGU receives ZOD award, dispenses relief aid

 Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Edris “Resty” Sindatok, in a speech, expresses his gratitude to the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office, after being awarded as one of the municipalities that achieved a Zero Open Defecation status on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. 

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN – The local government here, under the leadership of Mayor Edris “Resty” Sindatok”, was awarded Tuesday, June 8, as one of the municipalities that achieved the Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) status granted by the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO).

Dr. Elizabeth Abpi Samama, chief of IPHO, personally hand over the award for the active efforts of the local government of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in maintaining a clean and orderly municipality. 

The local chief executive, Mayor Sindatok, expressed his gratitude to the IPHO, UNICEF, WASH focal members, the province of Maguindanao, and other concerned agencies for helping the municipality achieve the ZOD status. 

“Mabrook to all the efforts of rural health unit personnel and municipal employees who have worked hard behind this award and recognition. Datu Saudi Ampatuan has been declared as municipal-wide Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) and ranked 14th among all municipalities province-wide. Congrats to all barangays that have been declared as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, June 9, Mayor Sindatok distributed assorted food packs through the BARANGAYAnihan, to internally displaced individuals due to the recent armed conflicts in Brgy. Kitango.

The relief initiative was also graced by the presence of PBGen Eden T. Ugale, regional director of the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (J. Cabig, Jr./Anne B. Acosta)

COVID-19 stifles passage of BARMM laws: Sinarimbo

COTABATO CITY – Three new regional laws are out, two of which are now being used as a reference in the setting up of the infant Bangsamoro government’s pioneering personnel structure.

Members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Transition Authority, known as the interim regional parliament, said Thursday, June 10, they could have drafted and approved more regional laws if not for the COVID-19 pandemic that stifled their operations. 

The Bangsamoro government’s spokesperson, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, said they are thankful to the BTA for having passed the Administrative, the Civil Service, and the Education Codes that are essential to regional governance.

Sinarimbo, also the interior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said there are still other draft regional codes being studied now by BARMM’s parliament, led by Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim.

Sinarimbo said the enactment into law of the Administrative, the Civil Service and the Education Codes disproved insinuations by skeptics and pessimists that the BARMM parliament has no sensible legislative agenda.

“These are regional edicts formulated via extensive consultation with the local communities, based on the peculiar socio-economic and geographical settings of BARMM, attuned to the region’s charter, the Republic Act 11054,” Sinarimbo said.

The RA 11054 is also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law that voters in the core territory of BARMM ratified via a plebiscite in January 2019.

Sinarimbo said the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected the supposedly continuing effort of the 80-member regional parliament to pass more regional laws needed for the now 26-month BARMM to fully take off. 

Among the draft BARMM laws still being deliberated on by the regional parliament are the proposed local government, election, and internal revenue codes. (CONTRIBUTOR / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

BHRC probes alleged Datu Montawal human rights violation

COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) conducted Tuesday, June 8, an initial investigation of an operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao, which resulted to the death of a Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) member.

On Friday, June 4, the composite team of CIDG-12 and CIDG-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region were in search for unlicensed firearms at Brgy. Bulit. 

According to Abdillah B. Alik, head of BHRC investigation, violation of human rights is a possible angle, based on the claims of the witnesses.

“Nakita nating merong elements of human rights violation considering the fact na sinasabi ng victim at ng mga witnesses na ang perpetrator ay ang ating security sector,” he said.

Alik added that “the regional office and Maguindanao investigation division team are up to gather basic information and engage with the local government unit of Datu Montawal and the institution of PNP, respectively.”

“We have a substantial information coming from the two institutions of the local government and the police station of Datu Montawal,” he said. 

This information, Alik stressed, was presented as case study on the case conference held Thursday, June 10, with the participation of Commission on Human Rights (CHR-12) in Cotabato City. 

Meanwhile, PLT. Nurjhasier A. Sali, chief of PNP Montawal vouched to make the perpetrators accountable, while continuing its efforts to crack down misconducts of police officers in service. 

“We will intensify the cleanliness of the community and the cleanliness among the ranks. Hindi namin ito ito-tolerate kahit anumang kahihinatnan at resulta ng imbestigasyon,” he said. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

15K BARMM healthcare workers receive first vaccine jab

COTABATO CITY – A total of 15,347 healthcare workers across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) already received their first dose of vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Tuesday, June 2. 

This was announced by Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph of the Ministry of Health (MOH) during BARMM’s 50th cabinet meeting on Thursday, June 3, via virtual teleconference. 

Latiph said the number corresponds to 70 percent of 21,873 healthcare workers under A1 priority group master list. 

As of writing, about 6,334 or 20 percent have completed their doses. 

While the region’s provinces have yet to finish listing their recipients, it has started vaccination to other component subgroups under the priority group A.

Senior citizens, or those 60 years old and above were also vaccinated. Out of the 79,301 listed, 3,910 senior citizens already received their first vaccine shots. 

Some 3,418 individuals with comorbidities have also received their first vaccine jab. 

The region has also vaccinated 1,478 frontline personnel in other essential sectors.

 Vaccination in the region started in the first week of March for the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. A week after, vaccination commenced in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, while frontline workers in Basilan received their vaccine jabs starting March 15.

The region received a total of 78,800 doses of vaccines from the national government. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Column

Security and technology

Given the rising cases of abuse of power and authority, and coverups by some policemen, which include the murder of Kian Delos Santos, Sonya Gregorio and Frank Anthony Gregorio, and “alleged murder” of Edwin Arnigo (a person who has autism), the country’s Philippine National Police (PNP) heeded to the demands of human rights groups for accountability and transparency in its operations through the use of body cameras. The deployment of the said gadgets has initially started after the fatal shooting of an off-duty policeman, Hensie Zinampan, who killed the 52-year-old Lilibeth Valdez. 

As of June 4, PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said that 600 cops were already trained to use the gadgets. He added that of the 2,696 body cameras in their inventory, four of them have livestreaming capability. For the distribution, 171 police units are eyed to receive the body cameras. However, the PNP insisted that they are still carefully studying the legal implications of the use of such devices due to some privacy and confidentiality issues before its full implementation.

So, what are some of the benefits in the use of such devices?

The innovative reform in the country’s security forces through the future use of body cameras in their operations strengthens both our sense of security, civility, and trust to the police.

Body-worn cameras may increase our sense of security. According to a research conducted in the United Kingdom (as cited by Brett Chapman in 2018), body-worn cameras resulted in positive interactions between officers and citizens and made people feel safer. It also yields to increases in arrests, prosecutions, and guilty pleas, which is a manifestation of efficient mitigation of crimes. 

Body-worn cameras may boost law enforcement credibility by increasing transparency and accountability. In some communities where there is lack of trust and confidence in law enforcement, the use of body cameras provides better police-community relationship by providing better documentation to help identify and confirm the actual happenings during operations. 

Body-worn cameras may also lead to improved rates of public compliance with the police directives during operations, as well as fewer complaints filed against them. Unconsciously, people react in a more civilized manner if their actions are recorded. This may result to better communications between the police and community members in certain situations. 

The integration of body cameras in police operations positively shapes the citizens’ perceptions towards the security forces. Some may have abused their powers and authorities, and others may have stayed true to their mandate, but we need to continue to trust our police officers. Of course, technology may not be perfect, but such reform is a recognition of citizens’ rights and the need for truth, transparency, accountability, and justice. With the devices, may the culture of impunity in the country diminish. Let the abusers face the consequences. Let the perpetrators of injustices become accountable. And may the police motto, “to serve and protect”, stands true and meaningful to all of its officers. 

Editorial

Saving schools

Private schools in the country, along with some lawmakers, are actively urging the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to withdraw its mandate which imposes an increase in their income tax rate from the current 10 percent to 25 percent. Under the BIR Revenue Regulation No. 5-2021, “non-profit private schools” will have to pay for 10 percent income tax and “for-profit private schools” will have to pay for 25 percent income tax. 

The aforementioned call was led by Cocopea, an alliance of 2,500 private schools that are non-profit, for profit, sectarian, and non-sectarian. Cocopea argues that the regulation was “ill-¬conceived and insensitive to the realities of the private education sector” especially amidst pandemic, according to their statement released on June 1. Given the burdening effects of COVID-19 pandemic, is it really justifiable to force such increment? Who will truly suffer if it’s not rectified?

According to the Department of Education, nearly 900 private basic education schools have temporarily closed due to financial problems aggravated by the COVID-19. As a result, around 4,400 teachers were displaced and nearly 500,000 students transferred to public schools. Given the unprecedented increase of private school’s income tax, affected schools will likely increase their tuition payment and other fees. At its worst, private schools will be forced to cease its operations, displacing a significant portion of the 25 percent of the 30 million learners enrolled in private basic education schools and 55 percent of the private universities and colleges students.

Regardless of its nature, whether non-profit or for profit, private or public, schools are vital for human development and learning. It serves as an institution that prepares individuals become the future workforce and contributors to nation-building, social progress, social justice and common good, and achievement of quality life. With the imposition of the increase, it will affect the choices of the students. Amidst pandemic, parents, students, and other stakeholders are undeniably having difficulties financially, which may be a reason for students of private schools to make compromises and transfer to other educational institutions. This appears problematic because choosing one’s education is a vital preference. And the said increase may limit the preferences of students due to the burden of additional costs in tuition payments and other fees. Of course, not all people live in surpluses. Some just have enough to send them to their school of choice.  

Other dependent sectors will also be affected by the increase of income tax payment. At best, stores in school cafeteria and restaurants, dormitories, uniform stores, and other service-oriented industries will have to pay more for the use of facilities since the schools will be taxed more. Or if the school will decide to close, the operations of these industries will be halted.  

In principle, the CREATE law, where the said increase was derived, aims to cushion the impact of COVID-19. Hence, it must seek to save schools like any vital industries. And lawmakers must heed the call with sensitivity, compassion and understanding.